XML 75 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.2.0.727
Fair Value Measurements
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received for the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price), in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. Applicable accounting guidance provides an established hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the factors that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. Assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classification on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.
The fair values for available for sale investments are generally sourced from third parties. The fair value of fixed income securities is based upon quoted market values where available, "evaluated bid" prices provided by third party pricing services ("pricing services") where quoted market values are not available, or by reference to broker quotes where pricing services do not provide coverage for a particular security. While the Company receives values for the majority of the investment securities it holds from pricing services, it is ultimately management’s responsibility to determine whether the values received and recorded in the financial statements are representative of appropriate fair value measurements.
The Company performs regular reviews of the prices received from its third party valuation sources to assess if the prices represent a reasonable estimate of the fair value. This process is completed by investment and accounting personnel who are independent of those responsible for obtaining the valuations. The approaches taken by the Company include, but are not limited to, annual reviews of the controls of the external parties responsible for sourcing valuations, which are subjected to automated tolerance checks, quarterly reviews of the valuation sources and dates, and monthly reconciliations between the valuations provided by our external parties and valuations provided by our third party investment managers at a portfolio level.
Where broker quotes are the primary source of the valuations, sufficient information regarding the specific inputs utilized by the brokers is generally not available to support a Level 2 classification. The Company obtains the majority of broker quoted values from third party investment managers who perform independent verifications of these valuations using pricing matrices based upon information gathered by market traders. In addition, for the majority of these securities, the Company compares the broker quotes to independent valuations obtained from third party pricing vendors, which may also consist of broker quotes, to assess if the prices received represent a reasonable estimate of the fair value.
As discussed in Note 3(c), "Acquisition and Disposals - Sale of Life Reinsurance Subsidiary," under the Life Retro Arrangements, all of the investment results associated with the Life Funds Withheld Assets ultimately accrue to GCLR. Because the Company no longer shares in the risks and rewards of the underlying performance of the Life Funds Withheld Assets, the financial statements and accompanying notes included herein separately report the Life Funds Withheld Assets from the rest of the Company's investments.
For further information about the Company's fair value measurements, see Item 8, Note 2(b), "Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value Measurements," to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(a) Fair Value Summary
The following tables set forth the Company’s assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 by level within the fair value hierarchy:
June 30, 2015
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Collateral
and
Counterparty
Netting
 
Balance at
June 30, 2015
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities - Available for Sale ("AFS") - Excluding Life Funds Withheld Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported
$

 
$
3,827,106

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,827,106

Corporate - Financials

 
3,225,513

 
10,000

 

 
3,235,513

Corporate - Non Financials (1)

 
6,946,510

 
5,554

 

 
6,952,064

Residential mortgage-backed securities – Agency ("RMBS - Agency")

 
3,955,106

 
3,038

 

 
3,958,144

Residential mortgage-backed securities – Non-Agency ("RMBS - Non-Agency")

 
372,271

 

 

 
372,271

Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS")

 
936,058

 

 

 
936,058

Collateralized debt obligations ("CDO")

 
3,854

 
484,171

 

 
488,025

Other asset-backed securities (1)

 
2,307,642

 
42,745

 

 
2,350,387

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 
2,391,273

 

 

 
2,391,273

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported

 
5,260,062

 

 

 
5,260,062

Total fixed maturities - AFS - Excluding Funds Withheld Assets, at fair value
$

 
$
29,225,395

 
$
545,508

 
$

 
$
29,770,903

Equity securities, at fair value
659,338

 
414,132

 

 

 
1,073,470

Short-term investments, at fair value (1)(2)

 
807,486

 

 

 
807,486

Total investments AFS - Excluding Funds Withheld Assets
$
659,338

 
$
30,447,013

 
$
545,508

 
$

 
$
31,651,859

Fixed maturities - Life Funds Withheld Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported
$

 
$
13,678

 
$

 
$

 
$
13,678

Corporate - Financials

 
722,922

 

 

 
722,922

Corporate - Non Financials

 
1,665,678

 

 

 
1,665,678

RMBS – Agency

 
837

 

 

 
837

RMBS – Non-Agency

 
29,591

 

 

 
29,591

CMBS

 
145,617

 

 

 
145,617

Other asset-backed securities

 
187,537

 

 

 
187,537

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported

 
1,231,228

 

 

