Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011

or

 

¨ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 001-15811

 

 

MARKEL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Virginia   54-1959284

State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6148

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(804) 747-0136

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   x   Accelerated filer   ¨   Non-accelerated filer   ¨   Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at July 29, 2011: 9,694,421

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Markel Corporation

Form 10-Q

Index

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION    Page Number  

Item 1. Financial Statements

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets—June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010

     3   

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Loss)—Quarters and Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     4   

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity—Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     5   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     6   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     7   

Item  2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     24   

Critical Accounting Estimates

     24   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     34   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     35   

Safe Harbor and Cautionary Statement

     36   

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     38   

Item 6. Exhibits

     38   

Signatures

     39   

Exhibit Index

     40   

 

2


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 
     (dollars in thousands)  

ASSETS

     

Investments, available-for-sale, at estimated fair value:

     

Fixed maturities (amortized cost of $5,241,152 in 2011 and $5,256,980 in 2010)

   $ 5,479,821       $ 5,431,226   

Equity securities (cost of $1,058,418 in 2011 and $996,088 in 2010)

     1,837,219         1,721,971   

Short-term investments (estimated fair value approximates cost)

     600,361         325,340   
                 

Total Investments

     7,917,401         7,478,537   
                 

Cash and cash equivalents

     767,954         745,259   

Receivables

     422,667         318,507   

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

     809,318         798,090   

Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses

     45,306         70,568   

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     203,940         188,783   

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     95,082         80,293   

Goodwill and intangible assets

     767,004         641,733   

Other assets

     435,865         503,819   
                 

Total Assets

   $ 11,464,537       $ 10,825,589   
                 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

   $ 5,505,657       $ 5,398,406   

Unearned premiums

     956,195         839,537   

Payables to insurance companies

     89,545         50,715   

Senior long-term debt and other debt (estimated fair value of $1,355,000 in 2011 and $1,086,000 in 2010)

     1,268,444         1,015,947   

Other liabilities

     296,617         333,292   
                 

Total Liabilities

     8,116,458         7,637,897   
                 

Commitments and contingencies

     

Shareholders’ equity:

     

Common stock

     888,616         884,457   

Retained earnings

     1,761,067         1,735,973   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     633,290         551,093   
                 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     3,282,973         3,171,523   

Noncontrolling interests

     65,106         16,169   
                 

Total Equity

     3,348,079         3,187,692   
                 

Total Liabilities and Equity

   $ 11,464,537       $ 10,825,589   
                 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  
     (dollars in thousands, except per share data)  

OPERATING REVENUES

        

Earned premiums

   $ 490,201      $ 416,688      $ 953,312      $ 828,823   

Net investment income

     64,253        64,384        134,352        132,786   

Net realized investment gains (losses):

        

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

     (1,707     (3,916     (1,707     (5,701

Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

     (3,168     3        (3,168     (563
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in net income

     (4,875     (3,913     (4,875     (6,264

Net realized investment gains, excluding other-than-temporary impairment losses

     6,219        1,484        17,459        19,578   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     1,344        (2,429     12,584        13,314   

Other revenues

     91,370        36,771        168,514        77,210   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenues

     647,168        515,414        1,268,762        1,052,133   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

        

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

     306,683        251,235        621,011        511,405   

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

     196,845        179,106        399,195        335,774   

Amortization of intangible assets

     5,555        3,856        11,563        7,814   

Other expenses

     79,473        32,969        147,968        68,366   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Operating Expenses

     588,556        467,166        1,179,737        923,359   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income

     58,612        48,248        89,025        128,774   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest expense

     21,898        18,334        40,860        36,293   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

     36,714        29,914        48,165        92,481   

Income tax expense

     5,065        8,997        6,655        28,358   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 31,649      $ 20,917      $ 41,510      $ 64,123   

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     1,335        86        2,924        723   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income to Shareholders

   $ 30,314      $ 20,831      $ 38,586      $ 63,400   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

        

Change in net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes:

        

Net holding gains (losses) arising during the period

   $ 64,403      $ (49,927   $ 84,724      $ 47,514   

Unrealized other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities arising during the period

     1,644        170        1,468        901   

Reclassification adjustments for net gains included in net income

     (827     (3,099     (7,291     (13,639
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes

     65,220        (52,856     78,901        34,776   

Change in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes

     156        (2,259     2,595        1,960   

Change in net actuarial pension loss, net of taxes

     355        336        701        686   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     65,731        (54,779     82,197        37,422   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

   $ 97,380      $ (33,862   $ 123,707      $ 101,545   

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     1,335        41        2,924        909   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss) to Shareholders

   $ 96,045      $ (33,903   $ 120,783      $ 100,636   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME PER SHARE

        

Basic

   $ 3.12      $ 2.13      $ 3.97      $ 6.47   

Diluted

   $ 3.11      $ 2.12      $ 3.95      $ 6.46   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

 

     Common
Stock
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
     Total
Shareholders’
Equity
    Noncontrolling
Interests
    Total Equity  
     (dollars in thousands)  

December 31, 2009

   $ 872,876      $ 1,514,398      $ 387,086       $ 2,774,360      $ 17,354      $ 2,791,714   

Net income

     0        63,400        0         63,400        723        64,123   

Change in net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes

     0        0        34,776         34,776        0        34,776   

Change in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes

     0        0        1,774         1,774        186        1,960   

Change in net actuarial pension loss, net of taxes

     0        0        686         686        0        686   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

            100,636        909        101,545   

Issuance of common stock

     6,664        0        0         6,664        0        6,664   

Repurchase of common stock

     0        (24,251     0         (24,251     0        (24,251

Restricted stock units expensed

     692        0        0         692        0        692   

Purchase of noncontrolling interest

     (8,345     0        237         (8,108     (1,557     (9,665

Other

     0        0        0         0        (256     (256
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

June 30, 2010

   $ 871,887      $ 1,553,547      $ 424,559       $ 2,849,993      $ 16,450      $ 2,866,443   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

   $ 884,457      $ 1,735,973      $ 551,093       $ 3,171,523      $ 16,169      $ 3,187,692   

Net Income

     0        38,586        0         38,586        2,924        41,510   

Change in net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes

     0        0        78,901         78,901        0        78,901   

Change in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes

     0        0        2,595         2,595        0        2,595   

Change in net actuarial pension loss, net of taxes

     0        0        701         701        0        701   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

            120,783        2,924        123,707   

Issuance of common stock

     848        0        0         848        0        848   

Repurchase of common stock

     0        (13,492     0         (13,492     0        (13,492

Restricted stock units expensed

     3,129        0        0         3,129        0        3,129   

Acquisitions

     0        0        0         0        47,292        47,292   

Other

     182        0        0         182        (1,279     (1,097
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

June 30, 2011

   $ 888,616      $ 1,761,067      $ 633,290       $ 3,282,973      $ 65,106      $ 3,348,079   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010  
     (dollars in thousands)  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net income

   $ 41,510      $ 64,123   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

     58,833        (557
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

     100,343        63,566   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities and equity securities

     107,131        186,435   

Proceeds from maturities, calls and prepayments of fixed maturities

     202,269        206,214   

Cost of fixed maturities and equity securities purchased

     (312,173     (679,387

Net change in short-term investments

     (275,238     125,397   

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (5,841     (35,317

Other

     (26,788     (12,643
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Cash Used By Investing Activities

     (310,640     (209,301
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Additions to senior long-term debt and other debt

     295,352        30,697   

Repayments of senior long-term debt and other debt

     (53,038     (1,549

Repurchases of common stock

     (13,492     (24,251

Purchase of noncontrolling interest

     0        (3,001

Other

     (1,017     (11,294
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Cash Provided (Used) By Financing Activities

     227,805        (9,398
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     5,187        (8,686
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     22,695        (163,819

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     745,259        850,494   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 767,954      $ 686,675   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation

Markel Corporation is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. Markel Corporation’s principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products and programs. Markel Corporation also owns interests in various businesses that operate outside of the specialty insurance marketplace.

The consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2011, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss) for the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated statements of changes in equity and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for fair presentation of such consolidated financial statements have been included. Such adjustments consist only of normal, recurring items. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 was derived from Markel Corporation’s audited annual consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of Markel Corporation and all subsidiaries (the Company). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company consolidates the results of its non-insurance subsidiaries on a one-month lag. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements and notes are presented as permitted by Form 10-Q and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes. Readers are urged to review the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete description of the Company’s business and accounting policies.

ParkLand Ventures, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, has formed subsidiaries for the purpose of acquiring and financing real estate. The assets of these subsidiaries, which are not material to the Company, are consolidated in accordance with U.S. GAAP but are not available to satisfy the debt and other obligations of the Company or any other affiliates.

 

7


Table of Contents

2. Net Income per Share

Net income per share was determined by dividing net income to shareholders by the applicable weighted average shares outstanding.

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   2011      2010      2011      2010  

Net income to shareholders

   $ 30,314       $ 20,831       $ 38,586       $ 63,400   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic common shares outstanding

     9,717         9,794         9,720         9,803   

Dilutive potential common shares

     40         13         40         11   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted shares outstanding

     9,757         9,807         9,760         9,814   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic net income per share

   $ 3.12       $ 2.13       $ 3.97       $ 6.47   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share

   $ 3.11       $ 2.12       $ 3.95       $ 6.46   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

3. Reinsurance

The following tables summarize the effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned.

