v2.4.0.6
Investments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments
INVESTMENTS
Fixed Maturity Investments Trading
The following table summarizes the fair value of fixed maturity investments trading:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
 
U.S. treasuries
$
1,309,243

 
$
885,152

 
 
Agencies
343,575

 
158,561

 
 
Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)
122,875

 
216,916

 
 
FDIC guaranteed corporate
103,554

 
423,630

 
 
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate
500,835

 
640,757

 
 
Corporate
1,131,255

 
1,187,437

 
 
Agency mortgage-backed
307,134

 
428,042

 
 
Non-agency mortgage-backed
85,095

 
82,096

 
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
267,250

 
255,885

 
 
Asset-backed
6,011

 
12,989

 
 
Total fixed maturity investments trading
$
4,176,827

 
$
4,291,465

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fixed Maturity Investments Available For Sale
The following table summarizes the amortized cost, fair value and related unrealized gains and losses and non-credit other-than-temporary impairments of fixed maturity investments available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
At March 31, 2012
Amortized 
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized    
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized    
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Non-Credit
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairments 
(1)  
 
 
Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)
$
7,448

 
$
578

 
$
(2
)
 
$
8,024

 
$

 
 
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate
310

 
15

 

 
325

 

 
 
Corporate
13,923

 
1,276

 
(243
)
 
14,956

 
(165
)
 
 
Agency mortgage-backed
11,135

 
946

 

 
12,081

 

 
 
Non-agency mortgage-backed
20,319

 
2,665

 
(32
)
 
22,952

 
(1,784
)
 
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
55,346

 
6,747

 

 
62,093

 

 
 
Asset-backed
4,650

 
211

 

 
4,861

 

 
 
Total fixed maturity investments available for sale
$
113,131

 
$
12,438

 
$
(277
)
 
$
125,292

 
$
(1,949
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2011
Amortized Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized    
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized    
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Non-Credit
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairments
 (1)  
 
 
Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)
$
10,087

 
$
921

 
$
(12
)
 
$
10,996

 
$

 
 
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate
312

 
13

 

 
325

 

 
 
Corporate
18,449

 
1,535

 
(517
)
 
19,467

 
(176
)
 
 
Agency mortgage-backed
12,636

 
1,071

 

 
13,707

 

 
 
Non-agency mortgage-backed
21,097

 
1,862

 
(284
)
 
22,675

 
(1,837
)
 
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
63,269

 
6,576

 
(1
)
 
69,844

 

 
 
Asset-backed
4,819

 
219

 

 
5,038

 

 
 
Total fixed maturity investments available for sale
$
130,669

 
$
12,197

 
$
(814
)
 
$
142,052

 
$
(2,013
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Represents the non-credit component of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income since the adoption of guidance related to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments under FASB ASC Topic Financial Instruments – Debt and Equity Securities, during the second quarter of 2009, adjusted for subsequent sales of securities. It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date.
Contractual maturities of fixed maturity investments are as follows. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading
 
Available for Sale
 
Total Fixed Maturity Investments
 
 
At March 31, 2012
Amortized 
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
 
Due in less than one year
$
385,039

 
$
385,831

 
$
437

 
$
428

 
$
385,476

 
$
386,259

 
 
Due after one through five years
2,348,627

 
2,357,996

 
8,861

 
9,348

 
2,357,488

 
2,367,344

 
 
Due after five through ten years
619,557

 
636,756

 
8,658

 
9,335

 
628,215

 
646,091

 
 
Due after ten years
120,767

 
130,754

 
3,725

 
4,194

 
124,492

 
134,948

 
 
Mortgage-backed
649,942

 
659,479

 
86,800

 
97,126

 
736,742

 
756,605

 
 
Asset-backed
6,010

 
6,011

 
4,650

 
4,861

 
10,660

 
10,872

 
 
Total
$
4,129,942

 
$
4,176,827

 
$
113,131

 
$
125,292

 
$
4,243,073

 
$
4,302,119

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Equity Investments Trading
The following table summarizes the fair value of equity investments trading:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
 
Financial institution securities
$
53,080

 
$
50,560

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pledged Investments
At March 31, 2012, $1,252.1 million of cash and investments at fair value were on deposit with, or in trust accounts for the benefit of various counterparties, including with respect to the Company's principal letter of credit facility. Of this amount, $483.0 million is on deposit with, or in trust accounts for the benefit of, U.S. state regulatory authorities.
Net Investment Income, Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments and Net Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
The components of net investment income are as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31,
2012
 
2011
 
 
Fixed maturity investments
$
26,333

 
$
27,913

 
 
Short term investments
500

 
595

 
 
Equity investments
170

 
14

 
 
Other investments
 
 
 
 
 
Hedge funds and private equity investments
28,473

 
23,507

 
 
Other
14,170

 
10,827

 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
26

 
41

 
 
 
69,672

 
62,897

 
 
Investment expenses
(2,701
)
 
(2,616
)
 
 
Net investment income
$
66,971

 
$
60,281

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and net other-than-temporary impairments are as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31,
2012
 
2011
 
 
Gross realized gains
$
36,286

 
$
10,562

 
 
Gross realized losses
(6,950
)
 
