Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

A. Business and Basis of Presentation.

Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings"), a Delaware company and direct subsidiary of Everest Underwriting Group (Ireland) Limited ("Holdings Ireland"), which is a direct subsidiary of Everest Re Group, Ltd. ("Group"), through its subsidiaries, principally provides property and casualty reinsurance and insurance in the United States of America and internationally. As used in this document, "Company" means Holdings and its subsidiaries.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The statements include all of the following domestic and foreign direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company: Everest Reinsurance Company ("Everest Re"), Everest National Insurance Company ("Everest National"), Everest Indemnity Insurance Company ("Everest Indemnity"), Everest Security Insurance Company ("Everest Security"), Heartland Crop Insurance, Inc. ("Heartland"), Everest International Assurance, Ltd. ("Everest Assurance"), Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. ("Specialty"), Specialty Insurance Group - Leisure and Entertainment Risk Purchasing Group LLC ("Specialty RPG"), Mt. Whitney Securities, Inc., Everest Reinsurance Company – Escritório de Representação No Brasil Ltda. ("Everest Brazil"), Mt. McKinley Managers, L.L.C. and Mt. McKinley Insurance Company ("Mt. McKinley"). All amounts are reported in U.S. dollars.

Effective July 13, 2015, the Company sold all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of a wholly-owned subsidiary entity, Mt. McKinley Insurance Company ("Mt. McKinley"), to Clearwater Insurance Company. The operating results of Mt. McKinley through July 13, 2015 are included within the Company's financial statements.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities (and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities) at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Ultimate actual results could differ, possibly materially, from those estimates.

All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain reclassifications and format changes have been made to prior years' amounts to conform to the 2015 presentation.

Investments

B. Investments.

Fixed maturity and equity security investments available for sale, at market value, reflect unrealized appreciation and depreciation, as a result of temporary changes in market value during the period, in stockholder's equity, net of income taxes in "accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" in the consolidated balance sheets. Fixed maturity, equity securities and other invested assets carried at fair value reflect fair value re-measurements as net realized capital gains and losses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The Company records changes in fair value for its fixed maturities-available for sale, at market value through stockholders' equity, net of taxes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) since cash flows from these investments will be primarily used to settle its reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities. The Company anticipates holding these investments for an extended period as the cash flow from interest and maturities will fund the projected payout of these liabilities. Fixed maturities carried at fair value represent a portfolio of convertible bond securities, which have characteristics similar to equity securities and at times, designated foreign denominated fixed maturity securities, which will be used to settle loss and loss adjustment reserves in the same currency. The Company carries all of its equity securities at fair value except for mutual fund investments whose underlying investments are comprised of fixed maturity securities. For equity securities, available for sale, at fair value, the Company reflects changes in value as net realized capital gains and losses since these securities may be sold in the near term depending on financial market conditions. Other invested assets, at fair value, at December 31, 2015 were comprised of convertible preferred stocks of Everest Preferred International Holdings, Ltd. ("Preferred Holdings"), an affiliated entity. At December 31, 2014, the other invested assets were comprised of common shares of the Company's ultimate parent, Everest Re Group, Ltd. Interest income on all fixed maturities and dividend income on all equity securities are included as part of net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Unrealized losses on fixed maturities, which are deemed other-than-temporary and related to the credit quality of a security, are charged to net income (loss) as net realized capital losses. Short-term investments are stated at cost, which approximates market value. Realized gains or losses on sales of investments are determined on the basis of identified cost. The fair value of the Preferred Holdings convertible preferred stocks represented the December 21, 2015 value of Group's common shares that were exchanged for the preferred stocks. For other non-publicly traded securities, market prices are determined through the use of pricing models that evaluate securities relative to the U.S. Treasury yield curve, taking into account the issue type, credit quality, and cash flow characteristics of each security. For publicly traded securities, market value is based on quoted market prices or valuation models that use observable market inputs. When a sector of the financial markets is inactive or illiquid, the Company may use its own assumptions about future cash flows and risk-adjusted discount rates to determine fair value. Retrospective adjustments are employed to recalculate the values of asset-backed securities. Each acquisition lot is reviewed to recalculate the effective yield. The recalculated effective yield is used to derive a book value as if the new yield were applied at the time of acquisition. Outstanding principal factors from the time of acquisition to the adjustment date are used to calculate the prepayment history for all applicable securities. Conditional prepayment rates, computed with life to date factor histories and weighted average maturities, are used to effect the calculation of projected and prepayments for pass-through security types. Other invested assets include limited partnerships and rabbi trusts. Limited partnerships are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, which can be recorded on a monthly or quarterly lag.

Uncollectible Receivable Balances

C. Uncollectible Receivable Balances.

The Company provides reserves for uncollectible reinsurance recoverable and premium receivable balances based on management's assessment of the collectability of the outstanding balances. Such reserves are presented in the table below for the periods indicated.


	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2015		2014
Reinsurance recoverable and premium receivables	$	22,511	$	29,153

Deferred Acquisition Costs

D. Deferred Acquisition Costs.

Acquisition costs, consisting principally of commissions and brokerage expenses and certain premium taxes and fees incurred at the time a contract or policy is issued and that vary with and are directly related to the Company's reinsurance and insurance business, are deferred and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. Deferred acquisition costs are limited to their estimated realizable value by line of business based on the related unearned premiums, anticipated claims and claim expenses and anticipated investment income. Deferred acquisition costs amortized to income are presented in the table below for the periods indicated.