 

     Quarter Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  
     Written     Earned     Written     Earned  

Direct

   $ 508,006      $ 461,962      $ 448,302      $ 415,553   

Assumed

     89,187        87,323        68,052        57,599   

Ceded

     (66,505     (59,084     (62,125     (56,464
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums

   $ 530,688      $ 490,201      $ 454,229      $ 416,688   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Six Months Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  
     Written     Earned     Written     Earned  

Direct

   $ 981,216      $ 908,100      $ 857,693      $ 820,023   

Assumed

     206,760        168,773        148,845        109,397   

Ceded

     (138,276     (123,561     (105,807     (100,597
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net premiums

   $ 1,049,700      $ 953,312      $ 900,731      $ 828,823   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses were net of reinsurance recoverables (ceded incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses) of $45.3 million and $55.9 million, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 and $93.8 million and $63.8 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. The six months ended June 30, 2011 included $29.7 million of estimated reinsurance recoverables related to losses on catastrophes and $27.1 million of estimated reinsurance recoverables related to two large losses in the Marine and Energy division of the London Insurance Market segment. The six months ended June 30, 2010 included $43.2 million of estimated reinsurance recoverables related to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion.

 

8


Table of Contents

4. Investments

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

 

     June 30, 2011  

(dollars in thousands)

   Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized

Holding
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized

Holding
Losses
    Unrealized
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 

Fixed maturities:

            

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies

   $ 274,410       $ 20,309       $ 0      $ 0      $ 294,719   

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

     2,755,487         96,929         (6,497     0        2,845,919   

Foreign governments

     692,378         31,056         (2,301     0        721,133   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     401,462         26,167         (1,231     (6,060     420,338   

Asset-backed securities

     17,531         892         (4     0        18,419   

Public utilities

     71,914         5,836         0        0        77,750   

All other corporate bonds

     1,027,970         80,816         (284     (6,959     1,101,543   
                                          

Total fixed maturities

     5,241,152         262,005         (10,317     (13,019     5,479,821   

Equity securities:

            

Insurance companies, banks and trusts

     386,419         329,159         (3,098     0        712,480   

Industrial, consumer and all other

     671,999         453,783         (1,043     0        1,124,739   
                                          

Total equity securities

     1,058,418         782,942         (4,141     0        1,837,219   

Short-term investments

     600,336         27         (2     0        600,361   
                                          

Investments, available-for-sale

   $ 6,899,906       $ 1,044,974       $ (14,460   $ (13,019   $ 7,917,401   
                                          
     December 31, 2010  

(dollars in thousands)

   Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses
    Unrealized
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
 

Fixed maturities:

            

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies

   $ 300,555       $ 20,832       $ (49   $ 0      $ 321,338   

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

     2,767,169         61,620         (29,450     0        2,799,339   

Foreign governments

     550,755         24,662         (2,599     0        572,818   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     409,415         29,664         (1,738     (11,778     425,563   

Asset-backed securities

     21,704         1,052         0        0        22,756   

Public utilities

     95,770         6,674         0        0        102,444   

Convertible bonds

     16,725         0         0        0        16,725   

All other corporate bonds

     1,094,887         83,752         (603     (7,793     1,170,243   
                                          

Total fixed maturities

     5,256,980         228,256         (34,439     (19,571     5,431,226   

Equity securities:

            

Insurance companies, banks and trusts

     388,848         323,634         (1,496     0        710,986   

Industrial, consumer and all other

     607,240         404,444         (699     0        1,010,985   
                                          

Total equity securities

     996,088         728,078         (2,195     0        1,721,971   

Short-term investments

     325,336         4         0        0        325,340   
                                          

Investments, available-for-sale

   $ 6,578,404       $ 956,338       $ (36,634   $ (19,571   $ 7,478,537   
                                          

 

9


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

 

     June 30, 2011  
     Less than 12 months     12 months or longer     Total  

(dollars in thousands)

   Estimated
Fair
Value
     Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
     Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
     Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
 

Fixed maturities:

               

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies

   $ 0       $ 0      $ 0       $ 0      $ 0       $ 0   

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

     377,442         (4,924     22,269         (1,573     399,711         (6,497

Foreign governments

     101,128         (2,234     5,317         (67     106,445         (2,301

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     18,532         (6,758     2,742         (533     21,274         (7,291

Asset-backed securities

     169         (4     0         0        169         (4

All other corporate bonds

     4,901         (6,965     10,098         (278     14,999         (7,243
                                                   

Total fixed maturities

     502,172         (20,885     40,426         (2,451     542,598         (23,336

Equity securities:

               

Insurance companies, banks and trusts

     48,521         (3,098     0         0        48,521         (3,098

Industrial, consumer and all other

     8,611         (203     11,717         (840     20,328         (1,043
                                                   

Total equity securities

     57,132         (3,301     11,717         (840     68,849         (4,141

Short-term investments

     117,961         (2     0         0        117,961         (2
                                                   

Total

   $ 677,265       $ (24,188   $ 52,143       $ (3,291   $ 729,408       $ (27,479
                                                   

At June 30, 2011, the Company held 180 securities with a total estimated fair value of $729.4 million and gross unrealized losses of $27.5 million. Of these 180 securities, 14 securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than one year and had a total estimated fair value of $52.1 million and gross unrealized losses of $3.3 million. Of these securities, 13 were fixed maturities and one was an equity security. The Company does not intend to sell or believe it will be required to sell these fixed maturities before recovery of their amortized cost.

 

10


Table of Contents
     December 31, 2010  
     Less than 12 months     12 months or longer     Total  

(dollars in thousands)

   Estimated
Fair
Value
     Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairment
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
     Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-

Temporary
Impairment
Losses
    Estimated
Fair
Value
     Gross
Unrealized
Holding and
Other-Than-

Temporary
Impairment
Losses
 

Fixed maturities:

               

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies

   $ 23,574       $ (49   $ 0       $ 0      $ 23,574       $ (49

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

     942,935         (27,463     22,468         (1,987     965,403         (29,450

Foreign governments

     119,211         (2,440     4,955         (159     124,166         (2,599

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     20,972         (10,822     10,534         (2,694     31,506         (13,516

All other corporate bonds

     15,294         (7,921     15,966         (475     31,260         (8,396
                                                   

Total fixed maturities

     1,121,986         (48,695     53,923         (5,315     1,175,909         (54,010

Equity securities:

               

Insurance companies, banks and trusts

     22,750         (1,496     0         0        22,750         (1,496

Industrial, consumer and all other

     16,712         (699     0         0        16,712         (699
                                                   

Total equity securities

     39,462         (2,195     0         0        39,462         (2,195
                                                   

Total

   $ 1,161,448       $ (50,890   $ 53,923       $ (5,315   $ 1,215,371       $ (56,205
                                                   

At December 31, 2010, the Company held 363 securities with a total estimated fair value of $1.2 billion and gross unrealized losses of $56.2 million. Of these 363 securities, 19 securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than one year and had a total estimated fair value of $53.9 million and gross unrealized losses of $5.3 million. All 19 securities were fixed maturities.

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

For equity securities, a decline in fair value that is considered to be other-than-temporary is recognized in net income based on the fair value of the security at the time of assessment, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. For fixed maturities where the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, a decline in fair value is considered to be other-than-temporary and is recognized in net income based on the fair value of the security at the time of assessment, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. If the decline in fair value of a fixed

 

11


Table of Contents

maturity below its amortized cost is considered to be other-than-temporary based upon other considerations, the Company compares the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected to the amortized cost of the security. The extent to which the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost of the security represents the credit-related portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, which is recognized in net income, resulting in a new cost basis for the security. Any remaining decline in fair value represents the non-credit portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. The discount rate used to calculate the estimated present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is the effective interest rate implicit for the security at the date of purchase.

When assessing whether it intends to sell a fixed maturity or if it is likely to be required to sell a fixed maturity before recovery of its amortized cost, the Company evaluates facts and circumstances including, but not limited to, decisions to reposition the investment portfolio, potential sales of investments to meet cash flow needs and potential sales of investments to capitalize on favorable pricing. Additional information on the methodology and significant inputs, by security type, that the Company used to determine the amount of credit loss recognized on fixed maturities with declines in fair value below amortized cost that were considered to be other-than-temporary is provided below.

Residential mortgage-backed securities. For mortgage-backed securities, credit impairment is assessed by estimating future cash flows from the underlying mortgage loans and interest payments. The cash flow estimate incorporates actual cash flows from the mortgage-backed securities through the current period and then projects the remaining cash flows using a number of assumptions, including prepayment rates, default rates, recovery rates on foreclosed properties and loss severity assumptions. Management develops specific assumptions using market data and internal estimates, as well as estimates from rating agencies and other third party sources. Default rates are estimated by considering current underlying mortgage loan performance and expectations of future performance. Estimates of future cash flows are discounted to present value. If the present value of expected cash flows is less than the amortized cost, the Company recognizes the estimated credit loss in net income.

