ITEM 1. BUSINESS
The Company.
Group, a Bermuda company, was established in 1999 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings. On February 24, 2000, a corporate restructuring was completed and Group became the new parent holding company of Holdings. Holdings continues to be the holding company for the Company’s U.S. based operations. Holders of shares of common stock of Holdings automatically became holders of the same number of common shares of Group. Prior to the restructuring, Group had no significant assets or capitalization and had not engaged in any business or prior activities other than in connection with the restructuring.
In connection with the February 24, 2000 restructuring, Group established a Bermuda-based reinsurance subsidiary, Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd. (“Bermuda Re”), which commenced business in the second half of 2000. Group also formed Everest Global Services, Inc., a Delaware subsidiary, to perform administrative functions for Group and its U.S. based and non-U.S. based subsidiaries.
On December 30, 2008, Group contributed Holdings to its Irish holding company, Holdings Ireland. Holdings Ireland is a direct subsidiary of Group and was established to serve as a holding company for the U.S. and Irish reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries. Effective July 1, 2016, the Company established a new Irish holding company, Everest Dublin Insurance Holdings Limited (Ireland) (“Everest Dublin Holdings”) and contributed Ireland Re to Everest Dublin Holdings.
Holdings, a Delaware corporation, was established in 1993 to serve as the parent holding company of Everest Re, a Delaware property and casualty reinsurer formed in 1973. Until October 6, 1995, Holdings was an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“The Prudential”). On October 6, 1995, The Prudential sold its entire interest in Holdings in an initial public offering.
During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company established a new Irish insurance subsidiary, Everest Insurance Ireland, designated activity company (“Ireland Insurance”), which writes insurance business mainly in the European markets.
The Company’s principal business, conducted through its operating segments, is the underwriting of reinsurance and insurance in the U.S., Bermuda and international markets. The Company had gross written premiums, in 2020, of $10.5 billion with approximately 69.5% representing reinsurance and 30.5% representing insurance. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2020 was $9.7 billion. The Company underwrites reinsurance both through brokers and directly with ceding companies, giving it the flexibility to pursue business based on the ceding company’s preferred reinsurance purchasing method. The Company underwrites insurance principally through brokers, surplus lines brokers and general agent relationships. Group’s active operating subsidiaries, are each rated A+ (“Superior”) by A.M. Best Company (“A.M. Best”), a leading provider of insurer ratings that assigns financial strength ratings to insurance companies based on their ability to meet their obligations to policyholders.
Following is a summary of the Company’s principal operating subsidiaries:
 Bermuda Re, a Bermuda insurance company and a direct subsidiary of Group, is registered in Bermuda as a Class 4 insurer and long-term insurer and is authorized to write both reinsurance and insurance property and casualty and life and annuity business. Bermuda Re’s UK branch writes property and casualty reinsurance to the United Kingdom and European markets. At December 31, 2020, Bermuda Re had shareholder’s equity of $2.9 billion.
 Everest International Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Everest International”), a Bermuda insurance company and a direct subsidiary of Group, is registered in Bermuda as a Class 4 insurer and is authorized to write property and casualty business. Through 2020, all of Everest International’s business has been inter-affiliate quota share reinsurance assumed from Everest Re, the UK branch of Bermuda Re, Ireland Re and Ireland Insurance. At December 31, 2020, Everest International had shareholder’s equity of $3.4 billion.
 Ireland Re, an Ireland reinsurance company and an indirect subsidiary of Group, is licensed to write non-life reinsurance, both directly and through brokers, for the London and European markets.
 Ireland Insurance, an Ireland insurance company and an indirect subsidiary of Group, is licensed to write insurance for the European markets.
 Everest Re, a Delaware insurance company and a direct subsidiary of Holdings, is a licensed property and casualty insurer and/or reinsurer in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam and is authorized to conduct reinsurance business in Canada, Singapore and Brazil. Everest Re underwrites property and casualty reinsurance for insurance and reinsurance companies in the U.S. and international markets. At December 31, 2020, Everest Re had statutory surplus of $5.3 billion.
 Everest Insurance Company of Canada (“Everest Canada”), a Canadian insurance company and direct subsidiary of Holdings Ireland, is licensed to write property and casualty insurance in all Canadian provinces.
 Everest National Insurance Company (“Everest National”), a Delaware insurance company and a direct subsidiary of Everest Re, is licensed in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and is authorized to write property and casualty insurance on an admitted basis in the jurisdictions in which it is licensed. The majority of Everest National’s business is reinsured by its parent, Everest Re.
 Everest Indemnity Insurance Company (“Everest Indemnity”), a Delaware insurance company and a direct subsidiary of Everest Re, writes excess and surplus lines insurance business in the U.S. on a non-admitted basis. Excess and surplus lines insurance is specialty property and liability coverage that an insurer not licensed to write insurance in a particular jurisdiction is permitted to provide to insureds when the specific specialty coverage is unavailable from admitted insurers. Everest Indemnity is licensed in Delaware and is eligible to write business on a non-admitted basis in all other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The majority of Everest Indemnity’s business is reinsured by its parent, Everest Re.
 Everest Security Insurance Company (“Everest Security”), a Georgia insurance company and a direct subsidiary of Everest Re, writes property and casualty insurance on an admitted basis in Georgia and Alabama and is approved as an eligible surplus lines insurer in Delaware. The majority of Everest Security’s business is reinsured by its parent, Everest Re.
 Everest International Assurance, Ltd. (“Everest Assurance”), a Bermuda company and a direct subsidiary of Holdings is registered in Bermuda as a Class 3A general business insurer and as a Class C long-term insurer. Everest Assurance has made a one-time election under section 953(d) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code to be a U.S. income tax paying “Controlled Foreign Corporation.” By making this election, Everest Assurance is authorized to write life reinsurance and casualty reinsurance in both Bermuda and the U.S.
 Everest Premier Insurance Company (“Everest Premier”), a Delaware insurance company and a direct subsidiary of Everest Re, is licensed to write property and casualty insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
 Everest Denali Insurance Company (“Everest Denali”), a Delaware insurance company and a direct subsidiary of Everest Re, is licensed to write property and casualty insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Reinsurance Industry Overview.
Reinsurance is an arrangement in which an insurance company, the reinsurer, agrees to indemnify another insurance or reinsurance company, the ceding company, against all or a portion of the insurance risks underwritten by the ceding company under one or more insurance contracts. Reinsurance can provide a ceding company with several benefits, including a reduction in its net liability on individual risks or classes of risks, catastrophe protection from large and/or multiple losses and/or a reduction in operating leverage as measured by the ratio of net premiums and reserves to capital. Reinsurance also provides a ceding company with additional underwriting capacity by permitting it to accept larger risks and write more business than would be acceptable relative to the ceding company’s financial resources. Reinsurance does not discharge the ceding company from its liability to policyholders; rather, it reimburses the ceding company for covered losses.
There are two basic types of reinsurance arrangements: treaty and facultative. Treaty reinsurance obligates the ceding company to cede and the reinsurer to assume a specified portion of a type or category of risks insured by the ceding company. Treaty reinsurers do not separately evaluate each of the individual risks assumed under their treaties, instead, the reinsurer relies upon the pricing and underwriting decisions made by the ceding company. In facultative reinsurance, the ceding company cedes and the reinsurer assumes all or part of the risk under a single insurance contract. Facultative reinsurance is negotiated separately for each insurance contract that is reinsured. Facultative reinsurance, when purchased by ceding companies, usually is intended to cover individual risks not covered by their reinsurance treaties because of the dollar limits involved or because the risk is unusual.
Both treaty and facultative reinsurance can be written on either a pro rata basis or an excess of loss basis. Under pro rata reinsurance, the ceding company and the reinsurer share the premiums as well as the losses and expenses in an agreed proportion. Under excess of loss reinsurance, the reinsurer indemnifies the ceding company against all or a specified portion of losses and expenses in excess of a specified dollar amount, known as the ceding company's retention or reinsurer's attachment point, generally subject to a negotiated reinsurance contract limit.
In pro rata reinsurance, the reinsurer generally pays the ceding company a ceding commission. The ceding commission generally is based on the ceding company’s cost of acquiring the business being reinsured (commissions, premium taxes, assessments and miscellaneous administrative expense and may contain profit sharing provisions, whereby the ceding commission is adjusted based on loss experience). Premiums paid by the ceding company to a reinsurer for excess of loss reinsurance are not directly proportional to the premiums that the ceding company receives because the reinsurer does not assume a proportionate risk. There is usually no ceding commission on excess of loss reinsurance.
Reinsurers may purchase reinsurance to cover their own risk exposure. Reinsurance of a reinsurer's business is called a retrocession. Reinsurance companies cede risks under retrocessional agreements to other reinsurers, known as retrocessionaires, for reasons similar to those that cause insurers to purchase reinsurance: to reduce net liability on individual or classes of risks, protect against catastrophic losses, stabilize financial ratios and obtain additional underwriting capacity.
Reinsurance can be written through intermediaries, generally professional reinsurance brokers, or directly with ceding companies. From a ceding company's perspective, the broker and the direct distribution channels have
advantages and disadvantages. A ceding company's decision to select one distribution channel over the other will be influenced by its perception of such advantages and disadvantages relative to the reinsurance coverage being placed.
Business Strategy.
The Company’s business strategy is to sustain its leadership position within targeted reinsurance and insurance markets, provide effective management throughout the property and casualty underwriting cycle and thereby achieve an attractive return for its shareholders. The Company’s underwriting strategies seek to capitalize on its i) financial strength and capacity, ii) global franchise, iii) stable and experienced management team, iv) diversified product and distribution offerings, v) underwriting expertise and disciplined approach, vi) efficient and low-cost operating structure and vii) effective enterprise risk management practices.
The Company offers treaty and facultative reinsurance and admitted and non-admitted insurance. The Company’s products include the full range of property and casualty reinsurance and insurance coverages, including marine, aviation, surety, errors and omissions liability (“E&O”), directors’ and officers’ liability (“D&O”), medical malpractice, mortgage reinsurance, other specialty lines, accident and health (“A&H”) and workers’ compensation.
The Company’s underwriting strategies emphasizes underwriting profitability over premium volume. Key elements of this strategy include careful risk selection, appropriate pricing through strict underwriting discipline and adjustment of the Company’s business mix in response to changing market conditions. The Company focuses on reinsuring companies that effectively manage the underwriting cycle through proper analysis and pricing of underlying risks and whose underwriting guidelines and performance are compatible with its objectives.
The Company’s underwriting strategies emphasize flexibility and responsiveness to changing market conditions. The Company believes that its existing strengths, including its broad underwriting expertise, global presence, strong financial ratings and substantial capital, facilitate adjustments to its mix of business geographically, by line of business and by type of coverage, allowing it to participate in those market opportunities that provide the greatest potential for underwriting profitability. The Company’s insurance operations complement these strategies by accessing business that is not available on a reinsurance basis. The Company carefully monitors its mix of business across all operations to avoid unacceptable geographic or other risk concentrations.
Commencing in 2015 the Company initiated a strategic build out of its insurance platform through the investment in key leadership hires which in turn has brought significant underwriting talent and stronger direction in achieving its insurance program strategic goals of increased premium volume and improved underwriting results. Recent growth is coming from highly diversified areas including newly launched lines of business, as well as product and geographic expansion in existing lines of business. The Company is building a world-class insurance platform capable of offering products across lines and geographies, complementing its leading global reinsurance franchise. As part of this initiative, the Company launched a new syndicate through Lloyd’s of London and formed Ireland Insurance, providing access to additional international business and new product opportunities to further diversify and broaden its insurance portfolio going forward.
Marketing.
The Company writes business on a worldwide basis for many different customers and lines of business, thereby obtaining a broad spread of risk. The Company is not substantially dependent on any single customer, small group of customers, line of business or geographic area. For the 2020 calendar year, no single customer (ceding company or insured) generated more than 4% of the Company’s gross written premiums. The Company believes that a reduction of business from any one customer would not have a material adverse effect on its future financial condition or results of operations.
Approximately 63%, 31% and 6% of the Company’s 2020 gross written premiums were written in the broker reinsurance, insurance and direct reinsurance markets, respectively.
The broker reinsurance market consists of several substantial national and international brokers and a number of smaller specialized brokers. Brokers do not have the authority to bind the Company with respect to reinsurance agreements, nor does the Company commit in advance to accept any portion of a broker’s submitted business. Reinsurance business from any ceding company, whether new or renewal is subject to acceptance by the Company. Brokerage fees are generally paid by reinsurers. The Company’s ten largest brokers accounted for an aggregate of approximately 55% of gross written premiums in 2020. The largest broker, Marsh and McLennan, accounted for approximately 20% of gross written premiums. The second largest broker, Aon, accounted for approximately 16% of gross written premiums. The Company believes that a reduction of business assumed from any one broker would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The direct reinsurance market remains an important distribution channel for reinsurance business written by the Company. Direct placement of reinsurance enables the Company to access clients who prefer to place their reinsurance directly with reinsurers based upon the reinsurer’s in-depth understanding of the ceding company’s needs.
The Company’s insurance business mainly writes commercial property and casualty on an admitted and non-admitted basis. The business is written through wholesale and retail brokers, surplus lines brokers and through program administrators. In 2020, two program administrators accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s gross written premium each and included multiple independent programs for each program administrator with the largest representing 7% of the overall gross written premium. No other program administrator generated more than 2% of the Company’s gross written premium.
The Company continually evaluates each business relationship, including the underwriting expertise and experience brought to bear through the involved distribution channel, performs analyses to evaluate financial security, monitors performance and adjusts underwriting decisions accordingly.
Segment Results.
With recent changes in executive management and organizational structure, the Company manages its reinsurance and insurance operations as autonomous units and key strategic decisions are based on the aggregate operating results and projections for these segments of business. Accordingly, effective January 1, 2020, the Company revised it reporting segments to Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations. This replaces the previous reported segments of U.S. Reinsurance, International (reinsurance), Bermuda (reinsurance) and Insurance. The prior year presented segment information has been reformatted to reflect this change.
The Reinsurance operation writes worldwide property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies. Business is written in the U.S., Bermuda, and Ireland offices, as well as, through branches in Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The Insurance operation writes property and casualty insurance directly and through brokers, surplus lines brokers and general agents within the U.S., Canada and Europe through its offices in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and a branch located in Zurich.
These segments are managed independently, but conform with corporate guidelines with respect to pricing, risk management, control of aggregate catastrophe exposures, capital, investments and support operations. Management generally monitors and evaluates the financial performance of these operating segments based upon their underwriting results.
Underwriting results include earned premium less losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) incurred, commission and brokerage expenses and other underwriting expenses. We measure our underwriting results using ratios, in particular loss, commission and brokerage and other underwriting expense ratios, which,
respectively, divide incurred losses, commissions and brokerage and other underwriting expenses by premiums earned. For selected financial information regarding these segments, see ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and ITEM 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - Segment Results”.
Underwriting Operations.
The following five year table presents the distribution of the Company’s gross written premiums by its segments: Reinsurance and Insurance. The premiums for each segment are further split between property and casualty business and, for reinsurance business, between pro rata or excess of loss business:
Reinsurance Segment. The Company’s Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies. The Company’s Reinsurance segment business is written within three main Reinsurance markets - its U.S. Reinsurance market, its International Reinsurance market, and its Bermuda Reinsurance market.
The Company’s U.S. Reinsurance market includes property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, including marine, aviation, surety and A&H business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies within the U.S. The treaty property underwriters utilize sophisticated underwriting methods to analyze and price property business. The Company manages its exposures to catastrophe and other large losses by limiting exposures on individual contracts and limiting aggregate exposures to catastrophes in any zone and across contiguous zones. The treaty casualty business consists of professional liability, D&O liability, workers’ compensation, financial lines, excess and surplus lines and other liability coverages. As a result of the complex technical nature of most of these risks, the Company’s casualty underwriters tend to specialize by line of business and work closely with the Company’s pricing actuaries. Facultative business includes property, casualty, and national brokerage lines of business. The marine and aviation business is written primarily through brokers and contains a significant international
component. Surety business consists mainly of reinsurance of contract surety bonds. In 2020, $3,331.8 million of the Company’s gross written premiums were attributable to its U.S. Reinsurance market of which 53.9% was treaty property business, $31.8% treaty casualty business, 8.0% facultative business, 3.2% marine & aviation business, 1.6% surety business, and 1.5% A&H business. In addition, 60.6% was written on a pro rata basis and 39.4% was written on an excess of loss basis. The Company targets certain brokers and, through the broker market, specialty companies and small to medium sized standard lines companies. The Company also targets companies that place their business predominantly in the direct market, including small to medium sized regional ceding companies, and seeks to develop long-term relationships with those companies. In addition, the U.S. Reinsurance market includes portions of reinsurance programs for large, national insurance companies. In 2020, 95.7% and 4.3% of the Company’s gross written premiums in the U.S. reinsurance market were written in the broker reinsurance and direct reinsurance markets, respectively.
The Company’s International Reinsurance market focuses on opportunities in several targeted international locations, including Canada, with a branch in Toronto; Asia, with a branch in Singapore; and Latin America, Brazil, Africa and the Middle East, which business is serviced from Everest Re’s Miami and New Jersey offices. The Company also writes from New Jersey “home-foreign” business, which provides reinsurance on the international portfolios of U.S. insurers. In 2020, $1,935.1 million of gross written premiums were attributable to International operation. Of the Company’s 2020 international gross written premiums, $1,410.9 million was written out of our Miami and New Jersey offices of which 71.8% was treaty reinsurance and 28.2% facultative reinsurance, $269.9 million out of our Canadian branch which 78.6% was treaty reinsurance and 21.4% facultative reinsurance, and $254.3 million out of our Singapore branch which mainly was treaty business. 40.6% of International business represented property pro rata business, 32.1% represented property excess of loss business, 13.7% represented casualty pro rata business and 13.6% represented casualty excess of loss business. As with the U.S. Reinsurance market, the Company’s International Reinsurance market focuses on financially sound companies that have strong management and underwriting discipline and expertise. Of the Company’s 2020 gross written premiums in its International Reinsurance market, 76.4% was written through brokers, with 23.6% written directly with ceding companies.
The Company’s Bermuda Reinsurance market includes property and casualty reinsurance through Bermuda Re and property and casualty reinsurance through its UK branch as well as through Ireland Re. The Company also writes assumed business with the segregated cells of Mt. Logan Re Ltd. (Bermuda) (“Mt. Logan Re”) which represents a diversified set of catastrophe exposures, diversified by risk/peril and across different geographical regions globally. In 2020, $2,014.8 million of gross written premiums were attributable to Bermuda operation. Of the Company’s 2020 gross written premiums in its Bermuda Reinsurance market, $909.2 million was written through Bermuda Re, $666.4 million through our UK branch, $420.4 million through Ireland Re and $18.8 million through Mt. Logan. 46.6% of Bermuda business represented casualty pro rata business, 25.4% represented property pro rata business, 14.8% represented casualty excess of loss business and 13.2% represented property excess of loss business. 95.4% of Bermuda operations was written through brokers, with 4.6% written directly with ceding companies.
Insurance Segment. The Insurance segment writes property and casualty insurance through general agents, wholesale and retail brokers and surplus lines brokers within the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Bermuda, and through the Company’s Lloyds Syndicate. In 2020, the Company’s Insurance segment wrote $3,200.6 million of gross written premiums, of which 70% was casualty and 30% was property, principally targeting commercial business. Insurance business written directly through the Company’s offices represented $2,527.6 million or 79% of the segment’s premium and $673.0 million or 21% was written through program administrators.
In 2020 the Insurance Segment wrote $1,004.5 million of Specialty Casualty business consisting primarily of auto liability, primary and excess general liability, and some products liability written by multiple divisions with the largest including Specialty Casualty, Everest Underwriting Partners (“EUP”), Energy, Sports and Leisure, and Risk Management. Workers Compensation totaled $510.1 million of premium, written with a focus on the manufacturing, hospitality, construction and real estate industries, and written principally by the Risk Management, EUP and Energy divisions. Property / Short Tail business totaled $604.9 million consisting of
commercial property, auto physical damage and contingency business, written principally by the US Property, EUP, Lloyd’s Syndicate and Everest Canada divisions. Professional Liability totaled $523.3 million consisting primarily of directors’ and officers’ liability, error and omissions, fiduciary liability, cyber liability, crime and employment practices liability written principally by the Everest Specialty Underwriters (“ESU”) and Lloyd’s Syndicate divisions. Accident and Health totaled $370.0 million which includes principally medical stop loss, specialty medical business, pro sports disability and medicare supplement business. Other Specialty totaled $187.8 million consisting of reps and warranty, credit and political risk, and surety written within the ESU division.
Geographic Areas. The Company conducts its business in Bermuda, the U.S. and a number of foreign countries. For select financial information about geographic areas, see ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 17 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Risks attendant to the foreign operations of the Company parallel those attendant to the U.S. operations of the Company, with the primary exception of foreign exchange risks. For more information about the risks, see ITEM 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Safe Harbor Disclosure”.
Underwriting.
One of the Company’s strategies is to "lead" as many of the reinsurance treaties it underwrites as possible. The Company leads on approximately two-thirds of its treaty reinsurance business as measured by premium. The lead reinsurer on a treaty generally accepts one of the largest percentage shares of the treaty and is in the strongest position to negotiate price, terms and conditions. Management believes this strategy enables it to obtain more favorable terms and conditions on the treaties on which it participates. When the Company does not lead the treaty, it may still suggest changes to any aspect of the treaty. The Company may decline to participate on a treaty based upon its assessment of all relevant factors.
The Company’s treaty underwriting process involves a team approach among the Company’s underwriters, actuaries and claim staff. Treaties are reviewed for compliance with the Company’s general underwriting standards and most larger treaties are subjected to detailed actuarial analysis. The actuarial models used in such analyses are tailored in each case to the subject exposures and loss experience. The Company does not separately evaluate each of the individual risks assumed under its treaties. The Company does, however, evaluate the underwriting guidelines, data and other information of its ceding companies to determine their adequacy prior to entering into a treaty. The Company may also conduct underwriting, operational and claim audits at the offices of ceding companies to monitor adherence to underwriting guidelines. Underwriting audits focus on the quality of the underwriting staff, pricing and risk selection and rate monitoring over time. Claim audits may be performed in order to evaluate the client’s claims handling abilities and practices.
The Company’s facultative underwriters operate within guidelines specifying acceptable types of risks, limits and maximum risk exposures. Specified classes of large premium U.S. risks are referred to Everest Re’s New York facultative headquarters for specific review before premium quotations are given to clients. In addition, the Company’s guidelines require certain types of risks to be submitted for review because of their aggregate limits, complexity or volatility, regardless of premium amount on the underlying contract. Non-U.S. risks exhibiting similar characteristics are reviewed by senior managers within the involved operations.
In addition to its own underwriting staff, the Company’s insurance operations write casualty coverages for homogeneous risks through select program managers. These programs are evaluated based upon actuarial analysis and the program manager’s capabilities. The Company’s rates, forms and underwriting guidelines are tailored to specific risk types. The Company’s underwriting, actuarial, claim and financial functions work closely with its program managers to establish appropriate underwriting and processing guidelines as well as appropriate performance monitoring mechanisms.
Risk Management of Underwriting and Reinsurance Arrangements
Underwriting Risk and Accumulation Controls. Each segment and business unit manages its underwriting risk in accordance with established guidelines. These guidelines place dollar limits on the amount of business that can be written based on a variety of factors, including (re)insured company profile, line of business, geographic location and risk hazards. In each case, the guidelines permit limited exceptions, which must be authorized by the Company’s senior management. Management regularly reviews and revises these guidelines in response to changes in business unit product offerings, market conditions, risk versus reward analyses and the Company’s enterprise and underwriting risk management processes.
The operating results and financial condition of the Company can be adversely affected by catastrophe and other large losses. The Company manages its exposure to catastrophes and other large losses by:
 selective underwriting practices;
 diversifying its risk portfolio by geographic area and by types and classes of business;
 limiting its aggregate catastrophe loss exposure in any particular geographic zone and contiguous zones;
 purchasing reinsurance and/or retrocessional protection to the extent that such coverage can be secured cost-effectively. See “Reinsurance and Retrocession Arrangements”.
Like other insurance and reinsurance companies, the Company is exposed to multiple insured losses arising out of a single occurrence, whether a natural event, such as a hurricane or an earthquake, or other catastrophe, such as an explosion at a major factory. A large catastrophic event can be expected to generate insured losses to multiple reinsurance treaties, facultative certificates and direct insurance policies across various lines of business.
The Company focuses on potential losses that could result from any single event or series of events as part of its evaluation and monitoring of its aggregate exposures to catastrophic events. Accordingly, the Company employs various techniques to estimate the amount of loss it could sustain from any single catastrophic event or series of events in various geographic areas. These techniques range from deterministic approaches, such as tracking aggregate limits exposed in catastrophe-prone zones and applying reasonable damage factors, to modeled approaches that attempt to scientifically measure catastrophe loss exposure using sophisticated Monte Carlo simulation techniques that forecast frequency and severity of potential losses on a probabilistic basis.
No single computer model, or group of models, is currently capable of projecting the amount and probability of loss in all global geographic regions in which the Company conducts business. In addition, the form, quality and granularity of underwriting exposure data furnished by (re)insureds is not uniformly compatible with the data requirements for the Company’s licensed models, which adds to the inherent imprecision in the potential loss projections. Further, the results from multiple models and analytical methods must be combined to estimate potential losses by and across business units. Also, while most models have been updated to incorporate claims information from recent catastrophic events, catastrophe model projections are still inherently imprecise. In addition, uncertainties with respect to future climatic patterns and cycles could add further uncertainty to loss projections from models based on historical data.
Nevertheless, when combined with traditional risk management techniques and sound underwriting judgment, catastrophe models are a useful tool for underwriters to price catastrophe exposed risks and for providing management with quantitative analyses with which to monitor and manage catastrophic risk exposures by zone and across zones for individual and multiple events.
Projected catastrophe losses are generally summarized in terms of the probable maximum loss (“PML”). The Company defines PML as its anticipated loss, taking into account contract terms and limits, caused by a single catastrophe affecting a broad contiguous geographic area, such as that caused by a hurricane or earthquake. The PML will vary depending upon the modeled simulated losses and the make-up of the in force book of business. The projected severity levels are described in terms of “return periods”, such as “100-year events” and “250-year events”. For example, a 100-year PML is the estimated loss to the current in-force portfolio from a single event which has a 1% probability of being exceeded in a twelve month period. In other words, it corresponds to a 99% probability that the loss from a single event will fall below the indicated PML. It is important to note that PMLs are estimates. Modeled events are hypothetical events produced by a stochastic model. As a result, there can be no assurance that any actual event will align with the modeled event or that actual losses from events similar to the modeled events will not vary materially from the modeled event PML.
From an enterprise risk management perspective, management sets limits on the levels of catastrophe loss exposure the Company may underwrite. The limits are revised periodically based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the Company’s financial resources and expected earnings and risk/reward analyses of the business being underwritten.
The Company may purchase reinsurance to cover specific business written or the potential accumulation or aggregation of exposures across some or all of its operations. Reinsurance purchasing decisions consider both the potential coverage and market conditions including the pricing, terms, conditions, availability and collectability of coverage, with the aim of securing cost effective protection from financially secure counterparties. The amount of reinsurance purchased has varied over time, reflecting the Company’s view of its exposures and the cost of reinsurance.
Management estimates that the projected net economic loss from its largest 100-year event in a given zone represents approximately 6.7% of its December 31, 2020 shareholders’ equity. Economic loss is the PML exposure, net of third party reinsurance, reduced by estimated reinstatement premiums to renew coverage and estimated income taxes. The impact of income taxes on the PML depends on the distribution of the losses by corporate entity, which is also affected by inter-affiliate reinsurance. Management also monitors and controls its largest PMLs at multiple points along the loss distribution curve, such as loss amounts at the 20, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 year return periods. This process enables management to identify and control exposure accumulations and to integrate such exposures into enterprise risk, underwriting and capital management decisions.
The Company’s catastrophe loss projections, segmented by risk zones, are updated quarterly and reviewed as part of a formal risk management review process. The table below reflects the Company’s PML exposure, net of third party reinsurance at various return periods for its top three zones/perils (as ranked by the largest 1 in 100 year economic loss) based on loss projection data as of January 1, 2021:
The projected net economic losses, defined as PML exposures, net of third party reinsurance, reinstatement premiums and estimated income taxes, for the top three zones/perils scheduled above are as follows:
The Company believes that its methods of monitoring, analyzing and managing catastrophe exposures provide a credible risk management framework, which is integrated with its enterprise risk management, underwriting and capital management plans. However, there is much uncertainty and imprecision inherent in the catastrophe models and the catastrophe loss estimation process generally. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company will not experience losses from individual events that exceed the PML or other return period projections, perhaps by a material amount. Nor can there be assurance that the Company will not experience events impacting multiple zones, or multiple severe events that could, in the aggregate, exceed the Company’s PML expectations by a significant amount.
Terrorism Risk. While the Company writes some reinsurance contracts covering terrorism, the Company’s risk management philosophy is to limit the amount of exposure by geographic region, and to strictly manage coverage for properties in areas that may be considered a target for terrorists. Providing terrorism coverage on reinsurance contracts is negotiable, and many, but not all, treaties contain exclusions which limit much of this risk. While many property insurance policies are required to offer coverage for terrorism, this coverage is often not purchased. However, terrorism is typically covered by worker compensation policies. As a result, the Company is exposed to losses from terrorism on both its reinsurance and its insurance book of business, particularly its workers’ compensation and property policies. However, the insurance book generally does not insure large corporations or corporate locations that represent large concentrations of risk.
The U.S. Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 provides some protection to the insurance book of business. It also provides indirect protection to exposed reinsurance treaties. However, the Company is still exposed to risk of loss from terrorism due to deductibles, co-pays and uncovered lines of business.
Reinsurance and Retrocession Arrangements. The Company may purchase reinsurance to cover specific business written or the potential accumulation or aggregation of exposures across some or all of its operations. Reinsurance purchasing decisions consider both the potential coverage and market conditions including the pricing, terms, conditions and availability of coverage, with the aim of securing cost effective protection. The amount of reinsurance purchased has varied over time, reflecting the Company’s view of its exposures and the cost of reinsurance. In recent years, the Company has increased its use of reinsurance offered through capital market facilities.
The Company participates in “common account” retrocessional arrangements for certain reinsurance treaties whereby a ceding company purchases reinsurance for the benefit of itself and its reinsurers under one or more of its reinsurance treaties. Common account retrocessional arrangements reduce the effect of individual or aggregate losses to all participating companies, including the ceding company, with respect to the involved treaties.
All of the Company’s reinsurance and retrocessional agreements transfer significant reinsurance risk and therefore, are accounted for as reinsurance in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance.
At December 31, 2020, the Company had $1,994.6 million in reinsurance receivables with respect to both paid and unpaid losses ceded. Of this amount, $699.7 million, or 35.1%, was receivable from Mt. Logan Re collateralized segregated accounts and $211.6 million, or 10.6%, was receivable from Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. (“Munich Re”). No other retrocessionaire accounted for more than 5% of our receivables. Although management carefully selects its reinsurers, the Company is subject to credit risk with respect to its reinsurance because the ceding of risk to reinsurers does not relieve the Company of its liability to insureds or ceding companies. See ITEM 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition”.
Claims.
Reinsurance and insurance claims are managed by the Company’s professional claims staff whose responsibilities include reviewing initial loss reports and coverage issues, monitoring claims handling activities of ceding companies, establishing and adjusting proper case reserves and approving payment of claims. In addition to claims assessment, processing and payment, the claims staff selectively conducts comprehensive claim audits of both specific claims and overall claim procedures at the offices of selected ceding companies. Some insurance claims are handled by third party claims service providers who have limited authority and are subject to oversight by the Company’s professional claims staff.
The Company intensively manages its asbestos and environmental (“A&E”) exposures through a dedicated, centrally managed claim staff with experienced claim and legal professionals who specialize in the handling of such exposures. They actively manage each individual insured and reinsured account, responding to claim developments with evaluations of the involved exposures and adjustment of reserves as appropriate. Specific or general claim developments that may have material implications for the Company are regularly communicated to senior management, actuarial, legal and financial areas. Senior management and claim management personnel meet at least quarterly to review the Company’s overall reserve positions and make changes, if appropriate. The Company continually reviews its internal processing, communications and analytics, seeking to enhance the management of its A&E exposures, in particular in regard to changes in asbestos claims and litigation.
Reserves for Unpaid Property and Casualty Losses and LAE.
Significant periods of time may elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss to the insurer and the reinsurer and the payment of that loss by the insurer and subsequent payments to the insurer by the reinsurer. To recognize liabilities for unpaid losses and LAE, insurers and reinsurers establish reserves, which are balance sheet liabilities representing estimates of future amounts needed to pay reported and unreported claims and related expenses for losses that have already occurred. Actual losses and LAE paid may deviate, perhaps substantially, from such reserves. To the extent reserves prove to be insufficient to cover actual losses and LAE after taking into account available reinsurance coverage, the Company would have to recognize such reserve shortfalls and incur a charge to earnings, which could be material in the period such recognition takes place. See ITEM 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Loss and LAE Reserves”.
As part of the reserving process, insurers and reinsurers evaluate historical data and trends and make judgments as to the impact of various factors such as legislative and judicial developments that may affect future claim amounts, changes in social and political attitudes that may increase loss exposures and inflationary and general economic trends. While the reserving process is difficult and subjective for insurance companies, the inherent uncertainties of estimating such reserves are even greater for the reinsurer, due primarily to the longer time between the date of an occurrence and the reporting of any attendant claims to the reinsurer, the diversity of development patterns among different types of reinsurance treaties or facultative contracts, the necessary reliance on the ceding companies for information regarding reported claims and differing reserving practices among ceding companies. In addition, trends that have affected development of liabilities in the past may not necessarily occur or affect liability development in the same manner or to the same degree in the future. As a result, actual losses and LAE may deviate, perhaps substantially, from estimates of reserves reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements.