	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2015		2014		2013
Deferred acquisition costs	$	315,069	$	339,402	$	293,922

Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

E. Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses.

The reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") is based on individual case estimates and reports received from ceding companies. A provision is included for losses and LAE incurred but not reported ("IBNR") based on past experience. A provision is also included for certain potential liabilities relating to asbestos and environmental ("A&E") exposures, which liabilities cannot be estimated using traditional reserving techniques. See also Note 3. The reserves are reviewed periodically and any changes in estimates are reflected in earnings in the period the adjustment is made. The Company's loss and LAE reserves represent management's best estimate of the ultimate liability. Loss and LAE reserves are presented gross of reinsurance receivables and incurred losses and LAE are presented net of reinsurance.

Accruals for commissions are established for reinsurance contracts that provide for the stated commission percentage to increase or decrease based on the loss experience of the contract. Changes in estimates for such arrangements are recorded as commission expense. Commission accruals for contracts with adjustable features are estimated based on expected loss and LAE.

Premium Revenues

F. Premium Revenues.

Written premiums are earned ratably over the periods of the related insurance and reinsurance contracts. Written premiums related to crop insurance are earned on a seasonal pattern, which is based upon the planting and harvesting periods of each crop season. Unearned premium reserves are established relative to the unexpired contract period. Such reserves are established based upon reports received from ceding companies or estimated using pro rata methods based on statistical data. Reinstatement premiums represent additional premium received on reinsurance coverages, most prevalently catastrophe related, when limits have been depleted under the original reinsurance contract and additional coverage is granted. Written and earned premiums and the related costs, which have not yet been reported to the Company, are estimated and accrued. Premiums are net of ceded reinsurance.

Prepaid Reinsurance Premiums

G. Prepaid Reinsurance Premiums.

Prepaid reinsurance premiums represent unearned premium reserves ceded to other reinsurers. Prepaid reinsurance premiums for any foreign reinsurers comprising more than 10% of the outstanding balance at December 31, 2015 were collateralized either through collateralized trust arrangements, rights of offset or letters of credit, thereby limiting the credit risk to the Company.

Income Taxes

H. Income Taxes.

The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Foreign branches of subsidiaries file local tax returns as required. Deferred income taxes have been recorded to recognize the tax effect of temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, which arise because of differences between GAAP and income tax accounting rules.

Foreign Currency

I. Foreign Currency.

As a global entity, the Company transacts business in numerous currencies through business units located around the world. The base transactional currency for each business unit is determined by the local currency used for most economic activity in that area. Movements in exchange rates related to assets and liabilities at the business units between the original currency and the base currency are recorded through the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in other income (expense), except for currency movements related to available for sale investments, which are excluded from net income (loss) and accumulated in stockholders' equity, net of deferred taxes.

The business units' base currency financial statements are translated to U.S. dollars using the exchange rates at the end of period for the balance sheets and the average exchange rates in effect for the reporting period for the income statements. Gains and losses resulting from translating the foreign currency financial statements, net of deferred income taxes, are excluded from net income loss and accumulated in stockholder's equity.

Segmentation

J. Segmentation.

The Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in three segments: U.S. Reinsurance, International and Insurance. See also Note 17.

Retroactive Reinsurance

K. Retroactive Reinsurance.

Premiums on ceded retroactive contracts are earned when written with a corresponding reinsurance recoverable established for the amount of reserves ceded. The initial gain, if applicable, is deferred and amortized into income over an actuarially determined expected payout period. Any future loss is recognized immediately and charged against earnings.

Application of Recently Issued Accounting Standard Changes

L. Application of Recently Issued Accounting Standard Changes.

Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts. In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-09, authoritative guidance regarding required disclosures associated with short duration insurance contracts. The new disclosure requirements focus on information about initial claim estimates and subsequent claim estimate adjustment, methodologies in estimating claims and the timing, frequency and severity of claims related to short duration insurance contracts. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company has decided not to early adopt and will implement this guidance as of January 1, 2016. The Company is still evaluating the impact of the implementation of this guidance but does not anticipate that it will have a significant impact on its financial statements.

Debt Issuance Costs. In April 2015, The FASB issued ASU 2015–03, authoritative guidance on the presentation of debt issuance costs. This guidance requires that debt issuance costs be presented within the balance sheet as a reduction of the carrying value of the debt liability, rather than as a separate asset. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company has decided not to early adopt and will implement this guidance as of January 1, 2016. The Company is still evaluating the impact of the implementation of this guidance but does not anticipate that it will have a significant impact on its financial statements.

Consolidation. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, authoritative guidance regarding consolidation of reporting entities. The new guidance focuses on the required evaluation of whether certain legal entities should be consolidated. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company has decided not to early adopt and will implement this guidance as of January 1, 2016. The Company is still evaluating the impact of the implementation of this guidance but does not anticipate that it will have a significant impact on its financial statements.

Treatment of Insurance Contract Acquisition Costs. In October 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for the accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The guidance identifies the incremental direct costs of contract acquisition and costs directly related to acquisition activities that should be capitalized. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company implemented this guidance as of January 1, 2012 and determined that $7,215 thousand of previously deferrable acquisition costs would be expensed, including $5,818 thousand and $1,397 thousand expensed in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively. No additional expense will be incurred related to this guidance implementation in future periods.