10-Q 1 q3201510-q.htm 10-Q 10-Q

 
 
 


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
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 1-14536
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Bermuda
 
Not Applicable
(State of incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
90 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, HM08, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(441) 292-0888
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) 
 
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  ý    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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ý    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. 
Large accelerated filer
ý
 
Accelerated filer
c
Non-accelerated filer
c
 
Smaller reporting company
c
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ¨ No ý
The number of the registrant’s common shares (par value $1.00 per share) outstanding, net of treasury shares, as of October 26, 2015 was 47,908,360.
 


 
 
 


PartnerRe Ltd.
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
 
 
Page
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
ITEM 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 2.
 
 
 
ITEM 3.
 
 
 
ITEM 4.
 
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
ITEM 1.
 
 
 
ITEM 1A.
 
 
 
ITEM 2.
 
 
 
ITEM 3.
 
 
 
ITEM 4.
 
 
 
ITEM 5.
 
 
 
ITEM 6.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 Item 1. Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of PartnerRe Ltd.
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of PartnerRe Ltd. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2015, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and of shareholders’ equity, and of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of PartnerRe Ltd. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and of cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 26, 2015, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
 
 
/s/ Deloitte Ltd.
Deloitte Ltd.
 
Hamilton, Bermuda
October 30, 2015


3

 
 
 


PartnerRe Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except parenthetical share and per share data)
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
Assets
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2015, $12,810,504; 2014, $13,489,633)
$
13,026,249

 
$
13,918,745

Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost: 2015, $100,270; 2014, $25,699)
100,365

 
25,678

Equities, at fair value (cost: 2015, $938,826; 2014, $843,429)
1,004,116

 
1,056,514

Other invested assets
344,720

 
298,827

Total investments
14,475,450

 
15,299,764

Funds held – directly managed (cost: 2015, $589,385; 2014, $600,379)
595,677

 
608,853

Cash and cash equivalents
1,256,304

 
1,313,468

Accrued investment income
142,892

 
158,737

Reinsurance balances receivable
3,079,002

 
2,454,850

Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses
329,834

 
246,158

Funds held by reinsured companies
671,572

 
765,905

Deferred acquisition costs
684,380

 
661,186

Deposit assets
83,729

 
92,973

Net tax assets
72,257

 
6,876

Goodwill
456,380

 
456,380

Intangible assets
139,301

 
159,604

Other assets
38,450

 
45,603

Total assets
$
22,025,228

 
$
22,270,357

Liabilities
 
 
 
Unpaid losses and loss expenses
$
9,522,225

 
$
9,745,806

Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts
2,123,028

 
2,050,107

Unearned premiums
1,934,360

 
1,750,607

Other reinsurance balances payable
288,402

 
182,395

Deposit liabilities
42,336

 
70,325

Net tax liabilities
231,223

 
240,989

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
285,316

 
304,728

Debt related to senior notes
750,000

 
750,000

Debt related to capital efficient notes
70,989

 
70,989

Total liabilities
15,247,879

 
15,165,946

Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
 
Common shares (par value $1.00; issued: 2015 and 2014, 87,237,220 shares)
87,237

 
87,237

Preferred shares (par value $1.00; issued and outstanding: 2015 and 2014, 34,150,000 shares; aggregate liquidation value: 2015 and 2014, $853,750)
34,150

 
34,150

Additional paid-in capital
3,971,974

 
3,949,665

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(68,827
)
 
(34,083
)
Retained earnings
6,019,786

 
6,270,811

Common shares held in treasury, at cost (2015, 39,335,464 shares; 2014, 39,400,936 shares)
(3,269,183
)
 
(3,258,870
)
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
6,775,137

 
7,048,910

Noncontrolling interests
2,212

 
55,501

Total shareholders’ equity
6,777,349

 
7,104,411

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
22,025,228

 
$
22,270,357

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

 
 
 


PartnerRe Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross premiums written
$
1,267,961

 
$
1,361,280

 
$
4,448,907

 
$
4,695,327

Net premiums written
$
1,190,393

 
$
1,342,690

 
$
4,165,912

 
$
4,499,849

Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums
221,737

 
213,924

 
(191,235
)
 
(336,384
)
Net premiums earned
1,412,130

 
1,556,614

 
3,974,677

 
4,163,465

Net investment income
117,054

 
118,176

 
341,877

 
365,010

Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains
(133,017
)
 
(34,420
)
 
(273,107
)
 
273,468

Other income
3,056

 
2,223

 
7,584

 
11,892

Total revenues
1,399,223

 
1,642,593

 
4,051,031

 
4,813,835

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits
804,196

 
959,543

 
2,390,394

 
2,592,847

Acquisition costs
346,520

 
321,756

 
905,774

 
888,937

Other expenses
415,818

 
108,615

 
670,334

 
327,149

Interest expense
12,249

 
12,241

 
36,742

 
36,719

Amortization of intangible assets
6,768

 
7,003

 
20,303

 
21,007

Net foreign exchange losses (gains)
22,413

 
(8,206
)
 
15,657

 
(10,900
)
Total expenses
1,607,964

 
1,400,952

 
4,039,204

 
3,855,759

(Loss) income before taxes and interest in (losses) earnings of equity method investments
(208,741
)
 
241,641

 
11,827

 
958,076

Income tax expense
17,170

 
45,617

 
82,990

 
186,363

Interest in (losses) earnings of equity method investments
(3,231
)
 
5,294

 
1,564

 
16,283

Net (loss) income
(229,142
)
 
201,318

 
(69,599
)
 
787,996

Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
5

 
(4,920
)
 
(2,531
)
 
(9,914
)
Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
(229,137
)
 
196,398

 
(72,130
)
 
778,082

Preferred dividends
14,184

 
14,184

 
42,551

 
42,551

Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders
$
(243,321
)
 
$
182,214

 
$
(114,681
)
 
$
735,531

Comprehensive (loss) income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
$
(229,137
)
 
$
196,398

 
$
(72,130
)
 
$
778,082

Change in currency translation adjustment
(39,533
)
 
1,412

 
(33,936
)
 
3,209

Change in unfunded pension obligation, net of tax
1,163

 
989

 
(164
)
 
979

Change in unrealized losses on investments, net of tax
(213
)
 
(221
)
 
(644
)
 
(668
)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
(38,583
)
 
2,180

 
(34,744
)
 
3,520

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
$
(267,720
)
 
$
198,578

 
$
(106,874
)
 
$
781,602

Per share data attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net (loss) income
$
(5.08
)
 
$
3.68

 
$
(2.40
)
 
$
14.58

Diluted net (loss) income
$
(5.08
)
 
$
3.60

 
$
(2.40
)
 
$
14.26

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
47,866,040

 
49,514,980

 
47,722,833

 
50,461,749

Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding
47,866,040

 
50,681,325

 
47,722,833

 
51,566,134

Dividends declared per common share
$
0.70

 
$
0.67

 
$
2.10

 
$
2.01

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

 
 
 


PartnerRe Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)
(Unaudited)
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Common shares
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
$
87,237

 
$
86,657

Issuance of common shares
—

 
485

Balance at end of period
87,237

 
87,142

Preferred shares
 
 
 
Balance at beginning and end of period
34,150

 
34,150

Additional paid-in capital
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
3,949,665

 
3,901,627

Stock compensation expense, net of taxes paid
22,309

 
17,245

Issuance of common shares
—

 
17,524

Balance at end of period
3,971,974

 
3,936,396

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
(34,083
)
 
(12,238
)
Currency translation adjustment
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
(7,915
)
 
977

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment
(36,298
)
 
3,209

Change in net unrealized gain on designated net investment hedge
2,362

 
—

Balance at end of period
(41,851
)
 
4,186

Unfunded pension obligation
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
(29,576
)
 
(17,509
)
Change in unfunded pension obligation, net of tax
(164
)
 
979

Balance at end of period (net of tax: 2015, $8,343; 2014, $4,780)
(29,740
)
 
(16,530
)
Unrealized gain on investments
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
3,408

 
4,294

Change in unrealized losses on investments, net of tax
(644
)
 
(668
)
Balance at end of period (net of tax: 2015 and 2014: $nil)
2,764

 
3,626

Balance at end of period
(68,827
)
 
(8,718
)
Retained earnings
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
6,270,811

 
5,406,797

Net (loss) income
(69,599
)
 
787,996

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(2,531
)
 
(9,914
)
Reissuance of common shares
(36,190
)
 
—

Dividends on common shares
(100,154
)
 
(101,453
)
Dividends on preferred shares
(42,551
)
 
(42,551
)
Balance at end of period
6,019,786

 
6,040,875

Common shares held in treasury
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
(3,258,870
)
 
(2,707,461
)
Repurchase of common shares
(59,266
)
 
(368,404
)
Reissuance of common shares
48,953

 
—

Balance at end of period
(3,269,183
)
 
(3,075,865
)
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
$
6,775,137

 
$
7,013,980

Noncontrolling interests
2,212

 
52,276

Total shareholders’ equity
$
6,777,349

 
$
7,066,256

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

 
 
 


PartnerRe Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)
(Unaudited)
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
$
(69,599
)
 
$
787,996

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Amortization of net premium on investments
70,552

 
82,519

Amortization of intangible assets
20,303

 
21,007

Net realized and unrealized investment losses (gains)
273,107

 
(273,468
)
Changes in:
 
 
 
Reinsurance balances, net
(703,147
)
 
(565,187
)
Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses, net of ceded premiums payable
53,086

 
32,421

Funds held by reinsured companies and funds held – directly managed
81,465

 
138,659

Deferred acquisition costs
(52,580
)
 
(83,758
)
Net tax assets and liabilities
(68,588
)
 
(27,792
)
Unpaid losses and loss expenses including life policy benefits
298,428

 
144,663

Unearned premiums
191,234

 
336,384

Other net changes in operating assets and liabilities
13,368

 
(10,207
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
107,629

 
583,237

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
Sales of fixed maturities
6,097,135

 
6,227,896

Redemptions of fixed maturities
548,688

 
527,367

Purchases of fixed maturities
(6,258,905
)
 
(6,990,492
)
Sales and redemptions of short-term investments
50,497

 
70,750

Purchases of short-term investments
(126,756
)
 
(95,168
)
Sales of equities
552,880

 
464,212

Purchases of equities
(596,401
)
 
(202,322
)
Other, net
(129,440
)
 
(4,822
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
137,698

 
(2,579
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
Dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders
(142,705
)
 
(144,004
)
Repurchase of common shares
(71,376
)
 
(374,557
)
Reissuance of treasury shares and issuance of common shares, net of taxes paid
3,139

 
12,639

Distribution to noncontrolling interests
(55,820
)
 
(14,265
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(266,762
)
 
(520,187
)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
(35,729
)
 
(37,669
)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(57,164
)
 
22,802

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period
1,313,468

 
1,496,485

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period
$
1,256,304

 
$
1,519,287

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
 
 
 
Taxes paid
$
178,830

 
$
243,396

Interest paid
24,630

 
24,630

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

7

 
 
 


PartnerRe Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. Organization
PartnerRe Ltd. (PartnerRe or the Company) predominantly provides reinsurance and certain specialty insurance lines on a worldwide basis through its principal wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd., Partner Reinsurance Europe SE, Partner Reinsurance Company of the U.S. and, effective April 1, 2015, Partner Reinsurance Asia Pte. Ltd (PartnerRe Asia). Risks reinsured include, but are not limited to, property, casualty, motor, agriculture, aviation/space, catastrophe, credit/surety, engineering, energy, marine, specialty property, specialty casualty, multiline and other lines, mortality, longevity, accident and health and alternative risk products. The Company’s alternative risk products include weather and credit protection to financial, industrial and service companies on a worldwide basis.
In January 2015, the Company announced that PartnerRe Asia was licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to operate as a non-life and life reinsurer in Singapore. As of April 1, 2015, PartnerRe Asia became the principal reinsurance carrier for the Company’s business underwritten in the Asia Pacific region. The establishment of PartnerRe Asia has enabled the Company's Asian reinsurance operations to be consolidated into one regional, well-capitalized entity and will support its growing underwriting presence in the region.
On January 25, 2015, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation (as subsequently amended, the Amalgamation Agreement) with Axis Capital Holdings Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (AXIS), pursuant to which the Company would amalgamate with AXIS (Amalgamation), and the two companies would continue as a single Bermuda exempted company.
On April 14, 2015, the Company announced receipt of an unsolicited proposal from EXOR S.p.A. (EXOR), a European investment company controlled by the Agnelli family, to acquire 100% of the common shares of the Company for $130 per share in cash.
On May 3, 2015, the Company and AXIS amended the Amalgamation Agreement to allow the Company to pay a one-time special dividend of $11.50 per share to PartnerRe common shareholders in connection with the closing of the Amalgamation (one-time special dividend) and to increase the termination fee from $250 million to $280 million.
On May 12, 2015, the Company announced receipt of a revised proposal from EXOR to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of the Company for $137.50 per share in cash. EXOR requested that the Board declare EXOR's proposal to be "reasonably likely a superior proposal" as a pre-condition to any further negotiations, which was rejected by the Company's Board.
On July 7, 2015, EXOR enhanced the terms of its proposal by providing (i) a 100 basis points increase in the preferred share dividend rate, (ii) call protection until 2021, and (iii) a commitment to limit distributions to common shareholders to an amount not greater than 67% of net income until December 31, 2020.  
On July 16, 2015, the Company and AXIS amended the Amalgamation Agreement further to increase the one-time special dividend to be paid by the Company to its common shareholders to $17.50 per share and, subject to certain conditions, to match the economic terms proposed by EXOR on July 7, 2015 in relation to the Company's preferred shares.
On July 20, 2015, EXOR announced an increase in its proposal to acquire 100% of the common shares of the Company for $137.50 per share in cash by adding a special dividend of $3.00 per share to be paid by the Company to its common shareholders pre-closing.
On July 21, 2015, the Company announced that it had determined that EXOR's enhanced proposal of July 20, 2015 would reasonably be likely to result in a superior proposal in accordance with the Amalgamation Agreement. As a result, the Board sought to engage in negotiations with EXOR, and offered EXOR the opportunity to conduct due diligence, to determine whether EXOR's proposal could be improved both in price and terms.

8

 
 
 


On August 3, 2015, the Company announced that it had reached a definitive agreement with EXOR under which EXOR would acquire all of the outstanding common shares of PartnerRe for an all-cash consideration of $137.50 per share and a special pre-closing dividend of $3.00 per share. The transaction would be effected by a merger of Pillar Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of EXOR N.V., with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company and a wholly owned subsidiary of EXOR N.V. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement (Merger Agreement), each PartnerRe common share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger shall (i) automatically be canceled and converted into the right to receive the acquisition consideration and (ii) be entitled to receive the special dividend. The declaration of the special dividend will occur prior to the effective time of the merger and is subject to compliance with the Bermuda Companies Act 1981 and will be conditional and contingent upon the issuance of the certificate of merger by the Bermuda Registrar of Companies (referred to as the effective time of the merger). The Merger Agreement is subject to approval by the Company's shareholders on November 19, 2015, regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions.
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company and AXIS terminated the Amalgamation Agreement. On August 3, 2015, in accordance with the terms of the Amalgamation Agreement, the Company paid a termination fee and reimbursement of expenses to AXIS of $315 million which is included within Other expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. To facilitate comparison of information across periods, certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current year's presentation.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While Management believes that the amounts included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect its best estimates and assumptions, actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s principal estimates include:
•
Unpaid losses and loss expenses;
•
Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts;
•
Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned;
•
Recoverability of deferred acquisition costs;
•
Recoverability of deferred tax assets;
•
Valuation of goodwill and intangible assets; and
•
Valuation of certain assets and derivative financial instruments that are measured using significant unobservable inputs.
In the opinion of Management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods have been made. As the Company’s reinsurance operations are exposed to low-frequency, high-severity risk events, some of which are seasonal, results for certain interim periods may include unusually low loss experience, while results for other interim periods may include significant catastrophic losses. Consequently, the Company’s results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued updated guidance on the consolidation of voting interest entities and variable interest entities. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures.
In May 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance on disclosures related to short-duration insurance contracts. The update expands required disclosures in order to increase the transparency of significant estimates made in measuring the liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, improve comparability and facilitate financial statement users' analysis of the cash flows arising from re/insurance contracts and the development of loss reserve estimates. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its disclosures.

9

 
 
 


In May 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance on disclosures for investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (NAV) per share (or its equivalent). The update eliminates the requirement to categorize investments measured using the NAV practical expedient in the fair value hierarchy table. The guidance is applicable retrospectively and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its disclosures.
4. Fair Value
(a) Fair Value of Financial Instrument Assets
The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value by maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing 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 pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. The level in the hierarchy within which a given fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement.
The Company determines the appropriate level in the hierarchy for each financial instrument that it measures at fair value. In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches, including market, income and cost approaches. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the observability of inputs as follows:
•
Level 1 inputs—Unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.
The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 1 inputs generally include: equities and real estate investment trusts listed on a major exchange, exchange traded funds and exchange traded derivatives, including futures that are actively traded.
•
Level 2 inputs—Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets and significant directly or indirectly observable inputs, other than quoted prices, used in industry accepted models.
The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 2 inputs generally include: U.S. government issued bonds; U.S. government sponsored enterprises bonds; U.S. state, territory and municipal entities bonds; non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related bonds consisting primarily of bonds issued by non-U.S. national governments and their agencies, non-U.S. regional governments and supranational organizations; investment grade and high yield corporate bonds; asset-backed securities; mortgage-backed securities; short-term investments; certain equities traded on foreign exchanges; certain preferred equities; certain fixed income mutual funds; foreign exchange forward contracts and over-the-counter derivatives such as foreign currency option contracts, credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and to-be-announced mortgage-backed securities (TBAs).
•
Level 3 inputs—Unobservable inputs.
The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 3 inputs generally include: inactively traded fixed maturities including U.S. state, territory and municipal bonds; special purpose financing asset-backed bonds; unlisted equities; real estate and certain other mutual fund investments; inactively traded weather derivatives; notes and loan receivables, notes securitizations, annuities and residuals, private equities and longevity and other total return swaps.
The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between the hierarchy levels at the beginning of the period.
The Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value include investments and the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value were classified between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):

10

September 30, 2015
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
other observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises
 
$
—

 
$
2,195,753

 
$
—

 
$
2,195,753

U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
—

 
634,874

 
125,480

 
760,354

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related
 
—

 
1,288,188

 
—

 
1,288,188

Corporate
 
—

 
5,366,280

 
—

 
5,366,280

Asset-backed securities
 
—

 
681,758

 
400,831

 
1,082,589

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
—

 
2,281,275

 
—

 
2,281,275

Other mortgage-backed securities
 
—

 
51,810

 
—

 
51,810

Fixed maturities
 
$
—

 
$
12,499,938

 
$
526,311

 
$
13,026,249

Short-term investments
 
$
—

 
$
100,365

 
$
—

 
$
100,365

Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate investment trusts
 
$
180,387

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
180,387

Consumer noncyclical
 
115,462

 
—

 
—

 
115,462

Finance
 
74,552

 
4,698

 
21,861

 
101,111

Insurance
 
94,523

 
5,250

 
—

 
99,773

Energy
 
72,880

 
—

 
—

 
72,880

Industrials
 
55,322

 
8,751

 
—

 
64,073

Technology
 
45,364

 
—

 
8,416

 
53,780

Communications
 
43,024

 
—

 
2,568

 
45,592

Consumer cyclical
 
44,401

 
—

 
—

 
44,401

Utilities
 
24,616

 
—

 
—

 
24,616

Other
 
16,005

 
—

 
—

 
16,005

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds
 
179,195

 
—

 
6,841

 
186,036

Equities
 
$
945,731

 
$
18,699

 
$
39,686

 
$
1,004,116

Other invested assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
$
—

 
$
12,880

 
$
—

 
$
12,880

Insurance-linked securities
 
—

 
—

 
8,523

 
8,523

Total return swaps
 
—

 
—

 
1,487

 
1,487

TBAs
 
—

 
2,159

 
—

 
2,159

Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization
 
—

 
—

 
91,386

 
91,386

Annuities and residuals
 
—

 
—

 
10,044

 
10,044

Private equities
 
—

 
—

 
70,070

 
70,070

Derivative liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
—

 
(2,939
)
 
—

 
(2,939
)
Foreign currency option contracts
 
—

 
(4,614
)
 
—

 
(4,614
)
Futures contracts
 
(16,382
)
 
—

 
—

 
(16,382
)
Total return swaps
 
—

 
—

 
(2,609
)
 
(2,609
)
Interest rate swaps
 
—

 
(25,518
)
 
—

 
(25,518
)
Other invested assets
 
$
(16,382
)
 
$
(18,032
)
 
$
178,901

 
$
144,487

Funds held – directly managed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises
 
$
—

 
$
165,297

 
$
—

 
$
165,297

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related
 
—

 
124,294

 
—

 
124,294

Corporate
 
—

 
107,826

 
—

 
107,826

Short-term investments
 
—

 
6,063

 
—

 
6,063

Other invested assets
 
—

 
—

 
11,877

 
11,877

Funds held – directly managed
 
$
—

 
$
403,480

 
$
11,877

 
$
415,357

Total
 
$
929,349

 
$
13,004,450

 
$
756,775

 
$
14,690,574


11

December 31, 2014
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises
 
$
—

 
$
2,315,422

 
$
—

 
$
2,315,422

U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
—

 
380,875

 
149,728

 
530,603

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related
 
—

 
1,976,202

 
—

 
1,976,202

Corporate
 
—

 
5,604,160

 
—

 
5,604,160

Asset-backed securities
 
—

 
681,502

 
449,918

 
1,131,420

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
—

 
2,306,476

 
—

 
2,306,476

Other mortgage-backed securities
 
—

 
54,462

 
—

 
54,462

Fixed maturities
 
$
—

 
$
13,319,099

 
$
599,646

 
$
13,918,745

Short-term investments
 
$
—

 
$
25,678

 
$
—

 
$
25,678

Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate investment trusts
 
$
213,770

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
213,770

Insurance
 
140,916

 
4,521

 
—

 
145,437

Energy
 
123,978

 
—

 
—

 
123,978

Consumer noncyclical
 
100,134

 
—

 
—

 
100,134

Finance
 
70,621

 
7,354

 
20,353

 
98,328

Technology
 
52,707

 
—

 
8,555

 
61,262

Communications
 
51,829

 
—

 
2,640

 
54,469

Industrials
 
49,983

 
—

 
—

 
49,983

Consumer cyclical
 
39,002

 
—

 
—

 
39,002

Utilities
 
31,748

 
—

 
—

 
31,748

Other
 
11,571

 
—

 
—

 
11,571

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds
 
118,246

 
—

 
8,586

 
126,832

Equities
 
$
1,004,505

 
$
11,875

 
$
40,134

 
$
1,056,514

Other invested assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
$
—

 
$
20,033

 
$
—

 
$
20,033

Futures contracts
 
846

 
—

 
—

 
846

Insurance-linked securities
 
—

 
—

 
3

 
3

Total return swaps
 
—

 
—

 
485

 
485

TBAs
 
—

 
154

 
—

 
154

Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization
 
—

 
—

 
44,817

 
44,817

Annuities and residuals
 
—

 
—

 
13,243

 
13,243

Private equities
 
—

 
—

 
59,872

 
59,872

Derivative liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
—

 
(7,446
)
 
—

 
(7,446
)
Foreign currency option contracts
 
—

 
(1,196
)
 
—

 
(1,196
)
Futures contracts
 
(467
)
 
—

 
—

 
(467
)
Insurance-linked securities
 
—

 
—

 
(339
)
 
(339
)
Total return swaps
 
—

 
—

 
(2,007
)
 
(2,007
)
Interest rate swaps
 
—

 
(16,282
)
 
—

 
(16,282
)
TBAs
 
—

 
(240
)
 
—

 
(240
)
Other invested assets
 
$
379

 
$
(4,977
)
 
$
116,074

 
$
111,476

Funds held – directly managed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises
 
$
—

 
$
153,483

 
$
—

 
$
153,483

U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
—

 
—

 
132

 
132

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related
 
—

 
128,233

 
—

 
128,233

Corporate
 
—

 
177,347

 
—

 
177,347

Other invested assets
 
—

 
—

 
13,398

 
13,398

Funds held – directly managed
 
$
—

 
$
459,063

 
$
13,530

 
$
472,593

Total
 
$
1,004,884

 
$
13,810,738

 
$
769,384

 
$
15,585,006


12

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amounts of items included in Other invested assets that the Company did not measure at fair value were $200.2 million and $187.3 million, respectively, which related to the Company’s investments that are accounted for using the cost method of accounting or equity method of accounting.
In addition to the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account held at fair value of $415.4 million and $472.6 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, the funds held – directly managed account also included cash and cash equivalents, carried at fair value, of $64.2 million and $42.3 million, respectively, and accrued investment income of $5.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amounts of items included in the funds held – directly managed account that the Company did not measure at fair value were $110.7 million and $88.3 million, respectively, which primarily related to other assets and liabilities held by Colisée Re related to the underlying business, which are carried at cost (see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, substantially all of the accrued investment income in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets relate to the Company’s investments and the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account for which the fair value option was elected.
During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
Disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments that the Company does not measure at fair value exclude insurance contracts and certain other financial instruments. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair values of financial instrument assets recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets not described above, approximate their carrying values.
The reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
For the three months ended September 30, 2015
 
Balance at
beginning
of period
 
Realized and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net loss
 
Purchases
and
issuances (1)
 
Settlements
and
sales (2)
 
Net
transfers
into/
(out of)
Level 3
 
Balance
at end
of period
 
Change in
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
relating to
assets held at
end of period
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
112,221

 
$
13,399

 
$
—

 
$
(140
)
 
$
—

 
$
125,480

 
$
13,398

Asset-backed securities
 
411,649

 
30

 
78,244

 
(89,092
)
 
—

 
400,831

 
552

Fixed maturities
 
$
523,870

 
$
13,429

 
$
78,244

 
$
(89,232
)
 
$
—

 
$
526,311

 
$
13,950

Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance
 
$
20,964

 
$
897

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
21,861

 
$
897

Technology
 
9,215

 
(799
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
8,416

 
(799
)
Communications
 
2,580

 
(12
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,568

 
(12
)
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds
 
8,923

 
136

 
—

 
(2,218
)
 
—

 
6,841

 
(595
)
Equities
 
$
41,682

 
$
222

 
$
—

 
$
(2,218
)
 
$
—

 
$
39,686

 
$
(509
)
Other invested assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives, net
 
$
(2,410
)
 
$
9,811

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
7,401

 
$
9,811

Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization
 
65,450

 
(1,594
)
 
28,893

 
(1,363
)
 
—

 
91,386

 
(3,112
)
Annuities and residuals
 
11,096

 
(226
)
 
—

 
(826
)
 
—

 
10,044

 
148

Private equities
 
71,543

 
(2,015
)
 
1,553

 
(1,011
)
 
—

 
70,070

 
(2,015
)
Other invested assets
 
$
145,679

 
$
5,976

 
$
30,446

 
$
(3,200
)
 
$
—

 
$
178,901

 
$
4,832

Funds held – directly managed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other invested assets
 
$
12,348

 
$
(471
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
11,877

 
$
(471
)
Funds held – directly managed
 
$
12,348

 
$
(471
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
11,877

 
$
(471
)
Total
 
$
723,579

 
$
19,156

 
$
108,690

 
$
(94,650
)
 
$
—

 
$
756,775

 
$
17,802

 
(1)
There were no issuances for the three months ended September 30, 2015.
(2)
Settlements and sales of mutual funds and exchange traded funds and private equities include sales of $2.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

13

For the three months ended September 30, 2014
 
Balance at
beginning
of period
 
Realized and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net income
 
Purchases
and
issuances (1)
 
Settlements
and
sales (1)
 
Net
transfers
into/(out of)
Level 3
 
Balance
at end of
period
 
Change in
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
relating to
assets held at
end of period
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
123,617

 
$
3,636

 
$
5,695

 
$
(2,205
)
 
$
—

 
$
130,743

 
$
3,747

Asset-backed securities
 
489,106

 
(4,439
)
 
11,085

 
(37,577
)
 
—

 
458,175

 
(4,403
)
Fixed maturities
 
$
612,723

 
$
(803
)
 
$
16,780

 
$
(39,782
)
 
$
—

 
$
588,918

 
$
(656
)
Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance
 
$
19,564

 
$
(428
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
19,136

 
$
(428
)
Communications
 
2,067

 
(101
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,966

 
(101
)
Technology
 
7,645

 
(327
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
7,318

 
(327
)
Other
 
7

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
7

 
—

Mutual funds and exchange traded funds
 
8,246

 
129

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
8,375

 
129

Equities
 
$
37,529

 
$
(727
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
36,802

 
$
(727
)
Other invested assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives, net
 
$
(852
)
 
$
(1,255
)
 
$
57

 
$
560

 
$
—

 
$
(1,490
)
 
$
(1,255
)
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization
 
38,603

 
(1,379
)
 
29,286

 
(21,114
)
 
—

 
45,396

 
(1,379
)
Annuities and residuals
 
17,134

 
(475
)
 
—

 
(1,779
)
 
—

 
14,880

 
(474
)
Private equities
 
54,928

 
(1,348
)
 
248

 
(809
)
 
—

 
53,019

 
(1,348
)
Other invested assets
 
$
109,813

 
$
(4,457
)
 
$
29,591

 
$
(23,142
)
 
$
—

 
$
111,805

 
$
(4,456
)
Funds held – directly managed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
305

 
$
6

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
311

 
$
6

Other invested assets
 
15,800

 
(1,467
)
 
220

 
—

 
—

 
14,553

 
(1,467
)
Funds held – directly managed
 
$
16,105

 
$
(1,461
)
 
$
220

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
14,864

 
$
(1,461
)
Total
 
$
776,170

 
$
(7,448
)
 
$
46,591

 
$
(62,924
)
 
$
—

 
$
752,389

 
$
(7,300
)
 
 
(1)
There were no issuances or sales for the three months ended September 30, 2014.