Corporate bonds. For corporate bonds, credit impairment is assessed by evaluating the underlying issuer. As part of this assessment, the Company analyzes various factors, including the following:

 

 

fundamentals of the issuer, including current and projected earnings, current liquidity position and ability to raise capital;

 

 

fundamentals of the industry in which the issuer operates;

 

 

expectations of defaults and recovery rates;

 

 

changes in ratings by rating agencies;

 

 

other relevant market considerations; and

 

 

receipt of interest payments

Default probabilities and recovery rates from rating agencies are key factors used in calculating the credit loss. Additional research of the industry and issuer is completed to determine if there is any current information that may affect the fixed maturity or its issuer in a negative manner and require an adjustment to the cash flow assumptions.

 

12


Table of Contents

c) The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturities at June 30, 2011 are shown below by contractual maturity.

 

(dollars in thousands)

   Amortized
Cost
     Estimated
Fair Value
 

Due in one year or less

   $ 194,538       $ 198,352   

Due after one year through five years

     1,227,571         1,308,237   

Due after five years through ten years

     1,743,242         1,837,935   

Due after ten years

     1,656,808         1,696,540   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     4,822,159         5,041,064   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     401,462         420,338   

Asset-backed securities

     17,531         18,419   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

   $ 5,241,152       $ 5,479,821   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

d) The following tables summarize the activity for credit losses recognized in net income on fixed maturities where other-than-temporary impairment was identified and a portion of the other-than-temporary impairment was included in other comprehensive income (loss).

 

     Quarter Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  

Cumulative credit loss, beginning balance

   $ 10,307      $ 10,231   

Additions:

    

Other-than-temporary impairment losses not previously recognized

     0        0   

Increases related to other-than-temporary impairment losses previously recognized

     4,875        76   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total additions

     4,875        76   

Reductions:

    

Sales of fixed maturities on which credit losses were recognized

     (15     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cumulative credit loss, ending balance

   $ 15,167      $ 10,307   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
  
  
     Six Months Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  

Cumulative credit loss, beginning balance

   $ 10,307      $ 9,141   

Additions:

    

Other-than-temporary impairment losses not previously recognized

     0        0   

Increases related to other-than-temporary impairment losses previously recognized

     4,875        1,185   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total additions

     4,875        1,185   

Reductions:

    

Sales of fixed maturities on which credit losses were recognized

     (15     (19
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cumulative credit loss, ending balance

   $ 15,167      $ 10,307   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

13


Table of Contents

e) The following tables present net realized investment gains (losses) and the change in net unrealized gains on investments.

 

     Quarter Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  

Realized gains:

    

Sales of fixed maturities

   $ 2,877      $ 6,529   

Sales of equity securities

     3,747        1,965   

Other

     94        0   
                

Total realized gains

     6,718        8,494   
                

Realized losses:

    

Sales of fixed maturities

     (499     (92

Other-than-temporary impairments

     (4,875     (3,913

Other

     0        (6,918
                

Total realized losses

     (5,374     (10,923
                

Net realized investment gains (losses)

   $ 1,344      $ (2,429
                

Change in net unrealized gains on investments:

    

Fixed maturities

   $ 80,819      $ 65,232   

Equity securities

     16,061        (149,665

Short-term investments

     18        19   
                

Net increase (decrease)

   $ 96,898      $ (84,414
                
     Six Months Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  

Realized gains:

    

Sales of fixed maturities

   $ 10,858      $ 13,461   

Sales of equity securities

     5,818        12,263   

Other

     1,519        1,966   
                

Total realized gains

     18,195        27,690   
                

Realized losses:

    

Sales of fixed maturities

     (736     (650

Other-than-temporary impairments

     (4,875     (6,264

Other

     0        (7,462
                

Total realized losses

     (5,611     (14,376
                

Net realized investment gains

   $ 12,584      $ 13,314   
                

Change in net unrealized gains on investments:

    

Fixed maturities

   $ 64,423      $ 102,143   

Equity securities

     52,918        (41,263

Short-term investments

     21        3   
                

Net increase

   $ 117,362      $ 60,883   
                

 

14


Table of Contents

f) The following tables present other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in net income and included in net realized investment gains (losses) by investment type.

 

     Quarter Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  

Fixed maturities:

    

Residential mortgage-backed securities

   $ (4,875   $ (76
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

     (4,875     (76

Equity securities:

    

Insurance companies, banks and trusts

     0        (2,872

Industrial, consumer and all other

     0        (965
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     0        (3,837
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (4,875   $ (3,913
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Six Months Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  

Fixed maturities:

    

Residential mortgage-backed securities

   $ (4,875   $ (1,185
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed maturities

     (4,875     (1,185

Equity securities:

    

Insurance companies, banks and trusts

     0        (2,872

Industrial, consumer and all other

     0        (965
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities

     0        (3,837
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other

     0        (1,242
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (4,875   $ (6,264
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

5. Senior Long-Term Debt

On June 1, 2011, the Company issued $250 million of 5.35% unsecured senior notes due June 1, 2021. Net proceeds to the Company were $247.9 million, which will be used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions. In addition, proceeds may be used to repay other of the Company’s outstanding debt.

 

 

15


Table of Contents

6. Segment Reporting Disclosures

The Company operates in three segments of the specialty insurance marketplace: the Excess and Surplus Lines, the Specialty Admitted and the London markets. The Company considers many factors, including the nature of its insurance products, production sources, distribution strategies and regulatory environment in determining how to aggregate operating segments.

All investing activities related to our insurance operations are included in the Investing segment. For purposes of segment reporting, the Other Insurance (Discontinued Lines) segment includes lines of business that have been discontinued in conjunction with acquisitions. The Company’s non-insurance operations primarily consist of controlling interests in various businesses. For purposes of segment reporting, the Company’s non-insurance operations are not considered to be a reportable operating segment.

Segment profit or loss for each of the Company’s operating segments is measured by underwriting profit or loss. The property and casualty insurance industry commonly defines underwriting profit or loss as earned premiums net of losses and loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses. Underwriting profit or loss does not replace operating income or net income computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP as a measure of profitability. Underwriting profit or loss provides a basis for management to evaluate the Company’s underwriting performance. Segment profit for the Investing segment is measured by net investment income and net realized investment gains or losses.

For management reporting purposes, the Company allocates assets to its underwriting, investing and non-insurance operations. Underwriting assets are all assets not specifically allocated to the Investing segment or to the Company’s non-insurance operations. Underwriting assets are not allocated to the Excess and Surplus Lines, Specialty Admitted, London Insurance Market or Other Insurance (Discontinued Lines) segments since the Company does not manage its assets by operating segment. Invested assets related to our insurance operations are allocated to the Investing segment since these assets are available for payment of losses and expenses for all operating segments. The Company does not allocate capital expenditures for long-lived assets to any of its operating segments for management reporting purposes.

 

16


Table of Contents

a) The following tables summarize the Company’s segment disclosures.

 

Quarter Ended June 30, 2011

                    

(dollars in thousands)

   Excess and
Surplus Lines
    Specialty
Admitted
    London
Insurance
Market
    Other
Insurance
(Discontinued
Lines)
    Investing      Consolidated  

Gross premium volume

   $ 225,979      $ 143,530      $ 227,682      $ 2      $ 0       $ 597,193   

Net written premiums

     194,048        136,292        200,472        (124     0         530,688   

Earned premiums

     187,206        131,364        171,754        (123     0         490,201   

Losses and loss adjustment expenses:

             

Current year

     (142,550     (94,324     (146,546     0        0         (383,420

Prior years

     52,649        1,771        22,605        (288     0         76,737   

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

     (82,932     (47,789     (65,835     (289     0         (196,845
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)

     14,373        (8,978     (18,022     (700     0         (13,327
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income

     0        0        0        0        64,253         64,253   

Net realized investment gains

     0        0        0        0        1,344         1,344   

Other revenues (insurance)

     0        12,375        0        0        0         12,375   

Other expenses (insurance)

     0        (12,588     (39     0        0         (12,627
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Segment profit (loss)

   $ 14,373      $ (9,191   $ (18,061   $ (700   $ 65,597       $ 52,018   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other revenues (non-insurance)

                78,995   

Other expenses (non-insurance)

                (66,846

Amortization of intangible assets

                (5,555

Interest expense

                (21,898
             

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

              $ 36,714   
             

 

 

 

U.S. GAAP combined ratio(1)

     92     107     110     NM (2)         103
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended June 30, 2010

                   

(dollars in thousands)

   Excess and
Surplus Lines
    Specialty
Admitted
    London
Insurance
Market
    Other
Insurance
(Discontinued
Lines)
    Investing     Consolidated  

Gross premium volume

   $ 242,644      $ 86,513      $ 187,154      $ 43      $ 0      $ 516,354   

Net written premiums

     217,207        80,565        156,416        41        0        454,229   

Earned premiums

     210,270        75,563        130,814        41        0        416,688   

Losses and loss adjustment expenses:

            

Current year

     (137,223     (46,155     (104,474     0        0        (287,852

Prior years

     26,510        4,576        10,128        (4,597     0        36,617   

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

     (91,576     (32,068     (55,548     86        0        (179,106
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underwriting profit (loss)

     7,981        1,916        (19,080     (4,470     0        (13,653
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

     0        0        0        0        64,384        64,384   

Net realized investment losses

     0        0        0        0        (2,429     (2,429

Other revenues (insurance)

     0        0        1,724        0        0        1,724   

Other expenses (insurance)

     0        0        (1,878     0        0        (1,878
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment profit (loss)

   $ 7,981      $ 1,916      $ (19,234   $ (4,470   $ 61,955      $ 48,148   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other revenues (non-insurance)

               35,047   

Other expenses (non-insurance)

               (31,091

Amortization of intangible assets

               (3,856

Interest expense

               (18,334
            

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

             $ 29,914   
            

 

 

 

U.S. GAAP combined ratio(1)

     96     97     115     NM (2)        103
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1) 

The U.S. GAAP combined ratio is a measure of underwriting performance and represents the relationship of incurred losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses to earned premiums.