The Company’s loss and LAE reserves represent management’s best estimate of the ultimate liability. While there can be no assurance that these reserves will not need to be increased in the future, management believes that the Company’s existing reserves and reserving methodologies reduce the likelihood that any such increases would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. These statements regarding the Company’s loss reserves are forward looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained therein. See ITEM 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Safe Harbor Disclosure”.
Like many other property and casualty insurance and reinsurance companies, the Company has experienced loss development for prior accident years, which has impacted losses and LAE reserves and caused corresponding effects to income (loss) in the periods in which the adjustments were made. There can be no assurance that adverse development from prior years will not occur in the future or that such adverse development will not have a material adverse effect on net income (loss).
The following table presents a reconciliation of beginning and ending reserve balances for the periods indicated on a GAAP basis:
Current year incurred losses were $6,149.4 million, $4,986.5 million and $5,264.3 million at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in current year incurred losses from 2019 to 2020 was primarily due to an increase of $772.4 million in current year attritional losses primarily due to higher premiums earned and $511.1 million of losses related to COVID-19 in 2020, partially offset by a $120.5 million decline in current year catastrophe losses. The decrease in current year incurred losses in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily due to $693.5 million of lower catastrophe losses in 2019 compared to 2018, partially offset by $415.6 million of additional attritional losses attributable to higher premiums earned in 2019 compared to 2018.
Incurred prior years losses increased by $401.4 million in 2020, decreased by $63.6 million in 2019 and increased by $387.1 million in 2018. The increase for 2020 primarily related to higher ultimate loss estimates for long-tail casualty business in the reinsurance segment for accident years 2015 to 2018, notably general liability, professional lines and auto liability. The reserve change also includes actions on non-CAT property lines, primarily for the 2017 to 2019 accident years and driven by a few large losses to aggregate programs.
The decrease for 2019 primarily related to reserve reductions associated with short-tail lines of business and workers’ compensation.
The increase for 2018 was mainly due to $561.2 million of adverse development on prior years catastrophe losses, primarily related to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as the 2017 California wildfires. The increase in loss estimates for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria was mostly driven by re-opened claims, loss inflation from higher than expected loss adjustment expenses and in particular, their impact on aggregate covers. This reserve increase was partially offset by $174.1 million of favorable development on prior years attritional losses which mainly related to U.S. and international property and casualty reinsurance business, as well as favorable development in the Insurance segment which largely related to workers’ compensation business.
Since the Company has operations in many countries, part of the Company’s loss and LAE reserves are in foreign currencies and translated to U.S. dollars for each reporting period. Fluctuations in the exchange rates for the currencies, period over period, affect the U.S. dollar amount of outstanding reserves. The translation adjustment line at the bottom of the table eliminates the impact of the exchange fluctuations from the reserve re-estimates.
Reserves for Asbestos and Environmental Losses and LAE.
At December 31, 2020, the Company’s gross reserves for A&E claims represented 1.3% of its total reserves. The Company’s A&E liabilities stem from Mt. McKinley Insurance Company’s (“Mt. McKinley”) direct insurance business and Everest Re’s assumed reinsurance business. Liabilities related to Mt. McKinley’s direct business, which had been ceded to Bermuda Re previously, were retroceded to an affiliate of Clearwater Insurance Company in July 2015, concurrent with the sale of Mt. McKinley to Clearwater Insurance Company. There are significant uncertainties in estimating the amount of the Company’s potential losses from A&E claims and ultimate values cannot be estimated using traditional reserving techniques. See ITEM 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Asbestos and Environmental Exposures” and Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the composition of the Company’s total reserves for A&E losses, gross and net of reinsurance, for the periods indicated:
On July 13, 2015, the Company sold Mt. McKinley to Clearwater Insurance Company. Concurrently with the closing, the Company entered into a retrocession treaty with an affiliate of Clearwater. Per the retrocession treaty, the Company retroceded 100% of the liabilities associated with certain Mt. McKinley policies, which had been reinsured by Bermuda Re. As consideration for entering into the retrocession treaty, Bermuda Re transferred cash of $140.3 million, an amount equal to the net loss reserves as of the closing date. Of the $140.3 million of net loss reserves retroceded, $100.5 million were related to A&E business. The maximum liability retroceded under the retrocession treaty will be $440.3 million, equal to the retrocession payment plus $300.0 million. The Company will retain liability for any amounts exceeding the maximum liability retroceded under the retrocession treaty.
On December 20, 2019, the retrocession treaty was amended and included a partial commutation. As a result of this amendment and partial commutation, gross A&E reserves and correspondingly reinsurance receivable were reduced by $43.4 million. In addition, the maximum liability permitted to be retroceded increased to $450.3 million.
Additional losses, including those relating to latent injuries and other exposures, which are as yet unrecognized, the type or magnitude of which cannot be foreseen by either the Company or the industry, may emerge in the future. Such future emergence could have material adverse effects on the Company’s future financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Future Policy Benefit Reserves.
The Company wrote a limited amount of life and annuity reinsurance in its Reinsurance segment. Future policy benefit liabilities for annuities are reported at the accumulated fund balance of these contracts. Reserves for those liabilities include mortality provisions with respect to life and annuity claims, both reported and unreported. Actual experience in a particular period may be worse than assumed experience and, consequently, may adversely affect the Company’s operating results for that period. See ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 1F of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Activity in the reserve for future policy benefits is summarized for the periods indicated:
Investments.
The board of directors of each of the Company’s operating subsidiaries is responsible for establishing investment policy and guidelines and, together with senior management, for overseeing their execution.
The Company’s principal investment objectives are to ensure funds are available to meet its insurance and reinsurance obligations and to maximize after-tax investment income while maintaining a high quality diversified investment portfolio. Considering these objectives, the Company views its investment portfolio as having two components: 1) the investments needed to satisfy outstanding liabilities (its core fixed maturities portfolio) and 2) investments funded by the Company’s shareholders’ equity.
For the portion needed to satisfy global outstanding liabilities, the Company generally invests in fixed maturities with an average credit quality of Aa3. This global fixed maturity securities portfolio is externally managed by independent, professional investment managers using portfolio guidelines approved by the Company.
Over the past several years, the Company has expanded the allocation of its investments funded by shareholders’ equity to include: 1) a greater percentage of publicly traded equity securities, 2) emerging market fixed maturities through mutual fund structures, as well as individual holdings, 3) high yield fixed maturities, 4) bank and private loan securities and 5) private equity limited partnership investments. The objective of this portfolio diversification is to enhance the risk-adjusted total return of the investment portfolio by allocating a prudent portion of the portfolio to higher return asset classes. The Company limits its allocation to these asset classes because of 1) the potential for volatility in their values and 2) the impact of these investments on regulatory and rating agency capital adequacy models. The Company uses investment managers experienced in these markets and adjusts its allocation to these investments based upon market conditions. At December 31, 2020, the market value of investments in these investment market sectors, carried at both market and fair value, approximated 76% of shareholders’ equity.
The duration of an investment is based on the maturity of the security but also reflects the payment of interest and the possibility of early prepayments. The Company’s fixed income investment guidelines include a general
duration guideline. This investment duration guideline is established and periodically revised by management, which considers economic and business factors, as well as the Company’s average duration of potential liabilities, which, at December 31, 2020, is estimated at approximately 3.2 years, based on the estimated payouts of underwriting liabilities using standard duration calculations. The duration of the fixed income portfolio at December 31, 2020 and 2019 was 3.6 years and 3.5 years, respectively.
For each currency in which the Company has established substantial loss and LAE reserves, the Company seeks to maintain invested assets denominated in such currency in an amount approximately equal to the estimated liabilities. Approximately 36.9% of the Company’s consolidated reserves for losses and LAE and unearned premiums represent amounts payable in foreign currencies.
The Company’s net investment income was $642.5 million, $647.1 million and $581.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in 2020 from 2019 was primarily due to lower income from short term investments primarily due to lower interest rates resulting from the market impacts of COVID-19, partially offset by an increase in limited partnership income and higher income from the growing fixed income portfolio. The increase from 2019 to 2018 was primarily due to higher income from the growing fixed income portfolio and an increase in limited partnership income, partially offset by lower dividend income from our equity portfolio.
The Company had net realized capital gains for 2020 of $267.6 million. In 2020, the Company recorded $280.4 million of net gains from fair value re-measurements, partially offset by $11.0 million of net realized capital losses from sales of investments and $1.7 million of net allowance for credit losses. In 2019, net realized capital gains were $185.0 million due to $167.0 million of net gains from fair value re-measurements and $38.9 million of net realized capital gains from sales of investments, partially offset by $20.9 million of other-than-temporary impairments. In 2018, net realized capital losses were $127.1 million due to $67.3 million of net losses from fair value re-measurements, $51.7 million of net realized capital losses from sales of investments and $8.1 million of other-than-temporary impairments.
The Company’s cash and invested assets totaled $25.5 billion at December 31, 2020, which consisted of 86.3% fixed maturities and cash, of which 93.5% were investment grade; 7.9% other invested assets and 5.8% equity securities. The average maturity of fixed maturity securities was 4.9 years at December 31, 2020, and their overall duration was 3.6 years.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company did not have any direct investments in commercial real estate or direct commercial mortgages or securities of issuers that are experiencing cash flow difficulty to an extent that the Company’s management believes could threaten the issuer’s ability to meet debt service payments, except where other-than-temporary impairments have been recognized.
The Company’s investment portfolio includes structured commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) with a book value of $915.9 million and a market value of $990.3 million. CMBS securities comprising more than 92% of the December 31, 2020 market value are rated AAA by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”). Furthermore, all held CMBS securities are rated investment grade by S&P.
The following table reflects investment results for the Company for the periods indicated:
(1) Average of the beginning and ending carrying values of investments and cash, less net funds held, future policy benefit reserve, and non-interest bearing cash. Bonds, common stock and redeemable and non-redeemable preferred stocks are carried at market value. Common stock, which are actively managed, are carried at fair value.
(2) After investment expenses, excluding realized net capital gains (losses).
(3) Included in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are fair value re-measurements of $280.4 million, $167.0 million, ($67.3) million, $139.0 million and $59.1 million, respectively.
(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 which modified the previous other than temporary impairment model for available for sale fixed maturity securities. The guidance requires the Company to record allowances for credit losses for securities that are deemed to have valuation deterioration due to credit related factors. The initial table below presents the amortized cost, allowance for credit losses, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and market value of fixed maturity securities as of December 31, 2020 in accordance with ASU 2016-13 guidance. The second table presents the amortized cost, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation), market value and other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) in AOCI as of December 31, 2019, in accordance with previously applicable guidance.
(a) Represents the amount of OTTI recognized in AOCI. Amount includes unrealized gains and losses on impaired securities relating to changes in the value of such securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.
The following table represents the credit quality distribution of the Company’s fixed maturities for the periods indicated:
The following table summarizes fixed maturities by contractual maturity for the periods indicated:
Financial Strength Ratings.
The following table shows the current financial strength ratings of the Company’s operating subsidiaries as reported by A.M. Best, S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) and Moody’s. These ratings represent an independent opinion of the financial strength, operating performance, business profile and ability to meet policyholder obligations. The ratings are not intended to be an indication of the degree or lack of risk involved in a direct or indirect equity investment or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold our securities.
All of the below-mentioned ratings are continually monitored and revised, if necessary, by each of the rating agencies. The ratings presented in the following table were in effect as of January 31, 2021.
The Company believes that its ratings are important as they provide the Company’s customers and others with an independent assessment of the Company’s financial strength using a rating scale that provides for relative comparisons. Strong financial ratings are particularly important for reinsurance and insurance companies given that customers rely on a company to pay covered losses well into the future. As a result, a highly rated company is generally preferred.
A.M. Best states that the “A+” (“Superior”) rating is assigned to those companies which, in its opinion, have a superior ability to meet their ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations based on A.M. Best’s comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company’s balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile. A.M. Best affirmed these ratings on May 29, 2020. S&P states that the “A+”/”A” ratings are assigned to those insurance companies which, in its opinion, have strong financial security
characteristics with respect to their ability to pay under its insurance policies and contracts in accordance with their terms. S&P issued a new rating to Everest Denali Insurance Co and Everest Premier Insurance Co of A+ (Strong), upgraded the rating of Everest International Assurance Ltd from A to A+ (Strong) and affirmed all other ratings on May 29, 2020. Moody’s states that an “A1” rating is assigned to companies that, in their opinion, offer upper-medium grade security and are subject to low credit risk. Moody’s affirmed these ratings on June 5, 2020.
Subsidiaries other than Everest Reinsurance Co. and Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda) Ltd. may not be rated by some or any rating agencies given that such ratings are not considered essential by the individual subsidiary’s customers because of the limited nature of the subsidiary’s operations or because the subsidiaries are newly established and have not yet been rated by the agencies.
Debt Ratings.
The following table shows the debt ratings by A.M. Best, S&P and Moody’s of the Holdings’ senior notes due June 1, 2044, senior notes due October 15, 2050, and long-term notes due May 1, 2067 all of which are considered investment grade. Debt ratings are the rating agencies’ current assessment of the credit worthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation.
Competition.
The worldwide reinsurance and insurance businesses are highly competitive, as well as cyclical by product and market. As such, financial results tend to fluctuate with periods of constrained availability, higher rates and stronger profits followed by periods of abundant capacity, lower rates and constrained profitability. Competition in the types of reinsurance and insurance business that we underwrite is based on many factors, including the perceived overall financial strength of the reinsurer or insurer, ratings of the reinsurer or insurer by A.M. Best and/or Standard & Poor’s, underwriting expertise, the jurisdictions where the reinsurer or insurer is licensed or otherwise authorized, capacity and coverages offered, premiums charged, other terms and conditions of the reinsurance and insurance business offered, services offered, speed of claims payment and reputation and experience in lines written. Furthermore, the market impact from these competitive factors related to reinsurance and insurance is generally not consistent across lines of business, domestic and international geographical areas and distribution channels.
We compete in the U.S., Bermuda and international reinsurance and insurance markets with numerous global competitors. Our competitors include independent reinsurance and insurance companies, subsidiaries or affiliates of established worldwide insurance companies, reinsurance departments of certain insurance companies, domestic and international underwriting operations, including underwriting syndicates at Lloyd’s of London and certain government sponsored risk transfer vehicles. Some of these competitors have greater financial resources than we do and have established long term and continuing business relationships, which can be a significant competitive advantage. In addition, the lack of strong barriers to entry into the reinsurance business and recently, the securitization of reinsurance and insurance risks through capital markets provide additional sources of potential reinsurance and insurance capacity and competition.
Worldwide insurance and reinsurance market conditions historically have been competitive. Generally, there was ample insurance and reinsurance capacity relative to demand, as well as, additional capital from the capital markets through insurance linked financial instruments. These financial instruments such as side cars, catastrophe bonds and collateralized reinsurance funds, provided capital markets with access to insurance and reinsurance risk exposure. The capital markets demand for these products was being primarily driven by a low interest environment and the desire to achieve greater risk diversification and potentially higher returns on their
investments. This increased competition was generally having a negative impact on rates, terms and conditions; however, the impact varies widely by market and coverage.
The industry continues to deal with the impacts of a global pandemic, COVID-19. Globally, many countries mandated that their citizens remain at home and many non-essential businesses have continued to be physically closed. We activated our operational resiliency plan across our global footprint and all of our critical operations are functioning effectively from remote locations. We continue to service and meet the needs of our clients while ensuring the safety and health of our employees and customers.
The pandemic has caused significant volatility in the global financial markets. Interest rates plummeted, credit spreads widened and the equity markets lost value. We saw our fixed maturity and equity portfolios decline in value resulting in realized and unrealized investment losses in our March 31, 2020 financial statements. However, the financial markets rebounded during the remaining quarters of 2020 and we recognized after-tax realized gains of $389.4 million and unrealized gains of $667.7 million in our financial statements for these three quarters. Nevertheless, the lack of business activity may lead to an increase in bankruptcies and corresponding credit losses.
There will also be a negative impact on future industry underwriting results. With the closing of non-essential businesses, there has been a significant decline in business activity. To the extent that premiums are based on business activity, there will be a decline in premium volume. Incurred losses from the pandemic will be impacted by the duration of the event and will vary by line of business and geographical location. For the full year 2020, our underwriting results include $511.1 million of estimated losses related to the pandemic.
Many regulators had issued moratoriums on the cancellation of policies for the non-payment of premiums and also on non-renewals. We are complying with the various regulatory requests for accommodations to policyholders during this difficult period. The moratoriums combined with the forced closure of businesses may lead to an increase in uncollectible premium expense.
Prior to the pandemic, there was a growing industry consensus that there was some firming of (re)insurance rates for the areas impacted by the recent catastrophes. The increased frequency of catastrophe losses in 2020 appears to be further pressuring the increase of rates. Rates also appear to be firming in some of the casualty lines of business, particularly in the casualty lines that had seen significant losses such as excess casualty and directors’ and officers’ liability. Other casualty lines are experiencing modest rate increase, while some lines such as workers’ compensation were experiencing softer market conditions. It is too early to tell what will be the impact on pricing conditions but it is likely to change depending on the line of business and geography.
While we are unable to predict the full impact the pandemic will have on the insurance industry as it continues to have a negative impact on the global economy, we are well positioned to continue to service our clients. Our capital position remains a source of strength, with high quality invested assets, significant liquidity and a low operating expense ratio. Our diversified global platform with its broad mix of products, distribution and geography is resilient.
Employees.
As of February 1, 2021, the Company employed 1,746 persons. Management believes that employee relations are good. None of the Company’s employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements, and the Company is not aware of any current efforts to implement such agreements.
Regulatory Matters.
The Company and its insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation under the insurance statutes of the various jurisdictions in which they conduct business, including essentially all states of the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Bermuda. These regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are generally designed to protect ceding insurance companies and policyholders by regulating the Company’s conduct of business, financial integrity and ability to meet its obligations. Many of these regulations require reporting of information designed to allow insurance regulators to closely monitor the Company’s performance.
Insurance Holding Company Regulation. Under applicable U.S. laws and regulations, no person, corporation or other entity may acquire a controlling interest in the Company, unless such person, corporation or entity has obtained the prior approval for such acquisition from the insurance commissioners of Delaware and the other states in which the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are domiciled or deemed domiciled, currently California and Georgia. Under these laws, “control” is presumed when any person acquires, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting securities of an insurance company. To obtain the approval of any change in control, the proposed acquirer must file an application with the relevant insurance commissioner disclosing, among other things, the background of the acquirer and that of its directors and officers, the acquirer’s financial condition and its proposed changes in the management and operations of the insurance company. U.S. state regulators also require prior notice or regulatory approval of material inter-affiliate transactions within the holding company structure.
The Insurance Companies Act of Canada requires prior approval by the Minister of Finance of anyone acquiring a significant interest in an insurance company authorized to do business in Canada. In addition, the Company is subject to regulation by the insurance regulators of other states and foreign jurisdictions in which it is authorized to do business. Certain of these states and foreign jurisdictions impose regulations regulating the ability of any person to acquire control of an insurance company authorized to do business in that jurisdiction without appropriate regulatory approval similar to those described above.
Dividends. Under Bermuda law, Group is prohibited from declaring or paying a dividend if such payment would reduce the realizable value of its assets to an amount less than the aggregate value of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium (additional paid-in capital) accounts. Group’s ability to pay dividends and its operating expenses is partially dependent upon dividends from its subsidiaries. The payment of dividends by insurance subsidiaries is limited under Bermuda law as well as the laws of the various U.S. states in which Group’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are domiciled or deemed domiciled. The limitations are generally based upon net income (loss) and compliance with applicable policyholders’ surplus or minimum solvency and liquidity requirements as determined in accordance with the relevant statutory accounting practices. Under Irish corporate and regulatory law, Holdings Ireland, Everest Dublin Holdings and their subsidiaries are limited as to the dividends they can pay based on retained earnings and net income (loss) and/or capital and minimum solvency requirements. As Holdings has outstanding debt obligations, it is dependent upon dividends and other permissible payments from its operating subsidiaries to enable it to meet its debt and operating expense obligations and to pay dividends.
Under Bermuda law, Bermuda Re, Everest International and Everest Assurance are unable to declare or make payment of a dividend if they fail to meet their minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio. As long term insurers, Bermuda Re and Everest Assurance are also unable to declare or pay a dividend to anyone who is not a policyholder unless, after payment of the dividend, the value of the assets in their long term business fund, as certified by their approved actuary, exceeds their liabilities for long term business by at least the $250,000 minimum solvency margin. Prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority is required if Bermuda Re’s, Everest International’s or Everest Assurance’s dividend payments would exceed 25% of their prior year end statutory capital and surplus. At December 31, 2020, Bermuda Re, Everest International and Everest Assurance exceeded their solvency and liquidity requirements.
The payment of dividends to Holdings by Everest Re is subject to limitations imposed by Delaware law. Generally, Everest Re may only pay dividends out of its statutory earned surplus, which was $5,276.0 million at
December 31, 2020, and only after it has given 10 days prior notice to the Delaware Insurance Commissioner. During this 10-day period, the Commissioner may, by order, limit or disallow the payment of ordinary dividends if the Commissioner finds the insurer to be presently or potentially in financial distress. Further, the maximum amount of dividends that may be paid without the prior approval of the Delaware Insurance Commissioner in any twelve month period is the greater of (1) 10% of the insurer’s statutory surplus as of the end of the prior calendar year or (2) the insurer’s statutory net income (loss), not including realized capital gains (losses), for the prior calendar year. Accordingly, the maximum amount that will be available for the payment of dividends by Everest Re in 2021 without triggering the requirement for prior approval of regulatory authorities in connection with a dividend is $592.1 million.
Insurance Regulation. Bermuda Re and Everest International are not admitted to do business in any jurisdiction in the U.S. These entities conduct their insurance business from their offices in Bermuda, and in the case of Bermuda Re, its branch in the UK. Everest Assurance, by virtue of its one-time election under section 953(d) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code to be a U.S. income tax paying “Controlled Foreign Corporation”, is admitted to do business in the U.S. and Bermuda. In Bermuda, Bermuda Re, Everest International, Everest Assurance and Mt. Logan Re are regulated by the Insurance Act 1978 (as amended) and related regulations (the “Act”). The Act establishes solvency and liquidity standards and auditing and reporting requirements and subjects Bermuda Re, Everest International and Everest Assurance to the supervision, investigation and intervention powers of the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Under the Act, Bermuda Re and Everest International, as Class 4 insurers, are each required to maintain a principal office in Bermuda, to maintain a minimum of $100 million in statutory capital and surplus, to have an independent auditor approved by the Bermuda Monetary Authority conduct an annual audit and report on their respective statutory and U.S. GAAP financial statements and filings and to have an appointed loss reserve specialist (also approved by the Bermuda Monetary Authority) review and report on their respective loss reserves annually. Under the Act, Everest Assurance is licensed as a Class 3A insurer for general business and as a Class C insurer for long-term business.
Bermuda Re is also registered under the Act as long term insurer and is thereby authorized to write life and annuity business. As a long term insurer, Bermuda Re is required to maintain $250,000 in statutory capital separate from their Class 4 minimum statutory capital and surplus, to maintain long term business funds, to separately account for this business and to have an approved actuary prepare a certificate concerning their long term business assets and liabilities to be filed annually. Bermuda Re’s operations in the United Kingdom and worldwide are subject to regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the “PRA”). The PRA imposes solvency, capital adequacy, audit, financial reporting and other regulatory requirements on insurers transacting business in the United Kingdom. Bermuda Re presently meets or exceeds all of the PRA’s solvency and capital requirements.
U.S. domestic property and casualty insurers, including reinsurers, are subject to regulation by their state of domicile and by those states in which they are licensed. The regulation of reinsurers is typically focused on financial condition, investments, management and operation. The rates and policy terms of reinsurance agreements are generally not subject to direct regulation by any governmental authority.
The operations of Everest Re’s foreign branch offices in Canada and Singapore are subject to regulation by the insurance regulatory officials of those jurisdictions. Management believes that the Company is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to its business and operations.
Everest Indemnity, Everest National, Everest Security, Everest Denali and Everest Premier are subject to regulations similar to the U.S. regulations applicable to Everest Re. In addition, these companies must comply with substantial regulatory requirements in each state where they conduct business. These additional requirements include, but are not limited to, rate and policy form requirements, requirements with regard to licensing, agent appointments, participation in residual markets and claim handling procedures. These regulations are primarily designed for the protection of policyholders.
Licenses. Everest Re is a licensed property and casualty insurer and/or reinsurer in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Such licensing enables U.S. domestic ceding company clients to take credit for uncollateralized reinsurance receivables from Everest Re in their statutory financial statements.
Everest Re is licensed as a property and casualty reinsurer in Canada. It is also authorized to conduct reinsurance business in Singapore and Brazil. Everest Re can also write reinsurance in other foreign countries. Because some jurisdictions require a reinsurer to register in order to be an acceptable market for local insurers, Everest Re is registered as a foreign insurer and/or reinsurer in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and the Philippines. Everest National is licensed in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Everest Indemnity is licensed in Delaware and is eligible to write insurance on a surplus lines basis in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Everest Security is licensed in Georgia and Alabama and is approved as an eligible surplus lines insurer in Delaware. Everest Denali is licensed in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Everest Premier is licensed in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Bermuda Re and Everest International are registered as Class 4 insurers in Bermuda, and Bermuda Re is also registered as a long term insurer in Bermuda. Bermuda Re is also an authorized reinsurer in the U.K. Everest Assurance is registered as a Class 3A general business insurer in Bermuda and a Class C long-term insurer in Bermuda. By virtue of its one-time election under section 953(d) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code to be a U.S. income tax paying “Controlled Foreign Corporation,” Everest Assurance may operate in both the U.S. and Bermuda. Ireland Re is licensed to write non-life reinsurance for the London and European markets. Ireland Insurance is licensed to write insurance for the European markets. Everest Canada is licensed to write property and casualty insurance in Canada.
Periodic Examinations. U.S. insurance companies are subject to periodic financial examination (usually every three to five years) of their affairs by the insurance departments of the states in which they are licensed, authorized or accredited. U.S. insurance companies are also subject to examinations by the various state insurance departments where they are licensed concerning compliance with applicable conduct of business regulations. In addition, foreign insurance companies and foreign branch offices are subject to examination and review by regulators in their various jurisdictions. None of the reports of these examinations or reviews contained any material findings or recommendations.
NAIC Risk-Based Capital Requirements. The U.S. National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has developed a formula to measure the amount of capital appropriate for a property and casualty insurance company to support its overall business operations in light of its size and risk profile. The major categories of a company’s risk profile are its asset risk, credit risk, and underwriting risk. The standards are an effort by the NAIC to prevent insolvencies, to ward off other financial difficulties of insurance companies and to establish uniform regulatory standards among state insurance departments.
Under the approved formula, a company’s statutory surplus is compared to its risk based capital (“RBC”). If this ratio is above a minimum threshold, no action is necessary. Below this threshold are four distinct action levels at which an insurer’s domiciliary state regulator can intervene with increasing degrees of authority over an insurer as the ratio of surplus to RBC decreases. The mildest intervention requires an insurer to submit a plan of appropriate corrective actions. The most severe action requires an insurer to be rehabilitated or liquidated.
Based on their financial positions at December 31, 2020, Everest Re, Everest National, Everest Indemnity, Everest Security, Everest Denali and Everest Premier exceed the minimum thresholds.
Commencing in 2017, the regulatory targeted capital required by the State of Delaware, Department of Insurance was expanded to include a provision for catastrophe exposure. Various proposals to change the RBC formula arise from time to time. The Company is unable to predict whether any such proposal will be adopted, the form in which any such proposals would be adopted or the effect, if any, the adoption of any such proposal or change in the RBC calculations would have on the Company.
Tax Matters.
The following summary of the taxation of the Company is based on current law. There can be no assurance that legislative, judicial, or administrative changes will not be enacted that might materially affect this summary.
Bermuda. Under Bermuda law, no income, withholding or capital gains taxes are imposed upon Group and its Bermuda subsidiaries. Group and its Bermuda subsidiaries have received an undertaking from the Minister of Finance in Bermuda that, in the event of any taxes being imposed, Group and its Bermuda subsidiaries will be exempt from taxation in Bermuda until March 2035. Non-Bermuda branches of Bermuda subsidiaries are subject to local taxes in the jurisdictions in which they operate.
United States. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was signed into law. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and the United States Treasury Department (“U.S. Treasury”) have subsequently issued both proposed and final regulations related to the new law. Management continues to monitor this guidance as it is issued to determine the impact on the Company and acts if necessary. Group’s U.S. subsidiaries conduct business in and are subject to taxation in the U.S. Non-U.S. branches of U.S. subsidiaries are subject to both local taxation in the jurisdictions in which they operate and U.S. corporate income tax but are generally relieved from double taxation through the use of foreign tax credits against their U.S. income tax liability. Should the U.S. subsidiaries distribute current or accumulated earnings and profits in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to withholding taxes. The cumulative amount that would be subject to U.S. withholding tax, if distributed, is not practicable to compute. Group and its Bermuda subsidiaries believe that they have operated and will continue to operate their businesses in a manner that will not cause them to generate income treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. On this basis, Group does not expect that it and its Bermuda subsidiaries will be required to pay U.S. corporate income taxes other than withholding taxes on certain investment income and premium excise taxes. If Group or its Bermuda subsidiaries were to become subject to U.S. income tax, there could be a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
United Kingdom. Bermuda Re’s UK branch, the Company’s Lloyd’s Syndicate and Ireland Insurance’s UK branch conduct business in the UK and are subject to taxation in the UK. Bermuda Re believes that it has operated and will continue to operate its Bermuda operation in a manner which will not cause them to be subject to UK taxation. If Bermuda Re’s Bermuda operations were to become subject to UK income tax, there could be a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Ireland. Holdings Ireland, Everest Dublin Holdings, Ireland Re and Ireland Insurance conduct business in Ireland and are subject to taxation in Ireland.
Switzerland. Ireland Re’s Zurich branch conducts business in Switzerland and is subject to taxation in Switzerland.
Available Information.
The Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those reports are available free of charge through the Company’s internet website at http://www.everestre.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information provided in this report, the following risk factors should be considered when evaluating an investment in our securities. If the circumstances contemplated by the individual risk factors materialize, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected and the trading price of our common shares could decline significantly.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
Fluctuations in the financial markets could result in investment losses.
Prolonged and severe disruptions in the overall public and private debt and equity markets, such as occurred during 2008, or temporary disruption as occurred in early 2020 related to the COVID-19 pandemic, could result in significant realized and unrealized losses in our investment portfolio. Although financial markets have significantly improved since 2008, they could deteriorate in the future. There could also be disruption in individual market sectors, such as occurred in the energy sector in recent years. Such declines in the financial markets could result in significant realized and unrealized losses on investments and could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, equity, business and insurer financial strength and debt ratings.
Our results could be adversely affected by catastrophic events.
We are exposed to unpredictable catastrophic events, including weather-related and other natural catastrophes, as well as acts of terrorism. Any material reduction in our operating results caused by the occurrence of one or more catastrophes could inhibit our ability to pay dividends or to meet our interest and principal payment obligations. By way of illustration, during the past five calendar years, pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, were as follows:
Our losses from future catastrophic events could exceed our projections.
We use projections of possible losses from future catastrophic events of varying types and magnitudes as a strategic underwriting tool. We use these loss projections to estimate our potential catastrophe losses in certain geographic areas and decide on the placement of retrocessional coverage or other actions to limit the extent of potential losses in a given geographic area. These loss projections are approximations, reliant on a mix of quantitative and qualitative processes, and actual losses may exceed the projections by a material amount, resulting in a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
If our loss reserves are inadequate to meet our actual losses, our net income would be reduced or we could incur a loss.
We are required to maintain reserves to cover our estimated ultimate liability of losses and LAE for both reported and unreported claims incurred. These reserves are only estimates of what we believe the settlement and administration of claims will cost based on facts and circumstances known to us. In setting reserves for our reinsurance liabilities, we rely on claim data supplied by our ceding companies and brokers and we employ actuarial and statistical projections. The information received from our ceding companies is not always timely or accurate, which can contribute to inaccuracies in our loss projections. Because of the uncertainties that surround our estimates of loss and LAE reserves, we cannot be certain that ultimate losses and LAE payments will not exceed our estimates. If our reserves are deficient, we would be required to increase loss reserves in the period in which such deficiencies are identified which would cause a charge to our earnings and a reduction of capital. During the past five calendar years, the reserve re-estimation process resulted in a decrease to our pre-tax net income in 2020 and 2018 and resulted in an increase to our pre-tax net income in 2019, 2017 and 2016:
The difficulty in estimating our reserves is significantly more challenging as it relates to reserving for potential A&E liabilities. At year-end 2020, 1.3% of our gross reserves were comprised of A&E reserves. A&E liabilities are especially hard to estimate for many reasons, including the long delays between exposure and manifestation of any bodily injury or property damage, difficulty in identifying the source of the asbestos or environmental contamination, long reporting delays and difficulty in properly allocating liability for the asbestos or environmental damage. Legal tactics and judicial and legislative developments affecting the scope of insurers’ liability, which can be difficult to predict, also contribute to uncertainties in estimating reserves for A&E liabilities.
The failure to accurately assess underwriting risk and establish adequate premium rates could reduce our net income or result in a net loss.
Our success depends on our ability to accurately assess the risks associated with the businesses on which the risk is retained. If we fail to accurately assess the risks we retain, we may fail to establish adequate premium rates to cover our losses and LAE. This could reduce our net income and even result in a net loss.
In addition, losses may arise from events or exposures that are not anticipated when the coverage is priced. In addition to unanticipated events, we also face the unanticipated expansion of our exposures, particularly in long-tail liability lines. An example of this is the expansion over time of the scope of insurers’ legal liability within the mass tort arena, particularly for A&E exposures discussed above.
Decreases in pricing for property and casualty reinsurance and insurance could reduce our net income.
