10-Q: Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
Published on April 29, 2021
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021
OR
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-14428
(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(441 ) 295-4513
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
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 ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The number of Common Shares, par value US $1.00 per share, outstanding at April 23, 2021 was 49,637,716 .
RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (the “Company” or “RenaissanceRe”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which, with respect to future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. In particular, statements using words such as “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential,” or words of similar import generally involve forward-looking statements. For example, we may include certain forward-looking statements in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with regard to trends in results, prices, volumes, operations, investment results, margins, combined ratios, fees, reserves, market conditions, risk management and exchange rates. This Form 10-Q also contains forward-looking statements with respect to our business and industry, such as those relating to our strategy and management objectives, market standing and product volumes, competition and new entrants in our industry, industry capital, insured losses from loss events, government initiatives and regulatory matters affecting the reinsurance and insurance industries.
The inclusion of forward-looking statements in this report should not be considered as a representation by us or any other person that our current objectives or plans will be achieved. Numerous factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those addressed by the forward-looking statements, including the following:
•the uncertainty of the continuing and future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including measures taken in response thereto and the effect of legislative, regulatory and judicial influences on our financial performance and our ability to conduct our business;
•the frequency and severity of catastrophic and other events we cover;
•the effectiveness of our claims and claim expense reserving process;
•the effect of climate change on our business, including the trend towards increasingly frequent and severe climate events;
•our ability to maintain our financial strength ratings;
•the effect of emerging claims and coverage issues;
•collection on claimed retrocessional coverage, and new retrocessional reinsurance being available on acceptable terms and providing the coverage that we intended to obtain;
•our reliance on a small and decreasing number of reinsurance brokers and other distribution services for the preponderance of our revenue;
•our exposure to credit loss from counterparties in the normal course of business;
•the effect of continued challenging economic conditions throughout the world;
•the performance of our investment portfolio and financial market volatility;
•a contention by the United States (the “U.S.”) Internal Revenue Service that Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. (“Renaissance Reinsurance”), or any of our other Bermuda subsidiaries, is subject to taxation in the U.S.;
•the effects of U.S. tax reform legislation and possible future tax reform legislation and regulations, including changes to the tax treatment of our shareholders or investors in our joint ventures or other entities we manage;
•the effect of cybersecurity risks, including technology breaches or failure, on our business;
•the success of any of our strategic investments or acquisitions, including our ability to manage our operations as our product and geographical diversity increases;
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•our ability to retain our key senior officers and to attract or retain the executives and employees necessary to manage our business;
•our ability to effectively manage capital on behalf of investors in joint ventures or other entities we manage;
•foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
•soft reinsurance underwriting market conditions;
•changes in the method for determining the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and the replacement of LIBOR;
•losses we could face from terrorism, political unrest or war;
•our ability to successfully implement our business strategies and initiatives;
•our ability to determine any impairments taken on our investments;
•the effects of inflation;
•the ability of our ceding companies and delegated authority counterparties to accurately assess the risks they underwrite;
•the effect of operational risks, including system or human failures;
•our ability to raise capital if necessary;
•our ability to comply with covenants in our debt agreements;
•changes to the regulatory systems under which we operate, including as a result of increased global regulation of the insurance and reinsurance industries;
•changes in Bermuda laws and regulations and the political environment in Bermuda;
•our dependence on the ability of our operating subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends;
•aspects of our corporate structure that may discourage third-party takeovers and other transactions;
•difficulties investors may have in serving process or enforcing judgments against us in the U.S.;
•the cyclical nature of the reinsurance and insurance industries;
•adverse legislative developments that reduce the size of the private markets we serve or impede their future growth;
•consolidation of competitors, customers and insurance and reinsurance brokers;
•the effect on our business of the highly competitive nature of our industry, including the effect of new entrants to, competing products for and consolidation in the (re)insurance industry;
•other political, regulatory or industry initiatives adversely impacting us;
•our ability to comply with applicable sanctions and foreign corrupt practices laws;
•increasing barriers to free trade and the free flow of capital;
•international restrictions on the writing of reinsurance by foreign companies and government intervention in the natural catastrophe market;
•the effect of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or European Union (“EU”) measures to increase our taxes and reporting requirements;
•changes in regulatory regimes and accounting rules that may impact financial results irrespective of business operations;
•our need to make many estimates and judgments in the preparation of our financial statements; and
•the effect of the exit by the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”) from the EU.
As a consequence, our future financial condition and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us. The factors listed above, which are discussed in more detail in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our Annual Report on
4
Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2020, should not be construed as exhaustive. The effects of the events and circumstances described in the risk factors contained in this Form 10-Q may have the effect of heightening many of the risks contained in our Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to revise or update forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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6
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands of United States Dollars, except share and per share amounts)
March 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||
Assets | (Unaudited) | (Audited) | |||||||||
Fixed maturity investments trading, at fair value – amortized cost $ |
$ | $ | |||||||||
Short term investments, at fair value | |||||||||||
Equity investments trading, at fair value | |||||||||||
Other investments, at fair value | |||||||||||
Investments in other ventures, under equity method | |||||||||||
Total investments | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||
Premiums receivable | |||||||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | |||||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable | |||||||||||
Accrued investment income | |||||||||||
Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired | |||||||||||
Receivable for investments sold | |||||||||||
Other assets | |||||||||||
Goodwill and other intangible assets | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests and Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||
Reserve for claims and claim expenses | $ | $ | |||||||||
Unearned premiums | |||||||||||
Debt | |||||||||||
Reinsurance balances payable | |||||||||||
Payable for investments purchased | |||||||||||
Other liabilities | |||||||||||
Total liabilities | |||||||||||
Commitments and Contingencies | |||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | |||||||||||
Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||
Preference shares: $ |
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Common shares: $ |
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Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( |
( |
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Retained earnings | |||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to RenaissanceRe | |||||||||||
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and shareholders’ equity |
$ | $ |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
(in thousands of United States Dollars, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
Three months ended | |||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
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Revenues | |||||||||||
Gross premiums written |
$ | $ | |||||||||
Net premiums written |
$ | $ | |||||||||
Increase in unearned premiums | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Net premiums earned |
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Net investment income |
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Net foreign exchange losses | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Equity in (losses) earnings of other ventures | ( |
||||||||||
Other income (loss) | ( |
||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | ( |
( |
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Total revenues | |||||||||||
Expenses | |||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred | |||||||||||
Acquisition expenses | |||||||||||
Operational expenses | |||||||||||
Corporate expenses | |||||||||||
Interest expense | |||||||||||
Total expenses | |||||||||||
(Loss) income before taxes | ( |
||||||||||
Income tax benefit | |||||||||||
Net (loss) income | ( |
||||||||||
Net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | ( |
||||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Dividends on preference shares | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share – basic | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share – diluted | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
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Dividends per common share |
$ | $ |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
(in thousands of United States Dollars) (Unaudited)
Three months ended | |||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
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Comprehensive loss | |||||||||||
Net (loss) income | $ | ( |
$ | ||||||||
Change in net unrealized losses on investments, net of tax | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax |
|||||||||||
Comprehensive (loss) income | ( |
||||||||||
Net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | ( |
||||||||||
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | ( |
||||||||||
Comprehensive loss attributable to RenaissanceRe | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
(in thousands of United States Dollars) (Unaudited)
Three months ended | |||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
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Preference shares | |||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | $ | |||||||||
Repurchase of shares |
( |
||||||||||
Ending balance | |||||||||||
Common shares | |||||||||||
Beginning balance | |||||||||||
Repurchase of shares |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Issuance of restricted stock awards | |||||||||||
Ending balance | |||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
Beginning balance | |||||||||||
Repurchase of shares |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Change in redeemable noncontrolling interests |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Issuance of restricted stock awards | ( |
( |
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Ending balance | |||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | |||||||||||
Beginning balance | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Change in net unrealized losses on investments, net of tax |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax |
|||||||||||
Ending balance | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Retained earnings | |||||||||||
Beginning balance | |||||||||||
Net (loss) income | ( |
||||||||||
Net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | ( |
||||||||||
Dividends on common shares |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Dividends on preference shares |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Ending balance |
|||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity |
$ | $ |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
(in thousands of United States Dollars) (Unaudited)
Three months ended | |||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||
Cash flows provided by operating activities | |||||||||||
Net (loss) income | $ | ( |
$ | ||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||
Amortization, accretion and depreciation | ( |
||||||||||
Equity in undistributed earnings of other ventures | |||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | |||||||||||
Change in: | |||||||||||
Premiums receivable | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Prepaid reinsurance premiums | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable | ( |
||||||||||
Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired | ( |
( |
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Reserve for claims and claim expenses | |||||||||||
Unearned premiums | |||||||||||
Reinsurance balances payable | |||||||||||
Other | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||
Cash flows used in investing activities | |||||||||||
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments trading | |||||||||||
Purchases of fixed maturity investments trading | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Net sales (purchases) of equity investments trading | ( |
||||||||||
Net purchases of short term investments | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Net purchases of other investments | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Net purchases of investments in other ventures | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Return of investment from investment in other ventures | |||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Cash flows used in financing activities | |||||||||||
Dividends paid – RenaissanceRe common shares | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Dividends paid – preference shares | ( |
( |
|||||||||
RenaissanceRe common share repurchases | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Repayment of debt | ( |
||||||||||
Redemption of |
( |
||||||||||
Net third-party redeemable noncontrolling interest share transactions | |||||||||||
Taxes paid on withholding shares | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash | |||||||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | $ |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
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RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2021
(unless otherwise noted, amounts in tables expressed in thousands of United States (“U.S.”) dollars,
except shares, per share amounts and percentages) (Unaudited)
NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION
This report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with RenaissanceRe’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. RenaissanceRe was formed under the laws of Bermuda on June 7, 1993. Together with its wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and managed funds, the Company provides property, casualty and specialty reinsurance and certain insurance solutions to its customers.
•Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. (“Renaissance Reinsurance”), a Bermuda-domiciled reinsurance company, is the Company’s principal reinsurance subsidiary and provides property, casualty and specialty reinsurance coverages to insurers and reinsurers on a worldwide basis.
•Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. Inc. is a reinsurance company domiciled in the state of Maryland that provides property, casualty and specialty reinsurance coverages to insurers and reinsurers, primarily in the Americas.
•RenaissanceRe Syndicate 1458 (“Syndicate 1458”) is the Company’s Lloyd’s syndicate. RenaissanceRe Corporate Capital (UK) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of RenaissanceRe, is Syndicate 1458’s sole corporate member. RenaissanceRe Syndicate Management Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of RenaissanceRe, is the managing agent for Syndicate 1458.
•RenaissanceRe Europe AG (“RREAG”), a Swiss-domiciled reinsurance company, which has branches in Australia, Bermuda, the U.K. and the U.S., provides property, casualty and specialty reinsurance coverages to insurers and reinsurers on a worldwide basis.
•RenaissanceRe Specialty U.S. Ltd., a Bermuda-domiciled insurer, which operates subject to U.S. federal income tax.
•DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd. (“DaVinci”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaVinciRe Holdings Ltd. (“DaVinciRe”), is a managed joint venture formed by the Company to principally write property catastrophe reinsurance and certain casualty and specialty reinsurance lines of business on a global basis.
•Top Layer Reinsurance Ltd. is a managed joint venture formed by the Company to write high excess non-U.S. property catastrophe reinsurance.
•RenaissanceRe Underwriting Managers U.S. LLC, is licensed as a reinsurance intermediary broker in the State of Connecticut and underwrites specialty treaty reinsurance solutions on both a quota share and excess of loss basis on behalf of affiliates.
•Renaissance Underwriting Managers, Ltd. (“RUM”), a wholly owned subsidiary of RenaissanceRe, acts as exclusive underwriting manager for certain of our joint ventures or managed funds in return for fee-based income and profit participation.
•RenaissanceRe Fund Management Ltd. (“RFM”) is a wholly-owned Bermuda exempted company and acts as the exclusive investment fund manager for several of the Company’s joint ventures or managed funds, in return for a management fee, a performance based incentive fee, or both. RFM is registered as an Exempt Reporting Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission and serves as the investment adviser to third-party investors in the various private investment partnerships and insurance-related investment products offered by the Company.
•RenaissanceRe Medici Fund Ltd. (“Medici”) is an exempted company, incorporated under the laws of Bermuda and registered as an institutional fund. Medici invests, primarily on behalf of third-party investors, in various instruments that have returns primarily tied to property catastrophe risk.
•Upsilon RFO Re Ltd., formerly known as Upsilon Reinsurance II Ltd. (“Upsilon RFO”), a Bermuda domiciled special purpose insurer (“SPI”), is a managed fund formed by the Company principally to
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provide additional capacity to the worldwide aggregate and per-occurrence primary and retrocessional property catastrophe excess of loss market.
•RenaissanceRe Upsilon Fund Ltd., an exempted Bermuda segregated accounts company registered as a Class A Professional Fund provides a fund structure through which third-party investors can invest in reinsurance risk managed by the Company.
•Vermeer Reinsurance Ltd. (“Vermeer”), an exempted Bermuda reinsurer, provides capacity focused on risk remote layers in the U.S. property catastrophe market. The Company maintains a majority voting control of Vermeer, while Stichting Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn (“PFZW”), a pension fund represented by PGGM Vermogensbeheer B.V., a Dutch pension fund manager, retains economic benefits.
•Fibonacci Reinsurance Ltd. ("Fibonacci Re"), a Bermuda-domiciled SPI, provides collateralized capacity to Renaissance Reinsurance and its affiliates. Fibonacci Re raises capital from third-party investors and the Company, via private placements of participating notes which are listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange.
•The Company and Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated are engaged in an initiative (“Langhorne”) to source third-party capital to support reinsurers targeting large in-force life and annuity blocks. Langhorne Holdings LLC (“Langhorne Holdings”) was incorporated to own and manage certain reinsurance entities within Langhorne. Langhorne Partners LLC (“Langhorne Partners”) is the general partner for Langhorne and manages the third-parties investing in Langhorne Holdings.
•Mona Lisa Re Ltd. (“Mona Lisa Re”), a Bermuda domiciled SPI, provides reinsurance capacity to subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe, namely Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, through reinsurance agreements which are collateralized and funded by Mona Lisa Re through the issuance of one or more series of principal-at-risk variable rate notes.
•Following the acquisition of Tokio Millennium Re AG and certain associated entities and subsidiaries (collectively, “TMR”) on March 22, 2019, the Company managed Shima Reinsurance Ltd. (“Shima Re”), Norwood Re Ltd. (“Norwood Re”) and Blizzard Re Ltd. (“Blizzard,” together with Shima Re and Norwood Re, the “TMR managed third-party capital vehicles”), which provided third-party investors with access to reinsurance risk. The TMR managed third-party capital vehicles no longer write new business. The Company ceased providing management services to Blizzard effective November 1, 2020, and Shima Re and Norwood Re effective December 1, 2020.
NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
There have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies as described in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, except as described below.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in conformity with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations as at the end of and for the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated from these statements.
Certain comparative information has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Because of the seasonality of the Company’s business, the results of operations and cash flows for any interim period will not necessarily be indicative of the results of operations and cash flows for the full fiscal year or subsequent quarters.
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USE OF ESTIMATES IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported and disclosed amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The major estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the reserve for claims and claim expenses; reinsurance recoverable and premiums receivable, including provisions for reinsurance recoverable and premiums receivable to reflect expected credit losses; estimates of written and earned premiums; fair value, including the fair value of investments, financial instruments and derivatives; impairment charges; deferred acquisition costs and the value of business acquired and the Company’s deferred tax valuation allowance.
RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes
NOTE 3. INVESTMENTS
Fixed Maturity Investments Trading
The following table summarizes the fair value of fixed maturity investments trading:
March 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
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U.S. treasuries | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Agencies | |||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. government | |||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate | |||||||||||||||||
Corporate | |||||||||||||||||
Agency mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||
Non-agency mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed | |||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturity investments trading | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
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Contractual maturities of fixed maturity investments trading are described in the following table. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
March 31, 2021 | Amortized Cost |
Fair Value | |||||||||||||||
Due in less than one year |
$ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Due after one through five years |
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Due after five through ten years |
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Due after ten years |
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Mortgage-backed |
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Asset-backed | |||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Equity Investments Trading
The following table summarizes the fair value of equity investments trading:
March 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Financials | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Communications and technology | |||||||||||||||||
Consumer | |||||||||||||||||
Industrial, utilities and energy | |||||||||||||||||
Healthcare | |||||||||||||||||
Basic materials | |||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Pledged Investments
At March 31, 2021, $8.4 billion of cash and investments at fair value were on deposit with, or in trust accounts for the benefit of, various counterparties, including with respect to the Company’s letter of credit facilities (December 31, 2020 - $8.1 billion). Of this amount, $2.5 billion is on deposit with, or in trust accounts for the benefit of, U.S. state regulatory authorities (December 31, 2020 - $2.5 billion).
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
At March 31, 2021, the Company held $25.0 million (December 31, 2020 - $126.5 million) of reverse repurchase agreements. These loans are fully collateralized, are generally outstanding for a short period of time and are presented on a gross basis as part of short term investments on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The required collateral for these loans typically includes high-quality, readily marketable instruments at a minimum amount of 102 % of the loan principal. Upon maturity, the Company receives principal and interest income.
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Net Investment Income
The components of net investment income are as follows:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturity investments | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Short term investments | |||||||||||||||||
Equity investments | |||||||||||||||||
Other investments | |||||||||||||||||
Catastrophe bonds | |||||||||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||||||||
Investment expenses | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Net Realized and Unrealized Losses on Investments
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments are as follows:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains on fixed maturity investments trading |
$ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Net unrealized losses on fixed maturity investments trading | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on fixed maturity investments trading | ( |
||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments-related derivatives |
|||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains (losses) on equity investments trading |
( |
||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized losses on equity investments trading | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on equity investments trading | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on other investments - catastrophe bonds | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on other investments - other |
( |
||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||||||||
16
NOTE 4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The use of fair value to measure certain assets and liabilities with resulting unrealized gains or losses is pervasive within the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Fair value is defined under accounting guidance currently applicable to the Company as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between open market participants at the measurement date. The Company recognizes the change in unrealized gains and losses arising from changes in fair value in its consolidated statements of operations.
FASB ASC Topic Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures prescribes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to the respective valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to valuation techniques that use at least one significant input that is unobservable (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
•Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize unadjusted quoted prices obtained from active markets for identical assets or liabilities for which the Company has access at the measurement date. The fair value is determined by multiplying the quoted price by the quantity held by the Company;
•Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals, broker quotes and certain pricing indices; and
•Level 3 inputs are based all or in part on significant unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. In these cases, significant management assumptions can be used to establish management’s best estimate of the assumptions used by other market participants in determining the fair value of the asset or liability.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and the Company considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
In order to determine if a market is active or inactive for a security, the Company considers a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the spread between what a seller is asking for a security and what a buyer is bidding for the same security, the volume of trading activity for the security in question, the price of the security compared to its par value (for fixed maturity investments), and other factors that may be indicative of market activity.
There have been no material changes in the Company’s valuation techniques, nor have there been any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, or Level 2 and Level 3 during the period represented by these consolidated financial statements.
17
Below is a summary of the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and also represents the carrying amount on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets:
At March 31, 2021 | Total | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturity investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. treasuries | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agencies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. government | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agency mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-agency mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturity investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Short term investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity investments trading | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catastrophe bonds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Private equity investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fund investments (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other assets and (liabilities) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts (2) |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative assets (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative liabilities (3) | ( |
( |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other assets and (liabilities) | ( |
( |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Fund investments, which are comprised of private equity funds, senior secured bank loan funds and hedge funds, are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheet.
(2) Included in assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts at March 31, 2021 was $0.6 million of other assets and $7.0 million of other liabilities.
(3) See “Note 13. Derivative Instruments” for additional information related to the fair value, by type of contract, of derivatives entered into by the Company.
18
At December 31, 2020 | Total | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturity investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. treasuries | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agencies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. government | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agency mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-agency mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturity investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Short term investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity investments trading | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catastrophe bonds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Private equity investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fund investments (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other assets and (liabilities) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts (2) | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative assets (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative liabilities (3) | ( |
( |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other assets and (liabilities) | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Fund investments, which are comprised of private equity funds, senior secured bank loan funds and hedge funds, are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheet.
(2) Included in assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts at December 31, 2020 was $1.4 million of other assets and $7.6 million of other liabilities.
(3) See “Note 13. Derivative Instruments” for additional information related to the fair value, by type of contract, of derivatives entered into by the Company.
Level 1 and Level 2 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
Fixed Maturity Investments
Fixed maturity investments included in Level 1 consist of the Company’s investments in U.S. treasuries. Fixed maturity investments included in Level 2 are agencies, municipal, non-U.S. government, non-U.S. government-backed corporate, corporate, agency mortgage-backed, non-agency mortgage-backed, commercial mortgage-backed and asset-backed.
The Company’s fixed maturity investments are primarily priced using pricing services, such as index providers and pricing vendors, as well as broker quotations. In general, the pricing vendors provide pricing for a high volume of liquid securities that are actively traded. For securities that do not trade on an
19
exchange, the pricing services generally utilize market data and other observable inputs in matrix pricing models to determine month end prices. Observable inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, bids, offers, reference data and industry and economic events. Index pricing generally relies on market traders as the primary source for pricing; however, models are also utilized to provide prices for all index eligible securities. The models use a variety of observable inputs such as benchmark yields, transactional data, dealer runs, broker-dealer quotes and corporate actions. Prices are generally verified using third-party data. Securities which are priced by an index provider are generally included in the index.
In general, broker-dealers value securities through their trading desks based on observable inputs. The methodologies include mapping securities based on trade data, bids or offers, observed spreads, and performance on newly issued securities. Broker-dealers also determine valuations by observing secondary trading of similar securities. Prices obtained from broker quotations are considered non-binding, however they are based on observable inputs and by observing secondary trading of similar securities obtained from active, non-distressed markets.
The Company considers these broker quotations to be Level 2 inputs as they are corroborated with other market observable inputs. The techniques generally used to determine the fair value of the Company’s fixed maturity investments are detailed below by asset class.
U.S. Treasuries
Level 1 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s U.S. treasuries fixed maturity investments were primarily priced by pricing services and had a weighted average yield to maturity of 0.7 % and a weighted average credit quality of AA (December 31, 2020 - 0.4 % and AA, respectively). When pricing these securities, the pricing services utilize daily data from many real time market sources, including active broker-dealers. Certain data sources are regularly reviewed for accuracy to attempt to ensure the most reliable price source is used for each issue and maturity date.
Agencies
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s agency fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.4 % and a weighted average credit quality of AA (December 31, 2020 - 0.9 % and AA, respectively). The issuers of the Company’s agency fixed maturity investments primarily consist of the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and other agencies. Fixed maturity investments included in agencies are primarily priced by pricing services. When evaluating these securities, the pricing services gather information from market sources and integrate other observations from markets and sector news. Evaluations are updated by obtaining broker-dealer quotes and other market information including actual trade volumes, when available. The fair value of each security is individually computed using analytical models which incorporate option adjusted spreads and other daily interest rate data.
Non-U.S. Government
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s non-U.S. government fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.0 % and a weighted average credit quality of AA (December 31, 2020 - 0.5 % and AAA, respectively). The issuers of securities in this sector are non-U.S. governments and their respective agencies as well as supranational organizations. Securities held in these sectors are primarily priced by pricing services that employ proprietary discounted cash flow models to value the securities. Key quantitative inputs for these models are daily observed benchmark curves for treasury, swap and high issuance credits. The pricing services then apply a credit spread for each security which is developed by in-depth and real time market analysis. For securities in which trade volume is low, the pricing services utilize data from more frequently traded securities with similar attributes. These models may also be supplemented by daily market and credit research for international markets.