(2)

NM – Ratio is not meaningful.

 

17


Table of Contents

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

                    

(dollars in thousands)

   Excess and
Surplus Lines
    Specialty
Admitted
    London
Insurance
Market
    Other
Insurance
(Discontinued
Lines)
    Investing      Consolidated  

Gross premium volume

   $ 427,350      $ 277,851      $ 482,683      $ 92      $ 0       $ 1,187,976   

Net written premiums

     369,585        263,531        416,611        (27     0         1,049,700   

Earned premiums

     368,263        253,840        331,237        (28     0         953,312   

Losses and loss adjustment expenses:

             

Current year

     (265,057     (172,794     (334,422     0        0         (772,273

Prior years

     109,441        1,969        35,239        4,613        0         151,262   

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

     (168,852     (97,262     (132,560     (521     0         (399,195
                                                 

Underwriting profit (loss)

     43,795        (14,247     (100,506     4,064        0         (66,894
                                                 

Net investment income

     0        0        0        0        134,352         134,352   

Net realized investment gains

     0        0        0        0        12,584         12,584   

Other revenues (insurance)

     0        21,561        0        0        0         21,561   

Other expenses (insurance)

     0        (24,328     (47     0        0         (24,375
                                                 

Segment profit (loss)

   $ 43,795      $ (17,014   $ (100,553   $ 4,064      $ 146,936       $ 77,228   
                                                 

Other revenues (non-insurance)

                146,953   

Other expenses (non-insurance)

                (123,593

Amortization of intangible assets

                (11,563

Interest expense

                (40,860
                   

Income before income taxes

              $ 48,165   
                   

U.S. GAAP combined ratio(1)

     88     106     130     NM (2)          107
                                           

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2010

                    

(dollars in thousands)

   Excess and
Surplus Lines
    Specialty
Admitted
    London
Insurance
Market
    Other
Insurance
(Discontinued
Lines)
    Investing      Consolidated  

Gross premium volume

   $ 454,327      $ 156,846      $ 395,322      $ 43      $ 0       $ 1,006,538   

Net written premiums

     410,536        143,678        346,474        43        0         900,731   

Earned premiums

     414,165        147,604        267,011        43        0         828,823   

Losses and loss adjustment expenses:

             

Current year

     (277,495     (91,800     (217,188     0        0         (586,483

Prior years

     50,712        914        25,883        (2,431     0         75,078   

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

     (170,540     (58,157     (107,089     12        0         (335,774
                                                 

Underwriting profit (loss)

     16,842        (1,439     (31,383     (2,376     0         (18,356
                                                 

Net investment income

     0        0        0        0        132,786         132,786   

Net realized investment gains

     0        0        0        0        13,314         13,314   

Other revenues (insurance)

     0        0        4,915        0        0         4,915   

Other expenses (insurance)

     0        0        (4,864     0        0         (4,864
                                                 

Segment profit (loss)

   $ 16,842      $ (1,439   $ (31,332   $ (2,376   $ 146,100       $ 127,795   
                                                 

Other revenues (non-insurance)

                72,295   

Other expenses (non-insurance)

                (63,502

Amortization of intangible assets

                (7,814

Interest expense

                (36,293
                   

Income before income taxes

              $ 92,481   
                   

U.S. GAAP combined ratio(1)

     96     101     112     NM (2)          102
                                           

 

(1) 

The U.S. GAAP combined ratio is a measure of underwriting performance and represents the relationship of incurred losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses to earned premiums.

(2)

NM – Ratio is not meaningful.

 

18


Table of Contents

b) The following table reconciles segment assets to the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

(dollars in thousands)

   June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Segment Assets:

     

Investing

   $ 8,672,530       $ 8,198,401   

Underwriting

     2,353,467         2,273,621   
                 

Total Segment Assets

   $ 11,025,997       $ 10,472,022   
                 

Non-insurance operations

     438,540         353,567   
                 

Total Assets

   $ 11,464,537       $ 10,825,589   
                 

7. Derivatives

The Company is a party to a credit default swap agreement, under which third party credit risk is transferred from a counterparty to the Company. The Company entered into the credit default swap agreement for investment purposes. At both June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the notional amount of the credit default swap was $33.1 million, which represented the Company’s aggregate exposure to losses if specified credit events involving third party reference entities occur. These third party reference entities are specified under the terms of the agreement and represent a portfolio of names upon which the Company has assumed credit risk from the counterparty. The Company’s exposure to loss from any one reference entity is limited to $20.0 million. The credit default swap has a scheduled termination date of December 2014.

The credit default swap is accounted for as a derivative instrument and is recorded at fair value with any changes in fair value recorded in net investment income. At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the credit default swap had a fair value of $24.6 million and $25.2 million, respectively. The fair value of the credit default swap is determined by the Company using an external valuation model that is dependent upon several inputs, including changes in interest rates, credit spreads, expected default rates, changes in credit quality, future expected recovery rates and other market factors. The fair value of the credit default swap is included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. For the quarter ended June 30, 2011, net investment income included an adverse change in the credit default swap of $1.0 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, net investment income included a favorable change in the credit default swap of $0.6 million. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010, net investment income included an adverse change in the fair value of the credit default swap of $1.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

The Company had no other material derivative instruments at June 30, 2011.

8. Employee Benefit Plans

a) Expenses relating to the Company’s defined contribution plans were $4.1 million and $8.5 million, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 and $3.3 million and $6.6 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2010.

 

 

19


Table of Contents

b) The following table presents the components of net periodic benefit cost for the Terra Nova Pension Plan, a defined benefit plan.

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June  30,
 

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Service cost

   $ 346      $ 300      $ 683      $ 611   

Interest cost

     1,811        1,648        3,579        3,362   

Expected return on plan assets

     (2,504     (2,092     (4,947     (4,267

Amortization of net actuarial pension loss

     486        467        960        953   
                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 139      $ 323      $ 275      $ 659   
                                

The Company contributed $6.2 million to the Terra Nova Pension Plan during the six months ended June 30, 2011. The Company expects plan contributions to total $6.8 million in 2011.

9. Contingencies

Contingencies arise in the normal conduct of the Company’s operations and are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

10. Fair Value Measurements

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a three-level hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). If the inputs used to measure the assets or liabilities fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability. Classification of assets and liabilities within the hierarchy considers the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability and transparency of the assumptions used to determine fair value. The hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. The levels of the hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets.

Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and market-corroborated inputs.

Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable for the asset or liability and are significant to the fair value measurement.

In accordance with FASB ASC 820, the Company determines fair value based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company uses various methods, including the market, income and cost approaches. The Company uses valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The following section describes the valuation methodologies used by the Company to measure assets and liabilities at fair value, including an indication of the level within the fair value hierarchy in which each asset or liability is generally classified.

 

20


Table of Contents

Investments available-for-sale. Investments available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and include fixed maturities, equity securities and short-term investments. Short-term investments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, discount notes and treasury bills with original maturities of one year or less. Fair value for investments available-for-sale is determined by the Company after considering various sources of information, including information provided by a third party pricing service. The pricing service provides prices for substantially all of the Company’s fixed maturities and equity securities. In determining fair value, the Company generally does not adjust the prices obtained from the pricing service. The Company obtains an understanding of the pricing service’s valuation methodologies and related inputs, which include, but are not limited to, reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids, offers, duration, credit ratings, estimated cash flows and prepayment speeds. The Company validates prices provided by the pricing service by reviewing prices from other pricing sources and analyzing pricing data in certain instances.

The Company has evaluated the various types of securities in its investment portfolio to determine an appropriate fair value hierarchy level based upon trading activity and the observability of market inputs. Level 1 investments include those traded on an active exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange. Level 2 investments include U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies, municipal bonds, foreign government bonds, residential mortgage-backed securities and corporate debt securities.

Fair value for investments available-for-sale is measured based upon quoted prices in active markets, if available. Due to variations in trading volumes and the lack of quoted market prices, fixed maturities are classified as Level 2 investments. The fair value of fixed maturities is normally derived through recent reported trades for identical or similar securities, making adjustments through the reporting date based upon available market observable data described above. If there are no recent reported trades, the fair value of fixed maturities may be derived through the use of matrix pricing or model processes, where future cash flow expectations are developed based upon collateral performance and discounted at an estimated market rate. Significant inputs used to determine the fair value of obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions, corporate bonds and obligations of foreign governments include reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids, offers, credit information and estimated cash flows. Significant inputs used to determine the fair value of residential mortgage-backed securities include the type of underlying mortgage loans, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral information, tranche type and volatility, estimated cash flows, credit information, default rates, recovery rates, issuer spreads and the year of issue.

