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Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
Net income (loss) $ 454,126us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss $ 798,263us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss $ 520,329us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Decrease (increase) in premiums receivable 83,362us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPremiumsReceivable (175,854)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPremiumsReceivable (141,501)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPremiumsReceivable
Decrease (increase) in funds held by reinsureds, net 2,236us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInFundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreements (12,075)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInFundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreements (17,897)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInFundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreements
Decrease (increase) in reinsurance receivables (460,635)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReinsuranceRecoverable 25,665us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReinsuranceRecoverable (152,887)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReinsuranceRecoverable
Decrease (increase) in income taxes 68,206us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable 351,573us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable 124,739us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable
Decrease (increase) in prepaid reinsurance premiums (138,010)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidReinsurancePremiums (118,173)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidReinsurancePremiums 68,312us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidReinsurancePremiums
Increase (decrease) in reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses 248,053us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInLossAndLossAdjustmentExpenseReserve (439,560)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInLossAndLossAdjustmentExpenseReserve (206,435)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInLossAndLossAdjustmentExpenseReserve
Increase (decrease) in unearned premiums 130,519us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInUnearnedPremiums 228,097us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInUnearnedPremiums (150,747)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInUnearnedPremiums
Increase (decrease) in other net payable to reinsurers 5,130us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReinsurancePayables 127,252us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReinsurancePayables 270,776us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReinsurancePayables
Increase (decrease) in losses in course of payment (171,071)cik0000914748_IncreaseDecreaseInLossesInCourseOfPayment 171,829cik0000914748_IncreaseDecreaseInLossesInCourseOfPayment 169,698cik0000914748_IncreaseDecreaseInLossesInCourseOfPayment
Change in equity adjustments in limited partnerships (28,249)cik0000914748_IncreaseDecreaseInEquityAdjustmentsInLimitedPartnerships (35,721)cik0000914748_IncreaseDecreaseInEquityAdjustmentsInLimitedPartnerships (38,579)cik0000914748_IncreaseDecreaseInEquityAdjustmentsInLimitedPartnerships
Distribution of limited partnership income 41,064us-gaap_ReimbursementFromLimitedPartnershipInvestment 24,133us-gaap_ReimbursementFromLimitedPartnershipInvestment 19,490us-gaap_ReimbursementFromLimitedPartnershipInvestment
Change in other assets and liabilities, net 81,388us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet 25,049us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet 44,032us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet
Non-cash compensation expense 7,911us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 7,983us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 6,803us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Amortization of bond premium (accrual of bond discount) 19,086us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium 25,599us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium 19,124us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
Amortization of underwriting discount on senior notes 46us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 54us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 52us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Net realized capital (gains) losses (206,679)us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses (723,149)us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses (391,702)us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 136,483us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations 280,965us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations 143,607us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:      
Proceeds from fixed maturities matured/called - available for sale, at market value 1,071,296cik0000914748_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMarketValue 1,099,850cik0000914748_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMarketValue 927,867cik0000914748_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMarketValue
Proceeds from fixed maturities matured/called - available for sale, at fair value 875us-gaap_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities 7,213us-gaap_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities 1,300us-gaap_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities
Proceeds from fixed maturities sold - available for sale, at market value 1,080,276cik0000914748_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMarketValue 598,342cik0000914748_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMarketValue 476,491cik0000914748_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMarketValue
Proceeds from fixed maturities sold - available for sale, at fair value 36,467us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt 21,572us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt 84,917us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt
Proceeds from equity securities sold - available for sale, at fair value 528,958us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquity 612,516us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquity 546,463us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquity
Distributions from other invested assets 72,323us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions 64,483us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions 29,198us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
Cost of fixed maturities acquired - available for sale, at market value (2,406,162)cik0000914748_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMarketValue (1,611,791)cik0000914748_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMarketValue (1,784,344)cik0000914748_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMarketValue
Cost of fixed maturities acquired - available for sale, at fair value (24,097)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt (6,196)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt (7,955)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt
Cost of equity securities acquired - available for sale, at fair value (416,375)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquity (439,115)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquity (404,051)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquity
Cost of other invested assets acquired (134,373)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates (17,926)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates (51,512)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates
Net change in short-term investments 189,139us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromShortTermInvestments (292,751)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromShortTermInvestments (42,027)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromShortTermInvestments
Net cost of lending for long term note - affiliated (250,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToFundLongtermLoansToRelatedParties    
Net change in unsettled securities transactions (4,157)cik0000914748_NetChangeInUnsettledSecuritiesTransactions (3,057)cik0000914748_NetChangeInUnsettledSecuritiesTransactions 35,075cik0000914748_NetChangeInUnsettledSecuritiesTransactions
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (255,830)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations 33,140us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations (188,578)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:      
Tax benefit from share-based compensation 3,331us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities 2,845us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities 4us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities
Net cost of junior subordinated debt securities redemption   (329,897)cik0000914748_NetCostOfJuniorSubordinatedDebtSecuritiesRedemption  
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes 400,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt    
Net cost of senior notes maturing (250,000)us-gaap_MaturitiesOfSeniorDebt    
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 153,331us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations (327,052)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations 4us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH (26,816)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents (17,966)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents 44,420us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
Net increase (decrease) in cash 7,168us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease (30,913)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease (547)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Cash, beginning of period 316,807us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 347,720us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 348,267us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Cash, end of period 323,975us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 316,807us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 347,720us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:      
Income taxes paid (recovered) 133,057us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet 51,045us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet 38,548us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet
Interest paid $ 38,861us-gaap_InterestPaidNet $ 37,725us-gaap_InterestPaidNet $ 50,072us-gaap_InterestPaidNet