UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
OR
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 1-8661
THE CHUBB CORPORATION |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEW JERSEY |
13-2595722 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I. R. S. Employer Identification No.)
| |
15 MOUNTAIN VIEW ROAD, WARREN, NEW JERSEY |
07059 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code (908) 903-2000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
YES þ | NO ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
YES þ | NO ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.(Check one):
Large accelerated filer þ | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ | |||
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES ¨ | NO þ |
The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2012 was 269,951,695.
INDEX
Page 1
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31
(in millions)
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
(As Adjusted) | ||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||
Premiums Earned |
$ | 2,951 | $ | 2,854 | ||||
Investment Income |
401 | 404 | ||||||
Other Revenues |
2 | 2 | ||||||
Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Net |
||||||||
Total Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Losses on Investments |
(5 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Losses on Investments Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income |
(1 | ) | | |||||
Other Realized Investment Gains, Net |
62 | 162 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Realized Investment Gains, Net |
56 | 160 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Revenues |
3,410 | 3,420 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Losses and Expenses |
||||||||
Losses and Loss Expenses |
1,707 | 1,765 | ||||||
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs |
576 | 540 | ||||||
Other Insurance Operating Costs and Expenses |
366 | 342 | ||||||
Investment Expenses |
11 | 11 | ||||||
Other Expenses |
3 | 2 | ||||||
Corporate Expenses |
68 | 75 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Losses and Expenses |
2,731 | 2,735 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income Before Federal and Foreign Income Tax |
679 | 685 | ||||||
Federal and Foreign Income Tax |
173 | 176 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Income |
$ | 506 | $ | 509 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Income Per Share |
||||||||
Basic |
$ | 1.85 | $ | 1.71 | ||||
Diluted |
1.83 | 1.70 | ||||||
Dividends Declared Per Share |
.41 | .39 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 2
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31
(in millions)
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Net Income |
$ | 506 | $ | 509 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |
||||||||
Change in Unrealized Appreciation of Investments |
54 | (58 | ) | |||||
Change in Unrealized Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Losses on Investments |
1 | 2 | ||||||
Foreign Currency Translation Gains (Losses) |
(9 | ) | 61 | |||||
Amortization of Net Actuarial Loss and Prior Service Cost Included in Net Postretirement Benefit Costs |
14 | 11 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
60 | 16 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Comprehensive Income |
$ | 566 | $ | 525 | ||||
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 3
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions)
Mar. 31, 2012 |
Dec. 31, 2011 |
|||||||
(As Adjusted) |
||||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Invested Assets |
||||||||
Short Term Investments |
$ | 1,772 | $ | 1,893 | ||||
Fixed Maturities (cost $34,920 and $34,762) |
37,325 | 37,184 | ||||||
Equity Securities (cost $1,270 and $1,264) |
1,620 | 1,512 | ||||||
Other Invested Assets |
2,139 | 2,180 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL INVESTED ASSETS |
42,856 | 42,769 | ||||||
Cash |
70 | 58 | ||||||
Accrued Investment Income |
442 | 440 | ||||||
Premiums Receivable |
2,124 | 2,161 | ||||||
Reinsurance Recoverable on Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses |
1,702 | 1,739 | ||||||
Prepaid Reinsurance Premiums |
331 | 320 | ||||||
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs |
1,222 | 1,210 | ||||||
Goodwill |
467 | 467 | ||||||
Other Assets |
1,504 | 1,281 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 50,718 | $ | 50,445 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses |
$ | 23,077 | $ | 23,068 | ||||
Unearned Premiums |
6,330 | 6,322 | ||||||
Long Term Debt |
3,575 | 3,575 | ||||||
Dividend Payable to Shareholders |
112 | 107 | ||||||
Deferred Income Tax |
90 | 2 | ||||||
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities |
2,044 | 2,070 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
35,228 | 35,144 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Contingent Liabilities (Note 6) |
||||||||
Shareholders Equity |
||||||||
Common Stock$1 Par Value; 371,980,460 Shares |
372 | 372 | ||||||
Paid-In Surplus |
124 | 190 | ||||||
Retained Earnings |
19,297 | 18,903 | ||||||
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |
1,255 | 1,195 | ||||||
Treasury Stock, at Cost102,028,765 and 99,519,509 Shares |
(5,558 | ) | (5,359 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
15,490 | 15,301 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
$ | 50,718 | $ | 50,445 | ||||
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31
(in millions)
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities |
||||||||
Net Income |
$ | 506 | $ | 509 | ||||
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities |
||||||||
Increase in Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses, Net |
56 | 298 | ||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Unearned Premiums, Net |
(2 | ) | 5 | |||||
Decrease in Premiums Receivable |
37 | 28 | ||||||
Amortization of Premiums and Discounts on Fixed Maturities |
37 | 38 | ||||||
Depreciation |
13 | 14 | ||||||
Realized Investment Gains, Net |
(56 | ) | (160 | ) | ||||
Other, Net |
(219 | ) | (248 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities |
372 | 484 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities |
||||||||
Proceeds from Fixed Maturities |
||||||||
Sales |
805 | 562 | ||||||
Maturities, Calls and Redemptions |
733 | 725 | ||||||
Proceeds from Sales of Equity Securities |
45 | 38 | ||||||
Purchases of Fixed Maturities |
(1,704 | ) | (1,233 | ) | ||||
Purchases of Equity Securities |
(37 | ) | (41 | ) | ||||
Investments in Other Invested Assets, Net |
47 | 70 | ||||||
Decrease (Increase) in Short Term Investments, Net |
121 | (167 | ) | |||||
Increase in Net Payable from Security Transactions Not Settled |
21 | 1 | ||||||
Purchases of Property and Equipment, Net |
(10 | ) | (10 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities |
21 | (55 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities |
||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Funds Held Under Deposit Contracts |
(2 | ) | 12 | |||||
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Under Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans |
53 | 39 | ||||||
Repurchase of Shares |
(325 | ) | (395 | ) | ||||
Dividends Paid to Shareholders |
(107 | ) | (112 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities |
(381 | ) | (456 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash |
12 | (27 | ) | |||||
Cash at Beginning of Year |
58 | 70 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash at End of Period |
$ | 70 | $ | 43 | ||||
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 5
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1) General
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and include the accounts of The Chubb Corporation (Chubb) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Corporation). Significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Effective January 1, 2012, the Corporation adopted new guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) related to the accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The accounting change has been retrospectively applied; accordingly, prior period financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the change in accounting described in Note (2).
The amounts included in this report are unaudited but include those adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, that management considers necessary for a fair presentation. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
2) Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements
Effective January 1, 2012, the Corporation adopted new guidance issued by the FASB related to the accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The guidance identifies those costs relating to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts that should be capitalized. The Corporation elected retrospective application of this guidance under which deferred policy acquisition costs and related deferred income tax liabilities were reduced as of the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements, offset by a cumulative effect adjustment that reduced retained earnings.
The adoption of this guidance decreased deferred policy acquisition costs by $420 million, decreased deferred income tax liabilities by $147 million and decreased shareholders equity by $273 million as of December 31, 2011. The effect of the adoption of the new guidance on net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 was not material. Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and other insurance operating costs and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 were retrospectively adjusted to conform to the change in accounting guidance.
The amounts of the retrospective reductions to previously reported deferred policy acquisition costs, related deferred income tax liabilities and shareholders equity as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 were the same as the amounts of the reductions as of December 31, 2011. The effect of the adoption of the new guidance on previously reported net income for the years 2011 and 2010 was not material.
Page 6
3) Invested Assets
(a) The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities and equity securities were as follows:
March 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
Amortized Cost |
Gross Unrealized Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Fair Value |
|||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities |
||||||||||||||||
Tax exempt |
$ | 18,638 | $ | 1,424 | $ | 30 | $ | 20,032 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Taxable |
||||||||||||||||
U.S. government and government agency and authority obligations |
948 | 54 | 2 | 1,000 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds |
6,338 | 480 | 10 | 6,808 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government and government agency obligations |
6,395 | 368 | 3 | 6,760 | ||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities |
689 | 38 | 4 | 723 | ||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |
1,912 | 91 | 1 | 2,002 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
16,282 | 1,031 | 20 | 17,293 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total fixed maturities |
$ | 34,920 | $ | 2,455 | $ | 50 | $ | 37,325 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Equity securities |
$ | 1,270 | $ | 395 | $ | 45 | $ | 1,620 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
Amortized Cost |
Gross Unrealized Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Fair Value |
|||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities |
$ | 18,786 | $ | 1,462 | $ | 37 | $ | 20,211 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Tax exempt |
||||||||||||||||
Taxable |
||||||||||||||||
U.S. government and government agency and authority obligations |
813 | 57 | 2 | 868 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds |
6,049 | 440 | 24 | 6,465 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government and government agency obligations |
6,409 | 416 | 2 | 6,823 | ||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities |
821 | 41 | 7 | 855 | ||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |
1,884 | 79 | 1 | 1,962 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
15,976 | 1,033 | 36 | 16,973 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total fixed maturities |
$ | 34,762 | $ | 2,495 | $ | 73 | $ | 37,184 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Equity securities |
$ | 1,264 | $ | 319 | $ | 71 | $ | 1,512 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the gross unrealized depreciation of fixed maturities included $2 million and $3 million, respectively, of unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income.
Page 7
The fair value and amortized cost of fixed maturities at March 31, 2012 by contractual maturity were as follows:
Fair Value |
Amortized Cost |
|||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Due in one year or less |
$ | 2,347 | $ | 2,317 | ||||
Due after one year through five years |
12,352 | 11,712 | ||||||
Due after five years through ten years |
12,371 | 11,261 | ||||||
Due after ten years |
7,530 | 7,029 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
34,600 | 32,319 | |||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities |
723 | 689 | ||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |
2,002 | 1,912 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 37,325 | $ | 34,920 | |||||
|
|
|
|
Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.
The Corporations equity securities comprise a diversified portfolio of primarily U.S. publicly-traded common stocks.
The Corporation is involved in the normal course of business with variable interest entities (VIEs) primarily as a passive investor in residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and private equity limited partnerships issued by third party VIEs. The Corporation is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. The Corporations maximum exposure to loss with respect to these investments is limited to the investment carrying values included in the Corporations consolidated balance sheet and any unfunded partnership commitments.
(b) The components of unrealized appreciation or depreciation, including unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses, of investments carried at fair value were as follows:
March 31 2012 |
December 31 2011 |
|||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Fixed maturities |
||||||||
Gross unrealized appreciation |
$ | 2,455 | $ | 2,495 | ||||
Gross unrealized depreciation |
50 | 73 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
2,405 | 2,422 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Equity securities |
||||||||
Gross unrealized appreciation |
395 | 319 | ||||||
Gross unrealized depreciation |
45 | 71 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
350 | 248 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
2,755 | 2,670 | |||||||
Deferred income tax liability |
964 | 934 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 1,791 | $ | 1,736 | |||||
|
|
|
|
Page 8
When the fair value of an investment is lower than its cost, an assessment is made to determine whether the decline is temporary or other than temporary. The assessment of other-than-temporary impairment of fixed maturities and equity securities is based on both quantitative criteria and qualitative information and also considers a number of other factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, general market conditions and industry or sector specific factors.