Derivatives. Derivatives are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and include a credit default swap. The fair value of the credit default swap is measured by the Company using a third party pricing model. See note 7 for a discussion of the valuation model for the credit default swap, including the key inputs and assumptions to the model. Due to the significance of unobservable inputs required in measuring the fair value of the credit default swap, the credit default swap has been classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

21


Table of Contents

The following tables present the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy.

 

     June 30, 2011  

(dollars in thousands)

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Investments available-for-sale:

           

Fixed maturities:

           

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies

   $ 0       $ 294,719       $ 0       $ 294,719   

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

     0         2,845,919         0         2,845,919   

Foreign governments

     0         721,133         0         721,133   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     0         420,338         0         420,338   

Asset-backed securities

     0         18,419         0         18,419   

Public utilities

     0         77,750         0         77,750   

All other corporate bonds

     0         1,101,543         0         1,101,543   
                                   

Total fixed maturities

     0         5,479,821         0         5,479,821   
                                   

Equity securities:

           

Insurance companies, banks and trusts

     712,480         0         0         712,480   

Industrial, consumer and all other

     1,124,739         0         0         1,124,739   
                                   

Total equity securities

     1,837,219         0         0         1,837,219   
                                   

Short-term investments

     536,172         64,189         0         600,361   
                                   

Total investments available-for-sale

     2,373,391         5,544,010         0         7,917,401   
                                   

Liabilities:

           

Derivative contracts

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 24,596       $ 24,596   
                                   

 

     December 31, 2010  

(dollars in thousands)

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Investments available-for-sale:

           

Fixed maturities:

           

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies

   $ 0       $ 321,338       $ 0       $ 321,338   

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

     0         2,799,339         0         2,799,339   

Foreign governments

     0         572,818         0         572,818   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     0         425,563         0         425,563   

Asset-backed securities

     0         22,756         0         22,756   

Public utilities

     0         102,444         0         102,444   

Convertible bonds

     0         16,725         0         16,725   

All other corporate bonds

     0         1,170,243         0         1,170,243   
                                   

Total fixed maturities

     0         5,431,226         0         5,431,226   
                                   

Equity securities:

           

Insurance companies, banks and trusts

     710,986         0         0         710,986   

Industrial, consumer and all other

     1,010,985         0         0         1,010,985   
                                   

Total equity securities

     1,721,971         0         0         1,721,971   
                                   

Short-term investments

     269,466         55,874         0         325,340   
                                   

Total investments available-for-sale

     1,991,437         5,487,100         0         7,478,537   
                                   

Liabilities:

           

Derivative contracts

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 25,228       $ 25,228   
                                   

 

 

22


Table of Contents

The following tables summarize changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

     Quarter Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  

Derivatives, Beginning of Period

   $ 23,567      $ 26,625   

Total losses included in:

    

Net income

     1,029        1,772   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     0        0   

Transfers into Level 3

     0        0   

Transfers out of Level 3

     0        0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Derivatives, End of Period

   $ 24,596      $ 28,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses included in net income relating to liabilities held at June 30, 2011 and 2010

   $ 1,029 (1)    $ 1,772 (1) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  

Derivatives, Beginning of Period

   $ 25,228      $ 26,968   

Total (gains) losses included in:

    

Net income

     (632     1,429   

Other comprehensive income

     0        0   

Transfers into Level 3

     0        0   

Transfers out of Level 3

     0        0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Derivatives, End of Period

   $ 24,596      $ 28,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net unrealized (gains) losses included in net income relating to liabilities held at June 30, 2011 and 2010

   $ (632 )(1)    $ 1,429 (1) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(1)      Included in net investment income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss).

           

There were no transfers into or out of Level 1 and Level 2 during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. The Company did not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010.

11. Acquisitions

On December 15, 2010, the Company acquired a 60% controlling interest in RD Holdings, LLC (RetailData), a privately held company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia that provides retail intelligence services. On December 23, 2010, the Company acquired a 75% controlling interest in Diamond Healthcare Corporation (Diamond Healthcare), a privately held company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia that manages behavioral health programs throughout the United States. Under the terms of the acquisition agreements, the Company has the option to acquire the remaining equity interests in RetailData and Diamond Healthcare in the future. Any additional consideration for the remaining equity interests would be based on the future earnings of these companies.

Total consideration for these two acquisitions was $92.4 million. Since the Company consolidates its non-insurance operations on a one-month lag, the purchase price allocation for RetailData and Diamond Healthcare was completed in the first quarter of 2011. The purchase price was allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities of RetailData and Diamond Healthcare based on estimated fair value at the acquisition date. The Company recognized goodwill of $75.0 million, other intangible assets of $58.3 million and noncontrolling interests of $47.3 million in connection with the two acquisitions. At December 31, 2010, amounts related to the consideration paid to acquire RetailData and Diamond Healthcare were included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

23


Table of Contents

12. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-26, Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts, to address diversity in practice within the insurance industry regarding the interpretation of which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral. This guidance modifies the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance companies that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new or renewal contracts. This guidance specifies that a cost must be directly related to the successful acquisition of a new or renewal insurance contract in order to be capitalized. ASU No. 2010-26 becomes effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2012, and would allow, but not require, retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating ASU No. 2010-26 to determine the impact that adopting this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of Markel Corporation and all subsidiaries.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that both are important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require us to exercise significant judgment. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of material contingent assets and liabilities, including litigation contingencies. These estimates, by necessity, are based on assumptions about numerous factors.

We review our critical accounting estimates and assumptions quarterly. These reviews include evaluating the adequacy of reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, the reinsurance allowance for doubtful accounts and income tax liabilities, as well as analyzing the recoverability of deferred tax assets, assessing goodwill and intangible assets for impairment and evaluating the investment portfolio for other-than-temporary declines in estimated fair value. Actual results may differ materially from the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Readers are urged to review our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete description of our critical accounting estimates.

 

24


Table of Contents

Our Business

We are a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. Our principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products and programs. We believe that our specialty product focus and niche market strategy enable us to develop expertise and specialized market knowledge. We seek to differentiate ourselves from competitors by our expertise, service, continuity and other value-based considerations. We compete in three segments of the specialty insurance marketplace: the Excess and Surplus Lines, the Specialty Admitted and the London markets. We also own interests in various businesses that operate outside of the specialty insurance marketplace. Our financial goals are to earn consistent underwriting and operating profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value.

Our Excess and Surplus Lines segment writes property and casualty insurance outside of the standard market for hard-to-place risks including catastrophe-exposed property, professional liability, products liability, general liability, commercial umbrella and other coverages tailored for unique exposures. Our Excess and Surplus Lines segment is comprised of five regions, and each regional office is responsible for serving the wholesale producers located in its region. Our regional teams focus on customer service and marketing, underwriting and distributing our insurance solutions and provide customers easy access to the majority of our products.

Our Specialty Admitted segment writes risks that, although unique and hard-to-place in the standard market, must remain with an admitted insurance company for marketing and regulatory reasons. Our underwriting units in this segment write specialty program insurance for well-defined niche markets, personal and commercial property and liability coverages and workers’ compensation insurance. Our Specialty Admitted segment is comprised of three underwriting units: the Markel Specialty and Markel American Specialty Personal and Commercial Lines units and, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010, our FirstComp workers’ compensation insurance unit, which we acquired in October 2010 through our acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of Aspen Holdings, Inc., a Nebraska-based privately held corporation.

Our London Insurance Market segment writes specialty property, casualty, professional liability, equine, marine, energy and trade credit insurance and reinsurance on a worldwide basis. We participate in the London market through Markel International, which includes Markel Capital Limited and Markel International Insurance Company Limited, wholly-owned subsidiaries. Markel Capital Limited is the corporate capital provider for Markel Syndicate 3000 at Lloyd’s, which is managed by Markel Syndicate Management Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary.

For purposes of segment reporting, the Other Insurance (Discontinued Lines) segment includes lines of business that have been discontinued in conjunction with acquisitions.

Through our wholly-owned subsidiary Markel Ventures, Inc., we own interests in various businesses that operate outside of the specialty insurance marketplace. These businesses are viewed by management as separate and distinct from our insurance operations. Local management teams oversee the day-to-day operations of these companies, while strategic decisions are made in conjunction with members of our executive management team, principally our President and Chief Investment Officer. The financial results of those companies in which we own controlling interests have been consolidated in our financial statements. The financial results of those companies in which we hold a noncontrolling interest are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Our strategy in making these private equity investments is similar to our strategy for purchasing equity securities. We seek to invest in profitable companies, with honest and talented management, that exhibit reinvestment opportunities and capital discipline, at reasonable prices. We intend to own the businesses acquired for a long period of time.

 

25


Table of Contents

Our non-insurance operations are comprised of a diverse portfolio of companies from various industries, including manufacturers of dredging equipment, high-speed bakery equipment, laminated furniture products and food processing equipment, an owner and operator of manufactured housing communities, a real estate investment fund manager, a retail intelligence services company and a company that manages behavioral health programs.

Key Performance Indicators

We measure financial success by our ability to compound growth in book value per share at a high rate of return over a long period of time. To mitigate the effects of short-term volatility, we measure ourselves over a five-year period. We believe that growth in book value per share is the most comprehensive measure of our success because it includes all underwriting and investing results. We measure underwriting results by our underwriting profit or loss and combined ratio. These measures are discussed in greater detail under “Results of Operations.”