Non-U.S. Government-backed Corporate
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s non-U.S. government-backed corporate fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.2 % and a weighted average credit quality of AA (December 31, 2020 - 1.0 % and AA, respectively). Non-U.S. government-backed corporate fixed maturity
20
investments are primarily priced by pricing services that employ proprietary discounted cash flow models to value the securities. Key quantitative inputs for these models are daily observed benchmark curves for treasury, swap and high quality credits. The pricing services then apply a credit spread to the respective curve for each security which is developed by in-depth and real time market analysis. For securities in which trade volume is low, the pricing services utilize data from more frequently traded securities with similar attributes. These models may also be supplemented by daily market and credit research for international markets.
Corporate
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s corporate fixed maturity investments principally consisted of U.S. and international corporations and had a weighted average yield to maturity of 2.5 % and a weighted average credit quality of BBB (December 31, 2020 - 2.2 % and BBB, respectively). The Company’s corporate fixed maturity investments are primarily priced by pricing services. When evaluating these securities, the pricing services gather information from market sources regarding the issuer of the security and obtain credit data, as well as other observations, from markets and sector news. Evaluations are updated by obtaining broker-dealer quotes and other market information including actual trade volumes, when available. The pricing services also consider the specific terms and conditions of the securities, including any specific features which may influence risk. In certain instances, securities are individually evaluated using a spread which is added to the U.S. treasury curve or a security specific swap curve as appropriate.
Agency Mortgage-backed
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s agency mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments included agency residential mortgage-backed securities with a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.7 %, a weighted average credit quality of AA and a weighted average life of 4.9 years (December 31, 2020 - 1.0 %, AA and 3.8 years, respectively). The Company’s agency mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments are primarily priced by pricing services using a mortgage pool specific model which utilizes daily inputs from the active to-be-announced market which is very liquid, as well as the U.S. treasury market. The model also utilizes additional information, such as the weighted average maturity, weighted average coupon and other available pool level data which is provided by the sponsoring agency. Valuations are also corroborated with daily active market quotes.
Non-agency Mortgage-backed
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s non-agency residential mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 3.0 %, a weighted average credit quality of non-investment grade and a weighted average life of 5.3 years (December 31, 2020 - 3.0 %, non-investment grade and 5.2 years, respectively). Securities held in these sectors are primarily priced by pricing services using an option adjusted spread model or other relevant models, which principally utilize inputs including benchmark yields, available trade information or broker quotes, and issuer spreads. The pricing services also review collateral prepayment speeds, loss severity and delinquencies among other collateral performance indicators for the securities valuation, when applicable.
Commercial Mortgage-backed
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s commercial mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.8 %, a weighted average credit quality of AAA, and a weighted average life of 4.7 years (December 31, 2020 - 1.5 %, AAA and 5.0 years, respectively). Securities held in these sectors are primarily priced by pricing services. The pricing services apply dealer quotes and other available trade information such as bids and offers, prepayment speeds which may be adjusted for the underlying collateral or current price data, the U.S. treasury curve and swap curve as well as cash settlement. The pricing services discount the expected cash flows for each security held in this sector using a spread adjusted benchmark yield based on the characteristics of the security.
21
Asset-backed
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s asset-backed fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.7 %, a weighted average credit quality of AA and a weighted average life of 3.1 years (December 31, 2020 - 1.8 %, AA and 3.2 years, respectively). The underlying collateral for the Company’s asset-backed fixed maturity investments primarily consists of collateralized loan obligations and other receivables. Securities held in these sectors are primarily priced by pricing services. The pricing services apply dealer quotes and other available trade information such as bids and offers, prepayment speeds which may be adjusted for the underlying collateral or current price data, the U.S. treasury curve and swap curve as well as cash settlement. The pricing services determine the expected cash flows for each security held in this sector using historical prepayment and default projections for the underlying collateral and current market data. In addition, a spread is applied to the relevant benchmark and used to discount the cash flows noted above to determine the fair value of the securities held in this sector.
Short Term Investments
Level 2 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s short term investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 0.1 % and a weighted average credit quality of AAA (December 31, 2020 - 0.1 % and AAA, respectively). The fair value of the Company’s portfolio of short term investments is generally determined using amortized cost which approximates fair value and, in certain cases, in a manner similar to the Company’s fixed maturity investments noted above.
Equity Investments, Classified as Trading
Level 1 - The fair value of the Company’s portfolio of equity investments, classified as trading is primarily priced by pricing services, reflecting the closing price quoted for the final trading day of the period. When pricing these securities, the pricing services utilize daily data from many real time market sources, including applicable securities exchanges. All data sources are regularly reviewed for accuracy to attempt to ensure the most reliable price source was used for each security.
Other Investments
Catastrophe Bonds
Level 2 - The Company’s other investments include investments in catastrophe bonds which are recorded at fair value based on broker or underwriter bid indications.
Other Assets and Liabilities
Derivatives
Level 1 and Level 2 - Other assets and liabilities include certain derivatives entered into by the Company. The fair value of these transactions includes certain exchange traded futures contracts which are considered Level 1, and foreign currency contracts and certain credit derivatives, determined using standard industry valuation models and considered Level 2, as the inputs to the valuation model are based on observable market inputs. For credit derivatives, these inputs include credit spreads, credit ratings of the underlying referenced security, the risk-free rate and the contract term. For foreign currency contracts, these inputs include spot rates and interest rate curves.
22
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
Below is a summary of quantitative information regarding the significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) used in determining the fair value of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
At March 31, 2021 | Fair Value (Level 3) |
Valuation Technique | Unobservable Inputs |
Low | High | Weighted Average or Actual | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Private equity investment | $ | Internal valuation model | Discount rate | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liquidity discount | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other assets and (liabilities) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts | ( |
Internal valuation model | Bond price | n/a | n/a | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liquidity discount | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts | ( |
Internal valuation model | Net undiscounted cash flows | n/a | n/a | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expected loss ratio | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discount rate | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts | Internal valuation model | Expected loss ratio | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other assets and (liabilities) |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs |
$ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23
At December 31, 2020 | Fair Value (Level 3) |
Valuation Technique | Unobservable Inputs | Low | High | Weighted Average or Actual | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Private equity investment | $ | Internal valuation model | Discount rate | n/a | n/a | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liquidity discount | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other assets and (liabilities) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts |
( |
Internal valuation model | Bond price | n/a | n/a | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liquidity discount | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts |
( |
Internal valuation model | Net undiscounted cash flows | n/a | n/a | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expected loss ratio | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discount rate | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts |
Internal valuation model | Expected loss ratio | n/a | n/a | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other assets and (liabilities) |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs |
$ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Below is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances, for the periods shown, of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs. Interest and dividend income are included in net investment income and are excluded from the reconciliation.
Other investments |
Other assets and (liabilities) |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance - January 1, 2021 | $ | $ | ( |
$ | |||||||||||||||||||
Total realized and unrealized losses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Included in net realized and unrealized losses on investments
|
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Included in other income (loss) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total foreign exchange gains | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance - March 31, 2021 | $ | $ | ( |
$ | |||||||||||||||||||
Other investments |
Other assets and (liabilities) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance - January 1, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total realized and unrealized losses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Included in net realized and unrealized gains on investments
|
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Included in other income (loss) | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total foreign exchange losses | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases | ( |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Balance - March 31, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
24
Other Investments
Private Equity Investments
Level 3 - At March 31, 2021, the Company’s other investments included $75.9 million of private equity investments which are recorded at fair value, with the fair value obtained through the use of internal valuation models. The Company measured the fair value of these investments using multiples of net tangible book value of the underlying entity. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of these investments are liquidity discount rates applied to each of the net tangible book value multiples used in the internal valuation models, and discount rates applied to the expected cash flows of the underlying entity in various scenarios. These unobservable inputs in isolation can cause significant increases or decreases in fair value. Generally, an increase in the liquidity discount rate or discount rates would result in a decrease in the fair value of these private equity investments.
Other Assets and Liabilities
Assumed and Ceded (Re)insurance Contracts
Level 3 - At March 31, 2021, the Company had a $0.2 million net liability related to an assumed reinsurance contract accounted for at fair value, with the fair value obtained through the use of an internal valuation model. The inputs to the internal valuation model are principally based on indicative pricing obtained from independent brokers and pricing vendors for similarly structured marketable securities. The most significant unobservable inputs include prices for similar marketable securities and a liquidity premium. The Company considers the prices for similar securities to be unobservable, as there is little, if any market activity for these similar assets. In addition, the Company has estimated a liquidity premium that would be required if the Company attempted to effectively exit its position by executing a short sale of these securities. Generally, an increase in the prices for similar marketable securities or a decrease in the liquidity premium would result in an increase in the expected profit and ultimate fair value of this assumed reinsurance contract.