The worldwide reinsurance and insurance businesses are highly competitive, as well as cyclical by product and market. These cycles, as well as other factors that influence aggregate supply and demand for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance products, are outside of our control. The supply of (re)insurance is driven by prevailing prices and levels of capacity that may fluctuate in response to a number of factors including large catastrophic losses and investment returns being realized in the insurance industry. Demand for (re)insurance is influenced by underwriting results of insurers and insureds, including catastrophe losses, and prevailing general
economic conditions. If any of these factors were to result in a decline in the demand for (re)insurance or an overall increase in (re)insurance capacity, our net income could decrease.
If rating agencies downgrade the ratings of our insurance subsidiaries, future prospects for growth and profitability could be significantly and adversely affected.
Our active insurance company subsidiaries currently hold financial strength ratings assigned by third-party rating agencies which assess and rate the claims paying ability and financial strength of insurers and reinsurers. Financial strength ratings are used by cedents, agents and brokers to assess the financial strength and credit quality of reinsurers and insurers. A downgrade or withdrawal of any of these ratings could adversely affect our ability to market our reinsurance and insurance products, our ability to compete with other reinsurers and insurers, and could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to write new business that in turn could impact our profitability and operating results.
Consistent with market practice, much of our treaty reinsurance business allows the ceding company to terminate the contract or seek collateralization of our obligations in the event of a rating downgrade below a certain threshold. The termination provision would generally be triggered if a rating fell below A.M. Best’s A- rating level, which is three levels below Everest Re’s current rating of A+. To a lesser extent, Everest Re also has modest exposure to reinsurance contracts that contain provisions for obligatory funding of outstanding liabilities in the event of a rating agency downgrade. Those provisions would also generally be triggered if Everest Re’s rating fell below A.M. Best’s A- rating level.
The failure of our insureds, intermediaries and reinsurers to satisfy their obligations to us could reduce our income.
In accordance with industry practice, we have uncollateralized receivables from insureds, agents and brokers and/or rely on agents and brokers to process our payments. We may not be able to collect amounts due from insureds, agents and brokers, resulting in a reduction to net income.
We are subject to credit risk of reinsurers in connection with retrocessional arrangements because the transfer of risk to a reinsurer does not relieve us of our liability to the insured. In addition, reinsurers may be unwilling to pay us even though they are able to do so. The failure of one or more of our reinsurers to honor their obligations to us in a timely fashion would impact our cash flow and reduce our net income and could cause us to incur a significant loss.
If we are unable or choose not to purchase reinsurance and transfer risk to the reinsurance markets, our net income could be reduced or we could incur a net loss in the event of unusual loss experience.
We are generally less reliant on the purchase of reinsurance than many of our competitors, in part because of our strategic emphasis on underwriting discipline and management of the cycles inherent in our business. We try to separate our risk taking process from our risk mitigation process in order to avoid developing too great a reliance on reinsurance. With the expansion of the capital markets into insurance linked financial instruments, we increased our use of capital market products for catastrophe reinsurance. In addition, we have increased some of our quota share contracts with larger retrocessions. The percentage of business that we reinsure may vary considerably from year to year, depending on our view of the relationship between cost and expected benefit for the contract period.
Our industry is highly competitive and we may not be able to compete successfully in the future.
Our industry is highly competitive and subject to pricing cycles that can be pronounced. We compete globally in the United States, Bermuda and international reinsurance and insurance markets with numerous competitors.
Our competitors include independent reinsurance and insurance companies, subsidiaries or affiliates of established worldwide insurance companies, reinsurance departments of certain insurance companies and domestic and international underwriting operations, including underwriting syndicates at Lloyd’s of London.
According to S&P, Everest ranks among the top ten global property & casualty reinsurance groups, where more than two-thirds of the market share is concentrated. The worldwide net premium written by the Top 40 global reinsurance groups for both life and non-life business was estimated to be $247 billion in 2019 according to data compiled by S&P. In addition to competitors the entry of alternative capital market products and new company formations provide additional sources of reinsurance and insurance capacity.
We are dependent on our key personnel.
Our success has been, and will continue to be, dependent on our ability to retain the services of our Chairman, Joseph V. Taranto (age 71) and existing key executive officers and to attract and retain additional qualified personnel in the future. The loss of the services of any key executive officer or the inability to hire and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future could adversely affect our ability to conduct business. Generally, we consider key executive officers to be those individuals who have the greatest influence in setting overall policy and controlling operations: President and Chief Executive Officer, Juan C. Andrade (age 55); Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mark Kociancic (age 51), Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Jim Williamson (age 47), President and Chief Executive Officer Reinsurance Division, John P. Doucette (age 55), Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary, Sanjoy Mukherjee (age 54) and Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Everest Insurance® Division, Mike Karmilowicz (age 52). We have employment contracts with all of our key officers, which contain automatic renewal provisions that provide for the contracts to continue indefinitely unless sooner terminated in accordance with the contract or as otherwise may be agreed.
Special considerations apply to our Bermuda operations. Under Bermuda law, non-Bermudians, other than spouses of Bermudians and individuals holding permanent or working resident certificates, are not permitted to engage in any gainful occupation in Bermuda without a work permit issued by the Bermuda government. A work permit is only granted or extended if the employer can show that, after a proper public advertisement, no Bermudian, spouse of a Bermudian or individual holding a permanent or working resident certificate is available who meets the minimum standards reasonably required for the position. The Bermuda government places a six-year term limit on individuals with work permits, subject to specified exemptions for persons deemed to be key employees of businesses with a significant physical presence in Bermuda. Currently, all our Bermuda-based professional employees who require work permits have been granted permits by the Bermuda government that expire at various times between February 2021 and August 2025. This includes Christopher Downey, the chief executive officer of our Bermuda reinsurance operation.
Our investment values and investment income could decline because they are exposed to interest rate, credit, and market risks.
A significant portion of our investment portfolio consists of fixed income securities and smaller portions consist of equity securities and other investments. Both the fair market value of our invested assets and associated investment income fluctuate depending on general economic and market conditions. For example, the fair market value of our predominant fixed income portfolio generally increases or decreases inversely to fluctuations in interest rates. The market value of our fixed income securities could also decrease as a result of a downturn in the business cycle that causes the credit quality of such securities to deteriorate. The net investment income that we realize from future investments in fixed income securities will generally increase or decrease with interest rates.
Interest rate fluctuations also can cause net investment income from fixed income investments that carry prepayment risk, such as mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, to differ from the income
anticipated from those securities at the time of purchase. In addition, if issuers of individual investments are unable to meet their obligations, investment income will be reduced and realized capital losses may arise.
The majority of our fixed income securities are classified as available for sale and temporary changes in the market value of these investments are reflected as changes to our shareholders’ equity. Our actively managed equity security portfolios are fair valued and any changes in fair value are reflected as net realized capital gains or losses. As a result, a decline in the value of our securities reduces our capital or could cause us to incur a loss.
We have invested a portion of our investment portfolio in equity securities. The value of these assets fluctuates with changes in the markets. In times of economic weakness, the fair value of these assets may decline, and may negatively impact net income. We also invest in non-traditional investments which have different risk characteristics than traditional fixed income and equity securities. These alternative investments are comprised primarily of private equity limited partnerships. The changes in value and investment income/(loss) for these partnerships may be more volatile than over-the-counter securities.
The following table quantifies the portion of our investment portfolio that consists of fixed income securities, equity securities and investments that carry prepayment risk.
We may experience foreign currency exchange losses that reduce our net income and capital levels.
Through our Bermuda and international operations, we conduct business in a variety of foreign (non-U.S.) currencies, principally the Euro, the British pound, the Canadian dollar, and the Singapore dollar. Assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are exposed to changes in currency exchange rates. Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, and exchange rate fluctuations, especially relative to the U.S. dollar, may materially impact our results and financial position. In 2020, we wrote approximately 24.0% of our coverages in non-U.S. currencies; as of December 31, 2020, we maintained approximately 15.7% of our investment portfolio in investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies. During 2020, 2019 and 2018, the impact on our quarterly pre-tax net income from exchange rate fluctuations ranged from a loss of $45.2 million to a gain of $61.4 million.
In January 2020, the United Kingdom exited the European Union (commonly referred to as "Brexit"). The Company has a Lloyd’s of London Syndicate and Bermuda Re has a branch operation in the United Kingdom. The nature and extent of the impact of Brexit on regulation, interest rates, currency exchange rates and financial markets is still uncertain and may adversely affect our operations.
Changes in the method for determining LIBOR and the potential replacement of LIBOR may affect our cost of capital and net investment income.
On July 27, 2017, the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021, which is expected to result in these widely used reference rates no longer being available. In 2020 it was announced that most LIBOR rates would continue to be published until June 2023. Potential changes to LIBOR, as well as uncertainty related to such potential changes and the establishment of any alternative reference rates, may adversely affect the market for LIBOR-based securities and could adversely impact the interest rate on our long term subordinate notes. In addition, the discontinuance of LIBOR or changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR, which could have an adverse impact on the market for LIBOR-based securities or the value of our investment portfolio.
We are subject to cybersecurity risks that could negatively impact our business operations.
We are dependent upon our information technology platform, including our processing systems, data and electronic transmissions in our business operations. Security breaches could expose us to the loss or misuse of our information, litigation and potential liability. In addition, cyber incidents that impact the availability, reliability, speed, accuracy or other proper functioning of these systems could have a significant negative impact on our operations and possibly our results. An incident could also result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers or give rise to monetary fines and other penalties, which could be significant. Management is not aware of a cybersecurity incident that has had a material impact on our operations.
The NAIC has adopted an Insurance Data Security Model Law, which, when adopted by the states will require insurers, insurance producers and other entities required to be licensed under state insurance laws to comply with certain requirements under state insurance laws, such as developing and maintaining a written information security program, conducting risk assessments and overseeing the data security practices of third-party vendors. In addition, certain state insurance regulators are developing or have developed regulations that may impose regulatory requirements relating to cybersecurity on insurance and reinsurance companies (potentially including insurance and reinsurance companies that are not domiciled, but are licensed, in the relevant state). For example, the New York State Department of Financial Services has adopted a regulation pertaining to cybersecurity for all banking and insurance entities under its jurisdiction, effective as of March 1, 2017, which applies to us. We cannot predict the impact these laws and regulations will have on our business, financial condition or results of operations, but our insurance and reinsurance companies could incur additional costs resulting from compliance with such laws and regulations.
The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected, and may materially and adversely affect, our results of operations, financial position and liquidity in the future.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the related impact on the U.S. and global economies, has adversely affected our results of operations. We expect the pandemic and its impact on our business to continue and potentially even worsen, but we cannot predict the magnitude or duration of its continued impact, particularly given the great uncertainties associated with COVID-19, including regarding the reopening of the U.S. and global economies and the recovery from its economic and other effects. The full impact of COVID-19 on our results of operations, financial position and liquidity is not yet known, and likely will not be known for some time, but includes the following:
Claim Losses Related to COVID-19 May Exceed Reserves: We have established reserves for COVID-19-related losses. Our reserves represent management’s best estimate of what the settlement and claims administration will cost for claims that have occurred, whether reported or unreported. Given the great uncertainties associated with COVID-19 and its impact and the limited information upon which our current assumptions and
assessments have been made, our preliminary reserves and the underlying estimated level of claim losses and costs arising from COVID-19 may materially change.
Adverse Legislative and Regulatory Action: Legislative and regulatory initiatives taken or which may be taken in response to COVID-19 may adversely affect us. For example, our business may be subject to, certain initiatives, including, but not limited to: legislative and regulatory action that seeks to retroactively mandate coverage for losses which our insurance policies would not otherwise cover and which were not priced to cover; actions prohibiting us from cancelling insurance policies in accordance with our policy terms or non-renewing policies at their natural expiration; and/or orders to provide premium refunds, grant extended grace periods for premium payments, and provide extended time to pay past due premiums. Any such action would likely increase both our underwriting losses and our expenses and any legal challenges to any such action could take years to resolve.
Reduction in Premiums: The demand for insurance is significantly influenced by general economic conditions. Consequently, reduced economic activity relating to the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to decrease demand for our insurance products and services and negatively impact our premium volumes (and, in certain cases, may result in return of premiums due to a decrease in exposures). This may continue for an indefinite period, with the magnitude of the impact impossible to predict.
Investments: Further disruptions in global financial markets due to the continuing impact of COVID-19 could cause us to incur additional unrealized and/or realized investment losses, including credit impairments in our fixed maturity portfolio. In addition, the economic uncertainty resulting from COVID-19 may result in a decline in interest rates, which may negatively impact our future net investment income.
Credit Risk: As credit risk is generally a function of the economy, we face greater credit risk from our policyholders, independent agents and brokers in connection with the payment and remittance of premiums as a result of the economic conditions caused by COVID-19. Similarly, our credit risk related to the reimbursement of deductibles from policyholders and in connection with reinsurance recoverables has increased.
Operational Disruptions and Costs: Our operations could be disrupted if key members of our senior management or a significant percentage of our workforce or the workforce of our agents, brokers, suppliers or other third party service providers are unable to continue to work because of illness, government directives or otherwise. In addition, our agents, brokers, suppliers and other third party service providers, which we rely on for key aspects of our operations, are subject to risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may interfere with their ability to fulfill their respective commitments and responsibilities to us in a timely manner and in accordance with the agreed-upon terms. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented remote working policies which have resulted in disruptions to our business routines, heightened risk to cybersecurity attacks and data security incidents and a greater dependency on internet and telecommunication access and capabilities.
Risks Relating to Regulation
Insurance laws and regulations restrict our ability to operate and any failure to comply with those laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are subject to extensive and increasing regulation under U.S., state and foreign insurance laws. These laws limit the amount of dividends that can be paid to us by our operating subsidiaries, impose restrictions on the amount and type of investments that we can hold, prescribe solvency, accounting and internal control standards that must be met and maintained and require us to maintain reserves. These laws also require disclosure of material inter-affiliate transactions and require prior approval of “extraordinary” transactions. Such “extraordinary” transactions include declaring dividends from operating subsidiaries that exceed statutory thresholds. These laws also generally require approval of changes of control of insurance companies. The application of these laws could affect our liquidity and ability to pay dividends, interest and other payments on
securities, as applicable, and could restrict our ability to expand our business operations through acquisitions of new insurance subsidiaries. We may not have or maintain all required licenses and approvals or fully comply with the wide variety of applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority’s interpretation of the laws and regulations. If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could preclude or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our activities or monetarily penalize us. These types of actions could have a material adverse effect on our business. To date, no material fine, penalty or restriction has been imposed on us for failure to comply with any insurance law or regulation.
As a result of the previous dislocation of the financial markets, Congress and the previous Presidential administration in the United States implemented changes in the way the financial services industry is regulated. Some of these changes are also impacting the insurance industry. For example, the U.S. Treasury established the Federal Insurance Office with the authority to monitor all aspects of the insurance sector, monitor the extent to which traditionally underserved communities and consumers have access to affordable non-health insurance products, to represent the United States on prudential aspects of international insurance matters, to assist with administration of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program and to advise on important national and international insurance matters. In addition, several European regulatory bodies are in process of updating existing or developing new capital adequacy directives for insurers and reinsurers. The future impact of such initiatives or new initiatives from the current Government Administration, if any, on our operation, net income (loss) or financial condition cannot be determined at this time.
Bermuda introduced new economic substance legislation in December 2018, which came into force on January 1, 2019. Based on the European Union guidelines, the legislation requires Bermuda companies to be locally managed and directed, to carry on their core income generating activities in Bermuda and to have an adequate level of local full time qualified employees, local accommodation and local expenditure. There is no experience yet as to how the Bermuda authorities will interpret and enforce these new rules, and, accordingly, we are not able to predict their impact on our operations and net income.
Regulatory challenges in the United States could adversely affect the ability of Bermuda Re to conduct business.
Bermuda Re does not intend to be licensed or admitted as an insurer or reinsurer in any U.S. jurisdiction. Under current law, Bermuda Re generally will be permitted to reinsure U.S. risks from its office in Bermuda without obtaining those licenses. However, the insurance and reinsurance regulatory framework is subject to periodic legislative review and revision. In the past, there have been congressional and other initiatives in the United States regarding increased supervision and regulation of the insurance industry, including proposals to supervise and regulate reinsurers domiciled outside the United States. If Bermuda Re were to become subject to any insurance laws of the United States or any U.S. state at any time in the future, it might be required to post deposits or maintain minimum surplus levels and might be prohibited from engaging in lines of business or from writing some types of policies. Complying with those laws could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct business in Bermuda and international markets.
Bermuda Re may need to be licensed or admitted in additional jurisdictions to develop its business.
As Bermuda Re’s business develops, it will monitor the need to obtain licenses in jurisdictions other than Bermuda and the U.K., where it has an authorized branch, in order to comply with applicable law or to be able to engage in additional insurance-related activities. In addition, Bermuda Re may be at a competitive disadvantage in jurisdictions where it is not licensed or does not enjoy an exemption from licensing relative to competitors that are so licensed or exempt from licensing. Bermuda Re may not be able to obtain any additional licenses that it determines are necessary or desirable. Furthermore, the process of obtaining those licenses is often costly and may take a long time.
Bermuda Re’s ability to write reinsurance may be severely limited if it is unable to arrange for security to back its reinsurance.
Many jurisdictions do not permit insurance companies to take credit for reinsurance obtained from unlicensed or non-admitted insurers on their statutory financial statements without appropriate security. Bermuda Re’s reinsurance clients typically require it to post a letter of credit or enter into other security arrangements. If Bermuda Re is unable to obtain or maintain a letter of credit facility on commercially acceptable terms or is unable to arrange for other types of security, its ability to operate its business may be severely limited. If Bermuda Re defaults on any letter of credit that it obtains, it may be required to prematurely liquidate a substantial portion of its investment portfolio and other assets pledged as collateral.
Risks Relating to Group’s Securities
Because of our holding company structure, our ability to pay dividends, interest and principal is dependent on our receipt of dividends, loan payments and other funds from our subsidiaries.
Group and Holdings are holding companies, each of whose most significant asset consists of the stock of its operating subsidiaries. As a result, each of Group’s and Holdings’ ability to pay dividends, interest or other payments on its securities in the future will depend on the earnings and cash flows of the operating subsidiaries and the ability of the subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to it. This ability is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. Payment of dividends and advances and repayments from some of the operating subsidiaries are regulated by U.S., state and foreign insurance laws and regulatory restrictions, including minimum solvency and liquidity thresholds. Accordingly, the operating subsidiaries may not be able to pay dividends or advance or repay funds to Group and Holdings in the future, which could prevent us from paying dividends, interest or other payments on our securities.
Provisions in Group’s bye-laws could have an anti-takeover effect, which could diminish the value of its common shares.
Group’s bye-laws contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change of control that a shareholder might consider favorable. The effect of these provisions could be to prevent a shareholder from receiving the benefit from any premium over the market price of our common shares offered by a bidder in a potential takeover. Even in the absence of an attempt to effect a change in management or a takeover attempt, these provisions may adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common shares if they are viewed as discouraging takeover attempts in the future.
For example, Group’s bye-laws contain the following provisions that could have an anti-takeover effect:
 the total voting power of any shareholder owning more than 9.9% of the common shares will be reduced to 9.9% of the total voting power of the common shares;
 the board of directors may decline to register any transfer of common shares if it has reason to believe that the transfer would result in:
i.) any person that is not an investment company beneficially owning more than 5.0% of any class of the issued and outstanding share capital of Group,
ii.) any person holding controlled shares in excess of 9.9% of any class of the issued and outstanding share capital of Group, or
iii.) any adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to Group, any of its subsidiaries or any of its shareholders;
 Group also has the option to redeem or purchase all or part of a shareholder’s common shares to the extent the board of directors determines it is necessary or advisable to avoid or cure any adverse or potential adverse consequences if:
i.) any person that is not an investment company beneficially owns more than 5.0% of any class of the issued and outstanding share capital of Group,
ii.) any person holds controlled shares in excess of 9.9% of any class of the issued and outstanding share capital of Group, or
iii.) share ownership by any person may result in adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to Group, any of its subsidiaries or any other shareholder.
The Board of Directors has indicated that it will apply these bye-law provisions in such manner that “passive institutional investors” will be treated similarly to investment companies. For this purpose, “passive institutional investors” include all persons who are eligible, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (“the Exchange Act”) to file a short-form statement on Schedule 13G, other than an insurance company or any parent holding company or control person of an insurance company.
Applicable insurance laws may also have an anti-takeover effect.
Before a person can acquire control of a U.S. insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commissioner of the state where that insurance company is domiciled or deemed commercially domiciled. Prior to granting approval of an application to acquire control of a domestic insurance company, a state insurance commissioner will consider such factors as the financial strength of the applicant, the integrity and competence of the applicant’s board of directors and executive officers, the acquiror’s plans for the future operations of the insurance company and any anti-competitive results that may arise from the consummation of the acquisition of control. Because any person who acquired control of Group would thereby acquire indirect control of its insurance company subsidiaries in the U.S., the insurance change of control laws of Delaware, California and Georgia would apply to such a transaction. This could have the effect of delaying or even preventing such a change of control.
The ownership of common shares of Group by Everest International Reinsurance, Ltd., “Everest International” a direct subsidiary of Group may have an impact on securing approval of shareholder proposals that Group’s management supports.
As of December 31, 2020, Everest International owned 9,719,971 or 19.6% of the outstanding common shares of Group. Under Group’s bye-laws, the total voting power of any shareholder owning more than 9.9% of the common shares is reduced to 9.9% of the total voting power of the common shares. Nevertheless, Everest International, which is controlled by Group, has the ability to vote 9.9% of the total voting power of Group’s common shares.
Investors in Group may have more difficulty in protecting their interests than investors in a U.S. corporation.
The Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda (the “Companies Act”), differs in material respects from the laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. The following is a summary of material differences between the Companies Act, as modified in some instances by provisions of Group’s bye-laws, and Delaware corporate law that could make it more difficult for investors in Group to protect their interests than investors in a U.S. corporation. Because the following statements are summaries, they do not address all aspects of Bermuda law that may be relevant to Group and its shareholders.
Alternate Directors. Group’s bye-laws provide, as permitted by Bermuda law, that each director may appoint an alternate director, who shall have the power to attend and vote at any meeting of the board of directors or committee at which that director is not personally present and to sign written consents in place of that director. Delaware law permits a director to appoint another director as an alternate to attend any board committee meeting. However, Delaware law does not provide for the designation of alternate directors with authority to attend or vote at a meeting of the board of directors.
Committees of the Board of Directors. Group’s bye-laws provide, as permitted by Bermuda law, that the board of directors may delegate any of its powers to committees that the board appoints, and those committees may consist partly or entirely of non-directors. Delaware law allows the board of directors of a corporation to delegate many of its powers to committees, but those committees may consist only of directors.
Interested Directors. Bermuda law and Group’s bye-laws provide that if a director has a personal interest in a transaction to which the company is also a party and if the director discloses the nature of this personal interest at the first opportunity, either at a meeting of directors or in writing to the directors, then the company will not be able to declare the transaction void solely due to the existence of that personal interest and the director will not be liable to the company for any profit realized from the transaction. In addition, after a director has made the declaration of interest referred to above, he or she is allowed to be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present and to vote on a transaction in which he or she has an interest, unless disqualified from doing so by the chairman of the relevant board meeting. Under Delaware law, an interested director could be held liable for a transaction in which that director derived an improper personal benefit. Additionally, under Delaware law, a corporation may be able to declare a transaction with an interested director to be void unless one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
 the material facts as to the interested director’s relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the board of directors and the board in good faith authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors;
 the material facts are disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote on the transaction and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by the holders of a majority of the voting shares; or
 the transaction is fair to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified.
Transactions with Significant Shareholders. As a Bermuda company, Group may enter into business transactions with its significant shareholders, including asset sales, in which a significant shareholder receives, or could receive, a financial benefit that is greater than that received, or to be received, by other shareholders with prior approval from Group’s board of directors but without obtaining prior approval from the shareholders. In the case of an amalgamation, in which two or more companies join together and continue as a single company, a resolution of shareholders approved by a majority of at least 75% of the votes cast is required in addition to the approval of the board of directors, except in the case of an amalgamation with and between wholly-owned subsidiaries. If Group was a Delaware corporation, any business combination with an interested shareholder (which, for this purpose, would include mergers and asset sales of greater than 10% of Group’s assets that would otherwise be considered transactions in the ordinary course of business) within a period of three years from the time the person became an interested shareholder would require prior approval from shareholders holding at least 66 2/3% of Group’s outstanding common shares not owned by the interested shareholder, unless the transaction qualified for one of the exemptions in the relevant Delaware statute or Group opted out of the statute. For purposes of the Delaware statute, an “interested shareholder” is generally defined as a person who together with that person’s affiliates and associates owns, or within the previous three years did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting shares.
Takeovers. Under Bermuda law, if an acquiror makes an offer for shares of a company and, within four months of the offer, the holders of not less than 90% of the shares that are the subject of the offer tender their shares, the acquiror may give the nontendering shareholders notice requiring them to transfer their shares on the terms
of the offer. Within one month of receiving the notice, dissenting shareholders may apply to the court objecting to the transfer. The burden is on the dissenting shareholders to show that the court should exercise its discretion to enjoin the transfer. The court will be unlikely to do this unless there is evidence of fraud or bad faith or collusion between the acquiror and the tendering shareholders aimed at unfairly forcing out minority shareholders. Under another provision of Bermuda law, the holders of 95% of the shares of a company (the “acquiring shareholders”) may give notice to the remaining shareholders requiring them to sell their shares on the terms described in the notice. Within one month of receiving the notice, dissenting shareholders may apply to the court for an appraisal of their shares. Within one month of the court’s appraisal, the acquiring shareholders are entitled either to acquire all shares involved at the price fixed by the court or cancel the notice given to the remaining shareholders. If shares were acquired under the notice at a price below the court’s appraisal price, the acquiring shareholders must either pay the difference in price or cancel the notice and return the shares thus acquired to the shareholder, who must then refund the purchase price. There are no comparable provisions under Delaware law.
Inspection of Corporate Records. Members of the general public have the right to inspect the public documents of Group available at the office of the Registrar of Companies and Group’s registered office, both in Bermuda. These documents include the memorandum of association, which describes Group’s permitted purposes and powers, any amendments to the memorandum of association and documents relating to any increase or reduction in Group’s authorized share capital. Shareholders of Group have the additional right to inspect Group’s bye-laws, minutes of general meetings of shareholders and audited financial statements that must be presented to the annual general meeting of shareholders. The register of shareholders of Group also is open to inspection by shareholders and to members of the public without charge. Group is required to maintain its share register at its registered office in Bermuda. Group also maintains a branch register in the offices of its transfer agent in the U.S., which is open for public inspection as required under the Companies Act. Group is required to keep at its registered office a register of its directors and officers that is open for inspection by members of the public without charge. However, Bermuda law does not provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records. Under Delaware law, any shareholder may inspect or obtain copies of a corporation’s shareholder list and its other books and records for any purpose reasonably related to that person’s interest as a shareholder.
Shareholder’s Suits. The rights of shareholders under Bermuda law are not as extensive as the rights of shareholders under legislation or judicial precedent in many U.S. jurisdictions. Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under the laws of Bermuda. However, the Bermuda courts ordinarily would be expected to follow English case law precedent, which would permit a shareholder to bring an action in the name of Group to remedy a wrong done to Group where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of Group or illegal or would result in the violation of Group’s memorandum of association or bye-laws. Furthermore, the court would give consideration to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of Group’s shareholders than actually approved it. The winning party in an action of this type generally would be able to recover a portion of attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the action. Under Delaware law, class actions and derivative actions generally are available to stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In these types of actions, the court has discretion to permit the winning party to recover its attorneys’ fees.
Limitation of Liability of Directors and Officers. Group’s bye-laws provide that Group and its shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in the right of the Company, against any director or officer for any act or failure to act in the performance of that director’s or officer’s duties. However, this waiver does not apply to claims or rights of action that arise out of fraud or dishonesty. This waiver may have the effect of barring claims arising under U.S. federal securities laws. Under Delaware law, a corporation may include in its certificate of incorporation provisions limiting the personal liability of its directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for many types of breach of fiduciary duty. However, these provisions may not limit liability for any breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, the authorization of unlawful dividends,
stock repurchases or stock redemptions, or any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. Moreover, Delaware provisions would not be likely to bar claims arising under U.S. federal securities laws.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Group’s bye-laws provide that Group shall indemnify its directors or officers to the full extent permitted by law against all actions, costs, charges, liabilities, loss, damage or expense incurred or suffered by them by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in the conduct of Group’s business or in the discharge of their duties. Under Bermuda law, this indemnification may not extend to any matter involving fraud or dishonesty of which a director or officer may be guilty in relation to the company, as determined in a final judgment or decree not subject to appeal. Under Delaware law, a corporation may indemnify a director or officer who becomes a party to an action, suit or proceeding because of his position as a director or officer if (1) the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and (2) if the action or proceeding involves a criminal offense, the director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities. Group is organized under the laws of Bermuda. Some of its directors and officers may reside outside the U.S. A substantial portion of our assets are or may be located in jurisdictions outside the U.S. As a result, a person may not be able to affect service of process within the U.S. on directors and officers of Group and those experts who reside outside the U.S. A person also may not be able to recover against them or Group on judgments of U.S. courts or to obtain original judgments against them or Group in Bermuda courts, including judgments predicated upon civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws.
Dividends. Bermuda law does not allow a company to declare or pay a dividend, or make a distribution out of contributed surplus, if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company, after the payment is made, would be unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or that the realizable value of the company’s assets would be less, as a result of the payment, than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts. The share capital account represents the aggregate par value of issued shares, and the share premium account represents the aggregate amount paid for issued shares over and above their par value. Under Delaware law, subject to any restrictions contained in a company’s certificate of incorporation, a company may pay dividends out of the surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. Surplus is the amount by which the net assets of a corporation exceed its stated capital. Delaware law also provides that dividends may not be paid out of net profits at any time when stated capital is less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.
Risks Relating to Taxation
If U.S. tax law changes, our net income may be impacted.
The 2017 TCJA addressed what some members of Congress had expressed concern about for several years, which was U.S. corporations moving their place of incorporation to low-tax jurisdictions to obtain a competitive advantage over domestic corporations that are subject to the U.S. corporate income tax rate of 21%. Specifically, it addressed their concern over a perceived competitive advantage that foreign-controlled insurers and reinsurers may have had over U.S. controlled insurers and reinsurers resulting from the purchase of reinsurance by U.S. insurers from affiliates operating in some foreign jurisdictions, including Bermuda. Such affiliated reinsurance transactions may subject the U.S. ceding companies to a Base Erosion and Anti-abuse Tax (“BEAT”) of 10% from 2019 to 2025 and 12.5% thereafter which may exceed its regular income tax. In addition, new proposed and final regulations may further limit the ability of the Company to execute alternative capital balancing transactions with unrelated parties. This would further impact our net income and effective tax rate.
Group and/or Bermuda Re may be subject to U.S. corporate income tax, which would reduce our net income.
Bermuda Re. The income of Bermuda Re is a significant portion of our worldwide income from operations. We have established guidelines for the conduct of our operations that are designed to ensure that Bermuda Re is not engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the U.S. Based on its compliance with those guidelines, we believe that Bermuda Re should not be required to pay U.S. corporate income tax, other than withholding tax on U.S. source dividend income. However, if the IRS were to successfully assert that Bermuda Re was engaged in a U.S. trade or business, Bermuda Re would be required to pay U.S. corporate income tax on all of its income and possibly the U.S. branch profits tax. However, if the IRS were to successfully assert that Bermuda Re was engaged in a U.S. trade or business, we believe the U.S.-Bermuda tax treaty would preclude the IRS from taxing Bermuda Re’s income except to the extent that its income was attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by that subsidiary. We do not believe that Bermuda Re has a permanent establishment in the U.S. If the IRS were to successfully assert that Bermuda Re did have income attributable to a permanent establishment in the U.S., Bermuda Re would be subject to U.S. tax only on that income. This would reduce our net income.
Group. We conduct our operations in a manner designed to minimize our U.S. tax exposures. Based on our compliance with guidelines designed to ensure that we generate only immaterial amounts, if any, of income that is subject to the taxing jurisdiction of the U.S., we believe that we should be required to pay only immaterial amounts, if any, of U.S. corporate income tax, other than withholding tax on U.S. source dividend income. However, if the IRS successfully asserted that we had material amounts of income that was subject to the taxing jurisdiction of the U.S., we would be required to pay U.S. corporate income tax on that income, and possibly the U.S. branch profits tax. The imposition of such tax would reduce our net income.
If Bermuda Re became subject to U.S. income tax on its income, or if we became subject to U.S. income tax, our income could also be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax. In that event, Group and Bermuda Re would be subject to taxation at a higher combined effective rate than if they were organized as U.S. corporations. The combined effect of the 21% U.S. corporate income tax rate and the 30% branch profits tax rate is a net tax rate of 44.7%. The imposition of these taxes would reduce our net income.
Group and/or Bermuda Re may become subject to Bermuda tax, which would reduce our net income.
Group and Bermuda Re are not subject to income or profits tax, withholding tax or capital gains taxes in Bermuda. Both companies have received an assurance from the Bermuda Minister of Finance under The Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Amendment Act of 2011 to the effect that if any legislation is enacted in Bermuda that imposes any tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then that tax will not apply to us or to any of our operations or our shares, debentures or other obligations until March 31, 2035. This assurance does not prevent the application of any of those taxes to persons ordinarily resident in Bermuda and does not prevent the imposition of any tax payable in accordance with the provisions of The Land Tax Act 1967 of Bermuda or otherwise payable in relation to any land leased to Group or Bermuda Re.
Our net income will be reduced if U.S. excise and withholding taxes are increased.