Results of Operations

The following table presents the components of net income to shareholders.

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Underwriting loss

   $ (13,327   $ (13,653   $ (66,894   $ (18,356

Net investment income

     64,253        64,384        134,352        132,786   

Net realized investment gains (losses)

     1,344        (2,429     12,584        13,314   

Other revenues

     91,370        36,771        168,514        77,210   

Amortization of intangible assets

     (5,555     (3,856     (11,563     (7,814

Other expenses

     (79,473     (32,969     (147,968     (68,366

Interest expense

     (21,898     (18,334     (40,860     (36,293

Income tax expense

     (5,065     (8,997     (6,655     (28,358

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (1,335     (86     (2,924     (723
                                

Net income to shareholders

   $ 30,314      $ 20,831      $ 38,586      $ 63,400   
                                

Net income to shareholders for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 increased due in part to improved results from our non-insurance operations and having a lower estimated effective tax rate compared to the same period of 2010. Net income to shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2011 decreased primarily due to a deterioration in underwriting results, which resulted from higher losses on catastrophes, compared to the same period of 2010. The components of net income to shareholders are discussed in further detail under “Underwriting Results,” “Investing Results,” “Non-Insurance Operations” and “Interest Expense and Income Taxes.”

Underwriting Results

Underwriting profits are a key component of our strategy to grow book value per share. We believe that the ability to achieve consistent underwriting profits demonstrates knowledge and expertise, commitment to superior customer service and the ability to manage insurance risk. The property and casualty insurance industry commonly defines underwriting profit or loss as earned premiums net of losses and loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses. We use underwriting profit or loss as a basis for evaluating our underwriting performance.

 

26


Table of Contents

The following table presents selected data from our underwriting operations.

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Gross premium volume

   $ 597,193      $ 516,354      $ 1,187,976      $ 1,006,538   

Net written premiums

   $ 530,688      $ 454,229      $ 1,049,700      $ 900,731   

Net retention

     89     88     88     89

Earned premiums

   $ 490,201      $ 416,688      $ 953,312      $ 828,823   

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

   $ 306,683      $ 251,235      $ 621,011      $ 511,405   

Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses

   $ 196,845      $ 179,106      $ 399,195      $ 335,774   

Underwriting loss

   $ (13,327   $ (13,653   $ (66,894   $ (18,356
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

U.S. GAAP Combined Ratios(1)

        

Excess and Surplus Lines

     92     96     88     96

Specialty Admitted

     107     97     106     101

London Insurance Market

     110     115     130     112

Other Insurance (Discontinued Lines)

     NM (2)      NM (2)      NM (2)      NM (2) 

Markel Corporation (Consolidated)

     103     103     107     102

 

(1) 

The U.S. GAAP combined ratio is a measure of underwriting performance and represents the relationship of incurred losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses to earned premiums. A combined ratio less than 100% indicates an underwriting profit, while a combined ratio greater than 100% reflects an underwriting loss.

(2) 

NM – Ratio is not meaningful.

Our combined ratio was 103% and 107%, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to 103% and 102%, respectively, for the same periods in 2010. The combined ratio for the second quarter of 2011 included $30.4 million, or six points, of underwriting loss related to U.S. storms and additional losses from the Japanese earthquake and subsequent tsunami (Japanese catastrophe) that occurred during the first quarter. The combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2011 included $99.0 million, or 10 points, of underwriting loss related to the U.S. storms, Australian floods, New Zealand earthquake and Japanese catastrophe. The combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2010 included $17.0 million, or two points, of underwriting loss related to the Chilean earthquake. Excluding the effects of these catastrophe losses, our combined ratio in both periods of 2011 improved due to more favorable development of prior years’ loss reserves compared to the same periods of 2010.

The combined ratio for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment was 92% and 88%, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to 96% for both periods of 2010. The combined ratio for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 decreased due to greater favorable development of prior years’ loss reserves, which was partially offset by a higher current accident year loss ratio and a higher expense ratio. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, the increase in the current accident year loss ratio was primarily due to $9.8 million, or five points and three points, respectively, of losses from U.S. storms that occurred during the second quarter. The Excess and Surplus Lines segment’s combined ratio for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 included $52.6 million and $109.4 million, respectively, of favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves compared to $26.5 million and $50.7 million of favorable development for the same periods in 2010. The redundancies on prior years’ loss reserves experienced within the Excess and Surplus Lines segment during both periods of 2011 and 2010 were most significant on our

 

27


Table of Contents

professional and products liability programs. The favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010 was partially offset by $20.3 million and $34.1 million, respectively, of adverse development on an errors and omissions program for mortgage servicing companies. In the first quarter of 2011, we resolved a significant portion of our outstanding liabilities associated with this program and, as a result, reduced prior years’ loss reserves by $15.8 million. The higher expense ratio for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 was due in part to a decline in earned premiums.

The combined ratio for the Specialty Admitted segment was 107% and 106%, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to 97% and 101%, respectively for the same periods of 2010. For the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the increase in the combined ratio was due to a higher current accident year loss ratio and less favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves, which were partially offset by a lower expense ratio. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the increase in the combined ratio was primarily due to a higher current accident year loss ratio, which was partially offset by a lower expense ratio. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, the increase in the current accident year loss ratio was due in part to $3.4 million, or three points and one point, respectively, of losses from U.S. storms that occurred during the second quarter. The increase in the current accident year loss ratio for both periods of 2011 was also due in part to the inclusion of our FirstComp workers’ compensation operations in the Specialty Admitted segment. The Specialty Admitted segment’s combined ratio for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 included $1.8 million and $2.0 million, respectively, of favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves compared to $4.6 million and $0.9 million of favorable development for the same periods in 2010. The expense ratio for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 decreased primarily due to the inclusion of our FirstComp workers’ compensation operations, which increased earned premiums in both periods of 2011. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the expense ratio benefitted from a $4.0 million anticipated recovery under our corporate insurance program.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Specialty Admitted segment’s results included our FirstComp workers’ compensation operations. FirstComp produces business for certain of our insurance companies and also acts as a managing general agent producing business for the benefit of unaffiliated insurance companies. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Specialty Admitted segment included a loss of $8.6 million and $15.0 million, respectively, from our FirstComp operations. The workers’ compensation insurance market continues to be adversely impacted by high rates of unemployment, unfavorable economic conditions and a challenging pricing environment.

The combined ratio for the London Insurance Market segment was 110% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to 115% for the same period of 2010. The combined ratio for the second quarter of 2011 included $17.0 million, or 10 points, of underwriting loss related to U.S. storms and additional losses from the Japanese catastrophe that occurred during the first quarter. The London Insurance Market segment’s combined ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 also included $10.0 million, or six points, of underwriting loss related to two large losses in the Marine and Energy division. The combined ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 included $15.7 million, or 12 points, of underwriting loss in the Marine and Energy division related to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion. The London Insurance Market segment’s combined ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 included $22.6 million of favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves compared to $10.1 million of favorable development for the same period of 2010. The loss reserve redundancies for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 were partially offset by $28.8 million of adverse loss reserve development on prior year’s loss reserves in the Professional and Financial Risks division related to medical malpractice coverage for Italian hospitals and professional indemnity coverage for construction professionals in Australia.

 

28


Table of Contents

The combined ratio for the London Insurance Market segment was 130% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to 112% for the same period of 2010. The combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2011 included $84.0 million, or 25 points, of underwriting loss related to the Australian floods, the New Zealand earthquake and the Japanese catastrophe that occurred during the first quarter and the U.S. storms that occurred during the second quarter. The London Insurance Market segment’s combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2011 also included $23.0 million, or seven points, of underwriting loss related to two large losses in the Marine and Energy division. The combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2010 included $17.0 million, or six points, of underwriting loss related to the Chilean earthquake and $15.7 million, or six points, of underwriting loss in the Marine and Energy division related to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion. In both 2010 and 2011, we experienced large losses in the Marine and Energy division where we have increased our premium writings given favorable pricing conditions. The London Insurance Market segment’s combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2011 included $35.2 million of favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves compared to $25.9 million of favorable development for the same period of 2010.

The estimated net losses on the catastrophes that occurred during the first six months of 2011 represent our best estimate of losses based upon the most current information available. We have used various loss estimation techniques to develop these reserves, including reviews of modeled loss estimates that factor in third party industry loss estimates, detailed policy level reviews and direct contact with insureds and brokers. However, reported losses and information on potential losses have come in slowly given the magnitude of each of these losses. Due to the uncertainty associated with these events, we believe our loss estimates may have a high degree of volatility. While we believe our reserves for the catastrophes experienced during the first six months of 2011 are adequate, we continue to closely monitor reported claims and will adjust our estimates of gross and net losses as new information becomes available.

The following tables summarize, by segment, the impact of significant losses, including catastrophes, on our underwriting profit (loss).