Level 3 - At March 31, 2021, the Company had a $6.8 million net liability related to assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts accounted for at fair value, with the fair value obtained through the use of an internal valuation model. The inputs to the internal valuation model are principally based on proprietary data as observable market inputs are generally not available. The most significant unobservable inputs include the assumed and ceded expected net cash flows related to the contracts, including the expected premium, acquisition expenses and losses; the expected loss ratio and the relevant discount rate used to present value the net cash flows. The contract period and acquisition expense ratio are considered an observable input as each is defined in the contract. Generally, an increase in the net expected cash flows and expected term of the contract and a decrease in the discount rate, expected loss ratio or acquisition expense ratio, would result in an increase in the expected profit and ultimate fair value of these assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts.
Level 3 - At March 31, 2021, the Company had a $0.6 million net asset related to assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts accounted for at fair value, with the fair value obtained through the use of internal valuation models. The inputs to the models are primarily based on the unexpired period of risk and an evaluation of the probability of loss. The fair value of the contracts are sensitive to loss-triggering events. In the event of a loss, the Company would adjust the fair value of the contract to account for a recovery or liability in accordance with the contract terms and the estimate of exposure under the contract. The inputs for the contracts are based on management’s evaluation and are unobservable.
Financial Instruments Disclosed, But Not Carried, at Fair Value
The Company uses various financial instruments in the normal course of its business. The Company’s insurance contracts are excluded from the fair value of financial instruments accounting guidance, unless the Company elects the fair value option, and therefore, are not included in the amounts discussed herein. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income, receivables for investments sold, certain other assets, payables for investments purchased, certain other liabilities, and other financial instruments not included herein approximated their fair values.
25
Debt
Included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2021 were debt obligations of $1.1 billion (December 31, 2020 - $1.1 billion). At March 31, 2021, the fair value of the Company’s debt obligations was $1.2 billion (December 31, 2020 – $1.3 billion).
The fair value of the Company’s debt obligations is determined using indicative market pricing obtained from third-party service providers, which the Company considers Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. There have been no changes during the period in the Company’s valuation technique used to determine the fair value of the Company’s debt obligations. Refer to “Note 7. Debt and Credit Facilities” for additional information related to the Company’s debt obligations.
The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
The Company has elected to account for certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value using the guidance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Instruments as the Company believes it represents the most meaningful measurement basis for these assets and liabilities. Below is a summary of the balances the Company has elected to account for at fair value:
March 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Other investments | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Other assets | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Included in net realized and unrealized losses on investments for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was net unrealized gains of $3.2 million related to the changes in fair value of other investments (2020 – net unrealized losses of $4.7 million).
Measuring the Fair Value of Other Investments Using Net Asset Valuations
The table below shows the Company’s portfolio of other investments measured using net asset valuations as a practical expedient:
At March 31, 2021 | Fair Value | Unfunded Commitments |
Redemption Frequency | Redemption Notice Period (Minimum Days) |
Redemption Notice Period (Maximum Days) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Private equity funds | $ | $ | See below | See below | See below | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior secured bank loan funds |
See below | See below | See below | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hedge funds |
See below | See below | See below | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other investments measured using net asset valuations |
$ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Private Equity Funds
The Company’s investments in private equity funds include alternative asset limited partnerships (or similar corporate structures) that invest in certain private equity and private credit asset classes including U.S. and global leveraged buyouts, U.S. direct lending, secondaries, mezzanine investments, distressed securities, real estate, and oil, gas and power. The Company generally has no right to redeem its interest in any of these fund investments in advance of dissolution of the applicable limited partnerships. Instead, the nature of these investments is that distributions are received by the Company in connection with the liquidation of the underlying assets of the respective fund. It is estimated that the majority of the underlying assets of the limited partnerships would liquidate over 7 to 10 years from inception of the respective limited partnership.
26
Senior Secured Bank Loan Funds
At March 31, 2021, the Company had $16.9 million invested in closed end funds which invest primarily in loans. The Company has no right to redeem its investment in these funds. It is estimated that the majority of the underlying assets in these closed end funds would begin to liquidate over 4 to 5 years from inception of the applicable fund.
Hedge Funds
At March 31, 2021, the Company had $10.8 million of investments in hedge funds that are primarily focused on global credit opportunities which are generally redeemable at the option of the Company.
NOTE 5. REINSURANCE
The Company purchases reinsurance and other protection to manage its risk portfolio and to reduce its exposure to large losses. The Company currently has in place contracts that provide for recovery of a portion of certain claims and claim expenses, generally in excess of various retentions or on a proportional basis. In addition to loss recoveries, certain of the Company’s ceded reinsurance contracts provide for payments of additional premiums, for reinstatement premiums and for lost no-claims bonuses, which are incurred when losses are ceded to the respective reinsurance contracts. The Company remains liable to the extent that any reinsurer fails to meet its obligations.
The following table sets forth the effect of reinsurance and retrocessional activity on premiums written and earned and on net claims and claim expenses incurred:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Premiums written | |||||||||||||||||
Direct | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Assumed | |||||||||||||||||
Ceded | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Premiums earned | |||||||||||||||||
Direct | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Assumed | |||||||||||||||||
Ceded | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Claims and claim expenses | |||||||||||||||||
Gross claims and claim expenses incurred | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Claims and claim expenses recovered | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
In assessing an allowance for reinsurance assets, which includes premiums receivable and reinsurance recoverable, the Company considers historical information, financial strength of reinsurers, collateralization amounts, and ratings to determine the appropriateness of the allowance. In assessing future default for reinsurance assets, the Company evaluates the provision for current expected credit losses under the probability of default and loss given default method. The Company utilizes its internal capital and risk models, which use counterparty ratings from major rating agencies, and assesses the current market conditions for the likelihood of default. The Company updates its internal capital and risk models for counterparty ratings and current market conditions on a periodic basis. Historically, the Company has not experienced material credit losses from reinsurance assets.
Premiums receivable reflect premiums written based on contract and policy terms and include estimates based on information received from both insureds and ceding companies and our own judgment.
27
Consequently, premiums receivable include premiums reported by the ceding companies, supplemented by our estimates of premiums that are written but not reported. Due to the nature of reinsurance, ceding companies routinely report and remit premiums to us subsequent to the contract coverage period, although the time lag involved in the process of reporting and collecting premiums is typically shorter than the lag in reporting losses.
At March 31, 2021, the Company’s premiums receivable balance was $3.9 billion (December 31, 2020 - $2.9 billion). Of the Company’s premiums receivable balance as of March 31, 2021, the majority are receivable from highly rated counterparties and Lloyd’s syndicates. The provision for current expected credit losses on the Company’s premiums receivable was $3.8 million at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - $6.0 million). The following table provides a roll forward of the provision for current expected credit losses of the Company’s premiums receivable:
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | ||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | ||||||||||
Provision for allowance | ( |
||||||||||
Ending balance | $ | ||||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable reflects amounts due from reinsurers based on the claim liabilities associated with the reinsured policy. The Company accrues amounts that are due from assuming companies based on estimated ultimate losses applicable to the contracts.
At March 31, 2021, the Company’s reinsurance recoverable balance was $3.2 billion (December 31, 2020 - $2.9 billion). Of the Company’s reinsurance recoverable balance at March 31, 2021, 45.2 % is fully collateralized by our reinsurers, 52.9 % is recoverable from reinsurers rated A- or higher by major rating agencies and 1.9 % is recoverable from reinsurers rated lower than A- by major rating agencies (December 31, 2020 - 45.2 %, 53.4 % and 1.4 %, respectively). The reinsurers with the three largest balances accounted for 15.0 %, 10.2 % and 6.1 %, respectively, of the Company’s reinsurance recoverable balance at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - 15.3 %, 10.8 % and 6.7 %, respectively). The provision for current expected credit losses was $6.6 million at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - $6.3 million). The three largest company-specific components of the provision for current expected credit losses represented 12.7 %, 7.6 % and 5.1 %, respectively, of the Company’s total provision for current expected credit losses at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - 13.2 %, 13.0 % and 6.7 %, respectively). The following table provides a roll forward of the provision for current expected credit losses of the Company’s reinsurance recoverable:
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | ||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | ||||||||||
Provision for allowance | |||||||||||
Ending balance | $ | ||||||||||
NOTE 6. RESERVE FOR CLAIMS AND CLAIM EXPENSES
28
assesses the reasonableness and adequacy of the reserving estimates included in our unaudited financial statements.
