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Investments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments
Investments
(a) Fixed Maturities, Short-Term Investments and Equity Securities
Amortized Cost and Fair Value Summary
The cost (amortized cost for fixed maturities and short-term investments), fair value, gross unrealized gains and gross unrealized (losses), including other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) of the Company’s available for sale (“AFS”) and held to maturity (“HTM”) investments at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were as follows:
March 31, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Non-credit Related OTTI (1)
Fixed maturities - AFS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported (2)
$
2,282,321

 
$
59,678

 
$
(22,947
)
 
$
2,319,052

 
$

Corporate (3) (4)
10,697,760

 
490,229

 
(79,484
)
 
11,108,505

 
(4,758
)
RMBS – Agency
3,186,504

 
74,788

 
(38,809
)
 
3,222,483

 

RMBS – Non-Agency
389,181

 
36,836

 
(24,624
)
 
401,393

 
(71,999
)
CMBS
1,172,597

 
36,282

 
(10,567
)
 
1,198,312

 
(2,662
)
CDO
758,469

 
3,649

 
(37,058
)
 
725,060

 
(1,936
)
Other asset-backed securities (5)
1,156,561

 
46,219

 
(6,468
)
 
1,196,312

 
(2,117
)
U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States
1,832,247

 
84,695

 
(14,491
)
 
1,902,451

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported (2)
5,009,524

 
110,972

 
(54,240
)
 
5,066,256

 

Total fixed maturities - AFS
$
26,485,164

 
$
943,348

 
$
(288,688
)
 
$
27,139,824

 
$
(83,472
)
Total short-term investments (2)
$
382,509

 
$
181

 
$
(577
)
 
$
382,113

 
$

Total equity securities (6)
$
907,952

 
$
166,197

 
$
(18,756
)
 
$
1,055,393

 
$

Total investments - AFS
$
27,775,625

 
$
1,109,726

 
$
(308,021
)
 
$
28,577,330

 
$
(83,472
)
Fixed maturities - HTM
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported (2)
$
11,052

 
$
918

 
$

 
$
11,970

 
$

Corporate
1,376,931

 
135,909

 
(190
)
 
1,512,650

 

RMBS – Non-Agency
67,037

 
6,743

 

 
73,780

 

CMBS
145,005

 
15,215

 

 
160,220

 

Other asset-backed securities (5)
106,514

 
9,437

 

 
115,951

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported (2)
1,147,948

 
186,656

 

 
1,334,604

 

Total investments - HTM
$
2,854,487

 
$
354,878

 
$
(190
)
 
$
3,209,175

 
$

___________
(1)
Represents the non-credit component of OTTI losses, adjusted for subsequent sales of securities. It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date.
(2)
U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported, Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincials, Supranationals and Government-Related/Supported and Total short-term investments includes government-related securities with an amortized cost of $2,301.8 million and fair value of $2,365.0 million and U.S. Agencies with an amortized cost of $238.0 million and fair value of $261.5 million.
(3)
Included within Corporate are certain medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European investment grade credit with varying degrees of leverage. The notes have a fair value of $154.7 million and an amortized cost of $146.2 million. These notes allow the investor to participate in cash flows of the underlying bonds including certain residual values, which could serve to either decrease or increase the ultimate values of these notes.
(4)
Included within Corporate are Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments, which are senior to the common and preferred equities of the financial institutions. These securities have a fair value of $279.8 million and an amortized cost of $281.3 million.
(5)
Covered Bonds within Fixed maturities - AFS with an amortized cost of $508.3 million and a fair value of $537.5 million and Covered Bonds within Fixed maturities - HTM with an amortized cost of $8.6 million and a fair value of $8.9 million are included within Other asset-backed securities to align the Company's classification to market indices.
(6)
Included within Total equity securities are investments in fixed income funds with a fair value of $89.1 million and an amortized cost of $100.9 million.
December 31, 2013
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Cost or
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Non-credit Related OTTI (1)
Fixed maturities - AFS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported (2)
$
2,484,193

 
$
51,701

 
$
(34,043
)
 
$
2,501,851

 
$

Corporate (3) (4)
10,802,332

 
433,097

 
(109,599
)
 
11,125,830

 
(4,758
)
RMBS – Agency
3,540,101

 
68,098

 
(62,077
)
 
3,546,122

 

RMBS – Non-Agency
396,798

 
33,096

 
(31,126
)
 
398,768

 
(74,528
)
CMBS
1,223,313

 
39,255

 
(15,773
)
 