 

Quarter Ended June 30, 2011  

(dollars in millions)

   Excess and
Surplus
Lines
     Specialty
Admitted
     London
Insurance
Market
     Consolidated  

Net losses on catastrophes:

           

U.S. storms

   $ 9.8       $ 3.4       $ 10.0       $ 23.2   

Japanese earthquake and tsunami

     —           0.2         6.6         6.8   

Additional reinsurance costs(1)

     —           —           0.4         0.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     9.8         3.6         17.0         30.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other significant net losses:

           

Marine and energy

     —           —           7.5         7.5   

Additional reinsurance costs(1)

     —           —           2.5         2.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     —           —           10.0         10.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 9.8       $ 3.6       $ 27.0       $ 40.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011  

(dollars in millions)

   Excess and
Surplus
Lines
     Specialty
Admitted
     London
Insurance
Market
     Consolidated  

Net losses on catastrophes:

           

Japanese earthquake and tsunami

   $ 1.2       $ 0.6       $ 38.2       $ 40.0   

U.S. storms

     9.8         3.4         10.0         23.2   

New Zealand earthquake

     —           —           21.0         21.0   

Australian floods

     —           —           11.0         11.0   

Additional reinsurance costs(1)

     —           —           3.8         3.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     11.0         4.0         84.0         99.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other significant net losses:

           

Marine and energy

     —           —           15.0         15.0   

Additional reinsurance costs(1)

     —           —           8.0         8.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     —           —           23.0         23.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 11.0       $ 4.0       $ 107.0       $ 122.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Additional reinsurance costs decreased both net written and net earned premiums and relate to reinstatement premiums on reinsurance treaties.

 

29


Table of Contents

The Other Insurance (Discontinued Lines) segment produced an underwriting loss of $0.7 million and an underwriting profit of $4.1 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to underwriting losses of $4.5 million and $2.4 million for the same periods of 2010.

Premiums and Net Retentions

The following tables summarize gross premium volume, net written premiums and earned premiums by segment.

 

Gross Premium Volume  
Quarter Ended June 30,     

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  
2011      2010     

(dollars in thousands)

   2011      2010  
$ 225,979       $ 242,644       Excess and Surplus Lines    $ 427,350       $ 454,327   
  143,530         86,513       Specialty Admitted      277,851         156,846   
  227,682         187,154       London Insurance Market      482,683         395,322   
  2         43       Other Insurance (Discontinued Lines)      92         43   

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
$ 597,193       $ 516,354       Total    $ 1,187,976       $ 1,006,538   

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross premium volume for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 increased 16% and 18%, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2010. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Specialty Admitted segment included $51.7 million and $110.0 million, respectively, of gross premium volume from FirstComp. The increase in gross premium volume in 2011 also was attributable to higher gross premium volume in the London Insurance Market segment due in part to an increase in premiums written by Elliott Special Risks, which has been converted from a managing general agent operation to a risk bearing insurance division. Gross premium volume in the London Insurance Market segment also benefitted from offering higher policy limits and an improved pricing environment in the Marine and Energy division. Gross premium volume in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment decreased in both periods of 2011 compared to the same periods of 2010 due to a reduction in written premiums on two specialized insurance programs. Excluding these two programs, gross premium volume in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment has experienced modest growth during the first six months of 2011. Foreign currency exchange rate movements did not have a significant impact on gross premium volume for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011.

 

30


Table of Contents

Gross premium volume continues to be impacted by intense competition across many of our product lines, particularly within the Excess and Surplus Lines segment. In general, we believe prevailing rates within the property and casualty insurance marketplace are lower than our targeted pricing levels. When we believe the prevailing market price will not support our underwriting profit targets, the business is not written. As a result of our underwriting discipline, gross premium volume for many of our product lines, most notably within the Excess and Surplus Lines segment, has declined and, if the competitive environment does not improve, could decline further in the future.

 

Net Written Premiums  
Quarter Ended June 30,     

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  
2011     2010     

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  
$ 194,048      $ 217,207       Excess and Surplus Lines    $ 369,585      $ 410,536   
  136,292        80,565       Specialty Admitted      263,531        143,678   
  200,472        156,416       London Insurance Market      416,611        346,474   
  (124     41       Other Insurance (Discontinued Lines)      (27     43   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 
$ 530,688      $ 454,229       Total    $ 1,049,700      $ 900,731   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net retention of gross premium volume for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 was 89% and 88%, respectively, compared to 88% and 89% for the same periods of 2010. As part of our underwriting philosophy, we seek to offer products with limits that do not require significant amounts of reinsurance. We purchase reinsurance in order to reduce our retention on individual risks and enable us to write policies with sufficient limits to meet policyholder needs.

 

Earned Premiums  
Quarter Ended June 30,     

 

   Six Months Ended June 30,  
2011     2010     

(dollars in thousands)

   2011     2010  
$ 187,206      $ 210,270       Excess and Surplus Lines    $ 368,263      $ 414,165   
  131,364        75,563       Specialty Admitted      253,840        147,604   
  171,754        130,814       London Insurance Market      331,237        267,011   
  (123     41       Other Insurance (Discontinued Lines)      (28     43   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 
$ 490,201      $ 416,688       Total    $ 953,312      $ 828,823   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earned premiums for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 increased 18% and 15%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Specialty Admitted segment included $48.6 million and $92.4 million, respectively of earned premiums from FirstComp. The increase in earned premiums in 2011 also was due to higher earned premiums in the London Insurance Market segment, which was primarily a result of higher gross premium volume. The decrease in earned premiums in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment was primarily a result of lower gross premium volume. Foreign currency exchange rate movements did not have a significant impact on earned premiums for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011.

 

31


Table of Contents

Investing Results

Net investment income for the second quarter of 2011 was $64.3 million compared to $64.4 million for the second quarter of 2010. Net investment income was $134.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and $132.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. For the quarter ended June 30, 2011, net investment income included an adverse change in the fair value of our credit default swap of $1.0 million compared to $1.8 million for the same period of 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, net investment income included a favorable change in the fair value of our credit default swap of $0.6 million compared to an adverse change in the fair value of our credit default swap of $1.4 million for the same period of 2010.

Net realized investment gains for the second quarter of 2011 were $1.3 million compared to net realized investment losses of $2.4 million for the same period of 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, net realized investment gains were $12.6 million compared to $13.3 million for the same period of 2010. Net realized investment gains for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 included $4.9 million of write downs for other-than-temporary declines in the estimated fair value of investments. Net realized investment losses for the second quarter of 2010 included $3.9 million of write downs for other-than-temporary declines in the estimated fair value of investments. Net realized investment gains for the six months ended June 30, 2010 included $6.3 million of write downs for other-than-temporary declines in the estimated fair value of investments.

We complete a detailed analysis each quarter to assess whether the decline in the fair value of any investment below its cost basis is deemed other-than-temporary. At June 30, 2011, we held securities with gross unrealized losses of $27.5 million, or less than 1% of our total invested assets. All securities with unrealized losses were reviewed, and we believe that there were no other securities with indications of declines in estimated fair value that were other-than-temporary at June 30, 2011. However, given the volatility in the debt and equity markets, we caution readers that further declines in fair value could be significant and may result in additional other-than-temporary impairment charges in future periods. Variability in the timing of realized and unrealized gains and losses is to be expected.

Non-Insurance Operations (Markel Ventures)

Our non-insurance operations, which are referred to collectively as Markel Ventures, include the results of AMF Bakery Systems, ParkLand Ventures, Inc., Panel Specialists, Inc., Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, LLC, Solbern, Inc., Markel Eagle Partners, LLC, RD Holdings, LLC and Diamond Healthcare Corporation. Operating revenues and expenses associated with our non-insurance operations are included in other revenues and other expenses in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. Revenues from our non-insurance operations were $79.0 million and $147.0 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $35.0 million and $72.3 million for the same periods of 2010. Net income to shareholders from our non-insurance operations were $2.4 million and $4.7 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $0.7 million and $1.7 million for the same periods of 2010. Revenues and net income to shareholders from our non-insurance operations increased for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same periods of 2010 primarily due to our acquisitions of RD Holdings, LLC and Diamond Healthcare Corporation in late 2010.

Interest Expense and Income Taxes

Interest expense for the second quarter of 2011 increased to $21.9 million from $18.3 million in the same period of 2010. Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased to $40.9 million from $36.3 million in the same period of 2010. For both periods of 2011, the increase compared to the same periods of 2010 was due in part to our $250 million issuance of 5.35% unsecured senior notes in June 2011.

 

32


Table of Contents

The estimated annual effective tax rate was 14% and 31% as of June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For both periods, the estimated annual effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate of 35% primarily as a result of tax-exempt investment income. The decrease in the estimated annual effective tax rate was primarily due to having lower estimated income before income taxes in 2011 compared to 2010. 

Comprehensive Income to Shareholders

Comprehensive income to shareholders was $96.0 million for the second quarter of 2011 compared to comprehensive loss to shareholders of $33.9 million for the same period of 2010. Comprehensive income to shareholders for the second quarter of 2011 included an increase in net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes, of $65.2 million and net income to shareholders of $30.3 million. Comprehensive loss to shareholders for the second quarter of 2010 included a decrease in net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes, of $52.9 million and net income to shareholders of $20.8 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, comprehensive income to shareholders was $120.8 million compared to $100.6 million for the same period in 2010. Comprehensive income to shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2011 included an increase in net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes, of $78.9 million and net income to shareholders of $38.6 million. Comprehensive income to shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2010 included an increase in net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes, of $34.8 million and net income to shareholders of $63.4 million.

