v2.4.0.8
INVESTMENTS
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
INVESTMENTS [Text Block]
a)     Fixed Maturities and Equities

The amortized cost or cost and fair values of our fixed maturities and equities were as follows:
 
 
Amortized
Cost or
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Non-credit
OTTI
in AOCI(5)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At June 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency
$
1,369,338

 
$
1,944

 
$
(32,468
)
 
$
1,338,814

 
$

 
 
Non-U.S. government
1,212,124

 
7,444

 
(42,619
)
 
1,176,949

 

 
 
Corporate debt
3,458,874

 
65,487

 
(44,445
)
 
3,479,916

 

 
 
Agency RMBS(1)
2,353,080

 
23,441

 
(42,897
)
 
2,333,624

 

 
 
CMBS(2)
769,422

 
11,964

 
(6,736
)
 
774,650

 

 
 
Non-Agency RMBS
87,243

 
2,395

 
(772
)
 
88,866

 
(818
)
 
 
ABS(3)
912,073

 
6,150

 
(6,542
)
 
911,681

 

 
 
Municipals(4)
1,525,233

 
32,365

 
(17,186
)
 
1,540,412

 

 
 
Total fixed maturities
$
11,687,387

 
$
151,190

 
$
(193,665
)
 
$
11,644,912

 
$
(818
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks
$
334,809

 
$
63,721

 
$
(8,350
)
 
$
390,180

 
 
 
 
Exchange-traded funds
105,396

 
13,840

 

 
119,236

 
 
 
 
Non-U.S. bond mutual funds
106,326

 
3,053

 

 
109,379

 
 
 
 
Total equity securities
$
546,531

 
$
80,614

 
$
(8,350
)
 
$
618,795

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency
$
1,413,520

 
$
9,484

 
$
(119
)
 
$
1,422,885

 
$

 
 
Non-U.S. government
1,076,501

 
30,276

 
(2,201
)
 
1,104,576

 

 
 
Corporate debt
3,746,616

 
135,658

 
(5,892
)
 
3,876,382

 

 
 
Agency RMBS
2,594,180

 
67,398

 
(1,670
)
 
2,659,908

 

 
 
CMBS
814,211

 
25,999

 
(126
)
 
840,084

 

 
 
Non-Agency RMBS
93,266

 
2,503

 
(570
)
 
95,199

 
(884
)
 
 
ABS
639,614

 
10,774

 
(7,182
)
 
643,206

 

 
 
Municipals
1,227,764

 
58,770

 
(725
)
 
1,285,809

 

 
 
Total fixed maturities
$
11,605,672

 
$
340,862

 
$
(18,485
)
 
$
11,928,049

 
$
(884
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks
$
398,975

 
$
51,821

 
$
(7,398
)
 
$
443,398

 
 
 
 
Exchange-traded funds
109,434

 
9,727

 

 
119,161

 
 
 
 
Non-U.S. bond mutual funds
99,897

 
4,092

 

 
103,989

 
 
 
 
Total equity securities
$
608,306

 
$
65,640

 
$
(7,398
)
 
$
666,548

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) originated by U.S. agencies.
(2)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS).
(3)
Asset-backed securities (ABS) include debt tranched securities collateralized primarily by auto loans, student loans, credit cards, and other asset types. This asset class also includes collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and collateralized debt obligations (CDOs).
(4)
Municipals include bonds issued by states, municipalities and political subdivisions.
(5)
Represents the non-credit component of the other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses, adjusted for subsequent sales of securities. It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date.

In the normal course of investing activities, we actively manage allocations to non-controlling tranches of structured securities (variable interests) issued by VIEs. These structured securities include RMBS, CMBS and ABS and are included in the above table. Additionally, within our other investments portfolio, we also invest in limited partnerships (hedge funds) and CLO equity tranched securities (CLO Equities), which are all variable interests issued by VIEs (see Note 3(b)). For these variable interests, we do not have the power to direct the activities that are most significant to the economic performance of the VIEs and accordingly we are not the primary beneficiary for any of these VIEs. Our maximum exposure to loss on these interests is limited to the amount of our investment. We have not provided financial or other support with respect to these structured securities other than our original investment.