1,246,795

 
(2,753
)
CDO
754,414

 
5,833

 
(42,934
)
 
717,313

 
(2,036
)
Other asset-backed securities (5)
1,210,384

 
40,560

 
(8,840
)
 
1,242,104

 
(2,807
)
U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States
1,821,499

 
55,083

 
(30,770
)
 
1,845,812

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported (2)
4,878,840

 
80,961

 
(84,260
)
 
4,875,541

 

Total fixed maturities - AFS
$
27,111,874

 
$
807,684

 
$
(419,422
)
 
$
27,500,136

 
$
(86,882
)
Total short-term investments (2)
$
455,470

 
$
962

 
$
(144
)
 
$
456,288

 
$

Total equity securities (6)
$
903,201

 
$
154,506

 
$
(17,470
)
 
$
1,040,237

 
$

Total investments - AFS
$
28,470,545

 
$
963,152

 
$
(437,036
)
 
$
28,996,661

 
$
(86,882
)
Fixed maturities - HTM
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported (2)
$
10,993

 
$
629

 
$

 
$
11,622

 
$

Corporate
1,386,863

 
113,179

 
(968
)
 
1,499,074

 

RMBS – Non-Agency
66,987

 
4,985

 

 
71,972

 

CMBS
144,924

 
11,864

 

 
156,788

 

Other asset-backed securities (5)
106,540

 
6,908

 

 
113,448

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported (2)
1,142,388

 
136,585

 
(642
)
 
1,278,331

 

Total investments - HTM
$
2,858,695

 
$
274,150

 
$
(1,610
)
 
$
3,131,235

 
$

____________
(1)
Represents the non-credit component of OTTI losses, adjusted for subsequent sales of securities. It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date.
(2)
U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported, Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincials, Supranationals and Government-Related/Supported and Total short-term investments includes government-related securities with an amortized cost of $2,241.5 million and fair value of $2,275.6 million and U.S. Agencies with an amortized cost of $267.0 million and fair value of $284.3 million.
(3)
Included within Corporate are certain medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European investment grade credit with varying degrees of leverage. The notes have a fair value of $154.6 million and an amortized cost of $147.7 million. These notes allow the investor to participate in cash flows of the underlying bonds including certain residual values, which could serve to either decrease or increase the ultimate values of these notes.
(4)
Included within Corporate are Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments, which are senior to the common and preferred equities of the financial institutions. These securities have a fair value of $282.2 million and an amortized cost of $286.2 million.
(5)
Covered Bonds within Fixed maturities - AFS with an amortized cost of $526.4 million and a fair value of $553.1 million and Covered Bonds within Fixed maturities - HTM with an amortized cost of $8.6 million and a fair value of $8.7 million are included within Other asset-backed securities to align the Company's classification to market indices.
(6)
Included within Total equity securities are investments in fixed income funds with a fair value of $87.4 million and an amortized cost of $100.0 million.
At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately 2.5% and 2.6%, respectively, of the Company's fixed income investment portfolio at fair value was invested in securities that were below investment grade or not rated. Approximately 15.0% and 12.4% of the gross unrealized losses in the Company's fixed income securities portfolio at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, related to securities that were below investment grade or not rated.
Contractual Maturities Summary
The contractual maturities of AFS and HTM fixed income securities at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

March 31, 2014 (1)

December 31, 2013 (1)
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Amortized
Cost

Fair
Value

Amortized
Cost

Fair
Value
Fixed maturities - AFS
 


 


 


 

Due less than one year
$
2,209,571

 
$
2,222,523

 
$
2,052,251

 
$
2,060,365

Due after 1 through 5 years
10,037,689

 
10,290,224

 
10,075,087

 
10,305,986

Due after 5 through 10 years
5,263,018

 
5,400,185

 
5,474,120

 
5,507,450

Due after 10 years
2,311,574

 
2,483,332

 
2,385,406

 
2,475,233

 
$
19,821,852

 
$
20,396,264

 
$
19,986,864

 
$
20,349,034

RMBS – Agency
3,186,504

 
3,222,483

 
3,540,101

 
3,546,122

RMBS – Non-Agency
389,181

 
401,393

 
396,798

 
398,768

CMBS
1,172,597

 
1,198,312

 
1,223,313

 
1,246,795

CDO
758,469

 
725,060

 
754,414

 
717,313

Other asset-backed securities
1,156,561

 
1,196,312

 
1,210,384

 
1,242,104

Total mortgage and asset-backed securities
$
6,663,312

 
$
6,743,560

 
$
7,125,010

 
$
7,151,102

Total fixed maturities - AFS
$
26,485,164

 
$
27,139,824

 
$
27,111,874

 
$
27,500,136

Fixed maturities - HTM
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Due less than one year
$
67,170