14

The reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for all financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
 
Balance at
beginning
of period
 
Realized and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net loss
 
Purchases
and
issuances (1)
 
Settlements
and
sales (2)
 
Net
transfers
into/(out of)
Level 3
 
Balance
at end of
period
 
Change in
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
relating to
assets held at
end of period
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
149,728

 
$
3,148

 
$
16,440

 
$
(43,836
)
 
$
—

 
$
125,480

 
$
3,140

Asset-backed securities
 
449,918

 
(6,420
)
 
138,946

 
(181,613
)
 
—

 
400,831

 
(6,094
)
Fixed maturities
 
$
599,646

 
$
(3,272
)
 
$
155,386

 
$
(225,449
)
 
$
—

 
$
526,311

 
$
(2,954
)
Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance
 
$
20,353

 
$
1,640

 
$
—

 
$
(132
)
 
$
—

 
$
21,861

 
$
1,640

Technology
 
8,555

 
(139
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
8,416

 
(139
)
Communications
 
2,640

 
(72
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,568

 
(72
)
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds
 
8,586

 
473

 
249,340

 
(251,558
)
 
—

 
6,841

 
(259
)
Equities
 
$
40,134

 
$
1,902

 
$
249,340

 
$
(251,690
)
 
$
—

 
$
39,686

 
$
1,170

Other invested assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives, net
 
$
(1,858
)
 
$
9,259

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
7,401

 
$
9,259

Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization
 
44,817

 
(1,030
)
 
51,575

 
(3,976
)
 
—

 
91,386

 
(1,030
)
Annuities and residuals
 
13,243

 
95

 
—

 
(3,294
)
 
—

 
10,044

 
469

Private equities
 
59,872

 
(463
)
 
13,491

 
(2,830
)
 
—

 
70,070

 
(611
)
Other invested assets
 
$
116,074

 
$
7,861

 
$
65,066

 
$
(10,100
)
 
$
—

 
$
178,901

 
$
8,087

Funds held – directly managed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
132

 
$
68

 
$
—

 
$
(200
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Other invested assets
 
13,398

 
(1,521
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
11,877

 
(1,521
)
Funds held – directly managed
 
$
13,530

 
$
(1,453
)
 
$
—

 
$
(200
)
 
$
—

 
$
11,877

 
$
(1,521
)
Total
 
$
769,384

 
$
5,038

 
$
469,792

 
$
(487,439
)
 
$
—

 
$
756,775

 
$
4,782

 
(1)
There were no issuances for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
(2)
Settlements and sales of mutual funds and exchange traded funds and private equities include sales of $2.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

15

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
Balance at
beginning
of period
 
Realized and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net income
 
Purchases
and
issuances (1)
 
Settlements
and
sales (2)
 
Net
transfers
into/(out of)
Level 3
 
Balance
at end of
period
 
Change in
unrealized
investment 
gains (losses) relating to
assets held at
end of period
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
108,380

 
$
10,488

 
$
14,220

 
$
(2,345
)
 
$
—

 
$
130,743

 
$
10,483

Asset-backed securities
 
446,577

 
4,698

 
138,538

 
(131,638
)
 
—

 
458,175

 
4,993

Fixed maturities
 
$
554,957

 
$
15,186

 
$
152,758

 
$
(133,983
)
 
$
—

 
$
588,918

 
$
15,476

Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance
 
$
20,207

 
$
(1,071
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
19,136

 
$
(1,071
)
Communications
 
2,199

 
(233
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,966

 
(233
)
Technology
 
7,752

 
(434
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
7,318

 
(434
)
Other
 
—

 
(1
)
 
8

 
—

 
—

 
7

 
(1
)
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds
 
7,887

 
488

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
8,375

 
488

Equities
 
$
38,045

 
$
(1,251
)
 
$
8

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
36,802

 
$
(1,251
)
Other invested assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives, net
 
$
(788
)
 
$
(391
)
 
$
(871
)
 
$
560

 
$
—

 
$
(1,490
)
 
$
(391
)
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization
 
41,446

 
2,188

 
32,202

 
(30,440
)
 
—

 
45,396

 
3,707

Annuities and residuals
 
24,064

 
(84
)
 
—

 
(9,100
)
 
—

 
14,880

 
(44
)
Private equities
 
39,131

 
(3,179
)
 
20,792

 
(3,725
)
 
—

 
53,019

 
(3,210
)
Other invested assets
 
$
103,853

 
$
(1,466
)
 
$
52,123

 
$
(42,705
)
 
$
—

 
$
111,805

 
$
62

Funds held – directly managed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
286

 
$
25

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
311

 
$
25

Other invested assets
 
15,165

 
(1,087
)
 
475

 
—

 
—

 
14,553

 
(1,087
)
Funds held – directly managed
 
$
15,451

 
$
(1,062
)
 
$
475

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
14,864

 
$
(1,062
)
Total
 
$
712,306

 
$
11,407

 
$
205,364

 
$
(176,688
)
 
$
—

 
$
752,389

 
$
13,225

 
(1) Purchases and issuances of derivatives include issuances of $0.9 million.
(2) There were no sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.



16

The significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows (fair value in thousands of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
 
Fair value
 
Valuation techniques
 
Unobservable inputs
 
Range
(Weighted average)
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
125,480

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
2.5% – 11.1% (5.8%)
Asset-backed securities
 
400,831

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
4.1% – 11.2% (7.5%)
Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance
 
15,426

 
Weighted market comparables
 
Net income multiple
 
14.4 (14.4)
 
 
 
 
 
Tangible book value multiple
 
1.5 (1.5)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liquidity discount
 
25.0% (25.0%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comparable return
 
5.9% (5.9%)
Finance
 
6,435

 
Profitability analysis
 
Projected return on equity
 
14.0% (14.0%)
Technology
 
8,416

 
Weighted market comparables
 
Revenue multiple
 
1.2 (1.2)
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted earnings multiple
 
10.7 (10.7)
Communications
 
2,568

 
Weighted market comparables
 
Adjusted earnings multiple
 
9.4 (9.4)
 
 
 
 
 
Comparable return
 
0% (0%)
Other invested assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total return swaps, net
 
(1,122
)
 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
3.8% – 24.7% (17.2%)
Longevity swaps
 
8,413

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
2.6% (2.6%)
Notes and loan receivables
 
47,870

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
6.1% – 27.6% (8.7%)
Notes and loan receivables
 
12,140

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
17.5% (17.5%)
 
 
 
 
Gross revenue/fair value
 
1.3 – 1.6 (1.6)
Notes securitization
 
31,376

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
3.7% – 7.1% (6.9%)
Annuities and residuals
 
10,044

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
5.8% – 11.6% (10.1%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment speed
 
0% – 15.0% (2.4%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constant default rate
 
0.3% – 17.5% (4.5%)
Private equity – direct
 
9,323

 
Discounted cash flow and weighted market comparables
 
Net income multiple
 
9.4 (9.4)
 
 
 
 
 
Tangible book value multiple
 
2.2 (2.2)
 
 
 
 
 
Recoverability of intangible assets
 
0% (0%)
Private equity funds
 
26,321

 
Reported market value
 
Net asset value, as reported
 
100.0% (100.0%)
 
 
 
 
 
Market adjustments
 
-17.9% – -0.5% (-10.1%)
Private equity – other
 
34,426

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Effective yield
 
5.8% (5.8%)
Funds held – directly managed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other invested assets
 
11,877

 
Reported market value
 
Net asset value, as reported
 
100.0% (100.0%)
 
 
 
 
 
Market adjustments
 
-15.3% – 0% (-13.4%)

17

December 31, 2014
 
Fair value
 
Valuation techniques
 
Unobservable inputs
 
Range
(Weighted average)
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities
 
$
149,728

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
2.2% – 10.1% (4.6%)
Asset-backed securities
 
449,918

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
4.0% – 12.1% (7.1%)
Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance
 
14,561

 
Weighted market comparables
 
Net income multiple
 
19.0 (19.0)
 
 
 
 
 
Tangible book value multiple
 
1.3 (1.3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liquidity discount
 
25.0% (25.0%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comparable return
 
7.3% (7.3%)
Finance
 
5,792

 
Profitability analysis
 
Projected return on equity
 
14.0% (14.0%)
Technology
 
8,555

 
Weighted market comparables
 
Revenue multiple
 
1.6 (1.6)
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted earnings multiple
 
10.2 (10.2)
Communications
 
2,640

 
Weighted market comparables
 
Adjusted earnings multiple
 
9.4 (9.4)
 
 
 
 
 
Comparable return
 
-10.6% (-10.6%)
Other invested assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total return swaps, net
 
(1,522
)
 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
3.6% – 19.3% (16.3%)
Notes and loan receivables
 
8,068

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
12.6% (12.6%)
Notes and loan receivables
 
13,237

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
17.5% (17.5%)
 
 
 
 
Gross revenue/fair value
 
1.5 – 1.7 (1.7)
Notes securitization
 
23,512

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
3.5% – 6.6% (6.4%)
Annuities and residuals
 
13,243

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit spreads
 
4.9% – 9.6% (7.8%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment speed
 
0% – 15.0% (4.3%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constant default rate
 
0.3% – 17.5% (6.3%)
Private equity – direct
 
8,536

 
Discounted cash flow and weighted market comparables
 
Net income multiple
 
9.0 (9.0)
 
 
 
 
 
Tangible book value multiple
 
2.0 (2.0)
 
 
 
 
 
Recoverability of intangible assets
 
0% (0%)
Private equity funds
 
18,494

 
Reported market value
 
Net asset value, as reported
 
100.0% (100.0%)
 
 
 
 
 
Market adjustments
 
-7.6% – 11.0% (-1.6%)
Private equity – other
 
32,842

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Effective yield
 
5.8% (5.8%)
Funds held – directly managed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other invested assets
 
13,398

 
Reported market value
 
Net asset value, as reported
 
100.0% (100.0%)
 
 
 
 
 
Market adjustments
 
-15.4% – 0% (-14.5%)
The tables above do not include financial instruments that are measured using unobservable inputs (Level 3) where the unobservable inputs were obtained from external sources and used without adjustment. These financial instruments include mutual fund investments (included within equities) and certain derivatives.
The Company has established a Valuation Committee which is responsible for determining the Company’s invested asset valuation policy and related procedures, for reviewing significant changes in the fair value measurements of securities classified as Level 3 from period to period, and for reviewing in accordance with the invested asset valuation policy an independent internal peer analysis that is performed on the fair value measurements of significant securities that are classified as Level 3. The Valuation Committee is comprised of members of the Company’s senior management team and meets on a quarterly basis. The Company’s invested asset valuation policy is monitored by the Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (Board) and approved annually by the Company’s Risk and Finance Committee of the Board.

18

Changes in the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments subject to the fair value option during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Fixed maturities and short-term investments
$
(19,375
)
 
$
(75,537
)
 
$
(196,322
)
 
$
167,696

Equities
(94,869
)
 
(31,093
)
 
(147,408
)
 
(14,447
)
Other invested assets
(4,072
)
 
(3,497
)
 
(1,359
)
 
60

Funds held – directly managed
1,674

 
(540
)
 
(2,084
)
 
937

Total
$
(116,642
)
 
$
(110,667
)
 
$
(347,173
)
 
$
154,246

Substantially all of the above changes in fair value are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations under the caption Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains.
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of each class of financial instrument recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. There have been no material changes in the Company’s valuation techniques during the periods presented.
Fixed maturities
 
•
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises—U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises securities consist primarily of bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and corporate debt securities issued by government sponsored enterprises and federally owned or established corporations. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services. The independent pricing services may use actual transaction prices for securities that have been actively traded. For securities that have not been actively traded, each pricing source has its own proprietary method to determine the fair value, which may incorporate option adjusted spreads (OAS), interest rate data and market news. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
•
U.S. states, territories and municipalities—U.S. states, territories and municipalities securities consist primarily of bonds issued by U.S. states, territories and municipalities and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services using the techniques described for U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises above. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. Certain of the bonds that are issued by municipal housing authorities and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation are not actively traded and are priced based on internal models using unobservable inputs. Accordingly, the Company classifies these securities in Level 3. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of these U.S. states, territories and municipalities securities classified as Level 3 is credit spreads. A significant increase (decrease) in credit spreads in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
•
Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related—Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related securities consist primarily of bonds issued by non-U.S. national governments and their agencies, non-U.S. regional governments and supranational organizations. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services using the techniques described for U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises above. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
•
Corporate—Corporate securities consist primarily of bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations covering a variety of industries and issuing countries. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider incorporates information including credit spreads, interest rate data and market news into the valuation of each security. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. When a corporate security is inactively traded or the valuation model uses unobservable inputs, the Company classifies the security in Level 3.
•
Asset-backed securities—Asset-backed securities primarily consist of bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations that are predominantly backed by student loans, automobile loans, credit card receivables, equipment leases, and special purpose financing. With the exception of special purpose financing, these asset-backed securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. Special purpose financing securities are generally inactively traded and are priced based on valuation models using unobservable inputs. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 3. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of these asset-backed securities classified as Level 3 is credit spreads. A significant increase (decrease) in credit spreads in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

19

•
Residential mortgage-backed securities—Residential mortgage-backed securities primarily consist of bonds issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as well as private, non-agency issuers. These residential mortgage-backed securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. When current market trades are not available, the pricing provider or the Company will employ proprietary models with observable inputs including other trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
•
Other mortgage-backed securities—Other mortgage-backed securities primarily consist of commercial mortgage-backed securities. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
In general, the methods employed by the independent pricing services to determine the fair value of the securities that have not been actively traded primarily involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the independent pricing source applies the credit spread for a comparable security that has traded recently to the current yield curve to determine a reasonable fair value. The Company generally uses one pricing source per security and uses a pricing service ranking to consistently select the most appropriate pricing service in instances where it receives multiple quotes on the same security. When fair values are unavailable from these independent pricing sources, quotes are obtained directly from broker-dealers who are active in the corresponding markets. Most of the Company’s fixed maturities are priced from the pricing services or dealer quotes. The Company will typically not make adjustments to prices received from pricing services or dealer quotes; however, in instances where the quoted external price for a security uses significant unobservable inputs, the Company will classify that security as Level 3. The methods used to develop and substantiate the unobservable inputs used are based on the Company’s valuation policy and are dependent upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the individual investments which are generally transaction specific. The Company’s inactively traded fixed maturities are classified as Level 3. For all fixed maturity investments, the bid price is used for estimating fair value.
To validate prices, the Company compares the fair value estimates to its knowledge of the current market and will investigate prices that it considers not to be representative of fair value. The Company also reviews an internally generated fixed maturity price validation report which converts prices received for fixed maturity investments from the independent pricing sources and from broker-dealers quotes and plots OAS and duration on a sector and rating basis. The OAS is calculated using established algorithms developed by an independent risk analytics platform vendor. The OAS on the fixed maturity price validation report are compared for securities in a similar sector and having a similar rating, and outliers are identified and investigated for price reasonableness. In addition, the Company completes quantitative analyses to compare the performance of each fixed maturity investment portfolio to the performance of an appropriate benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated.
Short-term investments
Short-term investments are valued in a manner similar to the Company’s fixed maturity investments and are generally classified in Level 2.
Equities
Equity securities include U.S. and foreign common and preferred stocks, real estate investment trusts, mutual funds and exchange traded funds. Equities, real estate investment trusts and exchange traded funds are generally classified in Level 1 as the Company uses prices received from independent pricing sources based on quoted prices in active markets. Equities classified as Level 2 are generally mutual funds invested in fixed income securities, where the net asset value of the fund is provided on a daily basis, common stocks traded in inactive markets and certain preferred equities. Equities classified as Level 3 are generally mutual funds invested in securities other than the common stock of publicly traded companies, where the net asset value is not provided on a daily basis, and inactively traded common stocks. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of inactively traded common stocks classified as Level 3 include market return information, weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded companies in the same industry, in a similar region and of a similar size, including net income multiples, tangible book value multiples, comparable returns, revenue multiples, adjusted earnings multiples and projected return on equity ratios. Significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs could result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. Significant unobservable inputs used in measuring the fair value measurement of inactively traded common stocks also include a liquidity discount. A significant increase (decrease) in the liquidity discount could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
To validate prices, the Company completes quantitative analyses to compare the performance of each equity investment portfolio to the performance of an appropriate benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated.

20

Other invested assets
The Company’s exchange traded derivatives, such as futures, are generally classified as Level 1 as their fair values are quoted prices in active markets. The Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts, foreign currency option contracts, credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and TBAs are generally classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and are priced by independent pricing services.
Included in the Company’s Level 3 classification, in general, are certain inactively traded weather derivatives, notes and loan receivables, notes securitizations, annuities and residuals, private equities and longevity and other total return swaps. For Level 3 instruments, the Company will generally (i) receive a price based on a manager’s or trustee’s valuation for the asset; (ii) develop an internal discounted cash flow model to measure fair value; or (iii) use market return information, adjusted if necessary and weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded equity funds in a similar region and of a similar size. Where the Company receives prices from the manager or trustee, these prices are based on the manager’s or trustee’s estimate of fair value for the assets and are generally audited on an annual basis. Where the Company develops its own discounted cash flow models, the inputs will be specific to the asset in question, based on appropriate historical information, adjusted as necessary, and using appropriate discount rates. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of other invested assets classified as Level 3 include credit spreads, prepayment speeds, constant default rates, gross revenue to fair value ratios, net income multiples, effective yields, tangible book value multiples and other valuation ratios. Significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of other invested assets classified as Level 3 also include an assessment of the recoverability of intangible assets and market return information, weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded companies in the same industry, in a similar region and of a similar size. Significant increases (decreases) in these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. As part of the Company’s modeling to determine the fair value of an investment, the Company considers counterparty credit risk as an input to the model, however, the majority of the Company’s counterparties are investment grade rated institutions and the failure of any one counterparty would not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
To validate prices, the Company will compare them to benchmarks, where appropriate, or to the business results generally within that asset class and specifically to those particular assets.
Funds held – directly managed
The segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account is comprised of fixed maturities, short-term investments and other invested assets which are fair valued on a basis consistent with the methods described above. Substantially all fixed maturities and short-term investments within the funds held – directly managed account are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
The other invested assets within the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account, which are classified as Level 3 investments, are primarily real estate mutual fund investments carried at fair value. For the real estate mutual fund investments, the Company receives a price based on the real estate fund manager’s valuation for the asset and further adjusts the price, if necessary, based on appropriate current information on the real estate market. A significant increase (decrease) to the adjustment to the real estate fund manager’s valuation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
To validate prices within the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account, the Company utilizes the methods described above.
(b) Fair Value of Financial Instrument Liabilities
At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair values of financial instrument liabilities recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate their carrying values, with the exception of the debt related to senior notes (Senior Notes) and the debt related to capital efficient notes (CENts).
The methods and assumptions used by the Company in estimating the fair value of each class of financial instrument liability recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for which the Company does not measure that instrument at fair value were as follows:
•
the fair value of the Senior Notes was calculated based on discounted cash flow models using observable market yields and contractual cash flows based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding of $250 million from PartnerRe Finance A LLC and $500 million from PartnerRe Finance B LLC at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014; and

21

•
the fair value of the CENts was calculated based on discounted cash flow models using observable market yields and contractual cash flows based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding of $63 million from PartnerRe Finance II Inc. at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
The carrying values and fair values of the Senior Notes and CENts at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Debt related to Senior Notes (1)
$
750,000

 
$
849,887

 
$
750,000

 
$
853,792

Debt related to CENts (2)
63,384

 
63,999

 
63,384

 
62,309

 
 
(1)
PartnerRe Finance A LLC and PartnerRe Finance B LLC, the issuers of the Senior Notes, do not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $750 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
(2)
PartnerRe Finance II Inc., the issuer of the CENts, does not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $71 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s debt related to the Senior Notes and CENts was classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Disclosures about the fair value of financial instrument liabilities exclude insurance contracts and certain other financial instruments.
5. Derivatives
The Company’s derivative instruments are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in either net foreign exchange gains and losses or net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, depending on the nature of the derivative instrument. The Company’s objectives for holding or issuing these derivatives are as follows:
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts
The Company utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts as part of its overall currency risk management and investment strategies. From time to time, the Company also utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge a portion of its net investment exposure resulting from the translation of its foreign subsidiaries and branches whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Currency Option Contracts and Futures Contracts
The Company utilizes foreign currency option contracts to mitigate foreign currency risk. The Company uses exchange traded treasury note futures contracts to manage portfolio duration and equity futures to hedge certain investments.
Credit Default Swaps
The Company purchases protection through credit default swaps to mitigate the risk associated with its underwriting operations, most notably in the credit/surety line, and to manage market exposures.
The Company also assumes credit risk through credit default swaps to replicate investment positions. The original term of these credit default swaps is generally five years or less and there are no recourse provisions associated with these swaps. The counterparties on the Company’s assumed credit default swaps are all investment grade rated financial institutions, however, the Company would be required to perform in the event of a default by the underlying issuer.
Insurance-Linked Securities
The Company enters into various weather derivatives and longevity total return swaps for which the underlying risks reference parametric weather risks for the weather derivatives and longevity risk for the longevity total return swaps.

22

 
 
 


Total Return and Interest Rate Swaps and Interest Rate Derivatives
The Company enters into total return swaps referencing various project, investments and principal finance obligations. The Company enters into interest rate swaps to mitigate the interest rate risk on certain of the total return swaps and certain fixed maturity investments. The Company also uses other interest rate derivatives to mitigate exposure to interest rate volatility.
To-Be-Announced Mortgage-Backed Securities
The Company utilizes TBAs as part of its overall investment strategy and to enhance investment performance.
The net fair values and the related net notional values of derivatives included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
 
 
Asset
derivatives
at fair value

Liability
derivatives
at fair value

Net derivatives
September 30, 2015
 
Net notional
exposure

Fair value
Derivatives designated as hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts (net investment hedge)
 
$
2,362

 
$
—

 
$
392,523

 
$
2,362

Total derivatives designated as hedges
 
$
2,362

 
$
—

 
 
 
$
2,362

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
$
10,518

 
$
(2,939
)
 
$
1,858,513

 
$
7,579

Foreign currency option contracts
 
—

 
(4,614
)
 
88,362

 
(4,614
)
Futures contracts
 
—

 
(16,382
)
 
3,896,112

 
(16,382
)
Insurance-linked securities (1)
 
8,523

 
—

 
134,288

 
8,523

Total return swaps
 
1,487

 
(2,609
)
 
42,458

 
(1,122
)
Interest rate swaps (2)
 
—

 
(25,518
)
 
197,348

 
(25,518
)
TBAs
 
2,159

 
—

 
301,250

 
2,159

Total derivatives not designated as hedges
 
$
22,687

 
$
(52,062
)
 
 
 
$
(29,375
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total derivatives
 
$
25,049

 
$
(52,062
)
 

 
$
(27,013
)
 
 
Asset
derivatives
at fair value
 
Liability
derivatives
at fair value
 
Net derivatives
December 31, 2014
 
Net notional
exposure
 
Fair value
Derivatives not designated as hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
$
20,033

 
$
(7,446
)
 
$
2,080,276

 
$
12,587

Foreign currency option contracts
 
—

 
(1,196
)
 
43,380

 
(1,196
)
Futures contracts
 
846

 
(467
)
 
2,348,735

 
379

Insurance-linked securities (1)
 
3

 
(339
)
 
145,481

 
(336
)
Total return swaps
 
485

 
(2,007
)
 
42,524

 
(1,522
)
Interest rate swaps (2)
 
—

 
(16,282
)
 
201,160

 
(16,282
)
TBAs
 
154

 
(240
)
 
235,105

 
(86
)
Total derivatives
 
$
21,521

 
$
(27,977
)
 
 
 
$
(6,456
)
 
 
(1)
At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, insurance-linked securities include a longevity swap for which the notional amount is not reflective of the overall potential exposure of the swap. As such, the Company has included the probable maximum loss under the swap within the net notional exposure as an approximation of the notional amount.
(2)
The Company enters into interest rate swaps to mitigate notional exposures on certain total return swaps and certain fixed maturities. Only the notional value of interest rate swaps on fixed maturities is presented separately in the table.
The fair value of all derivatives at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is recorded in Other invested assets in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2015, the Company held foreign exchange forward contracts with notional amounts of €350 million, to hedge a portion of its net investment exposure to the euro against the U.S. dollar. The effective portion of the net investment hedging derivatives recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2015 was $2.4 million. There were no derivatives designated as hedges at December 31, 2014.

23

 
 
 


The gains and losses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for derivatives not designated as hedges for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended

September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Foreign exchange forward contracts
$
3,632

 
$
20,721

 
$
(18,273
)
 
$
29,613

Foreign currency option contracts
(4,568
)
 
(721
)
 
(3,472
)
 
427

Total included in net foreign exchange gains and losses
$
(936
)
 
$
20,000

 
$
(21,745
)
 
$
30,040

Futures contracts
$
(39,198
)
 
$
5,895

 
$
(72,981
)
 
$
(44,606
)
Credit default swaps (protection purchased)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
Insurance-linked securities
7,648

 
(50
)
 
7,656

 
206

Total return swaps
943

 
(1,213
)
 
400

 
(595
)
Interest rate swaps
(9,606
)
 
(1,055
)
 
(9,236
)
 
(9,788
)
TBAs
5,595

 
273

 
4,952

 
8,387

Other
—

 
—

 
2,493

 
—

Total included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses
$
(34,618
)
 
$
3,850

 
$
(66,716
)
 
$
(46,399
)
Total derivatives not designated as hedges
$
(35,554
)
 
$
23,850

 
$
(88,461
)
 
$
(16,359
)
Offsetting of Derivatives
The gross and net fair values of derivatives that are subject to offsetting in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
 
 
 
 
Gross
amounts
offset in the
balance sheet
 
Net amounts of
assets/liabilities
presented in the
balance sheet
 
Gross amounts not offset
in the balance sheet
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
Gross
amounts
recognized (1)
 
Financial
instruments
 
Cash collateral
received/pledged
 
Net amount
Total derivative assets
 
$
25,049

 
$
—

 
$
25,049

 
$
(520
)
 
$
(9,440
)
 
$
15,089

Total derivative liabilities
 
$
(52,062
)
 
$
—

 
$
(52,062
)
 
$
520

 
$
47,430

 
$
(4,112
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total derivative assets
 
$
21,521

 
$
—

 
$
21,521

 
$
(766
)
 
$
(8,536
)
 
$
12,219

Total derivative liabilities
 
$
(27,977
)
 
$
—

 
$
(27,977
)
 
$
766

 
$
14,858

 
$
(12,353
)
 
 
(1)
Amounts include all derivative instruments, irrespective of whether there is a legally enforceable master netting arrangement in place.

24

 
 
 


6. Net (Loss) Income per Share
The reconciliation of basic and diluted net (loss) income per share for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
$
(229,137
)
 
$
196,398

 
$
(72,130
)
 
$
778,082

Less: preferred dividends
14,184

 
14,184

 
42,551

 
42,551

Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders
$
(243,321
)
 
$
182,214

 
$
(114,681
)
 
$
735,531

Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted number of common shares outstanding – basic
47,866,040

 
49,514,980

 
47,722,833

 
50,461,749

Share options and other (1)
—

 
1,166,345

 
—

 
1,104,385

Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding – diluted
47,866,040

 
50,681,325

 
47,722,833

 
51,566,134

Basic net (loss) income per share
$
(5.08
)
 
$
3.68

 
$
(2.40
)
 
$
14.58

Diluted net (loss) income per share (1)
$
(5.08
)
 
$
3.60

 
$
(2.40
)
 
$
14.26

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anti-dilutive common shares excluded from weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted (1)
1,168,383

 
134,470

 
1,207,482

 
135,681

 
 
(1)
Where the exercise price of share based awards is greater than the average market price of the common shares, the common shares are considered anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding - diluted. In addition, for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, dilutive securities, in the form of share options and other, were not included in the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding for the purpose of computing the diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive.
7. Noncontrolling Interests
In March 2013, the Company formed, with other third party investors, Lorenz Re Ltd. (Lorenz Re), a Bermuda domiciled special purpose insurer. Lorenz Re is a segregated cell company under the laws of Bermuda and distinct segregated accounts are formed and capitalized within Lorenz Re in order to enter into reinsurance agreements with the Company on a fully collateralized basis.
In 2013, Lorenz Re issued non-voting redeemable preferred share capital on behalf of two segregated accounts (2013 segregated accounts) to provide additional capacity to the Company for a diversified catastrophe portfolio over a multi-year period on a fully collateralized reinsurance basis. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the 2013 segregated accounts given it had a controlling financial interest in their activities and, accordingly, the 2013 segregated accounts were consolidated by the Company. In April 2015, following the expiration of the multi-year period, a portion of the preferred shares was redeemed and a full commutation of the portfolio in the 2013 segregated accounts back to the Company is expected to occur in 2016.
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, Lorenz Re issued non-voting redeemable preferred share capital on behalf of newly formed segregated accounts (2015 segregated accounts) related to new reinsurance agreements for a diversified catastrophe portfolio and an agriculture portfolio with the Company on a fully collateralized basis. The Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the 2015 segregated accounts as it does not have a controlling financial interest and, accordingly, the 2015 segregated accounts are not consolidated by the Company.

