v3.2.0.727
Investments
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments
Investments

a)The following tables summarize the Company's available-for-sale investments.

 
June 30, 2015
(dollars in thousands)
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses
 
Unrealized
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair
Value
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies
$
638,848

 
$
10,695

 
$
(3,855
)
 
$

 
$
645,688

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
3,862,159

 
165,902

 
(17,030
)
 

 
4,011,031

Foreign governments
1,343,152

 
113,536

 
(1,056
)
 

 
1,455,632

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
427,372

 
3,530

 
(1,865
)
 

 
429,037

Residential mortgage-backed securities
890,612

 
23,564

 
(4,273
)
 
(2,258
)
 
907,645

Asset-backed securities
65,752

 
58

 
(510
)
 

 
65,300

Corporate bonds
1,981,737

 
45,276

 
(16,520
)
 
(1,662
)
 
2,008,831

Total fixed maturities
9,209,632

 
362,561

 
(45,109
)
 
(3,920
)
 
9,523,164

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance, banks and other financial institutions
617,618

 
735,581

 
(1,350
)
 

 
1,351,849

Industrial, consumer and all other
1,578,072

 
1,458,669

 
(13,429
)
 

 
3,023,312

Total equity securities
2,195,690

 
2,194,250

 
(14,779
)
 

 
4,375,161

Short-term investments
2,185,228

 
26

 
(5
)
 

 
2,185,249

Investments, available-for-sale
$
13,590,550

 
$
2,556,837

 
$
(59,893
)
 
$
(3,920
)
 
$
16,083,574

 
December 31, 2014
(dollars in thousands)
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses
 
Unrealized
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair
Value
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies
$
662,462

 
$
12,963

 
$
(2,163
)
 
$

 
$
673,262

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
4,075,748

 
245,158

 
(3,359
)
 

 
4,317,547

Foreign governments
1,458,255

 
154,707

 
(1,041
)
 

 
1,611,921

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
427,904

 
5,325

 
(2,602
)
 

 
430,627

Residential mortgage-backed securities
954,263

 
34,324

 
(3,482
)
 
(2,258
)
 
982,847

Asset-backed securities
100,073

 
99

 
(682
)
 

 
99,490

Corporate bonds
2,250,432

 
69,016

 
(10,441
)
 
(1,819
)
 
2,307,188

Total fixed maturities
9,929,137

 
521,592

 
(23,770
)
 
(4,077
)
 
10,422,882

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance, banks and other financial institutions
523,739

 
789,717

 
(1,531
)
 

 
1,311,925

Industrial, consumer and all other
1,427,919

 
1,403,566

 
(5,834
)
 

 
2,825,651

Total equity securities
1,951,658

 
2,193,283

 
(7,365
)
 

 
4,137,576

Short-term investments
1,594,819

 
36

 
(6
)
 

 
1,594,849

Investments, available-for-sale
$
13,475,614

 
$
2,714,911

 
$
(31,141
)
 
$
(4,077
)
 
$
16,155,307


b)The following tables summarize gross unrealized investment losses by the length of time that securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.

 
June 30, 2015
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or longer
 
Total
(dollars in thousands)
Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies
$
97,844

 
$
(2,842
)
 
$
114,198

 
$
(1,013
)
 
$
212,042

 
$
(3,855
)
Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
654,959

 
(12,765
)
 
63,885

 
(4,265
)
 
718,844

 
(17,030
)
Foreign governments
31,312

 
(542
)
 
44,756

 
(514
)
 
76,068

 
(1,056
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
124,536

 
(703
)
 
97,983

 
(1,162
)
 
222,519

 
(1,865
)
Residential mortgage-backed securities
112,947

 
(2,832
)
 
156,760

 
(3,699
)
 
269,707

 
(6,531
)
Asset-backed securities
12,146

 
(11
)
 
46,122

 
(499
)
 
58,268

 
(510
)
Corporate bonds
433,329

 
(9,696
)
 
356,992

 
(8,486
)
 
790,321

 
(18,182
)
Total fixed maturities
1,467,073

 
(29,391
)
 