The following table summarizes the Company’s claims and claim expense reserves by segment, allocated between case reserves, additional case reserves and IBNR:
At March 31, 2021 | Case Reserves |
Additional Case Reserves |
IBNR | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Casualty and Specialty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Casualty and Specialty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
29
Activity in the liability for unpaid claims and claim expenses is summarized as follows:
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
Reserve for claims and claim expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, as of beginning of period | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Net incurred related to: | |||||||||||||||||
Current year | |||||||||||||||||
Prior years | ( |
||||||||||||||||
Total net incurred | |||||||||||||||||
Net paid related to: | |||||||||||||||||
Current year | |||||||||||||||||
Prior years | |||||||||||||||||
Total net paid | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign exchange (1)
|
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Reserve for claims and claim expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, as of end of period | |||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable as of end of period | |||||||||||||||||
Reserve for claims and claim expenses as of end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
(1) Reflects the impact of the foreign exchange revaluation of the net reserve for claims and claim expenses denominated in non-U.S. dollars as at the balance sheet date.
Prior Year Development of the Reserve for Net Claims and Claim Expenses
The Company's estimates of claims and claim expense reserves are not precise in that, among other things, they are based on predictions of future developments and estimates of future trends and other variable factors. Some, but not all, of the Company's reserves are further subject to the uncertainty inherent in actuarial methodologies and estimates. Because a reserve estimate is simply an insurer's estimate at a point in time of its ultimate liability, and because there are numerous factors that affect reserves and claims payments that cannot be determined with certainty in advance, the Company's ultimate payments will vary, perhaps materially, from its estimates of reserves. If the Company determines in a subsequent period that adjustments to its previously established reserves are appropriate, such adjustments are recorded in the period in which they are identified. On a net basis, the Company's cumulative favorable or unfavorable development is generally reduced by offsetting changes in its reinsurance recoverable, as well as changes to loss related premiums such as reinstatement premiums and redeemable noncontrolling interest, all of which generally move in the opposite direction to changes in the Company's ultimate claims and claim expenses.
The following table details the Company’s prior year net development by segment of its liability for unpaid claims and claim expenses:
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
(Favorable) adverse development | (Favorable) adverse development | ||||||||||||||||
Property | $ | ( |
$ | ||||||||||||||
Casualty and Specialty | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Total net (favorable) adverse development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses | $ | ( |
$ | ||||||||||||||
Changes to prior year estimated claims reserves increased net income by $9.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 (2020 - decreased net income by $13.9 million), excluding the consideration of changes in reinstatement, adjustment or other premium items, profit commissions, redeemable noncontrolling interests - DaVinciRe and Vermeer, and income tax.
30
Property Segment
The following tables detail the development of the Company’s liability for net unpaid claims and claim expenses for its Property segment, allocated between large and small catastrophe net claims and claim expenses and attritional net claims and claim expenses, included in the other line item:
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | ||||||||||
(Favorable) adverse development | |||||||||||
Catastrophe net claims and claim expenses | |||||||||||
Large catastrophe events | |||||||||||
2019 Large Loss Events | ( |
||||||||||
2018 Large Loss Events | ( |
||||||||||
2017 Large Loss Events | ( |
||||||||||
Other | ( |
||||||||||
Total large catastrophe events | ( |
||||||||||
Small catastrophe events and attritional loss movements | |||||||||||
Other small catastrophe events and attritional loss movements | |||||||||||
Total small catastrophe events and attritional loss movements | |||||||||||
Total catastrophe and attritional net claims and claim expenses | ( |
||||||||||
Total net favorable development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses | $ | ( |
|||||||||
The net favorable development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses within the Company’s Property segment in the three months ended March 31, 2021 of $5.2 million was primarily comprised of net favorable development on prior accident years net claims and claim expenses associated with the following large catastrophe events:
•$4.7 million associated with Hurricane Dorian and Typhoon Faxai, Typhoon Hagibis and losses associated with aggregate loss contracts (collectively, the “2019 Large Loss Events”);
•$3.3 million associated with Typhoons Jebi, Mangkhut and Trami, Hurricane Florence, the wildfires in California during the third and fourth quarters of 2018, Hurricane Michael and certain losses associated with aggregate loss contracts (collectively, the ”2018 Large Loss Events”); and
•$5.5 million associated with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, the Mexico City Earthquake, the wildfires in California during the fourth quarter of 2017 and certain losses associated with aggregate loss contracts (collectively, the “2017 Large Loss Events”).
31
Three months ended March 31 | 2020 | ||||||||||
(Favorable) adverse development | |||||||||||
Catastrophe net claims and claim expenses | |||||||||||
Large catastrophe events | |||||||||||
2019 Large Loss Events | $ | ( |
|||||||||
2018 Large Loss Events | ( |
||||||||||
2017 Large Loss Events | ( |
||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||
Total large catastrophe events | ( |
||||||||||
Small catastrophe events and attritional loss movements | |||||||||||
Other small catastrophe events and attritional loss movements |
|||||||||||
Total small catastrophe events and attritional loss movements | |||||||||||
Total net adverse development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses | $ | ||||||||||
The net adverse development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses within the Company’s Property segment in the three months ended March 31, 2020 of $13.9 million was comprised of net adverse development of $54.0 million primarily within the Company’s other property class of business and principally driven by higher than expected attritional losses related to lines of business where the Company principally estimates net claims and claim expenses using traditional actuarial methods, combined with the impact of certain of the Company’s whole account ceded protections. Partially offsetting this adverse development was favorable development on prior accident years net claims and claim expenses associated with the following large catastrophe events:
•$19.7 million associated with the 2019 Large Loss Events;
•$14.2 million associated with the 2018 Large Loss Events; and
•$6.2 million associated with the 2017 Large Loss Events.
Casualty and Specialty Segment
The following table details the development of the Company’s liability for unpaid claims and claim expenses for its Casualty and Specialty segment:
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
(Favorable) adverse development | (Favorable) adverse development | ||||||||||||||||
Actuarial methods - actual reported claims less than expected claims | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||||||||
Total net favorable development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses |
$ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||||||||
The net favorable development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses within the Company’s Casualty and Specialty segment of $3.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021 was due to reported losses generally coming in lower than expected on attritional net claims and claim expenses, principally within our specialty lines of business.
The net favorable development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses within the Company’s Casualty and Specialty segment of $1.0 thousand in the three months ended March 31, 2020 was due to reported losses generally coming in as expected on attritional net claims and claim expenses.
32
NOTE 7. DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
There have been no material changes to the Company’s debt obligations and credit facilities as described in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Debt Obligations
A summary of the Company’s debt obligations on its consolidated balance sheets is set forth below:
March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total debt | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) RenaissanceRe owns a noncontrolling economic interest in its joint venture DaVinciRe. Because RenaissanceRe controls a majority of DaVinciRe’s outstanding voting rights, the consolidated financial statements of DaVinciRe are included in the consolidated financial statements of RenaissanceRe. However, RenaissanceRe does not guarantee or provide credit support for DaVinciRe and RenaissanceRe’s financial exposure to DaVinciRe is limited to its investment in DaVinciRe’s shares and counterparty credit risk arising from reinsurance transactions.
Credit Facilities
The outstanding amounts issued or drawn under each of the Company’s significant credit facilities is set forth below:
At March 31, 2021 | Issued or Drawn | ||||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility (1)
|
$ | ||||||||||
Bilateral Letter of Credit Facilities |
|||||||||||
Secured |
|||||||||||
Unsecured |
|||||||||||
Funds at Lloyd’s Letter of Credit Facility |
|||||||||||
$ | |||||||||||
(1) At March 31, 2021, no amounts were issued or drawn under this facility.