25

 
 
 


At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the assets of Lorenz Re, that are included in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $42.4 million and $100.8 million, respectively, primarily consisting of investments and cash. At September 30, 2015, the liabilities of Lorenz Re, that are included in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $8.3 million, primarily consisting of other reinsurance balances payable and unpaid losses and loss expenses. At December 31, 2014, such liabilities were $13.1 million, primarily consisting of unearned premiums, unpaid losses and loss expenses and other reinsurance balances payable. These balances relate to the 2013 segregated accounts that the Company continues to consolidate. The assets of Lorenz Re can only be used to settle the liabilities of Lorenz Re and there is no recourse to the Company for any liabilities of Lorenz Re.
The reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the noncontrolling interests in Lorenz Re for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Balance at beginning of period
$
55,501

 
$
56,627

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
2,531

 
9,914

Distribution to noncontrolling interests
(55,820
)
 
(14,265
)
Balance at end of period
$
2,212

 
$
52,276

8. Commitments and Contingencies
(a) Legal Proceedings
There has been no significant change in legal proceedings at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014. See Note 18(f) to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(b) Merger related charges
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company expects to incur further charges that are contingent upon the closing of the EXOR transaction between $30 million and $40 million related to professional costs. The Company expects to incur these costs upon the closing of the transaction in 2016.
In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company would be obligated to pay EXOR a no approval fee of $55 million if the Company’s shareholders do not approve the transaction, and an additional fee of $195 million in certain circumstances if the Company enters into a similar transaction with a third party in the 12 months following termination of the Merger Agreement. If the Company terminates the agreement for certain other reasons described in the Merger Agreement, the Company would be obligated to pay EXOR a termination fee of $250 million. In all such cases, the Company would be obligated to reimburse EXOR for costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby in an amount not to exceed $35 million.
9. Segment Information
The Company monitors the performance of its operations in three segments, Non-life, Life and Health and Corporate and Other as described in Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Non-life segment is further divided into four sub-segments: North America, Global (Non-U.S.) P&C, Global Specialty and Catastrophe.
The North America sub-segment includes agriculture, casualty, credit/surety, motor, multiline, property and other risks generally originating in the United States. The Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment includes casualty, motor and property business generally originating outside of the United States. The Global Specialty sub-segment is comprised of business that is generally considered to be specialized due to the sophisticated technical underwriting required to analyze risks, and is global in nature. This sub-segment consists of several lines of business for which the Company believes it has developed specialized knowledge and underwriting capabilities. These lines of business include agriculture, aviation/space, credit/surety, energy, engineering, marine, specialty casualty, specialty property and other lines. The Catastrophe sub-segment is comprised of the Company’s catastrophe line of business. The Life and Health segment includes mortality, longevity and accident and health lines of business. Corporate and Other is comprised of the capital markets and investment related activities of the Company, including principal finance transactions, insurance-linked securities and strategic investments, and its corporate activities, including other expenses.
Since the Company does not manage its assets by segment, net investment income is not allocated to the Non-life segment. However, because of the interest-sensitive nature of some of the Company’s Life and Health products, net investment income is considered in Management’s assessment of the profitability of the Life and Health segment. The following items are not considered

26

 
 
 


in evaluating the results of the Non-life and Life and Health segments: net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses, interest expense, amortization of intangible assets, net foreign exchange gains and losses, income tax expense or benefit and interest in earnings and losses of equity method investments. Segment results are shown before consideration of intercompany transactions.
Management measures results for the Non-life segment on the basis of the loss ratio, acquisition ratio, technical ratio, other expense ratio and combined ratio (all defined below). Management measures results for the Non-life sub-segments on the basis of the loss ratio, acquisition ratio and technical ratio. Management measures results for the Life and Health segment on the basis of the allocated underwriting result, which includes revenues from net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income for Life and Health, and expenses from life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other expenses.
The segment results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars, except ratios):

Segment Information
For the three months ended September 30, 2015
 
North
America
 
Global
(Non-U.S.)
P&C
 
Global
Specialty
 
Catastrophe
 
Total
Non-life
segment
 
Life
and Health
segment
 
Corporate
and Other
 
Total
Gross premiums written
$
351

 
$
153

 
$
393

 
$
57

 
$
954

 
$
314

 
$
—

 
$
1,268

Net premiums written
$
335

 
$
153

 
$
391

 
$
13

 
$
892

 
$
298

 
$
—

 
$
1,190

Decrease in unearned premiums
73

 
33

 
13

 
99

 
218

 
4

 
—

 
222

Net premiums earned
$
408

 
$
186

 
$
404

 
$
112

 
$
1,110

 
$
302

 
$
—

 
$
1,412

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits
(182
)
 
(122
)
 
(224
)
 
(28
)
 
(556
)
 
(248
)
 
—

 
(804
)
Acquisition costs
(137
)
 
(50
)
 
(112
)
 
(10
)
 
(309
)
 
(38
)
 
—

 
(347
)
Technical result
$
89

 
$
14

 
$
68

 
$
74

 
$
245

 
$
16

 
$
—

 
$
261

Other income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

 
3

 
—

 
3

Other expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(55
)
 
(16
)
 
(345
)
 
(416
)
Underwriting result
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
190

 
$
3

 
n/a

 
$
(152
)
Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15

 
102

 
117

Allocated underwriting result (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
18

 
n/a

 
n/a

Net realized and unrealized investment losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(133
)
 
(133
)
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(12
)
 
(12
)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(7
)
 
(7
)
Net foreign exchange losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(22
)
 
(22
)
Income tax expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(17
)
 
(17
)
Interest in losses of equity method investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3
)
 
(3
)
Net loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
n/a

 
$
(229
)
Loss ratio (2)
44.7
%
 
65.8
%
 
55.5
%
 
24.9
%
 
50.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition ratio (3)
33.4

 
26.9

 
27.7

 
8.7

 
27.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
Technical ratio (4)
78.1
%
 
92.7
%
 
83.2
%
 
33.6
%
 
77.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other expense ratio (5)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio (6)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
82.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Allocated underwriting result is defined as net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income less life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other expenses.
(2)
Loss ratio is obtained by dividing losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(3)
Acquisition ratio is obtained by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(4)
Technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the acquisition ratio.
(5)
Other expense ratio is obtained by dividing other expenses by net premiums earned.
(6)
Combined ratio is defined as the sum of the technical ratio and the other expense ratio.
n/a Not applicable

27

 
 
 


Segment Information
For the three months ended September 30, 2014
 
North
America
 
Global
(Non-U.S.)
P&C
 
Global
Specialty
 
Catastrophe
 
Total
Non-life
segment
 
Life
and Health
segment
 
Corporate
and Other
 
Total
Gross premiums written
$
372

 
$
162

 
$
432

 
$
59

 
$
1,025

 
$
336

 
$
—

 
$
1,361

Net premiums written
$
372

 
$
164

 
$
428

 
$
55

 
$
1,019

 
$
325

 
$
(1
)
 
$
1,343

Decrease in unearned premiums
52

 
38

 
20

 
98

 
208

 
6

 
—

 
214

Net premiums earned
$
424

 
$
202

 
$
448

 
$
153

 
$
1,227

 
$
331

 
$
(1
)
 
$
1,557

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits
(247
)
 
(123
)
 
(279
)
 
(39
)
 
(688
)
 
(272
)
 
—

 
(960
)
Acquisition costs
(106
)
 
(56
)
 
(105
)
 
(17
)
 
(284
)
 
(38
)
 
—

 
(322
)
Technical result
$
71

 
$
23

 
$
64

 
$
97

 
$
255

 
$
21

 
$
(1
)
 
$
275

Other (loss) income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1
)
 
2

 
1

 
2

Other expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(62
)
 
(17
)
 
(29
)
 
(108
)
Underwriting result
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
192

 
$
6

 
n/a

 
$
169

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14

 
104

 
118

Allocated underwriting result
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
20

 
n/a

 
n/a

Net realized and unrealized investment losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(34
)
 
(34
)
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(12
)
 
(12
)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(7
)
 
(7
)
Net foreign exchange gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8

 
8

Income tax expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(46
)
 
(46
)
Interest in earnings of equity method investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5

 
5

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
n/a

 
$
201

Loss ratio
58.2
%
 
61.1
%
 
62.3
%
 
25.2
%
 
56.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition ratio
24.9

 
27.6

 
23.5

 
11.7

 
23.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
Technical ratio
83.1
%
 
88.7
%
 
85.8
%
 
36.9
%
 
79.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other expense ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
84.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 

28

 
 
 


Segment Information
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
 
North
America
 
Global
(Non-U.S.)
P&C
 
Global
Specialty
 
Catastrophe
 
Total
Non-life
segment
 
Life
and Health
segment
 
Corporate
and Other
 
Total
Gross premiums written
$
1,251

 
$
630

 
$
1,226

 
$
370

 
$
3,477

 
$
972

 
$
—

 
$
4,449

Net premiums written
$
1,207

 
$
621

 
$
1,153

 
$
261

 
$
3,242

 
$
924

 
$
—

 
$
4,166

Increase in unearned premiums
(25
)
 
(102
)
 
(10
)
 
(47
)
 
(184
)
 
(7
)
 
—

 
(191
)
Net premiums earned
$
1,182

 
$
519

 
$
1,143

 
$
214

 
$
3,058

 
$
917

 
$
—

 
$
3,975

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits
(650
)
 
(362
)
 
(593
)
 
(38
)
 
(1,643
)
 
(748
)
 
1

 
(2,390
)
Acquisition costs
(341
)
 
(139
)
 
(307
)
 
(17
)
 
(804
)
 
(102
)
 
—

 
(906
)
Technical result
$
191

 
$
18

 
$
243

 
$
159

 
$
611

 
$
67

 
$
1

 
$
679

Other income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

 
4

 
3

 
7

Other expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(162
)
 
(47
)
 
(461
)
 
(670
)
Underwriting result
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
449

 
$
24

 
n/a

 
$
16

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
45

 
297

 
342

Allocated underwriting result
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
69

 
n/a

 
n/a

Net realized and unrealized investment losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(273
)
 
(273
)
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(37
)
 
(37
)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(20
)
 
(20
)
Net foreign exchange losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(16
)
 
(16
)
Income tax expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(83
)
 
(83
)
Interest in earnings of equity method investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1

 
1

Net loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
n/a

 
$
(70
)
Loss ratio
55.0
%
 
69.8
%
 
51.9
%
 
17.8
%
 
53.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition ratio
28.8

 
26.8

 
26.8

 
8.1

 
26.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
Technical ratio
83.8
%
 
96.6
%
 
78.7
%
 
25.9
%
 
80.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other expense ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
85.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 

29

 
 
 


Segment Information
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
North
America
 
Global
(Non-U.S.)
P&C
 
Global
Specialty
 
Catastrophe
 
Total
Non-life
segment
 
Life
and Health
segment
 
Corporate
and Other
 
Total
Gross premiums written
$
1,302

 
$
682

 
$
1,348

 
$
412

 
$
3,744

 
$
951

 
$
—

 
$
4,695

Net premiums written
$
1,291

 
$
672

 
$
1,250

 
$
370

 
$
3,583

 
$
918

 
$
(1
)
 
$
4,500

Increase in unearned premiums
(99
)
 
(104
)
 
(42
)
 
(78
)
 
(323
)
 
(14
)
 
—

 
(337
)
Net premiums earned
$
1,192

 
$
568

 
$
1,208

 
$
292

 
$
3,260

 
$
904

 
$
(1
)
 
$
4,163

Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits
(747
)
 
(319
)
 
(749
)
 
(38
)
 
(1,853
)
 
(740
)
 
—

 
(2,593
)
Acquisition costs
(299
)
 
(162
)
 
(283
)
 
(34
)
 
(778
)
 
(111
)
 
—

 
(889
)
Technical result
$
146

 
$
87

 
$
176

 
$
220

 
$
629

 
$
53

 
$
(1
)
 
$
681

Other income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1

 
6

 
5

 
12

Other expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(187
)
 
(52
)
 
(88
)
 
(327
)
Underwriting result
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
443

 
$
7

 
n/a

 
$
366

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
45

 
320

 
365

Allocated underwriting result
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
52

 
n/a

 
n/a

Net realized and unrealized investment gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
273

 
273

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(36
)
 
(36
)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(21
)
 
(21
)
Net foreign exchange gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11

 
11

Income tax expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(186
)
 
(186
)
Interest in earnings of equity method investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16

 
16

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
n/a

 
$
788

Loss ratio
62.6
%
 
56.2
%
 
62.1
%
 
12.9
%
 
56.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition ratio
25.1

 
28.5

 
23.4

 
11.5

 
23.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
Technical ratio
87.7
%
 
84.7
%
 
85.5
%
 
24.4
%
 
80.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other expense ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
86.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 



30

 
 
 


ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Executive Overview
The Company is a leading global reinsurer and insurer, with a broadly diversified and balanced portfolio of traditional reinsurance and insurance risks and capital markets risks.
Successful risk management is the foundation of the Company’s value proposition, with diversification of risks at the core of its risk management strategy. The Company’s ability to succeed in the risk assumption and management business is dependent on its ability to accurately analyze and quantify risk, to understand volatility and how risks aggregate or correlate, and to establish the appropriate capital requirements and limits for the risks assumed. All risks, whether they are reinsurance related risks or capital market risks, are managed by the Company within an integrated framework of policies and processes to ensure the intelligent and consistent evaluation and valuation of risk, and to ultimately provide an appropriate return to shareholders. The Company’s Risk Management framework is discussed below and in Risk Management in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
For a discussion of the Company’s long-term objective and annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends, the metric that Management uses to measure its success in achieving its long-term objective, see below in Key Financial Measures.
Merger Agreement with EXOR and Termination of the Proposed Amalgamation with AXIS
On January 25, 2015, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation (as subsequently amended, the Amalgamation Agreement) with Axis Capital Holdings Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (AXIS), pursuant to which the Company would amalgamate with AXIS (Amalgamation), and the two companies would continue as a single Bermuda exempted company.
On April 14, 2015, the Company announced receipt of an unsolicited proposal from EXOR S.p.A. (EXOR), a European investment company controlled by the Agnelli family, to acquire 100% of the common shares of the Company for $130 per share in cash.
On May 3, 2015, the Company and AXIS amended the Amalgamation Agreement to allow the Company to pay a one-time special dividend of $11.50 per share to PartnerRe common shareholders in connection with the closing of the Amalgamation (one-time special dividend) and to increase the termination fee from $250 million to $280 million.
On May 12, 2015, the Company announced receipt of a revised proposal from EXOR to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of the Company for $137.50 per share in cash. EXOR requested that the Board declare EXOR's proposal to be "reasonably likely a superior proposal" as a pre-condition to any further negotiations, which was rejected by the Company's Board.
On July 7, 2015, EXOR enhanced the terms of its proposal by providing (i) a 100 basis points increase in the preferred share dividend rate, (ii) call protection until 2021, and (iii) a commitment to limit distributions to common shareholders to an amount not greater than 67% of net income until December 31, 2020.  
On July 16, 2015, the Company and AXIS amended the Amalgamation Agreement further to increase the one-time special dividend to be paid by the Company to its common shareholders to $17.50 per share and, subject to certain conditions, to match the economic terms proposed by EXOR on July 7, 2015 in relation to the Company's preferred shares.
On July 20, 2015, EXOR announced an increase in its proposal to acquire 100% of the common shares of the Company for $137.50 per share in cash by adding a special dividend of $3.00 per share to be paid by the Company to its common shareholders pre-closing.
On July 21, 2015, the Company announced that it had determined that EXOR's enhanced proposal of July 20, 2015 would reasonably be likely to result in a superior proposal in accordance with the Amalgamation Agreement. As a result, the Board sought to engage in negotiations with EXOR, and offered EXOR the opportunity to conduct due diligence, to determine whether EXOR's proposal could be improved both in price and terms.

31

 
 
 


On August 3, 2015, the Company announced that it had reached a definitive agreement with EXOR under which EXOR would acquire all of the outstanding common shares of PartnerRe for an all-cash consideration of $137.50 per share and a special pre-closing dividend of $3.00 per share. The transaction would be effected by a merger of Pillar Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of EXOR N.V., with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company and a wholly owned subsidiary of EXOR N.V. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement (Merger Agreement), each PartnerRe common share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger shall (i) automatically be canceled and converted into the right to receive the acquisition consideration and (ii) be entitled to receive the special dividend. The declaration of the special dividend will occur prior to the effective time of the merger and is subject to compliance with the Bermuda Companies Act 1981 and will be conditional and contingent upon the issuance of the certificate of merger by the Bermuda Registrar of Companies (referred to as the effective time of the merger). The Merger Agreement is subject to approval by the Company's shareholders on November 19, 2015, regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions.
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company and AXIS terminated the Amalgamation Agreement. On August 3, 2015, in accordance with the terms of the Amalgamation Agreement, the Company paid a termination fee and reimbursement of expenses to AXIS of $315 million.
Overview of the Results of Operations for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
The Company measures its performance in several ways. Among the performance measures accepted under U.S. GAAP is diluted net income or loss per share, a measure that focuses on the return provided to the Company’s common shareholders. Diluted net income or loss per share is obtained by dividing net income or loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding. Net income or loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders is defined as net income or loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. less preferred dividends and loss on redemption of preferred shares. The Company's net (loss) income, net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. and net (loss) income and diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders are discussed below in Review of Net (Loss) Income.
The Company also utilizes certain non-GAAP measures to assess performance (see the discussion of these non-GAAP measures and the reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in Key Financial Measures below).
Key Factors Affecting Period over Period Comparability
The following key factors affected the period over period comparison of the Company’s results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and may continue to affect our results of operations and financial condition in the future.
Other Expenses
As discussed above, upon the termination of the Amalgamation Agreement, the Company paid a termination fee and reimbursement of expenses to AXIS (AXIS termination fee) of $315 million, which is included within Other expenses and is a significant driver of the Company's net loss for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company also recorded $7 million and $47 million, pre-tax, respectively, of other transaction costs associated with the Amalgamation Agreement and Merger Agreement (Transaction Costs) within Other expenses related to professional fees in the three months ended September 30, 2015 and to professional fees and severance costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
On April 17, 2015, PartnerRe U.S. Corporation (PRUS), a subsidiary of the Company, agreed a negotiated earn-out consideration to be paid to the former shareholders of Presidio Reinsurance Group, Inc. (Presidio) in the amount of $29 million pursuant to an earn-out agreement (Earn-out Agreement) dated December 31, 2012. The Company previously accrued $4 million in connection with the Earn-out Agreement through December 31, 2014, and the remaining $25 million, pre-tax, was recorded in Other expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

32

 
 
 


Volatility in Capital Markets
The Company's results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were significantly impacted by the volatility in the capital markets. During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded net realized and unrealized losses on investments of $133 million and $273 million, respectively, primarily reflecting widening U.S. and European credit spreads and decreases in worldwide equity markets. These factors driving the net realized and unrealized investment losses during the three months ended September 30, 2015 were partially offset by decreases in longer-term U.S. and European risk-free rates. During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded net realized and unrealized losses on investments of $34 million as a result of modest increases in credit spreads. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded net realized and unrealized gains of $273 million, mainly as a result of decreases in U.S. and European risk-free interest rates.
Large Catastrophic and Large Loss Events
As the Company’s reinsurance operations are exposed to low frequency and high severity risk events, some of which are seasonal, results for certain periods may include unusually low loss experience, while results for other periods may include significant catastrophic and large losses. Consequently, the Company’s results for interim periods may be volatile from period to period and are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 include large losses related to a series of explosions in the Port of Tianjin, China in August 2015 (the Tianjin Explosion) which primarily affected the property line in the Company’s Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment and the property and marine lines in the Global Specialty sub-segment and the Catastrophe sub-segment. The results for the same periods of 2014 include no significant catastrophic or large losses.
The impact of the large losses related to the Tianjin Explosion on the Company’s technical result, pre-tax net loss, loss ratio, technical ratio and combined ratio by segment and sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
Three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015
 
North America
 
Global (Non-U.S.) P&C
 
Global Specialty
 
Catastrophe
 
Total Non-life segment
 
Life and Health segment
 
Corporate and Other
 
Total
Gross losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(22
)
 
$
(22
)
 
$
(20
)
 
$
(67
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(67
)
Reinsurance recoverable
 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
(4
)
 
(7
)
 
—

 
—

 
(7
)
Net losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(22
)
 
$
(19
)
 
$
(16
)
 
$
(60
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(60
)
Impact on technical result and pre-tax net loss
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(22
)
 
$
(19
)
 
$
(16
)
 
$
(60
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(60
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impact on the loss ratio
 
0.7
%
 
12.1
%
 
4.6
%
 
14.5
%
 
5.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impact on the technical ratio
 
0.7
%
 
12.1
%
 
4.6
%
 
14.5
%
 
5.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impact on the combined ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impact on the loss ratio
 
0.3
%
 
4.3
%
 
1.6
%
 
7.6
%
 
2.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impact on the technical ratio
 
0.3
%
 
4.3
%
 
1.6
%
 
7.6
%
 
2.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impact on the combined ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 

Foreign Exchange Movements
During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the U.S. dollar strengthened significantly against other currencies. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar had a significant impact on certain individual line items of the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, primarily on the value of the investments, unpaid losses and loss expenses and policy benefits for life and annuity contracts, the currency translation account within accumulated other comprehensive loss, gross and net premiums written and earned and net foreign exchange losses. However, the overall net impact is not significant due to the matching of assets and liabilities by currency, resulting in foreign exchange movements offsetting, and due to hedging of material foreign exchange exposures.

33

 
 
 


Lorenz Re Ltd.
In March 2013, the Company formed, with other third party investors, Lorenz Re Ltd. (Lorenz Re), a Bermuda domiciled special purpose insurer. Lorenz Re is a segregated cell company under the laws of Bermuda and distinct segregated accounts are formed and capitalized within Lorenz Re in order to enter into reinsurance agreements with the Company on a fully collateralized basis.
In 2013, Lorenz Re issued non-voting redeemable preferred share capital on behalf of two segregated accounts (2013 segregated accounts) to provide additional capacity to the Company for a diversified catastrophe portfolio over a multi-year period on a fully collateralized reinsurance basis. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the 2013 segregated accounts given it had a controlling financial interest in their activities and, accordingly, the 2013 segregated accounts were consolidated by the Company. In April 2015, following the expiration of the multi-year period, a portion of the preferred shares was redeemed and a full commutation of the portfolio in the 2013 segregated accounts back to the Company is expected to occur in 2016.
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, Lorenz Re issued non-voting redeemable preferred share capital on behalf of newly formed segregated accounts (2015 segregated accounts) related to new reinsurance agreements for a diversified catastrophe portfolio and an agriculture portfolio with the Company on a fully collateralized basis. The Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the 2015 segregated accounts as it does not have a controlling financial interest and, accordingly, the 2015 segregated accounts are not consolidated by the Company (see also Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report), which impacted the Company's technical result, primarily as a result of higher net premiums ceded (see also the North America and Catastrophe sub-segments below).
Overview of Net (Loss) Income
Net (loss) income, net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., preferred dividends and net (loss) income and diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Net (loss) income
$
(229
)
 
$
201

 
$
(70
)
 
$
788

Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
(5
)
 
(2
)
 
(10
)
Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
(229
)
 
196

 
(72
)
 
778

Less: Preferred dividends
14

 
14

 
43

 
42

Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders
$
(243
)
 
$
182

 
$
(115
)
 
$
736

Diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders(1)
$
(5.08
)
 
$
3.60

 
$
(2.40
)
 
$
14.26

 
(1) For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, dilutive securities were not included in the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding because to do so would have been anti-dilutive.
Three-month result
The net loss, net loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., and net loss and diluted net loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to net income, net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., and net income and diluted net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders in the same period of 2014 was primarily due to:
•
an increase in other expenses of $308 million, which was primarily related to the AXIS termination fee, as described in Other expenses above; and
•
an increase in pre-tax net realized and unrealized investment losses of $99 million, as described in Volatility in Capital Markets above.

34

 
 
 


Nine-month result
The net loss, net loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., and net loss and diluted net loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to net income, net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., and net income and diluted net income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders in the same period of 2014 was primarily due to:
•
an increase in pre-tax net realized and unrealized investment losses of $546 million, as described in Volatility in Capital Markets above;
•
an increase in other expenses of $343 million, which was primarily related to the AXIS termination fee, Transaction Costs and costs related to the Presidio Earn-out Agreement, as described in Other Expenses above;
•
an increase in net foreign exchange losses of $27 million, primarily due to the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar on certain unhedged non-U.S. denominated investment portfolios; and
•
a decrease in net investment income of $23 million, mainly due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies and lower reinvestment rates; partially offset by
•
a decrease in income tax expense of $103 million, which was primarily related to the increase in net realized and unrealized investment losses.
The factors driving these increases and decreases are described in more detail in Review of Net (Loss) Income below.

Key Financial Measures
In addition to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Management uses certain other key measures, some of which are non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G (see below), to evaluate its financial performance and the overall growth in value generated for the Company’s common shareholders.
The Company’s long-term objective is to manage a portfolio of diversified risks that will create total shareholder value. The Company measures its success in achieving its long-term objective by targeting a return, which is variable and can be adjusted by Management, in excess of a referenced risk-free rate over the reinsurance cycle. The return, which is currently targeted to exceed 700 basis points in excess of the referenced risk-free rate, is calculated using compound annual growth in diluted tangible book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding plus dividends per common share (annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends). Management uses annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends as its prime measure of long-term financial performance and believes this measure aligns the Company’s stated long-term objective with the measure most investors use to evaluate total shareholder value creation given that it focuses on the tangible value of total shareholder returns, excluding the impact of goodwill and intangibles. Given the Company’s profitability in any particular quarterly or annual period can be significantly affected by the level of large catastrophic losses, Management assesses this long-term objective over the reinsurance cycle as the Company’s performance during any particular quarterly or annual period is not necessarily indicative of its performance over the longer-term reinsurance cycle.

35

 
 
 


While annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends is the Company’s prime financial measure, Management also uses other key financial measures to monitor performance. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 these were as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Diluted tangible book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding(1)
 
$
109.46

 
$
114.76

Annualized growth in diluted tangible book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding plus dividends (2)
 
(3.7
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Operating earnings attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders (in millions of U.S. dollars) (3)
 
$
212

 
$
227

 
$
475

 
$
537

Diluted operating earnings per common share and common share equivalents outstanding attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders(3)
 
$
4.42

 
$
4.47

 
$
9.95

 
$
10.42

Annualized operating return on beginning diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (4)
 
14.0
%
 
16.4
%
 
10.5
 %
 
12.7
%
Combined ratio (5)
 
82.8
%
 
84.2
%
 
85.3
 %
 
86.4
%
 
(1)
Diluted tangible book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share) is calculated using common shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. (total shareholders’ equity less noncontrolling interests and the aggregate liquidation value of preferred shares) less goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax, divided by the number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding (assuming exercise of all stock-based awards and other dilutive securities). The presentation of Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures below) and is reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure below.
(2)
Annualized growth in diluted tangible book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding plus dividends (annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends) is calculated using Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends per common share divided by Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share at the beginning of the year and annualizing. The presentation of annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures below) and is reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure below.
(3)
Operating earnings or loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders (operating earnings or loss) is calculated as net income or loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders excluding net realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments, net of tax (except where the Company has made a strategic investment in an insurance or reinsurance related investee), net foreign exchange gains or losses, net of tax, loss on redemption of preferred shares, the interest in earnings or losses of equity method investments, net of tax (except where the Company has made a strategic investment in an insurance or reinsurance related investee and where the Company does not control the investee’s activities), certain withholding taxes on inter-company dividends (included in Other expenses) and the amalgamation termination fee and reimbursement of expenses paid to AXIS (included in Other expenses) and is calculated after preferred dividends. Operating earnings or loss per common share and common share equivalent outstanding (diluted operating earnings or loss per share) are calculated using operating earnings or loss for the period divided by the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding. The presentation of operating earnings or loss and diluted operating earnings or loss per share are non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures below) and are reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure below.
(4)
Annualized operating return on beginning diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (Operating ROE) is calculated using annualized operating earnings or loss, as defined above, per diluted common share and common share equivalents outstanding, divided by diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding as of the beginning of the year, as defined above. The presentation of Operating ROE is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures below) and is reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure below.
(5)
The combined ratio of the Non-life segment is calculated as the sum of the technical ratio (losses and loss expenses and acquisition costs divided by net premiums earned) and the other expense ratio (other expenses divided by net premiums earned).