880,696

 
(19,638
)
 
2,347,769

 
(49,029
)
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance, banks and other financial institutions
13,307

 
(578
)
 
8,040

 
(772
)
 
21,347

 
(1,350
)
Industrial, consumer and all other
84,162

 
(11,641
)
 
18,108

 
(1,788
)
 
102,270

 
(13,429
)
Total equity securities
97,469

 
(12,219
)
 
26,148

 
(2,560
)
 
123,617

 
(14,779
)
Short-term investments
159,963

 
(5
)
 

 

 
159,963

 
(5
)
Total
$
1,724,505

 
$
(41,615
)
 
$
906,844

 
$
(22,198
)
 
$
2,631,349

 
$
(63,813
)


At June 30, 2015, the Company held 666 securities with a total estimated fair value of $2.6 billion and gross unrealized losses of $63.8 million. Of these 666 securities, 275 securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for one year or longer and had a total estimated fair value of $906.8 million and gross unrealized losses of $22.2 million. Of these securities, 271 securities were fixed maturities and four were equity securities. The Company does not intend to sell or believe it will be required to sell these fixed maturities before recovery of their amortized cost. The Company has the ability and intent to hold these equity securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for the anticipated recovery of their fair value.

 
December 31, 2014
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or longer
 
Total
(dollars in thousands)
Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies
$
108,250

 
$
(62
)
 
$
163,359

 
$
(2,101
)
 
$
271,609

 
$
(2,163
)
Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
58,583

 
(542
)
 
92,441

 
(2,817
)
 
151,024

 
(3,359
)
Foreign governments
18,856

 
(386
)
 
56,217

 
(655
)
 
75,073

 
(1,041
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
45,931

 
(210
)
 
147,558

 
(2,392
)
 
193,489

 
(2,602
)
Residential mortgage-backed securities
9,613

 
(2,285
)
 
207,374

 
(3,455
)
 
216,987

 
(5,740
)
Asset-backed securities
30,448

 
(20
)
 
45,160

 
(662
)
 
75,608

 
(682
)
Corporate bonds
141,176

 
(2,263
)
 
621,821

 
(9,997
)
 
762,997

 
(12,260
)
Total fixed maturities
412,857

 
(5,768
)
 
1,333,930

 
(22,079
)
 
1,746,787

 
(27,847
)
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insurance, banks and other financial institutions
16,219

 
(1,531
)
 

 

 
16,219

 
(1,531
)
Industrial, consumer and all other
86,062

 
(5,834
)
 

 

 
86,062

 
(5,834
)
Total equity securities
102,281

 
(7,365
)
 

 

 
102,281

 
(7,365
)
Short-term investments
181,964

 
(6
)
 

 

 
181,964

 
(6
)
Total
$
697,102

 
$
(13,139
)
 
$
1,333,930

 
$
(22,079
)
 
$
2,031,032

 
$
(35,218
)


At December 31, 2014, the Company held 552 securities with a total estimated fair value of $2.0 billion and gross unrealized losses of $35.2 million. Of these 552 securities, 396 securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for one year or longer and had a total estimated fair value of $1.3 billion and gross unrealized losses of $22.1 million. All 396 securities were fixed maturities.

The Company completes a detailed analysis each quarter to assess whether the decline in the fair value of any investment below its cost basis is deemed other-than-temporary. All securities with unrealized losses are reviewed. The Company considers many factors in completing its quarterly review of securities with unrealized losses for other-than-temporary impairment, including the length of time and the extent to which fair value has been below cost and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer. For equity securities, the ability and intent to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery is considered. For fixed maturities, the Company considers whether it intends to sell the security or if it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery, the implied yield-to-maturity, the credit quality of the issuer and the ability to recover all amounts outstanding when contractually due.

For equity securities, a decline in fair value that is considered to be other-than-temporary is recognized in net income based on the fair value of the security at the time of assessment, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. For fixed maturities where the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, a decline in fair value is considered to be other-than-temporary and is recognized in net income based on the fair value of the security at the time of assessment, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. If the decline in fair value of a fixed maturity below its amortized cost is considered to be other-than-temporary based upon other considerations, the Company compares the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected to the amortized cost of the security. The extent to which the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost of the security represents the credit-related portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, which is recognized in net income, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. Any remaining decline in fair value represents the non-credit portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, which is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). The discount rate used to calculate the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is the effective interest rate implicit for the security at the date of purchase.