 
1,231,228

Total fixed maturities - AFS - Life Funds Withheld Assets, at fair value
$

 
$
3,997,088

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,997,088

Total investments - AFS, at fair value
$
659,338

 
$
34,444,101

 
$
545,508

 
$

 
$
35,648,947

Fixed maturities - trading securities ("Trading")


 


 


 


 


U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported
$

 
$
3,596

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,596

Corporate - Financials

 
187,169

 

 

 
187,169

Corporate - Non Financials

 
332,654

 

 

 
332,654

CMBS

 
261

 

 

 
261

Other asset-backed securities

 
14,823

 

 

 
14,823

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported

 
252,981

 

 

 
252,981

Total fixed maturities - Trading, at fair value
$

 
$
791,484

 
$

 
$

 
$
791,484

Cash equivalents (3)
705,092

 
270,784

 

 

 
975,876

Cash equivalents - Life Funds Withheld Assets (3)
143

 
91,367

 

 

 
91,510

Other investments (4)

 
1,139,393

 
255,672

 

 
1,395,065

Other assets (5)

 
215,083

 
13,392

 
(3,239
)
 
225,236

Total assets accounted for at fair value
$
1,364,573

 
$
36,952,212

 
$
814,572

 
$
(3,239
)
 
$
39,128,118

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Funds withheld on life retrocession arrangements (net of future policy benefit reserves recoverable) (6)
$

 
$
381,337

 
$

 
$

 
$
381,337

Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased (7)
1,581

 
1,233

 

 

 
2,814

Other liabilities (5)

 
59,739

 
23,145

 
(3,239
)
 
79,645

Total liabilities accounted for at fair value
$
1,581

 
$
442,309

 
$
23,145

 
$
(3,239
)
 
$
463,796

December 31, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Collateral
and
Counterparty
Netting
 
Balance at
December 31,
2014
Assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities - AFS - Excluding Life Funds Withheld Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported
$

 
$
2,171,953

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,171,953

Corporate - Financials

 
2,761,916

 

 

 
$
2,761,916

Corporate - Non Financials (1)

 
6,010,563

 
5,894

 

 
$
6,016,457

Residential mortgage-backed securities – RMBS - Agency

 
3,726,666

 
1,910

 

 
$
3,728,576

Residential mortgage-backed securities – RMBS - Non-Agency

 
427,351

 

 

 
$
427,351

CMBS

 
1,052,544

 

 

 
$
1,052,544

CDO

 
4,076

 
687,958

 

 
$
692,034

Other asset-backed securities (1)

 
1,060,005

 
5,288

 

 
$
1,065,293

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 
2,021,272

 

 

 
$
2,021,272

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported

 
4,240,073

 

 

 
$
4,240,073

Total fixed maturities - AFS - Excluding Funds Withheld Assets, at fair value
$

 
$
23,476,419

 
$
701,050

 
$

 
$
24,177,469

Equity securities, at fair value
502,284

 
366,008

 

 

 
868,292

Short-term investments, at fair value (1)(2)

 
256,727

 

 

 
256,727

Total investments AFS - Excluding Funds Withheld Assets
$
502,284

 
$
24,099,154

 
$
701,050

 
$

 
$
25,302,488

Fixed maturities - Life Funds Withheld Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported
$

 
$
18,724

 
$

 
$

 
$
18,724

Corporate - Financials

 
801,019

 

 

 
$
801,019

Corporate - Non Financials

 
2,016,961

 

 

 
$
2,016,961

RMBS – Agency

 
3,782

 

 

 
$
3,782

RMBS – Non-Agency

 
85,335

 

 

 
$
85,335

CMBS

 
193,167

 

 

 
$
193,167

Other asset-backed securities

 
273,541

 

 

 
$
273,541

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Provincial, Supranational and Government-Related/Supported

 
1,789,036

 

 

 
$
1,789,036

Total fixed maturities - AFS - Life Funds Withheld Assets, at fair value
$

 
$
5,181,565

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,181,565

Total investments - AFS, at fair value
$
502,284

 
$
29,280,719

 
$
701,050

 
$

 
$
30,484,053

Fixed maturities - Trading
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate - Non Financials

 
1,171

 

 

 
$
1,171

Total fixed maturities - Trading, at fair value
$

 
$
1,171

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,171

Cash equivalents (3)
1,103,877

 
397,955

 