In determining whether fixed maturities are other than temporarily impaired, the Corporation is required to recognize an other-than-temporary impairment loss when it concludes it has the intent to sell or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell an impaired fixed maturity before the security recovers to its amortized cost value or it is likely it will not recover the entire amortized cost value of an impaired security. If the Corporation has the intent to sell or it is more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell an impaired fixed maturity before the security recovers to its amortized cost value, the security is written down to fair value and the entire amount of the writedown is included in net income as a realized investment loss. For all other impaired fixed maturities, the impairment loss is separated into the amount representing the credit loss and the amount representing the loss related to all other factors. The amount of the impairment loss that represents the credit loss is included in net income as a realized investment loss and the amount of the impairment loss that relates to all other factors is included in other comprehensive income.
For fixed maturities, the split between the amount of other-than-temporary impairment losses that represents credit losses and the amount that relates to all other factors is principally based on assumptions regarding the amount and timing of projected cash flows. For fixed maturities other than mortgage-backed securities, cash flow estimates are based on assumptions regarding the probability of default and estimates regarding the timing and amount of recoveries associated with a default. For mortgage-backed securities, cash flow estimates are based on assumptions regarding future prepayment rates, default rates, loss severity and timing of recoveries. The Corporation has developed the estimates of projected cash flows using information based on historical market data, industry analyst reports and forecasts and other data relevant to the collectability of a security.
In determining whether equity securities are other than temporarily impaired, the Corporation considers its intent and ability to hold a security for a period of time sufficient to allow for the recovery of cost. If the decline in the fair value of an equity security is deemed to be other than temporary, the security is written down to fair value and the amount of the writedown is included in net income as a realized investment loss.
Page 9
The following table summarizes, for all investment securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized depreciation, including unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses, by investment category and length of time that individual securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.
Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Fair Value |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Fair Value |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
|||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax exempt |
$ | 125 | $ | 2 | $ | 171 | $ | 28 | $ | 296 | $ | 30 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Taxable |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government and government agency and authority obligations |
128 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 147 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds |
418 | 4 | 108 | 6 | 526 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government and government agency obligations |
431 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 452 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities |
44 | 1 | 36 | 3 | 80 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |
23 | 1 | | | 23 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
1,044 | 9 | 184 | 11 | 1,228 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities |
1,169 | 11 | 355 | 39 | 1,524 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities |
107 | 11 | 206 | 34 | 313 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
$ | 1,276 | $ | 22 | $ | 561 | $ | 73 | $ | 1,837 | $ | 95 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At March 31, 2012, approximately 285 individual fixed maturity and equity securities were in an unrealized loss position, of which approximately 260 were fixed maturities. The Corporation does not have the intent to sell and it is not more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell these fixed maturities before the securities recover to their amortized cost value. In addition, the Corporation believes that none of the declines in the fair values of these fixed maturities relate to credit losses. The Corporation has the intent and ability to hold the equity securities in an unrealized loss position for a period of time sufficient to allow for the recovery of cost. The Corporation believes that none of the declines in the fair value of these fixed maturities and equity securities were other than temporary at March 31, 2012.
Page 10
The following table summarizes, for all investment securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2011, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized depreciation, including unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses, by investment category and length of time that individual securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.
Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Fair Value |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Fair Value |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
|||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax exempt |
$ | 81 | $ | 1 | $ | 240 | $ | 36 | $ | 321 | $ | 37 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Taxable |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government and government agency and authority obligations. |
19 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 37 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds |
489 | 14 | 176 | 10 | 665 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government and government agency obligations |
499 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 520 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities |
77 | 2 | 22 | 5 | 99 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |
34 | 1 | | | 34 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
1,118 | 19 | 237 | 17 | 1,355 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities |
1,199 | 20 | 477 | 53 | 1,676 | 73 | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities |
231 | 45 | 199 | 26 | 430 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
$ | 1,430 | $ | 65 | $ | 676 | $ | 79 | $ | 2,106 | $ | 144 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments carried at fair value, including the change in unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses, was as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31 |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation of fixed maturities |
$ | (17 | ) | $ | (177 | ) | ||
Change in unrealized appreciation of equity securities |
102 | 91 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
85 | (86 | ) | ||||||
Deferred income tax (credit) |
30 | (30 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 55 | $ | (56 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
Page 11
(c) Realized investment gains and losses were as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31 |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Fixed maturities |
||||||||
Gross realized gains |
$ | 38 | $ | 13 | ||||
Gross realized losses |
(3 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||
Other-than-temporary impairment losses |
(1 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
34 | 2 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Equity securities |
||||||||
Gross realized gains |
19 | 19 | ||||||
Other-than-temporary impairment losses |
(5 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
14 | 17 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Other invested assets |
8 | 141 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 56 | $ | 160 | |||||
|
|
|
|
(d) As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, fixed maturities still held by the Corporation for which a portion of their other-than-temporary impairment losses were recognized in other comprehensive income had cumulative credit-related losses of $20 million recognized in net income.
4) Fair Values of Financial Instruments
Fair values of financial instruments are determined using valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Fair values are generally measured using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities or other inputs, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, that are observable either directly or indirectly. In those instances where observable inputs are not available, fair values are measured using unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs reflect the Corporations own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Fair value estimates derived from unobservable inputs are affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rates and the estimated amounts and timing of future cash flows. The derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in a current market exchange. Certain financial instruments, particularly insurance contracts, are excluded from fair value disclosure requirements.
Page 12
The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values of financial instruments are as follows:
(i) | The carrying value of short term investments approximates fair value due to the short maturities of these investments. |
(ii) | Fair values for fixed maturities are determined by management, utilizing prices obtained from a third party, nationally recognized pricing service or, in the case of securities for which prices are not provided by a pricing service, from third party brokers. For fixed maturities that have quoted prices in active markets, market quotations are provided. For fixed maturities that do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing service and brokers provide fair value estimates using a variety of inputs including, but not limited to, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, bids, offers, reference data, prepayment rates and measures of volatility. Management reviews on an ongoing basis the reasonableness of the methodologies used by the relevant pricing service and brokers. In addition, management, using the prices received for the securities from the pricing service and brokers, determines the aggregate portfolio price performance and reviews it against applicable indices. If management believes that significant discrepancies exist, it will discuss these with the relevant pricing service or broker to resolve the discrepancies. |
(iii) | Fair values of equity securities are based on quoted market prices. |
(iv) | Fair values of long term debt issued by Chubb are determined by management, utilizing prices obtained from a third party, nationally recognized pricing service. |
The carrying values and fair values of financial instruments were as follows:
March 31, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Carrying Value |
Fair Value |
Carrying Value |
Fair Value |
|||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
Invested assets |
||||||||||||||||
Short term investments |
$ | 1,772 | $ | 1,772 | $ | 1,893 | $ | 1,893 | ||||||||
Fixed maturities |
37,325 | 37,325 | 37,184 | 37,184 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities |
1,620 | 1,620 | 1,512 | 1,512 | ||||||||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
Long term debt |
3,575 | 4,177 | 3,575 | 4,085 |
A pricing service provides fair value amounts for approximately 99% of the Corporations fixed maturities. The prices obtained from a pricing service and brokers generally are non-binding, but are reflective of current market transactions in the applicable financial instruments.
Page 13
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Corporation held an insignificant amount of financial instruments in its investment portfolio for which a lack of market liquidity impacted the determination of fair value.
The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels as follows:
Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
Level 2 Other inputs that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 Inputs that are unobservable.
The fair value of financial instruments categorized based upon the lowest level of input that was significant to the fair value measurement was as follows:
March 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
Short term investments |
$ | 138 | $ | 1,634 | $ | | $ | 1,772 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Fixed maturities |
||||||||||||||||
Tax exempt |
| 20,026 | 6 | 20,032 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Taxable |
||||||||||||||||
U.S. government and government agency and authority obligations |
| 1,000 | | 1,000 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds |
| 6,665 | 143 | 6,808 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government and government agency obligations |
| 6,753 | 7 | 6,760 | ||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities |
| 713 | 10 | 723 | ||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| 2,002 | | 2,002 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 17,133 | 160 | 17,293 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total fixed maturities |
| 37,159 | 166 | 37,325 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Equity securities |
1,611 | | 9 | 1,620 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 1,749 | $ | 38,793 | $ | 175 | $ | 40,717 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
Long term debt |
$ | | $ | 4,177 | $ | | $ | 4,177 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 14
December 31, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||||||
Short term investments |
$ | 117 | $ | 1,776 | $ | | $ | 1,893 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Fixed maturities |
||||||||||||||||
Tax exempt |
| 20,203 | 8 | 20,211 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Taxable |
||||||||||||||||
U.S. government and government agency and authority obligations |
| 868 | | 868 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds |
| 6,313 | 152 | 6,465 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government and government agency obligations |
| 6,820 | 3 | 6,823 | ||||||||||||
Residential mortgage-backed securities |
| 845 | 10 | 855 | ||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| 1,962 | | 1,962 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 16,808 | 165 | 16,973 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total fixed maturities |
| 37,011 | 173 | 37,184 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Equity securities |
1,504 | | 8 | 1,512 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 1,621 | $ | 38,787 | $ | 181 | $ | 40,589 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
Long term debt |
$ | | $ | 4,085 | $ | | $ | 4,085 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5) Segments Information
The principal business of the Corporation is the sale of property and casualty insurance. The profitability of the property and casualty insurance business depends on the results of both underwriting operations and investments, which are viewed as two distinct operations. The underwriting operations are managed and evaluated separately from the investment function.
The property and casualty insurance subsidiaries underwrite most lines of property and casualty insurance. Underwriting operations consist of four separate business units: personal insurance, commercial insurance, specialty insurance and reinsurance assumed. The personal segment targets the personal insurance market. The personal classes include automobile, homeowners and other personal coverages. The commercial segment includes those classes of business that are generally available in broad markets and are of a more commodity nature. Commercial classes include multiple peril, casualty, workers compensation and property and marine. The specialty segment includes those classes of business that are available in more limited markets since they require specialized underwriting and claim settlement. Specialty classes include professional liability coverages and surety. The reinsurance assumed business is in runoff following the transfer of the ongoing business to a reinsurance company in 2005.
Corporate and other includes investment income earned on corporate invested assets, corporate expenses and the results of the Corporations non-insurance subsidiaries.