(12,617
)
 
 
Net realized gains (losses) on fixed maturity investments
29,336

 
(2,055
)
 
 
Net unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity investments trading
14,257

 
(3,758
)
 
 
Net unrealized gains on equity investments trading
2,520

 
599

 
 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
$
46,113

 
$
(5,214
)
 
 
Total other-than-temporary impairments
$
(161
)
 
$

 
 
Portion recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes
27

 

 
 
Net other-than-temporary impairments
$
(134
)
 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The following table provides an analysis of the length of time the Company’s fixed maturity investments available for sale in an unrealized loss have been in a continual unrealized loss position.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Greater
 
Total
 
 
At March 31, 2012
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
 
Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)
$
240

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
240

 
$
(2
)
 
 
Corporate
1,838

 
(101
)
 
513

 
(142
)
 
2,351

 
(243
)
 
 
Non-agency mortgage-backed
555

 
(6
)
 
813

 
(26
)
 
1,368

 
(32
)
 
 
Total
$
2,633

 
$
(109
)
 
$
1,326

 
$
(168
)
 
$
3,959

 
$
(277
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Greater
 
Total
 
 
At December 31, 2011
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
 
Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)
$
915

 
$
(9
)
 
$
42

 
$
(3
)
 
$
957

 
$
(12
)
 
 
Corporate
3,935

 
(385
)
 
412

 
(132
)
 
4,347

 
(517
)
 
 
Non-agency mortgage-backed
8,024

 
(224
)
 
798

 
(60
)
 
8,822

 
(284
)
 
 
Commercial mortgage-backed

 

 
455

 
(1
)
 
455

 
(1
)
 
 
Total
$
12,874

 
$
(618
)
 
$
1,707

 
$
(196
)
 
$
14,581

 
$
(814
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

At March 31, 2012, the Company held 15 fixed maturity investments available for sale securities that were in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater. The Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities before the anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis. The Company performed reviews of its fixed maturity investments available for sale for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, in order to determine whether declines in the fair value below the amortized cost basis were considered other-than-temporary in accordance with the applicable guidance, as discussed below.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Process
The Company's process for assessing whether declines in the fair value of its fixed maturity investments available for sale represent impairments that are other-than-temporary includes reviewing each fixed maturity investment available for sale that is impaired and determining: (i) if the Company has the intent to sell the debt security or (ii) if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery; and (iii) whether a credit loss exists, that is, where the Company expects that the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security are less than the amortized cost basis of the security.
In assessing the Company’s intent to sell securities, the Company’s procedures may include actions such as discussing planned sales with its third party investment managers, reviewing sales that have occurred shortly after the balance sheet date, and consideration of other qualitative factors that may be indicative of the Company’s intent to sell or hold the relevant securities. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recognized $Nil other-than-temporary impairments due to the Company’s intent to sell these securities as of March 31, 2012 (2011 – $Nil).
In assessing whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell a security before its anticipated recovery, the Company considers various factors including its future cash flow forecasts and requirements, legal and regulatory requirements, the level of its cash, cash equivalents, short term investments, fixed maturity investments trading and fixed maturity investments available for sale in an unrealized gain position, and other relevant factors. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recognized $Nil of other-than-temporary impairments due to required sales (2011 – $Nil).
In evaluating credit losses, the Company considers a variety of factors in the assessment of a security including: (i) the time period during which there has been a significant decline below cost; (ii) the extent of the decline below cost and par; (iii) the potential for the security to recover in value; (iv) an analysis of the financial condition of the issuer; (v) the rating of the issuer; (vi) the implied rating of the issuer based on an analysis of option adjusted spreads; (vii) the absolute level of the option adjusted spread for the issuer; and (viii) an analysis of the collateral structure and credit support of the security, if applicable.
Once the Company determines that it is possible that a credit loss may exist for a security, the Company performs a detailed review of the cash flows expected to be collected from the issuer. The Company estimates expected cash flows by applying estimated default probabilities and recovery rates to the contractual cash flows of the issuer, with such default and recovery rates reflecting long-term historical averages adjusted to reflect current credit, economic and market conditions, giving due consideration to collateral and credit support, if applicable, and discounting the expected cash flows at the purchase yield on the security. In instances in which a determination is made that an impairment exists but the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis, the impairment is separated into: (i) the amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss; and (ii) the amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors. The amount of the other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings. The amount of the other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recognized $0.1 million of other-than-temporary impairments which were recognized in earnings and $27 thousand related to other factors which were recognized in other comprehensive income (2011 – $Nil and $Nil, respectively).
The following table provides a rollforward of the amount of other-than-temporary impairments related to credit losses recognized in earnings for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
Balance – January 1
$
564

 
$
3,098

 
 
Additions:
 
 
 
 
 
Amount related to credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognized

 

 
 
Amount related to credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized
9

 

 
 
Reductions:
 
 
 
 
 
Securities sold during the period
(53
)
 
(223
)
 
 
Securities for which the amount previously recognized in other comprehensive income was recognized in earnings, because the Company intends to sell the security or is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security

 

 
 
Increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security

 

 
 
Balance – March 31
$
520

 
$
2,875