 

 
$
1,501,832

Cash equivalents - Life Funds Withheld Assets (3)
460

 
132,738

 

 

 
$
133,198

Other investments (4)

 
708,974

 
185,083

 

 
$
894,057

Other assets (5)

 
122,996

 
13,663

 
(696
)
 
$
135,963

Total assets accounted for at fair value
$
1,606,621

 
$
30,644,553

 
$
899,796

 
$
(696
)
 
$
33,150,274

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Funds withheld on life retrocession arrangements (net of future policy benefit reserves recoverable) (6)
$

 
$
450,831

 
$

 
$

 
$
450,831

Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased (7)
4,737

 
25,669

 

 

 
$
30,406

Other liabilities (5)

 
7,757

 
23,427

 
(696
)
 
$
30,488

Total liabilities accounted for at fair value
$
4,737

 
$
484,257

 
$
23,427

 
$
(696
)
 
$
511,725

____________
(1)
Included are certain medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European investment grade credit with varying degrees of leverage. The notes had a fair value of $75.3 million and $79.9 million and an amortized cost of $64.5 million and $68.4 million as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. 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.
(2)
Short-term investments consist primarily of Corporate securities and U.S. and Non-U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported securities.
(3)
Cash equivalents balances subject to fair value measurement include certificates of deposit and money market funds. Operating cash balances are not subject to recurring fair value measurement guidance.
(4)
The Other investments balance excludes certain structured transactions including certain investments in project finance transactions, and a payment obligation and liquidity financing provided to a structured credit vehicle as a part of a third party medium term note facility. These investments, which totaled $348.2 million as of June 30, 2015 and $354.4 million at December 31, 2014, are carried at amortized cost. For further information, see Item 8, Note 8, "Other Investments," to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(5)
Other assets and other liabilities include derivative instruments. The derivative balances included in each category are reported on a gross basis by level with a netting adjustment presented separately in the Collateral and Counterparty Netting column. The fair values of the individual derivative contracts are reported gross in their respective levels based on the fair value hierarchy. For further details regarding derivative fair values and associated collateral received or paid see Note 7, "Derivative Instruments," to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
(6)
Funds withheld on life retrocession arrangements (net of future policy benefit reserves recoverable) include balances related to the life retrocession embedded derivative, under which all investment results associated with the Life Funds Withheld Assets related to the Life Retro Arrangements described in Note 3(c), "Acquisition and Disposals - Sale of Life Reinsurance Subsidiary," accrue to the benefit of GCLR.
(7)
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, represent "short sales" and are included within "Payable for investments purchased" on the balance sheets.
(b) Level 3 Assets and Liabilities
The tables below present additional information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which Level 3 inputs were utilized to determine fair value. The tables present a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 for all financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) at June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The tables do not include gains or losses that were reported in Level 3 in prior periods for assets that were transferred out of Level 3 prior to June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Gains and losses for assets and liabilities classified within Level 3 in the table below may include changes in fair value that are attributable to both observable inputs (Levels 1 and 2) and unobservable inputs (Level 3). Further, it should be noted that the following tables do not take into consideration the effect of offsetting Level 1 and 2 financial instruments entered into by the Company that are either economically hedged by certain exposures to the Level 3 positions or that hedge the exposures in Level 3 positions.
In general, Level 3 assets include securities for which values were obtained from brokers where either significant inputs were utilized in determining the values that were difficult to corroborate with observable market data, or sufficient information regarding the specific inputs utilized by the broker was not available to support a Level 2 classification. Transfers into or out of Level 3 primarily arise as a result of the valuations utilized by the Company changing between either those provided by independent pricing services that do not contain significant unobservable inputs or other valuations sourced from brokers that are considered Level 3.
There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities -Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Corporate - Financials
 
Corporate - Non-Financials
 
RMBS - Agency
 
RMBS - Non
Agency
Balance, beginning of period
$

 
$
5,861

 
$
1,820

 
$

Realized gains (losses)

 
(140
)
 

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)

 
(44
)
 
(1
)
 

Purchases and issuances (1)
10,000

 
(123
)
 
1,297

 

Sales

 

 

 

Settlements

 

 
(78
)
 

Transfers into Level 3


 