When assessing whether it intends to sell a fixed maturity or if it is likely to be required to sell a fixed maturity before recovery of its amortized cost, the Company evaluates facts and circumstances including decisions to reposition the investment portfolio, potential sales of investments to meet cash flow needs and, ultimately, current market prices.

c)The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturities at June 30, 2015 are shown below by contractual maturity.

(dollars in thousands)
Amortized
Cost
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Due in one year or less
$
599,532

 
$
603,525

Due after one year through five years
1,874,619

 
1,923,716

Due after five years through ten years
1,785,413

 
1,871,155

Due after ten years
3,566,332

 
3,722,786

 
7,825,896

 
8,121,182

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
427,372

 
429,037

Residential mortgage-backed securities
890,612

 
907,645

Asset-backed securities
65,752

 
65,300

Total fixed maturities
$
9,209,632

 
$
9,523,164



d)The following table presents the components of net investment income.

 
Quarter Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
(dollars in thousands)
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal bonds (tax-exempt)
$
24,293

 
$
25,187

 
$
50,145

 
$
48,291

Municipal bonds (taxable)
14,150

 
12,614

 
28,250

 
21,610

Other taxable bonds
34,013

 
40,109

 
69,151

 
75,853

Short-term investments, including overnight deposits
1,116

 
1,608

 
2,367

 
3,082

Dividends on equity securities
18,633

 
14,508

 
37,657

 
31,364

Income from equity method investments
1,712

 
1,458

 
3,056

 
5,041

Other
479

 
523

 
540

 
1,702

 
94,396

 
96,007

 
191,166

 
186,943

Investment expenses
(3,810
)
 
(3,838
)
 
(7,705
)
 
(8,059
)
Net investment income
$
90,586

 
$
92,169

 
$
183,461

 
$
178,884




e)Cumulative credit losses recognized in net income on fixed maturities where other-than-temporary impairment was identified and a portion of the other-than-temporary impairment was included in other comprehensive income (loss) were $10.7 million at June 30, 2015 and $12.7 million at December 31, 2014.

f)The following table presents net realized investment gains and the change in net unrealized gains on investments. 

 
Quarter Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
(dollars in thousands)
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Realized gains:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales of fixed maturities
$
770

 
$
1,642

 
$
2,338

 
$
5,643

Sales of equity securities
7,000

 
14,051

 
22,956

 
26,094

Other
1,739

 
4,405

 
2,413

 
14,315

Total realized gains
9,509

 
20,098

 
27,707

 
46,052

Realized losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales of fixed maturities
(97
)
 
(8,246
)
 
(221
)
 
(16,148
)
Sales of equity securities
(113
)
 
(99
)
 
(272
)
 
(143
)
Other-than-temporary impairments

 
(1,007
)
 
(5,092
)
 
(1,007
)
Other
(3,194
)
 
(3,626
)
 
(10,446
)
 
(4,240
)
Total realized losses
(3,404
)
 
(12,978
)
 
(16,031
)
 
(21,538
)
Net realized investment gains
$
6,105

 
$
7,120

 
$
11,676

 
$
24,514

Change in net unrealized gains on investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
$
(286,551
)
 
$
147,439

 
$
(180,213
)
 
$
296,250

Equity securities
(64,792
)
 
152,256

 
(6,447
)
 
218,709

Short-term investments
11

 
(3
)
 
(9
)
 
(2
)
Net increase (decrease)
$
(351,332
)
 
$
299,692

 
$
(186,669
)
 
$
514,957



For the six months ended June 30, 2015, all of the other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in net income and included in net realized investment gains were attributable to equity securities. For both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2014, other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in net income and included in net realized investment gains included losses attributable to fixed maturities totaling $0.2 million and losses attributable to equity securities totaling $0.8 million.