NOTE 8. NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
A summary of the Company’s redeemable noncontrolling interests on its consolidated balance sheets is set forth below:
March 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest - Medici |
|||||||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest - Vermeer |
|||||||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
33
A summary of the Company’s redeemable noncontrolling interests on its consolidated statements of operations is set forth below:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe |
$ | ( |
$ | ||||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest - Medici |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest - Vermeer | |||||||||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | $ | ( |
$ | ||||||||||||||
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest – DaVinciRe
RenaissanceRe owns a noncontrolling economic interest in DaVinciRe; however, because RenaissanceRe controls a majority of DaVinciRe’s outstanding voting rights, the consolidated financial statements of DaVinciRe are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company and all significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The portion of DaVinciRe’s earnings owned by third parties is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests. The Company’s noncontrolling economic ownership in DaVinciRe was 28.7 % at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - 21.4 %).
DaVinciRe shareholders are party to a shareholders agreement which provides DaVinciRe shareholders, excluding RenaissanceRe, with certain redemption rights that enable each shareholder to notify DaVinciRe of such shareholder’s desire for DaVinciRe to repurchase up to half of such shareholder’s initial aggregate number of shares held, subject to certain limitations, such as limiting the aggregate of all share repurchase requests to 25 % of DaVinciRe’s capital in any given year and satisfying all applicable regulatory requirements. If total shareholder requests exceed 25 % of DaVinciRe’s capital, the number of shares repurchased will be reduced among the requesting shareholders pro-rata, based on the amounts desired to be repurchased. Shareholders desiring to have DaVinci repurchase their shares must notify DaVinciRe before March 1 of each year. The repurchase price will be based on GAAP book value as of the end of the year in which the shareholder notice is given, and the repurchase will be effective as of January 1 of the following year. The repurchase price is generally subject to a true-up for potential development on outstanding loss reserves after settlement of all claims relating to the applicable years.
2021
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, DaVinciRe completed an equity capital raise of $250.0 million, comprised of $150.9 million from third-party investors and $99.1 million from RenaissanceRe. In addition, RenaissanceRe sold an aggregate of $40.0 million of its shares in DaVinciRe to third-party investors and purchased an aggregate of $156.7 million of shares from third-party investors. The Company’s noncontrolling economic ownership in DaVinciRe subsequent to these transactions was 28.7 %.
2020
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company sold an aggregate of $10.0 million of its shares in DaVinciRe to an existing third-party investor. The Company’s noncontrolling economic ownership in DaVinciRe subsequent to this transaction was 21.4 %.
The Company expects its noncontrolling economic ownership in DaVinciRe to fluctuate over time.
34
The activity in redeemable noncontrolling interest – DaVinciRe is detailed in the table below:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Redemption of shares from redeemable noncontrolling interest, net of adjustments |
( |
||||||||||||||||
Sale of shares to redeemable noncontrolling interests |
|||||||||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | ( |
||||||||||||||||
Ending balance | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest - Medici
RenaissanceRe owns a noncontrolling economic interest in Medici; however, because RenaissanceRe controls all of Medici’s outstanding voting rights, the financial statements of Medici are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The portion of Medici’s earnings owned by third parties is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests. Any shareholder may redeem all or any portion of its shares as of the last day of any calendar month, upon at least 30 calendar days’ prior irrevocable written notice to Medici.
2021
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, third-party investors subscribed for $40.8 million and redeemed $7.7 million of the participating, non-voting common shares of Medici. As a result of these net subscriptions, the Company’s noncontrolling economic ownership in Medici was 15.4 % at March 31, 2021.
2020
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, third-party investors subscribed for $54.6 million and redeemed $4.8 million of the participating, non-voting common shares of Medici. As a result of these net subscriptions, the Company’s noncontrolling economic ownership in Medici was 11.2 % at March 31, 2020.
The Company expects its noncontrolling economic ownership in Medici to fluctuate over time.
The activity in redeemable noncontrolling interest – Medici is detailed in the table below:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Redemption of shares from redeemable noncontrolling interest, net of adjustments |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Sale of shares to redeemable noncontrolling interests |
|||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Ending balance | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest – Vermeer
RenaissanceRe owns 100 % of the voting non-participating shares of Vermeer, while the sole third-party investor, PFZW, owns 100 % of the non-voting participating shares of Vermeer and retains all of the economic benefits. Vermeer is managed by RUM in return for a management fee. The Company has concluded that Vermeer is a VIE as it has voting rights that are not proportional to its participating rights, and the Company is the primary beneficiary of Vermeer. As a result, the Company consolidates Vermeer and all significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated. As PFZW owns all of the economics of Vermeer, all of Vermeer’s earnings are allocated to PFZW in the consolidated statement of operations as net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests. The Company has not provided any financial or other support to Vermeer that it was not contractually required to provide.
35
The activity in redeemable noncontrolling interest – Vermeer is detailed in the table below:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest |
|||||||||||||||||
Ending balance | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
NOTE 9. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Upsilon RFO
RenaissanceRe indirectly owns a portion of the participating non-voting preference shares of Upsilon RFO and all of Upsilon RFO’s voting Class A shares. The shareholders (other than the voting Class A shareholder) participate in all of the profits or losses of Upsilon RFO while their shares remain outstanding. The shareholders (other than the voting Class A shareholder) indemnify Upsilon RFO against losses relating to insurance risk, and therefore, these shares have been accounted for as prospective reinsurance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Services - Insurance.
Upsilon RFO is considered a VIE as it has insufficient equity capital to finance its activities without additional financial support. The Company is the primary beneficiary of Upsilon RFO as it has the power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Upsilon RFO and has the obligation to absorb expected losses and the right to receive expected benefits that could be significant to Upsilon RFO, in accordance with the accounting guidance. As a result, the Company consolidates Upsilon RFO and all significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated. Other than its equity investment in Upsilon RFO, the Company has not provided financial or other support to Upsilon RFO that it was not contractually required to provide.
2021
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, $470.3 million of Upsilon RFO non-voting preference shares were issued to existing investors, including $32.3 million to the Company. Also during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and following the release of collateral that was previously held by cedants associated with prior years’ contracts, Upsilon RFO returned $145.0 million of capital to its investors, including $9.2 million to the Company. At March 31, 2021, the Company’s participation in the risks assumed by Upsilon RFO was 12.8 %.
At March 31, 2021, the Company’s consolidated balance sheet included total assets and total liabilities of Upsilon RFO of $3.9 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively (December 31, 2020 - $3.8 billion and $3.8 billion, respectively). Of the total assets and liabilities, a net amount of $2.0 billion is attributable to the Company, and $0.3 billion is attributable to third-party investors.
2020
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, Upsilon RFO returned $81.8 million of capital to its investors, including $29.9 million to the Company. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2020, $620.9 million of Upsilon RFO non-voting preference shares were issued to existing investors, including $75.4 million to the Company. At March 31, 2020, the Company’s participation in the risks assumed by Upsilon RFO was 14.2 %.
Vermeer
Vermeer provides capacity focused on risk remote layers in the U.S. property catastrophe market. See “Note 8. Noncontrolling Interests” for additional information regarding Vermeer.
At March 31, 2021, the Company’s consolidated balance sheet included total assets and total liabilities of Vermeer of $1.2 billion and $47.5 million, respectively (December 31, 2020 - $1.1 billion and $36.7 million, respectively). In addition, the Company’s consolidated balance sheet included redeemable noncontrolling interests associated with Vermeer of $1.1 billion at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - $1.1 billion).
36
Mona Lisa Re Ltd.
Mona Lisa Re provides reinsurance capacity to subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe through reinsurance agreements which are collateralized and funded by Mona Lisa Re through the issuance of one or more series of principal-at-risk variable rate notes to third-party investors.
Upon issuance of a series of notes by Mona Lisa Re, all of the proceeds from the issuance are deposited into collateral accounts, separated by series, to fund any potential obligation under the reinsurance agreements entered into with Renaissance Reinsurance and/or DaVinci underlying such series of notes. The outstanding principal amount of each series of notes generally will be returned to holders of such notes upon the expiration of the risk period underlying such notes, unless an event occurs which causes a loss under the applicable series of notes, in which case the amount returned will be reduced by such noteholder’s pro rata share of such loss, as specified in the applicable governing documents of such notes.