Page 15
Revenues and income before income tax of each operating segment were as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31 |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||
Property and casualty insurance |
||||||||
Premiums earned |
||||||||
Personal insurance |
$ | 990 | $ | 957 | ||||
Commercial insurance |
1,286 | 1,209 | ||||||
Specialty insurance |
672 | 687 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total insurance |
2,948 | 2,853 | ||||||
Reinsurance assumed |
3 | 1 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
2,951 | 2,854 | |||||||
Investment income |
391 | 391 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total property and casualty insurance |
3,342 | 3,245 | ||||||
Corporate and other |
12 | 15 | ||||||
Realized investment gains, net |
56 | 160 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total revenues |
$ | 3,410 | $ | 3,420 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income (loss) before income tax |
||||||||
Property and casualty insurance |
||||||||
Underwriting |
||||||||
Personal insurance |
$ | 161 | $ | 81 | ||||
Commercial insurance |
51 | (44 | ) | |||||
Specialty insurance |
66 | 135 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total insurance |
278 | 172 | ||||||
Reinsurance assumed |
11 | 5 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
289 | 177 | |||||||
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs |
14 | 25 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Underwriting income |
303 | 202 | ||||||
Investment income |
380 | 381 | ||||||
Other income (charges) |
(1 | ) | 5 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total property and casualty insurance |
682 | 588 | ||||||
Corporate and other loss |
(59 | ) | (63 | ) | ||||
Realized investment gains, net |
56 | 160 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total income before income tax |
$ | 679 | $ | 685 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Page 16
6) Contingent Liabilities
Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries have been involved in the investigations by various Attorneys General and other regulatory authorities of several states, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and certain non-U.S. regulatory authorities with respect to certain business practices in the property and casualty insurance industry including (1) potential conflicts of interest and anti-competitive behavior arising from the payment of contingent commissions to brokers and agents and (2) loss mitigation and finite reinsurance arrangements. In connection with these investigations, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries received subpoenas and other requests for information from various regulators. The Corporation has cooperated fully with these investigations. The Corporation has settled with several state Attorneys General and insurance departments all issues arising out of their investigations.
Individual actions and purported class actions arising out of the investigations into the payment of contingent commissions to brokers and agents have been filed in a number of federal and state courts. On August 1, 2005, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries were named in a putative class action entitled In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (N.J. District Court). This action, brought against several brokers and insurers on behalf of a class of persons who purchased insurance through the broker defendants, asserts claims under the Sherman Act, state law and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) arising from the alleged unlawful use of contingent commission agreements. On September 28, 2007, the N.J. District Court dismissed the second amended complaint filed by the plaintiffs in its entirety. In so doing, the court dismissed the plaintiffs Sherman Act and RICO claims with prejudice for failure to state a claim, and it dismissed the plaintiffs state law claims without prejudice because it declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over them. The plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of their second amended complaint to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Third Circuit). On August 13, 2010, the Third Circuit affirmed in part and vacated in part the N.J. District Court decision and remanded the case back to the N.J. District Court for further proceedings. As a result of the Third Circuits decision, the plaintiffs state law claims and certain of the plaintiffs Sherman Act and RICO claims were reinstated against the Corporation. The Corporation and the other defendants filed motions to dismiss the reinstated claims on October 1, 2010. Since that time, several of the other defendants entered into settlement agreements with the plaintiffs. In light of these settlements and their impact on the litigation, the N.J. District Court on June 17, 2011 dismissed without prejudice the motions to dismiss filed by the Corporation and the other non-settling defendants. On October 21, 2011, the Corporation and the other non-settling defendants refiled their motions to dismiss and the plaintiffs filed their papers in opposition. No date has yet been set for any further proceedings with respect to these motions. The settlements entered into by other defendants were formally approved by the court on March 30, 2012.
Page 17
Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries also have been named as defendants in other putative class actions relating or similar to the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation that have been filed in various state courts or in U.S. district courts between 2005 and 2007. These actions have been subsequently removed and ultimately transferred to the N.J. District Court for consolidation with the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. These matters were previously stayed but that stay has been lifted. The parties are awaiting the courts entry of an order in these matters so that discovery may proceed.
In the various actions described above, the plaintiffs generally allege that the defendants unlawfully used contingent commission agreements and conspired to reduce competition in the insurance markets. The actions seek treble damages, injunctive and declaratory relief and attorneys fees. The Corporation believes it has substantial defenses to all of the aforementioned legal proceedings and intends to defend the actions vigorously.
The Corporation cannot predict at this time the ultimate outcome of the aforementioned ongoing investigations and legal proceedings, including any potential amounts that the Corporation may be required to pay in connection with them. Nevertheless, management believes that the outcome will not have a material adverse effect on the Corporations results of operations or financial condition.
7) Earnings Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
Three Months Ended March 31 |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
(in millions, except for per share amounts) |
||||||||
Basic earnings per share: |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 506 | $ | 509 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Weighted average shares outstanding |
274.2 | 298.4 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Basic earnings per share |
$ | 1.85 | $ | 1.71 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Diluted earnings per share: |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 506 | $ | 509 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Weighted average shares outstanding |
274.2 | 298.4 | ||||||
Additional shares from assumed issuance of shares under stock-based compensation awards |
2.0 | 1.6 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Weighted average shares and potential shares assumed outstanding for computing diluted earnings per share |
276.2 | 300.0 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Diluted earnings per share |
$ | 1.83 | $ | 1.70 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Page 18
Item 2 Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses the financial condition of the Corporation as of March 31, 2012 compared with December 31, 2011 and the results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this report and the consolidated financial statements and related notes and managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included in the Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this document are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA and include statements regarding our loss reserve and reinsurance recoverable estimates; the cost of reinsurance in 2012; market conditions in 2012, including competition and the pricing environment; the repurchase of common stock under our share repurchase program; our capital position, capital adequacy and funding of liquidity needs; and the impact of a downgrade in our credit or financial strength ratings. Forward-looking statements frequently can be identified by words such as believe, expect, anticipate, intend, plan, will, may, should, could, would, likely, estimate, predict, potential, continue, or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are made based upon managements current expectations and beliefs concerning trends and future developments and their potential effects on us. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include, among others, those discussed or identified from time to time in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and those associated with:
| global political conditions and the occurrence of terrorist attacks, including any nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological events; |
| the effects of the outbreak or escalation of war or hostilities; |
| premium pricing and profitability or growth estimates overall or by lines of business or geographic area, and related expectations with respect to the timing and terms of any required regulatory approvals; |
| adverse changes in loss cost trends; |
| our ability to retain existing business and attract new business; |
Page 19
| our expectations with respect to cash flow and investment income and with respect to other income; |
| the adequacy of our loss reserves, including: |
| our expectations relating to reinsurance recoverables; |
| the willingness of parties, including us, to settle disputes; |
| developments in judicial decisions or regulatory or legislative actions relating to coverage and liability, in particular, for asbestos, toxic waste and other mass tort claims; |
| development of new theories of liability; |
| our estimates relating to ultimate asbestos liabilities; and |
| the impact from the bankruptcy protection sought by various asbestos producers and other related businesses; |
| the availability and cost of reinsurance coverage; |
| the occurrence of significant weather-related or other natural or human-made disasters, particularly in locations where we have concentrations of risk, or changes to our estimates (or the assessments of rating agencies and other third parties) of our potential exposure to such events; |
| the impact of economic factors on companies on whose behalf we have issued surety bonds, and in particular, on those companies that file for bankruptcy or otherwise experience deterioration in creditworthiness; |
| the effects of disclosures by, and investigations of, companies relating to possible accounting irregularities, practices in the financial services industry, investment losses or other corporate governance issues, including: |
| the effects on the capital markets and the markets for directors and officers and errors and omissions insurance; |
| claims and litigation arising out of actual or alleged accounting or other corporate malfeasance by other companies; |
| claims and litigation arising out of practices in the financial services industry; |
| claims and litigation relating to uncertainty in the credit and broader financial markets; and |
| legislative or regulatory proposals or changes; |
| the effects of changes in market practices in the U.S. property and casualty insurance industry arising from any legal or regulatory proceedings, related settlements and industry reform, including changes that have been announced and changes that may occur in the future; |
| the impact of legislative, regulatory and similar developments on our business, including those relating to terrorism, catastrophes, the financial markets, solvency standards, capital requirements and accounting guidance; |
| any downgrade in our claims-paying, financial strength or other credit ratings; |
| the ability of our subsidiaries to pay us dividends; |
Page 20
| general political, economic and market conditions, whether globally or in the markets in which we operate and/or invest, including: |
| changes in credit ratings, interest rates, market credit spreads and the performance of the financial markets; |
| currency fluctuations; |
| the effects of inflation; |
| changes in domestic and foreign laws, regulations and taxes; |
| changes in competition and pricing environments; |
| regional or general changes in asset valuations; |
| the inability to reinsure certain risks economically; and |
| changes in the litigation environment; and |
| our ability to implement managements strategic plans and initiatives. |
Chubb assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information set forth in this document, which speak as of the date hereof.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments
The consolidated financial statements include amounts based on informed estimates and judgments of management for transactions that are not yet complete. Such estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Those estimates and judgments that were most critical to the preparation of the financial statements involved the determination of loss reserves and the recoverability of related reinsurance recoverables and the evaluation of whether a decline in value of any investment is temporary or other than temporary. These estimates and judgments, which are discussed in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 as supplemented within the following analysis of our results of operations, require the use of assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and therefore are subject to change as facts and circumstances develop. If different estimates and judgments had been applied, materially different amounts might have been reported in the financial statements.
Page 21
Overview
The following highlights do not address all of the matters covered in the other sections of Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations or contain all of the information that may be important to Chubbs shareholders or the investing public. This overview should be read in conjunction with the other sections of Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
| Net income was $506 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $509 million in the same period of 2011. Net income was similar in the two periods as higher operating income in the first quarter of 2012 was offset by lower net realized investment gains. We define operating income as net income excluding realized investment gains and losses after tax. |
| Operating income was $469 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $405 million in the same period of 2011. The higher operating income in 2012 was due to higher underwriting income in our property and casualty business. Property and casualty investment income decreased slightly in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Management uses operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, among other measures, to evaluate its performance because the realization of investment gains and losses in any period could be discretionary as to timing and can fluctuate significantly, which could distort the analysis of operating trends. |
| Underwriting results were profitable in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011, but more so in 2012. Our combined loss and expense ratio was 90.2% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 93.7% in the same period of 2011. The more profitable results in 2012 were due to a substantially lower impact from catastrophes, offset in part by a lower amount of favorable prior year loss development. The impact of catastrophes accounted for 0.8 of a percentage point of the combined ratio in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 9.5 percentage points in the same period of 2011. |
| During the first quarter of 2012, we estimate that we experienced overall favorable development of about $100 million on loss reserves established as of the previous year end. During the first quarter of 2011, we estimate that we experienced overall favorable development of about $220 million. The overall favorable development in both years was due primarily to favorable loss experience in the commercial liability, professional liability and personal insurance classes. |
Page 22
| Total net premiums written increased by 3% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, driven by growth in the United States. Net premiums written in the United States increased by 5% in the first quarter of 2012. The growth in net premiums written in the United States benefited from continued positive pricing trends in the commercial market as well as improving general economic conditions. Net premiums written outside the United States decreased by 1% in U.S. dollars but increased slightly when measured in local currencies. |
| Property and casualty investment income after tax decreased by 1% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, in what continued to be a low yield investment environment. Management uses property and casualty investment income after tax, a non-GAAP financial measure, to evaluate its investment results because it reflects the impact of any change in the proportion of the investment portfolio invested in tax exempt securities and is therefore more meaningful for analysis purposes than investment income before income tax. |
| Net realized investment gains before tax were $56 million ($37 million after tax) in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $160 million ($104 million after tax) in the same period of 2011. The net realized gains in the first quarter of 2012 were primarily related to sales of fixed maturity and equity securities. The net realized gains in the first quarter of 2011 were primarily related to investments in limited partnerships, which generally are reported on a quarter lag. |
A summary of our consolidated net income is as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Property and casualty insurance |
$ | 682 | $ | 588 | ||||
Corporate and other |
(59 | ) | (63 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Consolidated operating income before income tax |
623 | 525 | ||||||
Federal and foreign income tax |
154 | 120 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Consolidated operating income |
469 | 405 | ||||||
Realized investment gains after income tax |
37 | 104 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Consolidated net income |
$ | 506 | $ | 509 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Page 23
Property and Casualty Insurance
A summary of the results of operations of our property and casualty insurance business is as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Underwriting |
||||||||
Net premiums written |
$ | 2,949 | $ | 2,859 | ||||
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums |
2 | (5 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Premiums earned |
2,951 | 2,854 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Losses and loss expenses |
1,707 | 1,765 | ||||||
Operating costs and expenses |
947 | 904 | ||||||
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs |
(14 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||
Dividends to policyholders |
8 | 8 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Underwriting income |
303 | 202 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Investments |
||||||||
Investment income before expenses |
391 | 391 | ||||||
Investment expenses |
11 | 10 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Investment income |
380 | 381 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Other income (charges) |
(1 | ) | 5 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Property and casualty income before tax |
$ | 682 | $ | 588 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Property and casualty investment income after tax |
$ | 308 | $ | 310 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Property and casualty income before tax was significantly higher in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. The higher income in 2012 was due to an increase in underwriting income, attributable to a significantly lower impact of catastrophes in 2012 offset in part by a lower amount of favorable prior year loss development.