 
$
68,553

 
$
65,651

 
$
66,766

Due after 1 through 5 years
268,264

 
285,906

 
240,802

 
255,322

Due after 5 through 10 years
558,210

 
626,387

 
455,633

 
492,095

Due after 10 years
1,642,287

 
1,878,378

 
1,778,158

 
1,974,844

 
$
2,535,931

 
$
2,859,224

 
$
2,540,244

 
$
2,789,027

RMBS – Non-Agency
67,037

 
73,780

 
66,987

 
71,972

CMBS
145,005

 
160,220

 
144,924

 
156,788

Other asset-backed securities
106,514

 
115,951

 
106,540

 
113,448

Total mortgage and asset-backed securities
$
318,556

 
$
349,951

 
$
318,451

 
$
342,208

Total fixed maturities - HTM
$
2,854,487

 
$
3,209,175

 
$
2,858,695

 
$
3,131,235

____________
(1)
Included in the table above are Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments, which are senior to the common and preferred equities of the financial institutions, at their fair values of $279.8 million and $282.2 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. These securities are reflected in the table based on their call date and have net unrealized losses of $1.6 million and $4.0 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
OTTI Considerations
Under final authoritative accounting guidance, a debt security for which amortized cost exceeds fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired if it meets either of the following conditions: (a) the Company intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell, the security before a recovery in value, or (b) the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. Other than in a situation in which the Company has the intent to sell a debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell a debt security, the amount of the OTTI related to a credit loss on the security is recognized in earnings, and the amount of the OTTI related to other factors (e.g., interest rates, market conditions, etc.) is recorded as a component of OCI. The net amount recognized in earnings (“credit loss impairment”) represents the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the net present value of its projected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment (“NPV”). The remaining difference between the security's NPV and its fair value is recognized in OCI. Subsequent changes in the fair value of these securities are included in OCI unless a further impairment is deemed to have occurred.
In the scenario where the Company has the intent to sell a security in which its amortized cost exceeds its fair value, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell such a security, the entire difference between the security's amortized cost and its fair value is recognized in earnings.
The determination of credit losses is based on detailed analyses of underlying cash flows and other considerations. Such analyses require the use of certain assumptions to develop the estimated performance of underlying collateral. Key assumptions used include, but are not limited to, items such as RMBS default rates based on collateral duration in arrears, severity of losses on default by collateral class, collateral reinvestment rates and expected future general corporate default rates.
Factors considered for all securities on a quarterly basis in determining that a gross unrealized loss is not other-than-temporarily impaired include management's consideration of current and near term liquidity needs and other available sources of funds, an evaluation of the factors and time necessary for recovery and an assessment of whether the Company has the intention to sell or considers it more likely than not that it will be forced to sell a security.
Pledged Assets
Certain of the Company's invested assets are held in trust and pledged in support of insurance and reinsurance liabilities as well as credit facilities. Such pledges are largely required by the Company's operating subsidiaries that are “non-admitted” under U.S. state insurance regulations, in order for the U.S. cedant to receive statutory credit for reinsurance. Also, certain deposit liabilities and annuity contracts require the use of pledged assets. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had $15.6 billion and $15.5 billion in pledged assets, respectively.
(b) Gross Unrealized Losses
The following is an analysis of how long the AFS and HTM securities at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 had been in a continual unrealized loss position:
 
Less than 12 months
 
Equal to or greater
than 12 months
March 31, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturities and short-term investments - AFS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported
$
1,184,414

 
$
(21,102
)
 
$
29,951

 
$
(1,862
)
Corporate
2,097,447

 
(36,002
)
 
452,530

 
(43,503
)
RMBS – Agency
991,462

 
(28,596
)
 
145,427

 
(10,213
)
RMBS – Non-Agency
6,412

 
(195
)
 
232,860

 
(24,429
)
CMBS
188,965

 
(3,671
)
 
107,903

 
(6,896
)
CDO
126,159

 
(544
)
 
557,163

 
(36,514
)
Other asset-backed securities
73,704

 
(1,136
)
 
80,190

 
(5,332
)
U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States
238,854

 
(7,318
)
 
112,668

 
(7,173
)
Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported
1,444,095

 
(31,908
)
 