36

 
 
 


Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share: Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share focuses on the underlying fundamentals of the Company’s financial position and performance without the impact of goodwill or intangible assets. As discussed above, the Company uses this measure as the basis for its prime measure of long-term shareholder value creation, growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends. Management believes that Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share aligns the Company’s stated long-term objectives with the measure most investors use to evaluate total shareholder value creation and that it focuses on the tangible value of shareholder returns, excluding the impact of goodwill and intangibles. Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share is impacted by the Company’s net income or loss, capital resources management and external factors such as foreign exchange, interest rates, credit spreads and equity markets, which can drive changes in realized and unrealized gains or losses on its investment portfolio.
Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and the calculation of the annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were as follows. As described above, this metric is a long-term performance measure, however, the below table shows the annualized total shareholder value creation for the current period in order for the shareholders to monitor performance.
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Diluted tangible book value per share
$
109.46

 
$
114.76

Dividends declared per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2015
2.10

 
 
Diluted tangible book value per share plus dividends
$
111.56

 
 
Annualized growth in diluted tangible book value per share plus dividends
(3.7
)%
 
 
The Company’s Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share decreased by 4.6%, from $114.76 at December 31, 2014 to $109.46 at September 30, 2015, primarily due to the net loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. and dividends on the common and preferred shares. The annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends was (3.7)% during the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and was driven by the net loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
Over the past five years, since September 30, 2010, the Company has generated a compound annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends in excess of 7%.
The presentation of Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures). The reconciliation of Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding, at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was as follows:
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding(1)
$
120.67

 
$
126.21

Less: goodwill and other intangible assets, net of tax, per share
11.21

 
11.45

Diluted tangible book value per share
$
109.46

 
$
114.76

 
(1)
Diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (Diluted Book Value per Share) is calculated using common shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. (total shareholders’ equity less noncontrolling interests and the aggregate liquidation value of preferred shares) divided by the number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding (assuming exercise of all stock-based awards and other dilutive securities).
Operating earnings or loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders (operating earnings or loss) and operating earnings or loss per common share and common share equivalent outstanding (diluted operating earnings or loss per share): Management uses operating earnings or loss and diluted operating earnings or loss per share to measure its financial performance as these measures focus on the underlying fundamentals of the Company’s operations by excluding net realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments (except where the Company has made a strategic investment in an investee whose operations are insurance or reinsurance related and where the Company does not control the investee’s activities), net foreign exchange gains or losses, loss on redemption of preferred shares, certain interest in earnings or losses of equity method investments (except where the Company has made a strategic investment in an investee whose operations are insurance or reinsurance related and where the Company does not control the investee’s activities) and certain withholding taxes on inter-company dividends. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments in any particular period are not indicative of the performance of, and distort trends in, the Company’s business as they predominantly result from general economic and financial market conditions, and the timing of realized gains or losses on investments is largely opportunistic. Net foreign exchange gains or losses are not indicative of the performance of, and distort trends in, the Company’s business as they predominantly result from general economic and foreign exchange market conditions. Loss on the redemption of preferred shares is not indicative of the performance of, and distorts trends in, the Company’s business as it resulted from general economic and financial market conditions, and the timing of the loss on redemption was largely opportunistic.

37

 
 
 


Interest in earnings or losses of equity method investments are also not indicative of the performance of, or trends in, the Company’s business where the investee’s operations are not insurance or reinsurance related and where the Company does not control the investee companies’ activities. Withholding taxes on inter-company dividends are not indicative of the performance of, and distort trends in, the Company’s business as they relate to an inter-company transaction rather than the Company's core operating performance. The AXIS termination fee is not indicative of the performance of, and distorts trends in, the Company’s business as it relates to the Company's merger and acquisition activities rather than the Company's core operating performance. Management believes that the use of operating earnings or loss and diluted operating earnings or loss per share enables investors and other users of the Company’s financial information to analyze its performance in a manner similar to how Management analyzes performance. Management also believes that these measures follow industry practice and, therefore, allow the users of financial information to compare the Company’s performance with its industry peer group, and that the equity analysts and certain rating agencies which follow the Company, and the insurance industry as a whole, generally exclude these items from their analyses for the same reasons.
Operating earnings decreased by $15 million, from $227 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $212 million in the same period of 2015. The decrease in operating earnings was primarily due to a modestly higher operating income tax expense, driven by the distribution of the Company's pre-tax operating income and losses between taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions, and a modest decrease in the Non-life and Life and Health underwriting results.
Diluted operating earnings per share decreased by $0.05, from $4.47 in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $4.42 in the same period of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in operating earnings, partially offset by a lower weighted average number of shares outstanding in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.
Operating earnings decreased by $62 million, from $537 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $475 million in the same period of 2015. The decrease in operating earnings was primarily due to the Transaction Costs and the Presidio Earn-out Agreement of $72 million, as described above, and a decrease in net investment income. These decreases in operating earnings were partially offset by an increase in the Life and Health and Non-life underwriting results.
Diluted operating earnings per share decreased by $0.47, from $10.42 in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $9.95 in the same period of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in operating earnings, partially offset by a lower weighted average number of shares outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.
The other lesser factors contributing to the increases or decreases in operating earnings and diluted operating earnings per share in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 are further described in Review of Net (Loss) Income below.
Operating earnings or loss attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders and diluted operating earnings or loss per share are non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures). The reconciliation of operating earnings and diluted operating earnings per share to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data):

38

 
 
 


 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
$
(229
)
 
$
196

 
$
(72
)
 
$
778

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains, net of tax
(122
)
 
(36
)
 
(239
)
 
204

Net foreign exchange losses, net of tax
(16
)
 
(12
)
 
(37
)
 
(16
)
Interest in (losses) earnings of equity method investments, net of tax
(2
)
 
3

 
1

 
10

Amalgamation termination fee and reimbursement of expenses
(315
)
 
—

 
(315
)
 
—

Dividends to preferred shareholders
14

 
14

 
43

 
43

Operating earnings attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders
$
212

 
$
227

 
$
475

 
$
537

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Per diluted share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders
$
(5.08
)
 
$
3.60

 
$
(2.40
)
 
$
14.26

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains, net of tax
(2.54
)
 
(0.70
)
 
(5.00
)
 
3.95

Net foreign exchange losses, net of tax
(0.33
)
 
(0.23
)
 
(0.77
)
 
(0.31
)
Interest in (losses) earnings of equity method investments, net of tax
(0.05
)
 
0.06

 
0.02

 
0.20

Amalgamation termination fee and reimbursement of expenses
(6.58
)
 
—

 
(6.60
)
 
—

Operating earnings attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. common shareholders
$
4.42

 
$
4.47

 
$
9.95

 
$
10.42

Operating ROE: Management uses annualized Operating ROE as a measure of profitability that focuses on the return to common shareholders on an annual basis. To support the Company’s growth objectives, most economic decisions, including capital attribution and underwriting pricing decisions, incorporate an Operating ROE impact analysis. For the purpose of that analysis, an appropriate amount of capital (equity) is attributed to each transaction for determining the transaction’s priced return on attributed capital. Subject to an adequate return for the risk level as well as other factors, such as the contribution of each risk to the overall risk level and risk diversification, capital is attributed to the transactions generating the highest priced return on deployed capital. Management’s challenge consists of (i) attributing an appropriate amount of capital to each transaction based on the risk created by the transaction, (ii) properly estimating the Company’s overall risk level and the impact of each transaction on the overall risk level, (iii) assessing the diversification benefit, if any, of each transaction, and (iv) deploying available capital. The risk for the Company lies in misestimating any one of these factors, which are critical in calculating a meaningful priced return on deployed capital, and entering into transactions that do not contribute to the Company’s growth objectives. The Company’s Operating ROE’s for quarterly periods are annualized.
Annualized Operating ROE decreased from 16.4% in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to 14.0% in the same period of 2015 and from 12.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to 10.5% in the same period of 2015. The decreases in annualized Operating ROE were due to a higher beginning diluted book value per share at January 1, 2015 compared to January 1, 2014 and modestly lower diluted operating earnings per share, as described above. The other factors contributing to increases or decreases in operating earnings are described further in Review of Net (Loss) Income below.
The presentation of Operating ROE is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP (see Comment on Non-GAAP Measures). The reconciliation of Operating ROE to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:

39

 
 
 


 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Annualized return on beginning diluted book value per common share calculated with net (loss) income per share attributable to common shareholders
(16.1
)%
 
13.2
 %
 
(2.5
)%
 
17.4
 %
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annualized net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains, net of tax, on beginning diluted book value per common share
(8.1
)
 
(2.5
)
 
(5.3
)
 
4.8

Annualized net foreign exchange losses, net of tax, on beginning diluted book value per common share
(1.0
)
 
(0.9
)
 
(0.8
)
 
(0.4
)
Annualized net interest in (losses) earnings of equity method investments, net of tax, on beginning diluted book value per common share
(0.1
)
 
0.2

 
0.1

 
0.3

Annualized amalgamation termination fee and reimbursement of expenses
(20.9
)
 
—

 
(7.0
)
 
—

Annualized operating return on beginning diluted book value per common share
14.0
 %
 
16.4
 %
 
10.5
 %
 
12.7
 %
Combined ratio: The combined ratio is used industry-wide as a measure of underwriting profitability for Non-life business. A combined ratio under 100% indicates underwriting profitability, as the total losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and other expenses are less than the premiums earned on that business. While an important metric of underwriting profitability, the combined ratio does not reflect all components of profitability, as it does not recognize the impact of investment income earned on premiums between the time premiums are received and the time loss payments are ultimately made to clients. The key challenges in managing the combined ratio metric consist of (i) focusing on underwriting profitable business even in the weaker part of the reinsurance cycle, as opposed to growing the book of business at the cost of profitability, (ii) diversifying the portfolio to achieve a good balance of business, with the expectation that underwriting losses in certain lines or markets may potentially be offset by underwriting profits in other lines or markets, and (iii) maintaining control over expenses.
The Non-life combined ratio decreased by 1.4 points, from 84.2% in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to 82.8% in the same period of 2015. The modest decrease in the combined ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was mainly driven by higher combined net favorable prior year and prior quarter loss development. This decrease was partially offset by large losses related to the Tianjin Explosion, as well as higher downward prior year premium adjustments and an increase in acquisition costs in the Global Specialty sub-segment, and lower net premiums earned in the Catastrophe sub-segment.
The Non-life combined ratio decreased by 1.1 points, from 86.4% in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to 85.3% in the same period of 2015. The modest decrease in the combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was mainly driven by higher net favorable loss development for prior accident years. These decreases were partially offset by the same factors described above for the decrease in the Non-life combined ratio in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.
Additional detail of the Non-life underwriting result is provided in the discussion of individual sub-segments in Results by Segment and Review of Net (Loss) Income below.
The other lesser factors contributing to increases or decreases in the combined ratio are described further in Review of Net (Loss) Income below.
The Company uses the combined ratio to measure its overall underwriting profitability for its Non-life segment as a whole. Given the Company does not allocate other expenses to its Non-life sub-segments, Management measures the underwriting profitability of the Non-life sub-segments by using the technical result and technical ratio as described in Results by Segment below.

40

 
 
 


Other Key Financial Measures
In addition to using the annualized growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends as the Company’s prime financial long-term measure, and diluted tangible book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share) as the basis for this measure, the Company uses other metrics to monitor its financial performance and to measure total shareholder value. Other such metrics used by Management include, but are not limited to, diluted book value per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (Diluted Book Value per Share) and Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus the discount in Non-life loss reserves per common share and common share equivalents outstanding (Diluted Tangible Book Value plus the discount in Non-life reserves). Diluted Book Value per Share is a similar metric to Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share, except that it includes the impact on book value of goodwill and intangible assets. Diluted Tangible Book Value plus the discount in Non-life loss reserves is a shorter-term metric that adjusts the Company’s Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share for the impact that changes in interest rates have on the time value of money that is embedded in the Company’s Non-life loss reserves.
Comment on Non-GAAP Measures
Throughout this filing, the Company’s results of operations have been presented in the way that Management believes will be the most meaningful and useful to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use financial information in evaluating the performance of the Company. This presentation includes the use of Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share, Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends, operating earnings or loss, diluted operating earnings or loss per share and Operating ROE that are not calculated under standards or rules that comprise U.S. GAAP. These measures are referred to as non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are important to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use the Company’s financial information and will help provide a consistent basis for comparison between years and for comparison with the Company’s peer group, although non-GAAP measures may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, diluted book value per share, net income or loss and return on beginning common shareholders’ equity calculated with net income or loss attributable to common shareholders, is presented above.
Risk Management
In the insurance and reinsurance industry, the core of the business model is the assumption and management of risk. A key challenge is to create total shareholder value through the intelligent and optimal assumption and management of reinsurance, insurance and investment risks while limiting and mitigating those risks that can destroy tangible as well as intangible value, those risks for which the organization is not sufficiently compensated, and those risks that could threaten the ability of the Company to achieve its objectives. While many companies start with a return goal, the Company starts with a capital-based risk appetite and then looks for risks that meet its return targets within that framework. Management believes that this construct allows the Company to balance the cedants’ need for certainty of claims payment with the shareholders’ need for an adequate total return.
All business decisions entail a risk/return trade-off, and these decisions are applicable to the Company’s risks. In the context of assumed business risks, this requires an accurate evaluation of risks to be assumed, and a determination of the appropriate economic returns required as fair compensation for such risks.
The Company’s results are primarily determined by how well the Company understands, prices and manages assumed risk. Management also believes that every organization faces numerous risks that could threaten the successful achievement of a company’s goals and objectives. These include all factors which can be viewed as either strategic, financial, or operational risks that are common to any industry, such as choice of strategy and markets, economic and business cycles, competition, changes in regulation, data quality and security, fraud, business interruption and management continuity. See Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
For additional information related to the Company’s risk management approach, see Business—Risk Management in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Assumed Risks
Central to the Company’s assumed risk framework is its risk appetite. The Company’s risk appetite is a statement of how much and how often the Company will tolerate economic losses during an annual period. The Company’s risk appetite is expressed as the maximum economic loss that the Board of Directors (Board) is willing to incur. The Company’s risk appetite is approved by the Board on an annual basis.

41

 
 
 


The Company manages exposure levels from multiple risk sources to provide reasonable assurance that modeled economic losses are contained within the risk appetite approved by the Board. Definitions for economic losses in the context of the Company’s risk management framework are included in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
The Company establishes key risk limits for any risk source deemed by Management to have the potential to cause operating losses or economic losses greater than the Company’s risk appetite. The Company may also establish risk limits for any risk source deemed to have the possibility of causing reputational damage. The Risk and Finance Committee of the Board (Risk and Finance Committee) approves the key risk limits. Executive and Business and Support Unit Management may set additional specific and aggregate risk limits within the key risk limits approved by the Risk and Finance Committee. The actual level of risk is dependent on current market conditions and the need for balance in the Company’s portfolio of risks. On a quarterly basis, Management reviews and reports to the Risk and Finance Committee the actual limits deployed against the approved limits.
Management established key risk limits that are approved by the Risk and Finance Committee for ten risk sources at September 30, 2015. For a detailed discussion of these ten risk sources see Business—Risk Management in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The limits approved by the Risk and Finance Committee and the actual limits deployed at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows (in billions of U.S. dollars, except interest rate risk data):
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Limit approved(2)
 
Actual deployed(2)
 
Limit approved(2)
 
Actual deployed(2)
Natural Catastrophe Risk
$
2.3

 
$
1.3

 
$
2.3

 
$
1.5

Long Tail Reinsurance Risk
1.2

 
0.9

 
1.2

 
0.9

Market Risk
3.4

 
2.6

 
3.4

 
2.6

Equity and equity-like sublimit
2.8

 
2.1

 
2.8

 
2.0

Interest Rate Risk (duration)—excess fixed income investment portfolio(1)
6.0 years

 
3.0 years

 
6.0 years

 
2.7 years

Default and Credit Spread Risk
$
9.5

 
$
5.9

 
$
9.5

 
$
6.3

Trade Credit Underwriting Risk
0.9

 
0.5

 
0.9

 
0.7

Longevity Risk
2.0

 
1.5

 
2.0

 
1.4

Pandemic Risk
1.3

 
0.7

 
1.3

 
0.7

Agriculture Risk
0.3

 
0.1

 
0.3

 
0.1

Mortgage Reinsurance Risk
1.0

 
0.5

 
1.0

 
0.4

Any one country sub-limit
0.8

 
0.4

 
0.8

 
0.4

 
(1)
The excess fixed income investment portfolio relates to fixed income securities included in the Company’s capital funds, which are in excess of those included in the Company’s liability funds that support the net reinsurance liabilities.
(2)
The limits approved and the actual limits deployed in the table above are shown net of retrocession.
Natural Catastrophe Probable Maximum Loss (PML)
The following discussion of the Company’s natural catastrophe probable maximum loss (PML) information contains forward-looking statements based upon assumptions and expectations concerning the potential effect of future events that are subject to uncertainties. See Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a list of the Company’s risk factors. Any of these risk factors could result in actual losses that are materially different from the Company’s PML estimates below.
Natural catastrophe risk is a source of significant aggregate exposure for the Company and is managed by setting risk appetite and limits, as discussed above. The peril zones in the disclosure below are major peril zones for the industry.
The Company has exposures in other peril zones that can potentially generate losses greater than the PML estimates below. The Company’s PMLs represent an estimate of loss for a single event for a given return period. The table below discloses the Company’s 1-in-250 and 1-in-500 year return period estimated loss for a single occurrence of a natural catastrophe event in a one-year period. In other words, the 1-in-250 and 1-in-500 year return period PMLs mean that there is a 0.4% and 0.2% chance, respectively, in any given year that an occurrence of a natural catastrophe in a specific peril zone will lead to losses exceeding the stated estimate.

42

 
 
 


The PML estimates below include all significant exposure from our Non-life and Life and Health business operations. This includes coverage for property, marine, energy, engineering, workers’ compensation and mortality and exposure to catastrophe from insurance-linked securities. The PML estimates do not include casualty coverage that could be exposed as a result of a catastrophic event. In addition, they do not include estimates for contingent losses to insureds that are not directly impacted by the event (e.g. loss of earnings due to disruption in supply lines).
For additional information related to the Company’s natural catastrophe PML information and definitions, see Business—Natural Catastrophe Probable Maximum Loss (PML) in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
The Company’s single occurrence estimated net PML exposures (pre-tax and net of retrocession and reinstatement premiums) for certain selected peak industry natural catastrophe perils at July 1, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
 
 
 
Single Occurrence
Estimated Net PML Exposure
 
Zone
Peril
 
1-in-250 year PML
 
1-in-500 year PML
(Earthquake Perils Only)
U.S. Southeast
Hurricane
 
 
$
533

 
 
 
—

 
U.S. Northeast
Hurricane
 
 
708

 
 
 
—

 
U.S. Gulf Coast
Hurricane
 
 
577

 
 
 
—

 
Caribbean
Hurricane
 
 
174

 
 
 
—

 
Europe
Windstorm
 
 
544

 
 
 
—

 
Japan
Typhoon
 
 
195

 
 
 
—

 
California
Earthquake
 
 
469

 
 
 
$
588

 
British Columbia
Earthquake
 
 
199

 
 
 
379

 
Japan
Earthquake
 
 
377

 
 
 
421

 
Australia
Earthquake
 
 
236

 
 
 
350

 
New Zealand
Earthquake
 
 
161

 
 
 
205

 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates of the Company at September 30, 2015 have not changed materially compared to December 31, 2014. The following discussion updates specific information related to the Company’s estimates for losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits and valuation of investments and funds held – directly managed, including certain derivative financial instruments. See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a discussion of the Company’s other critical accounting policies which are not specifically updated in this report given they have not changed materially compared to December 31, 2014.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses
Because a significant amount of time can elapse between the assumption of risk, occurrence of a loss event, the reporting of the event to an insurance company (the primary company or the cedant), the subsequent reporting to the reinsurance company (the reinsurer) and the ultimate payment of the claim on the loss event by the reinsurer, the Company’s liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses (loss reserves) is based largely upon estimates. The Company categorizes loss reserves into three types of reserves: reported outstanding loss reserves (case reserves), additional case reserves (ACRs) and incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserves. The Company updates its estimates for each of the aforementioned categories on a quarterly basis using information received from its cedants. The Company also estimates the future unallocated loss adjustment expenses (ULAE) associated with the loss reserves and these form part of the Company’s loss adjustment expense reserves. The Company’s Non-life loss reserves for each category and sub-segment are reported in the table included later in this section.
The amount of time that elapses before a claim is reported to the cedant and then subsequently reported to the reinsurer is commonly referred to in the industry as the reporting tail. For all lines, the Company’s objective is to estimate ultimate losses and loss expenses. Total loss reserves are then calculated by subtracting losses paid. Similarly, IBNR reserves are calculated by subtraction of case reserves and ACRs from total loss reserves.

43

 
 
 


The Company analyzes its ultimate losses and loss expenses after consideration of the loss experience of various reserving cells. The Company assigns treaties to reserving cells and allocates losses from the treaty to the reserving cell. The reserving cells are selected in order to ensure that the underlying treaties have homogeneous loss development characteristics (e.g., reporting tail) but are large enough to make estimation of trends credible. The selection of reserving cells is reviewed annually and changes over time as the business of the Company evolves. For each reserving cell, the Company’s estimates of loss reserves are reached after a review of the results of several commonly accepted actuarial projection methodologies. In selecting its best estimate, the Company considers the appropriateness of each methodology to the individual circumstances of the reserving cell and underwriting year for which the projection is made.
See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for additional information on the reserving methodologies employed by the Company, the principal reserving methods used for the reserving lines, the principal parameter assumptions underlying the methods and the main underlying factors upon which the estimates of reserving parameters are predicated.
The Company’s best estimate of total loss reserves is typically in excess of the midpoint of the actuarial ultimate liability estimate. The Company believes that there is potentially significant risk in estimating loss reserves for long-tail lines of business and for immature underwriting years that may not be adequately captured through traditional actuarial projection methodologies as these methodologies usually rely heavily on projections of prior year trends into the future. In selecting its best estimate of future liabilities, the Company considers both the results of actuarial point estimates of loss reserves as well as the potential variability of these estimates as captured by a reasonable range of actuarial liability estimates. The selected best estimates of reserves are always within the reasonable range of estimates indicated by the Company’s actuaries.
During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company reviewed its estimate for prior year losses for the Non-life segment (defined below in Results by Segment) and, in light of developing data, adjusted its ultimate loss ratios for prior accident years. The net prior year favorable loss development for each sub-segment of the Company’s Non-life segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Net Non-life prior year favorable loss development:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
102

 
$
83

 
$
229

 
$
175

Global (Non-U.S.) P&C
38

 
29

 
67

 
106

Global Specialty
104

 
51

 
323

 
179

Catastrophe
2

 
3

 
25

 
31

Total net Non-life prior year favorable loss development
$
246

 
$
166

 
$
644

 
$
491

The net Non-life prior year favorable loss development for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was driven by the following factors (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Net Non-life prior year favorable (adverse) loss development:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net prior year loss development due to changes in premiums(1)
$
14

 
$
(11
)
 
$
8

 
$
(30
)
Net prior year loss development due to all other factors(2)
232

 
177

 
636

 
521

Total net Non-life prior year favorable loss development
$
246

 
$
166

 
$
644

 
$
491

 
(1)
Net prior year loss development due to changes in premiums includes, but it is not limited to, the impact to prior years’ reserves associated with (increases) decreases in the estimated or actual premium exposure reported by cedants.
(2)
Net prior year loss development due to all other factors includes, but is not limited to, loss experience, changes in assumptions and changes in methodology.

44

 
 
 


For a discussion of net prior year favorable loss development by Non-life sub-segment, see Results by Segment below. See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for additional information by reserving lines.
The gross reserves reported by cedants (case reserves), those estimated by the Company (ACRs and IBNR reserves) and the total gross, ceded and net loss reserves recorded at September 30, 2015 for each Non-life sub-segment were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
Case
reserves
 
ACRs
 
IBNR
reserves
 
Total gross
loss reserves
 
Ceded loss
reserves
 
Total net
loss reserves
North America
$
890

 
$
106

 
$
2,441

 
$
3,437

 
$
(42
)
 
$
3,395

Global (Non-U.S.) P&C
1,179

 
11

 
855

 
2,045

 
(18
)
 
2,027

Global Specialty
1,590

 
44

 
2,051

 
3,685

 
(111
)
 
3,574

Catastrophe
217

 
33

 
105

 
355

 
(31
)
 
324

Total Non-life reserves
$
3,876

 
$
194

 
$
5,452

 
$
9,522

 
$
(202
)
 
$
9,320

The net loss reserves represent the Company’s best estimate of future losses and loss expense amounts based on the information available at September 30, 2015. Loss reserves rely upon estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections at a given time that reflect the Company’s expectations of the costs of the ultimate settlement and administration of claims. Estimates of ultimate liabilities are contingent on many future events and the eventual outcome of these events may be different from the assumptions underlying the reserve estimates. In the event that the business environment and social trends diverge from historical trends, the Company may have to adjust its loss reserves to amounts falling significantly outside its current estimate. These estimates are regularly reviewed and the ultimate liability may be in excess of, or less than, the amounts provided, for which any adjustments will be reflected in the period in which the need for an adjustment is determined.
The Company’s best estimates are point estimates within a reasonable range of actuarial liability estimates. These ranges are developed using stochastic simulations and techniques and provide an indication as to the degree of variability of the loss reserves. The Company interprets the ranges produced by these techniques as confidence intervals around the point estimates for each Non-life sub-segment. However, due to the inherent volatility in the business written by the Company, there can be no assurance that the final settlement of the loss reserves will fall within these ranges.
The point estimates related to net loss reserves recorded by the Company and the range of actuarial estimates at September 30, 2015 for each Non-life sub-segment were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
Recorded Point
Estimate
 
High
 
Low
Net Non-life sub-segment loss reserves:
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
3,395

 
$
3,677

 
$
2,790

Global (Non-U.S.) P&C
2,027

 
2,236

 
1,719

Global Specialty
3,574

 
4,010

 
2,948

Catastrophe
324

 
353

 
282

It is not appropriate to add together the ranges of each sub-segment in an effort to determine a high and low range around the Company’s total Non-life carried loss reserves.
Of the Company’s $9,320 million of net Non-life loss reserves at September 30, 2015, net loss reserves for accident years 2005 and prior of $559 million are guaranteed by Colisée Re, pursuant to the Reserve Agreement. The Company is not subject to any loss reserve variability associated with the guaranteed reserves. See Business—Reserves in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a discussion of the Reserve Agreement.
A significant amount of judgment was used to estimate the range of potential losses related to the earthquakes that occurred in New Zealand in September 2010, February 2011 and June 2011 (New Zealand Earthquakes) and the Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami (Japan Earthquake), and there remains a considerable degree of uncertainty related to the range of possible ultimate losses associated with these events, and, in particular, the New Zealand Earthquakes. Loss estimates arising from earthquakes are inherently more uncertain than those from other catastrophic events and the Company believes the ultimate losses arising from the New Zealand Earthquakes and the Japan Earthquake may be materially in excess of, or less than, the amounts provided for in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2015.

45

 
 
 


The remaining significant risks and uncertainties related to the New Zealand Earthquakes include the ongoing cedant revisions of loss estimates for each of these events, the degree to which inflation impacts construction materials required to rebuild affected properties, the characteristics of the Company’s program participation for certain affected cedants and potentially affected cedants, and the expected length of the claims settlement period. In addition, there is further complexity related to the New Zealand Earthquakes given multiple earthquakes occurred in the same region in a relatively short period of time, resulting in cedants continuing to revise their allocation of losses between the various events and between different treaties, under which the Company may provide different amounts of coverage.
While the Company remains cautious regarding the estimated ultimate losses from the Japan Earthquake, as time has passed the estimates received from the Company’s cedants have stabilized, paid losses have increased and the remaining complexities have been reduced.
Policy Benefits for Life and Annuity Contracts
Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts relate to the Company’s Life and Health segment, which predominantly includes:
•
reinsurance of longevity, subdivided into standard and non-standard annuities;
•
mortality business, which includes death and disability covers (with various riders) primarily written in Continental Europe, term assurance and critical illness primarily written in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) business primarily written in Continental Europe; and
•
specialty accident and health business written by PartnerRe Health, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) reinsurance, medical reinsurance and provider and employer excess of loss programs.
The Company categorizes life reserves into three types of reserves: case reserves, IBNR reserves and reserves for future policy benefits. Such liabilities are established based on methods and underlying assumptions in accordance with U.S. GAAP and applicable actuarial standards. Principal assumptions used in the establishment of reserves for future policy benefits have been determined based upon information reported by ceding companies, supplemented by the Company’s actuarial estimates of mortality, critical illness, persistency and future investment income, with appropriate provision to reflect uncertainty. Case reserves, IBNR reserves and reserves for future policy benefits are generally calculated at the treaty level. The Company updates its estimates for each of the aforementioned categories on a periodic basis using information received from its cedants.
The Company’s reserving practices begin with the categorization of the contracts written as short duration, long duration, or universal life business for U.S. GAAP reserving purposes. This categorization determines the Company’s reserving methodology. See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Policy Benefits for Life and Annuity Contracts in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for additional information on the reserving methodologies employed by the Company for its longevity, mortality and accident and health lines.
The Company’s gross and net reserves for life and health contracts by reserving line at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
Case
reserves
 
IBNR
reserves
 
Reserves for
future policy
benefits
 
Total gross Life
and Health
reserves
 
Ceded
reserves
 
Total net Life 
and Health
reserves
Accident and Health
$
9

 
$
258

 
$
—

 
$
267

 
$
(36
)
 
$
231

Longevity
1

 
133

 
393

 
527

 
(3
)
 
524

Mortality
267

 
450

 
612

 
1,329

 
—

 
1,329

Total
$
277

 
$
841

 
$
1,005

 
$
2,123

 
$
(39
)
 
$
2,084

Valuation of Investments and Funds Held – Directly Managed, including certain Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company defines fair value as the price received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company measures the fair value of its financial instruments according to a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to measure fair value into three broad levels.