 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

Balance, end of period
$
10,000

 
$
5,554

 
$
3,038

 
$

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
$

 
$
(184
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities -Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
CMBS
 
CDO
 
Other asset-
backed
securities
 
Non-US Sovereign
Government,
Provincial,
Supranational and
Government
Related/Supported
Balance, beginning of period
$

 
$
496,923

 
$
2,244

 
$

Realized gains (losses)

 
224

 
92

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)

 
2,445

 
8

 

Purchases and issuances (1)

 
11,941

 
40,628

 

Sales

 

 


 

Settlements

 
(27,362
)
 
(227
)
 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

Balance, end of period
$

 
$
484,171

 
$
42,745

 
$

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
$

 
$
2,057

 
$
100

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities -Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
 
 
Short-term
investments
 
Other investments
 
Derivative Contracts
- Net
Balance, beginning of period
 
 
$

 
$
190,097

 
$
(9,606
)
Realized gains (losses)
 
 

 
1,291

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)
 
 

 
(139
)
 
(147
)
Purchases and issuances (1)
 
 

 
66,510

 

Sales
 
 

 


 
 
Settlements
 
 

 
(2,087
)
 

Transfers into Level 3
 
 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3
 
 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change
 
 

 

 

Balance, end of period
 
 
$

 
$
255,672

 
$
(9,753
)
Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
 
 
$

 
$
1,152

 
$
(147
)
____________
(1)    Includes assets acquired as result of the transaction described in Note 3(a), "Acquisition and Disposals - Catlin Acquisition".
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities -Three Months Ended June 30, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Corporate - Financials
 
Corporate - Non-Financials
 
RMBS - Agency
 
RMBS - Non
Agency
Balance, beginning of period
$

 
$
4,382

 
$
8,928

 
$
11

Realized gains (losses)

 
35

 
6

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)

 
(93
)
 
(13
)
 

Purchases and issuances (1)

 
8

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

Settlements

 
(399
)
 
(2,025
)
 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

Balance, end of period
$

 
$
3,933

 
$
6,896

 
$
11

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
$

 
$
(58
)
 
$
(6
)
 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities -Three Months Ended June 30, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
CMBS
 
CDO
 
Other asset-
backed
securities
 
Non-US Sovereign
Government,
Provincial,
Supranational and
Government
Related/Supported
Balance, beginning of period
$
5,926

 
$
718,827

 
$
10,673

 
$

Realized gains (losses)
2

 
875

 
(5
)
 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)
(1
)
 
8,331

 
144

 

Purchases and issuances (1)
1,376

 
75,201

 
3,000

 

Sales

 
(30,892
)
 

 

Settlements
(5,358
)
 
(39,518
)
 
(2,108
)
 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

Balance, end of period
$
1,945

 
$
732,824

 
$
11,704

 
$

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
$

 
$
8,247

 
$
140

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities -Three Months Ended June 30, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
 
 
Short-term
investments
 
Other investments
 
Derivative Contracts
- Net
Balance, beginning of period
 
 
$

 
$
116,418

 
$
(32,496
)
Realized gains (losses)
 
 

 
5,127

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)
 
 

 
(1,779
)
 
13,586

Purchases and issuances (1)
 
 

 
9,997

 

Sales
 
 

 

 

Settlements
 
 

 
(5,288
)
 

Transfers into Level 3
 
 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3
 
 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change
 
 

 

 

Balance, end of period
 
 
$

 
$
124,475

 
$
(18,910
)
Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
 
 
$

 
$
3,348

 
$
13,586

____________
(1)    Includes assets acquired as result of the transaction described in Note 3(a), "Acquisition and Disposals - Catlin Acquisition".

 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities - Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Corporate - Financials
 
Corporate - Non-Financials
 
RMBS - Agency
 
RMBS - Non
Agency
Balance, beginning of period
$

 
$
5,894

 
$
1,910

 
$

Realized gains (losses)

 
(141
)
 

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)

 
4

 
(2
)
 

Purchases and issuances (1)
10,000

 
(123
)
 
1,297

 

Sales

 

 

 

Settlements

 
(80
)
 
(167
)
 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

Balance, end of period
$
10,000

 
$
5,554

 
$
3,038

 
$

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
$

 
$
(136
)
 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities - Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
CMBS
 
CDO
 
Other asset-
backed
securities
 
Non-US Sovereign
Government,
Provincial,
Supranational and
Government
Related/Supported
Balance, beginning of period
$