Contractual Maturities

The contractual maturities of fixed maturities are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
% of Total
Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At June 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maturity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
$
642,706

 
$
644,440

 
5.5
%
 
 
Due after one year through five years
4,720,844

 
4,737,031

 
40.7
%
 
 
Due after five years through ten years
2,099,552

 
2,053,073

 
17.6
%
 
 
Due after ten years
102,467

 
101,547

 
0.9
%
 
 
 
7,565,569

 
7,536,091

 
64.7
%
 
 
Agency RMBS
2,353,080

 
2,333,624

 
20.0
%
 
 
CMBS
769,422

 
774,650

 
6.7
%
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS
87,243

 
88,866

 
0.8
%
 
 
ABS
912,073

 
911,681

 
7.8
%
 
 
Total
$
11,687,387

 
$
11,644,912

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maturity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
$
651,111

 
$
657,045

 
5.5
%
 
 
Due after one year through five years
4,880,039

 
4,989,151

 
41.8
%
 
 
Due after five years through ten years
1,847,295

 
1,951,569

 
16.4
%
 
 
Due after ten years
85,956

 
91,887

 
0.8
%
 
 
 
7,464,401

 
7,689,652

 
64.5
%
 
 
Agency RMBS
2,594,180

 
2,659,908

 
22.3
%
 
 
CMBS
814,211

 
840,084

 
7.0
%
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS
93,266

 
95,199

 
0.8
%
 
 
ABS
639,614

 
643,206

 
5.4
%
 
 
Total
$
11,605,672

 
$
11,928,049

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Gross Unrealized Losses

The following table summarizes fixed maturities and equities in an unrealized loss position and the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized loss position:
 
  
12 months or greater
 
Less than 12 months
 
Total
 
 
  
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At June 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency
$

 
$

 
$
973,867

 
$
(32,468
)
 
$
973,867

 
$
(32,468
)
 
 
Non-U.S. government
16,715

 
(813
)
 
823,750

 
(41,806
)
 
840,465

 
(42,619
)
 
 
Corporate debt
40,633

 
(2,016
)
 
1,527,022

 
(42,429
)
 
1,567,655

 
(44,445
)
 
 
Agency RMBS
295

 
(3
)
 
1,434,587

 
(42,894
)
 
1,434,882

 
(42,897
)
 
 
CMBS
71

 

 
354,550

 
(6,736
)
 
354,621

 
(6,736
)
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS
4,477

 
(404
)
 
19,068

 
(368
)
 
23,545

 
(772
)
 
 
ABS
66,137

 
(4,559
)
 
268,462

 
(1,983
)
 
334,599

 
(6,542
)
 
 
Municipals
1,323

 
(45
)
 
645,982

 
(17,141
)
 
647,305

 
(17,186
)
 
 
Total fixed maturities
$
129,651

 
$
(7,840
)
 
$
6,047,288

 
$
(185,825
)
 
$
6,176,939

 
$
(193,665
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks
$
9,138

 
$
(1,202
)
 
$
74,569

 
$
(7,148
)
 
$
83,707

 
$
(8,350
)
 
 
Total equity securities
$
9,138

 
$
(1,202
)
 
$
74,569

 
$
(7,148
)
 
$
83,707

 
$
(8,350
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency
$

 
$

 
$
119,730

 
$
(119
)
 
$
119,730

 
$
(119
)
 
 
Non-U.S. government
44,568

 
(1,453
)
 
153,134

 
(748
)
 
197,702

 
(2,201
)
 
 
Corporate debt
95,511

 
(2,947
)
 
451,651

 
(2,945
)
 
547,162

 
(5,892
)
 
 
Agency RMBS
9,557

 
(148
)
 
521,400

 
(1,522
)
 
530,957

 
(1,670
)
 
 
CMBS
1,749

 
(16
)
 
69,615

 
(110
)
 
71,364

 
(126
)
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS
11,026

 
(537
)
 
115

 
(33
)
 
11,141

 
(570
)
 
 
ABS
99,514

 
(7,034
)
 
39,296

 
(148
)
 
138,810

 
(7,182
)
 
 
Municipals
6,386

 
(270
)
 
77,766

 
(455
)
 
84,152

 
(725
)
 
 
Total fixed maturities
$
268,311

 
$
(12,405
)
 
$
1,432,707

 
$
(6,080
)
 
$
1,701,018

 
$
(18,485
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks
$
11,554

 
$
(1,793
)
 
$
95,697

 
$
(5,605
)
 
$
107,251

 
$
(7,398
)
 
 
Total equity securities
$
11,554

 
$
(1,793
)
 
$
95,697

 
$
(5,605
)
 
$
107,251

 
$
(7,398
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Fixed Maturities

At June 30, 2013, 1,512 fixed maturities (2012: 478) were in an unrealized loss position of $194 million (2012: $18 million), of which$11 million (2012: $3 million) was related to securities below investment grade or not rated.