The profitability of our property and casualty insurance business depends on the results of both our underwriting and investment operations. We view these as two distinct operations since the underwriting functions are managed separately from the investment function. Accordingly, in assessing our performance, we evaluate underwriting results separately from investment results.
Page 24
Underwriting Results
We evaluate the underwriting results of our property and casualty insurance business in the aggregate and also for each of our separate business units.
Net Premiums Written
Net premiums written were $2.9 billion in the first quarter of both 2012 and 2011. Net premiums written by business unit were as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | % Increase | |||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | (Decrease) | ||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Personal insurance |
$ | 940 | $ | 894 | 5 | % | ||||||
Commercial insurance |
1,405 | 1,326 | 6 | |||||||||
Specialty insurance |
602 | 639 | (6 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total insurance |
2,947 | 2,859 | 3 | |||||||||
Reinsurance assumed |
2 | | * | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
$ | 2,949 | $ | 2,859 | 3 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
* | The change in net premiums written is not presented since the business is in runoff. |
Net premiums written increased by 3% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Net premiums written in the United States, which represented 71% of our total net premiums written in the first quarter of 2012, increased by 5%. Net premiums written outside the United States, expressed in U.S. dollars, decreased by 1%. The decrease in net premiums written outside the United States in the first quarter of 2012 was due to the negative impact of foreign currency translation, reflecting the impact of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to several currencies in which we wrote business in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Net premiums written outside the United States grew slightly in the first quarter of 2012 when measured in local currencies.
We classify business as written in the United States or outside the United States based on the location of the risk associated with the underlying policies. The method of determining location of risk varies by class of business. Location of risk for property lines is typically based on the physical location of the covered property, while location of risk for liability lines may be based on the main location of the insured, or in the case of the workers compensation line, the primary work location of the covered employee.
Net premiums written in the United States grew in the first quarter of 2012 in our personal and commercial insurance segments. Net premiums written in the United States for our professional liability insurance business were flat when compared with the same period of 2011. Growth in our personal insurance business was attributable to new business, strong retention of existing business as well as higher renewal rates. While there was improvement during the first quarter of 2012 in the commercial
Page 25
and professional liability insurance pricing environment, continuing a trend that began during 2011, the positive trend had a more significant impact on growth in our commercial insurance business. Overall, average renewal rates in the first quarter of 2012 in the United States were up significantly in commercial lines and up modestly in the professional liability business in comparison to expiring rates. The amounts of coverage purchased or the insured exposures, both of which are bases upon which we calculate the premiums we charge, were generally flat, although exposure amounts were up in select lines of business. Although we continued to retain a high percentage of our existing customers, retention levels in the first quarter of 2012 were modestly lower than those in the same period of 2011, as we continued to seek renewal rate increases in most of our commercial and specialty classes of business. The overall level of new business in the United States was also down in the first quarter of 2012, reflecting both the competitive market as well as our underwriting discipline.
Premium growth outside the United States in the first quarter of 2012, excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, was modest overall. The most significant growth occurred in the accident and health component of our personal insurance business. Commercial insurance premiums were up slightly outside the United States, while professional liability premiums were down modestly compared with the first quarter of 2011. Average renewal rates outside the United States were up slightly in the first quarter of 2012. However, retention levels and levels of new business outside the United States were generally lower than those in the same period of 2011.
We expect the overall current level of competition within the insurance market will continue through the remainder of 2012. Nevertheless, we also expect that a positive pricing environment, particularly in the commercial classes, will continue as well.
Reinsurance Ceded
Our premiums written are net of amounts ceded to reinsurers who assume a portion of the risk under the insurance policies we write that are subject to reinsurance.
The most significant component of our ceded reinsurance program is property reinsurance. We purchase two main types of property reinsurance: catastrophe and property per risk.
For property risks in the United States and Canada, we purchase traditional catastrophe reinsurance, including our primary treaty which we refer to as our North American catastrophe treaty, as well as supplemental catastrophe reinsurance that provides additional coverage for our exposures in the northeastern United States. For certain exposures in the United States, we have also arranged for the purchase of multiyear, collateralized reinsurance funded through the issuance of collateralized risk-linked securities, known as catastrophe bonds. For events outside the United States, we also purchase traditional catastrophe reinsurance.
Page 26
We renewed our primary traditional property catastrophe treaties and our commercial property per risk treaty in April 2012. While the overall changes in these coverages were modest, we increased our participation in the lower layers of coverage and purchased additional coverage in the higher layers. In March 2012, we also arranged for the purchase of reinsurance through the issuance of a catastrophe bond. This replaced a catastrophe bond arrangement that expired in March 2012 and extended the jurisdictions and perils subject to coverage. The supplemental catastrophe reinsurance that provides coverage for exposures in the northeastern United States expires in June 2012.
The North American catastrophe treaty has an initial retention of $500 million and provides coverage for exposures in the United States and Canada of approximately 59% of losses (net of recoveries from other available reinsurance) between $500 million and $1.65 billion. For certain catastrophic events in the northeastern part of the United States or along the southern U.S. coastline, the combination of the North American catastrophe treaty, supplemental catastrophe reinsurance and/or the catastrophe bond arrangements provide additional coverages as discussed below.
The catastrophe bond arrangements provide reinsurance coverage for specific types of losses in specific geographic locations. They are generally designed to supplement coverage provided under the North American catastrophe treaty. We currently have two catastrophe bond arrangements in effect. We have a $475 million reinsurance arrangement, a portion of which expires in March 2014 and the remainder in March 2015, that provides coverage for homeowners and commercial exposure to certain hurricane, earthquake, severe thunderstorm and winter storm loss events in twelve states in the northeastern United States and the District of Columbia. We also have a $150 million reinsurance arrangement that expires in March 2016 that provides coverage for homeowners-related hurricane and severe thunderstorm losses in eight states along the southern U.S. coastline.
For the indicated catastrophic events in the northeastern United States, the combination of the North American catastrophe treaty, the supplemental catastrophe reinsurance and the $475 million catastrophe bond arrangement provides additional coverage of approximately 66% of losses (net of recoveries from other available reinsurance) between $1.65 billion and $3.65 billion.
For hurricane and severe thunderstorm events along the southern U.S. coastline, the $150 million catastrophe bond arrangement provides coverage of approximately 50% of homeowners-related hurricane and severe thunderstorm losses between $850 million and $1.15 billion.
For hurricane events in Florida, in addition to the coverage provided by the $150 million catastrophe bond arrangement discussed above, we have reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF), which is a state-mandated fund designed to reimburse insurers for a portion of their residential catastrophic hurricane losses. Our participation in this mandatory program limits our initial retention in Florida for homeowners-related losses to approximately $160 million and provides coverage of 90% of covered losses between approximately $160 million and $580 million.
Page 27
Our primary property catastrophe treaty for events outside the United States, including Canada, provides coverage of approximately 75% of losses (net of recoveries from other available reinsurance) between $100 million and $350 million. For catastrophic events in Australia and Canada, additional reinsurance provides coverage of 80% of losses (net of recoveries from other available reinsurance) between $350 million and $475 million.
In addition to catastrophe treaties, we also have a commercial property per risk treaty. This treaty provides coverage per risk of approximately $600 million to $800 million (depending upon the currency in which the insurance policy was issued) in excess of our initial retention. Our initial retention is generally between $25 million and $35 million.
In addition to our major property catastrophe and property per risk treaties, we purchase several smaller property treaties that only cover specific classes of business or locations having potential concentrations of risk.
Recoveries under our property reinsurance treaties are subject to certain coinsurance requirements that affect the interaction of some elements of our reinsurance program.
Our property reinsurance treaties generally contain terrorism exclusions for acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists, and for nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological loss causes whether such acts are perpetrated by foreign or domestic terrorists.
Overall, rates related to the renewal of our property reinsurance program in 2012 were higher than those in 2011 due in large part to the significant worldwide catastrophe losses incurred by the industry in 2011. However, based on the changes in coverage we made upon renewal of the major components of our program, we expect that the overall cost of our property reinsurance program will be modestly lower in 2012 than in 2011.
Profitability
The combined loss and expense ratio (or combined ratio), expressed as a percentage, is the key measure of underwriting profitability traditionally used in the property and casualty insurance business. Management evaluates the performance of our underwriting operations and of each of our business units using, among other measures, the combined loss and expense ratio calculated in accordance with statutory accounting principles. It is the sum of the ratio of losses and loss expenses to premiums earned (loss ratio) plus the ratio of statutory underwriting expenses to premiums written (expense ratio) after reducing both premium amounts by dividends to policyholders. When the combined ratio is under 100%, underwriting results are generally considered profitable; when the combined ratio is over 100%, underwriting results are generally considered unprofitable.
Statutory accounting principles applicable to property and casualty insurance companies differ in certain respects from generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Under statutory accounting principles, policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses are recognized immediately, not at
Page 28
the time premiums are earned. Management uses underwriting results determined in accordance with GAAP, among other measures, to assess the overall performance of our underwriting operations. To convert statutory underwriting results to a GAAP basis, certain policy acquisition expenses are deferred and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. Underwriting income determined in accordance with GAAP is defined as premiums earned less losses and loss expenses incurred and GAAP underwriting expenses incurred.
An accident year is the calendar year in which a loss is incurred or, in the case of claims-made policies, the calendar year in which a loss is reported. The total losses and loss expenses incurred for a particular calendar year include current accident year losses and loss expenses as well as any increases or decreases to our estimates of losses and loss expenses that occurred in all prior accident years, which we refer to as prior year loss development.