 
$
687,958

 
$
5,288

 
$

Realized gains (losses)

 
260

 
91

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)

 
8,000

 
10

 

Purchases and issuances (1)

 
11,941

 
40,628

 

Sales

 
(155,085
)
 

 

Settlements

 
(68,903
)
 
(3,272
)
 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

Balance, end of period
$

 
$
484,171

 
$
42,745

 
$

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
$

 
$
4,725

 
$
100

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities - Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
 
 
Short-term
investments
 
Other investments
 
Derivative Contracts
- Net
Balance, beginning of period
 
 
$

 
$
185,083

 
$
(9,764
)
Realized gains (losses)
 
 

 
2,593

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)
 
 

 
(1,966
)
 
11

Purchases and issuances (1)
 
 

 
73,303

 

Sales
 
 

 

 

Settlements
 
 

 
(3,341
)
 

Transfers into Level 3
 
 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3
 
 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change
 
 

 

 

Balance, end of period
 
 
$

 
$
255,672

 
$
(9,753
)
Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
 
 
$

 
$
628

 
$
11

____________
(1)    Includes assets acquired as result of the transaction described in Note 3(a), "Acquisition and Disposals - Catlin Acquisition".

 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities - Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Corporate - Financials
 
Corporate - Non-Financials
 
RMBS - Agency
 
RMBS - Non
Agency
Balance, beginning of period
$

 
$
31,573

 
$
10,473

 
$
9

Realized gains (losses)

 
155

 
6

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)

 
(96
)
 
(13
)
 
2

Purchases and issuances (1)

 
1,443

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

Settlements

 
(5,513
)
 
(2,598
)
 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 
(23,629
)
 
(972
)
 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

Balance, end of period
$

 
$
3,933

 
$
6,896

 
$
11

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
$

 
$
90

 
$
(6
)
 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities - Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
CMBS
 
CDO
 
Other asset-
backed
securities
 
Non-US Sovereign
Government,
Provincial,
Supranational and
Government
Related/Supported
Balance, beginning of period
$
12,533

 
$
710,253

 
$
11,877

 
$

Realized gains (losses)
3

 
2,456

 
(20
)
 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)
(3
)
 
12,013

 
206

 

Purchases and issuances (1)
1,376

 
103,015

 
3,000

 

Sales

 
(40,824
)
 

 

Settlements
(11,964
)
 
(54,089
)
 
(3,359
)
 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

Balance, end of period
$
1,945

 
$
732,824

 
$
11,704

 
$

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
$

 
$
13,216

 
$
186

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities - Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
 
 
Short-term
investments
 
Other investments
 
Derivative Contracts
- Net
Balance, beginning of period
 
 
$
2,015

 
$
113,472

 
$
(29,110
)
Realized gains (losses)
 
 

 
8,691

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)
 
 
(15
)
 
(282
)
 
10,200

Purchases and issuances (1)
 
 

 
21,086

 

Sales
 
 

 

 

Settlements
 
 
(2,000
)
 
(18,492
)
 

Transfers into Level 3
 
 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3
 
 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change
 
 

 

 

Balance, end of period
 
 
$

 
$
124,475

 
$
(18,910
)
Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date
 
 
$

 
$
8,409

 
$
10,200

____________
(1)    Includes assets acquired as result of the transaction described in Note 3(a), "Acquisition and Disposals - Catlin Acquisition".

