v2.4.0.6
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Fair Value Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities on Recurring Basis

The following table presents the level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities are measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2012:

 

(Amounts in Thousands)   Total     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
Assets:                                
U.S. treasury securities   $ 46,863     $ 46,863     $     $  
U.S. government agencies     54,381             54,381        
Municipal bonds     273,052             273,052        
Corporate bonds and other bonds:                                
Finance     754,629             754,629        
Industrial     272,761             272,761        
Utilities     39,301             39,301        
Commercial mortgage backed securities     10,118             10,118        
Residential mortgage backed securities:                                
Agency backed     367,430             367,430        
Non-agency backed     7,224             7,224        
Equity securities     25,830       25,830              
Short term investments     33,134       33,134              
Other investments     15,103                   15,103  
Life settlement contracts     151,092                   151,092  
    $ 2,050,918     $ 105,827     $ 1,778,896     $ 166,195  
Liabilities:                                
Equity securities sold but not yet purchased, market   $ 58     $ 58     $     $  
Fixed maturity securities sold but not yet purchased, market     56,920             56,920        
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value     231,919             231,919        
Life settlement contract profit commission     11,465                   11,465  
Derivatives     4,472                   4,472  
    $ 304,834     $ 58     $ 288,839     $ 15,937  
Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Assets And Liabilities

The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets and liabilities for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

 

Balance as of
March 31,
2012

   

 

 

 

Net income

   

 

Other
comprehensive
income

   

 

Purchases
and
issuances

   

 

 

Sales and
settlements

    Net
transfers
into (out of)
Level 3
   

 

Balance as
of June 30,
2012

 
Other investments   $ 14,865     $ (403 )   $     $ 677     $ (36 )   $     $ 15,103  
Life settlement contracts     142,575       7,456             11,135       (10,074 )           151,092  
Life settlement contract profit commission     (12,050 )     585                               (11,465 )
Derivatives     (3,595 )           (877 )                       (4,472 )
Total   $ 141,795     $ 7,638     $ (877 )   $ 11,812     $ (10,110 )   $     $ 150,258  

  

(Amounts in Thousands)

   

Balance as of
December 31,
2011

   

Net income

   

Other
comprehensive
income

   

Purchases
and
issuances

   

Sales and
settlements

    Net
transfers
into (out of)
Level 3
    Balance as
of
June 30,
2012
 
Other investments   $ 14,588     $ (4,352 )   $ 4,535     $ 747     $ (415 )   $     $ 15,103  
Life settlement contracts     131,387       15,416             14,363       (10,074 )           151,092  
Life settlement contract profit commission     (12,022 )     557                               (11,465 )
Derivatives     (3,508 )           (964 )                       (4,472 )
Total   $ 130,445     $ 11,621     $ 3,571     $ 15,110     $ (10,489 )   $     $ 150,258  

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

 

Balance as of
March 31,
2011

   

 

 

 

Net income

   

 

Other
comprehensive
income

   

 

Purchases
and
issuances

   

 

 

Sales and
settlements

    Net
transfers
into (out of)
Level 3
    Balance as
of
June 30,
2011
 
Other investments   $ 22,512     $     $ (875 )   $ 786     $ (415 )   $     $ 22,008  
Life settlement contracts     63,686       33,842             11,182                   108,710  
Life settlement contract profit commission     (5,589 )     (3,678 )                             (9,267 )
Total   $ 80,609     $ 30,164     $ (875 )   $ 11,968     $ (415 )   $     $ 121,451  

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

 

Balance as of
December 31,
2010

   

 

 

 

Net income

   

 

Other
comprehensive
income

   

 

Purchases
and
issuances

   

 

 

Sales and
settlements

    Net
transfers
into (out of)
Level 3
    Balance as
of
June 30,
2011
 
Other investments   $ 21,514     $ 661     $ (377 )   $ 866     $ (656 )   $     $ 22,008  
Life settlement contracts     22,155       57,962             28,593                   108,710  
Life settlement contract profit commission     (4,711 )     (4,556 )                             (9,267 )
Total   $ 38,958     $ 54,067     $ (377 )   $ 29,459     $ (656 )   $     $ 121,451  
Fair Value of Portfolio of Life Insurance Policies

The following summarizes data utilized in estimating the fair value of the portfolio of life insurance policies for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and, as described in Note 5, only includes data for policies to which the Company assigned value at those dates:

 

    June 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
Average age of insured     78       77  
Average life expectancy, months (1)     148       155  
Average face amount per policy (Amounts in Thousands)   $ 6,703     $ 6,703  
Fair value discount rate     7.5 %     7.5 %
Internal rate of return (2)     15.6 %     14.1 %

  

  (1) Mortality rates: standard life expectancy as adjusted for insured’s specific circumstances.

  (2)

Internal rate of return includes a risk premium which represents risk adjustments applied to the estimated present value of cash flows based on the following factors: (i) the volatility in life expectancy of insureds and the associated level of future premium payments and (ii) the projected risk of non-payment, including the financial health of the insurance carrier, the possibility of legal challenges from the insurance carrier or others and the possibility of regulatory changes that may affect payment.

Increase or (Decrease) in Carrying Value of Investment in Life Insurance Policies

If the life expectancies were increased or decreased by 4 months and the discount factors were increased or decreased by 1% while all other variables are held constant, the carrying value of the investment in life insurance policies would increase or (decrease) by the unaudited amounts summarized below for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 

    Change in life expectancy  
(Amounts in Thousands)   Plus 4
Months
    Minus 4
Months
 
Investment in life policies:                
June 30, 2012   $ (23,579 )   $ 26,574  
December 31, 2011   $ (18,778 )   $ 20,785  

 

 

    Change in discount rate  
(Amounts in Thousands)   Plus 1%     Minus 1%  
Investment in life policies:                
June 30, 2012   $ (16,653 )   $ 19,040  
December 31, 2011   $ (13,802 )   $ 15,804