46

 
 
 


Under the fair value hierarchy, Management uses certain assumptions and judgments to derive the fair value of its investments, particularly for those assets with significant unobservable inputs, commonly referred to as Level 3 assets. At September 30, 2015, the Company’s financial instruments that were measured at fair value and categorized as Level 3 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
September 30, 2015
Fixed maturities
$
526

Equities
40

Other invested assets (including certain derivatives)
179

Funds held – directly managed account
12

Total
$
757

For additional information on the valuation techniques, methods and assumptions that were used by the Company to estimate the fair value of its fixed maturities, short-term investments, equities, other invested assets and investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account, see Note 4 to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report. For information on the Company’s use of derivative financial instruments, see Note 5 to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

Results of Operations—for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014
The following discussion of Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements based upon assumptions and expectations concerning the potential effect of future events that are subject to uncertainties. See Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a complete list of the Company’s risk factors. Any of these risk factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements.
The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The Company’s significant subsidiaries and branches have one of the following functional currencies: U.S. dollar, euro or Canadian dollar. As a significant portion of the Company’s operations is transacted in foreign currencies, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates may affect year over year comparisons. To the extent that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates affect comparisons, their impact has been quantified, when possible, and discussed in each of the relevant sections. See Note 2(m) to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a discussion of translation of foreign currencies.
The foreign exchange fluctuations for the principal currencies in which the Company transacts business were as follows:
•
the U.S. dollar average exchange rate was stronger against most currencies in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014; and
•
the U.S. dollar ending exchange rate strengthened against most currencies, except the Swiss franc and Japanese yen, at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014.
Review of Net (Loss) Income
Management analyzes the Company’s net income or loss in three parts: underwriting result, investment result and other components of net income or loss. Underwriting result consists of net premiums earned and other income or loss less losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other expenses. Investment result consists of net investment income, net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses and interest in earnings or losses of equity method investments. Net investment income includes interest, dividends and amortization, net of investment expenses, generated by the Company’s investment activities, as well as interest income generated on funds held assets. Net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses include sales of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other invested assets and investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account and changes in net unrealized gains or losses. Interest in earnings or losses of equity method investments includes the Company’s strategic investments. Other components of net income or loss include technical result and other income or loss, other expenses, interest expense, amortization of intangible assets, net foreign exchange gains or losses and income tax expense or benefit.

47

 
 
 


The components of net (loss) income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Underwriting result:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-life
$
190

 
$
192

 
$
449

 
$
443

Life and Health
3

 
6

 
24

 
7

Investment result:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
117

 
118

 
342

 
365

Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains
(133
)
 
(34
)
 
(273
)
 
273

Interest in (losses) earnings of equity method investments(1)
(3
)
 
5

 
1

 
16

Corporate and Other:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Technical result(2)
—

 
(1
)
 
1

 
(1
)
Other income (2)
—

 
1

 
3

 
5

Other expenses
(345
)
 
(29
)
 
(461
)
 
(88
)
Interest expense
(12
)
 
(12
)
 
(37
)
 
(36
)
Amortization of intangible assets(3)
(7
)
 
(7
)
 
(20
)
 
(21
)
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains
(22
)
 
8

 
(16
)
 
11

Income tax expense
(17
)
 
(46
)
 
(83
)
 
(186
)
Net (loss) income
$
(229
)
 
$
201

 
$
(70
)
 
$
788

 
 
(1)
Interest in earnings or losses of equity method investments represents the Company’s aggregate share of earnings or losses related to several private placement investments and limited partnerships within the Corporate and Other segment.
(2)
Other income primarily relates to income on principal finance transactions within the Corporate and Other segment.
(3)
Amortization of intangible assets relates to intangible assets acquired in the acquisition of Paris Re in 2009 and PartnerRe Health in 2012.
Underwriting result is a measurement that the Company uses to manage and evaluate its Non-life and Life and Health segments, as it is a primary measure of underlying profitability for the Company’s core reinsurance operations, separate from the investment results. The Company believes that in order to enhance the understanding of its profitability, it is useful for investors to evaluate the components of net income or loss separately and in the aggregate. Underwriting result should not be considered a substitute for net income or loss and does not reflect the overall profitability of the business, which is also impacted by investment results and other items.

48

 
 
 


The components of the underwriting result and combined ratio for the Non-life segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Current accident year technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted for large losses and prior quarter loss development
$
59

 
94.7
 %
 
$
103

 
91.5
 %
 
$
27

 
99.0
 %
 
$
138

 
95.8
 %
Large losses(1)
(60
)
 
5.4

 
—

 
—

 
(60
)
 
2.0

 
—

 
—

Net adverse prior quarter loss development
—

 
—

 
(14
)
 
1.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior accident years technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net favorable prior year loss development
246

 
(22.2
)
 
166

 
(13.5
)
 
644

 
(21.0
)
 
491

 
(15.1
)
Technical result and ratio, as reported
$
245

 
77.9
 %
 
$
255

 
79.2
 %
 
$
611

 
80.0
 %
 
$
629

 
80.7
 %
Other (loss) income
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

Other expenses
(55
)
 
4.9

 
(62
)
 
5.0

 
(162
)
 
5.3

 
(187
)
 
5.7

Underwriting result and combined ratio, as reported
$
190

 
82.8
 %
 
$
192

 
84.2
 %
 
$
449

 
85.3
 %
 
$
443

 
86.4
 %
 
(1) Net of any reinsurance and reinstatement premiums.

Three-month result
The underwriting result for the Non-life segment decreased by $2 million (a decrease of 1.4 points in the combined ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 primarily due to:
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $60 million (5.4 points on the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion.
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses and prior quarter loss development—a deterioration in the technical result (and corresponding increase in the technical ratio) primarily related to the Global Specialty sub-segment, driven by higher downward prior year premium adjustments and an increase in acquisition costs, and the Catastrophe sub-segment, as a result of lower net premiums earned following an increase in retrocessional purchases.
These factors driving the decrease in the Non-life underwriting result and in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 were partially offset by:
•
Net favorable prior year loss development—an increase of $80 million (a decrease of 8.7 points in the technical ratio) from $166 million (13.5 points on the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $246 million (22.2 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The increase in net favorable prior year loss development was due to an increase in the Global Specialty, North America and Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segments. The components of the net favorable prior year loss development are described in more detail in the discussion of individual sub-segments in Results by Segment below.
•
Net adverse prior quarter loss development—a decrease of $14 million (decrease of 1.2 points in the technical ratio) reflecting adverse prior quarter development of $14 million (1.2 points on the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily related to a mid-sized loss reported in the Catastrophe sub-segment.
•
Other expenses—a decrease of $7 million (a decrease of 0.1 points in the combined ratio) from $62 million (5.0 points on the combined ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $55 million (4.9 points on the combined ratio) in the same period of 2015, primarily as a result of the impact of foreign exchange and lower information technology and facilities costs.
While the Non-life underwriting result decreased modestly in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, the combined ratio also decreased due to the impact of lower net premiums earned.
The underwriting result for the Life and Health segment, which does not include allocated investment income, decreased by $3 million, from $6 million in the three months September 30, 2014 to $3 million in the same period of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to adverse prior year development related to the GMDB business, partially offset by increased profitability from PartnerRe Health's accident and health line of business. See Results by Segment below.
Net investment income of $117 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 was comparable to $118 million in the in the same period of 2014. See Corporate and Other – Net Investment Income below for more details.

49

 
 
 


Net realized and unrealized investment losses increased by $99 million, from $34 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $133 million in the same period of 2015. The net realized and unrealized investment losses of $133 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily due to widening U.S. and European credit spreads and decreases in worldwide equity markets, partially offset by decreases in longer term U.S. and European risk-free rates. See Corporate and Other – Net Realized and Unrealized Investment (Losses) Gains below for more details.
Other expenses included in Corporate and Other increased by $316 million, from $29 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $345 million in the same period of 2015. The increase was primarily due to the AXIS termination fee, as described in the Executive Overview above. See Corporate and Other—Other Expenses below for more details.
Interest expense in the three months ended September 30, 2015 was comparable to the same period of 2014.
Net foreign exchange losses increased by $30 million, from gains of $8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to losses of $22 million in the same period of 2015. The net foreign exchange losses of $22 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 resulted primarily from the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar on certain unhedged non-U.S. denominated investment portfolios. The Company hedges a significant portion of its currency risk exposure as discussed in Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in Item 3 of Part I of this report.
Income tax expense decreased by $29 million, from $46 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $17 million in the same period of 2015. The decrease primarily reflected the geographical distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net loss between its taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions and was driven by the increase in net realized and unrealized investment losses. See Corporate and Other—Income Taxes below for more details.
Nine-month result
The underwriting result for the Non-life segment increased by $6 million (corresponding to a decrease of 1.1 points in the combined ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 primarily due to:
•
Net favorable prior year loss development—an increase of $153 million (a decrease of 5.9 points in the technical ratio) from $491 million (15.1 points on the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $644 million (21.0 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The increase in net favorable prior year loss development was due to increases in the Global Specialty and North America sub-segments, and was partially offset by a decrease in the Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment. The components of the net favorable prior year loss development are described in more detail in the discussion of individual sub-segments in Results by Segment below.
•
Other expenses—a decrease of $25 million (a decrease of 0.4 points in the combined ratio) from $187 million (5.7 points on the combined ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $162 million (5.3 points on the combined ratio) in the same period of 2015, primarily as a result of the impact of foreign exchange and lower personnel and information technology and facilities costs.
These factors driving the increase in the Non-life underwriting result and the corresponding decrease in the combined ratio in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 were partially offset by:
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses—a deterioration in the technical result (and corresponding increase in the technical ratio) driven by higher acquisition costs and higher downward prior year premium adjustments in the Global Specialty sub-segment and lower net premiums earned in the Catastrophe sub-segment following an increase in retrocessional purchases.
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $60 million (2.0 points on the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion.
The underwriting result for the Life and Health segment, which does not include allocated investment income, increased by $17 million, from $7 million in the nine months September 30, 2014 to $24 million in the same period of 2015 primarily due to a higher level of net favorable prior year loss development. See Results by Segment below.
Net investment income decreased by $23 million, from $365 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $342 million in the same period of 2015. The decrease in net investment income was primarily attributable to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies and lower reinvestment rates. See Corporate and Other – Net Investment Income below for more details.
Net realized and unrealized investment losses increased by $546 million, from gains of $273 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to losses of $273 million in the same period of 2015. The net realized and unrealized investment losses of $273 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily due to widening U.S. and European credit spreads and decreases in worldwide equity markets. See Corporate and Other – Net Realized and Unrealized Investment (Losses) Gains below for more details.

50

 
 
 


Other expenses included in Corporate and Other increased by $373 million, from $88 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $461 million in the same period of 2015, primarily due to the AXIS termination fee, Transaction Costs and costs related to the Presidio Earn-out Agreement, as described in the Executive Overview above. See Corporate and Other—Other Expenses below for more details.
Interest expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was comparable to the same period of 2014.
Net foreign exchange losses increased by $27 million, from gains of $11 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to losses of $16 million in the same period of 2015. The net foreign exchange losses of $16 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 resulted primarily from the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar on certain unhedged non-U.S. denominated investment portfolios, partially offset by gains related to the difference in forward points embedded in the Company's hedges. The Company hedges a significant portion of its currency risk exposure as discussed in Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in Item 3 of Part I of this report.
Income tax expense decreased by $103 million, from $186 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $83 million in the same period of 2015. The decrease primarily reflected the geographical distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net loss between its taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions and was driven by the increase in net realized and unrealized investment losses. See Corporate and Other—Income Taxes below for more details.
Results by Segment
The Company monitors the performance of its operations in three segments, Non-life, Life and Health and Corporate and Other. The Non-life segment is further divided into four sub-segments, North America, Global (Non-U.S.) Property and Casualty (Global (Non-U.S.) P&C), Global Specialty and Catastrophe. Segments and sub-segments represent markets that are reasonably homogeneous in terms of geography, client types, buying patterns, underlying risk patterns and approach to risk management. See the description of the Company’s segments and sub-segments as well as a discussion of how the Company measures its segment results in Note 21 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and in Note 9 to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report.
Non-life Segment
North America
The North America sub-segment is comprised of lines of business that are considered to be either short, medium or long-tail. The short-tail lines consist primarily of agriculture, property and motor business. Casualty is considered to be long-tail, while credit/surety and multiline are considered to have a medium tail. The casualty line typically tends to have a higher loss ratio and a lower technical result due to the long-tail nature of the risks involved. Casualty treaties typically provide for investment income on premiums invested over a longer period as losses are typically paid later than for other lines. Investment income, however, is not considered in the calculation of technical result.
The components of the technical result and the corresponding ratios for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Gross premiums written
$
351

 
$
372

 
$
1,251

 
$
1,302

Net premiums written
335

 
372

 
1,207

 
1,291

Net premiums earned
$
408

 
$
424

 
$
1,182

 
$
1,192

Losses and loss expenses
(182
)
 
(247
)
 
(650
)
 
(747
)
Acquisition costs
(137
)
 
(106
)
 
(341
)
 
(299
)
Technical result (1)
$
89

 
$
71

 
$
191

 
$
146

Loss ratio (2)
44.7
%
 
58.2
%
 
55.0
%
 
62.6
%
Acquisition ratio (3)
33.4

 
24.9

 
28.8

 
25.1

Technical ratio (4)
78.1
%
 
83.1
%
 
83.8
%
 
87.7
%
 
(1)
Technical result is defined as net premiums earned less losses and loss expenses and acquisition costs.
(2)
Loss ratio is obtained by dividing losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(3)
Acquisition ratio is obtained by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(4)
Technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the acquisition ratio.

51

 
 
 


Premiums
The North America sub-segment represented 28% and 29% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. The net premiums written and net premiums earned by line of business for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Agriculture
$
71

 
21
%
 
$
99

 
24
%
 
$
83

 
22
%
 
$
117

 
28
%
 
$
338

 
28
%
 
$
314

 
27
%
 
$
366

 
28
%
 
$
335

 
28
%
Casualty
133

 
40

 
146

 
36

 
149

 
40

 
159

 
37

 
449

 
37

 
445

 
38

 
475

 
37

 
454

 
38

Credit/Surety
9

 
3

 
28

 
7

 
24

 
7

 
25

 
6

 
64

 
5

 
76

 
6

 
87

 
7

 
77

 
6

Motor
13

 
4

 
18

 
4

 
27

 
7

 
20

 
5

 
49

 
4

 
56

 
5

 
59

 
5

 
52

 
4

Multiline
22

 
6

 
29

 
7

 
24

 
6

 
29

 
7

 
100

 
8

 
91

 
8

 
100

 
8

 
80

 
7

Property
58

 
17

 
73

 
18

 
54

 
15

 
65

 
15

 
165

 
14

 
172

 
14

 
171

 
13

 
162

 
14

Other
29

 
9

 
15

 
4

 
11

 
3

 
9

 
2

 
42

 
4

 
28

 
2

 
33

 
2

 
32

 
3

Total
$
335

 
100
%
 
$
408

 
100
%
 
$
372

 
100
%
 
$
424

 
100
%
 
$
1,207

 
100
%
 
$
1,182

 
100
%
 
$
1,291

 
100
%
 
$
1,192

 
100
%
Business reported in this sub-segment is, to an extent, originally denominated in foreign currencies and is reported in U.S. dollars. The U.S. dollar can fluctuate significantly against other currencies and this should be considered when making period to period comparisons. The effect of foreign exchange fluctuations, described in the Results of Operations above, on gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 was as follows:
Three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
Gross premiums written
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Decrease in original currency
 
(5
)%
 
(9
)%
 
(3
)%
Foreign exchange effect
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(6
)%
 
(10
)%
 
(4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in original currency
 
(3
)%
 
(6
)%
 
—
 %
Foreign exchange effect
 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(4
)%
 
(6
)%
 
(1
)%
Three-month result
Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned decreased by 5%, 9% and 3%, respectively, on a constant foreign exchange basis in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The decrease in gross premiums written was primarily driven by cancellations in the casualty, multiline and motor lines of business, downward current year premium adjustments in the agriculture line of business and the restructuring of a significant treaty in the credit/surety line, which impacted the timing of premium recognition. These decreases were partially offset by new business written primarily in the structured property, casualty and agriculture lines of business. The decrease in net premiums written was driven by the same factors as the decrease in gross premiums written, and, in addition, higher premiums ceded in the agriculture line of business primarily to Lorenz Re, as described in the Executive Overview. The decrease in net premiums earned was lower than the decrease in net premiums written mainly due to the restructured treaty in the credit/surety line having a greater impact on net premiums written than net premiums earned.
Nine-month result
Gross and net premiums written decreased by 3% and 6%, respectively, and net premiums earned were flat, on a constant foreign exchange basis in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The decreases in gross and net premiums written were primarily driven by the same factors described in the three-month result. Net premiums earned were flat compared to decreases in gross and net premiums written mainly as a result of cancellations and the restructuring in the credit/surety line having a greater impact on gross and net premiums written than net premiums earned. Notwithstanding the competitive conditions prevailing in various markets within this sub-segment, the Company was able to write business that met its portfolio objectives.

52

 
 
 


Technical result and technical ratio
The components of the technical result and ratio for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Current accident year technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted for large losses
$
(10
)
 
102.5
 %
 
$
(12
)
 
102.6
 %
 
$
(35
)
 
102.8
 %
 
$
(29
)
 
102.4
 %
Large losses(1)
(3
)
 
0.7

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
0.3

 
—

 
—

Prior accident years technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net favorable prior year loss development
102

 
(25.1
)
 
83

 
(19.5
)
 
229

 
(19.3
)
 
175

 
(14.7
)
Technical result and ratio, as reported
$
89

 
78.1
 %
 
$
71

 
83.1
 %
 
$
191

 
83.8
 %
 
$
146

 
87.7
 %
 
(1) Net of any reinsurance and reinstatement premiums.
Three-month result
The increase of $18 million in the technical result (and the corresponding decrease of 5.0 points in the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily attributable to:
•
Net favorable prior year loss development—an increase of $19 million (decrease of 5.6 points in the technical ratio) from $83 million (19.5 points on the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $102 million (25.1 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was driven by most lines of business, predominantly the casualty line.
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses—a modest improvement in the technical result primarily due to a breakeven result recorded in the agriculture line of business in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to a loss in the same period of 2014. This improvement was partially offset by higher commissions recorded in the credit/surety lines of business driven by the restructuring of a significant treaty, a modestly higher level of mid-sized loss activity and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods.
These factors driving the increase in the technical result in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 were partially offset by:
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $3 million (0.7 points on the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion.

Nine-month result
The increase of $45 million in the technical result (and the corresponding decrease of 3.9 points in the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily attributable to:
•
Net favorable prior year loss development—an increase of $54 million (decrease of 4.6 points in the technical ratio) from $175 million (14.7 points on the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $229 million (19.3 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was driven by most lines of business, predominantly the casualty line. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was driven primarily by the casualty line, while the multiline and motor lines experienced combined adverse loss development for prior accident years of $10 million.
This factor driving the increase in the technical result in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was partially offset by:
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses—a modest deterioration in the technical result (and corresponding modest increase in the technical ratio) primarily due to higher commissions recorded in the credit/surety line of business driven by the restructuring of a significant treaty, and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods. This deterioration was partially offset by the breakeven result recorded in the agriculture line of business in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the loss recorded in the same period of 2014.

53

 
 
 


Global (Non-U.S.) P&C
The Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment is composed of short-tail business, in the form of property and proportional motor business, that represented approximately 89% and 82% of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, and long-tail business, in the form of casualty and non-proportional motor business, that represented the balance of net premiums written.
The components of the technical result and the corresponding ratios for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Gross premiums written
$
153

 
$
162

 
$
630

 
$
682

Net premiums written
153

 
164

 
621

 
672

Net premiums earned
$
186

 
$
202

 
$
519

 
$
568

Losses and loss expenses
(122
)
 
(123
)
 
(362
)
 
(319
)
Acquisition costs
(50
)
 
(56
)
 
(139
)
 
(162
)
Technical result
$
14

 
$
23

 
$
18

 
$
87

Loss ratio
65.8
%
 
61.1
%
 
69.8
%
 
56.2
%
Acquisition ratio
26.9

 
27.6

 
26.8

 
28.5

Technical ratio
92.7
%
 
88.7
%
 
96.6
%
 
84.7
%
Premiums
The Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment represented 13% and 15% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to 12% and 15% in the same periods of 2014. The net premiums written and net premiums earned by line of business for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Casualty
$
12

 
8
%
 
$
16

 
9
%
 
$
12

 
7
%
 
$
18

 
9
%
 
$
60

 
10
%
 
$
49

 
9
%
 
$
59

 
9
%
 
$
53

 
9
%
Motor
65

 
42

 
74

 
39

 
70

 
43

 
79

 
39

 
231

 
37

 
205

 
40

 
257

 
38

 
226

 
40

Property
76

 
50

 
96

 
52

 
82

 
50

 
105

 
52

 
330

 
53

 
265

 
51

 
356

 
53

 
289

 
51

Total
$
153

 
100
%
 
$
186

 
100
%
 
$
164

 
100
%
 
$
202

 
100
%
 
$
621

 
100
%
 
$
519

 
100
%
 
$
672

 
100
%
 
$
568

 
100
%
Business reported in this sub-segment is, to a significant extent, originally denominated in foreign currencies and is reported in U.S. dollars. The U.S. dollar can fluctuate significantly against other currencies and this should be considered when making period to period comparisons. The effect of foreign exchange fluctuations, described in the Results of Operations above, on gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 was as follows:
Three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
Gross premiums written
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Increase in original currency
 
6
 %
 
5
 %
 
5
 %
Foreign exchange effect
 
(12
)
 
(12
)
 
(13
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(6
)%
 
(7
)%
 
(8
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Increase in original currency
 
3
 %
 
3
 %
 
3
 %
Foreign exchange effect
 
(11
)
 
(11
)
 
(12
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(8
)%
 
(8
)%
 
(9
)%

54

 
 
 


Three-month result
Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned increased by 6%, 5% and 5%, respectively, on a constant foreign exchange basis in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The increase in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned on a constant foreign exchange basis was primarily related to new business written in prior periods across all lines of business. This increase was partially offset by an increase in the Company's participation on a significant proportional motor treaty in the three months ended September 30, 2014.
Nine-month result
Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned increased by 3% on a constant foreign exchange basis in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The increase in gross and net premiums written on a constant foreign exchange basis was primarily driven by new business written, which was partially offset by cancellations and downward prior year premium adjustments in the property and motor lines of business. The increase in net premiums earned on a constant foreign exchange basis was driven by the same factors as well as increased participations in the motor line of business. Notwithstanding the continued competitive conditions in most markets, the Company was able to write business that met its portfolio objectives.
Technical result and technical ratio
The components of the technical result and ratio for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Current accident year technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted for large losses and prior quarter loss development
$
(6
)
 
103.2
 %
 
$
(5
)
 
102.7
 %
 
$
(27
)
 
105.2
 %
 
$
(19
)
 
103.4
 %
Large losses(1)
(22
)
 
12.1

 
—

 
—

 
(22
)
 
4.3

 
—

 
—

Net favorable (adverse) prior quarter loss development
4

 
(1.9
)
 
(1
)
 
0.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior accident years technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net favorable prior year loss development
38

 
(20.7
)
 
29

 
(14.6
)
 
67

 
(12.9
)
 
106

 
(18.7
)
Technical result and ratio, as reported
$
14

 
92.7
 %
 
$
23

 
88.7
 %
 
$
18

 
96.6
 %
 
$
87

 
84.7
 %
 
(1) Net of any reinsurance and reinstatement premiums.
Three-month result
The decrease of $9 million in the technical result (and the corresponding increase of 4.0 points in the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily attributable to:
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $22 million (12.1% points on the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion, impacting the property line of business.
This factor driving the decrease in the technical result in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was partially offset by:
•
Net favorable prior year loss development—an increase in net favorable prior year loss development of $9 million (increase of 6.1 points in the technical ratio) from $29 million (14.6 points on the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $38 million (20.7 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the three months ended September 30, 2015 was driven by all lines of business, with the motor line being the most pronounced. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the three months ended September 30, 2014 was driven by all lines of business, with the property line being the most pronounced.
•
Net favorable (adverse) prior quarter loss development—an increase in net favorable prior quarter loss development of $5 million (decrease of 2.5 points in the technical ratio). The net favorable prior quarter loss development in the three months ended September 30, 2015 was driven primarily by favorable loss emergence.

55

 
 
 


The current accident year technical result and ratio, adjusted for large losses and prior quarter loss development, in the three months ended September 30, 2015 was comparable to the same period of 2014, primarily due to higher downward prior year premium adjustments and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods, which were partially offset by a lower level of mid-sized loss activity.
Nine-month result
The decrease of $69 million in the technical result (and the corresponding increase of 11.9 points in the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily attributable:
•
Net favorable prior year loss development—a decrease in net favorable prior year loss development of $39 million (increase of 5.8 points in the technical ratio) from $106 million (18.7 points on the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $67 million (12.9 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was driven primarily by the property line of business.
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $22 million (4.3% points in the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion.
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses—a deterioration in the technical result (and a corresponding increase in the technical ratio) due to higher downward prior year premium adjustments and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods. This deterioration was partially offset by a decrease in the acquisition cost ratio driven by favorable profit commission adjustments reported by cedants in the motor line of business.
Global Specialty
The Global Specialty sub-segment is primarily comprised of lines of business that are considered to be either short, medium or long-tail. The short-tail lines consist of agriculture, energy and specialty property. Aviation/space, credit/surety, engineering, marine and multiline are considered to have a medium tail, while specialty casualty is considered to be long-tail.
The components of the technical result and the corresponding ratios for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Gross premiums written
$
393

 
$
432

 
$
1,226

 
$
1,348

Net premiums written
391

 
428

 
1,153

 
1,250

Net premiums earned
$
404

 
$
448

 
$
1,143

 
$
1,208

Losses and loss expenses
(224
)
 
(279
)
 
(593
)
 
(749
)
Acquisition costs
(112
)
 
(105
)
 
(307
)
 
(283
)
Technical result
$
68

 
$
64

 
$
243

 
$
176

Loss ratio
55.5
%
 
62.3
%
 
51.9
%
 
62.1
%
Acquisition ratio
27.7

 
23.5

 
26.8

 
23.4

Technical ratio
83.2
%
 
85.8
%
 
78.7
%
 
85.5
%

56

 
 
 


Premiums
The Global Specialty sub-segment represented 33% and 28% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to 32% and 28% in the same periods of 2014. The net premiums written and net premiums earned by line of business for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Agriculture
$
52

 
13
%
 
$
67

 
17
%
 
$
48

 
11
%
 
$
71

 
16
%
 
$
156

 
13
%
 
$
151

 
13
%
 
$
159

 
13
%
 
$
156

 
13
%
Aviation / Space
37

 
9

 
44

 
11

 
54

 
13

 
55

 
12

 
127

 
11

 
147

 
13

 
144

 
11

 
154

 
13

Credit / Surety
59

 
15

 
61

 
15

 
68

 
16

 
70

 
16

 
163

 
14

 
162

 
14

 
207

 
17

 
210

 
17

Energy
16

 
4

 
17

 
4

 
22

 
5

 
18

 
4

 
47

 
4

 
54

 
5

 
53

 
4

 
54

 
5

Engineering
33

 
8

 
29

 
7

 
44

 
10

 
48

 
11

 
112

 
10

 
113

 
10

 
122

 
10

 
138

 
11

Marine
61

 
16

 
66

 
16

 
78

 
18

 
82

 
18

 
157

 
14

 
172

 
15

 
206

 
16

 
212

 
18

Multiline
46

 
12

 
40

 
10

 
34

 
8

 
26

 
6

 
133

 
11

 
108

 
9

 
100

 
8

 
61

 
5

Specialty casualty
35

 
9

 
40

 
10

 
31

 
7

 
43

 
9

 
112

 
10

 
109

 
10

 
126

 
10

 
112

 
9

Specialty property
49

 
13

 
39

 
10

 
46

 
11

 
34

 
8

 
134

 
12

 
124

 
11

 
122

 
10

 
110

 
9

Other
3

 
1

 
1

 
—

 
3

 
1

 
1

 
—

 
12

 
1

 
3

 
—

 
11

 
1

 
1

 
—

Total
$
391

 
100
%
 
$
404

 
100
%
 
$
428

 
100
%
 
$
448

 
100
%
 
$
1,153

 
100
%
 
$
1,143

 
100
%
 
$
1,250

 
100
%
 
$
1,208

 
100
%
Business reported in this sub-segment is, to a significant extent, originally denominated in foreign currencies and is reported in U.S. dollars. The U.S. dollar can fluctuate significantly against other currencies and this should be considered when making period to period comparisons. The effect of foreign exchange fluctuations, described in the Results of Operations above, on gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 was as follows:
Three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
Gross premiums written
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Decrease in original currency
 
(2
)%
 
(2
)%
 
(2
)%
Foreign exchange effect
 
(7
)
 
(7
)
 
(8
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(9
)%
 
(9
)%
 
(10
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Decrease) increase in original currency
 
(2
)%
 
(1
)%
 
2
 %
Foreign exchange effect
 
(7
)
 
(7
)
 
(7
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(9
)%
 
(8
)%
 
(5
)%
Three-month result
Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned decreased by 2% on a constant foreign exchange basis in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The decrease in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned on a constant foreign exchange basis was primarily due to downward prior year premium adjustments in the aviation/space, engineering and marine lines and the impact of cancellations mainly in prior periods in the marine and agriculture lines. These decreases were partially offset by new business written in prior periods across multiple lines of business.