At June 30, 2013, 95 (2012: 146) securities have been in continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater and have a fair value of $130 million (2012: $268 million). Following our credit impairment review, we concluded that these securities as well as the remaining securities in an unrealized loss position in the above table were temporarily impaired at June 30, 2013, and are expected to recover in value as the securities approach maturity. Further, at June 30, 2013, we did not intend to sell these securities in an unrealized loss position and it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell these securities before the anticipated recovery of their amortized costs.

Equity Securities

At June 30, 2013, 101 securities (2012: 106) were in an unrealized loss position of $8 million (2012: $7 million).

At June 30, 2013, 19 (2012: 17) securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater and have a fair value of $9 million (2012: $12 million). Based on our impairment review process and our ability and intent to hold these securities for a reasonable period of time sufficient for a full recovery, we concluded that all remaining equities in an unrealized loss position were temporarily impaired at June 30, 2013.
 
b) Other Investments

The following table provides a breakdown of our investments in hedge funds, direct lending funds and CLO Equities, together with additional information relating to the liquidity of each category:
 
 
Fair Value
 
Redemption Frequency
(if currently eligible)
 
  Redemption  
  Notice Period  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At June 30, 2013
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Long/short equity funds
$
397,917

 
41
%
 
Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-annually
 
30-60 days
 
 
Multi-strategy funds
264,688

 
28
%
 
Quarterly, Semi-annually
 
60-95 days
 
 
Event-driven funds
192,185

 
20
%
 
Quarterly, Annually
 
45-95 days
 
 
Leveraged bank loan funds
50,249

 
5
%
 
Quarterly
 
65 days
 
 
Direct lending funds
4,232

 
%
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
 
CLO - Equities
53,044

 
6
%
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
 
Total other investments
$
962,315

 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2012
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Long/short equity funds
$
302,680

 
36
%
 
Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-annually
 
30-60 days
 
 
Multi-strategy funds
244,075

 
29
%
 
Quarterly, Semi-annually
 
60-95 days
 
 
Event-driven funds
171,479

 
20
%
 
Quarterly, Annually
 
45-95 days
 
 
Leveraged bank loan funds
62,768

 
8
%
 
Quarterly
 
65 days
 
 
Direct lending funds

 
%
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
 
CLO - Equities
62,435

 
7
%
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
 
Total other investments
$
843,437

 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
n/a - not applicable

The investment strategies for the above funds are as follows:

Long/short equity funds: Seek to achieve attractive returns by executing an equity trading strategy involving both long and short investments in publicly-traded equities.

Multi-strategy funds: Seek to achieve above-market returns by pursuing multiple investment strategies to diversify risks and reduce volatility. This category includes funds of hedge funds which invest in a large pool of hedge funds across a diversified range of hedge fund strategies.

Event-driven funds: Seek to achieve attractive returns by exploiting situations where announced or anticipated events create opportunities.

Leveraged bank loan funds: Seek to achieve attractive returns by investing primarily in bank loan collateral that has limited interest rate risk exposure.

Direct lending funds: Seek to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns, including significant current income generation, by investing in funds which provide financing directly to borrowers.

Two common redemption restrictions which may impact our ability to redeem our hedge funds are gates and lockups. A gate is a suspension of redemptions which may be implemented by the general partner or investment manager of the fund in order to defer, in whole or in part, the redemption request in the event the aggregate amount of redemption requests exceeds a predetermined percentage of the fund's net assets which may otherwise hinder the general partner or investment manager's ability to liquidate holdings in an orderly fashion in order to generate the cash necessary to fund extraordinarily large redemption payouts. A lockup period is the initial amount of time an investor is contractually required to hold the security before having the ability to redeem. During 2013 and 2012, neither of these restrictions impacted our redemption requests. At June 30, 2013, $95 million (2012: $38 million), representing 10% (2012: 5%) of our total hedge funds, relate to holdings where we are still within the lockup period. The expiries of these lockup periods range from April, 2014 to April, 2016. No other category contains investments currently subject to lockup.