Reinsurance and insurance premiums paid to Bermuda Re with respect to risks located in the U.S. are subject to a U.S. federal excise tax of one percent. In addition, Bermuda Re is subject to federal excise tax on reinsurance and insurance premiums with respect to risks located in the U.S. In addition, Bermuda Re is subject to withholding tax on dividend income from U.S. sources. These taxes could increase, and other taxes could be imposed in the future on Bermuda Re’s business, which would reduce our net income.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2.PROPERTIES
As of December 2020, Everest Re has relocated its corporate offices to Warren, NJ with approximately 321,500 square feet of leased office space. Bermuda Re’s corporate offices are located in approximately 12,300 total square feet of leased office space in Hamilton, Bermuda. The Company’s other 23 locations occupy a total of approximately 255,800 square feet, all of which are leased.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in lawsuits, arbitrations and other formal and informal dispute resolution procedures, the outcomes of which will determine the Company’s rights and obligations under insurance and reinsurance agreements. In some disputes, the Company seeks to enforce its rights under an agreement or to collect funds owing to it. In other matters, the Company is resisting attempts by others to collect funds or enforce alleged rights. These disputes arise from time to time and are ultimately resolved through both informal and formal means, including negotiated resolution, arbitration and litigation. In all such matters, the Company believes that its positions are legally and commercially reasonable. The Company considers the statuses of these proceedings when determining its reserves for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses.
Aside from litigation and arbitrations related to these insurance and reinsurance agreements, the Company is not a party to any other material litigation or arbitration.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information.
The common shares of Group trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol, “RE”. The quarterly high and low closing market prices of Group’s common shares for the periods indicated were:
Number of Holders of Common Shares.
The number of record holders of common shares as of February 1, 2021 was 595. That number does not include the beneficial owners of shares held in “street” name or held through participants in depositories, such as The Depository Trust Company.
Dividend History and Restrictions.
In 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company established a policy of declaring regular quarterly cash dividends and has paid a regular quarterly dividend in each quarter since the fourth quarter of 1995. The Company declared and paid its quarterly cash dividend of $1.40 per share for the first three quarters of 2019. The Company declared and paid its quarterly cash dividend of $1.55 per share for the fourth quarter of 2019 and for the four quarters of 2020. On February 24, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $1.55 per share, payable on or before March 31, 2021 to shareholders of record on March 17, 2021.
The declaration and payment of future dividends, if any, by the Company will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s earnings, financial condition, business needs and growth objectives, capital and surplus requirements of its operating subsidiaries, regulatory restrictions, rating agency considerations and other factors. As an insurance holding company, the Company is partially dependent on dividends and other permitted payments from its subsidiaries to pay cash dividends to its shareholders. The payment of dividends to Group by Holdings and to Holdings by Everest Re is subject to Delaware regulatory restrictions and the payment of dividends to Group by Bermuda Re is subject to Bermuda insurance regulatory restrictions. See “Regulatory Matters - Dividends” and ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
(1)On May 22, 2020, the Company’s executive committee of the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the share repurchase program authorizing the Company and/or its subsidiary Holdings, to purchase up to a current aggregate of 32.0 million of the Company’s shares (recognizing that the number of shares authorized for repurchase has been reduced by those shares that have already been purchased) in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or both. Currently, the Company and/or its subsidiary Holdings have repurchased 29.6 million of the Company’s shares.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
None.
Performance Graph.
The following Performance Graph compares cumulative total shareholder returns on the Common Shares (assuming reinvestment of dividends) from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2020, with the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the Standard & Poor’s Insurance (Property and Casualty) Index.
*$100 invested on 12/31/15 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending December 31.
Copyright© 2021 Standard & Poor's, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated GAAP financial data of the Company as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016, were derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. The following financial data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes.
(1) Catastrophe losses are presented net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums. Catastrophe insurance provides coverage for one event. When limits are exhausted, some contractual arrangements provide for the availability of additional coverage upon the payment of additional premium. This additional premium is referred to as reinstatement premium.
(2) Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.
(3) Based on weighted average basic common shares outstanding of 39.7 million, 40.3 million, 40.4 million, 40.6 million and 41.3 million for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(4) Based on weighted average diluted common shares outstanding of 39.7 million, 40.4 million, 40.6 million, 40.8 million and 41.6 million for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(5) Loss ratio is the GAAP losses and LAE incurred as a percentage of GAAP net premiums earned. Underwriting expense ratio is the GAAP commissions, brokerage, taxes, fees and other underwriting expenses as a percentage of GAAP net premiums earned. Combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and underwriting expense ratio.
(6) Based on 40.0 million, 40.8 million, 40.7 million, 40.8 million and 40.9 million common shares outstanding for December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation
The following is a discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition. It should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes thereto presented under ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
Industry Conditions.
The worldwide reinsurance and insurance businesses are highly competitive, as well as cyclical by product and market. As such, financial results tend to fluctuate with periods of constrained availability, higher rates and stronger profits followed by periods of abundant capacity, lower rates and constrained profitability. Competition in the types of reinsurance and insurance business that we underwrite is based on many factors, including the perceived overall financial strength of the reinsurer or insurer, ratings of the reinsurer or insurer by A.M. Best and/or Standard & Poor’s, underwriting expertise, the jurisdictions where the reinsurer or insurer is licensed or otherwise authorized, capacity and coverages offered, premiums charged, other terms and conditions of the reinsurance and insurance business offered, services offered, speed of claims payment and reputation and experience in lines written. Furthermore, the market impact from these competitive factors related to reinsurance and insurance is generally not consistent across lines of business, domestic and international geographical areas and distribution channels.
We compete in the U.S., Bermuda and international reinsurance and insurance markets with numerous global competitors. Our competitors include independent reinsurance and insurance companies, subsidiaries or affiliates of established worldwide insurance companies, reinsurance departments of certain insurance companies, domestic and international underwriting operations, including underwriting syndicates at Lloyd’s of London and certain government sponsored risk transfer vehicles. Some of these competitors have greater financial resources than we do and have established long term and continuing business relationships, which can be a significant competitive advantage. In addition, the lack of strong barriers to entry into the reinsurance business and recently, the securitization of reinsurance and insurance risks through capital markets provide additional sources of potential reinsurance and insurance capacity and competition.
Worldwide insurance and reinsurance market conditions historically have been competitive. Generally, there was ample insurance and reinsurance capacity relative to demand, as well as, additional capital from the capital markets through insurance linked financial instruments. These financial instruments such as side cars, catastrophe bonds and collateralized reinsurance funds, provided capital markets with access to insurance and reinsurance risk exposure. The capital markets demand for these products was being primarily driven by a low interest environment and the desire to achieve greater risk diversification and potentially higher returns on their investments. This increased competition was generally having a negative impact on rates, terms and conditions; however, the impact varies widely by market and coverage.
The industry continues to deal with the impacts of a global pandemic, COVID-19. Globally, many countries mandated that their citizens remain at home and many non-essential businesses have continued to be physically closed. We activated our operational resiliency plan across our global footprint and all of our critical operations are functioning effectively from remote locations. We continue to service and meet the needs of our clients while ensuring the safety and health of our employees and customers.
The pandemic has caused significant volatility in the global financial markets. Interest rates plummeted, credit spreads widened and the equity markets lost value. We saw our fixed maturity and equity portfolios decline in value resulting in realized and unrealized investment losses in our March 31, 2020 financial statements. However, the financial markets rebounded during the remaining quarters of 2020 and we recognized after-tax realized gains of $389.4 million and unrealized gains of $667.7 million in our financial statements for these three quarters. Nevertheless, the lack of business activity may lead to an increase in bankruptcies and corresponding credit losses.
There will also be a negative impact on future industry underwriting results. With the closing of non-essential businesses, there has been a significant decline in business activity. To the extent that premiums are based on business activity, there will be a decline in premium volume. Incurred losses from the pandemic will be impacted by the duration of the event and will vary by line of business and geographical location. For the full year 2020, our underwriting results include $511.1 million of estimated losses related to the pandemic.
Many regulators had issued moratoriums on the cancellation of policies for the non-payment of premiums and also on non-renewals. We are complying with the various regulatory requests for accommodations to policyholders during this difficult period. The moratoriums combined with the forced closure of businesses may lead to an increase in uncollectible premium expense.
Prior to the pandemic, there was a growing industry consensus that there was some firming of (re)insurance rates for the areas impacted by the recent catastrophes. The increased frequency of catastrophe losses in 2020 appears to be further pressuring the increase of rates. Rates also appear to be firming in some of the casualty lines of business, particularly in the casualty lines that had seen significant losses such as excess casualty and directors’ and officers’ liability. Other casualty lines are experiencing modest rate increase, while some lines such as workers’ compensation were experiencing softer market conditions. It is too early to tell what will be the impact on pricing conditions but it is likely to change depending on the line of business and geography.
While we are unable to predict the full impact the pandemic will have on the insurance industry as it continues to have a negative impact on the global economy, we are well positioned to continue to service our clients. Our capital position remains a source of strength, with high quality invested assets, significant liquidity and a low operating expense ratio. Our diversified global platform with its broad mix of products, distribution and geography is resilient.
Financial Summary.
We monitor and evaluate our overall performance based upon financial results. The following table displays a summary of the consolidated net income (loss), ratios and shareholders’ equity for the periods indicated.
Revenues.
Premiums. Gross written premiums increased by 14.8% to $10,482.4 million in 2020, compared to $9,133.4 million in 2019, reflecting a $925.8 million, or 14.6%, increase in our reinsurance business and a $423.2 million, or 15.2%, increase in our insurance business. The increase in reinsurance premiums was mainly due to increases in property pro rata business, casualty excess of loss writings and property catastrophe excess of loss business, partially offset by a $35.9 million negative impact from the movement of foreign exchange rates. The rise in insurance premiums was primarily due to increases in specialty casualty business, property business and professional liability business. Net written premiums increased by 16.5% to $9,117.0 million in 2020, compared to $7,824.4 million in 2019. This change is consistent with the change in gross written premiums. Premiums earned increased by 17.3% to $8,681.5 million in 2020, compared to $7,403.7 million in 2019. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.
Gross written premiums increased by 7.8% to $9,133.4 million in 2019, compared to $8,475.2 million in 2018, reflecting a $526.9 million, or 23.4%, increase in our insurance business and a $131.3 million, or 2.1%, increase in our reinsurance business. The rise in insurance premiums was primarily due to increases in many lines of business, including casualty, energy, accident and health and business written through the Lloyd’s Syndicate. The increase in reinsurance premiums was mainly due to increases in treaty casualty writings and mortgage business, partially offset by a decline in treaty property business, including lower reinstatement premiums, and a $55.5 million negative impact from the movement of foreign exchange rates. Net written premiums increased by 5.5% to $7,824.4 million in 2019, compared to $7,414.4 million in 2018. This change is consistent with the change in gross written premiums. Premiums earned increased by 6.8% to $7,403.7 million in 2019, compared to $6,931.7 million in 2018. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.
Net Investment Income. Net investment income decreased by 0.7% to $642.5 million in 2020 compared with investment income of $647.1 million in 2019. Net pre-tax investment income, as a percentage of average invested assets, was 2.9% in 2020 compared to 3.3% in 2019. The decreases in both income and yield were primarily the result of lower income from short term investments primarily due to lower interest rates resulting from the market impacts of COVID-19, partially offset by an increase in limited partnership income and higher income from the growing fixed income portfolio.
Net investment income increased by 11.3% to $647.1 million in 2019 compared with investment income of $581.2 million in 2018. Net pre-tax investment income, as a percentage of average invested assets, was 3.3% in 2019 compared to 3.2% in 2018. The increases in both income and yield were primarily the result of higher income from our growing fixed maturity portfolio and higher income from our limited partnerships, partially offset by lower dividend income from our equity portfolio.
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses). Net realized capital gains were $267.6 million and $185.0 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively, and net realized capital losses were $127.1 million in 2018. The net realized capital gains of $267.6 million in 2020 were comprised of $280.4 million of net gains from fair value re-measurements, partially offset by $11.1 million of net realized capital losses from sales of investments, and $1.7 million of net allowances for credit losses. The net realized capital gains of $185.0 million in 2019 were comprised of $167.0 million of net gains from fair value re-measurements and $38.9 million of net realized capital gains from sales of investments, partially offset by $20.9 million of other-than-temporary impairments. The net realized capital losses of $127.1 million in 2018 were comprised of $67.3 million of net losses from fair value re-measurements, $51.7 million of net realized capital losses from sales of investments and $8.1 million of other-than-temporary impairments.
Other Income (Expense). We recorded other income of $6.5 million in 2020 and other expense of $4.6 million and $24.3 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively. The changes were primarily the result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, income related to Mt. Logan Re, changes in value of equity put option
contracts and changes in deferred gains related to any retroactive reinsurance transactions. We recognized foreign currency exchange expense of $7.3 million in 2020, foreign currency exchange expense of $13.4 million in 2019 and foreign currency exchange income of $2.4 million in 2018.
Claims and Expenses.
Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses. The following table presents our incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) for the periods indicated.
Incurred losses and LAE increased by 33.1% to $6,550.8 million in 2020, compared to $4,922.9 million in 2019, primarily due to a rise of $1,283.4 million in current year attritional losses, mainly due to $511.1 million of losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the increase in premiums earned, as well as $495.0 million of less favorable development on prior years attritional losses in 2020, which primarily resulted from $400.0 of reserve strengthening in the fourth quarter of 2020 associated with higher ultimate loss estimates for long-tail casualty business in the reinsurance segment for accident years 2015 to 2018, notably general liability, professional lines and auto liability. The reserve charge also includes actions on non-CAT property lines, primarily for the 2017 to 2019 accident years and driven by a few large losses to aggregate programs. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $120.5 million in current year catastrophe losses. The current year catastrophe losses of $425.0 million in 2020 related to Hurricane Laura ($124.0 million), the Northern California wildfires ($44.1 million), Hurricane Zeta ($40.0 million), Hurricane Sally ($32.8 million), the California Glass wildfire ($29.5 million), Nashville tornadoes ($22.9 million), the Derecho storms ($20.5 million), Hurricane Isaias ($20.0 million), Hurricane Delta ($20.0 million), the Oregon wildfires ($17.0 million), the Calgary storms in Canada ($14.7 million), the 2020 U.S. civil unrest ($14.5 million), the Queensland Hailstorm ($10.0 million), the 2020 Australia fires ($8.2 million) and the Australia East Coast Storm ($6.8 million). The $545.5 million of current year catastrophe losses in 2019 related to Typhoon Hagibis ($200.0 million), Hurricane Dorian ($170.9
million), Typhoon Faxai ($124.3 million), Townsville Monsoon ($25.3 million), and the Dallas tornadoes ($25.0 million).
Incurred losses and LAE decreased by 12.9% to $4,922.9 million in 2019, compared to $5,651.4 million in 2018, primarily due to a decrease in current year catastrophe losses of $693.5 million and $531.2 million less of unfavorable development on prior years catastrophe losses in 2019 compared to 2018. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $415.6 million in current year attritional losses, mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned and changes in the mix of business, and $80.6 million less of favorable development on prior years attritional losses in 2019 compared to 2018. The current year catastrophe losses of $545.5 million in 2019 are outlined above. The $1,239.0 million of current year catastrophe losses in 2018 related to Hurricane Michael ($462.0 million), Camp wildfire ($322.0 million), Woolsey wildfire ($154.0 million), Typhoon Jebi ($80.0 million), Hurricane Florence ($73.8 million), Cyclone Mekunu ($43.7 million), Typhoon Trami ($25.0 million), Australia Hailstorm ($25.0 million), other 2018 California wildfires ($24.6 million), Japan floods ($20.5 million) and the U.S. winter storms ($8.4 million).
Commission, Brokerage, Taxes and Fees. Commission, brokerage, taxes and fees increased by 10.0% to $1,873.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $1,703.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The changes were primarily due to the impact of the increases in premiums earned and changes in the mix of business.
Commission, brokerage, taxes and fees increased by 12.2% to $1,703.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $1,519.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The changes were primarily due to the impact of the increases in premiums earned, higher contingent commissions and changes in the mix of business.
Other Underwriting Expenses. Other underwriting expenses were $511.2 million, $440.9 million and $371.5 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increases in other underwriting expenses were mainly due to the impact of the increases in premiums earned and costs incurred to support the continued expansion of the insurance business.
Corporate Expenses. Corporate expenses, which are general operating expenses that are not allocated to segments, were $41.1 million, $33.0 million and $30.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2017, respectively. The increase from 2019 to 2020 was mainly due to costs associated with the relocation of our U.S. corporate offices and higher compensation expenses.
Interest, Fees and Bond Issue Cost Amortization Expense. Interest, fees and other bond amortization expense was $36.3 million, $31.7 million and $31.0 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The changes in expense were primarily due to the movements in the floating interest rate related to the long term subordinated notes, which is reset quarterly per the note agreement. The floating rate was 2.6% as of December 31, 2020. The increase from 2019 to 2020 was also related to the interest expense on the $1,000.0 million senior note issuance in October 2020.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). We had income tax expense of $71.2 million in 2020, $89.5 million in 2019, and an income tax benefit of $331.2 million in 2018. Income tax expense is primarily a function of the geographic location of the Company’s pre-tax income and the statutory tax rates in those jurisdictions. The effective tax rate (“ETR”) is primarily affected by tax-exempt investment income, foreign tax credits and dividends. Variations in the ETR generally result from changes in the relative levels of pre-tax income, including the impact of catastrophe losses and net capital gains (losses), among jurisdictions with different tax rates. The change in income tax expense was primarily due to the increase in incurred losses, including from COVID 19 reserves and a reserve charge from 2019 to 2020.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted on March 27, 2020, provided that U.S. companies could carryback for five years net operating losses incurred in 2018, 2019 and/or 2020. This
beneficial tax provision in the CARES Act enabled the Company to carryback its significant 2018 net operating losses to prior tax years with higher effective tax rates of 35% versus 21% in 2018 and later years. As a result, the Company was able to record a net income tax benefit from the five-year carryback of $32.5 million and obtain federal income tax cash refunds of $182.5 million including interest in 2020.
During 2018, the Company completed its accounting for the TCJA in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, including interpretation of the additional guidance issued by the IRS and U.S. Department of the Treasury, and recognized an income tax benefit of $28.4 million primarily related to the 2017 tax return to tax provision true-up recorded in 2018.
Net Income (Loss).
Our net income was $514.2 million, $1,009.5 million and $89.0 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The changes were primarily driven by the financial component fluctuations explained above.
Ratios.
Our combined ratio increased by 7.4 points to 102.9% in 2020, compared to 95.5% in 2019. The loss ratio component increased 9.0 points in 2020 over the same period last year mainly due $511.1 million of losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The commission and brokerage ratio components decreased to 21.6% in 2020 compared to 23.0% in 2019 mainly due to the impact of lower reinstatement premiums in 2020 and changes in the mix of business. The other underwriting expense ratios decreased to 5.8% in 2020 compared to 6.0% in 2019 mainly due to the impact of higher earned premiums in 2020 compared to 2019.
Our combined ratio decreased by 13.3 points to 95.5% in 2019, compared to 108.8% in 2018. The loss ratio component decreased 15.0 points in 2019 over the same period last year mainly due to lower catastrophe losses in 2019 compared to 2018 and less unfavorable development on prior years catastrophe losses. The commission and brokerage ratio components increased to 23.0% in 2019 compared to 21.9% in 2018 mainly due to the impact of lower reinstatement premiums in 2019 and changes in the mix of business. The other underwriting expense ratios increased to 6.0% in 2019 compared to 5.4% in 2018 mainly due to higher variable compensation in 2019 compared to 2018.
Shareholders’ Equity.
Shareholders’ equity increased by $593.3 million to $9,726.2 million at December 31, 2020 from $9,132.9 million at December 31, 2019, principally as a result of $514.2 million of net income, $419.7 million of unrealized appreciation on investments net of tax, $86.3 million of net foreign currency translation adjustments, $25.6 million of share-based compensation transactions and $0.7 million of net benefit plan obligation adjustments, net of tax, partially offset by $249.1 million of shareholder dividends and the repurchase of 970,892 common shares for $200.0 million and $4.2 million of cumulative adjustment from the adoption of ASU 2016-13.
Shareholders’ equity increased by $1,272.1 million to $9,132.9 million at December 31, 2019 from $7,860.8 million at December 31, 2018, principally as a result of $1,009.5 million of net income, $483.8 million of unrealized appreciation on investments net of tax, $30.9 million of share-based compensation transactions and $14.0 million of net foreign currency translation adjustments, partially offset by $234.3 million of shareholder dividends, the repurchase of 114,633 common shares for $24.6 million and $7.1 million of net benefit plan obligation adjustments, net of tax.
Consolidated Investment Results
Net Investment Income.
Net investment income decreased by 0.7% to $642.5 million in 2020 compared with investment income of $647.1 million in 2019. The decrease was primarily due to lower income from short term investments primarily due to lower interest rates resulting from the market impacts of COVID-19, partially offset by an increase in limited partnership income and higher income from the growing fixed income portfolio.
Net investment income increased by 11.3% to $647.1 million in 2019 compared with investment income of $581.2 million in 2018. The increase was primarily due to higher income from our growing fixed maturity portfolio and an increase in limited partnership income, partially offset by lower dividend income from our equity portfolio.
The following table shows the components of net investment income for the periods indicated.
The following tables show a comparison of various investment yields for the periods indicated.
The pre-tax equivalent total return for the bond portfolio was approximately 5.3%, 6.3% and 2.9%, respectively, in 2020, 2019 and 2018. The pre-tax equivalent return adjusts the yield on tax-exempt bonds to the fully taxable equivalent.
Our fixed income and equity portfolios have different compositions than the benchmark indexes. Our fixed income portfolios have a shorter duration because we align our investment portfolio with our liabilities. We also hold foreign securities to match our foreign liabilities while the index is comprised of only U.S. securities. Our equity portfolios reflect an emphasis on dividend yield and growth equities, while the index is comprised of the largest 500 equities by market capitalization.
Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses).
The following table presents the composition of our net realized capital gains (losses) for the periods indicated.
Net realized capital gains were $267.6 million and $185.0 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively, and net realized capital losses were $127.1 million in 2018. The net realized capital gains of $267.6 million in 2020 were comprised of $280.4 million of net gains from fair value re-measurements, partially offset by $11.1 million of net realized capital losses from sales of investments and $1.7 million of net allowances for credit losses. In 2019, we recorded $167.0 million of net gains from fair value re-measurements and $38.9 million of net realized capital gains from sales of investments, partially offset by $20.9 million of other-than-temporary impairments. In 2018,
we recorded $67.3 million of net losses from fair value re-measurements, $51.7 million of net realized capital losses from sales of investments and $8.1 million of other-than-temporary impairments. The fixed maturity and equity sales during these years related primarily to adjusting the portfolios for overall market changes and individual credit shifts.
Segment Results.
The Reinsurance operation writes worldwide property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies. Business is written in the U.S., Bermuda, and Ireland offices, as well as, through branches in Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The Insurance operation writes property and casualty insurance directly and through brokers, surplus lines brokers and general agents within the U.S., Canada and Europe through its offices in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and a branch located in Zurich.
These segments are managed independently, but conform with corporate guidelines with respect to pricing, risk management, control of aggregate catastrophe exposures, capital, investments and support operations. Management generally monitors and evaluates the financial performance of these operating segments based upon their underwriting results.
Underwriting results include earned premium less losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) incurred, commission and brokerage expenses and other underwriting expenses. We measure our underwriting results using ratios, in particular loss, commission and brokerage and other underwriting expense ratios, which, respectively, divide incurred losses, commissions and brokerage and other underwriting expenses by premiums earned.
The Company does not maintain separate balance sheet data for its operating segments. Accordingly, the Company does not review and evaluate the financial results of its operating segments based upon balance sheet data.
Our loss and LAE reserves are management’s best estimate of our ultimate liability for unpaid claims. We re-evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis, including all prior period reserves, taking into consideration all available information and, in particular, recently reported loss claim experience and trends related to prior periods. Such re-evaluations are recorded in incurred losses in the period in which re-evaluation is made.
The following discusses the underwriting results for each of our segments for the periods indicated.
Reinsurance.
The following table presents the underwriting results and ratios for the Reinsurance segment for the periods indicated.
Premiums. Gross written premiums increased by 14.6% to $7,281.7 million in 2020 from $6,355.9 million in 2019, primarily due to increases in property pro rata business, casualty excess of loss writings and property catastrophe excess of loss business, partially offset by a $35.9 million negative impact from the movement of foreign exchange rates. Net written premiums increased by 18.1% to $6,767.6 million in 2020 compared to $5,732.3 million in 2019. The difference between the change in gross written premiums compared to the change in net written premiums was primarily due to varying utilization of reinsurance. Premiums earned increased by 17.8% to $6,466.1 million in 2020, compared to $5,491.3 million in 2019. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is primarily the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.
Gross written premiums increased by 2.1% to $6,355.9 million in 2019 from $6,244.6 million in 2018, primarily due to increases in treaty casualty writings and mortgage business, partially offset by a decline in treaty property business, including lower reinstatement premiums, and a $55.5 million negative impact from the movement of foreign exchange rates. Net written premiums increased by 0.5% to $5,732.3 million in 2019 compared to $5,706.5 million in 2018 which is consistent with the change in gross written premiums. Premiums earned increased by 3.7% to $5,491.3 million in 2019, compared to $5,293.1 million in 2018. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is primarily the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.
Incurred Losses and LAE. The following table presents the incurred losses and LAE for the Reinsurance segment for the periods indicated.
Incurred losses increased by 34.2% to $4,933.4 million in 2020, compared to $3,675.2 million in 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $1,002.0 million in current year attritional losses, mainly related to $407.1 million of losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the increase in premiums earned, as well as $474.1 million of more development on prior years attritional losses in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily resulted from $400.0 of reserve strengthening in the fourth quarter of 2020 associated with higher ultimate loss estimates for long-tail casualty business for accident years 2015 to 2018, notably general liability, professional lines and auto liability. The reserve charge also includes actions on non-CAT property lines, primarily for the 2017 to 2019 accident years and driven by a few large losses to aggregate programs. The increase was partially offset by a decline of $184.5 million in current year catastrophe losses and $33.4 million of less development on prior years catastrophe losses. The current year catastrophe losses of $357.0 million in 2020 related primarily to Hurricane Laura ($105.5 million), the Northern California wildfires ($44.1 million), Hurricane Zeta ($32.0 million), the California Glass wildfire ($29.5 million), Hurricane Delta ($18.0 million), Hurricane Isaias ($17.8 million), the Nashville tornadoes ($17.5 million), the Derecho storms ($17.5 million), the Oregon wildfires ($17.0 million), Hurricane Sally ($16.9 million), the Calgary storms in Canada ($12.2 million), the Queensland hailstorm ($10.0 million), the Australia fires ($8.2 million), the Australia East Coast storm ($6.8 million), and the 2020 U.S. Civil Unrest ($4.1 million). The $541.5 million of current year catastrophe losses in 2019 related primarily to Typhoon Hagibis ($200.0 million), Hurricane Dorian ($166.9 million), Typhoon Faxai ($124.3 million), the 2019 Townsville Monsoon ($25.3 million) and the Dallas tornadoes ($25.0 million).
Incurred losses decreased by 19.9% to $3,675.2 million in 2019, compared to 4,585.6 million in 2018. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of $654.4 million in current year catastrophe losses and an improvement of $537.7 million on development of prior years catastrophe losses, partially offset by an increase
of $236.9 million in current year attritional losses, mainly due to the impact of changes in the mix of business, primarily writing more treaty casualty. The current year catastrophe losses of $541.5 million in 2019 are outlined above. The $1,195.9 million of current year catastrophe losses in 2018 related primarily to Hurricane Michael ($438.0 million), Camp wildfire ($322.0 million), Woolsey wildfire ($154.0 million), Typhoon Jebi ($80.0 million), Hurricane Florence ($64.3 million), Cyclone Mekunu ($43.7 million), Typhoon Trami ($25.0 million), Australia hailstorm ($24.0 million), other 2018 California wildfires ($23.1 million) and Japan floods ($5.5 million).
Segment Expenses. Commission and brokerage expense increased by 10.9% to $1,552.4 million in 2020 compared to $1,400.2 million in 2019. The increase was mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned and changes in the mix of business. Segment other underwriting expenses increased to $175.7 million in 2020 from $160.8 million in 2019. The increase was mainly due to changes in the mix of business and the impact of the increase in premiums earned.
Commission and brokerage expense increased by 11.9% to $1,400.2 million in 2019 compared to $1,251.6 million in 2018. The increases are mainly due to the impact of the increases in premiums earned, higher contingent commission, changes in the mix of business towards additional pro rata business and significantly higher reinstatement premiums in 2018 which have no commission charge. Segment other underwriting expenses increased to $160.8 million in 2019 from $142.9 million in 2018. The increases were mainly due to changes in the mix of business and the impact of the increase in premiums earned.
Insurance.
The following table presents the underwriting results and ratios for the Insurance segment for the periods indicated.
Premiums. Gross written premiums increased by 15.2% to $3,200.6 million in 2020 compared to $2,777.5 million in 2019. This rise was related to increases in specialty casualty business, property business and professional liability business. Net written premiums increased by 12.3% to $2,349.4 million in 2020 compared to $2,092.2 million in 2019. The difference between the change in gross written premiums compared to the change in net written premiums is primarily due to varying utilization of reinsurance. Premiums earned increased 15.8% to $2,215.4 million in 2019 compared to $1,912.4 million in 2019. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.
Gross written premiums increased by 23.4% to $2,777.5 million in 2019 compared to $2,250.6 million in 2018. This increase was related to most lines of business including casualty, energy, accident and health and premiums written through the Lloyd’s Syndicate. Net written premiums increased by 22.5% to $2,092.2 million in 2019 compared to $1,708.0 million in 2018, which is consistent with the change in gross written premiums. Premiums earned increased 16.7% to $1,912.4 million in 2019 compared to $1,638.6 million in 2018. The change in premiums earned relative to net written premiums is the result of timing; premiums are earned ratably over the coverage period whereas written premiums are recorded at the initiation of the coverage period.
Incurred Losses and LAE. The following table presents the incurred losses and LAE for the Insurance segment for the periods indicated.
Incurred losses and LAE increased by 29.6% to $1,617.4 million in 2020 compared to $1,247.7 million in 2019. The increase was mainly due to a rise of $281.5 million in current year attritional losses, primarily related to $104.0 million of losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the increase in premiums earned, as well as an increase of $64.0 million in current year catastrophe losses. The current year catastrophe losses of $68.0 million in 2020 related to Hurricane Laura ($18.5 million), Hurricane Sally ($15.9 million), the 2020 U.S. Civil Unrest ($10.4 million), Hurricane Zeta ($8.0 million), the Nashville tornadoes ($5.5 million), the Derecho storms ($3.0 million), the Calgary storms in Canada ($2.5 million), Hurricane Isaias ($2.2 million) and Hurricane Delta ($2.0 million). The $4.0 million of current year catastrophe losses in 2019 related primarily to Hurricane Dorian ($4.0 million).
Incurred losses and LAE increased by 17.1% to $1,247.7 million in 2019 compared to $1,065.8 million in 2018, mainly due to an increase of $178.6 million in current year attritional losses, related to the impact of the increase in premiums earned and $35.8 million less of favorable development on prior years attritional losses. These impacts were partially offset by a decrease of $39.1 million in current year catastrophe losses. The
current year catastrophe losses of $4.0 million in 2019 are outlined above. The $43.1 million of current year catastrophe losses in 2018 related primarily to Hurricane Michael ($24.0 million), Hurricane Florence ($9.5 million), the U.S. winter storms ($7.1 million), other 2018 California wildfires ($1.5 million) and Australia hailstorm ($1.0 million).
Segment Expenses. Commission and brokerage increased by 5.7% to $320.9 million in 2020 compared to $303.5 million in 2019. The increase in 2019 was mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned. Segment other underwriting expenses increased to $335.5 million in 2020 compared to $280.1 million in 2019. The increase was mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned and increased expenses related to the continued build out of the insurance business.
Commission and brokerage increased by 13.5% to $303.5 million in 2019 compared to $267.4 million in 2018. The increase in 2019 was mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned. Segment other underwriting expenses increased to $280.1 million in 2019 compared to $228.7 million in 2018. The increase was mainly due to the impact of the increase in premiums earned and increased expenses related to the continued build out of the insurance business.
Critical Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of the critical accounting policies related to accounting estimates that (1) require management to make assumptions about highly uncertain matters and (2) could materially impact the consolidated financial statements if management made different assumptions.
Loss and LAE Reserves. Our most critical accounting policy is the determination of our loss and LAE reserves. We maintain reserves equal to our estimated ultimate liability for losses and LAE for reported and unreported claims for our insurance and reinsurance businesses. Because reserves are based on estimates of ultimate losses and LAE by underwriting or accident year, we use a variety of statistical and actuarial techniques to monitor reserve adequacy over time, evaluate new information as it becomes known and adjust reserves whenever an adjustment appears warranted. We consider many factors when setting reserves including: (1) our exposure base and projected ultimate premiums earned; (2) our expected loss ratios by product and class of business, which are developed collaboratively by underwriters and actuaries; (3) actuarial methodologies and assumptions which analyze our loss reporting and payment experience, reports from ceding companies and historical trends, such as reserving patterns, loss payments and product mix; (4) current legal interpretations of coverage and liability; and (5) economic conditions. Our insurance and reinsurance loss and LAE reserves represent management’s best estimate of our ultimate liability. Actual losses and LAE ultimately paid may deviate, perhaps substantially, from such reserves. Our net income (loss) will be impacted in a period in which the change in estimated ultimate losses and LAE is recorded. See also ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 1 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
It is more difficult to accurately estimate loss reserves for reinsurance liabilities than for insurance liabilities. At December 31, 2020, we had reinsurance reserves of $12,034.2 million, of which $217.7 million were loss reserves for A&E liabilities, and insurance loss reserves of $4,364.8 million. A detailed discussion of additional considerations related to A&E exposures follows later in this section.