57

 
 
 


Nine-month result
Gross and net premiums written decreased by 2% and 1%, respectively, and net premiums earned increased by 2% on a constant foreign exchange basis in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The decrease in gross premiums written on a constant foreign exchange basis was driven mainly by cancellations and reduced participations during the January 1, 2015 renewals and downward prior year premium adjustments primarily in the marine, credit/surety, aviation/space and specialty casualty lines. These decreases were partially offset by new business written across multiple lines of business and increases in the multiline line of business due to increased participations during the January 1, 2015 renewals. Net premiums written decreased on a constant foreign exchange basis due to the same factors driving the decrease in gross premiums written, partially offset by lower premiums ceded under the 2015 retrocessional programs. The increase in net premiums earned on a constant foreign exchange basis compared to the decrease in net premiums written was mainly as a result of the earning of business written in 2014. Notwithstanding the diverse conditions prevailing in various markets within this sub-segment, the Company was able to write business that met its portfolio objectives.
Technical result and technical ratio
The components of the technical result and ratio for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Current accident year technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted for large losses and prior quarter loss development
$
(11
)
 
102.7
 %
 
$
13

 
97.1
 %
 
$
(61
)
 
105.4
 %
 
$
(3
)
 
100.4
 %
Large losses(1)
(19
)
 
4.6

 
—

 
—

 
(19
)
 
1.6

 
—

 
—

Net adverse prior quarter loss development
(6
)
 
1.5

 
—

 
0.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior accident years technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net favorable prior year loss development
104

 
(25.6
)
 
51

 
(11.4
)
 
323

 
(28.3
)
 
179

 
(14.9
)
Technical result and ratio, as reported
$
68

 
83.2
 %
 
$
64

 
85.8
 %
 
$
243

 
78.7
 %
 
$
176

 
85.5
 %
 
(1) Net of any reinsurance and reinstatement premiums.
Three-month result
The increase of $4 million in the technical result (and the corresponding decrease of 2.6 points in the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily attributable to:
•
Net favorable prior year loss development—an increase of $53 million (decrease of 14.2 points in the technical ratio) from $51 million (11.4 points on the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $104 million (25.6 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the three months ended September 30, 2015 was driven by all lines of business, primarily the marine, aviation/space and engineering lines. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the three months ended September 30, 2014 was driven by most lines of business, primarily the marine and specialty property lines, while the engineering line experienced adverse loss development for prior accident years of $8 million.
This factor driving the increase in the technical result in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was partially offset by:
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses and prior quarter loss development—a deterioration in the technical result (and a corresponding increase in the technical ratio) mainly due to higher downward prior year premium adjustments and an increase in the acquisition cost ratio. The increase in the acquisition cost ratio was primarily driven by an unfavorable adjustment recorded on a significant contract in the aviation/space line of business and higher profit commission adjustments reported by cedants in the credit/surety and marine lines. These factors driving the deterioration in the technical result were partially offset by a lower level of mid-sized loss activity.
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $19 million (4.6% points on the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion.
•
Net adverse prior quarter loss development—an increase of $6 million (increase of 1.4 points in the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, primarily due to a mid-sized loss reported in the engineering line.

58

 
 
 


Nine-month result
The increase of $67 million in the technical result (and the corresponding decrease of 6.8 points in the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily attributable to:
•
Net favorable prior year loss development—an increase of $144 million (decrease of 13.4 points in the technical ratio) from $179 million (14.9 points on the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $323 million (28.3 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was driven by all lines of business, primarily the marine, specialty casualty, aviation/space and credit/surety lines. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was driven by most lines of business, predominantly the marine, specialty property and aviation/space lines, while the credit/surety, engineering and agriculture lines experienced combined adverse loss development for prior accident years of $26 million.
This factor driving the increase in the technical result in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was partially offset by:
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses—a deterioration in the technical result (and a corresponding increase in the technical ratio) primarily due to an increase in the acquisition cost ratio and higher downward prior year premium adjustments. The increase in the acquisition cost ratio was mainly driven by unfavorable adjustments recorded in the aviation/space line and increases in profit commissions in the marine and credit/surety lines.
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $19 million (1.6% points on the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion.
Catastrophe
The Catastrophe sub-segment writes business predominantly on a non-proportional basis and is exposed to volatility resulting from catastrophic losses. The varying amounts of catastrophic losses from period to period can significantly impact the technical result and ratio of this sub-segment and affect period over period comparisons and, as a result, profitability in any one quarter is not necessarily predictive of future profitability. The sub-segment’s results for both the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 included no catastrophic loss activity.
As discussed in the Executive Overview above, due to the non-consolidation of the newly formed 2015 segregated accounts within Lorenz Re, the Catastrophe sub-segment's technical results for three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 reflect the quota share retrocession of business to Lorenz Re, while the Catastrophe sub-segment's technical results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are presented before the quota share retrocession to Lorenz Re.
The components of the technical result and the corresponding ratios for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015

September 30, 2014
Gross premiums written
$
57

 
$
59

 
$
370

 
$
412

Net premiums written
13

 
55

 
261

 
370

Net premiums earned
$
112

 
$
153

 
$
214

 
$
292

Losses and loss expenses
(28
)
 
(39
)
 
(38
)
 
(38
)
Acquisition costs
(10
)
 
(17
)
 
(17
)
 
(34
)
Technical result
$
74

 
$
97

 
$
159

 
$
220

Loss ratio
24.9
%
 
25.2
%
 
17.8
%
 
12.9
%
Acquisition ratio
8.7

 
11.7

 
8.1

 
11.5

Technical ratio
33.6
%
 
36.9
%
 
25.9
%
 
24.4
%
Premiums
The Catastrophe sub-segment represented 1% and 6% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to 4% and 8% in the same periods of 2014.

59

 
 
 


Business reported in this sub-segment is, to an extent, originally denominated in foreign currencies and is reported in U.S. dollars. The U.S. dollar can fluctuate significantly against other currencies and this should be considered when making period to period comparisons. The effect of foreign exchange fluctuations, described in the Results of Operations above, on gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 was as follows:
Three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
Gross premiums written
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Increase (decrease) in original currency
 
7
 %
 
(65
)%
 
(23
)%
Foreign exchange effect
 
(10
)
 
(10
)
 
(4
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(3
)%
 
(75
)%
 
(27
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in original currency
 
(5
)%
 
(23
)%
 
(20
)%
Foreign exchange effect
 
(5
)
 
(6
)
 
(7
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(10
)%
 
(29
)%
 
(27
)%
Three-month result
Gross premiums written increased by 7% and net premiums written and earned decreased by 65% and 23%, respectively, on a constant foreign exchange basis in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The increase in gross premiums written on a constant foreign exchange basis was primarily due to new business written, partially offset by cancellations and non-renewals. The decrease in net premiums written and earned on a constant foreign exchange basis was primarily driven by higher premiums ceded under retrocessional treaties in the three months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease in net premiums earned was lower than the decrease in net premiums written primarily due to the ceded premiums being fully written, but earned over the risk period and therefore not fully reflected in net premiums earned. Net premiums earned are normally significantly higher than gross and net premiums written during the third quarter due to the seasonality of the earnings pattern for U.S. wind business, which results in higher earned premiums being recognized in quarters with more exposure.
Nine-month result
Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned decreased by 5%, 23% and 20% on a constant foreign exchange basis in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The decrease in gross premiums written on a constant foreign exchange basis was primarily due to cancellations and non-renewals, partially offset by new business written. The decreases in net premiums written and earned were driven by higher premiums ceded under the Company's retrocessional programs, as described in the three-month result, a change in presentation of premiums ceded to Lorenz Re, as discussed in the Executive Overview above, and the same factors as the decrease in gross premiums written.

60

 
 
 


Technical result and technical ratio
The components of the technical result and ratio for this sub-segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Current accident year technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted for large losses and prior quarter loss development
$
86

 
22.4
 %
 
$
107

 
30.4
 %
 
$
150

 
30.0
 %
 
$
189

 
34.8
 %
Large losses(1)
(16
)
 
14.5

 
—

 
—

 
(16
)
 
7.6

 
—

 
—

Net favorable (adverse) prior quarter loss development
2

 
(2.0
)
 
(13
)
 
8.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior accident years technical result and ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net favorable prior year loss development
2

 
(1.3
)
 
3

 
(1.7
)
 
25

 
(11.7
)
 
31

 
(10.4
)
Technical result and ratio, as reported
$
74

 
33.6
 %
 
$
97

 
36.9
 %
 
$
159

 
25.9
 %
 
$
220

 
24.4
 %
 
(1) Net of any reinsurance and reinstatement premiums.
Three-month result
The decrease of $23 million in the technical result (decrease of 3.3 points in the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily attributable to:
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses and prior quarter loss development—a decrease in the technical result primarily due to the higher premiums ceded under the retrocessional programs which have lowered net premiums earned, which in the absence of any loss recoveries directly impact the technical result, in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. This decrease in the technical result was partially offset by a lower acquisition cost ratio, driven by the recovery of commissions under the retrocessional programs, and modestly lower level of attritional losses and mid-sized loss activity. While the current accident year technical result decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, the corresponding technical ratio also decreased due to the relative impact of lower net premiums earned.
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $16 million (14.5% points on the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion.
These factors driving the decrease in the technical result in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 were partially offset by:
•
Net favorable (adverse) prior quarter loss development—an increase in net favorable prior quarter loss development of $15 million (decrease of 10.2 points in the technical ratio) from adverse loss development of $13 million (8.2 points on the technical ratio) in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to favorable loss development of $2 million (2.0 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2014. The net favorable prior quarter loss development in the three months ended September 30, 2015 was driven primarily by net favorable loss emergence. The adverse prior quarter loss development in the three months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily driven by the late reporting by a cedant of a mid-sized loss that occurred in the second quarter of 2014.
Nine-month result
The decrease of $61 million in the technical result (and the corresponding increase of 1.5 points in the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily attributable to:
•
The current accident year technical result, adjusted for large losses—a decrease in the technical result primarily due to the impact of lower net premiums earned, as described in the three-month result, and normal fluctuations in profitability between periods, partially offset by a lower level of mid-sized loss activity. While the current accident year technical result decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, the technical ratio also decreased due to the decrease in the technical result being lower than the decrease in net premiums earned.
•
Large losses—an increase in large losses of $16 million (7.6% points on the technical ratio) related to the Tianjin Explosion.

61

 
 
 


•
Net favorable prior year loss development—a decrease of $6 million (decrease of 1.3 points in the technical ratio due to the decrease in net premiums earned) from $31 million (10.4 points on the technical ratio) in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $25 million (11.7 points on the technical ratio) in the same period of 2015. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was primarily due to favorable loss emergence. The net favorable loss development for prior accident years in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily due to favorable loss emergence, partially offset by the adverse development related to the New Zealand Earthquakes.
Life and Health Segment
The Company’s Life and Health segment includes the mortality, longevity and health lines of business written primarily in the U.K., Ireland and France and accident and health business written in the U.S.
At the time of the acquisition of PartnerRe Health in December 2012, PartnerRe Health operated as a Managing General Agent (MGA), writing all of its business on behalf of third-party insurance companies and earning a fee for producing the business, as well as participating in a portion of the original business that was ceded to PartnerRe Health by these third parties based on quota share agreements. During 2013, the Company obtained the necessary licenses and approvals and as of January 1, 2014, virtually all of the PartnerRe Health business was originated directly, without the use of third-party insurance companies. This transition continues to affect the period over period comparability with increased gross and net premiums written, net premiums earned, losses and loss expenses and acquisition costs in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014.
The components of the allocated underwriting result for this segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Gross premiums written
$
314

 
$
336

 
$
972

 
$
951

Net premiums written
298

 
325

 
924

 
918

Net premiums earned
$
302

 
$
331

 
$
917

 
$
904

Life policy benefits
(248
)
 
(272
)
 
(748
)
 
(740
)
Acquisition costs
(38
)
 
(38
)
 
(102
)
 
(111
)
Technical result
$
16

 
$
21

 
$
67

 
$
53

Other income
3

 
2

 
4

 
6

Other expenses
(16
)
 
(17
)
 
(47
)
 
(52
)
Net investment income
15

 
14

 
45

 
45

Allocated underwriting result (1)
$
18

 
$
20

 
$
69

 
$
52

 
 
(1) Allocated underwriting result is defined as net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income less life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other expenses.
Premiums
The Life and Health segment represented 25% and 22% of total net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to 24% and 20% of total net premiums written in the same periods of 2014. The net premiums written and net premiums earned by line of business for this segment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Accident and Health
$
89

 
30
%
 
$
87

 
29
%
 
$
79

 
24
%
 
$
77

 
23
%
 
$
254

 
27
%
 
$
254

 
28
%
 
$
208

 
23
%
 
$
206

 
23
%
Longevity
74

 
25

 
74

 
24

 
86

 
26

 
86

 
26

 
236

 
26

 
236

 
26

 
225

 
24

 
225

 
25

Mortality
135

 
45

 
141

 
47

 
160

 
50

 
168

 
51

 
434

 
47

 
427

 
46

 
485

 
53

 
473

 
52

Total
$
298

 
100
%
 
$
302

 
100
%
 
$
325

 
100
%
 
$
331

 
100
%
 
$
924

 
100
%
 
$
917

 
100
%
 
$
918

 
100
%
 
$
904

 
100
%

62

 
 
 


Business reported in this segment is, to a significant extent, originally denominated in foreign currencies and is reported in U.S. dollars. The U.S. dollar can fluctuate significantly against other currencies and this should be considered when making period to period comparisons. The effect of foreign exchange fluctuations, described in the Results of Operations above, on gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 was as follows:
Three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
Gross premiums written
 
Net premiums written
 
Net premiums earned
Increase in original currency
 
2
 %
 
1
 %
 
1
 %
Foreign exchange effect
 
(9
)
 
(9
)
 
(10
)
Decrease as reported in U.S. dollars
 
(7
)%
 
(8
)%
 
(9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Increase in original currency
 
11
 %
 
9
 %
 
10
 %
Foreign exchange effect
 
(9
)
 
(8
)
 
(9
)
Increase as reported in U.S. dollars
 
2
 %
 
1
 %
 
1
 %
Three-month result
Gross premiums written increased by 2% and net premiums written and earned increased by 1%, on a constant foreign exchange basis in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The modest increases in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned on a constant foreign exchange basis were driven by PartnerRe Health’s accident and health business and were partially offset by decreases in the longevity and mortality lines of business.
Nine-month result
Gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned increased by 11%, 9% and 10%, respectively, on a constant foreign exchange basis in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The increases in gross and net premiums written and net premiums earned on a constant foreign exchange basis were driven by PartnerRe Health’s accident and health business, the longevity line of business, due to an increased participation on a significant longevity swap, and, to a lesser extent, the mortality line of business. The increase in the accident and health line was primarily driven by PartnerRe Health’s continuing transition from an MGA to a carrier, as described above, and continued growth arising primarily from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and were partially offset by non-renewals due to increased cedant retentions and increased market competition.
Allocated underwriting result
Three-month result
The allocated underwriting result decreased by $2 million, from $20 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $18 million in the same period of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to additional reserves recorded on a significant longevity treaty, an increase in current year reserves on a disability treaty and modestly lower current year profitability in the short-term mortality business, and was partially offset by increased profitability in PartnerRe Health’s business and a modest increase in net favorable prior year loss development.
The modest increase in net favorable prior year loss development of $5 million resulted from net favorable loss development of $7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $2 million in the same period of 2014. The net favorable prior year loss development of $7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2015 was related to PartnerRe Health and the short-term mortality business, which were partially offset by adverse prior year loss development on the GMDB business, mainly as a result of deterioration in capital markets and an increase in the yield curve. The net favorable prior year loss development of $2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily related to the PartnerRe Health business.
Nine-month result
The allocated underwriting result increased by $17 million, from $52 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $69 million in the same period of 2015. The increase was primarily due to a higher level of net favorable prior year loss development, driven by the PartnerRe Health business, and a modest decrease in other expenses. These increases in the allocated underwriting result were partially offset by the additional reserves recorded on a significant longevity treaty, modestly lower current year profitability in the short-term mortality portfolio, lower premium volume on the GMDB business and the impact of the strengthening U.S. dollar.

63

 
 
 


The increase in net favorable prior year loss development of $24 million resulted from net favorable loss development of $34 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $10 million in the same period of 2014. The net favorable prior year loss development of $34 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was primarily related to the PartnerRe Health business, the short-term mortality business and the GMDB business. The net favorable prior year loss development of $10 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily related to the PartnerRe Health business and, to a lesser extent, the GMDB business.
Premium Distribution by Line of Business
The distribution of net premiums written by line of business for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Non-life
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and casualty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casualty
12
%
 
12
%
 
12
%
 
12
%
Motor
7

 
7

 
7

 
7

Multiline and other
8

 
5

 
7

 
5

Property
11

 
10

 
12

 
12

Specialty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agriculture
10

 
10

 
12

 
12

Aviation / Space
3

 
4

 
3

 
3

Catastrophe
1

 
4

 
6

 
8

Credit / Surety
6

 
7

 
5

 
6

Energy
2

 
2

 
1

 
1

Engineering
3

 
3

 
3

 
3

Marine
5

 
6

 
4

 
5

Specialty casualty
3

 
2

 
3

 
3

Specialty property
4

 
4

 
3

 
3

Life and Health
25

 
24

 
22

 
20

Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
The changes in the distribution of net premiums written by line of business between the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and the same periods of 2014 reflected the Company’s response to existing market conditions and may also be affected by the timing of renewals of treaties, a change in treaty structure, premium adjustments reported by cedants and significant increases or decreases in other lines of business. In addition, foreign exchange fluctuations affected the comparison for all lines.
•
Multiline and other: the increase in the distribution of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 was primarily driven by new business written and increased participations in the North America and the Global Specialty sub-segments.
•
Catastrophe: the decrease in the distribution of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 was primarily driven by higher premiums ceded, as described in the Catastrophe sub-segment above.
•
Life and Health: the increase in the distribution of net premiums written in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods of 2014 was primarily driven by increases in the PartnerRe's accident and health business, as described in the Life and Health segment above.
Premium Distribution by Reinsurance Type
The Company typically writes business on either a proportional or non-proportional basis. On proportional business, the Company shares proportionally in both the premiums and losses of the cedant. On non-proportional business, the Company is typically exposed to loss events in excess of a predetermined dollar amount or loss ratio. In both proportional and non-proportional business, the Company typically reinsures a large group of primary insurance contracts written by the ceding company. In addition, the Company writes business on a facultative basis. Facultative arrangements are generally specific to an individual risk and can be written on either a proportional or non-proportional basis. Generally, the Company has more influence over pricing, as well as terms and conditions, in non-proportional and facultative arrangements.

64

 
 
 


The distribution of gross premiums written by reinsurance type for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Non-life segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proportional
55
%
 
56
%
 
52
%
 
53
%
Non-proportional
12

 
12

 
19

 
21

Facultative
8

 
7

 
7

 
6

Life and Health segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proportional
24

 
25

 
21

 
18

Non-proportional
1

 
—

 
1

 
2

Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
The distribution of gross premiums written by reinsurance type is affected by changes in the allocation of capacity among lines of business, the timing of receipt by the Company of cedant accounts and premium adjustments reported by cedants. In addition, foreign exchange fluctuations affected the comparison for all treaty types.
The distribution of gross premiums written by reinsurance type for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was comparable to the same period of 2014. The changes in distribution of gross premiums written by reinsurance type for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 related to a relative increase in the proportional gross premiums written in the Life and Health segment, which reduced the distribution of gross premiums written by type of business in the Non-life segment, and to a decrease in the gross premiums written in the Catastrophe Non-life sub-segment, which is primarily written on a non-proportional basis.
Premium Distribution by Geographic Region
The geographic distribution of gross premiums written based on the location of the underlying risk for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Asia, Australia and New Zealand
14
%
 
13
%
 
12
%
 
12
%
Europe
35

 
39

 
37

 
40

Latin America, Caribbean and Africa
11

 
10

 
10

 
9

North America
40

 
38

 
41

 
39

Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
The decrease in the relative distribution of gross premiums written in Europe during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 was primarily due to the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro, which also impacted the relative distribution for other geographic regions.
Premium Distribution by Production Source
The Company generates its gross premiums written both through brokers and through direct relationships with cedants. The percentage of gross premiums written by production source for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Broker
72
%
 
69
%
 
71
%
 
70
%
Direct
28

 
31

 
29

 
30

Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
The percentage of gross premiums written through brokers in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 increased compared to the same periods of 2014 primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro, which increased gross premiums written in the North America sub-segment. The business written in the North America sub-segment is primarily written through brokers.

65

 
 
 


Corporate and Other
Corporate and Other is comprised of the Company’s investment related activities, including principal finance transactions, insurance-linked securities and strategic investments, and its corporate activities, including other expenses.
Net Investment Income
Net investment income by asset source for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Fixed maturities
$
109

 
$
108

 
$
321

 
$
334

Short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

Equities
9

 
12

 
25

 
33

Funds held and other
8

 
8

 
21

 
24

Funds held – directly managed
2

 
3

 
9

 
11

Investment expenses
(11
)
 
(13
)
 
(35
)
 
(38
)
Net investment income
$
117

 
$
118

 
$
342

 
$
365

Because of the interest-sensitive nature of some of the Company’s life products, net investment income is considered in Management’s assessment of the profitability of the Life and Health segment (see Life and Health segment above). The following discussion includes net investment income from all investment activities, including the net investment income allocated to the Life and Health segment.
Three-month result
Net investment income decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 due to:
•
the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies; and
•
a decrease in net investment income from fixed maturities, primarily due to lower reinvestment rates; partially offset by
•
asset allocation movements into higher yielding fixed income securities; and
•
a decrease in investment expenses, driven by lower withholding taxes.
Nine-month result
Net investment income decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 due to:
•
the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies;
•
a decrease in net investment income from fixed maturities, primarily due to lower reinvestment rates; and
•
a decrease in net investment income from equities, primarily as a result of the timing of dividends; partially offset by
•
asset allocation movements into higher yielding fixed income securities.
Net Realized and Unrealized Investment (Losses) Gains
The Company’s portfolio managers have dual investment objectives of optimizing current investment income and achieving capital appreciation. To meet these objectives, it is often desirable to buy and sell securities to take advantage of changing market conditions and to reposition the investment portfolios. Accordingly, recognition of realized gains and losses is considered by the Company to be a normal consequence of its ongoing investment management activities. In addition, the Company records changes in fair value for substantially all of its investments as unrealized investment gains or losses in its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Realized and unrealized investment gains and losses are generally a function of multiple factors, with the most significant being prevailing interest rates, credit spreads, and equity market conditions.

66

 
 
 


The components of net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Net realized investment (losses) gains on fixed maturities and short-term investments
$
(3
)
 
$
38

 
$
61

 
$
94

Net realized investment gains on equities
21

 
34

 
73

 
68

Net realized investment (losses) gains on other invested assets
(26
)
 
7

 
(47
)
 
(1
)
Change in net unrealized investment losses on other invested assets
(13
)
 
(7
)
 
(18
)
 
(46
)
Change in net unrealized investment (losses) gains on fixed maturities and short-term investments
(19
)
 
(75
)
 
(196
)
 
168

Change in net unrealized investment losses on equities
(95
)
 
(31
)
 
(148
)
 
(15
)
Net other realized and unrealized investment gains
—

 
1

 
3

 
2

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) on funds held – directly managed
2

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
3

Net realized and unrealized investment (losses) gains
$
(133
)
 
$
(34
)
 
$
(273
)
 
$
273

Three-month result
Net realized and unrealized investment losses increased by $99 million, from $34 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $133 million in the same period of 2015. The net realized and unrealized investment losses of $133 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily due to widening of U.S. and European credit spreads, decreases in worldwide equity markets and losses on treasury note futures, which were partially offset by decreases in longer-term U.S. and European risk-free interest rates. Net realized and unrealized investment gains of $34 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily due to the widening of credit spreads.
Net realized (losses) gains and the change in net unrealized investment losses on other invested assets were a combined loss of $39 million and a combined gain of less than $1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and primarily related to treasury note futures.
Nine-month result
Net realized and unrealized investment losses increased by $546 million, from gains of $273 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to losses of $273 million in the same period of 2015. The net realized and unrealized investment losses of $273 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily due to widening of U.S. and European credit spreads, decreases in worldwide equity markets and realized and unrealized losses on treasury note futures. Net realized and unrealized investment gains of $273 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily due to decreases in U.S. and European risk-free interest rates and improvements in worldwide equity markets, which were partially offset by losses on treasury note futures.
Net realized losses and the change in net unrealized investment losses on other invested assets were a combined loss of $65 million and $47 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and primarily related to treasury note futures.