Financial Condition

Invested assets were $8.7 billion at June 30, 2011 compared to $8.2 billion at December 31, 2010. Net unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes, were $660.2 million at June 30, 2011 compared to $581.3 million at December 31, 2010. Equity securities were $1.8 billion, or 21% of invested assets, at June 30, 2011 compared to $1.7 billion, or 21% of invested assets, at December 31, 2010.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $100.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $63.6 million for the same period of 2010. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to higher cash flows from underwriting activities in the London Insurance Market segment.

Net cash used by investing activities was $310.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $209.3 million for the same period of 2010. During the first six months of 2011, we increased our holdings of short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents and purchased less fixed maturities and equity securities compared to the same period of 2010. In the current market environment, we have chosen to take a more defensive posture, earning slightly lower investment yields in order to maintain a high level of liquidity and have flexibility in how we allocate capital. We also are planning for increased claims settlement activity resulting from the higher than expected amount of catastrophe losses incurred during 2011.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $227.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to net cash used by financing activities of $9.4 million for the same period of 2010. On June 1, 2011, we issued $250 million of 5.35% unsecured senior notes due June 1, 2021. Net proceeds were $247.9 million, which will

 

33


Table of Contents

be used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions. In addition, proceeds may be used to repay other of our outstanding debt. Cash of $13.5 million and $24.3 million was used to repurchase shares of our common stock during the first six months of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

We seek to maintain prudent levels of liquidity and financial leverage for the protection of our policyholders, creditors and shareholders. Our target capital structure includes approximately 30% debt. Our debt to total capital ratio was 27% at June 30, 2011 and 24% at December 31, 2010. From time to time, our debt to total capital ratio may increase due to business opportunities that may be financed in the short term with debt. Alternatively, our debt to total capital ratio may fall below our target capital structure, which provides us with additional borrowing capacity to respond quickly when future opportunities arise.

We have access to various capital sources, including dividends from certain of our insurance subsidiaries, holding company invested assets and access to the debt and equity capital markets. We believe that we have sufficient liquidity to meet our capital needs.

Our holding company had $1,046.3 million and $885.6 million of invested assets at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

Shareholders’ equity was $3.3 billion at June 30, 2011 and $3.2 billion at December 31, 2010. Book value per share increased to $338.66 at June 30, 2011 from $326.36 at December 31, 2010 primarily due to $120.8 million of comprehensive income to shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of economic losses due to adverse changes in the estimated fair value of a financial instrument as the result of changes in equity prices, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Our consolidated balance sheets include assets and liabilities with estimated fair values that are subject to market risk. Historically, our primary market risks have been equity price risk associated with investments in equity securities, interest rate risk associated with investments in fixed maturities and foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with our international operations. We have no material commodity risk.

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, there were no material changes to the market risk components described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Credit risk is the potential loss resulting from adverse changes in an issuer’s ability to repay its debt obligations. General concern exists about the growing number of municipalities experiencing financial difficulties in light of the adverse economic conditions experienced over the past several years. We manage the exposure to credit risk in our municipal bond portfolio by investing in high quality securities and by diversifying our holdings, which are typically either general obligation or revenue bonds related to essential products and services.

We monitor our portfolio to ensure that credit risk does not exceed prudent levels. We have consistently invested in high credit quality, investment grade securities. Our fixed maturity portfolio has an average rating of “AA,” with approximately 94% rated “A” or better by at least one nationally recognized rating organization.

 

34


Table of Contents

Our policy is to invest in investment grade securities and to minimize investments in fixed maturities that are unrated or rated below investment grade. At June 30, 2011, approximately 1% of our fixed maturity portfolio was unrated or rated below investment grade. Our fixed maturity portfolio includes securities issued with financial guaranty insurance. We purchase fixed maturities based on our assessment of the credit quality of the underlying assets without regard to insurance.

The estimated fair value of our investment portfolio at June 30, 2011 was $8.7 billion, 79% of which was invested in fixed maturities, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents and 21% of which was invested in equity securities. At December 31, 2010, the estimated fair value of our investment portfolio was $8.2 billion, 79% of which was invested in fixed maturities, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents and 21% of which was invested in equity securities.

Our fixed maturities, equity securities and short-term investments are recorded at fair value, which is measured based upon quoted prices in active markets, if available. We determine fair value for these investments after considering various sources of information, including information provided by a third party pricing service. The pricing service provides prices for substantially all of our fixed maturities and equity securities. In determining fair value, we generally do not adjust the prices obtained from the pricing service. We obtain an understanding of the pricing service’s valuation methodologies and related inputs, which include, but are not limited to, reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids, offers, duration, credit ratings, estimated cash flows and prepayment speeds. We validate prices provided by the pricing service by reviewing prices from other pricing sources and analyzing pricing data in certain instances.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15 (Disclosure Controls). This evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Our management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

Based upon our controls evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that effective Disclosure Controls were in place to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

35


Table of Contents

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the second quarter of 2011 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Safe Harbor and Cautionary Statement

This report contains statements concerning or incorporating our expectations, assumptions, plans, objectives, future financial or operating performance and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from predicted results in forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ from those predicted are set forth under “Risk Factors” and “Safe Harbor and Cautionary Statement” in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K or are included in the items listed below:

 

 

our anticipated premium volume is based on current knowledge and assumes no significant man-made or natural catastrophes, no significant changes in products or personnel and no adverse changes in market conditions;

 

 

we offer insurance coverage against terrorist acts in connection with some of our programs, and in other instances we are legally required to offer terrorism insurance; in both circumstances, we actively manage our exposure, but if there is a covered terrorist attack, we could sustain material losses;

 

 

the impact of the events of September 11, 2001 will depend on the resolution of on-going insurance coverage litigation and arbitrations;

 

 

the frequency and severity of catastrophic events (including earthquakes and weather-related catastrophes) is unpredictable and, in the case of weather-related catastrophes, may be exacerbated if, as many forecast, conditions in the oceans and atmosphere result in increased hurricane or other adverse weather-related activity;

 

 

changing legal and social trends and inherent uncertainties (including but not limited to those uncertainties associated with our asbestos and environmental reserves) in the loss estimation process can adversely impact the adequacy of loss reserves and the allowance for reinsurance recoverables;

 

 

adverse developments in insurance coverage litigation could result in material increases in our estimates of loss reserves;

 

 

the loss estimation process may become more uncertain if we experience a period of rising inflation;

 

 

the costs and availability of reinsurance may impact our ability to write certain lines of business;

 

 

industry and economic conditions can affect the ability and/or willingness of reinsurers to pay balances due;

 

 

after the commutation of ceded reinsurance contracts, any subsequent adverse development in the re-assumed loss reserves will result in a charge to earnings;

 

 

regulatory actions can impede our ability to charge adequate rates and efficiently allocate capital;

 

 

economic conditions, actual or potential defaults in sovereign debt obligations, volatility in interest and foreign currency exchange rates and changes in market value of concentrated investments can have a significant impact on the fair value of fixed maturities and equity securities, as well as the carrying value of other assets and liabilities, and this impact may be heightened by market volatility;

 

 

economic conditions, changes in government support for education, healthcare and infrastructure projects and foreign currency exchange rates, among other factors, may adversely affect the markets served by our non-insurance operations and negatively impact their revenues and profitability;

 

 

we have substantial investments in municipal bonds (approximately $2.8 billion at June 30, 2011) and, although no more than 10% of our municipal bond portfolio is tied to any one state, widespread defaults could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition;

 

36


Table of Contents
 

we cannot predict the extent and duration of the current economic slowdown; the effects of government actions to address the U.S. federal deficit and debt ceiling issues; the continuing effects of government intervention into the markets to address the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 (including, among other things, the effects of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and regulations adopted thereunder); and their combined impact on our industry, business and investment portfolio;

 

 

we cannot predict the impact of U.S. health care reform legislation and regulations under that legislation on our business;

 

 

our system and business process initiatives may take longer to implement and cost more than we anticipate and may not achieve all of our objectives;

 

 

we have recently completed a number of acquisitions and may engage in additional acquisition activity in the future, which may increase operational and control risks for a period of time;

 

 

loss of services of any executive officers could impact our operations; and

 

 

adverse changes in our assigned financial strength or debt ratings could impact our ability to attract and retain business or obtain capital.

Our premium volume, underwriting and investment results and results from our non-insurance operations have been and will continue to be potentially materially affected by these factors. By making forward-looking statements, we do not intend to become obligated to publicly update or revise any such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or other changes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as at their dates.

 

37


Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table summarizes our common stock repurchases for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

     (a)      (b)      (c)      (d)  

Period

   Total
Number of
Shares

Purchased
     Average
Price
Paid per
Share
     Total
Number of
Shares

Purchased as
Part

of Publicly
Announced
Plans

or Programs1
     Approximate
Dollar
Value of
Shares that

May Yet Be
Purchased
Under

the Plans or
Programs
(in thousands)
 

April 1, 2011 through April 30, 2011

     0         0         0       $ 197,205   

May 1, 2011 through May 31, 2011

     13,460       $ 406.44         13,460       $ 191,734   

June 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011

     18,400       $ 406.99         18,400       $ 184,246