Underwriting results were profitable in the first quarter of both 2012 and 2011, but more so in 2012. The combined loss and expense ratio for our overall property and casualty business was as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Loss ratio |
58.0 | % | 62.0 | % | ||||
Expense ratio |
32.2 | 31.7 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Combined loss and expense ratio |
90.2 | % | 93.7 | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
The loss ratio was lower in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 due to a lower impact of catastrophes offset in part by a lower amount of favorable prior year loss development. The current accident year loss ratio excluding catastrophes was similar in the first quarter of 2012 to the ratio in the same period in 2011, reflecting generally lower loss ratios in the short-tail property classes offset by slightly higher loss ratios in many of the long-tail lines. The overall loss ratio excluding catastrophes in the first quarter of each year reflected favorable loss experience that we believe resulted from our disciplined underwriting in recent years as well as relatively moderate loss trends in several classes of business.
The impact of catastrophes in the first quarter of 2012 was $24 million, which represented 0.8 of a percentage point of the combined ratio. This compares with an impact of catastrophes in the first quarter of 2011 of $270 million, which represented 9.5 percentage points of the combined ratio, and included losses related to storms in the United States, flooding in Australia and earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. The impact of catastrophes in the first quarter of 2012 consisted of $45 million of estimated losses related to catastrophic events that occurred in the period reduced by $21 million of favorable development related to prior year catastrophes.
The expense ratio was higher in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 primarily due to an increase in commission rates, largely related to business written outside the United States.
Page 29
Review of Underwriting Results by Business Unit
Personal Insurance
Net premiums written from personal insurance, which represented 32% of our premiums written in the first quarter of 2012, increased by 5% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Net premiums written for the classes of business within the personal insurance segment were as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | % Increase | ||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Automobile |
$ | 164 | $ | 162 | 1 | % | ||||||
Homeowners |
555 | 533 | 4 | |||||||||
Other |
221 | 199 | 11 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total personal |
$ | 940 | $ | 894 | 5 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
Growth in our personal insurance business occurred both inside and outside the United States. Personal automobile premiums increased slightly in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, primarily in the United States, in what remained a highly competitive marketplace. Premiums for personal automobile business written outside the United States were flat in the first quarter of 2012, due to the negative impact of foreign currency translation. Premiums in our homeowners business grew in the United States, reflecting increases in coverage on existing policies and higher renewal rates. Homeowners premiums outside the United States in the first quarter of 2012 were flat compared to the same period in 2011, due to the negative impact of foreign currency translation. Premiums from our other personal business, which includes accident and health, excess liability and yacht coverages, increased significantly in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, with growth occurring both inside and outside the United States. Significant growth occurred in our U.S. excess liability business and in our accident and health business outside the United States. In recent years, an increasing portion of our accident and health business has been written outside the United States.
Our personal insurance business produced highly profitable underwriting results in the first quarter of 2012 compared with profitable results in the same period of 2011. The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within the personal insurance segment were as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Automobile |
91.3 | % | 92.8 | % | ||||
Homeowners |
80.1 | 94.8 | ||||||
Other |
97.3 | 92.2 | ||||||
Total personal |
85.5 | 93.8 |
Page 30
The more profitable results in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 were largely attributable to the lower impact of catastrophes. The impact of catastrophes represented 1.2 percentage points of the combined ratio of our personal insurance business in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 7.8 percentage points in the same period of 2011. Personal insurance results in the first quarter of 2012 also benefited from a lower current accident year loss ratio excluding catastrophes, due to lower non-catastrophe weather-related losses, offset in part by a lower amount of favorable prior year loss development.
Our personal automobile business produced profitable results in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011. Results in the first quarter of both years benefited from moderate claim frequency and favorable prior year loss development.
Homeowners results were highly profitable in the first quarter of 2012 compared with profitable results in the same period of 2011. The more profitable results in 2012 were primarily due to a lower impact of catastrophes and, to a lesser extent, a lower current accident year loss ratio excluding catastrophes, due in part to lower non-catastrophe weather-related losses. Catastrophe losses represented 1.9 percentage points of the combined ratio for this class in the first quarter of 2012, compared with 12.3 percentage points in the same period in 2011.
Other personal results were profitable in the first quarter of both 2012 and 2011, but more so in 2011. The less profitable results in 2012 were due to the accident and health and excess liability components of this business. Our accident and health business produced modestly unprofitable results in the first quarter of 2012 that included some unfavorable prior year loss development, compared with modestly profitable results in the same period of 2011. Our personal excess liability business produced profitable results in the first quarter of both years, but less so in 2012, reflecting greater large loss activity and a lower amount of favorable prior year loss development. Our yacht business produced highly profitable results in the first quarter of both years.
Commercial Insurance
Net premiums written from commercial insurance, which represented 48% of our premiums written in the first quarter of 2012, increased by 6% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period a year ago. Net premiums written for the classes of business within the commercial insurance segment were as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | % Increase | |||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | (Decrease) | ||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Multiple peril |
$ | 261 | $ | 267 | (2 | )% | ||||||
Casualty |
450 | 436 | 3 | |||||||||
Workers compensation |
298 | 243 | 23 | |||||||||
Property and marine |
396 | 380 | 4 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total commercial |
$ | 1,405 | $ | 1,326 | 6 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
Page 31
Premium growth in our commercial insurance business in the first quarter of 2012 was driven by an increase in business written in the United States. Net premiums written for commercial business outside the United States decreased slightly in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 due to the effect of foreign currency translation. Overall, premium growth reflected improved pricing as well as higher audit and endorsement premiums, in a market that offered some new business opportunities but continued to be highly competitive. The improvement in the overall rate environment, which began in 2011, continued in the first quarter of 2012, particularly in the United States. Average renewal rates in the United States increased in the first quarter of 2012 in all major classes of our commercial business. Average renewal rates outside the United States increased slightly in the first quarter of 2012. Retention levels of our existing policyholders remained strong, but were down from those in the first quarter of 2011, both inside and outside the United States. The decline in retention was due to both our effort to increase rates in several classes of business and our non-renewal of some property business in catastrophe exposed areas. In the first quarter of 2012, the average renewal exposure change was flat in the United States and down slightly outside the United States. The amount of new business was down in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, both inside and outside the United States, as we continued to maintain our underwriting discipline in the competitive market. Despite the competitive conditions in the market, we expect that a positive rate environment will continue for the remainder of this year.
Our commercial insurance business produced profitable underwriting results in the first quarter of 2012 compared with near breakeven results in the same period of 2011. The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within the commercial insurance segment were as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Multiple peril |
93.2 | % | 105.9 | % | ||||
Casualty |
93.7 | 83.5 | ||||||
Workers compensation |
95.2 | 89.5 | ||||||
Property and marine |
93.6 | 125.1 | ||||||
Total commercial |
93.3 | 100.7 |
The more profitable results in our commercial insurance business in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 were due primarily to the lower impact of catastrophes, offset in part by a lower amount of favorable prior year loss development. The impact of catastrophes represented 0.9 of a percentage point of the combined ratio for our commercial insurance business in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 16.2 percentage points in the comparable period in 2011. Results in both years benefited from our disciplined risk selection and appropriate policy terms and conditions in recent years.
Page 32
Multiple peril results were profitable in the first quarter of 2012 compared with unprofitable results in the same period of 2011. The more profitable results in 2012 were due to a significant improvement in the property component of this business, primarily due to the lower impact of catastrophes in 2012. The impact of catastrophes in the multiple peril class was 4.3 percentage points of the combined ratio in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 17.0 percentage points in the same period of 2011. The liability component of this business produced profitable results in the first quarter of both years.
Results for our casualty business were profitable in the first quarter of 2012 compared with highly profitable results in the same period of 2011. The less profitable results in the first quarter of 2012 were due to deterioration in the results for the primary liability and automobile components of this business. Results for the primary liability component were unprofitable in the first quarter of 2012 compared with highly profitable results in the same period of 2011, partly due to a higher volume of large reported losses, many of which related to prior accident years. The automobile component of the casualty business produced slightly unprofitable results in the first quarter of 2012 compared with profitable results in the same period of 2011. Results for the excess liability component were highly profitable in the first quarter of both 2012 and 2011. Results in both periods benefited from substantial favorable prior year loss development. Casualty results were adversely affected by incurred losses related to asbestos and toxic waste claims in the first quarter of both years. Our analysis of these exposures resulted in increases in the estimate of our ultimate liabilities. Such losses represented [1.2] and 3.8 percentage points of the combined ratio for the casualty business in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Workers compensation results were profitable in the first quarter of 2012 compared with highly profitable results in the same period of 2011. The less profitable results in the first quarter of 2012 were mainly due to a lower amount of favorable prior year loss development. Results in both years benefited from our disciplined risk selection during the past several years.
Property and marine results were profitable in the first quarter of 2012 compared with highly unprofitable results in the same period of 2011. The improved results in 2012 were primarily due to significantly lower catastrophe losses, offset in part by unfavorable prior year loss development excluding catastrophes. Catastrophe losses for this class were negligible in the first quarter of 2012 compared with an impact of 43.6 percentage points on the combined ratio in the first quarter of 2011.
Specialty Insurance
Net premiums written from specialty insurance, which represented 20% of our premiums written in the first quarter of 2012, decreased by 6% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Net premiums written for the classes of business within the specialty insurance segment were as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | % Decrease | ||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Professional liability |
$ | 538 | $ | 551 | (2 | )% | ||||||
Surety |
64 | 88 | (27 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total specialty |
$ | 602 | $ | 639 | (6 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Page 33
Net premiums written in our professional liability business decreased slightly in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011, due to a decrease in net premiums written outside the United States. Net premiums written for our U.S. professional liability business were flat in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. Premium growth in this business remained constrained by the continuing effect of the economic downturn in recent years and a highly competitive marketplace due to an oversupply of capacity available from market participants. Nevertheless, there was improvement in the overall rate environment, particularly in the United States. We continued to pursue rate increases on our professional liability business renewals to address margin compression experienced in these classes of business in recent years. Average renewal rates for our professional liability business in the United States increased modestly in the first quarter of 2012 compared with those in the same period of 2011, with increases occurring in all major classes of this business. Overall renewal rates outside the United States were flat in the first quarter of 2012. Retention levels and new business volume were lower in the first quarter of 2012 compared with those in the same period of 2011, both inside and outside the United States. We maintained our focus on small and middle market publicly traded and privately held companies and our commitment to maintaining underwriting discipline in this environment.
Net premiums written in our surety business decreased significantly in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. The decrease occurred in our U.S. business primarily due to fewer contracts requiring a surety bond being awarded to our existing customers. The timing of contract awards can vary. Because of this, premium growth in our surety business can vary from period to period.
Our specialty insurance business produced profitable underwriting results in the first quarter of 2012 compared with highly profitable results in the same period of 2011. The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within the specialty insurance segment were as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Professional liability |
98.5 | % | 86.8 | % | ||||
Surety |
56.3 | 50.5 | ||||||
Total specialty |
93.6 | 82.4 |
Our professional liability business produced modestly profitable results in the first quarter of 2012 compared with highly profitable results in the same period of 2011. The less profitable results in 2012 were due to a lower amount of favorable prior year loss development, particularly outside the United States, and, to a lesser extent, a higher current accident year loss ratio and higher expense ratio, compared to the first quarter of 2011.