67

 
 
 


Other Expenses
The Company’s total other expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Other expenses, as reported
$
416

 
$
108

 
$
670

 
$
327

AXIS termination fee
(315
)
 
—

 
(315
)
 
—

Other AXIS and EXOR transaction related costs and Presidio earn-out expense
(7
)
 
—

 
(72
)
 
—

Other expenses, as adjusted for various transaction and Presidio related costs
$
94

 
$
108

 
$
283

 
$
327

Other expenses, as reported, as a % of total net premiums earned (Non-life and Life and Health)
29.5
%
 
7.0
%
 
16.9
%
 
7.9
%
Three-month result
Other expenses increased by $308 million, or 283%, from $108 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $416 million in the same period of 2015, primarily due to the AXIS termination fee, and, to a lesser extent, the other transaction costs in the three months ended September 30, 2015, as described in the Executive Overview above. These increases were partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange and lower facilities and information technology costs in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.
Nine-month result
Other expenses increased by $343 million, or 105%, from $327 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $670 million in the same period of 2015 primarily due to the AXIS termination fee, Transaction Costs and costs related to the Presidio Earn-out Agreement in the nine months ended September 30, 2015. These increases were partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange and lower personnel, facilities and information technology costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate, which the Company calculates as income tax expense or benefit divided by net income or loss before taxes, may fluctuate significantly from period to period depending on the geographic distribution of pre-tax net income or loss in any given period between different jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates and those with comparatively lower tax rates. The geographic distribution of pre-tax net income or loss can vary significantly between periods due to, but not limited to, the following factors: the business mix of net premiums written and earned, the geographic location, quantum and nature of net losses and loss expenses incurred, the quantum and geographic location of other expenses, net investment income, net realized and changes in unrealized investment gains and losses and the quantum of specific adjustments to determine the income tax basis in each of the Company’s operating jurisdictions. In addition, a significant portion of the Company’s gross and net premiums are currently written and earned in Bermuda, a non-taxable jurisdiction, including the majority of the Company’s catastrophe business, which can result in significant volatility in the Company’s pre-tax net income or loss from period to period.
The Company’s income tax expense and effective income tax rate for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
Income tax expense
$
17

 
$
46

 
$
83

 
$
186

Effective income tax rate
(8.1
)%
 
18.5
%
 
619.4
%
 
19.1
%

68

 
 
 


Three-month result
Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the three months ended September 30, 2015 were $17 million and negative 8.1%, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the three months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily driven by the geographic distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net loss between its various taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions. Specifically, the income tax expense and the effective income tax rate included a majority of the Company’s pre-tax net loss recorded in non-taxable jurisdictions with no associated tax benefit, and were primarily driven by the AXIS termination fee and net realized and unrealized investment losses, which were partially offset by strong net favorable prior year loss development. The Company’s jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates recorded a pre-tax net income, driven by low catastrophic losses and strong net favorable prior year loss development, which were partially offset by net realized and unrealized investment losses.
Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the three months ended September 30, 2014 were $46 million and 18.5%, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the three months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily driven by the geographic distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions. Specifically, the income tax expense and the effective income tax rate included a significant portion of the Company’s pre-tax net income recorded in non-taxable jurisdictions and jurisdictions with comparatively lower tax rates, driven by the absence of large catastrophic losses and net favorable prior year loss development, which were partially offset by net realized and unrealized investment losses. The Company’s jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates recorded a less significant portion of the Company’s pre-tax net income, driven by the absence of large catastrophic losses, net favorable prior year loss development and modest net realized and unrealized investment gains, which were partially offset by a tax benefit related to a reorganization of the Company's Canadian life operations.
Nine-month result
Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $83 million and 619.4%, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily driven by the geographic distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions. Specifically, the income tax expense and the effective income tax rate reflects the Company’s jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates recording a pre-tax income, driven by strong net favorable prior year loss development, which was partially offset by net realized and unrealized investment losses. The Company's non-taxable jurisdictions recorded a pre-tax net loss with no associated tax benefit, driven primarily by the AXIS termination fee and net realized and unrealized investment losses, which were partially offset by strong net favorable prior year loss development.
Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $186 million and 19.1%, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective income tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily driven by the geographic distribution of the Company’s pre-tax net income between its various taxable and non-taxable jurisdictions. Specifically, the income tax expense and the effective income tax rate included a relatively even distribution of the Company's pre-tax net income between its various jurisdictions. The Company’s pre-tax net income recorded in non-taxable jurisdictions and jurisdictions with comparatively lower tax rates was driven by net favorable prior year loss development and the absence of large catastrophic losses. The Company’s pre-tax net income recorded in jurisdictions with comparatively higher tax rates was driven by net realized and unrealized investment gains, net favorable prior year loss development and the absence of large catastrophic losses, which were partially offset by the tax benefit in Canada, as discussed above.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company purchased, as part of its acquisition of Paris Re in 2009, an investment portfolio and a funds held – directly managed account. The discussion of the acquired Paris Re investment portfolio is included in the discussion of Investments below. The discussion of the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account is included separately in Funds Held – Directly Managed below.
Investments
Investment philosophy
The Company employs a prudent investment philosophy. It maintains a high quality, well balanced and liquid portfolio having the dual objectives of optimizing current investment income and achieving capital appreciation. The Company’s invested assets are comprised of total investments, cash and cash equivalents and accrued investment income. From a risk management perspective, the Company allocates its invested assets into two categories: liability funds and capital funds. For additional information on the Company’s capital and liability funds, see Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Investments in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

69

 
 
 


The Company’s total invested assets (including funds held – directly managed and net payable for securities purchased) at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were split between liability and capital funds as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):

September 30, 2015

% of Total
Invested Assets

December 31, 2014

% of Total
Invested Assets
Liability funds
$
8,791

 
54
%
 
$
9,723

 
56
%
Capital funds
7,525

 
46

 
7,570

 
44

Total invested assets
$
16,316

 
100
%
 
$
17,293

 
100
%
The decrease of $977 million in total invested assets at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 was primarily related to a decrease in fixed maturities driven by the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies, cash flows out of the portfolio primarily to fund the AXIS termination fee and the widening of U.S. and European credit spreads.
The liability funds were comprised of cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and high quality fixed income securities. The decrease in the liability funds at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 was primarily driven by the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies, which reduced the Company's unpaid losses and loss expenses and policy benefits for life and annuity contracts, as well as an increase in net reinsurance assets related to new business written and losses paid during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
The capital funds were generally comprised of accrued investment income, investment grade and below investment grade fixed maturity securities, preferred and common stocks, private placement equity and bond investments, emerging markets and high-yield fixed income securities and certain other specialty asset classes. The capital funds at September 30, 2015 were comparable to December 31, 2014. At September 30, 2015, approximately 66% of the capital funds were invested in cash and cash equivalents and investment grade fixed income securities.
Overview
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents (excluding the funds held – directly managed account) were $15.7 billion at September 30, 2015 compared to $16.6 billion at December 31, 2014. The major factors contributing to the decrease in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were:
•
the impact of foreign exchange of $426 million due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies;
•
net realized and unrealized losses related to the investment portfolio of $272 million, primarily resulting from a decrease in the fixed maturity and short-term investment portfolios of $135 million, mainly driven by widening of U.S. and Euro credit spreads, a decrease of $75 million in equities due to decreases in worldwide equity markets and a decrease in other invested assets of $65 million, primarily driven by losses on treasury note futures (see discussion related to duration below);
•
dividend payments on common and preferred shares totaling $143 million;
•
net decrease of $24 million, due to the repurchase of common shares of $59 million under the Company’s share repurchase program, partially offset by the reissuance of common shares from treasury under the Company’s employee equity plans of $35 million; and
•
various other factors which net to approximately $123 million, the largest being the amortization of net premium on investments; partially offset by
•
net cash provided by operating activities of $107 million.
Trading securities
The following discussion relates to the composition of the Company’s trading securities. The Company’s other invested assets and the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account are discussed separately below. Trading securities are carried at fair value with changes in fair value included in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
At September 30, 2015, approximately 94% of the Company’s fixed maturity and short-term investments, which includes fixed income type mutual funds, were publicly traded and approximately 91% were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).

70

 
 
 


The average credit quality, the average yield to maturity and the expected average duration of the Company’s fixed maturities and short-term investments (which includes fixed income type mutual funds) at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Average credit quality
A

 
 
A

 
Average yield to maturity
2.8

%
 
2.4

%
Expected average duration
3.5

years
 
3.7

years
The average credit quality of fixed maturities and short-term investments at September 30, 2015 was comparable to December 31, 2014.
The average yield to maturity on fixed maturities and short-term investments increased from 2.4% at December 31, 2014 to 2.8% at September 30, 2015, primarily due the widening of U.S. and European credit spreads.
The expected average duration of fixed maturities and short-term investments was decreased modestly from 3.7 years at December 31, 2014 to 3.5 years at September 30, 2015 primarily in response to lower interest rates. For the purposes of managing portfolio duration, the Company uses exchange traded treasury note futures. The use of treasury note futures reduced the expected average duration of the investment portfolio from 4.6 years to 3.5 years at September 30, 2015, and reflects the Company’s decision to continue to hedge against potential further rises in risk-free interest rates.
The Company’s investment portfolio generated a total accounting return (calculated based on the carrying value of all investments in local currency) of (0.3)% and 0.2% in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to 0.5% and 4.2% in the same periods of 2014. The negative total accounting return in the three months ended September 30, 2015 reflected significant widening in U.S. and European credit spreads and decreases in worldwide equity markets, partially offset by net investment income and decreases in U.S. and European risk-free interest rates. The total accounting return in the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily reflected the widening of credit spreads. The total accounting return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 reflected net investment income, partially offset by widening of credit spreads and lower worldwide equity markets. The total accounting return in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily due to decreases in U.S. and European risk-free interest rates and improvements in worldwide equity markets.

71

 
 
 


The cost, fair value and credit ratings of the Company’s fixed maturities, short-term investments and equities classified as trading at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Rating (2)
September 30, 2015
Cost (1)
 
Fair
Value
 
AAA
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
 
Below
investment
grade/
Unrated
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government
$
2,138

 
$
2,148

 
$
—

 
$
2,148

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

U.S. government sponsored enterprises
48

 
48

 
—

 
48

 
—

 
—

 
—

U.S. states, territories and municipalities
748

 
760

 
154

 
449

 
—

 
—

 
157

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related
1,223

 
1,288

 
475

 
514

 
199

 
82

 
18

Corporate
5,267

 
5,366

 
137

 
458

 
2,032

 
2,275

 
464

Asset-backed securities
1,078

 
1,083

 
293

 
178

 
153

 
3

 
456

Residential mortgage-backed securities
2,258

 
2,281

 
281

 
1,942

 
44

 
—

 
14

Other mortgage-backed securities
51

 
52

 
14

 
15

 
19

 
2

 
2

Fixed maturities
$
12,811

 
$
13,026

 
$
1,354

 
$
5,752

 
$
2,447

 
$
2,362

 
$
1,111

Short-term investments
100

 
101

 
23

 
62

 
—

 
—

 
16

Total fixed maturities and short-term investments
$
12,911

 
$
13,127

 
$
1,377

 
$
5,814

 
$
2,447

 
$
2,362

 
$
1,127

Equities
939

 
1,004

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
13,850

 
$
14,131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
% of Total fixed maturities and short-term investments
 
 
 
10
%
 
44
%
 
19
%
 
18
%
 
9
%
 
(1)
Cost is amortized cost for fixed maturities and short-term investments and cost for equity securities.
(2)
All references to credit rating reflect Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent). Investment grade reflects a rating of BBB- or above.
The decrease of $0.9 billion in the fair value of the Company’s fixed maturities from $13.9 billion at December 31, 2014 to $13.0 billion at September 30, 2015 primarily reflects cash outflows due to asset allocation movements and to fund the AXIS termination fee, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies and widening of credit spreads, which were partially offset by net investment income. At September 30, 2015, there has been a modest shift in the distribution of the fixed maturity portfolio compared to December 31, 2014 as the Company decreased its holdings of non-U.S. government bonds (primarily due to better matching of reinsurance liabilities) and increased its holdings of U.S. states, territories and municipalities securities.
The U.S. government category includes U.S. treasuries which are not rated, however, they are generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to or greater than AA+ corporate issues.
The U.S. government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) category includes securities that carry the implicit backing of the U.S. government and securities issued by U.S. government agencies. At September 30, 2015, 72% of this category was rated AA with the remaining 28%, although not specifically rated, generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to AA+ corporate issues.
The U.S. states, territories and municipalities category includes obligations of U.S. states, territories or counties.

72

 
 
 


The non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related category includes obligations of non-U.S. sovereign governments, political subdivisions, agencies and supranational debt. The fair value and credit ratings of non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related obligations at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
 
Non-U.S.
Sovereign
Government
 
Supranational
Debt
 
Non-U.S.
Government
Related
 
Fair
Value
 
Credit Rating (1)
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
AAA
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
 
Below investment grade /Unrated
Non-European Union
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Canada
 
$
85

 
$
—

 
$
296

 
$
381

 
$
123

 
$
134

 
$
124

 
$
—

 
$
—

Singapore
 
90

 
—

 
—

 
90

 
90

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

New Zealand
 
29

 
—

 
—

 
29

 
—

 
29

 
—

 
—

 
—

All Other
 
176

 
3

 
6

 
185

 
9

 
34

 
54

 
82

 
6

Total Non-European Union
 
$
380

 
$
3

 
$
302

 
$
685

 
$
222

 
$
197

 
$
178

 
$
82

 
$
6

European Union
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany
 
$
133

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
133

 
$
133

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Netherlands
 
118

 
—

 
—

 
118

 
116

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
—

France
 
105

 
—

 
—

 
105

 
—

 
105

 
—

 
—

 
—

Belgium
 
87

 
—

 
—

 
87

 
—

 
87

 
—

 
—

 
—

Austria
 
64

 
—

 
—

 
64

 
—

 
64

 
—

 
—

 
—

Supranational
 
—

 
58

 
—

 
58

 
3

 
55

 
—

 
—

 
—

All Other
 
38

 
—

 
—

 
38

 
1

 
4

 
21

 
—

 
12

Total European Union
 
$
545

 
$
58

 
$
—

 
$
603

 
$
253

 
$
317

 
$
21

 
$
—

 
$
12

Total
 
$
925

 
$
61

 
$
302

 
$
1,288

 
$
475

 
$
514

 
$
199

 
$
82

 
$
18

% of Total
 
72
%
 
5
%
 
23
%
 
100
%
 
37
%
 
40
%
 
16
%
 
6
%
 
1
%
 
(1)
All references to credit rating reflect Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).
At September 30, 2015, the Company did not have any investments in securities issued by peripheral European Union (EU) sovereign governments (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) or in securities issued by the Russian Federation.

73

 
 
 


Corporate bonds are comprised of obligations of U.S. and foreign corporations. The fair values of corporate bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations by economic sector at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
U.S.
 
Foreign
 
Fair
Value
 
Percentage to
Total Fair
Value of
Corporate
Bonds
Sector
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance
$
720

 
$
373

 
$
1,093

 
20
%
Consumer noncyclical
597

 
201

 
798

 
15

Utilities
276

 
343

 
619

 
12

Communications
331

 
241

 
572

 
11

Industrials
335

 
147

 
482

 
9

Consumer cyclical
336

 
135

 
471

 
9

Energy
254

 
159

 
413

 
8

Insurance
258

 
50

 
308

 
6

Technology
139

 
—

 
139

 
3

Basic materials
65

 
67

 
132

 
2

Real estate investment trusts
113

 
11

 
124

 
2

Catastrophe bonds
—

 
94

 
94

 
1

Government guaranteed corporate debt
—

 
66

 
66

 
1

All Other
33

 
22

 
55

 
1

Total
$
3,457

 
$
1,909

 
$
5,366

 
100
%
% of Total
64
%
 
36
%
 
100
%
 
 
At September 30, 2015, other than the U.S., no other country accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s corporate bonds.
At September 30, 2015, the ten largest issuers accounted for 15% of the corporate bonds held by the Company (5% of total investments and cash) and no single issuer accounted for more than 3% of total corporate bonds (1% of total investments and cash).
Within the finance sector, 98% of corporate bonds were rated investment grade and 75% were rated A- or better at September 30, 2015.
At September 30, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s corporate bond portfolio issued by companies in the European Union was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
Government
Guaranteed
Corporate Debt
 
Finance Sector
Corporate Bonds
 
Non-Finance
Sector Corporate
Bonds
 
Fair Value
European Union
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United Kingdom
$
—

 
$
100

 
$
355

 
$
455

Netherlands
—

 
108

 
185

 
293

France
—

 
20

 
156

 
176

Spain
—

 
11

 
100

 
111

Italy
—

 
18

 
84

 
102

Germany
66

 
11

 
20

 
97

Luxembourg
—

 
—

 
55

 
55

Ireland
—

 
16

 
31

 
47

All Other
—

 
12

 
47

 
59

Total
$
66

 
$
296

 
$
1,033

 
$
1,395

% of Total
5
%
 
21
%
 
74
%
 
100
%
At September 30, 2015, the Company did not hold any government guaranteed corporate debt issued in peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) or the Russian Federation and held less than $46 million in total finance sector corporate bonds issued by companies in those countries.

74

 
 
 


Asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities and other mortgage-backed securities include U.S. and non-U.S. originations. The fair value and credit ratings of asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities and other mortgage-backed securities at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
Credit Rating (1)
September 30, 2015
GNMA (2)
 
GSEs (3)
 
AAA
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
 
Below
investment
grade /
Unrated
 
Fair
Value
Asset-backed securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
134

 
$
120

 
$
94

 
$
—

 
$
419

 
$
767

Non-U.S.
—

 
—

 
159

 
58

 
59

 
3

 
37

 
316

Asset-backed securities
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
293

 
$
178

 
$
153

 
$
3

 
$
456

 
$
1,083

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
441

 
$
1,466

 
$
6

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
14

 
$
1,927

Non-U.S.
—

 
—

 
275

 
35

 
44

 
—

 
—

 
354

Residential mortgage-backed securities
$
441

 
$
1,466

 
$
281

 
$
35

 
$
44

 
$
—

 
$
14

 
$
2,281

Other mortgage-backed securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
5

 
$
—

 
$
6

 
$
10

 
$
19

 
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
44

Non-U.S.
—

 
—

 
8

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
8

Other mortgage-backed securities
$
5

 
$
—

 
$
14

 
$
10

 
$
19

 
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
52

Total
$
446

 
$
1,466

 
$
588

 
$
223

 
$
216

 
$
5

 
$
472

 
$
3,416

% of Total
13
%
 
43
%
 
17
%
 
7
%
 
6
%
 
—
%
 
14
%
 
100
%
 
(1)
All references to credit rating reflect Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).
(2)
GNMA represents the Government National Mortgage Association. The GNMA, or Ginnie Mae as it is commonly known, is a wholly owned U.S. government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development which guarantees mortgage loans of qualifying first-time home buyers and low-income borrowers.
(3)
GSEs, or government sponsored enterprises, includes securities that carry the implicit backing of the U.S. government and securities issued by U.S. government agencies.
Residential mortgage-backed securities includes U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities, which generally have a low risk of default and carry the implicit backing of the U.S. government. The issuers of these securities are U.S. government agencies or GSEs, which set standards on the mortgages before accepting them into the program. Although these U.S. government backed securities do not carry a formal rating, they are generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to or greater than AA+ corporate issues. They are considered prime mortgages and the major risk is uncertainty of the timing of prepayments. While there have been market concerns regarding sub-prime mortgages, the Company did not have direct exposure to these types of securities in its own investment portfolio at September 30, 2015, other than $21 million of investments in distressed asset vehicles (included in Other invested assets). At September 30, 2015, the Company’s U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities included approximately $5 million (less than 1% of U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities) of collateralized mortgage obligations, where the Company deemed the entry point and price of the investment to be attractive.
Other mortgage-backed securities includes U.S. and non-U.S. commercial mortgage-backed securities.

75

 
 
 


Short-term investments consisted of U.S. and non-U.S. government obligations and foreign corporate bonds. At September 30, 2015, the fair value and credit ratings of short-term investments were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Rating (1)
 
 
September 30, 2015
U.S.
Government
 
Non-U.S.
Government
 
Corporate
 
Fair
Value
 
AAA
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
 
Below
investment
grade /
Unrated
Country
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
$
62

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
62

 
$
—

 
$
62

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Canada
—

 
23

 
—

 
23

 
23

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Luxembourg
—

 
—

 
12

 
12

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
12

All Other
—

 
—

 
4

 
4

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
4

Total
$
62

 
$
23

 
$
16

 
$
101

 
$
23

 
$
62

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
16

% of Total
61
%
 
23
%
 
16
%
 
100
%
 
23
%
 
61
%
 
—
%
 
—
%
 
16
%
 
(1)
All references to credit rating reflect Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent). Investment grade reflects a rating of BBB- or above.
Equities are comprised of publicly traded common stocks, public exchange traded funds (ETFs), real estate investment trusts (REITs) and funds holding fixed income securities. The fair value of equities (including equities held in ETFs, REITs and funds holding fixed income securities) at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
Fair
Value
 
Percentage to
Total Fair
Value of
Equities
Sector
 
 
 
Real estate investment trusts
$
180

 
22
%
Consumer noncyclical
115

 
14

Finance
101

 
12

Insurance
100

 
12

Energy
73

 
9

Industrials
64

 
8

Technology
54

 
7

Communications
46

 
6

Consumer cyclical
44

 
5

All Other
41

 
5

Total
$
818

 
100
%
Mutual funds and exchange traded funds
 
 
 
Funds and ETFs holding equities
179

 
 
Funds holding fixed income securities
7

 
 
Total equities
$
1,004

 
 
At September 30, 2015, the Company’s “insurance sector” equities included an investment of $72 million in Essent Group Ltd. (Essent), the U.S. mortgage guaranty insurance company that conducted an initial public offering in the fourth quarter of 2013.
At September 30, 2015, U.S. issuers represented 65% of the publicly traded common stocks and ETFs. At September 30, 2015, the ten largest common stocks accounted for 27% of equities (excluding equities held in ETFs and funds holding fixed income securities). At September 30, 2015, other than the Company’s investment in Essent, no single common stock issuer accounted for more than 5% of total equities (excluding equities held in ETFs and funds holding fixed income securities) or more than 1% of the Company’s total investments and cash and cash equivalents. At September 30, 2015, approximately 32% (or $60 million) of funds and ETFs holding equities were emerging markets funds. At September 30, 2015, the Company did not hold any emerging markets funds within the funds holding fixed income securities category. At September 30, 2015, the Company did not hold any equities (excluding equities held in ETFs and funds holding fixed income securities) issued by finance sector institutions based in peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain).

76

 
 
 


Maturity Distribution
The distribution of fixed maturities and short-term investments at September 30, 2015 by contractual maturity date was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
Cost
 
Fair
Value
One year or less
$
547

 
$
548

More than one year through five years
4,064

 
4,152

More than five years through ten years
3,403

 
3,433

More than ten years
1,510

 
1,578

Subtotal
$
9,524

 
$
9,711

Mortgage/asset-backed securities
3,387

 
3,416

Total
$
12,911

 
$
13,127

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
Other Invested Assets
At September 30, 2015, the Company’s other invested assets consisted primarily of investments in non-publicly traded companies, asset-backed securities, notes and loan receivables, note securitizations, annuities and residuals and other specialty asset classes. These assets, together with the Company’s derivative financial instruments that were in a net unrealized gain or loss position are reported within Other invested assets in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value and notional value (if applicable) of other invested assets at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
Carrying
Value (1)
 
Notional Value
of Derivatives
Strategic investments
$
222

 
$
n/a

Asset-backed securities (including annuities and residuals)
10

 
 
n/a

Notes and loan receivables and notes securitizations
92

 
 
n/a

Total return swaps
(1
)
 
 
42

Interest rate swaps (2)
(26
)
 
 
197

Insurance-linked securities (3)
9

 
 
134

Futures contracts
(16
)
 
 
3,896

Foreign exchange forward contracts
10

 
 
2,251

Foreign currency option contracts
(5
)
 
 
88

To-be-announced mortgage-backed securities (TBAs)
2

 
 
301

Other
48

 
 
n/a

Total
$
345

 
 
 
 
n/a: Not applicable
(1)
Included in Other invested assets are investments that are accounted for using the cost method of accounting, equity method of accounting or fair value accounting.
(2)
The Company enters into interest rate swaps to mitigate notional exposures on certain total return swaps and certain fixed maturities. Only the notional value of interest rate swaps on fixed maturities is presented separately in the table.
(3)
Insurance-linked securities include a longevity swap for which the notional amount is not reflective of the overall potential exposure of the swap. As such, the Company has included the probable maximum loss under the swap within the net notional exposure as an approximation of the notional amount.
At September 30, 2015, the Company’s strategic investments included $222 million of investments classified in Other invested assets. These strategic investments include investments in non-publicly traded companies, private placement equity and bond investments, other specialty asset classes and the investments in distressed asset vehicles comprised of sub-prime mortgages, which were discussed above in the residential mortgage-backed securities category of Investments—Trading Securities. In addition to the Company’s strategic investments that are classified in Other invested assets, strategic investments of $109 million are recorded in equities and other assets at September 30, 2015.

77

 
 
 


At September 30, 2015, the Company’s principal finance activities included $115 million of investments classified in Other invested assets, which were comprised primarily of asset-backed securities, notes and loan receivables, notes securitizations, annuities and residuals, private placement equity investments and total return and interest rate swaps related to principal finance activities.
For total return swaps within the principal finance portfolio, the Company uses internal valuation models to estimate the fair value of these derivatives and develops assumptions that require significant judgment, such as the timing of future cash flows, credit spreads and the general level of interest rates. For interest rate swaps, the Company uses externally modeled quoted prices that use observable market inputs. At September 30, 2015, all of the Company’s principal finance total return and interest rate swap portfolio was related to tax advantaged real estate backed transactions.
Although the Company has not entered into any credit default swaps at September 30, 2015, from time to time the Company also utilizes credit default swaps to mitigate the risk associated with certain of its underwriting obligations, most notably in the credit/surety line, to replicate investment positions or to manage market exposures and to reduce the credit risk for specific fixed maturities in its investment portfolio. The Company uses externally modeled quoted prices that use observable market inputs to estimate the fair value of these swaps.
The Company has entered into various weather derivatives and longevity total return swaps for which the underlying risks reference parametric weather risks and longevity risks, respectively. The Company uses internal valuation models to estimate the fair value of these derivatives and develops assumptions that require significant judgment, except for exchange traded weather derivatives. In determining the fair value of exchange traded weather derivatives, the Company uses quoted market prices.
The Company uses exchange traded treasury note futures for the purposes of managing portfolio duration. The Company also uses equity futures to replicate equity investment positions.
The Company utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts as part of its overall currency risk management and investment strategies.
The Company utilizes TBAs as part of its overall investment strategy and to enhance investment performance. TBAs represent commitments to purchase future issuances of U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities. For the period between purchase of a TBA and issuance of the underlying security, the Company’s position is accounted for as a derivative. The Company’s policy is to maintain designated cash balances at least equal to the amount of outstanding TBA purchases.
At September 30, 2015, the Company’s Other invested assets did not include any exposure to peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) and included direct exposure to mutual fund investments in other EU countries of less than $1 million. The counterparties to the Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts include European finance sector institutions rated A- or better by Standard & Poor’s and the Company manages its exposure to individual institutions. The Company also has exposure to the euro related to the utilization of foreign exchange forward contracts and other derivative financial instruments in its hedging strategy (see Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Foreign Currency Risk in Item 3 below).
Funds Held – Directly Managed
For a discussion of the funds held – directly managed account and the related quota share retrocession agreement, see Business—Reserves—Reserve Agreement in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. See also Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Counterparty Credit Risk in Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and in Item 3 below. The composition of the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2015 is discussed below.
At September 30, 2015, all of the fixed income investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account were publicly traded and were rated investment grade (BBB- or higher) by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).
The average credit quality, the average yield to maturity and the expected average duration of the fixed maturities underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Average credit quality
   AA

 
 
AA

 
Average yield to maturity
1.0

%
 
1.0

%
Expected average duration
3.7

years
 
3.4

years
The average credit quality and the average yield to maturity of the fixed maturities underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2015 were comparable to December 31, 2014.

78

 
 
 


The expected average duration of fixed maturities increased from 3.4 years at December 31, 2014 to 3.7 years at September 30, 2015 primarily due to the increase in the duration of liabilities.
The cost, fair value and credit rating of the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Rating (2)
September 30, 2015
Cost (1)
 
Fair
Value
 
AAA
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government
$
109

 
$
111

 
$
—

 
$
111

 
$
—

 
$
—

U.S. government sponsored enterprises
52

 
54

 
—

 
54

 
—

 
—

Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related
117

 
124

 
31

 
75

 
18

 
—

Corporate
102

 
108

 
18

 
26

 
36

 
28

Fixed maturities
$
380

 
$
397

 
$
49

 
$
266

 
$
54

 
$
28

Short-term investments
6

 
6

 
—

 
6

 
—

 
—

Total fixed maturities and short-term investments
$
386

 
$
403

 
$
49

 
$
272

 
$
54

 
$
28

Other invested assets
23

 
12

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total (3)
$
409

 
$
415

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
% of Total fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
12
%
 
67
%
 
14
%
 
7
%
 
(1)
Cost is amortized cost for fixed maturities.
(2)
All references to credit rating reflect Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).
(3)
In addition to the fair value of $415 million of investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2015, the funds held – directly managed account also includes cash and cash equivalents of $64 million, accrued investment income of $6 million and other assets and liabilities related to the underlying business of $111 million. Accordingly, the total balance in the funds held – directly managed account was $596 million at September 30, 2015.
The decrease in the fair value of the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account from $473 million at December 31, 2014 to $415 million at September 30, 2015 was primarily related to an increase in the cash and cash equivalents and other assets and liabilities related to the underlying business, as well as the run-off of the underlying liabilities associated with this account.
The U.S. government category includes U.S. treasuries which are not rated, however, they are generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to or greater than AA+ corporate issues.
The U.S. government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) category includes securities that carry the implicit backing of the U.S. government and securities issued by U.S. government agencies. At September 30, 2015, 81% of this category was rated AA with the remaining 19%, although not specifically rated, generally considered to have a credit quality equivalent to AA+ corporate issues.

79

 
 
 


The non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related category includes obligations of non-U.S. sovereign governments, political subdivisions, agencies and supranational debt. The fair value and credit ratings of non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related obligations underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Rating (1)
September 30, 2015
Non-U.S.
Sovereign
Government
 
Supranational
Debt
 
Non-U.S.
Government
Related
 
Fair
Value
 
AAA
 
AA
 
A
Non-European Union
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Canada
$
3

 
$
—

 
$
17

 
$
20

 
$
5

 
$
1

 
$
14

All Other
—

 
4

 
—

 
4

 
4

 
—

 
—

Total Non-European Union
$
3


$
4


$
17


$
24


$
9


$
1


$
14

European Union
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
France
$
20

 
$
—

 
$
22

 
$
42

 
$
1

 
41

 
$
—

Supranational
—

 
24

 
—

 
24

 
18

 
6

 
—

Belgium
19

 
—

 
—

 
19

 
—

 
19

 
—

All Other
15

 
—

 
—

 
15

 
3

 
8

 
4

Total European Union
$
54


$
24


$
22


$
100


$
22


$
74


$
4

Total
$
57


$
28


$
39


$
124


$
31


$
75


$
18

% of Total
46
%
 
23
%
 
31
%
 
100
%
 
25
%
 
60
%
 
15
%
 
 
(1)
All references to credit rating reflect Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).
At September 30, 2015, the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account included less than $1 million of securities issued by peripheral European Union (EU) sovereign governments (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain).
Corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account are comprised of obligations of U.S. and foreign corporations. The fair value of corporate bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations underlying funds held – directly managed account by economic sector at September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
U.S.
 