The detailed data required to evaluate ultimate losses for our insurance business is accumulated from our underwriting and claim systems. Reserving for reinsurance requires evaluation of loss information received from ceding companies. Ceding companies report losses to us in many forms dependent on the type of contract and the agreed or contractual reporting requirements. Generally, proportional/quota share contracts require the submission of a monthly/quarterly account, which includes premium and loss activity for the period with corresponding reserves as established by the ceding company. This information is recorded into our records. For certain proportional contracts, we may require a detailed loss report for claims that exceed a certain dollar threshold or relate to a particular type of loss. Excess of loss and facultative contracts generally require individual loss reporting with precautionary notices provided when a loss reaches a significant
percentage of the attachment point of the contract or when certain causes of loss or types of injury occur. Our experienced claims staff handles individual loss reports and supporting claim information. Based on our evaluation of a claim, we may establish additional case reserves (ACRs) in addition to the case reserves reported by the ceding company. To ensure ceding companies are submitting required and accurate data, the Underwriting, Claim, Reinsurance Accounting and Internal Audit departments of the Company perform various reviews of our ceding companies, particularly larger ceding companies, including on-site audits.
We sort both our reinsurance and insurance reserves into exposure groupings for actuarial analysis. We assign our business to exposure groupings so that the underlying exposures have reasonably homogeneous loss development characteristics and are large enough to facilitate credible estimation of ultimate losses. We periodically review our exposure groupings and we may change our groupings over time as our business changes. We currently use over 200 exposure groupings to develop our reserve estimates. One of the key selection characteristics for the exposure groupings is the historical duration of the claims settlement process. Business in which claims are reported and settled relatively quickly are commonly referred to as short tail lines, principally property lines. On the other hand, casualty claims tend to take longer to be reported and settled and casualty lines are generally referred to as long tail lines. Our estimates of ultimate losses for shorter tail lines, with the exception of loss estimates for large catastrophic events, generally exhibit less volatility than those for the longer tail lines.
We use similar actuarial methodologies, such as expected loss ratio, chain ladder reserving methods and Borhuetter Ferguson, supplemented by judgment where appropriate, to estimate our ultimate losses and LAE for each exposure group. Although we use similar actuarial methodologies for both short tail and long tail lines, the faster reporting of experience for the short tail lines allows us to have greater confidence in our estimates of ultimate losses for short tail lines at an earlier stage than for long tail lines. As a result, we utilize, as well, exposure-based methods to estimate our ultimate losses for longer tail lines, especially for immature accident years. For both short and long tail lines, we supplement these general approaches with analytically based judgments. We cannot estimate losses from widespread catastrophic events, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, using traditional actuarial methods. We estimate losses for these types of events based on information derived from catastrophe models, quantitative and qualitative exposure analyses, reports and communications from ceding companies and development patterns for historically similar events. Due to the inherent uncertainty in estimating such losses, these estimates are subject to variability, which increases with the severity and complexity of the underlying event.
Our key actuarial assumptions contain no explicit provisions for reserve uncertainty nor do we supplement the actuarially determined reserves for uncertainty.
Our carried reserves at each reporting date are management’s best estimate of ultimate unpaid losses and LAE at that date. We complete detailed reserve studies for each exposure group annually for our reinsurance and insurance operations. The completed annual reinsurance reserve studies are “rolled forward” for each accounting period until the subsequent reserve study is completed. Analyzing the roll-forward process involves comparing actual reported losses to expected losses based on the most recent reserve study. We analyze significant variances between actual and expected losses and also consider recent market, underwriting and management criteria to determine management’s best estimate of ultimate unpaid losses and LAE. As a result of these additional factors, in some instances the selected reserve level may be higher or lower than the actuarial indicated estimate.
Given the inherent variability in our loss reserves, we have developed an estimated range of possible gross reserve levels. A table of ranges by segment, accompanied by commentary on potential and historical variability, is included in “Financial Condition - Loss and LAE Reserves”. The ranges are statistically developed using the exposure groups used in the reserve estimation process and aggregated to the segment level. For each exposure group, our actuaries calculate a range for each accident year based principally on two variables. The first is the historical changes in losses and LAE incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) for each accident year over time; the second is volatility of each accident year’s held reserves related to estimated ultimate losses, also
over time. Both are measured at various ages from the end of the accident year through the final payout of the year’s losses. Ranges are developed for the exposure groups using statistical methods to adjust for diversification; the ranges for the exposure groups are aggregated to the segment level, likewise, with an adjustment for diversification. Our estimates of our reserve variability may not be comparable to those of other companies because there are no consistently applied actuarial or accounting standards governing such presentations. Our recorded reserves reflect our best point estimate of our liabilities and our actuarial methodologies focus on developing such point estimates. We calculate the ranges subsequently, based on the historical variability of such reserves.
Asbestos and Environmental Exposures. We continue to receive claims under expired insurance and reinsurance contracts asserting injuries and/or damages relating to or resulting from environmental pollution and hazardous substances, including asbestos. Environmental claims typically assert liability for (a) the mitigation or remediation of environmental contamination or (b) bodily injury or property damage caused by the release of hazardous substances into the land, air or water. Asbestos claims typically assert liability for bodily injury from exposure to asbestos or for property damage resulting from asbestos or products containing asbestos.
Our reserves include an estimate of our ultimate liability for A&E claims. Our A&E liabilities emanate from Everest Re’s assumed reinsurance business. Liabilities related to Mt. McKinley’s direct business, which had been ceded to Bermuda Re previously, were retroceded to an affiliate of Clearwater Insurance Company in 2015, concurrent with the sale of Mt. McKinley to Clearwater Insurance Company. There are significant uncertainties surrounding our estimates of our potential losses from A&E claims. Among the uncertainties are: (a) potentially long waiting periods between exposure and manifestation of any bodily injury or property damage; (b) difficulty in identifying sources of asbestos or environmental contamination; (c) difficulty in properly allocating responsibility and/or liability for asbestos or environmental damage; (d) changes in underlying laws and judicial interpretation of those laws; (e) the potential for an asbestos or environmental claim to involve many insurance providers over many policy periods; (f) questions concerning interpretation and application of insurance and reinsurance coverage; and (g) uncertainty regarding the number and identity of insureds with potential asbestos or environmental exposure.
Due to the uncertainties discussed above, the ultimate losses attributable to A&E, and particularly asbestos, may be subject to more variability than are non-A&E reserves and such variation could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows. See also ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Notes 1 and 3 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Reinsurance Receivables. We have purchased reinsurance to reduce our exposure to adverse claim experience, large claims and catastrophic loss occurrences. Our ceded reinsurance provides for recovery from reinsurers of a portion of losses and loss expenses under certain circumstances. Such reinsurance does not relieve us of our obligation to our policyholders. In the event our reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations under these agreements or are able to successfully challenge losses ceded by us under the contracts, we will not be able to realize the full value of the reinsurance receivable balance. In some cases, we may hold full or partial collateral for the receivable, including letters of credit, trust assets and cash. Additionally, creditworthy foreign reinsurers of business written in the U.S., as well as capital markets’ reinsurance mechanisms, are generally required to secure their obligations. We have established reserves for uncollectible balances based on our assessment of the collectability of the outstanding balances. The allowance for uncollectible reinsurance reflects management’s best estimate of reinsurance cessions that may be uncollectible in the future due to reinsurers’ unwillingness or inability to pay. The allowance for uncollectible reinsurance comprises an allowance and an allowance for disputed balances. Based on this analysis, the Company may adjust the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance or charge off reinsurer balances that are determined to be uncollectible.
The allowance is estimated as the amount of reinsurance receivable exposed to loss multiplied by estimated factors for the probability of default. The probability of default is assigned based on each reinsurer's credit rating, or a rating is estimated if no external rating is available. Credit ratings are reviewed and updated at least
annually. The probability of default factors are historical insurer and reinsurer defaults for liabilities with similar durations to the reinsured liabilities as estimated through multiple economic cycles. Credit ratings are forward-looking and consider a variety of economic outcomes. The Company's evaluation of the required allowance for reinsurance receivable considers the current economic environment as well as macroeconomic scenarios.
As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, the reserve for uncollectible balances was $17.2 million and $15.0 million, respectively. Actual uncollectible amounts may vary, perhaps substantially, from such reserves, impacting income (loss) in the period in which the change in reserves is made. See also ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 11 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and “Financial Condition - Reinsurance Receivables” below.
Premiums Written and Earned. Premiums written by us are earned ratably over the coverage periods of the related insurance and reinsurance contracts. We establish unearned premium reserves to cover the unexpired portion of each contract. Such reserves, for assumed reinsurance, are computed using pro rata methods based on statistical data received from ceding companies. Premiums earned, and the related costs, which have not yet been reported to us, are estimated and accrued. Because of the inherent lag in the reporting of written and earned premiums by our ceding companies, we use standard accepted actuarial methodologies to estimate earned but not reported premium at each financial reporting date. These earned but not reported premiums are combined with reported earned premiums to comprise our total premiums earned for determination of our incurred losses and loss and LAE reserves. Commission expense and incurred losses related to the change in earned but not reported premium are included in current period company and segment financial results. See also ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 1 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table displays the estimated components of net earned but not reported premiums by segment for the periods indicated.
Investment Valuation. Our fixed income investments are classified for accounting purposes as available for sale and are carried at market value or fair value in our consolidated balance sheets. Our equity securities are all carried at fair value, as of January 1, 2018, due to the adoption of ASU 2016-01. Most securities we own are traded on national exchanges where market values are readily available. Some of our commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) are valued using cash flow models and risk-adjusted discount rates. We hold some privately placed securities, less than 7% of the portfolio, that are either valued by investment advisors or the Company. In some instances, values provided by an investment advisor are supported with opinions from qualified independent third parties. The Company has procedures in place to review the values received from its investment advisors. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, our investment portfolio included $1,764.5 million and $1,510.6 million, respectively, of limited partnership investments whose values are reported pursuant to the equity method of accounting. We carry these investments at values provided by the managements of the limited partnerships and due to inherent reporting lags, the carrying values are based on values with “as of” dates from one month to one quarter prior to our financial statement date.
At December 31, 2020, we had unrealized gains, net of tax, of $724.2 million compared to unrealized gains, net of tax, of $304.4 million at December 31, 2019. Gains and losses from market fluctuations for investments held at market value are reflected as comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses from market fluctuations for investments held at fair value are reflected as net realized capital gains and
losses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Market value declines for the fixed income portfolio, which are considered credit related, are reflected in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), as realized capital losses. We consider many factors when determining whether a market value decline is credit related, including: (1) we have no intent to sell and, more likely than not, will not be required to sell prior to recovery, (2) the length of time the market value has been below book value, (3) the credit strength of the issuer, (4) the issuer’s market sector, (5) the length of time to maturity and (6) for asset-backed securities, changes in prepayments, credit enhancements and underlying default rates. If management’s assessments change in the future, we may ultimately record a realized loss after management originally concluded that the decline in value was temporary. See also ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 1 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Financial Condition
Cash and Invested Assets. Aggregate invested assets, including cash and short-term investments, were $25,461.6 million at December 31, 2020, an increase of $4,713.1 million compared to $20,748.5 million at December 31, 2019. This increase was primarily the result of $2,873.6 million of cash flows from operations, $979.4 million of proceeds from the issuance of senior notes, $465.2 million of pre-tax unrealized appreciation, $310.0 million of proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowings, $239.9 million in fair value re-measurements, $194.6 million of unsettled securities, $180.0 million due to fluctuations in foreign currencies and $103.8 million in equity adjustments of our limited partnership investments, partially offset by $249.1 million paid out in dividends to shareholders and repurchases of 1.0 million common shares for $200.0 million.
Our principal investment objectives are to ensure funds are available to meet our insurance and reinsurance obligations and to maximize after-tax investment income while maintaining a high quality diversified investment portfolio. Considering these objectives, we view our investment portfolio as having two components: 1) the investments needed to satisfy outstanding liabilities (our core fixed maturities portfolio) and 2) investments funded by our shareholders’ equity.
For the portion needed to satisfy global outstanding liabilities, we generally invest in fixed maturities with an average credit quality of Aa3. This global fixed maturity securities portfolio is externally managed by independent, professional investment managers using portfolio guidelines approved by internal management.
Over the past several years, we have expanded the allocation of our investments funded by shareholders’ equity to include: 1) a greater percentage of publicly traded equity securities, 2) emerging market fixed maturities through mutual fund structures, as well as individual holdings, 3) high yield fixed maturities, 4) bank and private loan securities and 5) private equity limited partnership investments. The objective of this portfolio diversification is to enhance the risk-adjusted total return of the investment portfolio by allocating a prudent portion of the portfolio to higher return asset classes. We limit our allocation to these asset classes because of 1) the potential for volatility in their values and 2) the impact of these investments on regulatory and rating agency capital adequacy models. We use investment managers experienced in these markets and adjust our allocation to these investments based upon market conditions. At December 31, 2020, the market value of investments in these investment market sectors, carried at both market and fair value, approximated 76% of shareholders’ equity.
The Company’s limited partnership investments are comprised of limited partnerships that invest in private equities. Generally, the limited partnerships are reported on a quarter lag. We receive annual audited financial statements for all of the limited partnerships which are prepared using fair value accounting in accordance with FASB guidance. For the quarterly reports, the Company’s staff performs reviews of the financial reports for any unusual changes in carrying value. If the Company becomes aware of a significant decline in value during the lag reporting period, the loss will be recorded in the period in which the Company identifies the decline.
The tables below summarize the composition and characteristics of our investment portfolio as of the dates indicated.
Reinsurance Receivables.
Reinsurance receivables for both paid and recoverable on unpaid losses totaled $1,994.6 million at December 31, 2020 and $1,763.5 million at December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2020, $699.7 million, or 35.1%, was receivable from Mt. Logan Re collateralized segregated accounts and $211.6 million, or 10.6%, was receivable from Munich Re. No other retrocessionaire accounted for more than 5% of our receivables.
Loss and LAE Reserves. Gross loss and LAE reserves totaled $16,399.0 million and $13,611.3 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The following tables summarize gross outstanding loss and LAE reserves by segment, classified by case reserves and IBNR reserves, for the periods indicated.
Changes in premiums earned and business mix, reserve re-estimations, catastrophe losses and changes in catastrophe loss reserves and claim settlement activity all impact loss and LAE reserves by segment and in total.
Our loss and LAE reserves represent management’s best estimate of our ultimate liability for unpaid claims. We continuously re-evaluate our reserves, including re-estimates of prior period reserves, taking into consideration all available information and, in particular, newly reported loss and claim experience. Changes in reserves resulting from such re-evaluations are reflected in incurred losses in the period when the re-evaluation is made. Our analytical methods and processes operate at multiple levels including individual contracts, groupings of like contracts, classes and lines of business, internal business units, segments, legal entities, and in the aggregate. In order to set appropriate reserves, we make qualitative and quantitative analyses and judgments at these various levels. Additionally, the attribution of reserves, changes in reserves and incurred losses among accident years requires qualitative and quantitative adjustments and allocations at these various levels. We utilize actuarial science, business expertise and management judgment in a manner intended to ensure the accuracy and consistency of our reserving practices. Nevertheless, our reserves are estimates, which are subject to variation, which may be significant.
There can be no assurance that reserves for, and losses from, claim obligations will not increase in the future, possibly by a material amount. However, we believe that our existing reserves and reserving methodologies lessen the probability that any such increase would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
We have included ranges for loss reserve estimates determined by our actuaries, which have been developed through a combination of objective and subjective criteria. Our presentation of this information may not be directly comparable to similar presentations of other companies as there are no consistently applied actuarial or accounting standards governing such presentations. Our recorded reserves are an aggregation of our best point estimates for approximately 200 reserve groups and reflect our best point estimate of our liabilities. Our actuarial methodologies develop point estimates rather than ranges and the ranges are developed subsequently based upon historical and prospective variability measures.
The following table below represents the reserve levels and ranges for each of our business segments for the period indicated.
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(1) There can be no assurance that reserves will not ultimately exceed the indicated ranges requiring additional income (loss) statement expense.
(2) Although totals are displayed for both the low and high range amounts, it should be noted that statistically the range of the total is not equal to the sum of the ranges of the segments.
Depending on the specific segment, the range derived for the loss reserves, excluding reserves for A&E exposures, ranges from minus 11.9% to minus 13.7% for the low range and from plus 11.9% to plus 13.7% for the high range. Both the higher and lower ranges are associated with the Insurance segment. The size of the range is dependent upon the level of confidence associated with the outcome. Within each range, management’s best estimate of loss reserves is based upon the point estimate derived by our actuaries in detailed reserve studies. Such ranges are necessarily subjective due to the lack of generally accepted actuarial standards with respect to their development. For the above presentation, we have assumed what we believe is a reasonable confidence level but note that there can be no assurance that our claim obligations will not vary outside of these ranges
Additional losses, including those relating to latent injuries, and other exposures, which are as yet unrecognized, the type or magnitude of which cannot be foreseen by us or the reinsurance and insurance industry generally, may emerge in the future. Such future emergence, to the extent not covered by existing retrocessional contracts, could have material adverse effects on our future financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Asbestos and Environmental Exposures. A&E exposures represent a separate exposure group for monitoring and evaluating reserve adequacy. The following table summarizes the outstanding loss reserves with respect to A&E reserves on both a gross and net of retrocessions basis for the periods indicated.
With respect to asbestos only, at December 31, 2020, we had net asbestos loss reserves of $194.1 million, or 97.9%, of total net A&E reserves, all of which was for assumed business.
In 2015, we sold Mt. McKinley to Clearwater Insurance Company. Concurrently with the closing, we entered into a retrocession treaty with an affiliate of Clearwater. Per the retrocession treaty, we retroceded 100% of the liabilities associated with certain Mt. McKinley policies, which had been reinsured by Bermuda Re. As
consideration for entering into the retrocession treaty, Bermuda Re transferred cash of $140.3 million, an amount equal to the net loss reserves as of the closing date. Of the $140.3 million of net loss reserves retroceded, $100.5 million were related to A&E business. The maximum liability retroceded under the retrocession treaty will be $440.3 million, equal to the retrocession payment plus $300.0 million. We will retain liability for any amounts exceeding the maximum liability retroceded under the retrocession treaty.
On December 20, 2019, the retrocession treaty was amended and included a partial commutation. As a result of this amendment and partial commutation, gross A&E reserves and correspondingly reinsurance receivable were reduced by $43.4 million. In addition, the maximum liability permitted to be retroceded increased to $450.3 million.
Ultimate loss projections for A&E liabilities cannot be accomplished using standard actuarial techniques. We believe that our A&E reserves represent management’s best estimate of the ultimate liability; however, there can be no assurance that ultimate loss payments will not exceed such reserves, perhaps by a significant amount.
Industry analysts use the “survival ratio” to compare the A&E reserves among companies with such liabilities. The survival ratio is typically calculated by dividing a company’s current net reserves by the three year average of annual paid losses. Hence, the survival ratio equals the number of years that it would take to exhaust the current reserves if future loss payments were to continue at historical levels. Using this measurement, our net three year asbestos survival ratio was 5.2 years at December 31, 2020. These metrics can be skewed by individual large settlements occurring in the prior three years and therefore, may not be indicative of the timing of future payments.
Shareholders’ Equity. Our shareholders’ equity increased to $9,726.2 million as of December 31, 2020 from $9,132.9 million as of December 31, 2019. This increase was the result of $514.2 million of net income, $419.7 million of unrealized appreciation on investments net of tax, $86.3 million of net foreign currency translation adjustments, $25.6 million of share-based compensation transactions and $0.7 million of net benefit plan obligation adjustments, net of tax, partially offset by $249.1 million of shareholder dividends, the repurchase of 970,892 common shares for $200.0 million and $4.2 million of cumulative adjustment from the adoption of ASU 2016-13.
Our shareholders’ equity increased to $9,132.9 million as of December 31, 2019 from $7,860.8 million as of December 31, 2018. This increase was the result of $1,009.5 million of net income, $483.8 million of unrealized appreciation on investments net of tax, $30.9 million of share-based compensation transactions and $14.0 million of net foreign currency translation adjustments, partially offset by $234.3 million of shareholder dividends, the repurchase of 114,633 common shares for $24.6 million and $7.1 million of net benefit plan obligation adjustments, net of tax.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capital. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $9,726.2 million and $9,132.9 million, respectively. Management’s objective in managing capital is to ensure its overall capital level, as well as the capital levels of its operating subsidiaries, exceed the amounts required by regulators, the amount needed to support our current financial strength ratings from rating agencies and our own economic capital models. The Company’s capital has historically exceeded these benchmark levels.
Our two main operating companies Bermuda Re and Everest Re are regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”) and the State of Delaware, Department of Insurance, respectively. Both regulatory bodies have their own capital adequacy models based on statutory capital as opposed to GAAP basis equity. Failure to meet the required statutory capital levels could result in various regulatory restrictions, including business activity and the payment of dividends to their parent companies.
The regulatory targeted capital and the actual statutory capital for Bermuda Re and Everest Re were as follows:
(1) Regulatory targeted capital represents the target capital level from the applicable year's BSCR calculation.
(2) Regulatory targeted capital represents 200% of the RBC authorized control level calculation for the applicable year.
(3) The 2020 BSCR calculation is not yet due to be completed; however, the Company anticipates that Bermuda Re's December 31, 2020 actual capital will exceed the targeted capital level.
Our financial strength ratings as determined by A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s are important as they provide our customers and investors with an independent assessment of our financial strength using a rating scale that provides for relative comparisons. We continue to possess significant financial flexibility and access to debt and equity markets as a result of our financial strength, as evidenced by the financial strength ratings as assigned by independent rating agencies. See also ITEM 1, Business - “Financial Strength Ratings”.
We maintain our own economic capital models to monitor and project our overall capital, as well as, the capital at our operating subsidiaries. A key input to the economic models is projected income and this input is continually compared to actual results, which may require a change in the capital strategy.
In 2020, we repurchased 970,892 shares for $200.0 million in the open market and paid $249.1 million in dividends to adjust our capital position and enhance long term expected returns to our shareholders. During 2019, we repurchased 114,633 shares for $24.6 million in the open market and paid $234.3 million in dividends. We may at times enter into a Rule 10b5-1 repurchase plan agreement to facilitate the repurchase of shares. On May 22, 2020, our existing Board authorization to purchase up to 30 million of our shares was amended to authorize the purchase of up to 32 million shares. As of December 31, 2020, we had repurchased 29.6 million shares under this authorization.
We also repurchased $13.2 million of our long-term subordinated notes in 2020. We recognized a realized gain of $2.5 million on the repurchase. We may continue, from time to time, to seek to retire portions of our outstanding debt securities through cash repurchases, in open-market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, will be subject to and depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved in any such transactions, individually or in the aggregate, may be material.
On October 7, 2020, we issued an additional $1,000.0 million of 30 year senior notes with an interest coupon rate of 3.5%. These senior notes will mature on October 15, 2050 and will pay interest semi-annually.
Liquidity. Our liquidity requirements are generally met from positive cash flow from operations. Positive cash flow results from reinsurance and insurance premiums being collected prior to disbursements for claims, which disbursements generally take place over an extended period after the collection of premiums, sometimes a period of many years. Collected premiums are generally invested, prior to their use in such disbursements, and investment income provides additional funding for loss payments. Our net cash flows from operating activities were $2,873.6 million, $1,852.0 million and $610.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Additionally, these cash flows reflected net tax recoveries of $169.7 million, $148.6 million and $65.1 million in for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as well as net catastrophe loss payments of $661.5 million, $868.8 million, and $1,125.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
If disbursements for claims and benefits, policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses were to exceed premium inflows, cash flow from reinsurance and insurance operations would be negative. The effect on cash
flow from insurance operations would be partially offset by cash flow from investment income. Additionally, cash inflows from investment maturities and dispositions, both short-term investments and longer term maturities are available to supplement other operating cash flows.
As the timing of payments for claims and benefits cannot be predicted with certainty, we maintain portfolios of long term invested assets with varying maturities, along with short-term investments that provide additional liquidity for payment of claims. At December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we held cash and short-term investments of $1,936.6 million and $1,222.7 million, respectively. Our short-term investments are generally readily marketable and can be converted to cash. In addition to these cash and short-term investments, at December 31, 2020, we had $1,374.7 million of available for sale fixed maturity securities maturing within one year or less, $6,774.8 million maturing within one to five years and $6,061.7 million maturing after five years. Our $1,472.2 million of equity securities are comprised primarily of publicly traded securities that can be easily liquidated. We believe that these fixed maturity and equity securities, in conjunction with the short-term investments and positive cash flow from operations, provide ample sources of liquidity for the expected payment of losses in the near future. We do not anticipate selling a significant amount of securities or using available credit facilities to pay losses and LAE but have the ability to do so. Sales of securities might result in realized capital gains or losses. At December 31, 2020 we had $816.9 million of net pre-tax unrealized appreciation related to fixed maturity securities, comprised of $941.7 million of pre-tax unrealized appreciation and $124.8 million of pre-tax unrealized depreciation.
Management generally expects annual positive cash flow from operations, which reflects the strength of overall pricing. However, given the recent set of catastrophic events, cash flow from operations may decline and could become negative in the near term as significant claim payments are made related to the catastrophes. However, as indicated above, the Company has ample liquidity to settle its catastrophe claims.
In addition to our cash flows from operations and liquid investments, we also have multiple credit facilities that provide up to $200.0 million of unsecured revolving credit for liquidity and letters of credit but more importantly provide for up to $600.0 million and £52.2 million of collateralized standby letters of credit to support business written by our Bermuda operating subsidiaries.
Effective May 26, 2016, Group, Bermuda Re and Everest International entered into a five year, $800.0 million senior credit facility with a syndicate of lenders, which amended and restated in its entirety the June 22, 2012, four year, $800.0 million senior credit facility. Both the May 26, 2016 and June 22, 2012 senior credit facilities, which have similar terms, are referred to as the “Group Credit Facility”. Wells Fargo Corporation (“Wells Fargo Bank”) is the administrative agent for the Group Credit Facility, which consists of two tranches. Tranche one provides up to $200.0 million of unsecured revolving credit for liquidity and general corporate purposes, and for the issuance of unsecured standby letters of credit. The interest on the revolving loans shall, at the Company’s option, be either (1) the Base Rate (as defined below) or (2) an adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin. The Base Rate is the higher of (a) the prime commercial lending rate established by Wells Fargo Bank, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% per annum or (c) the one month LIBOR Rate plus 1.0% per annum. The amount of margin and the fees payable for the Group Credit Facility depends on Group’s senior unsecured debt rating. Tranche two exclusively provides up to $600.0 million for the issuance of standby letters of credit on a collateralized basis.
The Group Credit Facility requires Group to maintain a debt to capital ratio of not greater than 0.35 to 1 and to maintain a minimum net worth. Minimum net worth is an amount equal to the sum of $5,371.0 million plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending on or after March 31, 2016 and for which consolidated net income is positive, plus 25% of any increase in consolidated net worth during such period attributable to the issuance of ordinary and preferred shares, which at December 31, 2020, was $6,391.0 million. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all Group Credit Facility covenants.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no outstanding short-term borrowings from the Group Credit Facility revolving credit line. At December 31, 2020, the Group Credit Facility had $164.2 million outstanding letters of credit under tranche one and $589.7 million outstanding letters of credit under tranche two. At December 31, 2019, the Group Credit Facility had $33.7 million outstanding letters of credit under tranche one and $589.7 million outstanding letters of credit under tranche two.
Effective May 12, 2020, Everest International amended its credit facility with Lloyds Bank plc (“Everest International Credit Facility”). The current amendment of the Everest International Credit Facility provides up to £52.2 million for the issuance of standby letters of credit on a collateralized basis. The Company pays a commitment fee of 0.1% per annum on the average daily amount of the remainder of (1) the aggregate amount available under the facility and (2) the aggregate amount of drawings outstanding under the facility. The Company pays a credit commission fee of 0.35% per annum on drawings outstanding under the facility.
The Everest International Credit Facility requires Group to maintain a debt to capital ratio of not greater than 0.35 to 1 and to maintain a minimum net worth. Minimum net worth is an amount equal to the sum of $6,393.0 million (70% of consolidated net worth as of December 31, 2019), plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending on or after January 1, 2020 and for which net income is positive, plus 25% of any increase in consolidated net worth of Group during such period attributable to the issuance of ordinary and preferred shares, which at December 31, 2020, was $6,528.0 million. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all Everest International Credit Facility requirements.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, Everest International Credit Facility had £52.2 million and £47.0 outstanding letters of credit, respectively.
Costs incurred in connection with the Group Credit Facility and Everest International Credit Facility were $0.8 million and $0.4 million for December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Effective August 15, 2019, Everest Re became a member of the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLB”) organization, which allows Everest Re to borrow up to 10% of its statutory admitted assets. As of December 31, 2020, Everest Re had admitted assets of approximately $16,840.7 million which provides borrowing capacity of up to approximately $1,684.1 million. As of December 31, 2020, Everest Re had $310.0 million of outstanding borrowings through its FHLB borrowing capacity. The $310.0 million of collateralized borrowings have interest payable at a rate of 0.35%.
Exposure to Catastrophes. Like other insurance and reinsurance companies, we are exposed to multiple insured losses arising out of a single occurrence, whether a natural event, such as a hurricane or an earthquake, or other catastrophe, such as an explosion at a major factory. A large catastrophic event can be expected to generate insured losses to multiple reinsurance treaties, facultative certificates and direct insurance policies across various lines of business.
We focus on potential losses that could result from any single event, or series of events as part of our evaluation and monitoring of our aggregate exposures to catastrophic events. Accordingly, we employ various techniques to estimate the amount of loss we could sustain from any single catastrophic event or series of events in various geographic areas. These techniques range from deterministic approaches, such as tracking aggregate limits exposed in catastrophe-prone zones and applying reasonable damage factors, to modeled approaches that attempt to scientifically measure catastrophe loss exposure using sophisticated Monte Carlo simulation techniques that forecast frequency and severity of potential losses on a probabilistic basis.
No single computer model or group of models is currently capable of projecting the amount and probability of loss in all global geographic regions in which we conduct business. In addition, the form, quality and granularity of underwriting exposure data furnished by (re)insureds is not uniformly compatible with the data requirements for our licensed models, which adds to the inherent imprecision in the potential loss projections. Further, the
results from multiple models and analytical methods must be combined to estimate potential losses by and across business units. Also, while most models have been updated to incorporate claims information from recent catastrophic events, catastrophe model projections are still inherently imprecise. In addition, uncertainties with respect to future climatic patterns and cycles could add further uncertainty to loss projections from models based on historical data.
Nevertheless, when combined with traditional risk management techniques and sound underwriting judgment, catastrophe models are a useful tool for underwriters to price catastrophe exposed risks and for providing management with quantitative analyses with which to monitor and manage catastrophic risk exposures by zone and across zones for individual and multiple events.
Projected catastrophe losses are generally summarized in terms of the PML. We define PML as our anticipated loss, taking into account contract terms and limits, caused by a single catastrophe affecting a broad contiguous geographic area, such as that caused by a hurricane or earthquake. The PML will vary depending upon the modeled simulated losses and the make-up of the in force book of business. The projected severity levels are described in terms of “return periods”, such as “100-year events” and “250-year events”. For example, a 100-year PML is the estimated loss to the current in-force portfolio from a single event which has a 1% probability of being exceeded in a twelve month period. In other words, it corresponds to a 99% probability that the loss from a single event will fall below the indicated PML. It is important to note that PMLs are estimates. Modeled events are hypothetical events produced by a stochastic model. As a result, there can be no assurance that any actual event will align with the modeled event or that actual losses from events similar to the modeled events will not vary materially from the modeled event PML.
From an enterprise risk management perspective, management sets limits on the levels of catastrophe loss exposure we may underwrite. The limits are revised periodically based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to our financial resources and expected earnings and risk/reward analyses of the business being underwritten.
Management estimates that the projected net economic loss from its largest 100-year event in a given zone represents approximately 6.7% of its December 31, 2020 shareholders’ equity. Economic loss is the PML exposure, net of third party reinsurance, reduced by estimated reinstatement premiums to renew coverage and estimated income taxes. The impact of income taxes on the PML depends on the distribution of the losses by corporate entity, which is also affected by inter-affiliate reinsurance. Management also monitors and controls its largest PMLs at multiple points along the loss distribution curve, such as loss amounts at the 20, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 year return periods. This process enables management to identify and control exposure accumulations and to integrate such exposures into enterprise risk, underwriting and capital management decisions.
Our catastrophe loss projections, segmented by risk zones, are updated quarterly and reviewed as part of a formal risk management review process.
We believe that our greatest worldwide 1 in 100 year exposure to a single catastrophic event is to a wind event affecting the Southeastern United States, where we estimate we have a PML exposure, net of third party reinsurance, of $925 million. See also table under ITEM 1, “Business - Risk Management of Underwriting and Retrocession Arrangements”.
If such a single catastrophe loss were to occur, management estimates that the economic loss to us would be approximately $648.0 million. The estimate involves multiple variables, including which Everest entity would experience the loss, and as a result there can be no assurance that this amount would not be exceeded.
We may purchase reinsurance to cover specific business written or the potential accumulation or aggregation of exposures across some or all of our operations. Reinsurance purchasing decisions consider both the potential coverage and market conditions including the pricing, terms, conditions, availability and collectability of
coverage, with the aim of securing cost effective protection from financially secure counterparts. The amount of reinsurance purchased has varied over time, reflecting our view of our exposures and the cost of reinsurance.
Information Technology. Everest’s information technology is a key component of its business operations. Information technology systems and services are hosted at public and private cloud service providers across multiple datacenters with processing performed at the office locations of our operating subsidiaries and branches. In addition, our mainframe processing is performed by a third-party vendor at a separate location. We have implemented security procedures, and regularly assess and enhance our security protocols, to ensure that our key business systems are protected, secured and backed up at off-site locations so that they can be restored promptly if necessary. We have business continuity plans and disaster recovery plans along with periodic testing of those plans to ensure we are capable of providing uninterrupted technology services in the event of major systems outages with alternative secure datacenters available in case of broader outages.
Our business operations depend on the proper functioning and availability of our information technology platform, which includes data processing and related electronic communications. We communicate electronically internally and externally with our brokers, program managers, clients, third-party vendors, regulators, and others. These communications and the data we handle may include personal, confidential or proprietary information. We ensure that all our systems, data and electronic transmissions are appropriately protected with the latest technology safeguards and meet regulatory standards.