433,789

 
(22,871
)
Total fixed maturities and short-term investments - AFS
$
6,351,512

 
$
(130,472
)
 
$
2,152,481

 
$
(158,793
)
Total equity securities
$
187,067

 
$
(18,756
)
 
$

 
$

Fixed maturities -HTM


 


 


 


Corporate
$
11,347

 
$
(171
)
 
$
595

 
$
(19
)
Total fixed maturities - HTM
$
11,347

 
$
(171
)
 
$
595

 
$
(19
)

 
Less than 12 months
 
Equal to or greater
than 12 months
December 31, 2013
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fixed maturities and short-term investments - AFS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported
$
1,333,704

 
$
(30,474
)
 
$
44,158

 
$
(3,614
)
Corporate
2,756,235

 
(59,497
)
 
513,106

 
(50,160
)
RMBS – Agency
1,485,261

 
(50,362
)
 
169,704

 
(11,715
)
RMBS – Non-Agency
14,204

 
(604
)
 
240,946

 
(30,522
)
CMBS
432,820

 
(6,816
)
 
107,192

 
(8,957
)
CDO
58,239

 
(217
)
 
574,613

 
(42,717
)
Other asset-backed securities
196,639

 
(2,149
)
 
96,528

 
(6,691
)
U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States
463,974

 
(23,124
)
 
64,324

 
(7,646
)
Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported
2,130,792

 
(56,866
)
 
306,873

 
(27,435
)
Total fixed maturities and short-term investments - AFS
$
8,871,868

 
$
(230,109
)
 
$
2,117,444

 
$
(189,457
)
Total equity securities
$
155,453

 
$
(17,470
)
 
$

 
$

Fixed maturities -HTM
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate
$
46,034

 
$
(941
)
 
$
642

 
$
(27
)
Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported

 

 
11,894

 
(642
)
Total fixed maturities - HTM
$
46,034

 
$
(941
)
 
$
12,536

 
$
(669
)

The Company had gross unrealized losses totaling $308.0 million on 1,912 securities out of a total of 7,848 held at March 31, 2014 in its AFS portfolio and $0.2 million on 2 securities out of a total of 201 held in its HTM portfolio, which it considers to be temporarily impaired or with respect to which it reflects non-credit losses on other-than-temporarily impaired assets. Individual security positions comprising this balance have been evaluated by management to determine the severity of these impairments and whether they should be considered other-than-temporary. Management believes it is more likely than not that the issuer will be able to fund sufficient principal and interest payments to support the current amortized cost.
Management, in its assessment of whether securities in a gross unrealized loss position are temporarily impaired, as described above, considers the significance of the impairments. At March 31, 2014, the Company had structured credit securities with gross unrealized losses of $11.3 million, which had a fair value of $4.8 million, and a cumulative fair value decline of greater than 50% of amortized cost. All of these securities are mortgage and asset-backed securities. These greater than 50% impaired securities include gross unrealized losses of $0.2 million on non-Agency RMBS, $10.7 million on CDOs and $0.5 million on CMBS holdings.
(c) Net Realized Gains (Losses)
The following represents an analysis of net realized gains (losses) on investments:
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments
Three months ended March 31,
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Gross realized gains
$
51,213

 
$
73,171

Gross realized losses on investments sold
(28,257
)
 
(32,024
)
OTTI on investments, net of amounts transferred to other comprehensive income
(3,727
)
 
(4,638
)
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
$
19,229

 
$
36,509


The main components of the net impairment charges of $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 were:
$2.2 million for structured securities, principally non-Agency RMBS, where management determined that the likely recovery on these securities was below the carrying value and, accordingly, recorded an impairment of the securities to the discounted value of the cash flows expected to be received on these securities.
$1.5 million related to foreign exchange losses.
The following table sets forth the amount of credit loss impairments on fixed income securities held by the Company as of the dates or the periods indicated, for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in OCI, and the corresponding changes in such amounts.
Credit Loss Impairments
Three months ended March 31,
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Opening balance at beginning of indicated period
$
174,805

 
$
268,708

Credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired
12

 
500

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period
(3,348
)
 
(6,475
)
Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities impaired to fair value during the period

 

Additional credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired
2,261

 
2,304

Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected
(2,347
)
 
(4,971
)
Balance at March 31,
$
171,383

 
$
260,066


During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the $3.3 million and $6.5 million, respectively, of credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities that matured, or were paid down, prepaid or sold, includes $2.7 million and $5.8 million, respectively, of non-Agency RMBS.