Results in the directors and officers liability class were profitable in the first quarter of 2012 compared with highly profitable results in the same period of 2011. Results in the fidelity class were profitable in the first quarter of both years. Results in the employment practices liability class were unprofitable in the first quarter of 2012 compared with highly profitable results in the same period of 2011. Results in the errors and omissions
Page 34
liability class were highly unprofitable and reflected unfavorable prior year loss development in the first quarter of both years. Results in the fiduciary liability class were highly profitable in the first quarter of both 2012 and 2011.
Our surety business produced highly profitable results in the first quarter of both 2012 and 2011 due to favorable loss experience. Our surety business tends to be characterized by losses that are infrequent but have the potential to be highly severe.
Reinsurance Assumed
Net premiums written from our reinsurance assumed business, which is in runoff, were not significant in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011.
Reinsurance assumed results were profitable in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011. Results in both years benefited from favorable prior year loss development.
Catastrophe Risk Management
Our property and casualty subsidiaries have exposure to losses caused by natural perils such as hurricanes and other windstorms, earthquakes, severe winter weather and brush fires as well as from man-made catastrophic events such as terrorism. The frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable.
The extent of losses from a natural catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in an area affected by the event and the severity of the event. We regularly assess our concentration of risk exposure in natural catastrophe exposed areas globally and have strategies and underwriting standards to manage this exposure through individual risk selection, subject to regulatory constraints, and through the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance coverage. We use catastrophe modeling and a risk concentration management tool to monitor and control our accumulations of potential losses in natural catastrophe exposed areas in the United States, such as California and the gulf and east coasts, as well as in natural catastrophe exposed areas in other countries. The information provided by the catastrophe modeling and the risk concentration management tool has resulted in our non-renewing some accounts and refraining from writing others.
Catastrophe modeling generally relies on multiple inputs based on experience, science, engineering and history, and the selection of those inputs requires a significant amount of judgment. The modeling results may also fail to account for risks that are outside the range of normal probability or are otherwise unforeseen. Because of this, actual results may differ materially from those derived from our modeling exercises.
We also continue to actively explore and analyze credible scientific evidence, including the potential impact of global climate change, that may affect our ability to manage exposure under the insurance policies we issue as well as the impact that laws and regulations intended to combat climate change could have on us.
Page 35
Despite our efforts to manage our catastrophe exposure, the occurrence of one or more severe natural catastrophic events in heavily populated areas could have a material effect on the Corporations results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.
Loss Reserves
Unpaid losses and loss expenses, also referred to as loss reserves, are the largest liability of our property and casualty subsidiaries.
Our loss reserves include case estimates for claims that have been reported and estimates for claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date as well as estimates of the expenses associated with processing and settling all reported and unreported claims, less estimates of anticipated salvage and subrogation recoveries. Estimates are based upon past loss experience modified for current trends as well as prevailing economic, legal and social conditions. Our loss reserves are not discounted to present value.
We regularly review our loss reserves using a variety of actuarial techniques. We update the reserve estimates as historical loss experience develops, additional claims are reported and/or settled and new information becomes available. Any changes in estimates are reflected in operating results in the period in which the estimates are changed.
Incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserve estimates are generally calculated by first projecting the ultimate cost of all claims that have occurred and then subtracting reported losses and loss expenses. Reported losses include cumulative paid losses and loss expenses plus case reserves. The IBNR reserve includes a provision for claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported to us, some of which are not yet known to the insured, as well as a provision for future development on reported claims. A relatively large proportion of our net loss reserves, particularly for long tail liability classes, are reserves for IBNR losses. In fact, about 70% of our aggregate net loss reserves at March 31, 2012 were for IBNR losses.
Page 36
Our gross case and incurred but not reported (IBNR) loss reserves and related reinsurance recoverable by class of business were as follows:
Gross Loss Reserves | Reinsurance | Net Loss |
||||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2012 | Case | IBNR | Total | Recoverable | Reserves | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal insurance |
||||||||||||||||||||
Automobile |
$ | 266 | $ | 150 | $ | 416 | $ | 16 | $ | 400 | ||||||||||
Homeowners |
381 | 353 | 734 | 11 | 723 | |||||||||||||||
Other |
358 | 653 | 1,011 | 126 | 885 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total personal |
1,005 | 1,156 | 2,161 | 153 | 2,008 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Commercial insurance |
||||||||||||||||||||
Multiple peril |
597 | 1,195 | 1,792 | 30 | 1,762 | |||||||||||||||
Casualty |
1,384 | 5,293 | 6,677 | 350 | 6,327 | |||||||||||||||
Workers compensation |
921 | 1,727 | 2,648 | 197 | 2,451 | |||||||||||||||
Property and marine |
844 | 573 | 1,417 | 337 | 1,080 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total commercial |
3,746 | 8,788 | 12,534 | 914 | 11,620 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Specialty insurance |
||||||||||||||||||||
Professional liability |
1,496 | 6,120 | 7,616 | 398 | 7,218 | |||||||||||||||
Surety |
26 | 58 | 84 | 6 | 78 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total specialty |
1,522 | 6,178 | 7,700 | 404 | 7,296 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total insurance |
6,273 | 16,122 | 22,395 | 1,471 | 20,924 | |||||||||||||||
Reinsurance assumed |
236 | 446 | 682 | 231 | 451 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
$ | 6,509 | $ | 16,568 | $ | 23,077 | $ | 1,702 | $ | 21,375 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Gross Loss Reserves | Reinsurance | Net Loss |
||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2011 | Case | IBNR | Total | Recoverable | Reserves | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal insurance |
||||||||||||||||||||
Automobile |
$ | 269 | $ | 151 | $ | 420 | $ | 16 | $ | 404 | ||||||||||
Homeowners |
431 | 349 | 780 | 11 | 769 | |||||||||||||||
Other |
392 | 649 | 1,041 | 139 | 902 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total personal |
1,092 | 1,149 | 2,241 | 166 | 2,075 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Commercial insurance |
||||||||||||||||||||
Multiple peril |
600 | 1,169 | 1,769 | 34 | 1,735 | |||||||||||||||
Casualty |
1,388 | 5,229 | 6,617 | 343 | 6,274 | |||||||||||||||
Workers compensation |
913 | 1,669 | 2,582 | 190 | 2,392 | |||||||||||||||
Property and marine |
896 | 558 | 1,454 | 336 | 1,118 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total commercial |
3,797 | 8,625 | 12,422 | 903 | 11,519 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Specialty insurance |
||||||||||||||||||||
Professional liability |
1,498 | 6,098 | 7,596 | 416 | 7,180 | |||||||||||||||
Surety |
27 | 54 | 81 | 6 | 75 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total specialty |
1,525 | 6,152 | 7,677 | 422 | 7,255 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total insurance |
6,414 | 15,926 | 22,340 | 1,491 | 20,849 | |||||||||||||||
Reinsurance assumed |
240 | 488 | 728 | 248 | 480 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
$ | 6,654 | $ | 16,414 | $ | 23,068 | $ | 1,739 | $ | 21,329 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 37
Loss reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, increased by $46 million during the first quarter of 2012. Loss reserves related to our insurance business increased by $75 million during the first quarter of 2012, which reflected decreases of approximately $114 million related to catastrophe losses and approximately $10 million related to the effect of foreign currency translation due to the stronger U.S. dollar at March 31, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011. Loss reserves related to our reinsurance assumed business, which is in runoff, decreased by $29 million.
The decreases in our homeowners and property and marine gross case reserves during the first quarter of 2012 were due largely to payments during the first quarter of 2012 on catastrophe-related claims that were unpaid at December 31, 2011. The increase in IBNR reserves in our commercial insurance business occurred primarily in the workers compensation class, the multiple peril class and the casualty class, largely related to primary general liability coverage, reflecting premium growth as well as some margin compression experienced in these classes in recent periods.
In establishing the loss reserves of our property and casualty subsidiaries, we consider facts currently known and the present state of the law and coverage litigation. Based on all information currently available, we believe that the aggregate loss reserves at March 31, 2012 were adequate to cover claims for losses that had occurred as of that date, including both those known to us and those yet to be reported. However, as discussed in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, there are significant uncertainties inherent in the loss reserving process. It is therefore possible that managements estimate of the ultimate liability for losses that had occurred as of March 31, 2012 may change, which could have a material effect on the Corporations results of operations and financial condition.
Changes in loss reserve estimates are unavoidable because such estimates are subject to the outcome of future events. Loss trends vary and time is required for changes in trends to be recognized and confirmed. Reserve changes that increase previous estimates of ultimate cost are referred to as unfavorable or adverse development or reserve strengthening. Reserve changes that decrease previous estimates of ultimate cost are referred to as favorable development or reserve releases.
We estimate that we experienced overall favorable prior year development of about $100 million during the first quarter of 2012 compared with favorable prior year development of about $220 million in the comparable period of 2011.
The favorable development in the first quarter of 2012 was primarily in the commercial liability and professional liability classes due to continued favorable loss experience related mainly to accident years 2009 and prior, and in the personal insurance classes. The favorable development in the first quarter of 2011 occurred primarily in the commercial liability classes related mainly to accident years 2007 and prior, in the professional liability classes related to accident years 2007 and prior, and to a lesser extent, in the personal insurance classes.
Page 38
Investment Results
Property and casualty investment income before taxes decreased slightly in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Growth was limited by average yields on our investment portfolio that were similar in both periods and a modest decline in average invested assets. The average yield on the fixed maturity investment portfolio of the property and casualty subsidiaries decreased slightly for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 due to the continuing impact of lower reinvestment yields compared to those on fixed maturity securities that matured, were redeemed by the issuer or were sold since the first quarter of 2011. The average invested assets of the property and casualty subsidiaries were modestly lower during the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011 due to the substantial dividend distributions made by the property and casualty subsidiaries to Chubb during 2011.
The effective tax rate on our investment income was 18.9% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 18.6% in the same period of 2011. The effective tax rate fluctuates as the proportion of tax exempt investment income relative to total investment income changes from period to period.
On an after-tax basis, property and casualty investment income decreased by 1% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. The after-tax annualized yield on the investment portfolio that supports our property and casualty insurance business was 3.21% and 3.20% in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Other Income and Charges
Other income and charges, which includes miscellaneous income and expenses of the property and casualty subsidiaries, was not significant in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011.
Corporate and Other
Corporate and other comprises investment income earned on corporate invested assets, interest expense and other expenses not allocated to our operating subsidiaries and the results of our non-insurance subsidiaries.
Corporate and other produced a loss before taxes of $59 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to a loss of $63 million for the same period of 2011. The lower loss in the first quarter of 2012 was primarily due to lower interest expense resulting from the repayment of $400 million of outstanding notes upon maturity in November 2011.
Page 39
Realized Investment Gains and Losses
Net realized investment gains and losses were as follows:
Quarter Ended March 31 | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Net realized gains |
||||||||
Fixed maturities |
$ | 35 | $ | 2 | ||||
Equity securities |
19 | 19 | ||||||
Other invested assets |
8 | 141 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
62 | 162 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Other-than-temporary impairment losses |
||||||||
Fixed maturities |
(1 | ) | | |||||
Equity securities |
(5 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
(6 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Realized investment gains before tax |
$ | 56 | $ | 160 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Realized investment gains after tax |
$ | 37 | $ | 104 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The net realized gains of our other invested assets represent primarily the aggregate of realized gain distributions to us from the limited partnerships in which we have an interest and changes in our equity in the net assets of those partnerships based on valuations provided to us by the manager of each partnership. Due to the timing of our receipt of valuation data from the investment managers, these investments are generally reported on a one quarter lag.