Despite these safeguards, a significant cyber incident, including system failure, security breach and disruption by malware or other damage could interrupt or delay our operations and possibly our results. This type of incident may result in a violation of applicable data security, privacy, or other laws, damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers or give rise to regulatory scrutiny as well as monetary fines and other penalties. Management is not aware of a cybersecurity incident that has had a material impact on our operations.
Contractual Obligations. The following table shows our contractual obligations for the period indicated.
(1) Interest expense on long term notes is calculated at the variable floating rate of 2.6% as of December 31, 2020.
(2) Loss and LAE reserves represent management’s best estimate of losses from claim and related settlement costs. Both the amounts and timing of such payments are estimates, and the inherent variability of resolving claims as well as changes in market conditions make the timing of cash flows uncertain. Therefore, the ultimate amount and timing of loss and LAE payments could differ from our estimates.
The contractual obligations for senior notes and long term notes are the responsibility of Holdings. We have sufficient cash flow, liquidity, investments and access to capital markets to satisfy these obligations. Holdings generally depends upon dividends from Everest Re, its operating insurance subsidiary for its funding, capital contributions from Group or access to the capital markets. Our various operating insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries have sufficient cash flow, liquidity and investments to settle outstanding reserves for losses and LAE. Management believes that we, and each of our entities, have sufficient financial resources or ready access thereto, to meet all obligations.
Dividends.
During 2020, 2019 and 2018, we declared and paid common shareholder dividends of $249.1 million, $234.3 million and $216.2 million, respectively. As an insurance holding company, we are partially dependent on dividends and other permitted payments from our subsidiaries to pay cash dividends to our shareholders. The payment of dividends to Group by Holdings Ireland and Everest Dublin Holdings is subject to Irish corporate and regulatory restrictions; the payment of dividends to Holdings Ireland by Holdings and to Holdings by Everest Re is subject to Delaware regulatory restrictions; and the payment of dividends to Group by Bermuda Re, Everest International or Mt. Logan Re is subject to Bermuda insurance regulatory restrictions. Management expects that, absent extraordinary catastrophe losses, such restrictions should not affect Everest Re’s ability to declare and pay dividends sufficient to support Holdings’ general corporate needs and that Holdings Ireland, Everest Dublin Holdings, Bermuda Re and Everest International will have the ability to declare and pay dividends sufficient to support Group’s general corporate needs. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, Everest Re paid dividends to Holdings of $0.0 million, $300.0 million and $0.0 million, respectively, and EGS paid dividends to Holdings of $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $90.0 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, Bermuda Re paid dividends to Group of $650.0 million, $600.0 million and $750.0 million, respectively; Everest International paid dividends to Group of $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $200.0 million, respectively; and Mt. Logan Re paid no dividends to Group. See ITEM 1, “Business - Regulatory Matters - Dividends” and ITEM 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” - Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Application of Recently Issued Accounting Guidance.
Accounting for Income Taxes. In December 2019, The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2019-12, which provides simplification of existing guidance for income taxes, including the removal of certain exceptions related to recognition of deferred tax liabilities on foreign subsidiaries. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2019-12 on its financial statements.
Accounting for Cloud Computing Arrangement. In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-15, which outlines accounting for implementation costs of a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. This guidance requires that implementation costs of a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract must be capitalized and expensed in accordance with the existing provisions provided in Subtopic 350-40 regarding development of internal use software. In addition, any capitalized implementation costs should be amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. The Company adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Accounting for Long Duration Contracts. In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-12, which discusses changes to the recognition, measurement and presentation of long duration contracts. The main provisions of this guidance address the following: 1) In determining liability for future policy benefits, companies must review cash flow assumptions at least annually and the discount rate assumption at each reporting period date 2) Amortization of deferred acquisition costs has been simplified to be in constant level proportion to either premiums, gross profits or gross margins 3) Disaggregated roll forwards of beginning and ending liabilities for future policy benefits are required. The guidance was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. However, FASB issued ASU 2019-09 in November 2019 and then ASU-2020-11 in November 2021, which ultimately defers the effective date of ASU 2018-12 until annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2018-12 on its financial statements.
Accounting for Impact on Income Taxes due to Tax Reform. In December 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 which provides guidance on the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, Income Taxes, due to the enactment of TCJA. SAB 118 became effective upon release. The
Company has adopted the provisions of SAB 118 with respect to measuring the tax effects for the modifications to the determination of tax basis loss reserves. In 2018, the Company recorded adjustments to the amount of tax expense it recorded in 2017 with respect to the TCJA as estimated amounts were finalized, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Amortization of Bond Premium. In March 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-08 which outlines guidance on the amortization period for premium on callable debt securities. The new guidance requires that the premium on callable debt securities be amortized through the earliest call date rather than through the maturity date of the callable security. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2017-08 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Valuation of Financial Instruments. In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13 (and has subsequently issued related guidance and amendments in ASU 2019-11 and ASU 2019-10 in November 2019) which outline guidance on the valuation of and accounting for assets measured at amortized cost and available for sale debt securities. The new guidance requires the carrying value of assets measured at amortized cost, including reinsurance and premiums receivables to be presented as the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset (amortized cost less an allowance for credit losses valuation account). The allowance reflects expected credit losses of the financial asset which considers available information using a combination both historical information, current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. For available-for-sale debt securities, the guidance modified the previous other than temporary impairment model, now requiring an allowance for estimated credit related losses rather than a permanent impairment, which will be limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2020, on a modified retrospective basis. The adoption resulted in a cumulative reduction of $4,214 thousand in retained earnings, net of tax, which is disclosed separately within the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity.
Leases. In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (and subsequently issued ASU 2018-11 in July, 2018) which outline new guidance on the accounting for leases. The new guidance requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheets for most leases that were previously deemed operating leases and required only lease expense presentation in the statements of operations. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 and elected to utilize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for the year of adoption. Accordingly, the Company’s reporting for the comparative periods prior to adoption continue to be presented in the financial statements in accordance with previous lease accounting guidance. The Company also elected to apply the package of practical expedients applicable to the Company in the updated guidance for transition for leases in effect at adoption. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine the lease term of existing leases (e.g. The Company did not re-assess lease renewals, termination options nor purchase options in determining lease terms). The adoption of the updated guidance resulted in the Company recognizing a right-of-use asset of $69,869 thousand as part of other assets and a lease liability of $77,270 thousand as part of other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at the time of adoption, as well as de-recognizing the liability for deferred rent that was required under the previous guidance. The cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings was zero. The adoption of the updated guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or liquidity.
Recognition and Measurement of Financial Instruments. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 which outlines revised guidance on the accounting for equity investments. The new guidance states that all equity investments in unconsolidated entities will be measured at fair value, with the change in value being recorded through the income statement rather than being recorded within other comprehensive income. The updated guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 resulted in a
cumulative change adjustment of $1,201 thousand between AOCI and retained earnings, which is disclosed separately within the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity.
Any issued guidance and pronouncements, other than those directly referenced above, are deemed by the Company to be either not applicable or immaterial to its financial statements.
Market Sensitive Instruments.
The SEC’s Financial Reporting Release #48 requires registrants to clarify and expand upon the existing financial statement disclosure requirements for derivative financial instruments, derivative commodity instruments and other financial instruments (collectively, “market sensitive instruments”). We do not generally enter into market sensitive instruments for trading purposes.
Our current investment strategy seeks to maximize after-tax income through a high quality, diversified, fixed maturity portfolio, while maintaining an adequate level of liquidity. Our mix of investments is adjusted periodically, consistent with our current and projected operating results and market conditions. The fixed maturity securities in the investment portfolio are comprised of non-trading available for sale securities. Additionally, we have invested in equity securities.
The overall investment strategy considers the scope of present and anticipated Company operations. In particular, estimates of the financial impact resulting from non-investment asset and liability transactions, together with our capital structure and other factors, are used to develop a net liability analysis. This analysis includes estimated payout characteristics for which our investments provide liquidity. This analysis is considered in the development of specific investment strategies for asset allocation, duration and credit quality. The change in overall market sensitive risk exposure principally reflects the asset changes that took place during the period.
Interest Rate Risk. Our $25.5 billion investment portfolio at December 31, 2020, is principally comprised of fixed maturity securities, which are generally subject to interest rate risk and some foreign currency exchange rate risk, and some equity securities, which are subject to price fluctuations and some foreign exchange rate risk. The overall economic impact of the foreign exchange risks on the investment portfolio is partially mitigated by changes in the dollar value of foreign currency denominated liabilities and their associated income statement impact.
Interest rate risk is the potential change in value of the fixed maturity securities portfolio, including short-term investments, from a change in market interest rates. In a declining interest rate environment, it includes prepayment risk on the $3,263.2 million of mortgage-backed securities in the $20,040.2 million fixed maturity portfolio. Prepayment risk results from potential accelerated principal payments that shorten the average life and thus the expected yield of the security.
The tables below display the potential impact of market value fluctuations and after-tax unrealized appreciation on our fixed maturity portfolio (including $1,135.0 million of short-term investments) for the period indicated based on upward and downward parallel and immediate 100 and 200 basis point shifts in interest rates. For legal entities with a U.S. dollar functional currency, this modeling was performed on each security individually. To generate appropriate price estimates on mortgage-backed securities, changes in prepayment expectations under different interest rate environments were taken into account. For legal entities with a non-U.S. dollar functional currency, the effective duration of the involved portfolio of securities was used as a proxy for the market value change under the various interest rate change scenarios.
We had $16,399.0 million and $13,611.3 million of gross reserves for losses and LAE as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These amounts are recorded at their nominal value, as opposed to present value, which would reflect a discount adjustment to reflect the time value of money. Since losses are paid out over a period of time, the present value of the reserves is less than the nominal value. As interest rates rise, the present value of the reserves decreases and, conversely, as interest rates decline, the present value increases. These movements are the opposite of the interest rate impacts on the fair value of investments. While the difference between present value and nominal value is not reflected in our financial statements, our financial results will include investment income over time from the investment portfolio until the claims are paid. Our loss and loss reserve obligations have an expected duration of approximately 3.2 years, which is reasonably consistent with our fixed income portfolio. If we were to discount our loss and LAE reserves, net of ceded reserves, the discount would be approximately $1.5 billion resulting in a discounted reserve balance of approximately $13.0 billion, representing approximately 61.6% of the value of the fixed maturity investment portfolio funds.
Equity Risk. Equity risk is the potential change in fair and/or market value of the common stock, preferred stock and mutual fund portfolios arising from changing prices. Our equity investments consist of a diversified portfolio of individual securities and mutual funds, which invest principally in high quality common and preferred stocks that are traded on the major exchanges, and mutual fund investments in emerging market debt. The primary objective of the equity portfolio is to obtain greater total return relative to our core bonds over time through market appreciation and income.
The tables below display the impact on fair/market value and after-tax change in fair/market value of a 10% and 20% change in equity prices up and down for the period indicated.
Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign currency risk is the potential change in value, income and cash flow arising from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Each of our non-U.S./Bermuda (“foreign”) operations maintains capital in the currency of the country of its geographic location consistent with local regulatory guidelines. Each foreign operation may conduct business in its local currency, as well as the currency of other countries in which it operates. The primary foreign currency exposures for these foreign operations are the Canadian Dollar, the Singapore Dollar, the British Pound Sterling and the Euro. We mitigate foreign exchange exposure by generally matching the currency and duration of our assets to our corresponding operating liabilities. In accordance with FASB guidance, the impact on the market value of available for sale fixed maturities due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, in relation to functional currency, is reflected as part of other comprehensive income. Conversely, the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, in relation to functional currency, on other assets and liabilities is reflected through net income as a component of other income (expense). In addition, we translate the assets, liabilities and income of non-U.S. dollar functional currency legal entities to the U.S. dollar. This translation amount is reported as a component of other comprehensive income.
In January 2020, the United Kingdom exited the European Union (commonly referred to as "Brexit"). The Company has a Lloyd’s of London Syndicate and Bermuda Re has a branch operation in the United Kingdom. The nature and extent of the impact of Brexit on regulation, interest rates, currency exchange rates and financial markets is still uncertain and may adversely affect our operations.
The tables below display the potential impact of a parallel and immediate 10% and 20% increase and decrease in foreign exchange rates on the valuation of invested assets subject to foreign currency exposure for the periods indicated. This analysis includes the after-tax impact of translation from transactional currency to functional currency as well as the after-tax impact of translation from functional currency to the U.S. dollar reporting currency.
Safe Harbor Disclosure.
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the federal securities laws. In some cases, these statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “plan”, “believe”, “predict”, “potential” and “intend”. Forward-looking statements contained in this report include information regarding our reserves for losses and LAE, the impact of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, the adequacy of capital in relation to regulatory required capital, the adequacy of our provision for uncollectible balances, estimates of our catastrophe exposure, the effects of catastrophic and pandemic events on our financial statements, the ability of Everest Re, Holdings, Holdings Ireland, Dublin Holdings, Bermuda Re and Everest International to pay dividends and the settlement costs of our specialized equity index put option contracts. Forward-looking statements only reflect our expectations and are not guarantees of performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from our expectations. Important factors that could cause our actual events or results to be materially different from our expectations include those discussed under the caption ITEM 1A, “Risk Factors”. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
See “Market Sensitive Instruments” in ITEM 7.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements and schedules listed in the accompanying Index to Financial Statements and Schedules on page are filed as part of this report.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment we concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which appears herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
As required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated our internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the fourth fiscal quarter covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, there has been no such change during the fourth quarter.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Reference is made to the sections captioned “Information Concerning Nominees”, “Information Concerning Continuing Directors and Executive Officers”, “Audit Committee”, “Nominating and Governance Committee”, “Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our proxy statement for the 2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the Commission within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (the “Proxy Statement”), which sections are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Reference is made to the sections captioned “Directors’ Compensation” and “Compensation of Executive Officers” in the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
Reference is made to the sections captioned “Common Share Ownership by Directors and Executive Officers”, “Principal Beneficial Owners of Common Shares” and “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” in the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Reference is made to the section captioned “Certain Transactions with Directors” in the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Reference is made to the section captioned “Audit Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Financial Statements and Schedules.
The financial statements and schedules listed in the accompanying Index to Financial Statements and Schedules on page are filed as part of this report.
Exhibits.
The exhibits listed on the accompanying Index to Exhibits on page E-1 are filed as part of this report except that the certifications in Exhibit 32 are being furnished to the SEC, rather than filed with the SEC, as permitted under applicable SEC rules.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on March 1, 2021.
EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.
By:
/S/ JUAN C. ANDRADE
Juan C. Andrade
(President and Chief Executive Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
E-1
E-2
E-3
E-4
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Everest Re Group, Ltd.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Everest Re Group, Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), of changes in shareholders' equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, including the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing on page (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Valuation of the Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
As described in Notes 1 and 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company maintains reserves equal to the estimated ultimate liability for losses and loss adjustment expense for reported and unreported claims for both insurance and reinsurance businesses. The Company’s reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses as of December 31, 2020 was $16.4 billion. Reserves are based on estimates of ultimate losses and loss adjustment expenses by underwriting or accident year. Management uses a variety of statistical and actuarial techniques to monitor reserve adequacy over time, evaluate new information as it becomes known and adjust reserves as warranted. Management considers many factors when setting reserves including (i) exposure base and projected ultimate premium; (ii) expected loss ratios by product and class of business, which are developed collaboratively by underwriters and actuaries; (iii) actuarial methodologies and assumptions which analyze loss reporting and payment experience, reports from ceding companies and historical trends, such as reserving patterns, loss payments and product mix; (iv) current legal interpretations of coverage and liability; and (v) economic conditions.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses is a critical audit matter are the significant judgment by management when developing their estimate; this in turn led to a high degree of auditor subjectivity, judgment and effort in performing procedures and evaluating the audit evidence relating to the methodologies and the significant assumptions related to expected loss ratios and historical trends, such as reserving patterns, loss payments and product mix, and the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s valuation of the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses, including controls over the selection of methodologies and development of significant assumptions. These procedures also included, among others, testing the completeness and accuracy of data provided by management and the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in performing procedures for a sample of products and lines of business including: (i) evaluating management’s methodologies and assumptions related to expected loss ratios and historical trends, such as, reserving patterns, loss payment and product mix used for determining reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses; and (ii) developing an independent estimate of the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses and comparing the independent estimate to management’s actuarially determined reserves.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
March 1, 2021
We have served as the Company’s or its predecessor's auditor since 1996.
EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
A. Business and Basis of Presentation.
Everest Re Group, Ltd. (“Group”), a Bermuda company, through its subsidiaries, principally provides reinsurance and insurance in the U.S., Bermuda and international markets. As used in this document, “Company” means Group 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 Group: Everest International Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Everest International”), Mt. Logan Insurance Managers, Ltd., Mt. Logan Management, Ltd., Everest International Holdings (Bermuda), Ltd. (“International Holdings”), Everest Corporate Member Limited, Everest Service Company (UK), Ltd., Everest Preferred International Holdings, Ltd. (“Preferred International”), Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd. (“Bermuda Re”), Everest Re Advisors, Ltd., Everest Advisors (UK), Ltd., Everest Underwriting Group (Ireland), Limited (“Holdings Ireland”), Everest Global Services, Inc. (“Global Services”), Everest Insurance Company of Canada (“Everest Canada”), Premiere Insurance Underwriting Services (“Premiere”), Everest Dublin Insurance Holdings Limited (Ireland) (“Everest Dublin Holdings”), Everest Insurance (Ireland), designated activity company (“Ireland Insurance”), Everest Reinsurance Company (Ireland), designated activity company (“Ireland Re”), Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), Salus Systems, LLC (“Salus”), Everest International Assurance, Ltd. (Bermuda) (“Everest Assurance”), Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (“Specialty”), Specialty Insurance Group - Leisure and Entertainment Risk Purchasing Group LLC (“Specialty RPG”), Mt. McKinley Managers, L.L.C., Everest Specialty Underwriters Services, LLC, Everest Reinsurance Company (“Everest Re”), Everest National Insurance Company (“Everest National”), Everest Reinsurance Company Ltda. (Brazil), Mt. Whitney Securities, Inc., Everest Indemnity Insurance Company (“Everest Indemnity”), Everest Denali Insurance Company (“Everest Denali”), Everest Premier Insurance Company (“Everest Premier”) and Everest Security Insurance Company (“Everest Security”). All amounts are reported in U.S. dollars.
The Company consolidates the results of operations and financial position of all voting interest entities ("VOE") in which the Company has a controlling financial interest and all variable interest entities ("VIE") in which the Company is considered to have control and be the primary beneficiary. The consolidation assessment, including the determination as to whether an entity qualifies as a VIE or VOE, depends on the facts and circumstances surrounding each entity.
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 2020 presentation.
B. Investments.
Fixed maturity 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 shareholders’ equity, net of income taxes in “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” in the consolidated balance sheets, 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. The Company reviews all of its fixed maturity, available for sale securities whose fair value has fallen below their amortized cost at the time of review. The Company then assesses whether the decline in value is due to non-credit related or credit related factors. In making its assessment, the Company evaluates the current market and interest rate environment as well as specific issuer information. Generally, a change in a security’s value caused by a change in the market, interest rate or foreign exchange environment does not constitute a credit impairment, but rather a non-credit related decline in market value. Non-credit related declines in market value are recorded as unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). If the Company intends to sell the security or is more likely than not to sell the security, the Company records the entire fair value adjustment in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). If the Company determines that the decline is credit related and the Company does not have the intent to sell the security; and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, the Company establishes a credit allowance equal to the estimated credit loss and is recorded in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The amount of the allowance for a given security will generally be the difference between a discounted cash flow model and the Company’s carrying value. The fair value adjustment that is non-credit related is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, and is included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company will adjust the credit allowance account for future changes in credit loss estimates for a security and record this adjustment through net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
For equity securities, 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. 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). 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. For some 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 other non-publicly traded securities, investment managers’ valuation committees will estimate fair value and in many instances, these fair values are supported with opinions from qualified independent third parties. All fair value estimates from investment managers are reviewed by the Company for reasonableness. 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, rabbi trusts and prior to July 1, 2018, a private placement liquidity sweep facility. Cash contributions to and cash distributions from the sweep facility were reported gross in cash flows from investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Limited partnerships are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, which can be recorded on a monthly or quarterly lag.
C. Allowance for Receivable Balances.
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) methodology for estimating allowances for credit losses. The Company evaluates the recoverability of its premiums and reinsurance receivable balances and establishes an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts. Prior to the adoption of CECL, an allowance for doubtful accounts was estimated on the basis of periodic evaluations of balances due from third parties, considering historical collection experience, solvency and current economic conditions.
Premiums receivable, excluding receivables for losses within a deductible and retrospectively-rated policy premiums, are primarily comprised of premiums due from policyholders/ cedants. Balances are considered past due when amounts that have been billed are not collected within contractually stipulated time periods. For these balances, the allowance is estimated based on recent historical credit loss and collection experience, adjusted for current economic conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts, when appropriate. In response to significant economic stress experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, during 2020, the Company increased the expected loss factors used to estimate the allowance based on collection experience during past moderate and severe recessions as well as experience during periods when we provided policyholders additional time to make premiums payments.
A portion of the Company's Commercial Lines business is written with large deductibles or under retrospectively-rated plans. Under some commercial insurance contracts with a large deductible, the Company is obligated to pay the claimant the full amount of the claim and the Company is subsequently reimbursed by the policyholder for the deductible amount. As such, the Company is subject to credit risk until reimbursement is made. Retrospectively-rated policies are policies whereby the ultimate premium is adjusted based on actual losses incurred. Although the premium adjustment feature of a retrospectively-rated policy substantially reduces insurance risk for the Company, it presents credit risk to the Company. The Company’s results of operations could be adversely affected if a significant portion of such policyholders failed to reimburse the Company for the deductible amount or the amount of additional premium owed under retrospectively-rated policies. The Company manages these credit risks through credit analysis, collateral requirements, and oversight. The allowance for receivables for loss within a deductible and retrospectively-rated policy premiums is estimated as the amount of the receivable exposed to loss multiplied by estimated factors for probability of default. The probability of default is assigned based on each policyholder's credit rating, or a rating is estimated if no external rating is available. Credit ratings are reviewed and updated at least annually. The exposure amount is estimated net of collateral and other offsets, considering the nature of the collateral, potential future changes in collateral values, and historical loss information for the type of collateral obtained. The probability of default factors are historical corporate defaults for receivables with similar durations estimated through multiple economic cycles. Credit ratings are forward-looking and consider a variety of economic outcomes. The Company's evaluation of the required allowance for receivables for loss within a deductible and retrospectively-rated policy premiums considers the current economic environment as well as the probability-weighted macroeconomic scenarios.
In response to significant economic stress experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company increased the weight of both a moderate and severe recession scenario in our estimate of the allowance for loss within a deductible and retrospectively-rated policy premiums. The ultimate impact to the Company’s financial statements from the COVID-19 pandemic could vary significantly from our estimates depending on the duration and severity of the pandemic, the duration and severity of the economic downturn and the degree to which federal, state and local government actions to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 are effective.
The Company records total credit loss expenses related to premiums receivable in other underwriting expenses and records credit loss expenses related to deductibles through losses incurred
The allowance for uncollectible reinsurance reflects management’s best estimate of reinsurance cessions that may be uncollectible in the future due to reinsurers’ unwillingness or inability to pay. The allowance for
uncollectible reinsurance comprises an allowance and an allowance for disputed balances. Based on this analysis, the Company may adjust the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance or charge off reinsurer balances that are determined to be uncollectible.
The allowance is estimated as the amount of reinsurance receivable exposed to loss multiplied by estimated factors for the probability of default. The reinsurance receivable exposed is the amount of reinsurance receivable net of collateral and other offsets, considering the nature of the collateral, potential future changes in collateral values, and historical loss information for the type of collateral obtained. The probability of default factors are historical insurer and reinsurer defaults for liabilities with similar durations to the reinsured liabilities as estimated through multiple economic cycles. Credit ratings are forward-looking and consider a variety of economic outcomes. The Company's evaluation of the required allowance for reinsurance receivable considers the current economic environment as well as macroeconomic scenarios.
The Company expects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to reinsurers to be somewhat mitigated by their regulated capital and liquidity positions. The ultimate impact to the Company's financial statements could vary significantly from our estimates depending on the duration and severity of the pandemic, the duration and severity of the economic downturn and the degree to which federal, state and local government actions to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 are effective.
The Company records credit loss expenses related to reinsurance receivable in losses and loss adjustment expenses. Write-offs of reinsurance receivable and any related allowance are recorded in the period in which the balance is deemed uncollectible.
Allowances are presented in the table below for the periods indicated.
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.
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, for 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.
F. Future Policy Benefit Reserve.
Liabilities for future policy benefits on annuity policies are carried at their accumulated values. Reserves for policy benefits include mortality claims in the process of settlement and IBNR claims. Actual experience in a particular period may fluctuate from expected results.
G. Premium Revenues.
Written premiums are earned ratably over the periods of the related insurance and reinsurance contracts. Unearned premium reserves are established relative to the unexpired contract period. For reinsurance contracts, 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.
H. 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, 2020 were secured either through collateralized trust arrangements, rights of offset or letters of credit, thereby limiting the credit risk to the Company.
I. Income Taxes.
Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Foreign subsidiaries and branches of subsidiaries file local tax returns as required. Group and subsidiaries not included in Holdings’ consolidated tax return file separate company U.S. federal income 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.
As an accounting policy, the Company has adopted the aggregate portfolio approach for releasing disproportionate income tax effects from AOCI.
J. 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 shareholders’ 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 shareholders’ equity.
K. Earnings Per Common Share.
Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that would occur if options granted under various share-based compensation plans were exercised resulting in the issuance of common shares that would participate in the earnings of the entity.
Net income (loss) per common share has been computed as per below, based upon weighted average common basic and dilutive shares outstanding.
There were no anti-diluted options outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
All outstanding options expire on or between February 24, 2021 and September 19, 2022.
L. Segmentation.
With recent changes in executive management and organizational structure, the Company manages its reinsurance and insurance operations as autonomous units and key strategic decisions are based on the aggregate operating results and projections for these segments of business. Accordingly, effective January 1, 2020, the Company revised it reporting segments to Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations. This replaces the previous reported segments of U.S. Reinsurance, International (reinsurance), Bermuda (reinsurance) and Insurance. The prior year presented segment information has been reformatted to reflect this change. See also Note 17.
M. Deposit Assets and Liabilities.
In the normal course of its operations, the Company may enter into contracts that do not meet risk transfer provisions. Such contracts are accounted for using the deposit accounting method and are included in other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. For such contracts, the Company originally records deposit liabilities for an amount equivalent to the assets received. Actuarial studies are used to estimate the final liabilities under such contracts with any change reflected in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
N. Share-Based Compensation.
Share-based compensation stock option, restricted share and performance share unit awards are fair valued at the grant date and expensed over the vesting period of the award. The tax benefit on the recorded expense is deferred until the time the award is exercised or vests (becomes unrestricted). See Note 16.
O. Application of Recently Issued Accounting Guidance.
Accounting for Income Taxes. In December 2019, The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2019-12, which provides simplification of existing guidance for income taxes, including the removal of certain exceptions related to recognition of deferred tax liabilities on foreign subsidiaries. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2019-12 on its financial statements.
Accounting for Cloud Computing Arrangement. In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-15, which outlines accounting for implementation costs of a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. This guidance requires that implementation costs of a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract must be capitalized and expensed in accordance with the existing provisions provided in Subtopic 350-40 regarding development of internal use software. In addition, any capitalized implementation costs should be amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. The Company adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Accounting for Long Duration Contracts. In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-12, which discusses changes to the recognition, measurement and presentation of long duration contracts. The main provisions of this guidance address the following: 1) In determining liability for future policy benefits, companies must review cash flow assumptions at least annually and the discount rate assumption at each reporting period date 2) Amortization of deferred acquisition costs has been simplified to be in constant level proportion to either premiums, gross profits or gross margins 3) Disaggregated roll forwards of beginning and ending liabilities for future policy benefits are required. The guidance was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within that annual reporting period. However, FASB issued ASU 2019-09 in November 2019 and then ASU 2020-11 in November 2021, which ultimately defers the effective date of ASU 2018-12 until annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2018-12 on its financial statements.
Accounting for Impact on Income Taxes due to Tax Reform. In December 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 which provides guidance on the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, Income Taxes, due to the enactment of TCJA. SAB 118 became effective upon release. The Company has adopted the provisions of SAB 118 with respect to measuring the tax effects for the modifications to the determination of tax basis loss reserves. In 2018, the Company recorded adjustments to the amount of
tax expense it recorded in 2017 with respect to the TCJA as estimated amounts were finalized, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Amortization of Bond Premium. In March 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-08 which outlines guidance on the amortization period for premium on callable debt securities. The new guidance requires that the premium on callable debt securities be amortized through the earliest call date rather than through the maturity date of the callable security. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2017-08 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Valuation of Financial Instruments. In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13 (and has subsequently issued related guidance and amendments in ASU 2019-11 and ASU 2019-10 in November 2019) which outline guidance on the valuation of and accounting for assets measured at amortized cost and available for sale debt securities. The new guidance requires the carrying value of assets measured at amortized cost, including reinsurance and premiums receivables to be presented as the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset (amortized cost less an allowance for credit losses valuation account). The allowance reflects expected credit losses of the financial asset which considers available information using a combination both historical information, current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. For available-for-sale debt securities, the guidance modified the previous other than temporary impairment model, now requiring an allowance for estimated credit related losses rather than a permanent impairment, which will be limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2020, on a modified retrospective basis. The adoption resulted in a cumulative reduction of $4,214 thousand in retained earnings, net of tax, which is disclosed separately within the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity.
Leases. In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (and subsequently issued ASU 2018-11 in July, 2018) which outline new guidance on the accounting for leases. The new guidance requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheets for most leases that were previously deemed operating leases and required only lease expense presentation in the statements of operations. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 and elected to utilize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for the year of adoption. Accordingly, the Company’s reporting for the comparative periods prior to adoption continue to be presented in the financial statements in accordance with previous lease accounting guidance. The Company also elected to apply the package of practical expedients applicable to the Company in the updated guidance for transition for leases in effect at adoption. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine the lease term of existing leases (e.g. The Company did not re-assess lease renewals, termination options nor purchase options in determining lease terms). The adoption of the updated guidance resulted in the Company recognizing a right-of-use asset of $69,869 thousand as part of other assets and a lease liability of $77,270 thousand as part of other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at the time of adoption, as well as de-recognizing the liability for deferred rent that was required under the previous guidance. The cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings was zero. The adoption of the updated guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or liquidity.
Recognition and Measurement of Financial Instruments. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 which outlines revised guidance on the accounting for equity investments. The new guidance states that all equity investments in unconsolidated entities will be measured at fair value, with the change in value being recorded through the income statement rather than being recorded within other comprehensive income. The updated guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 resulted in a cumulative change adjustment of $1,201 thousand between AOCI and retained earnings, which is disclosed separately within the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity.
Any issued guidance and pronouncements, other than those directly referenced above, are deemed by the Company to be either not applicable or immaterial to its financial statements.
2. INVESTMENTS
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 which modified the previous other than temporary impairment model for available for sale fixed maturity securities. The guidance requires the Company to record allowances for credit losses for securities that are deemed to have valuation deterioration due to credit related factors. The initial table below presents the amortized cost, allowance for credit losses, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and market value of fixed maturity securities as of December 31, 2020 in accordance with ASU 2016-13 guidance. The second table presents the amortized cost, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation), market value and other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) in AOCI as of December 31, 2019, in accordance with previously applicable guidance.
(a) Represents the amount of OTTI recognized in AOCI. Amount includes unrealized gains and losses on impaired securities relating to changes in the value of such securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.
The amortized cost and market value of fixed maturity securities are shown in the following table by contractual maturity. Mortgage-backed securities are generally more likely to be prepaid than other fixed maturity securities. As the stated maturity of such securities may not be indicative of actual maturities, the totals for mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are shown separately.
The changes in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for the Company’s investments are derived from the following sources for the periods indicated:
The Company reviews all of its fixed maturity, available for sale securities whose fair value has fallen below their amortized cost at the time of review. The Company then assesses whether the decline in value is due to non-credit related or credit related factors. In making its assessment, the Company evaluates the current market and interest rate environment as well as specific issuer information. Generally, a change in a security’s value caused by a change in the market, interest rate or foreign exchange environment does not constitute a credit impairment, but rather a non-credit related decline in market value. Non-credit related declines in market value are recorded as unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). If the Company intends to sell the security or is more likely than not to sell the security, the Company records the entire fair value adjustment in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). If the Company determines that the decline is credit related and the Company does not have the intent to sell the security; and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, the Company establishes a credit allowance equal to the estimated credit loss and is recorded in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The amount of the allowance for a given security will generally be the difference between a discounted cash flow model and the Company’s carrying value. The fair value adjustment that is non-credit related is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, and is included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company will adjust the credit allowance account for future changes in credit loss estimates for a security and record this adjustment through net realized capital gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
The Company does not create an allowance for uncollectible interest. If interest is not received when due, the interest receivable is immediately reversed and no additional interest is accrued. If future interest is received that has not been accrued, it is recorded as income at that time.
Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2020, estimated credit losses were recorded as adjustments to the carrying value of the security and any subsequent improvement in market value were recorded through other comprehensive income.
The Company’s assessments are based on the issuers’ current and expected future financial position, timeliness with respect to interest and/or principal payments, speed of repayments and any applicable credit enhancements or breakeven constant default rates on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, as well as relevant information provided by rating agencies, investment advisors and analysts.
Retrospective adjustments are employed to recalculate the values of asset-backed securities. All of the Company’s asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities have a pass-through structure. 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 in the calculation of projected prepayments for pass-through security types.