At June 30, 2013, $14 million (2012: $29 million) of our hedge funds was invested in funds that are not accepting redemption requests. Of this amount, substantially all relates to a leveraged bank loan fund in a period of planned principal distributions which has a target completion date in late 2013 and, based on current market conditions and payments made to date, management expects this target date to be met. The remainder primarily relates to funds that entered liquidation or had their assets side pocketed as a result of the global financial crisis which began in late 2008. For these funds, management is currently unable to estimate when those funds will be distributed.

At June 30, 2013, we have $106 million (2012: $40 million) of unfunded commitments within our other investments portfolio relating to our future investments in direct lending funds. Once the full amount of committed capital has been called by the General Partner of each of these funds, the assets will not be fully returned until the completion of the fund's investment term. These funds have investment terms ranging from 5-10 years and the General Partners of certain funds have the option to extend the term by up to three years.

c) Net Investment Income

Net investment income was derived from the following sources:
 
  
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
  
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
$
74,503

 
$
76,544

 
$
144,185

 
$
156,181

 
 
Other investments
11,848

 
(2,304
)
 
55,279

 
38,116

 
 
Equity securities
3,134

 
5,071

 
4,548

 
6,180

 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
1,265

 
1,663

 
2,533

 
3,271

 
 
Short-term investments
397

 
33

 
929

 
188

 
 
Gross investment income
91,147

 
81,007

 
207,474

 
203,936

 
 
Investment expenses
(8,035
)
 
(6,558
)
 
(15,455
)
 
(13,464
)
 
 
Net investment income
$
83,112

 
$
74,449

 
$
192,019

 
$
190,472

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


d) Net Realized Investment Gains

The following table provides an analysis of net realized investment gains:
 
  
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
  
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross realized gains
$
44,487

 
$
72,354

 
$
103,268

 
$
140,600

 
 
Gross realized losses
(33,253
)
 
(40,466
)
 
(53,822
)
 
(86,377
)
 
 
Net OTTI recognized in earnings
(5,127
)
 
(13,739
)
 
(6,025
)
 
(17,648
)
 
 
Net realized gains on fixed maturities and equity securities
6,107

 
18,149

 
43,421

 
36,575

 
 
Change in fair value of investment derivatives(1)
10,128

 
6,697

 
17,292

 
815

 
 
Fair value hedges(1)

 
5,559

 

 
7,506

 
 
Net realized investment gains
$
16,235

 
$
30,405

 
$
60,713

 
$
44,896

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Refer to Note 5 – Derivative Instruments

The following table summarizes the OTTI recognized in earnings by asset class:
 
  
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
  
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-U.S. government
$
25

 
$
999

 
$
25

 
$
999

 
 
Corporate debt
3,535

 
453

 
3,950

 
558

 
 
Non-Agency RMBS

 
911

 

 
2,119

 
 
ABS

 
298

 
129

 
478

 
 
 
3,560

 
2,661

 
4,104

 
4,154

 
 
Equities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stocks
1,046

 
2,075

 
1,400

 
4,491

 
 
Exchange-traded funds
521

 
9,003

 
521

 
9,003

 
 
 
1,567

 
11,078

 
1,921

 
13,494

 
 
Total OTTI recognized in earnings
$
5,127

 
$
13,739

 
$
6,025

 
$
17,648

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The following table provides a roll forward of the credit losses ("credit loss table"), before income taxes, for which a portion of the OTTI was recognized in AOCI:
 
  
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
  
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
$
1,712

 
$
2,047

 
$
1,809

 
$
2,061

 
 
Credit impairments recognized on securities not previously impaired

 

 

 

 
 
Additional credit impairments recognized on securities previously impaired

 

 

 

 
 
Change in timing of future cash flows on securities previously impaired

 

 

 

 
 
Intent to sell of securities previously impaired

 

 

 

 
 
Securities sold/redeemed/matured
(13
)
 
(98
)
 
(110
)
 
(112
)
 
 
Balance at end of period
$
1,699

 
$
1,949

 
$
1,699

 
$
1,949

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


e) Reverse Repurchase Agreements

At June 30, 2013, we held $211 million (2012: $39 million) of reverse repurchase agreements. These loans are fully collateralized, are generally outstanding for a short period of time and are presented on a gross basis as part of cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheet. The required collateral for these loans is either cash or U.S. Treasuries at a minimum rate of 102% of the loan principal. Upon maturity, we receive principal and interest income.