The net realized gains of the limited partnerships reported in the first quarter of 2012 primarily reflected the strong performance of the U.S. equity markets in the fourth quarter of 2011 offset by the negative performance of several non-U.S. equity markets, particularly in Asia, in the same period. The net realized gains of the limited partnerships reported in the first quarter of 2011 reflected the strong performance of the U.S. equity and high yield investment markets in the fourth quarter of 2010.
We regularly review invested assets that have a fair value less than cost to determine if an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred. We have a monitoring process overseen by a committee of investment and accounting professionals that is responsible for identifying those securities to be specifically evaluated for a potential other-than-temporary impairment.
The determination of whether a decline in value of any investment is temporary or other than temporary requires the judgment of management. The assessment of other-than-temporary impairment of fixed maturities and equity securities is based on both quantitative criteria and qualitative information and also considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, whether the issuer is
Page 40
current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, general market conditions and industry or sector specific factors. The decision to recognize a decline in the value of a security carried at fair value as other than temporary rather than temporary has no impact on shareholders equity.
In determining whether fixed maturities are other than temporarily impaired, we are required to recognize an other-than-temporary impairment loss for a fixed maturity when we conclude that we have the intent to sell or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell an impaired fixed maturity before the security recovers to its amortized cost value or it is likely we will not recover the entire amortized cost value of an impaired security. If we have the intent to sell or it is more likely than not we will be required to sell an impaired fixed maturity before the security recovers to its amortized cost value, the security is written down to fair value and the entire amount of the writedown is included in net income as a realized investment loss. For all other impaired fixed maturities, the impairment loss is separated into the amount representing the credit loss and the amount representing the loss related to all other factors. The amount of the impairment loss that represents the credit loss is included in net income as a realized investment loss and the amount of the impairment loss that relates to all other factors is included in other comprehensive income.
In determining whether equity securities are other than temporarily impaired, we consider our intent and ability to hold a security for a period of time sufficient to allow us to recover our cost. If a decline in the fair value of an equity security is deemed to be other than temporary, the security is written down to fair value and the amount of the writedown is included in net income as a realized investment loss.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Capital resources and liquidity represent a companys overall financial strength and its ability to generate cash flows, borrow funds at competitive rates and raise new capital to meet operating and growth needs.
Capital Resources
Capital resources provide protection for policyholders, furnish the financial strength to support the business of underwriting insurance risks and facilitate continued business growth. At March 31, 2012, the Corporation had shareholders equity of $15.5 billion and total debt of $3.6 billion.
Management regularly monitors the Corporations capital resources. In connection with our long term capital strategy, Chubb from time to time contributes capital to its property and casualty subsidiaries. In addition, in order to satisfy capital needs as a result of any rating agency capital adequacy or other future rating issues, or in the event we were to need additional capital to make strategic investments in light of market opportunities, we may take a variety of actions, which could include the issuance of additional debt and/or equity securities. We believe that our strong financial position and current debt level provide us with the flexibility and capacity to obtain funds externally through debt or equity financings on both a short term and long term basis.
Page 41
In December 2010, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 30,000,000 shares of Chubbs common stock. We repurchased shares under this authorization through January 2012, at which time all repurchases allowed under the authorization were completed. In January 2012, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $1.2 billion of Chubbs common stock. Under these authorizations, during the first three months of 2012, we repurchased 4,391,046 shares of Chubbs common stock in open market transactions at a cost of $301 million. As of March 31, 2012, $963 million remained under the January 2012 share repurchase authorization. We expect to complete the repurchase of shares under this authorization by the end of January 2013, subject to market conditions.
Ratings
Chubb and its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries are rated by major rating agencies. These ratings reflect the rating agencys opinion of our financial strength, operating performance, strategic position and ability to meet our obligations to policyholders.
Credit ratings assess a companys ability to make timely payments of interest and principal on its debt. Financial strength ratings assess an insurers ability to meet its financial obligations to policyholders.
Ratings are an important factor in establishing our competitive position in the insurance markets. There can be no assurance that our ratings will continue for any given period of time or that they will not be changed.
It is possible that one or more of the rating agencies may raise or lower our existing ratings in the future. If our credit ratings were downgraded, we might incur higher borrowing costs and might have more limited means to access capital. A downgrade in our financial strength ratings could adversely affect the competitive position of our insurance operations, including a possible reduction in demand for our products in certain markets.
Liquidity
Liquidity is a measure of a companys ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the short and long term cash requirements of its business operations.
The Corporations liquidity requirements in the past have generally been met by funds from operations and we expect that in the future funds from operations will continue to be sufficient to meet such requirements. Liquidity requirements could also be met by funds received upon the maturity or sale of marketable securities in our investment portfolio. The Corporation also has the ability to borrow under its existing $500 million credit facility and we believe we could issue debt or equity securities.
Our property and casualty operations provide liquidity in that insurance premiums are generally received months or even years before losses are paid under the policies purchased by such premiums. Cash receipts from operations, consisting of insurance premiums and investment income, provide funds to pay losses, operating expenses and dividends to Chubb. After satisfying our cash requirements, excess cash flows are used to build the investment portfolio, with the expectation of generating increased future investment income.
Page 42
Our underwriting and investment results generated substantial positive operating cash flows in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The cash provided by the property and casualty subsidiaries operating activities was modestly lower in the first three months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 due in part to higher loss payments partially offset by lower tax payments. During the first three months of 2012, the cash provided by the property and casualty subsidiaries operating activities exceeded the cash used for financing activities (primarily the payment of dividends to Chubb) by approximately $100 million. In the first three months of 2012, dividends paid to Chubb by the property and casualty subsidiaries were $300 million compared to $600 million in the comparable period of 2011. During the first three months of 2011, cash used by the property and casualty subsidiaries for financing activities (primarily the payment of dividends) exceeded the cash provided by operating activities by approximately $100 million.
Our property and casualty subsidiaries maintain substantial investments in highly liquid, short term marketable securities. Accordingly, we do not anticipate selling long term fixed maturity investments to meet any liquidity needs.
Chubbs liquidity requirements primarily include the payment of dividends to shareholders and interest and principal on debt obligations. The declaration and payment of future dividends to Chubbs shareholders will be at the discretion of Chubbs Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including our operating results, financial condition, capital requirements and any regulatory constraints.
As a holding company, Chubbs ability to continue to pay dividends to shareholders and to satisfy its debt obligations relies on the availability of liquid assets, which is dependent in large part on the dividend paying ability of its property and casualty subsidiaries. The timing and amount of dividends paid by the property and casualty subsidiaries to Chubb may vary from year to year. Our property and casualty subsidiaries are subject to laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which they operate that restrict the amount and timing of dividends they may pay within twelve consecutive months without the prior approval of regulatory authorities. The restrictions are generally based on net income and on certain levels of policyholders surplus as determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices. Dividends in excess of such thresholds are considered extraordinary and require prior regulatory approval.
The $300 million of dividends paid by the property and casualty subsidiaries to Chubb during the first three months of 2012 were deemed to be extraordinary under applicable insurance regulations due to the limitation on the amount of dividends that may be paid within twelve consecutive months. Regulatory approval was required and obtained for the payment of these dividends. As a result of the timing and/or amount of the dividends paid in 2011, regulatory approval will be required for the payment of any dividends by the subsidiaries during the second quarter of 2012. Whether any dividend payments during the remainder of 2012 require regulatory approval will depend on the amount and timing of such dividend payments by the subsidiaries to Chubb. As of March 31, 2012, the maximum aggregate dividend distribution that may be made by the subsidiaries to Chubb during the second half of 2012 without prior regulatory approval was approximately $1.5 billion.
Page 43
Invested Assets
The main objectives in managing our investment portfolios are to maximize after-tax investment income and total investment return while minimizing credit risk and managing interest rate risk in order to ensure that funds will be available to meet our insurance obligations. Investment strategies are developed based on many factors including underwriting results and our resulting tax position, regulatory requirements, fluctuations in interest rates and consideration of other market risks. Investment decisions are centrally managed by investment professionals based on guidelines established by management and approved by the boards of directors of Chubb and its respective operating companies.
Our investment portfolio primarily comprises high quality bonds, principally tax exempt securities, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury securities, as well as foreign government and corporate bonds that support our operations outside the United States. The portfolio also includes equity securities, primarily publicly traded common stocks, and other invested assets, primarily private equity limited partnerships, all of which are held with the primary objective of capital appreciation.
Our objective is to achieve the appropriate mix of taxable and tax exempt securities in our portfolio to balance both investment and tax strategies. At March 31, 2012, 67% of our fixed maturity portfolio that supports our U.S. operations was invested in tax exempt securities. At March 31, 2012, about 80% of our tax exempt securities were rated Aa or better, with about 25% of our tax exempt securities rated Aaa. The average rating of our tax exempt securities was Aa. While about 30% of our tax exempt securities were insured, the effect of insurance on the average credit rating of these securities was insignificant. The insured tax exempt securities in our portfolio have been selected based on the quality of the underlying credit and not the value of the credit insurance enhancement.
At March 31, 2012, 6% of our taxable fixed maturity portfolio was invested in U.S. government and government agency and authority obligations other than mortgage-backed securities and had an average rating of Aa. About 70% of the U.S. government and government agency and authority obligations other than mortgage-backed securities were U.S. Treasury securities with an average rating of Aaa and the remainder were taxable bonds issued by states, municipalities and political subdivisions within the United States with an average rating of Aa.
At March 31, 2012, 39% of our taxable fixed maturity portfolio consisted of corporate bonds other than mortgage-backed securities, which were issued by a diverse group of U.S. and foreign issuers and had an average rating of A. About 60% of our corporate bonds other than mortgage-backed securities were issued by U.S. companies and about 40% were issued by foreign companies. Our foreign corporate bonds included $88 million, $49 million and $43 million issued by companies, including banks, in Italy, Spain and Ireland, respectively. We held no bonds issued by companies in Greece or Portugal.
Page 44
At March 31, 2012, 39% of our taxable fixed maturity portfolio was invested in foreign government and government agency obligations, which had an average rating of Aa. The foreign government and government agency obligations consisted of high quality securities, primarily issued by national governments and, to a lesser extent, government agencies, regional governments and supranational organizations. The five largest issuers within this portfolio were Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and Brazil, which collectively accounted for about 75% of our total foreign government and government agency obligations. Another 7% of our total foreign government and government agency obligations were issued by supranational organizations. We held no sovereign securities issued by Greece, Portugal, Ireland or Italy and held only $12 million of sovereign securities issued by Spain. We held an insignificant amount of foreign government or government agency fixed maturities that have a third party guarantee.
At March 31, 2012, 16% of our taxable fixed maturity portfolio was invested in mortgage-backed securities. About 95% of the mortgage-backed securities were rated Aaa. About half of the remaining 5% were below investment grade. Of the Aaa rated securities, 24% were residential mortgage-backed securities, consisting of government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or a government sponsored enterprise (GSE), GSE collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and other CMOs, all backed by single family home mortgages. The majority of our CMOs are actively traded in liquid markets. The other 76% of the Aaa rated securities were call protected, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). About 95% of our CMBS were senior securities with the highest level of subordination. The remainder of our CMBS were seasoned securities that were issued in 1998 or earlier.