The tables below display the aggregate market value and gross unrealized depreciation of fixed maturity and equity securities, by security type and contractual maturity, in each case subdivided according to length of time that individual securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for the periods indicated:
The aggregate market value and gross unrealized losses related to investments in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2020 were $2,678,449 thousand and $124,812 thousand, respectively. The market value of securities for the single issuer (the United States government) whose securities comprised the largest unrealized loss position at December 31, 2020, did not exceed 0.7% of the overall market value of the Company’s fixed maturity securities. The market value of the securities for the issuer with the second largest unrealized loss comprised less than 0.1% of the Company’s fixed maturity securities. In addition, as indicated on the above table, there was no significant concentration of unrealized losses in any one market sector. The $67,958 thousand of unrealized losses related to fixed maturity securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for less than one year were generally comprised of domestic and foreign corporate securities, foreign government securities and agency residential asset-backed securities. Of these unrealized losses, $63,424 thousand were related to securities that were rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency. The $56,854 thousand of unrealized losses related to fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position for more than one year related primarily to domestic and foreign corporate securities, foreign government securities and agency residential mortgage-backed securities. Of these unrealized losses, $33,533 thousand were related to securities that were rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency. There was no gross unrealized depreciation for mortgage-backed securities related to sub-prime and alt-A loans. In all instances, there were no projected cash flow shortfalls to recover the full book value of the investments and the related interest obligations. The mortgage-backed securities still have excess credit coverage and are current on interest and principal payments.
The Company, given the size of its investment portfolio and capital position, does not have the intent to sell these securities; and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis. In addition, all securities currently in an unrealized loss position are current with respect to principal and interest payments.
The tables below display the aggregate market value and gross unrealized depreciation of fixed maturity and equity securities, by security type and contractual maturity, in each case subdivided according to length of time that individual securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for the periods indicated:
The aggregate market value and gross unrealized losses related to investments in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2019 were $3,639,991 thousand and $121,169 thousand, respectively. The market value of securities for the single issuer whose securities comprised the largest unrealized loss position at December 31, 2019, did not exceed 0.8% of the overall market value of the Company’s fixed maturity securities. In addition, as indicated on the above table, there was no significant concentration of unrealized losses in any one market sector. The $26,793 thousand of unrealized losses related to fixed maturity securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for less than one year were generally comprised of domestic and foreign corporate securities and foreign government securities. Of these unrealized losses, $23,104 thousand were related to securities that were rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency. The $94,376 thousand of unrealized losses related to fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position for more than one year related primarily to foreign and domestic corporate securities, foreign government securities and agency residential mortgage-backed securities. Of these unrealized losses, $73,144 thousand were related to securities that were rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency. There was no gross unrealized depreciation for mortgage-backed securities related to sub-prime and alt-A loans. In all instances, there were no projected cash flow shortfalls to recover the full book value of the investments and the related interest obligations. The mortgage-backed securities still have excess credit coverage and are current on interest and principal payments.
The components of net investment income are presented in the table below for the periods indicated:
The Company records results from limited partnership investments on the equity method of accounting with changes in value reported through net investment income. Due to the timing of receiving financial information from these partnerships, the results are generally reported on a one month or quarter lag. If the Company determines there has been a significant decline in value of a limited partnership during this lag period, a loss will be recorded in the period in which the Company identifies the decline.
The Company had contractual commitments to invest up to an additional $1,594,446 thousand in limited partnerships and private placement loans at December 31, 2020. These commitments will be funded when
called in accordance with the partnership and loan agreements, which have investment periods that expire, unless extended, through 2026.
Beginning in 2016, the Company participated in a private placement liquidity sweep facility (“the facility”). The primary purpose of the facility is to enhance the Company’s return on its short-term investments and cash positions. The facility invests in high quality, short-duration securities and permits daily liquidity. Through the second quarter of 2018, the Company’s participation in the facility was classified within other invested assets on the Company’s Balance Sheets.
Starting in the third quarter of 2018, the Company consolidated its participation in the facility. As a result of the consolidation of the underlying investments of the facility, effective July 1, 2018, the Company reclassified $143,656 thousand from other invested assets to fixed maturity securities, available for sale, at market value and reclassified $243,864 thousand from other invested assets to short-term investments. As of December 31, 2020, the market value of investments in the facility consolidated within the Company’s balance sheets was $627,958 thousand.
The components of net realized capital gains (losses) are presented in the table below for the periods indicated:
The Company recorded as net realized capital gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) fair value re-measurements, allowances for credit losses per ASU 2016-13 and write-downs in the value of securities deemed to be impaired on an other-than-temporary basis in prior years as displayed in the table above. The Company had no other-than-temporary impaired securities where the impairment had both a credit and non-credit component.
The proceeds and split between gross gains and losses, from sales of fixed maturity and equity securities, are presented in the table below for the periods indicated:
Securities with a carrying value amount of $1,617,928 thousand at December 31, 2020 were on deposit with various state or governmental insurance departments in compliance with insurance laws.
3. RESERVE FOR LOSSES, LAE AND FUTURE POLICY BENEFIT RESERVE
Reserves for losses and LAE.
Activity in the reserve for losses and LAE is summarized for the periods indicated:
Current year incurred losses were $6,149,410 thousand, $4,986,456 thousand and $5,264,327 thousand at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in current year incurred losses from 2019 to 2020 was primarily due to an increase of $772,399 thousand in current year attritional losses primarily due to higher premiums earned, $511,056 thousand of losses related to COVID-19 in 2020, partially offset by a $120,500 thousand decline in current year catastrophe losses. The decrease in current year incurred losses in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily due to $693,458 thousand of lower catastrophe losses in 2019 compared to 2018, partially offset by $415,585 thousand of additional attritional losses attributable to higher premiums earned in 2019 compared to 2018.
Incurred prior years losses increased by $401,427 thousand in 2020, decreased by $63,558 thousand in 2019 and increased by $387,076 thousand in 2018. The increase for 2020 primarily related to higher ultimate loss
estimates for long-tail casualty business in the reinsurance segment for accident years 2015 to 2018, notably general liability, professional lines, and auto liability. The reserve charge also includes actions on non-CAT property lines, primarily for the 2017 to 2019 accident years and driven by a few large losses to aggregate programs.
The decrease for 2019 primarily related to reserve reductions associated short-tail lines of business and worker’s compensation.
The increase for 2018 was mainly due to $561,197 thousand of adverse development on prior years catastrophe losses, primarily related to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as the 2017 California wildfires. The increase in loss estimates for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria was mostly driven by re-opened claims, loss inflation from higher than expected loss adjustment expenses and in particular, their impact on aggregate covers. This reserve increase was partially offset by $174,121 thousand of favorable development on prior years attritional losses which mainly related to U.S. and international property and casualty reinsurance business, as well as favorable development in the Insurance segment which largely related to workers’ compensation business.
The following is information about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2020, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of incurred but not reported liabilities (IBNR) plus expected development on reported claims included within the net incurred claims amounts. Each of the Company’s financial reporting segments has been disaggregated into casualty and property business. The casualty and property segregation results in groups that have homogeneous loss development characteristics and are large enough to represent credible trends. Generally, casualty claims take longer to be reported and settled, resulting in longer payout patterns and increased volatility. Property claims on the other hand, tend to be reported and settled quicker and therefore tend to exhibit less volatility. The property business is more exposed to catastrophe losses, which can result in year over year fluctuations in incurred claims depending on the frequency and severity of catastrophes claims in any one accident year.
The information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2019 is presented as supplementary information.
These tables present nine years of incurred and paid claims development as it is impracticable to retrospectively create the tables for ten years. For the reinsurance groups, for the years prior to 2012, the total of IBNR plus expected development on reported claims was not prepared on an accident year basis. The Company calculated these IBNR amounts in the aggregate for each business unit in total as of prior year end points in time. While business written in the United States would have been allocated to accident year for regulatory reporting purposes, business written outside of the United States would not have been similarly allocated. Attempting to allocate the non-U.S. business IBNR reserves to accident year currently for older year end valuations would require making assumptions and estimates which may not be in line with assumptions that would have been made at the time. A similar situation applies to insurance where the accumulation of the business lines reported in the regulatory filings are not consistent with the breakout of the tables presented below. As a result of not being able to present the information prior to 2012, prospectively an additional year will be added to the tables each reporting year until a ten year table is presented.
The Cumulative Number of Reported Claims is shown only for Insurance Casualty as it is impracticable to provide the information for the remaining groups. The reinsurance groups each include pro rata contracts for which ceding companies provide only summary information via a bordereau. This summary information does not include the number of reported claims underlying the paid and reported losses. Therefore, it is not possible to provide this information. The Insurance Property group includes Accident & Health insurance business. This business is written via a master contract and individual claim counts are not provided. This business represents a significant enough portion of the business in the Insurance Property group so that including the number of reported claims for the remaining business would distort any analytics performed on the group.
The Cumulative Number of Reported Claims shown for the Insurance Casualty is determined by claim and line of business. For example, a claim event with three claimants in the same line of business is a single claim. However, a claim event with a single claimant that spans two lines of business contributes two claims.
The following tables present the ultimate loss and ALAE and the paid loss and ALAE, net of reinsurance for casualty and property, as well as the average annual percentage payout of incurred claims by age, net of reinsurance for each of our disclosed lines of business.
Reinsurance - Casualty Business
Reinsurance - Property Business
Insurance - Casualty Business
Insurance - Property Business
Reconciliation of the Disclosure of Incurred and Paid Claims Development to the Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses
The reconciliation of the net incurred and paid claims development tables to the liability for claims and claim adjustment expenses in the consolidated statement of financial position is as follows.
Reserving Methodology
The Company maintains reserves equal to our estimated ultimate liability for losses and loss adjustment expense (LAE) for reported and unreported claims for our insurance and reinsurance businesses. Because reserves are based on estimates of ultimate losses and LAE by underwriting or accident year, the Company uses a variety of statistical and actuarial techniques to monitor reserve adequacy over time, evaluate new information as it becomes known, and adjust reserves whenever an adjustment appears warranted. The Company considers many factors when setting reserves including: (1) exposure base and projected ultimate premium; (2) expected loss ratios by product and class of business, which are developed collaboratively by underwriters and actuaries; (3) actuarial methodologies and assumptions which analyze loss reporting and payment experience, reports from ceding companies and historical trends, such as reserving patterns, loss payments, and product mix; (4) current legal interpretations of coverage and liability; and (5) economic conditions. Insurance and reinsurance loss and LAE reserves represent the Company’s best estimate of its ultimate liability. Actual loss and LAE ultimately paid may deviate, perhaps substantially, from such reserves. Net income (gain or loss) will be impacted in a period in which the change in estimated ultimate loss and LAE is recorded.
The detailed data required to evaluate ultimate losses for the Company’s insurance business is accumulated from its underwriting and claim systems. Reserving for reinsurance requires evaluation of loss information received from ceding companies. Ceding companies report losses in many forms depending on the type of contract and the agreed or contractual reporting requirements. Generally, pro rata contracts require the submission of a monthly/quarterly account, which includes premium and loss activity for the period with corresponding reserves as established by the ceding company. This information is recorded into the Company’s records. For certain pro rata contracts, the Company may require a detailed loss report for claims that exceed a certain dollar threshold or relate to a particular type of loss. Excess of loss and facultative contracts generally require individual loss reporting with precautionary notices provided when a loss reaches a significant percentage of the attachment point of the contract or when certain causes of loss or types of injury occur. Experienced claims staff handles individual loss reports and supporting claim information. Based on evaluation of a claim, the Company may establish additional case reserves in addition to the case reserves reported by the ceding company. To ensure ceding companies are submitting required and accurate data, Everest’s Underwriting, Claim, Reinsurance Accounting, and Internal Audit Departments perform various reviews of ceding companies, particularly larger ceding companies, including on-site audits.
The Company segments both reinsurance and insurance reserves into exposure groupings for actuarial analysis. The Company assigns business to exposure groupings so that the underlying exposures have reasonably homogeneous loss development characteristics and are large enough to facilitate credible estimation of ultimate losses. The Company periodically reviews its exposure groupings and may change groupings over time as business changes. The Company currently uses approximately 200 exposure groupings to develop reserve estimates. One of the key selection characteristics for the exposure groupings is the historical duration of the claims settlement process. Business in which claims are reported and settled relatively quickly are commonly referred to as short tail lines, principally property lines. On the other hand, casualty claims tend to take longer to be reported and settled and casualty lines are generally referred to as long tail lines. Estimates of ultimate losses for shorter tail lines, with the exception of loss estimates for large catastrophic events, generally exhibit less volatility than those for the longer tail lines.
The Company uses a variety of actuarial methodologies, such as the expected loss ratio method, chain ladder methods, and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods, supplemented by judgment where appropriate, to estimate ultimate loss and LAE for each exposure group.
Expected Loss Ratio Method: The expected loss ratio method uses earned premium times an expected loss ratio to calculate ultimate losses for a given underwriting or accident year. This method relies entirely on
expectation to project ultimate losses with no consideration given to actual losses. As such, it may be appropriate for an immature underwriting or accident year where few, if any, losses have been reported or paid, but less appropriate for a more mature year.
Chain Ladder Method: Chain ladder methods use a standard loss development triangle to project ultimate losses. Age-to-age development factors are selected for each development period and combined to calculate age-to-ultimate development factors which are then applied to paid or reported losses to project ultimate losses. This method relies entirely on actual paid or reported losses to project ultimate losses. No other factors such as changes in pricing or other expectations are taken into account. It is most appropriate for groups with homogeneous, stable experience where past development patterns are expected to continue in the future. It is least appropriate for groups which have changed significantly over time or which are more volatile.
Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method: The Bornhuetter-Ferguson method is a combination of the expected loss ratio method and the chain ladder method. Ultimate losses are projected based partly on actual paid or reported losses and partly on expectation. Incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserves are calculated using earned premium, an a priori loss ratio, and selected age-to-age development factors and added to actual reported (paid) losses to determine ultimate losses. It is more responsive to actual reported or paid development than the expected loss ratio method but less responsive than the chain ladder method. The reliability of the method depends on the accuracy of the selected a priori loss ratio.
Although the Company uses similar actuarial methods for both short tail and long tail lines, the faster reporting of experience for the short tail lines allows the Company to have greater confidence in its estimates of ultimate losses for short tail lines at an earlier stage than for long tail lines. As a result, the Company utilizes, as well, exposure-based methods to estimate its ultimate losses for longer tail lines, especially for immature underwriting or accident years. For both short and long tail lines, the Company supplements these general approaches with analytically based judgments.
Key actuarial assumptions contain no explicit provisions for reserve uncertainty nor does the Company supplement the actuarially determined reserves for uncertainty.
Carried reserves at each reporting date are the Company’s best estimate of ultimate unpaid losses and LAE at that date. The Company completes detailed reserve studies for each exposure group annually for both reinsurance and insurance operations. The completed annual reserve studies are “rolled-forward” for each accounting period until the subsequent reserve study is completed. Analyzing the roll-forward process involves comparing actual reported losses to expected losses based on the most recent reserve study. The Company analyzes significant variances between actual and expected losses and post adjustments to its reserves as warranted.
Certain reserves, including losses from widespread catastrophic events and COVID-19 related losses, cannot be estimated using traditional actuarial methods. These types of events are reserved for separately using a variety of statistical and actuarial techniques. We estimate losses for these types of events based on information derived from catastrophe models, quantitative and qualitative exposure analyses, reports and communications from ceding companies and development patterns for historically similar events, where available.
The Company continues to receive claims under expired insurance and reinsurance contracts asserting injuries and/or damages relating to or resulting from environmental pollution and hazardous substances, including asbestos. Environmental claims typically assert liability for (a) the mitigation or remediation of environmental contamination or (b) bodily injury or property damage caused by the release of hazardous substances into the land, air or water. Asbestos claims typically assert liability for bodily injury from exposure to asbestos or for property damage resulting from asbestos or products containing asbestos.
The Company’s reserves include an estimate of the Company’s ultimate liability for A&E claims. The Company’s A&E liabilities emanate from Mt. McKinley’s direct insurance business and Everest Re’s assumed reinsurance
business. All of the contracts of insurance and reinsurance, under which the Company has received claims during the past three years, expired more than 20 years ago. There are significant uncertainties surrounding the Company’s reserves for its A&E losses.
A&E exposures represent a separate exposure group for monitoring and evaluating reserve adequacy. The following table summarizes incurred losses with respect to A&E reserves on both a gross and net of reinsurance basis for the periods indicated:
In 2015, the Company sold Mt. McKinley, a Delaware domiciled insurance company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company to Clearwater Insurance Company, a Delaware domiciled insurance company. Concurrently with the closing, the Company entered into a retrocession treaty with an affiliate of Clearwater Insurance Company. Per the retrocession treaty, the Company retroceded 100% of the liabilities associated with certain Mt. McKinley policies, which related entirely to A&E business and had been reinsured by Bermuda Re. As consideration for entering into the retrocession treaty, Everest Re Bermuda transferred cash of $140,279 thousand, an amount equal to the net loss reserves as of the closing date. The maximum liability retroceded under the retrocession treaty will be $440,279 thousand, equal to the retrocession payment plus $300,000 thousand. The Company will retain liability for any amounts exceeding the maximum liability retroceded under the retrocession treaty.
On December 20, 2019, the retrocession treaty was amended and included a partial commutation. As a result of this amendment and partial commutation, gross A&E reserves and correspondingly reinsurance receivable were reduced by $43,362 thousand. In addition, the maximum liability permitted to be retroceded increased to $,450298 thousand.
Reinsurance Receivables.
Reinsurance receivables for both paid and recoverable on unpaid losses totaled $1,994,555 thousand and $1,763,471 thousand at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. At December 31, 2020, $699,734 thousand, or 35.1%, was receivable from Mt. Logan Re collateralized segregated accounts and $211,594 thousand, or 10.6% was receivable from Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. (“Munich Re”). No other retrocessionaire accounted for more than 5% of our receivables.
Future Policy Benefit Reserve.
Activity in the reserve for future policy benefits is summarized for the periods indicated:
4. FAIR VALUE
GAAP guidance regarding fair value measurements address how companies should measure fair value when they are required to use fair value measures for recognition or disclosure purposes under GAAP and provides a common definition of fair value to be used throughout GAAP. It defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly fashion between market participants at the measurement date. In addition, it establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for the disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based on the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. The level in the hierarchy within which a given fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement, with Level 1 being the highest priority and Level 3 being the lowest priority.
The levels in the hierarchy are defined as follows:
Level 1:Inputs to the valuation methodology are observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market;
Level 2:Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument;
Level 3:Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
The Company’s fixed maturity and equity securities are primarily managed by third party investment asset managers. The investment asset managers managing publicly traded securities obtain prices from nationally recognized pricing services. These services seek to utilize market data and observations in their evaluation process. They use pricing applications that vary by asset class and incorporate available market information and when fixed maturity securities do not trade on a daily basis the services will apply available information through processes such as benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing. In addition, they use model processes, such as the Option Adjusted Spread model to develop prepayment and interest rate scenarios for securities that have prepayment features.
The investment asset managers do not make any changes to prices received from either the pricing services or the investment brokers. In addition, the investment asset managers have procedures in place to review the reasonableness of the prices from the service providers and may request verification of the prices. In addition, the Company continually performs analytical reviews of price changes and tests the prices on a random basis to an independent pricing source. No material variances were noted during these price validation procedures. In limited situations, where financial markets are inactive or illiquid, the Company may use its own assumptions about future cash flows and risk-adjusted discount rates to determine fair value. At December 31, 2020, $1,330,224 thousand of fixed maturities, market value were fair valued using unobservable inputs. The majority of these fixed maturities were valued by investment managers’ valuation committees and many of these fair
values were substantiated by valuations from independent third parties. The Company has procedures in place to evaluate these independent third party valuations. At December 31, 2019, $772,979 thousand of fixed maturities, market value and $5,826 thousand of fixed maturities, fair value were fair valued using unobservable inputs.
The Company internally manages a public equity portfolio which had a fair value at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, of $784,746 thousand and $170,888 thousand, respectively, and all prices were obtained from publicly published sources.
Equity securities denominated in U.S. currency with quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are categorized as Level 1 since the quoted prices are directly observable. Equity securities traded on foreign exchanges are categorized as Level 2 due to the added input of a foreign exchange conversion rate to determine fair or market value. The Company uses foreign currency exchange rates published by nationally recognized sources.
All categories of fixed maturity securities listed in the tables below are generally categorized as Level 2, since a particular security may not have traded but the pricing services are able to use valuation models with observable market inputs such as interest rate yield curves and prices for similar fixed maturity securities in terms of issuer, maturity and seniority. For foreign government securities and foreign corporate securities, the fair values provided by the third party pricing services in local currencies, and where applicable, are converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates from nationally recognized sources.
In addition to the valuations from investment managers, some of the fixed maturities with fair values categorized as Level 3 result when prices are not available from the nationally recognized pricing services. The asset managers may obtain non-binding price quotes for the securities from brokers. The single broker quotes are provided by market makers or broker-dealers who are recognized as market participants in the markets in which they are providing the quotes. The prices received from brokers are reviewed for reasonableness by the third party asset managers and the Company. If the broker quotes are for foreign denominated securities, the quotes are converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates from nationally recognized sources. In limited circumstances when broker prices are not available for private placements, the Company will value the securities using comparable market information or receive fair values from investment managers.
The composition and valuation inputs for the presented fixed maturities categories Level 1 and Level 2 are as follows:
•U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies and corporations are primarily comprised of U.S. Treasury bonds and the fair value is based on observable market inputs such as quoted prices, reported trades, quoted prices for similar issuances or benchmark yields;
•Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions are comprised of state and municipal bond issuances and the fair values are based on observable market inputs such as quoted market prices, quoted prices for similar securities, benchmark yields and credit spreads;
•Corporate securities are primarily comprised of U.S. corporate and public utility bond issuances and the fair values are based on observable market inputs such as quoted market prices, quoted prices for similar securities, benchmark yields and credit spreads;
•Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities fair values are based on observable inputs such as quoted prices, reported trades, quoted prices for similar issuances or benchmark yields and cash flow models using observable inputs such as prepayment speeds, collateral performance and default spreads;
•Foreign government securities are comprised of global non-U.S. sovereign bond issuances and the fair values are based on observable market inputs such as quoted market prices, quoted prices for similar securities and models with observable inputs such as benchmark yields and credit spreads and then, where applicable, converted to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate from a nationally recognized source;
•Foreign corporate securities are comprised of global non-U.S. corporate bond issuances and the fair values are based on observable market inputs such as quoted market prices, quoted prices for similar securities and models with observable inputs such as benchmark yields and credit spreads and then, where applicable, converted to U.S. dollars using an exchange rate from a nationally recognized source.
The following table presents the fair value measurement levels for all assets and liabilities, which the Company has recorded at fair value (fair and market value) as of the periods indicated:
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.
The following table presents the fair value measurement levels for all assets and liabilities, which the Company has recorded at fair value (fair and market value) as of the periods indicated:
In addition, $224,698 thousand and $209,578 thousand of investments within other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are not included within the fair value hierarchy tables as the assets are measured at NAV as a practical expedient to determine fair value.
The following tables present the activity under Level 3, fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs by asset type, for the periods indicated:
The net transfers to/(from) Level 3, fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs for fixed maturities, market value were $(924) thousand and $4,695 thousand as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The transfers during 2020 were previously priced by investment managers and were subsequently priced using a recognized pricing service as of December 31, 2020. The transfers during 2019 were related to securities that were previously priced using a recognized pricing service and were subsequently priced by investment managers as of December 31, 2019.
The net transfers to/(from) Level 3, fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs for equity securities, fair value were ($9,877) thousand for 2020. The transfer of ($9,877) thousand was related to preferred stock in a private entity purchased during the second quarter of 2020 which was priced at cost originally and was subsequently priced based upon the book value of the underlying private entity as of December 31, 2020.
5. CREDIT FACILITIES
The Company has two active credit facilities for a total commitment of up to $1,000,000 thousand and an additional credit facility for a total commitment of up to £52,175 thousand, providing for the issuance of letters of credit and/or unsecured revolving credit lines. The following table presents the interest and fees incurred in connection with the two credit facilities for the periods indicated:
The terms and outstanding amounts for each facility are discussed below:
Group Credit Facility
Effective May 26, 2016, Group, Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd. (“Bermuda Re”) and Everest International Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Everest International”), both direct subsidiaries of Group, entered into a five year, $800,000 thousand senior credit facility with a syndicate of lenders, which amended and restated in its entirety the June 22, 2012, four year, $800,000 thousand senior credit facility. Both the May 26, 2016 and June 22, 2012 senior credit facilities, which have similar terms, are referred to as the “Group Credit Facility”. Wells Fargo Corporation (“Wells Fargo Bank”) is the administrative agent for the Group Credit Facility, which consists of two tranches. Tranche one provides up to $200,000 thousand of unsecured revolving credit for liquidity and general corporate purposes, and for the issuance of unsecured standby letters of credit. The interest on the revolving loans shall, at the Company’s option, be either (1) the Base Rate (as defined below) or (2) an adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin. The Base Rate is the higher of (a) the prime commercial lending rate established by Wells Fargo Bank, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% per annum or (c) the one month LIBOR Rate plus 1.0% per annum. The amount of margin and the fees payable for the Group Credit Facility depends on Group’s senior unsecured debt rating. Tranche two exclusively provides up to $600,000 thousand for the issuance of standby letters of credit on a collateralized basis.
The Group Credit Facility requires Group to maintain a debt to capital ratio of not greater than 0.35 to 1 and to maintain a minimum net worth. Minimum net worth is an amount equal to the sum of $5,370,979 thousand plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending on or after March 31, 2016 and for which consolidated net income is positive, plus 25% of any increase in consolidated net worth during such period attributable to the issuance of ordinary and preferred shares, which at December 31, 2020, was $6,391,043 thousand. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all Group Credit Facility covenants.
On March 25, 2020, Group borrowed $50,000 thousand under Tranche one of the credit facility as an unsecured revolving credit loan. The loan was fully paid off on June 26, 2020. There were no revolving credit borrowings from the facility during the year ended 2019.
The following table summarizes the outstanding letters of credit for the periods indicated:
Bermuda Re Letter of Credit Facility
Effective December 31, 2020, Bermuda Re renewed its letter of credit issuance facility with Citibank N.A. referred to as the “Bermuda Re Letter of Credit Facility”, which commitment is reconfirmed annually with updated fees. The current renewal of the Bermuda Re Letter of Credit Facility provides for the issuance of up to $200,000 thousand of secured letters of credit to collateralize reinsurance obligations as a non-admitted reinsurer. The interest on drawn letters of credit shall be (A) 0.35% per annum of the principal amount of issued standard letters of credit (expiry of 15 months or less) and (B) 0.45% per annum of the principal amount of issued extended tenor letters of credit (expiry maximum of up to 60 months). The commitment fee on undrawn credit shall be 0.15% per annum.
The following table summarizes the outstanding letters of credit for the periods indicated:
Everest International Credit Facility
Effective May 12, 2020, Everest International amended its credit facility with Lloyds Bank plc (“Everest International Credit Facility”). The current amendment of the Everest International Credit Facility provides up to £52,175 thousand for the issuance of standby letters of credit on a collateralized basis. The Company pays a commitment fee of 0.1% per annum on the average daily amount of the remainder of (1) the aggregate amount available under the facility and (2) the aggregate amount of drawings outstanding under the facility. The Company pays a credit commission fee of 0.35% per annum on drawings outstanding under the facility.
The Everest International Credit Facility requires Group to maintain a debt to capital ratio of not greater than 0.35 to 1 and to maintain a minimum net worth. Minimum net worth is an amount equal to the sum of $6,393,047 thousand (70% of consolidated net worth as of December 31, 2019), plus 25% of consolidated net income for each of Group’s fiscal quarters, for which statements are available ending on or after January 1, 2020 and for which net income is positive, plus 25% of any increase in consolidated net worth of Group during such period attributable to the issuance of ordinary and preferred shares, which at December 31, 2020, was $6,527,996 thousand. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all Everest International Credit Facility requirements.
The following table summarizes the outstanding letters of credit for the periods indicated:
Federal Home Loan Bank Membership
Effective August 15, 2019, Everest Reinsurance Company (“Everest Re”) became a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLBNY”), which allows Everest Re to borrow up to 10% of its statutory admitted
assets. As of December 31, 2020, Everest Re had admitted assets of approximately $16,840,721 thousand which provides borrowing capacity of up to approximately $1,684,072 thousand. During 2020, Everest Re borrowed $400,000 thousand under its FHLBNY capacity. The borrowings have interest payable at an interest rate of 0.35%. As of December 31, 2020, $310,000 of these borrowings remain outstanding, with maturities in November and December 2021. The FHLBNY membership agreement requires that 4.5% of borrowed funds be used to acquire additional membership stock.
6. SENIOR NOTES
The table below displays Holdings’ outstanding senior notes. Market value is based on quoted market prices, but due to limited trading activity, these senior notes are considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
On June 5, 2014, Holdings issued $400,000 thousand of 30 year senior notes with an interest coupon rate of 4.868%, which will mature on June 1, 2044. Interest will be paid semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year.
On October 7, 2020, Holdings issued $1,000,000 thousand of 30 year senior notes with an interest coupon rate of 3.50%, which will mature on October 15, 2050. Interest will be paid semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year.
Interest expense incurred in connection with these senior notes is as follows for the periods indicated:
7. LONG TERM SUBORDINATED NOTES
The table below displays Holdings’ outstanding fixed to floating rate long term subordinated notes. Market value is based on quoted market prices, but due to limited trading activity, these subordinated notes are considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
During the fixed rate interest period from May 3, 2007 through May 14, 2017, interest was at the annual rate of 6.6%, payable semi-annually in arrears on November 15 and May 15 of each year, commencing on November 15, 2007. During the floating rate interest period from May 15, 2017 through maturity, interest will be based on the 3 month LIBOR plus 238.5 basis points, reset quarterly, payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, subject to Holdings’ right to defer interest on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years. Deferred interest will accumulate interest at the applicable rate compounded quarterly for periods from and including May 15, 2017. The reset quarterly interest rate for November 16, 2020 to February 15, 2021 is 2.6%.
Holdings may redeem the long term subordinated notes on or after May 15, 2017, in whole or in part at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest; however, redemption on or after the scheduled maturity date and prior to May 1, 2047 is subject to a replacement capital covenant. This covenant is for the benefit of
certain senior note holders and it mandates that Holdings receive proceeds from the sale of another subordinated debt issue, of at least similar size, before it may redeem the subordinated notes. Effective upon the maturity of the Company’s 5.40% senior notes on October 15, 2014, the Company’s 4.868% senior notes, due on June 1, 2044, have become the Company’s long term indebtedness that ranks senior to the long term subordinated notes.
The Company repurchased and retired $13,183 thousand of its outstanding long term subordinated notes for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company realized a gain of $2,536 thousand from the repurchase of the long term subordinated notes for the year ended 2020.
On March 19, 2009, Group announced the commencement of a cash tender offer for any and all of the 6.60% fixed to floating rate long term subordinated notes. Upon expiration of the tender offer, the Company had reduced its outstanding debt by $161,441 thousand.
Interest expense incurred in connection with these long term subordinated notes is as follows for the periods indicated:
8. COLLATERALIZED REINSURANCE AND TRUST AGREEMENTS
Certain subsidiaries of Group have established trust agreements, which effectively use the Company’s investments as collateral, as security for assumed losses payable to certain non-affiliated ceding companies. At December 31, 2020, the total amount on deposit in trust accounts was $1,234,720 thousand.
The Company reinsures some of its catastrophe exposures with the segregated accounts of Mt. Logan Re. Mt. Logan Re is a Class 3 insurer registered in Bermuda effective February 27, 2013 under The Segregated Accounts Companies Act 2000 and 100% of the voting common shares are owned by Group. Separate segregated accounts for Mt. Logan Re began being established effective July 1, 2013 and non-voting, redeemable preferred shares have been issued to capitalize the segregated accounts. Each segregated account invests predominantly in a diversified set of catastrophe exposures, diversified by risk/peril and across different geographic regions globally.
The following table summarizes the premiums and losses that are ceded by the Company to Mt. Logan Re segregated accounts and assumed by the Company from Mt. Logan Re segregated accounts.
Each segregated account is permitted to assume net risk exposures equal to the amount of its available posted collateral, which in the aggregate was $806,564 thousand and $993,036 thousand at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Of this amount, Group had investments recorded at $67,645 thousand and $46,390 thousand at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, in the segregated accounts.
Effective April 1, 2018, the Company entered into a retroactive reinsurance transaction with one of the Mt. Logan Re segregated accounts to retrocede $269,198 thousand of casualty reserves held by Bermuda Re related to accident years 2002 through 2015. As consideration for entering the agreement, the Company transferred cash of $252,000 thousand to the Mt. Logan Re segregated account. The maximum liability to be retroceded under the agreement will be $319,000 thousand. The Company will retain liability for any amounts exceeding the maximum liability.
On April 24, 2014, the Company entered into two collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro Re Limited (“Kilimanjaro”), a Bermuda based special purpose reinsurer, to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. These agreements are multi-year reinsurance contracts which cover specified named storm and earthquake events. The first agreement provides up to $250,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from named storms in specified states of the Southeastern United States. The second agreement provides up to $200,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from named storms in specified states of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the United States and Puerto Rico as well as reinsurance coverage from earthquakes in specified states of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and West regions of the United States, Puerto Rico and British Columbia. These reinsurance agreements expired in April, 2018.
On November 18, 2014, the Company entered into a collateralized reinsurance agreement with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. This agreement is a multi-year reinsurance contract which covers specified earthquake events. The agreement provides up to $500,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. These reinsurance agreements expired in November, 2019.
On December 1, 2015 the Company entered into two collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. These agreements are multi-year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. The first agreement provides up to $300,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The second agreement provides up to $325,000 thousand of reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.
On April 13, 2017 the Company entered into six collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with annual aggregate catastrophe reinsurance coverage. The initial three agreements are four year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. These agreements provide up to $225,000 thousand, $400,000 thousand and $325,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The subsequent three agreements are five year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. These agreements provide up to $50,000 thousand, $75,000 thousand and $175,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.