Foreign
 
Fair
Value
 
Percentage to
Total Fair
Value of
Corporate
Bonds
Sector
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance
$
4

 
$
29

 
$
33

 
31
%
Consumer noncyclical
15

 
2

 
17

 
16

Utilities
4

 
12

 
16

 
15

Energy
6

 
9

 
15

 
14

Communications
4

 
7

 
11

 
10

Industrials
3

 
1

 
4

 
4

Technology
4

 
—

 
4

 
3

Real estate investment trusts
3

 
—

 
3

 
3

All Other
—

 
5

 
5

 
4

Total
$
43

 
$
65

 
$
108

 
100
%
% of Total
40
%
 
60
%
 
100
%
 
 
At September 30, 2015, other than the U.S., Netherlands, Norway and France, which accounted for 40%, 12%, 12% and 11%, respectively, no other country accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account.

80

 
 
 


At September 30, 2015, the ten largest issuers accounted for 45% of the corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account and no single issuer accounted for more than 9% of corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account (or more than 2% of the investments and cash underlying the funds held – directly managed account). At September 30, 2015, all of the finance sector corporate bonds held were rated A- or better by Standard & Poor’s (or estimated equivalent).
At September 30, 2015, the fair value of corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account that were issued by companies in the European Union were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
Government
Guaranteed
Corporate
Debt
 
Finance Sector
Corporate
Bonds
 
Non-Finance
Sector
Corporate
Bonds
 
Fair
Value
European Union
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands
$
—

 
$
6

 
$
7

 
$
13

France
—

 
4

 
8

 
12

United Kingdom
—

 
6

 
3

 
9

Ireland
—

 
4

 
—

 
4

Germany
2

 
—

 
1

 
3

All Other
—

 
2

 
4

 
6

Total
$
2

 
$
22

 
$
23

 
$
47

% of Total
5
%
 
47
%
 
48
%
 
100
%
At September 30, 2015, corporate bonds underlying the funds held – directly managed account included less than $5 million of finance sector corporate bonds issued by companies in peripheral EU countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain).
Other invested assets underlying the funds held – directly managed account primarily consists of real estate fund investments.
Maturity Distribution
The distribution of fixed maturities and short-term investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2015 by contractual maturity date was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
September 30, 2015
Cost
 
Fair
Value
One year or less
$
63

 
$
64

More than one year through five years
201

 
210

More than five years through ten years
101

 
108

More than ten years
21

 
21

Total
$
386

 
$
403

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
European Exposures
For a discussion of the Company’s management of the recent uncertainties related to European sovereign debt exposures, the uncertainties surrounding Europe in general and the Company’s responses to them, see Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Investments—European exposures in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
There have not been any significant changes to the Company’s guidelines adopted in response to the European crisis during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
The Company’s exposures to European sovereign governments and other European related investment risks are discussed above within each category of the Company’s investment portfolio and the investments underlying the funds held – directly managed account. In addition, the Company’s other investment and derivative exposures to European counterparties are discussed in Other Invested Assets above. See Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for further discussion of the Company’s exposure to the European sovereign debt crisis.

81

 
 
 


Funds Held by Reinsured Companies (Cedants)
In addition to the funds held – directly managed account described above, the Company writes certain business on a funds held basis. Funds held by reinsured companies at September 30, 2015 have not changed significantly since December 31, 2014. See Funds Held by Reinsured Companies (Cedants) in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses
The Company establishes loss reserves to cover the estimated liability for the payment of all losses and loss expenses incurred with respect to premiums earned on the contracts that the Company writes. Loss reserves do not represent an exact calculation of the liability. Estimates of ultimate liabilities are contingent on many future events and the eventual outcome of these events may be different from the assumptions underlying the reserve estimates. The Company believes that the recorded unpaid losses and loss expenses represent Management’s best estimate of the cost to settle the ultimate liabilities based on information available at September 30, 2015.
At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company recorded gross and net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Gross Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses
$
9,522

 
$
9,746

Net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses
9,320

 
9,531

Net reserves guaranteed by Colisée Re
559

 
575

The net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 include $559 million and $575 million, respectively, of reserves guaranteed by Colisée Re (see Item 1 of Part I and Note 8 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a discussion of the Reserve Agreement).
The net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
Net liability at December 31, 2014
$
9,531

Net incurred losses related to:
 
Current year
2,286

Prior years
(644
)
 
1,642

Change in Colisée Re Reserve Agreement
13

Net paid losses
(1,523
)
Effects of foreign exchange rate changes
(343
)
Net liability at September 30, 2015
$
9,320

The decrease in net Non-life reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses from $9,531 million at December 31, 2014 to $9,320 million at September 30, 2015 primarily reflects the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies, with net incurred losses being partially offset by net paid losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits and Results by Segment above for a discussion of losses and loss expenses and prior year loss developments. See also Business—Reserves in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a discussion of the impact of foreign exchange on unpaid losses and loss expenses.

82

 
 
 


Policy Benefits for Life and Annuity Contracts
At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company recorded gross and net policy benefits for life and annuity contracts as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Gross policy benefits for life and annuity contracts
$
2,123

 
$
2,050

Net policy benefits for life and annuity contracts
2,084

 
2,021

The net policy benefits for life and annuity contracts for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
Net liability at December 31, 2014
$
2,021

Net incurred losses related to:
 
Current year
782

Prior years
(34
)
 
748

Net paid losses
(581
)
Effects of foreign exchange rate changes
(104
)
Net liability at September 30, 2015
$
2,084

The increase in net policy benefits for life and annuity contracts from $2,021 million at December 31, 2014 to $2,084 million at September 30, 2015 was primarily due to net incurred losses, which were partially offset by net paid losses and the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most major currencies. The net incurred losses for the Company’s Life and Health reserves will generally exceed net paid losses in any one given year due to the long-term nature of the Life liabilities and the growth in the PartnerRe Health book of business.
See Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Losses and Loss Expenses and Life Policy Benefits and Results by Segment above for a discussion of life policy benefits and prior year loss developments. See also Business—Reserves in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses
The Company has exposure to credit risk related to reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses. See Note 9 to Consolidated Financial Statements and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Counterparty Credit Risk in Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a discussion of the Company’s risk related to reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses and the Company’s process to evaluate the financial condition of its reinsurers.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
In the normal course of its business, the Company is a party to a variety of contractual obligations, which are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. These contractual obligations are considered by the Company when assessing its liquidity requirements and the Company is confident in its ability to meet all of its obligations.
Other than the items discussed below, the Company’s contractual obligations at September 30, 2015 have not changed materially compared to December 31, 2014.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company expects to incur further charges that are contingent upon the closing of the EXOR transaction between $30 million and $40 million related to professional costs. The Company expects to incur these costs upon the closing of the transaction in 2016.
In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company would be obligated to pay EXOR a no approval fee of $55 million if the Company’s shareholders do not approve the transaction, and an additional fee of $195 million in certain circumstances if the Company enters into a similar transaction with a third party in the 12 months following termination of the Merger Agreement. If the Company terminates the agreement for certain other reasons described in the Merger Agreement, the Company would be obligated to pay EXOR a termination fee of $250 million. In all such cases, the Company would be obligated to reimburse EXOR for costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby in an amount not to exceed $35 million.

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Shareholders’ Equity and Capital Resources Management
Shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. was $6.8 billion at September 30, 2015, compared to $7.0 billion at December 31, 2014. The major factors contributing to the decrease in shareholders’ equity during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were: 
•
dividend payments of $143 million related to the Company’s common and preferred shares;
•
comprehensive loss of $107 million, which was primarily related to the net loss; and
•
a net decrease of $24 million, due to the repurchase of common shares of $59 million under the Company’s share repurchase program, partially offset by the reissuance of common shares from treasury under the Company’s employee equity plans of $35 million.
See Results of Operations and Review of Net (Loss) Income above for a discussion of the Company’s net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
As part of its long-term strategy, the Company will continue to actively manage capital resources to support its operations throughout the reinsurance cycle and for the benefit of its shareholders, subject to the ability to maintain strong ratings from the major rating agencies and the unquestioned ability to pay claims as they arise. Generally, the Company seeks to increase its capital when its current capital position is not sufficient to support the volume of attractive business opportunities available. Conversely, the Company will seek to reduce its capital, through the payment of dividends on its common shares or share repurchases, when available business opportunities are insufficient or unattractive to fully utilize the Company’s capital at adequate returns. The Company may also seek to reduce or restructure its capital through the repayment or purchase of debt obligations, or increase or restructure its capital through the issuance of debt, when opportunities arise.
Management uses certain key measures to evaluate its financial performance and the overall growth in value generated for the Company’s common shareholders. For a discussion related to growth in Diluted Tangible Book Value per Share plus dividends see Key Financial Measures above.
The capital structure of the Company at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Capital Structure:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior notes(1)
$
750

 
10
%
 
$
750

 
9
%
Capital efficient notes(2)
63

 
1

 
63

 
1

Preferred shares, aggregate liquidation value
854

 
11

 
854

 
11

Common shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
5,922

 
78

 
6,195

 
79

Total Capital
$
7,589

 
100
%
 
$
7,862

 
100
%
 
(1)
PartnerRe Finance A LLC and PartnerRe Finance B LLC, the issuers of the Senior Notes, do not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $750 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
(2)
PartnerRe Finance II Inc., the issuer of the CENts, does not meet consolidation requirements under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Company shows the related intercompany debt of $71 million in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
The decrease in total capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was related to the same factors above describing the decrease in shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
Indebtedness
There was no change in the Company’s indebtedness at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 and the Company did not enter into any short-term borrowing arrangements during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. See Note 10 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a discussion of the Company’s indebtedness.

84

 
 
 


Shareholders’ Equity
Share Repurchases
In September 2014, the Board approved a new share repurchase authorization of up to a total of 5 million common shares. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board, the program will expire when the Company has repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder. At September 30, 2015, the Company had approximately 2.9 million common shares remaining under its current share repurchase authorization and approximately 39.3 million common shares were held in treasury and are available for reissuance.
During the period from January 1, 2015 to January 25, 2015, the Company repurchased 0.5 million common shares at a total cost of $59 million, representing an average cost of $112.89 per share. These shares were repurchased at a discount to diluted book value per share at December 31, 2014 of approximately 11%. Following the announcement of the Amalgamation Agreement on January 25, 2015, the Company suspended its repurchase activities. The share repurchase program remains suspended under the terms of the Merger Agreement. See Shareholders’ Equity and Capital Resources Management—Shareholders' Equity in Item 7 of Part II and Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for further information related to the shareholders' equity.
Liquidity
Liquidity is a measure of the Company’s ability to access sufficient cash flows to meet the short-term and long-term cash requirements of its business operations. Management believes that its significant cash flows from operations and high quality liquid investment portfolio will provide sufficient liquidity for the foreseeable future. At September 30, 2015, cash and cash equivalents were $1.3 billion and was modestly lower compared to December 31, 2014, primarily due to net cash used in financing activities being almost entirely offset by net cash provided by operating activities and investing activities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $107 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $583 million in same period of 2014. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was mainly due to the AXIS termination fee and lower underwriting cashflows.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $138 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $2 million in the same period of 2014. The net cash provided by investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily reflects lower purchases of fixed maturities, resulting from cash outflows to fund the AXIS termination fee.
Net cash used in financing activities was $267 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $520 million in the same period of 2014. Net cash used in financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was primarily related to dividend payments on common and preferred shares, the Company’s share repurchases and distributions related to Lorenz Re. In connection with the Amalgamation Agreement and, subsequently, the Merger Agreement, the Company suspended its share repurchase program driving the lower net cash used in financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.
At September 30, 2015, there were no restrictions on the Company’s ability to pay common and preferred shareholders’ dividends from retained earnings.
The Company believes that annual positive cash flows from operating activities will be sufficient to cover claims payments, absent a series of additional large catastrophic loss activity. In the event that paid losses accelerate beyond the Company's ability to fund such payments from operating cash flows, the Company would use its cash and cash equivalents balances available, liquidate a portion of its high quality and liquid investment portfolio or access certain uncommitted credit facilities. As discussed in Investments above, the Company’s investments and cash and cash equivalents (excluding the funds held - directly managed account) totaled $15.7 billion at September 30, 2015, the main components of which were investment grade fixed maturities, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents totaling $13.3 billion.
Financial strength ratings and unsecured debt ratings represent the opinions of rating agencies on the Company’s capacity to meet its obligations. Following the announcement of the Company’s proposed Amalgamation, Moody’s affirmed the Company's rating with a stable outlook. Standard & Poor’s, A.M. Best and Fitch placed the Company’s rating on credit watch negative, under review with negative implications and ratings watch negative, respectively, citing concerns related to the risks associated with the execution and integration. Standard & Poor’s subsequently affirmed its A- long-term counterparty credit ratings on the Company, including its A+ long-term counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on the operating companies and removed them from CreditWatch with negative implications.

85

 
 
 


Following the announcement of the Company's Merger Agreement with EXOR, Moody's maintained the A1 rating with a stable outlook. Standard & Poor’s affirmed the Company's ratings, but revised its outlook from stable to negative citing concerns over the uncertainty about how the Company will operate under the new proposed ownership. A.M. Best downgraded the Company's financial strength rating from A+ (Superior) to A (Excellent) and placed it under review with negative implications citing concerns regarding the Company's concentration in reinsurance and the lack of a diversified product platform along with concerns and uncertainties associated with the proposed new ownership. Fitch maintained the Company’s ratings on watch negative citing concerns over the execution risk as well as uncertainties associated with leadership and the proposed new ownership. The Company is in dialogue with Standard & Poor's, A.M. Best and Fitch to address their rating concerns. The status of any further changes to ratings or outlooks will depend on various factors, including the timing of the closing, if and when it occurs.
There were no other changes in the Company’s current financial strength ratings at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014. See also Shareholders’ Equity and Capital Resources Management—Liquidity in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Credit Agreements
In the normal course of its operations, the Company enters into agreements with financial institutions to obtain unsecured and secured credit facilities. These facilities are used primarily for the issuance of letters of credit, although a portion of these facilities may also be used for liquidity purposes. The Company’s credit facilities have not changed significantly since December 31, 2014. See Credit Agreements in Item 7 of Part II and Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for further information related to the credit facilities available to the Company.
Currency
See Results of Operations and Review of Net (Loss) Income above for a discussion of the impact of foreign exchange and net foreign exchange gains and losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
The foreign exchange gain or loss resulting from the translation of the Company’s subsidiaries’ and branches’ financial statements (expressed in euro or Canadian dollar functional currency) into U.S. dollars is classified in the currency translation adjustment account, which is a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in shareholders’ equity. The currency translation adjustment account decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily due to the impact of the translation of the Company’s subsidiaries and branches with the Canadian dollar and Euro as their functional currencies.
The reconciliation of the currency translation adjustment for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
Currency translation adjustment at December 31, 2014
$
(8
)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of the impact of designated net investment hedge
(34
)
Currency translation adjustment at September 30, 2015
$
(42
)
From time to time, the Company enters into net investment hedges. At September 30, 2015, the Company held foreign exchange forward contracts with notional amounts of €350 million, to hedge a portion of its net investment exposure to the euro against the U.S. dollar.
See Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Foreign Currency Risk in Item 3 of Part I below for a discussion of the Company’s risk related to changes in foreign currency movements.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

86

 
 
 


ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Overview
Management believes that the Company is principally exposed to five types of market related risk: interest rate risk, credit spread risk, foreign currency risk, counterparty credit risk and equity price risk. How these risks relate to the Company, and the process used to manage them, is discussed in Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The following discussion of market risks at September 30, 2015 focuses only on material changes from December 31, 2014 in the Company’s market risk exposures, or how those exposures are managed.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s fixed maturity portfolio and the fixed maturity securities in the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account are exposed to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. The Company manages interest rate risk on liability funds by constructing bond portfolios in which the economic impact of a general interest rate shift is comparable to the impact on the related liabilities. The Company believes that this process of matching the duration mitigates the overall interest rate risk on an economic basis. The Company manages the exposure to interest rate volatility on capital funds by choosing a duration profile that it believes will optimize the risk-reward relationship. For additional information on liability funds and capital funds, see Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources in Item 7 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
At September 30, 2015, the Company estimates that the hypothetical case of an immediate 100 basis points or 200 basis points parallel shift in global bond curves would result in a change in the fair value of investments exposed to interest rate risk, the fair value of funds held – directly managed account exposed to interest rate risk, total invested assets, and shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
-200 Basis
Points
 
%
Change
 
-100 Basis
Points
 
%
Change
 
September 30,
2015
 
+100 Basis
Points
 
%
Change
 
+200 Basis
Points
 
%
Change
Fair value of investments exposed to interest rate risk (1)(2)
$
15,016

 
7
%
 
$
14,526

 
3
%
 
$
14,036

 
$
13,546

 
(3
)%
 
$
13,056

 
(7
)%
Fair value of funds held – directly managed account exposed to interest rate risk (2)
502

 
7

 
485

 
4

 
468

 
451

 
(4
)
 
434

 
(7
)
Total invested assets (3)
17,374

 
6

 
16,867

 
3

 
16,360

 
15,853

 
(3
)
 
15,346

 
(6
)
Shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
7,789

 
15

 
7,282

 
7

 
6,775

 
6,268

 
(7
)
 
5,761

 
(15
)
 
(1)
Includes certain other invested assets, certain cash and cash equivalents and funds holding fixed income securities.
(2)
Excludes accrued interest.
(3)
Includes total investments, cash and cash equivalents, the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account and accrued interest.
The changes do not take into account any potential mitigating impact from the equity market, taxes or the corresponding change in the economic value of the Company’s reinsurance liabilities, which, as noted above, would substantially offset the economic impact on invested assets, although the offset would not be reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
As discussed above, the Company strives to match the foreign currency exposure in its fixed income portfolio to its multicurrency liabilities. The Company believes that this matching process creates a diversification benefit. Consequently, the exact market value effect of a change in interest rates will depend on which countries experience interest rate changes and the foreign currency mix of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio at the time of the interest rate changes. See Foreign Currency Risk below.
The impact of an immediate change in interest rates on the fair value of investments and funds held – directly managed exposed to interest rate risk, the Company’s total invested assets and shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., in both absolute terms and as a percentage of total invested assets and shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., has not changed significantly at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014.
For additional information related to the Company’s debt obligations and preferred securities, see Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. For additional information related to the Company’s debt obligations also see Note 4 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

87

 
 
 


Credit Spread Risk
The Company’s fixed maturity portfolio and the fixed maturity securities in the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account are exposed to credit spread risk. Fluctuations in market credit spreads have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. The Company manages credit spread risk by the selection of securities within its fixed maturity portfolio. Changes in credit spreads directly affect the market value of certain fixed maturity securities, but do not necessarily result in a change in the future expected cash flows associated with holding individual securities. Other factors, including liquidity, supply and demand, and changing risk preferences of investors, may affect market credit spreads without any change in the underlying credit quality of the security.
At September 30, 2015, the Company estimates that the hypothetical case of an immediate 100 basis points or 200 basis points parallel shift in global credit spreads would result in a change in the fair value of investments and the fair value of funds held –directly managed account exposed to credit spread risk, total invested assets and shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
-200 Basis
Points
 
%
Change
 
-100 Basis
Points
 
%
Change
 
September 30,
2015
 
+100 Basis
Points
 
%
Change
 
+200 Basis
Points
 
%
Change
Fair value of investments exposed to credit spread risk (1)(2)
$
14,972

 
7
%
 
$
14,504

 
3
%
 
$
14,036

 
$
13,568

 
(3
)%
 
$
13,100

 
(7
)%
Fair value of funds held – directly managed account exposed to credit spread risk (2)
490

 
5

 
479

 
2

 
468

 
457

 
(2
)
 
446

 
(5
)
Total invested assets (3)
17,318

 
6

 
16,839

 
3

 
16,360

 
15,881

 
(3
)
 
15,402

 
(6
)
Shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
7,733

 
14

 
7,254

 
7

 
6,775

 
6,296

 
(7
)
 
5,817

 
(14
)
 
 
(1)
Includes certain other invested assets, certain cash and cash equivalents and funds holding fixed income securities.
(2)
Excludes accrued interest.
(3)
Includes total investments, cash and cash equivalents, the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account and accrued interest.
The changes above also do not take into account any potential mitigating impact from the equity market, taxes, and the change in the economic value of the Company’s reinsurance liabilities, which may offset the economic impact on invested assets.
The impact of an immediate change in credit spreads on the fair value of investments and funds held – directly managed exposed to credit spread risk, the Company’s total invested assets and shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., in both absolute terms and as a percentage of total invested assets and shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd., has not changed significantly at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014.
Foreign Currency Risk
Through its multinational reinsurance operations, the Company conducts business in a variety of non-U.S. currencies, with the principal exposures being the euro, British pound, Canadian dollar, Singapore dollar and Swiss franc. As the Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, foreign exchange rate fluctuations may materially impact the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

88

 
 
 


The Company’s gross and net exposure in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2015 to foreign currency, as well as the associated foreign currency derivatives the Company has entered into to manage this exposure, was as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
euro
 
GBP
 
CAD
 
SGD
 
CHF
 
Other
 
Total (1)
Total assets
$
2,753

 
$
1,889

 
$
817

 
$
143

 
$
27

 
$
910

 
$
6,539

Total liabilities
(3,395
)
 
(1,442
)
 
(368
)
 
(23
)
 
(337
)
 
(1,363
)
 
(6,928
)
Total gross foreign currency exposure
(642
)
 
447

 
449

 
120

 
(310
)
 
(453
)
 
(389
)
Total derivative amount
373

 
(483
)
 
(26
)
 
(98
)
 
265

 
585

 
616

Net foreign currency exposure
$
(269
)
 
$
(36
)
 
$
423

 
$
22

 
$
(45
)
 
$
132

 
$
227

  
 
(1)
As the U.S. dollar is the Company’s reporting currency, there is no currency risk attached to the U.S. dollar and it is excluded from this table. The U.S. dollar accounted for the difference between the Company’s total foreign currency exposure in this table and the total assets and total liabilities in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2015.
The above numbers include the Company’s investment in certain of its subsidiaries and branches, whose functional currencies are the euro or Canadian dollar, and the foreign exchange forward contracts that the Company entered into during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 to hedge a portion of its translation exposure in light of the significant volatility in foreign exchange markets.
At September 30, 2015, assuming all other variables remain constant and disregarding any tax effects, a change in the U.S. dollar of 10% or 20% relative to all of the other currencies held by the Company simultaneously would result in a change in the Company’s net foreign currency exposure of $23 million and $45 million, respectively, inclusive of the effect of foreign exchange forward contracts and other derivative financial instruments.
Counterparty Credit Risk
The Company has exposure to credit risk primarily as a holder of fixed maturity securities. The Company controls this exposure by emphasizing investment grade credit quality in the fixed maturity securities it purchases. At September 30, 2015, approximately 73% the Company’s fixed maturity and short-term investments (including funds holding fixed maturity securities and excluding the funds held – directly managed account) were rated A- or better and 9% were rated below investment grade or not rated. The Company believes this high quality concentration reduces its exposure to credit risk on fixed maturity investments to an acceptable level.
At September 30, 2015, the Company was not exposed to any significant credit concentration risk on its investments, excluding securities issued by the U.S. government which are rated AA+. The single largest non-U.S. sovereign government issuer accounted for less than 11% of the Company’s total non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related category (excluding the funds held – directly managed account) and less than 1% of total investments and cash (excluding the funds held – directly managed account) at September 30, 2015. In addition, the single largest corporate issuer and the top 10 corporate issuers accounted for less than 3% and 16% of the Company’s total corporate fixed maturity securities (excluding the funds held – directly managed account), respectively, at September 30, 2015. Within the segregated investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account, the single largest corporate issuer and the top 10 corporate issuers accounted for less than 9% and 46% of total corporate fixed maturity securities underlying the funds held – directly managed account at September 30, 2015, respectively.
The Company keeps cash and cash equivalents in several banks and ensures that there are no significant concentrations at any point in time, in any one bank.
To a lesser extent, the Company is also exposed to the following credit risks:
•
as a party to foreign exchange forward contracts and other derivative contracts;
•
in its underwriting operations, most notably in the credit/surety line and for alternative risk products;
•
the credit risk of its cedants in the event of their insolvency or their failure to honor the value of the funds held balances due to the Company;
•
the credit risk of Colisée Re in the event of insolvency or Colisée Re’s failure to honor the value of the funds held balances for any other reason;

89

 
 
 


•
the credit risk of AXA or its affiliates in the event of their insolvency or their failure to honor their obligations under the Acquisition Agreements (see Business—Reserves—Reserve Agreement in Item 1 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014);
•
as it relates to its business written through brokers if any of the Company’s brokers are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations with respect to payments to the Company;
•
as it relates to its reinsurance balances receivable and reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses; and
•
under its retrocessional reinsurance contracts.
The concentrations of the Company’s counterparty credit risk exposures have not changed materially at September 30, 2015, compared to December 31, 2014. See Counterparty Credit Risk in Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for additional discussion of credit risks.
Equity Price Risk
The Company invests a portion of its capital funds in equity securities (fair market value of $997 million, excluding funds holding fixed income securities of $7 million) at September 30, 2015. These equity investments are exposed to equity price risk, defined as the potential for loss in market value due to a decline in equity prices. The Company believes that the effects of diversification and the relatively small size of its investments in equities relative to total invested assets mitigate its exposure to equity price risk. The Company estimates that its equity investment portfolio has a beta versus the S&P 500 Index of approximately 0.92 on average. Portfolio beta measures the response of a portfolio’s performance relative to a market return, where a beta of 1 would be an equivalent return to the index. Given the estimated beta for the Company’s equity portfolio, a 10% and 20% movement in the S&P 500 Index would result in a change in the fair value of the Company’s equity portfolio, total invested assets and shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. at September 30, 2015 as follows (in millions of U.S. dollars):
 
20%
Decrease
 
%
Change
 
10%
Decrease
 
%
Change
 
September 30, 2015
 
10%
Increase
 
%
Change
 
20%
Increase
 
%
Change
Equities (1)
$
815

 
(18
)%
 
$
906

 
(9
)%
 
$
997

 
$
1,088

 
9
%
 
$
1,179

 
18
%
Total invested assets (2)
16,178

 
(1
)
 
16,269

 
(1
)
 
16,360

 
16,451

 
1

 
16,542

 
1

Shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd.
6,593

 
(3
)
 
6,684

 
(1
)
 
6,775

 
6,866

 
1

 
6,957

 
3

   
 
(1)
Excludes funds holding fixed income securities of $7 million.
(2)
Includes total investments, cash and cash equivalents, the investment portfolio underlying the funds held – directly managed account and accrued interest.
This change does not take into account any potential mitigating impact from the fixed maturity securities or taxes.
There was no material change in the absolute or percentage impact of an immediate change of 10% or 20% in the S&P 500 Index on the Company’s equity portfolio, total invested assets and shareholders’ equity attributable to PartnerRe Ltd. at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014.

90

 
 
 


ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as of September 30, 2015, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2015, the disclosure controls and procedures are effective such that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is accumulated and communicated to Management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with such evaluation that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There has been no significant change in legal proceedings at September 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014. See Note 18(f) to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this document, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis, may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s assumptions and expectations concerning future events and financial performance of the Company and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including our expectations regarding the restructuring of our business support operations and the related expected savings, are subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The Company’s forward-looking statements could be affected by numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events and developments such as exposure to catastrophe, or other large property and casualty losses, adequacy of reserves, risks associated with implementing business strategies and integrating new acquisitions, levels and pricing of new and renewal business achieved, credit, interest, currency and other risks associated with the Company’s investment portfolio, changes in accounting policies, and other factors identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The words believe, anticipate, estimate, project, plan, expect, intend, hope, forecast, evaluate, will likely result or will continue or words of similar impact generally involve forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
See Risk Factors in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a complete review of important risk factors.

ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table provides information about purchases by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2015 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
 
 
 
Period
Total number of shares
purchased
 
Average price paid per
share
 
Total number of shares
purchased as part of a
publicly announced
program (1)(2)
 
Maximum number of
shares that may yet be
purchased under the
program (1)
07/01/2015-07/31/2015
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
2,853,675

08/01/2015-08/31/2015
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,853,675

09/01/2015-09/30/2015
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,853,675

Total
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
(1)
On September 4, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved and announced a new share repurchase authorization up to a total of 5 million common shares. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors, the program will expire when the Company has repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder. Following the announcement of the Amalgamation Agreement on January 25, 2015, the Company suspended its repurchase activities. The share repurchase program remains suspended under the terms of the Merger Agreement.
(2)
At September 30, 2015, approximately 39.3 million common shares were held in treasury and available for reissuance.

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ITEM 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.

ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
None. 

ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
Exhibits—Included on page 95.


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/S/    DAVID ZWIENER
 
 
Name:
 
David Zwiener
 
 
Title:
 
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
Date:
October 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/S/    WILLIAM BABCOCK
 
 
Name:
 
William Babcock
 
 
Title:
 
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Date:
October 30, 2015
 
 
 
 


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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
 
Exhibit
2.1
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among EXOR N.V., Pillar Ltd., PartnerRe Ltd. ad solely with respect to Sections 4.01 and 4.05, Section 6.13 and Section 7.13, EXOR S.p.A. (incorporated by reference to the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on August 3, 2015).
10.1
 
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between PartnerRe Ltd. and David Zwiener, effective as of October 21, 2015.
15
 
Letter Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information.
31.1
 
Section 302 Certification of David Zwiener.
31.2
 
Section 302 Certification of William Babcock.
32
 
Section 906 Certifications.
101.1
 
The following financial information from PartnerRe Ltd.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


95