(c) Fixed maturities and short-term investments
The Company’s Level 3 assets consist primarily of CDOs, for which non-binding broker quotes are the primary source of the valuations. Sufficient information regarding the specific inputs utilized by the brokers was not available to support a Level 2 classification. The Company obtains the majority of broker quotes for these CDOs from third party investment managers who perform independent verifications of these valuations using pricing matrices based upon information gathered by market traders. In addition, for the majority of these securities, the Company compares the broker quotes to independent valuations obtained from third party pricing vendors, which may also consist of broker quotes, to assess if the prices received represent a reasonable estimate of the fair value. Although the Company does not have access to the specific unobservable inputs that may have been used in the fair value measurements of the CDO securities provided by brokers, we would expect that the significant inputs considered are prepayment rates, probability of default, loss severity in the event of default, recovery rates, liquidity premium and reinvestment rates. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significantly different fair value measurement. Generally, a change in the assumption used for the probability of default is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for the loss severity and a directionally opposite change in the assumption used for prepayment rates.
The remainder of the Level 3 assets relate primarily to private investment funds and certain derivative positions as described below.
(d) Other investments
Included within the Other investments component of the Company’s Level 3 valuations are private investments and alternative fund investments where the Company is not deemed to have significant influence over the investee. The fair value of these investments is based upon net asset values received from the investment manager or general partner of the respective entity. The nature of the underlying investments held by the investee that form the basis of the net asset value include assets such as private business ventures and are such that significant Level 3 inputs are utilized in the determination of the individual underlying holding values and, accordingly, the fair value of the Company’s investment in each entity is classified within Level 3. The Company has not adjusted the net asset values received; however, management incorporates factors such as the most recent financial information received, annual audited financial statements and the values at which capital transactions with the investee take place when applying judgment regarding whether any adjustments should be made to the net asset value in recording the fair value of each position. Investments in alternative funds included in Other investments utilize strategies including arbitrage, directional, event driven and multi-style. These funds potentially have lockup and gate provisions which may limit redemption liquidity. For further details regarding the nature of Other investments and related features see Item 8, Note 8, "Other Investments," to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(e) Derivative instruments
Derivative instruments recorded within Other liabilities and classified within Level 3 include credit derivatives providing protection on senior tranches of structured finance transactions where the value is obtained directly from the investment bank counterparty and sufficient information regarding the inputs utilized in such valuation was not obtained to support a Level 2 classification and guaranteed minimum income benefits embedded within one reinsurance contract. The majority of inputs utilized in the valuations of these types of derivative contracts are considered Level 1 or Level 2; however, each valuation includes at least one Level 3 input that was significant to the valuation and, accordingly, the values are disclosed within Level 3.
The calculation of the change in fair value of the embedded derivative associated with the Life Retro Arrangements includes interest income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on Life Funds Withheld Assets and certain related expenses related to the Life Funds Withheld Assets. The fair value of the embedded derivative is included in "Funds withheld on life retrocession arrangements, net of future policy benefit reserves recoverable" on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the embedded derivative is considered a Level 2 valuation.
(f) Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value
Authoritative guidance over disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments requires additional disclosure of fair value information for financial instruments not carried at fair value in both interim and annual reporting periods. Certain financial instruments, particularly insurance contracts, are excluded from these fair value disclosure requirements. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income, net receivable from investments sold, other assets, net payable for investments purchased, other liabilities and other financial instruments not included below approximated their fair values. The following table includes financial instruments for which the carrying value differs from the estimated fair values as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. All of these fair value estimates are considered Level 2 fair value measurements. The fair values for fixed maturities held to maturity are provided by third party pricing vendors and significant valuation inputs for all other items included were based upon market data obtained from sources independent of the Company, and are subject to the same control environment previously described.
 
June 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value
Financial Assets - Other investments, structured transactions
$
348,192

 
$
365,335

 
$
354,382

 
$
371,625

Deposit liabilities
$
1,212,206

 
$
1,528,520

 
$
1,245,367

 
$
1,543,761

Notes payable and debt
2,726,455

 
2,911,949

 
1,662,580

 
1,897,854

Financial Liabilities
$
3,938,661

 
$
4,440,469

 
$
2,907,947

 
$
3,441,615


The Company historically participated in structured transactions. Remaining structured transactions include cash loans supporting project finance transactions, a liquidity facility financing provided to structured project deals and an investment in a payment obligation with an insurance company. These transactions are carried at amortized cost. The fair value of these investments held by the Company is determined through use of internal models utilizing reported trades, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data.
Deposit liabilities include obligations under structured insurance and reinsurance transactions. For purposes of fair value disclosures, the Company determined the estimated fair value of the deposit liabilities by assuming a discount rate equal to the appropriate U.S. Treasury rate plus 48.6 basis points and 29.5 basis points as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The discount rate incorporates the Company’s own credit risk into the determination of estimated fair value.
The fair values of the Company’s notes payable and debt outstanding were determined based on quoted market prices.
There are no significant concentrations of credit risk within the Company’s financial instruments as defined in the authoritative guidance over disclosures of fair value of financial instruments not carried at fair value, which excludes certain financial instruments, particularly insurance contracts.