On April 30, 2018 the Company entered into four collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. These agreements are multi-year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. The first two agreements are four year reinsurance contracts which provide up to $62,500 thousand and $200,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. The remaining two agreements are five year reinsurance contracts which provide up to $62,500 thousand and $200,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
On December 12, 2019, the Company entered into four collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro to provide the Company with catastrophe reinsurance coverage. These agreements are multi-year reinsurance contracts which cover named storm and earthquake events. The first two agreements are four year reinsurance contracts which provide up to $150,000 thousand and $275,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate
reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. The remaining two agreements are five year reinsurance contracts which provide up to $150,000 thousand and $275,000 thousand, respectively, of annual aggregate reinsurance coverage from named storms and earthquakes in the United State, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
Recoveries under these collateralized reinsurance agreements with Kilimanjaro are primarily dependent on estimated industry level insured losses from covered events, as well as, the geographic location of the events. The estimated industry level of insured losses is obtained from published estimates by an independent recognized authority on insured property losses. Currently, none of the published insured loss estimates for catastrophe events during the applicable covered periods of the various agreements have exceeded the single event retentions or aggregate retentions under the terms of the agreements that would result in a recovery.
Kilimanjaro has financed the various property catastrophe reinsurance coverages by issuing catastrophe bonds to unrelated, external investors. On April 24, 2014, Kilimanjaro issued $450,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2014-1 Notes”). The $450,000 thousand of Series 2014-1 Notes were fully redeemed on April 30, 2018 and are no longer outstanding. On November 18, 2014, Kilimanjaro issued $500,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2014-2 Notes”). The $500,000 thousand of Series 2014-2 Notes were fully redeemed in November 2019 and are no longer outstanding. On December 1, 2015, Kilimanjaro issued $625,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2015-1 Notes”). On April 13, 2017, Kilimanjaro issued $950,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2017-1 Notes”) and $300,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2017-2 Notes”). On April 30, 2018, Kilimanjaro issued $262,500 thousand of notes (“Series 2018-1 Notes”) and $262,500 thousand of notes (“Series 2018-2 Notes”). On December 12, 2019, Kilimanjaro issued $425,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2019-1 Notes”) and $425,000 thousand of notes (“Series 2019-2 Notes”).The proceeds from the issuance of the Notes listed above are held in reinsurance trust throughout the duration of the applicable reinsurance agreements and invested solely in US government money market funds with a rating of at least “AAAm” by Standard & Poor’s.
9. LEASES
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02 and ASU 2018-11 which outline new guidance on the accounting for leases. The Company enters into lease agreements for real estate that is primarily used for office space in the ordinary course of business. These leases are accounted for as operating leases, whereby lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Most leases include an option to extend or renew the lease term. The exercise of the renewal is at the Company’s discretion. The operating lease liability includes lease payments related to options to extend or renew the lease term if the Company is reasonably certain of exercise those options. The Company, in determining the present value of lease payments utilizes either the rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily determinable or the Company’s incremental secured borrowing rate commensurate with terms of the underlying lease.
Supplemental information related to operating leases is as follows for the periods indicated:
Maturities of the existing lease liabilities are expected to occur as follows:
On July 2, 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement to relocate its U.S. corporate offices from Liberty Corner, New Jersey to Warren, New Jersey. The new lease, which covers approximately 315,000 square feet of office space, became effective in October, 2019 and runs through 2036. The initial base rent payment of the lease will be approximately $650 thousand per month or $7,800 thousand per year. The Company relocated the existing operations and employees of the Liberty Corner, New Jersey facility to the new corporate complex as of December, 2020.
10. INCOME TAXES
Under Bermuda law, no income or capital gains taxes are imposed on Group and its Bermuda Subsidiaries. The Minister of Finance of Bermuda has assured Group and its Bermuda subsidiaries that, pursuant to The Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Amendment Act of 2011, they will be exempt until 2035 from imposition of any such taxes.
All of the income of Group's non-Bermuda subsidiaries is subject to the applicable federal, foreign, state and local taxes on corporations. Additionally, the income of the foreign branches of the Company's insurance operating companies, in particular the UK branch of Bermuda Re, is subject to various rates of income tax. Group's U.S. subsidiaries conduct business in and are subject to taxation in the U.S. Should the U.S. subsidiaries distribute current or accumulated earnings and profits in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to an accrual of 5% U.S. withholding tax. Currently, however, no withholding tax has been accrued with respect to such un-remitted earnings as management has no intention of remitting them. The cumulative amount that would be subject to withholding tax, if distributed, is not practicable to compute. The provision for income taxes in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) has been determined in accordance with the individual income of each entity and the respective applicable tax laws. The provision reflects the permanent differences between financial and taxable income relevant to each entity.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted on March 27, 2020, provided that U.S. companies could carryback for five years net operating losses incurred in 2018, 2019 and/or 2020. This beneficial tax provision in the CARES Act enabled the Company to carryback its significant 2018 net operating losses to prior tax years with higher effective tax rates of 35% versus 21% in 2018 and later years. As a result, the Company was able to record a net income tax benefit from the five-year carryback of $32.5 million and obtain federal income tax cash refunds of $182.5 million including interest in 2020.
The significant components of the provision are as follows for the periods indicated:
The weighted average expected tax provision has been calculated using the pre-tax income (loss) in each jurisdiction multiplied by that jurisdiction's applicable statutory tax rate. Reconciliation of the difference between the provision for income taxes and the expected tax provision at the weighted average tax rate for the periods indicated is provided below:
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefits, for the periods indicated, is as follows:
At December 31, 2020, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, that would impact the effective tax rate was $0 thousand.
Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense. At December 31, 2020, the Company accrued $0 thousand for the payment of interest (net of the federal benefit) and penalties. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no accrued liabilities, respectively, for the payment of interest and penalties.
The Company’s 2014 and subsequent U.S. tax years are open to audit by the IRS. In 2018, the IRS opened an audit of the 2014 tax year. To date, the Company has received only one notice of proposed adjustment for an immaterial amount of tax. The Company proposed affirmative beneficial income tax return adjustments to the IRS at the start of the audit. Subsequent to the Company’s CARES Act net operating loss carryback, the Company expects a tax refund of $16,287 thousand of recaptured foreign tax credits related to the affirmative adjustments.
In 2019, the IRS opened an audit of the 2015 through 2017 tax years. To date, the Company has not received any Information Document Requests (“IDRs”) or notices of proposed adjustment. The Company had filed amended tax returns requesting refunds for 2015 and 2016 for $1,519 thousand and $4,685 thousand, respectively.
During 2020, the IRS added 2018 to the audit and indicated that, subsequent to the CARES Act, it would audit tax years 2014 - 2018 all together and conclude its audits simultaneously. To date, the Company has not received any IDRs or notices of proposed adjustment for the 2018 tax year.
Deferred Income taxes reflect the tax effect of the temporary differences between the value of assets and liabilities for financial statement purposes and such values are measured by the U.S. tax laws and regulations. The principal items making up the net deferred income tax assets/(liabilities) are as follows for the periods indicated:
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had $28,805 thousand and $12,997 thousand of Valuation Allowance (“VA”), respectively. The majority of the VA relates to the Company’s UK operations and were due primarily to net operating losses incurred in 2020 as a result of COVID 19. The VA is a result of our conclusion under US GAAP accounting principles, that the UK, Swiss, Irish, Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions could not demonstrate that it was more likely than not that the related deferred tax assets will be realized. This was primarily due to factors such as cumulative losses in recent years and the inability to demonstrate profits within the specific jurisdictions related to recent changes in market conditions. Tax effected UK NOLs of $26,428 thousand do not expire. Tax effected Swiss NOLs of $2,317 thousand expire in 2028. Tax effected Irish NOLs of $2,300 thousand do not expire. Tax effected Canadian NOLs of $1,774 thousand begin to expire in 2035. Tax effected U.S. Separate Return Limitation Year NOLs of $684 thousand begin to expire in 2037.
Due to the passage of the CARES Act in 2020, which allowed for a five-year carryback of NOLs, as of December 31, 2020 the Company no longer has a Consolidated U.S. NOL carryforward Without the Consolidated U.S. NOL carryforward, the Company was able to utilize a significant amount of U.S. Foreign Tax Credits (“FTCs”) in both 2019 and 2020. As a result, its FTC carryforwards were significantly reduced at December 31, 2020 to only $46,109 thousand. The remaining FTC carryforwards expire between 2025 and 2030.
During 2018, the Company completed its accounting for the TCJA in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, including interpretation of the additional guidance issued by the IRS and U.S. Department of the Treasury, and recognized an income tax benefit of $28,411 thousand primarily related to the 2017 tax return to tax provision true-up recorded in 2018.
Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09 which provided new guidance on the treatment of the tax effects of share-based compensation transactions. ASU 2016-09 required that the income tax effects of restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises resulting from the change in value of share based compensation awards between the grant date and settlement (vesting/exercise) date be recorded as part of income tax expense (benefit) within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Per the new guidance, the Company recorded excess tax benefits of $2,993 thousand, $3,357 thousand and $3,453 thousand related to restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises as part of income tax expense (benefit) within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
In years prior to 2017, the Company recorded tax benefits related to restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises as part of additional paid-in capital in the shareholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheets.
The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not impact the accounting treatment of tax benefits related to dividends on restricted stock. The tax benefits related to the payment of dividends on restricted stock have been recorded as part of additional paid-in capital in the shareholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheets in all years. The tax benefits related to the payment of dividends on restricted stock were $583 thousand, $484 thousand and $403 thousand in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, we consider our earnings within each jurisdiction to be indefinitely reinvested. Should the subsidiaries distribute current or accumulated earnings and profits in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to withholding taxes. The cumulative amount that would be subject to withholding tax, if distributed, is not practicable to compute.
11. REINSURANCE
The Company utilizes reinsurance agreements to reduce its exposure to large claims and catastrophic loss occurrences. These agreements provide for recovery from reinsurers of a portion of losses and LAE under certain circumstances without relieving the Company of its underlying obligations to the policyholders. Losses and LAE incurred and premiums earned are reported after deduction for reinsurance. In the event that one or more of the reinsurers were unable to meet their obligations under these reinsurance agreements, the Company would not realize the full value of the reinsurance recoverable balances. The Company's procedures include carefully selecting its reinsurers, structuring agreements to provide collateral funds where necessary, and regularly monitoring the financial condition and ratings of its reinsurers. Reinsurance receivables include balances due from reinsurance companies and are presented net of an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance. Reinsurance receivables include an estimate of the amount of gross losses and loss adjustment expense reserves that may be ceded under the terms of the reinsurance agreements, including incurred but not reported unpaid losses. The Company’s estimate of losses and loss adjustment expense reserves ceded to reinsurers is based on assumptions that are consistent with those used in establishing the gross reserves for amounts the Company owes to its claimants. The Company estimates its ceded reinsurance receivable based on the terms of any applicable facultative and treaty reinsurance, including an estimate of how incurred but not reported losses will ultimately be ceded under reinsurance agreements. Accordingly, the Company’s estimate of reinsurance receivables is subject to similar risks and uncertainties as the estimate of the gross reserve for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses. The Company may hold partial collateral, including letters of credit and funds held, under these agreements. See also Note 1C, Note 3 and Note 8.
Balances are considered past due when amounts that have been billed are not collected within contractually stipulated time periods, generally 30, 60 or 90 days. To manage reinsurer credit risk, a reinsurance security review committee evaluates the credit standing, financial performance, management and operational quality of each potential reinsurer. In placing reinsurance, the Company considers the nature of the risk reinsured, including the expected liability payout duration, and establishes limits tiered by reinsurer credit rating.
Where its contracts permit, the Company secures future claim obligations with various forms of collateral or other credit enhancement, including irrevocable letters of credit, secured trusts, funds held accounts and group wide offsets.
The Company periodically evaluates the recoverability of its reinsurance receivable assets and establishes an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance. The allowance for uncollectible reinsurance reflects management’s best estimate of reinsurance cessions that may be uncollectible in the future due to reinsurers’ unwillingness or inability to pay. The allowance for uncollectible reinsurance comprises an allowance and an allowance for disputed balances. Based on this analysis, the Company may adjust the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance or charge off reinsurer balances that are determined to be uncollectible.
Due to the inherent uncertainties as to collection and the length of time before reinsurance receivable become due, it is possible that future adjustments to the Company’s reinsurance receivable, net of the allowance, could be required, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows in a particular quarter or annual period.
The allowance is estimated as the amount of reinsurance receivable exposed to loss multiplied by estimated factors for the probability of default. The probability of default is assigned based on each reinsurer's credit rating, or a rating is estimated if no external rating is available. Credit ratings are reviewed and updated at least annually. The probability of default factors are historical insurer and reinsurer defaults for liabilities with similar durations to the reinsured liabilities as estimated through multiple economic cycles. Credit ratings are forward-looking and consider a variety of economic outcomes. The Company's evaluation of the required allowance for reinsurance receivable considers the current economic environment as well as macroeconomic scenarios.
Insurance companies, including reinsurers, are regulated and hold risk-based capital to mitigate the risk of loss due to economic factors and other risks. Non-U.S. reinsurers are either subject to a capital regime substantively equivalent to domestic insurers or we hold collateral to support collection of reinsurance receivable. As a result, there is limited history of losses from insurer defaults.
The Company expects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to reinsurers to be somewhat mitigated by their regulated capital and liquidity positions. The ultimate impact to the Company's financial statements could vary significantly from our estimates depending on the duration and severity of the pandemic, the duration and severity of the economic downturn and the degree to which federal, state and local government actions to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 are effective.
The Company records credit loss expenses related to reinsurance receivable in losses and loss adjustment expenses. Write-offs of reinsurance receivable and any related allowance are recorded in the period in which the balance is deemed uncollectible. The allowance for reinsurance receivables is $17,178 thousand and $14,190 thousand as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Premiums written and earned and incurred losses and LAE are comprised of the following for the periods indicated:
12. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The following table presents the components of comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:
The following table presents details of the amounts reclassified from AOCI for the periods indicated:
The following table presents the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, in the consolidated balance sheets for the periods indicated:
13. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Defined Benefit Pension Plans.
The Company maintains both qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for its U.S. employees employed prior to April 1, 2010. Generally, the Company computes the benefits based on average earnings over a period prescribed by the plans and credited length of service. The Company’s non-qualified defined benefit pension plan provided compensating pension benefits for participants whose benefits have been curtailed under the qualified plan due to Internal Revenue Code limitations. Effective January 1, 2018, participants of the Company’s non-qualified defined benefit pension plan may no longer accrue additional service benefits.
Although not required to make contributions under IRS regulations, the following table summarizes the Company’s contributions to the defined benefit pension plans for the periods indicated:
The following table summarizes the Company’s pension expense for the periods indicated:
The following table summarizes the status of these defined benefit plans for U.S. employees for the periods indicated:
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets for the periods indicated:
Amounts not yet reflected in net periodic benefit cost and included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods indicated:
Other changes in other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods indicated are as follows:
Net periodic benefit cost for U.S. employees included the following components for the periods indicated:
The estimated transition obligation, actuarial loss and prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next year are $0 thousand, $7,709 thousand and $0 thousand, respectively.
The weighted average discount rates used to determine net periodic benefit cost for 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 3.28%, 4.27% and 3.62%, respectively. The rate of compensation increase used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was 4.00%. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 7.00% for 2020, 2019 and 2018 based on expected portfolio returns and allocations.
The weighted average discount rates used to determine the actuarial present value of the projected benefit obligation for years end 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 2.55%, 3.28% and 4.27%, respectively.
The following table summarizes the accumulated benefit obligation for the periods indicated:
The following table displays the plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets for the periods indicated:
The following table displays the plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets for the periods indicated:
The following table displays the expected benefit payments in the periods indicated:
Plan assets consist of shares in investment trusts with 72%, 27%, 1% and 0% of the underlying assets consisting of equity securities, fixed maturities, limited partnerships and multi-strategy equity funds and cash, respectively. The Company manages the qualified plan investments for U.S. employees. The assets in the plan consist of debt and equity mutual funds. Due to the long term nature of the plan, the target asset allocation has historically been 70% equities and 30% bonds.
The following tables present the fair value measurement levels for the qualified plan assets at fair value for the periods indicated:
(a) This category includes high quality, short-term money market instruments, which are issued and payable in U.S. dollars.
(b) This category includes fixed income funds, which invest in investment grade securities of corporations, governments and government agencies with approximately 70% in U.S. securities and 30% in international securities.
(c) This category includes funds, which invest in small, mid and multi-cap equity securities including common stocks, securities convertible into common stock and securities with common stock characteristics, such as rights and warrants, with approximately 50% in U.S. equities and 50% in international equities.
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.
(a) This category includes high quality, short-term money market instruments, which are issued and payable in U.S. dollars.
(b) This category includes fixed income funds, which invest in investment grade securities of corporations, governments and government agencies with approximately 70% in U.S. securities and 30% in international securities.
(c) This category includes funds, which invest in small, mid and multi-cap equity securities including common stocks, securities convertible into common stock and securities with common stock characteristics, such as rights and warrants, with approximately 50% in U.S. equities and 50% in international equities.
In addition, $4,596 thousand and $20,351 thousand of investments which were recorded as part of the qualified plan assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are not included within the fair value hierarchy tables as the assets are valued using the NAV practical expedient guidance within ASU 2015-07.
The Company contributed $0 thousand to the qualified pension benefit plan for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Defined Contribution Plans.
The Company also maintains both qualified and non-qualified defined contribution plans (“Savings Plan” and “Non-Qualified Savings Plan”, respectively) covering U.S. employees. Under the plans, the Company contributes up to a maximum 3% of the participants’ compensation based on the contribution percentage of the employee. The Non-Qualified Savings Plan provides compensating savings plan benefits for participants whose benefits have been curtailed under the Savings Plan due to Internal Revenue Code limitations. In addition, effective for new hires (and rehires) on or after April 1, 2010, the Company will contribute between 3% and 8% of an employee’s earnings for each payroll period based on the employee’s age. These contributions will be 100% vested after three years.
The following table presents the Company’s incurred expenses related to these plans for the periods indicated:
In addition, the Company maintains several defined contribution pension plans covering non-U.S. employees. Each non-U.S. office (Brazil, Canada, London, Belgium, Singapore, Ireland, Zurich and Bermuda) maintains a separate plan for the non-U.S. employees working in that location. The Company contributes various amounts based on salary, age and/or years of service. In the current year, the contributions as a percentage of salary for the branch offices ranged from 5.1% to 64.8%. The contributions are generally used to purchase pension benefits from local insurance providers. The following table presents the Company’s incurred expenses related to these plans for the periods indicated:
Post-Retirement Plan.
The Company sponsors a Retiree Health Plan for employees employed prior to April 1, 2010. This plan provides healthcare benefits for eligible retired employees (and their eligible dependents), who have elected coverage. The Company anticipates that most covered employees will become eligible for these benefits if they retire while working for the Company. The cost of these benefits is shared with the retiree. The Company accrues the post-retirement benefit expense during the period of the employee’s service.
A medical cost trend rate of 6.75% in 2020 was assumed to decrease gradually to 4.75% in 2030 and then remain at that level.
The following table presents the post-retirement benefit expenses for the periods indicated:
The following table summarizes the status of this plan for the periods indicated:
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets for the periods indicated:
Amounts not yet reflected in net periodic benefit cost and included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods indicated:
Other changes in other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods indicated are as follows:
Net periodic benefit cost included the following components for the periods indicated:
The estimated transition obligation, actuarial gain and prior service credit that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $0 thousand, $46 thousand and $577 thousand, respectively.
The weighted average discount rates used to determine net periodic benefit cost for 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 3.28%, 4.27% and 3.62%, respectively.
The weighted average discount rates used to determine the actuarial present value of the projected benefit obligation at year end 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 2.55%, 3.28% and 4.27%, respectively.
The following table displays the expected benefit payments in the years indicated:
14. DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS AND STATUTORY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Group and its operating subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory restrictions, including the amount of dividends that may be paid and the level of capital that the operating entities must maintain. These regulatory restrictions are based upon statutory capital as opposed to GAAP basis equity or net assets. Group and one of its primary operating subsidiaries, Bermuda Re, are regulated by Bermuda law and its other primary operating subsidiary, Everest Re, is regulated by Delaware law. Bermuda Re is subject to the Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement (“BSCR”) administered by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”) and Everest Re is subject to the Risk-Based Capital Model (“RBC”) developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). These models represent the aggregate regulatory restrictions on net assets and statutory capital and surplus.
Dividend Restrictions.
Under Bermuda law, Group is prohibited from declaring or paying a dividend if such payment would reduce the realizable value of its assets to an amount less than the aggregate value of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium (additional paid-in capital) accounts. Group’s ability to pay dividends and its operating expenses is dependent upon dividends from its subsidiaries.
Under Bermuda law, Bermuda Re is prohibited from declaring or making payment of a dividend if it fails to meet its minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio. As a long term insurer, Bermuda Re is also unable to declare or pay a dividend to anyone who is not a policyholder unless, after payment of the dividend, the value of the assets in their long term business fund, as certified by their approved actuary, exceeds their liabilities for long term business by at least the $250 thousand minimum solvency margin.
Prior approval of the BMA is required if Bermuda Re’s dividend payments would exceed 25% of their prior year-end total statutory capital and surplus.
Bermuda Re prepares its statutory financial statements in conformity with the accounting principles set forth in Bermuda in The Insurance Act 1978, amendments thereto and related regulations. The statutory capital and surplus of Bermuda Re was $2,944,455 thousand and $3,197,418 thousand at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The statutory net income of Bermuda Re was $222,765 thousand, $503,610 thousand and $873,111 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Delaware law provides that an insurance company which is a member of an insurance holding company system and is domiciled in the state shall not pay dividends without giving prior notice to the Insurance Commissioner of Delaware and may not pay dividends without the approval of the Insurance Commissioner if the value of the proposed dividend, together with all other dividends and distributions made in the preceding twelve months, exceeds the greater of (1) 10% of statutory surplus or (2) net income, not including realized capital gains, each as reported in the prior year’s statutory annual statement. In addition, no dividend may be paid in excess of unassigned earned surplus. At December 31, 2020, Everest Re has $592,082 thousand available for payment of dividends in 2021 without the need for prior regulatory approval.
Everest Re prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the NAIC and the Delaware Insurance Department. Prescribed statutory accounting practices are set forth in the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual. The capital and statutory surplus of Everest Re was $5,276,003 thousand and $3,739,140 thousand at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The statutory net income of Everest Re was $595,077 thousand and $363,034 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and statutory net loss of Everest Re was $1,317,991 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018.
There are certain regulatory and contractual restrictions on the ability of Holdings’ operating subsidiaries to transfer funds to Holdings in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances. The insurance laws of the State of
Delaware, where Holdings’ direct insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, require regulatory approval before those subsidiaries can pay dividends or make loans or advances to Holdings that exceed certain statutory thresholds.
Capital Restrictions.
In Bermuda, Bermuda Re is subject to the BSCR administered by the BMA. No regulatory action is taken if an insurer’s capital and surplus is equal to or in excess of their enhanced capital requirement determined by the BSCR model. In addition, the BMA has established a target capital level for each insurer, which is 120% of the enhanced capital requirement.
In the United States, Everest Re is subject to the RBC developed by the NAIC which determines an authorized control level risk-based capital. As long as the total adjusted capital is 200% or more of the authorized control level capital, no action is required by the Company.
The regulatory targeted capital and the actual statutory capital for Bermuda Re and Everest Re were as follows:
(a) Regulatory targeted capital represents the target capital level from the applicable year's BSCR calculation.
(b) Regulatory targeted capital represents 200% of the RBC authorized control level calculation for the applicable year.
(c) The 2020 BSCR calculation is not yet due to be completed; however, the Company anticipates that Bermuda Re's December 31, 2020 actual capital will exceed the targeted capital level.
15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in lawsuits, arbitrations and other formal and informal dispute resolution procedures, the outcomes of which will determine the Company’s rights and obligations under insurance and reinsurance agreements. In some disputes, the Company seeks to enforce its rights under an agreement or to collect funds owing to it. In other matters, the Company is resisting attempts by others to collect funds or enforce alleged rights. These disputes arise from time to time and are ultimately resolved through both informal and formal means, including negotiated resolution, arbitration and litigation. In all such matters, the Company believes that its positions are legally and commercially reasonable. The Company considers the statuses of these proceedings when determining its reserves for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses.
Aside from litigation and arbitrations related to these insurance and reinsurance agreements, the Company is not a party to any other material litigation or arbitration.
The Company had one equity index put option contract at December 31, 2020, based on the Standard & Poor’s 500 (“S&P 500”) index. Based on historical index volatilities and trends and the December 31, 2020 S&P 500 index value, the Company estimates the probability that the equity index put option contract of the S&P 500 index falling below the strike price on the exercise date to be less than 0.2%. The theoretical maximum payout under this equity index put option contract would occur if on the exercise date the S&P 500 index value was zero. At December 31, 2020, the present value of the theoretical maximum payout using a 3% discount factor was $147,894 thousand. Conversely, if the contract had expired on December 31, 2020, with the S&P index at 3,756.07, there would have been no settlement amount.
The Company has entered into separate annuity agreements with The Prudential Insurance of America (“The Prudential”) and an additional unaffiliated life insurance company in which the Company has either purchased annuity contracts or become the assignee of annuity proceeds that are meant to settle claim payment obligations in the future. In both instances, the Company would become contingently liable if either The
Prudential or the unaffiliated life insurance company were unable to make payments related to the respective annuity contract.
The table below presents the estimated cost to replace all such annuities for which the Company was contingently liable for the periods indicated:
16. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
The Company has a 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (“2020 Employee Plan”), a 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (“2010 Employee Plan”), a 2009 Non-Employee Director Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (“2009 Director Plan”) and a 2003 Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Plan (“2003 Director Plan”).
The 2020 Employee Plan was established in June 2020. Under the 2020 Employee Plan, 1,400,000 common shares have been authorized to be granted as non-qualified share options, share appreciation rights, restricted share awards or performance share unit awards to officers and key employees of the Company. At December 31, 2020, there were 1,366,900 remaining shares available to be granted under the 2020 Employee Plan. The 2020 Employee Plan replaced a 2010 Employee Plan, which replaced a 2002 Employee Plan, which replaced a 1995 Employee Plan; therefore, no further awards will be granted under the 2002 Employee Plan or the 1995 Employee Plan. Through December 31, 2020, only non-qualified share options, restricted share awards and performance share unit awards had been granted under the employee plans. Under the 2009 Director Plan, 37,439 common shares have been authorized to be granted as share options or restricted share awards to non-employee directors of the Company. At December 31, 2020, there were 34,957 remaining shares available to be granted under the 2009 Director Plan. The 2009 Director Plan replaced a 1995 Director Plan, which expired. Under the 2003 Director Plan, 500,000 common shares have been authorized to be granted as share options or share awards to non-employee directors of the Company. At December 31, 2020 there were 316,702 remaining shares available to be granted under the 2003 Director Plan.
Options and restricted shares granted under the 2020 Employee Plan, 2010 Employee Plan and the 2002 Employee Plan vest at the earliest of 20% per year over five years or in accordance with any applicable employment agreement. Options and restricted shares granted under the 2003 Director Plan generally vest at 33% per year over three years, unless an alternate vesting period is authorized by the Board. Options and restricted shares granted under the 2009 Director Plan will vest as provided in the award agreement. All options are exercisable at fair market value of the stock at the date of grant and expire ten years after the date of grant.
Performance Share Unit awards granted under the 2020 Employee Plan and the 2010 Employee Plan will vest 100% after three years. The Performance Share Unit awards represent the right to receive between and 0 and 1.75 shares of stock for each unit awarded depending upon performance in relation to certain metrics. The performance share unit valuation will be based partly on growth in book value per share over the three year vesting period, compared to designated peer companies. The remaining portion of the performance share valuation will be based upon operating return on equity for each of the separate operating years within the vesting period.
For share options, restricted shares and performance share units granted under the 2020 Employee Plan, the 2010 Employee Plan, the 2002 Employee Plan, the 2009 Director Plan and the 2003 Director Plan, share-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) was $39,209 thousand, $34,018 thousand and $32,369 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The corresponding income tax benefit recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for share-based compensation was $7,107 thousand, $8,384 thousand and $7,401 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, a total of 200,929 restricted shares were granted on February 26, 2020, September 11, 2020, and November 18, 2020, with a fair value of $277.145, $207.505 and $238.0975 per share, respectively. Additionally, 16,120 performance share units were awarded on February 26, 2020, with a fair value of $277.145 per unit. No share options were granted during the year ended December 31, 2020. For share options granted during previous years, the fair value per option was calculated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.
The Company recognizes, as an increase to additional paid-in capital, a realized income tax benefit from dividends, charged to retained earnings and paid to employees on equity classified non-vested equity shares. In addition, the amount recognized in additional paid-in capital for the realized income tax benefit from dividends on those awards is included in the pool of excess tax benefits available to absorb tax deficiencies on share-based payment awards. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $583 thousand, $484 thousand and $403 thousand, respectively, of additional paid-in capital due to tax benefits from dividends on restricted shares.
A summary of the option activity under the Company’s shareholder approved plans as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, and changes during the year then ended is presented in the following tables:
There were no share options granted in 2020, 2019 and 2018. The aggregate intrinsic value (market price less exercise price) of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $9,982 thousand, $16,297 thousand and $11,737 thousand, respectively. The cash received from the exercised share options for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $4,613 thousand. The tax benefit realized from the options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $1,904 thousand.
The following table summarizes information about share options outstanding for the period indicated:
The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s non-vested shares and changes for the periods indicated:
As of December 31, 2020, there was $88,233 thousand of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation expense. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.4 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, was $38,745 thousand, $28,135 thousand and $25,317 thousand, respectively. The tax benefit realized from the shares vested for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $8,519 thousand.
In addition to the 2020 Employee Plan, the 2010 Employee Plan, the 2009 Director Plan and the 2003 Director Plan, Group issued 593 common shares in 2020, 459 common shares in 2019 and 480 common shares in 2018 to the Company’s non-employee directors as compensation for their service as directors. These issuances had aggregate values of approximately $125 thousand, $107 thousand and $113 thousand, respectively.
Since its 1995 initial public offering, the Company has issued to certain key employees of the Company 2,718,140 restricted common shares, of which 369,164 restricted shares have been cancelled. The Company has issued to non-employee directors of the Company 175,829 restricted common shares, of which no restricted shares have been cancelled. The Company acquired 66,289, 71,437 and 65,974 common shares at a cost of $17,889 thousand, $14,181 thousand and $14,202 thousand in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, from employees who chose to pay required withholding taxes and/or the exercise cost on option exercises or restricted share vestings by withholding shares.
The following table summarized the status of the Company’s non-vested performance share unit awards and changes for the period indicated:
The Company acquired 2,587, 5,008 and 5,214 common shares at a cost of $717 thousand, $1,119 thousand and $1,264 thousand in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, from employees who chose to pay required withholding taxes on performance shares units settlements by withholding shares.
17. SEGMENT REPORTING
The Reinsurance operation writes worldwide property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies. Business is written in the U.S., Bermuda, and Ireland offices, as well as, through branches in Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The Insurance operation writes property and casualty insurance directly and through brokers, surplus lines brokers and general agents within the U.S., Canada and Europe through its offices in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and a branch located in Zurich.
These segments are managed independently, but conform with corporate guidelines with respect to pricing, risk management, control of aggregate catastrophe exposures, capital, investments and support operations. Management generally monitors and evaluates the financial performance of these operating segments based upon their underwriting results.
Underwriting results include earned premium less losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) incurred, commission and brokerage expenses and other underwriting expenses. We measure our underwriting results using ratios, in particular loss, commission and brokerage and other underwriting expense ratios, which, respectively, divide incurred losses, commissions and brokerage and other underwriting expenses by premiums earned.
The Company does not maintain separate balance sheet data for its operating segments. Accordingly, the Company does not review and evaluate the financial results of its operating segments based upon balance sheet data.
The following tables present the underwriting results for the operating segments for the periods indicated:
The following table reconciles the underwriting results for the operating segments to income before taxes as reported in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the periods indicated:
The Company produces business in the U.S., Bermuda and internationally. The net income deriving from and assets residing in the individual foreign countries in which the Company writes business are not identifiable in the Company’s financial records. Based on gross written premium, the table below presents the largest country, other than the U.S., in which the Company writes business, for the periods indicated:
Approximately 20.1%, 23.1% and 19.7% of the Company’s gross written premiums in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were sourced through the Company’s largest intermediary.
18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company has evaluated known recognized and non-recognized subsequent events. In February 2021, a severe winter storm impacted Texas and other southern states. Due to the recentness of this event, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of losses at this time. However, the Company anticipates that the losses from this event will adversely impact first quarter 2021 financial statements.
19. UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
Summarized quarterly financial data for the periods indicated:
SCHEDULE I - SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS -
OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES
December 31, 2020
S-1
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
S-2
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
S-3
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
S-4
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
NOTES to conDENSED financial information
1.) The accompanying condensed financial information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related Notes of Everest Re Group, Ltd. and its Subsidiaries.
2.) Everest Re Group, Ltd. entered into a $300,000 thousand long term note agreement with Everest Reinsurance Company, an affiliated company, as of December 17, 2019. The note will pay interest annually at a rate of 1.69 % and is scheduled to mature in December, 2028. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, this transaction was presented as a Long Term Note Payable - Affiliated in the Consolidated Balance sheets of Everest Re Group, Ltd.
3.) Everest Re Group, Ltd. has invested funds in the segregated accounts of Mt. Logan Re, Ltd. (“Mt. Logan Re”), an affiliated entity. On the Condensed Balance Sheets, investments in Mt. Logan Re valued at $67,645 thousand and $46,390 thousand as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, have been recorded within Other Assets. On the Condensed Statements of Operations, income of $6,255 thousand, income of $765 thousand and expense of $4,695 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, have been recorded in other income (expense).
S-5
SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
S-6
SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE
S-7