The net unrealized appreciation before tax of our fixed maturities and equity securities carried at fair value was $2.8 billion at March 31, 2012 compared with net unrealized appreciation before tax of $2.7 billion at December 31, 2011. Such unrealized appreciation is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of applicable deferred income tax.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments
Fair values of financial instruments are determined using valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Fair values are generally measured using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities or other inputs, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, that are observable either directly or indirectly. In those instances where observable inputs are not available, fair values are measured using unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs reflect our own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Fair value estimates derived from unobservable inputs are affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rates and the estimated amounts and timing of future cash flows. The derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in a current market exchange.
Page 45
The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair values of our fixed maturities and equity securities into three broad levels as follows:
Level 1 | | Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. | ||
Level 2 | | Other inputs that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly. | ||
Level 3 | | Inputs that are unobservable. |
The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values of financial instruments are as follows:
Fair values for fixed maturities are determined by management, utilizing prices obtained from a third party, nationally recognized pricing service or, in the case of securities for which prices are not provided by a pricing service, from a third party broker. For fixed maturities that have quoted prices in active markets, market quotations are provided. For fixed maturities that do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing service and brokers provide fair value estimates using a variety of inputs including, but not limited to, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, bids, offers, reference data, prepayment rates and measures of volatility. Management reviews on an ongoing basis the reasonableness of the methodologies used by the relevant pricing service and brokers. In addition, management, using the prices received for the securities from the pricing service and brokers, determines the aggregate portfolio price performance and reviews it against applicable indices. If management believes that significant discrepancies exist, it will discuss these with the relevant pricing service or broker to resolve the discrepancies.
Fair values of equity securities are based on quoted market prices.
The carrying value of short term investments approximates fair value due to the short maturities of these investments.
Fair values of long term debt issued by Chubb are determined by management, utilizing prices obtained from a third party, nationally recognized pricing service.
We use a pricing service to estimate fair value measurements for approximately 99% of our fixed maturities. The prices we obtain from a pricing service and brokers generally are non-binding, but are reflective of current market transactions in the applicable financial instruments.
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we held an insignificant amount of financial instruments in our investment portfolio for which a lack of market liquidity impacted our determination of fair value.
Page 46
Change in Accounting Principle
Effective January 1, 2012, we adopted new guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board related to the accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The guidance identifies those costs relating to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts that should be capitalized. The Corporation elected retrospective application of this guidance under which deferred policy acquisition costs and related deferred income tax liabilities were reduced as of the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements, offset by a cumulative effect adjustment that reduced retained earnings. The adoption of this guidance decreased deferred policy acquisition costs by $420 million, decreased deferred income tax liabilities by $147 million and decreased shareholders equity by $273 million as of December 31, 2011. The effect of the adoption of the new guidance on net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 was not material. The change in accounting is discussed further in Note (2) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 4 Controls and Procedures
As of March 31, 2012, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporations disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporations management, including Chubbs chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Corporations disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2012.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporations internal control over financial reporting.
Page 47
The information required with respect to Item 1 is included in Note (6) of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, which information is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.
The Corporations business is subject to a number of risks, including those identified in Item 1A of Chubbs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, that could have a material effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity and that could cause our operating results to vary significantly from fiscal period to fiscal period. The risks described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also could have a material effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity.
Item 2 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table summarizes Chubbs stock repurchased each month in the quarter ended March 31, 2012:
Maximum | ||||||||||||||||
Total Number of | Approximate Dollar | |||||||||||||||
Shares Purchased | Value of Shares | |||||||||||||||
Total Number | Average | as Part of | that May Yet Be | |||||||||||||
of Shares | Price Paid | Publicly Announced | Purchased Under the | |||||||||||||
Purchased(a) | Per Share | Plans or Programs | Plans or Programs(b) | |||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Period |
||||||||||||||||
January 2012 |
1,109,407 | $ | 69.26 | 1,109,407 | $ | 1,187 | ||||||||||
February 2012 |
2,316,539 | 68.45 | 2,316,539 | 1,028 | ||||||||||||
March 2012 |
965,100 | 67.47 | 965,100 | 963 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
4,391,046 | 68.44 | 4,391,046 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(a) | The stated amounts exclude 1,482 shares, 375 shares and 9,171 shares delivered to Chubb during the months of January 2012, February 2012 and March 2012, respectively, by employees of the Corporation to cover option exercise prices in connection with the Corporations stock-based compensation plans. |
(b) | On December 9, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 30,000,000 shares of Chubbs common stock. No shares remain under this share repurchase authorization. On January 26, 2012, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $1.2 billion of Chubbs common stock. The authorization has no expiration date. |
Page 48
Exhibit Number |
Description | |||
- | Material Contracts | |||
10.1 | Schedule of Salary Actions for Named Executive Officers incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.1) of the registrants Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 28, 2012. | |||
10.2 | Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan (2009) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.2) of the registrants Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 28, 2012. | |||
10.3 | Amendment No. 3, dated as of February 23, 2012, to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2003, between The Chubb Corporation and John D. Finnegan incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.3) of the registrants Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 28, 2012. | |||
- | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications | |||
31.1 | Certification by John D. Finnegan filed herewith. | |||
31.2 | Certification by Richard G. Spiro filed herewith. | |||
- | Section 1350 Certifications | |||
32.1 | Certification by John D. Finnegan filed herewith. | |||
32.2 | Certification by Richard G. Spiro filed herewith. | |||
- | Interactive Data File | |||
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document | |||
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |||
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |||
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | |||
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | |||
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, The Chubb Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
THE CHUBB CORPORATION | ||||||
(Registrant) | ||||||
By: | /s/ John J. Kennedy | |||||
John J. Kennedy | ||||||
Senior Vice-President and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||||
Date: May 7, 2012 |
Exhibit 31.1
THE CHUBB CORPORATION
CERTIFICATION
I, John D. Finnegan, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Chubb Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
(b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
(c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
(d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: May 7, 2012 |
/s/ John D. Finnegan |
John D. Finnegan Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 31.2
THE CHUBB CORPORATION
CERTIFICATION
I, Richard G. Spiro, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Chubb Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
(b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
(c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
(d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: May 7, 2012 |
/s/ Richard G. Spiro |
Richard G. Spiro Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 32.1
THE CHUBB CORPORATION
CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT
I, John D. Finnegan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Chubb Corporation (the Corporation), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) | the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012 (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and |
(2) | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation. |
Dated: May 7, 2012 |
/s/ John D. Finnegan |
John D. Finnegan Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 32.2
THE CHUBB CORPORATION
CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT
I, Richard G. Spiro, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Chubb Corporation (the Corporation), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) | the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012 (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and |
(2) | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation. |
Dated: May 7, 2012 |
/s/ Richard G. Spiro |
Richard G. Spiro Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Invested Assets (Details Textual) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
Mar. 31, 2012
Investment
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Invested Assets [Abstract] | ||
Fixed maturities other-than-temporary impairment losses in gross unrealized depreciation | $ 2 | $ 3 |
Approximate number of individual fixed maturity and equity securities in unrealized loss position | 285 | |
Approximate number of individual fixed maturities in unrealized loss position | 260 | |
Cumulative credit losses recognized in net income | $ 20 | $ 20 |
Invested Assets
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Invested Assets [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Invested Assets |
3) Invested Assets (a) The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities and equity securities were as follows:
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the gross unrealized depreciation of fixed maturities included $2 million and $3 million, respectively, of unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income.
The fair value and amortized cost of fixed maturities at March 31, 2012 by contractual maturity were as follows:
Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations. The Corporation’s equity securities comprise a diversified portfolio of primarily U.S. publicly-traded common stocks. The Corporation is involved in the normal course of business with variable interest entities (VIEs) primarily as a passive investor in residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and private equity limited partnerships issued by third party VIEs. The Corporation is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. The Corporation’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to these investments is limited to the investment carrying values included in the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheet and any unfunded partnership commitments. (b) The components of unrealized appreciation or depreciation, including unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses, of investments carried at fair value were as follows:
When the fair value of an investment is lower than its cost, an assessment is made to determine whether the decline is temporary or other than temporary. The assessment of other-than-temporary impairment of fixed maturities and equity securities is based on both quantitative criteria and qualitative information and also considers a number of other factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, general market conditions and industry or sector specific factors. In determining whether fixed maturities are other than temporarily impaired, the Corporation is required to recognize an other-than-temporary impairment loss when it concludes it has the intent to sell or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell an impaired fixed maturity before the security recovers to its amortized cost value or it is likely it will not recover the entire amortized cost value of an impaired security. If the Corporation has the intent to sell or it is more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell an impaired fixed maturity before the security recovers to its amortized cost value, the security is written down to fair value and the entire amount of the writedown is included in net income as a realized investment loss. For all other impaired fixed maturities, the impairment loss is separated into the amount representing the credit loss and the amount representing the loss related to all other factors. The amount of the impairment loss that represents the credit loss is included in net income as a realized investment loss and the amount of the impairment loss that relates to all other factors is included in other comprehensive income. For fixed maturities, the split between the amount of other-than-temporary impairment losses that represents credit losses and the amount that relates to all other factors is principally based on assumptions regarding the amount and timing of projected cash flows. For fixed maturities other than mortgage-backed securities, cash flow estimates are based on assumptions regarding the probability of default and estimates regarding the timing and amount of recoveries associated with a default. For mortgage-backed securities, cash flow estimates are based on assumptions regarding future prepayment rates, default rates, loss severity and timing of recoveries. The Corporation has developed the estimates of projected cash flows using information based on historical market data, industry analyst reports and forecasts and other data relevant to the collectability of a security. In determining whether equity securities are other than temporarily impaired, the Corporation considers its intent and ability to hold a security for a period of time sufficient to allow for the recovery of cost. If the decline in the fair value of an equity security is deemed to be other than temporary, the security is written down to fair value and the amount of the writedown is included in net income as a realized investment loss.
The following table summarizes, for all investment securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized depreciation, including unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses, by investment category and length of time that individual securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.
At March 31, 2012, approximately 285 individual fixed maturity and equity securities were in an unrealized loss position, of which approximately 260 were fixed maturities. The Corporation does not have the intent to sell and it is not more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell these fixed maturities before the securities recover to their amortized cost value. In addition, the Corporation believes that none of the declines in the fair values of these fixed maturities relate to credit losses. The Corporation has the intent and ability to hold the equity securities in an unrealized loss position for a period of time sufficient to allow for the recovery of cost. The Corporation believes that none of the declines in the fair value of these fixed maturities and equity securities were other than temporary at March 31, 2012.
The following table summarizes, for all investment securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2011, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized depreciation, including unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses, by investment category and length of time that individual securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.
The change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments carried at fair value, including the change in unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses, was as follows:
(c) Realized investment gains and losses were as follows:
(d) As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, fixed maturities still held by the Corporation for which a portion of their other-than-temporary impairment losses were recognized in other comprehensive income had cumulative credit-related losses of $20 million recognized in net income. |