In addition, holders of such notes are generally entitled to interest payments, payable quarterly, as determined by the applicable governing documents of each series of notes.
The Company concluded that Mona Lisa Re meets the definition of a VIE as it does not have sufficient equity capital to finance its activities. The Company evaluated its relationship with Mona Lisa Re and concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of Mona Lisa Re as it does not have the power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Mona Lisa Re, in accordance with the accounting guidance. As a result, the financial position and results of operations of Mona Lisa Re are not consolidated by the Company.
The only transactions related to Mona Lisa Re that are recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are the ceded reinsurance agreements entered into by Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci which are accounted for as prospective reinsurance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Services - Insurance, and the fair value of the principal-at-risk variable rate notes owned by the Company. Other than its investment in the principal-at-risk variable rate notes of Mona Lisa Re, the Company has not provided financial or other support to Mona Lisa Re that it was not contractually required to provide.
Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci have together entered into ceded reinsurance contracts with Mona Lisa Re with ceded premiums written of $28.3 million and $6.4 million, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2021 (2020 - $24.3 million and $6.7 million, respectively). In addition, Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci recognized ceded premiums earned related to the ceded reinsurance contracts with Mona Lisa Re of $9.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2021 (2020 - $24.3 million and $6.7 million, respectively).
At March 31, 2021, the total assets and total liabilities of Mona Lisa Re were $423.8 million and $423.8 million, respectively (December 31, 2020 - $400.3 million and $400.3 million, respectively).
The fair value of the Company’s investment in the principal-at-risk variable rate notes of Mona Lisa Re is included in other investments. Net of third-party investors, the fair value of the Company’s investment in Mona Lisa Re was $3.7 million at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - $3.7 million).
Fibonacci Re
Fibonacci Re provides collateralized capacity to Renaissance Reinsurance and its affiliates.
The Company concluded that Fibonacci Re meets the definition of a VIE as it does not have sufficient equity capital to finance its activities. The Company evaluated its relationship with Fibonacci Re and concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of Fibonacci Re as it does not have power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Fibonacci Re. As a result, the Company does not consolidate the financial position or results of operations of Fibonacci Re.
The only transactions related to Fibonacci Re that are recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are the ceded reinsurance agreements entered into by Renaissance Reinsurance that are accounted for as prospective reinsurance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Services - Insurance, and the fair value of the participating notes owned by the Company. Other than its investment in the participating notes of Fibonacci Re, the Company has not provided financial or other support to Fibonacci Re that it was not contractually required to provide.
37
Renaissance Reinsurance entered into ceded reinsurance contracts with Fibonacci Re with ceded premiums written of $Nil and ceded premiums earned of $Nil during the three months ended March 31, 2021 (2020 - $Nil and $Nil , respectively). During the three months ended March 31, 2021, Renaissance Reinsurance reduced its net claims and claim expenses ceded to Fibonacci Re by $Nil (2020 - ceded net claims and claim expenses of $1.1 million) and as of March 31, 2021 had a net reinsurance recoverable of $Nil from Fibonacci Re (December 31, 2020 - $Nil ).
The fair value of the Company’s investment in the participating notes of Fibonacci Re is included in other investments. During 2020, all previously outstanding series of notes issued by Fibonacci Re were redeemed and the proceeds were returned to the holders of such notes. Net of third-party investors, the fair value of the Company’s investment in Fibonacci Re was $Nil at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - $Nil ).
Langhorne
The Company and Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated formed Langhorne, an initiative to source third-party capital to support reinsurers targeting large in-force life and annuity blocks. In connection with Langhorne, as of March 31, 2021 the Company has invested $2.1 million in Langhorne Holdings (December 31, 2020 - $2.0 million), a company that owns and manages certain reinsurance entities within Langhorne. In addition, as of March 31, 2021 the Company has invested $0.1 million in Langhorne Partners (December 31, 2020 - $0.1 million), the general partner for Langhorne and the entity which manages the third-party investors investing into Langhorne Holdings.
The Company concluded that Langhorne Holdings meets the definition of a VIE as the voting rights are not proportional with the obligations to absorb losses and rights to receive residual returns. The Company evaluated its relationship with Langhorne Holdings and concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of Langhorne Holdings, as it does not have power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Langhorne Holdings. As a result, the Company does not consolidate the financial position or results of operations of Langhorne Holdings. The Company separately evaluated Langhorne Partners and concluded that it was not a VIE. The Company accounts for its investments in Langhorne Holdings and Langhorne Partners under the equity method of accounting, one quarter in arrears.
The Company anticipates that its absolute investment in Langhorne will increase, perhaps materially, as in-force life and annuity blocks of businesses are written. The Company expects its absolute and relative ownership in Langhorne Partners to remain stable. Other than its current and committed future equity investment in Langhorne, the Company has not provided financial or other support to Langhorne that it was not contractually required to provide.
Shima Re
Shima Re was acquired on March 22, 2019 in connection with the acquisition of TMR. Shima Re is a Bermuda domiciled Class 3 insurer. Shima Re is registered as a segregated accounts company and provides third-party investors with access to reinsurance risk. The maximum remaining exposure of each segregated account is fully collateralized and is funded by cash or investments as prescribed by the participant thereto. Shima Re no longer writes new business and the last in-force contract written by Shima Re expired on December 31, 2019. The Company ceased providing management services to Shima Re effective December 1, 2020.
Shima Re is considered a VIE as it has voting rights that are not proportional to its participating rights. The Company evaluated its relationship with Shima Re and concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of any segregated account, as it does not have power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of any segregated account. As a result, the Company does not consolidate the financial position or results of operations of Shima Re or its segregated accounts. The Company has not provided any financial or other support to any segregated account of Shima Re that it was not contractually required to provide.
Norwood Re
Until December 1, 2020, Norwood Re was managed by a subsidiary of RREAG that the Company acquired in the acquisition of TMR. Norwood Re is a Bermuda domiciled SPI registered as a segregated accounts company formed to provide solutions for reinsurance-linked asset investors. Norwood Re is wholly owned
38
by the Norwood Re Purpose Trust. Risks assumed by the segregated accounts of Norwood Re are fronted by or ceded from only one cedant - RREAG and/or its insurance affiliates. The obligations of each segregated account are funded through the issuance of non-voting preference shares to third-party investors. The maximum exposure of each segregated account is fully collateralized and is funded by cash and term deposits or investments as prescribed by the participant thereto. Norwood Re no longer writes new business, and the last in-force contract written by Norwood Re expired on June 30, 2020. The Company ceased providing management services to Norwood Re effective December 1, 2020.
Norwood Re is considered a VIE as it has voting rights that are not proportional to its participating rights. The Company evaluated its relationship with Norwood Re and concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of Norwood Re and its segregated accounts, as it does not have power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Norwood Re and its segregated accounts. As a result, the Company does not consolidate the financial position or results of operations of Norwood Re and its segregated accounts. The Company has not provided any financial or other support to Norwood Re that it was not contractually required to provide.
NOTE 10. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Shares
On June 5, 2020, the Company issued 6,325,000 of its common shares in an underwritten public offering at a public offering price of $166.00 per share. Concurrently with the public offering, the Company raised $75.0 million through the issuance of 451,807 of its common shares at a price of $166.00 per share to State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, one of the Company’s existing stockholders, in a private placement. The total net proceeds from the offerings were $1.1 billion.
Series C 6.08 % Preference Shares Redemption
The Series C 6.08 % Preference Shares were redeemed on March 26, 2020 for $125.0 million plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon. Following the redemption, no Series C 6.08 % Preference Shares remain outstanding.
Dividends
The Board of Directors of RenaissanceRe declared a dividend of $0.36 per common share, payable to common shareholders of record on March 15, 2021, and the Company paid the dividend on March 31, 2021.
The Board of Directors approved the payment of quarterly dividends on the Series C 6.08 % Preference Shares, Series E 5.375 % Preference Shares and 5.750 % Series F Preference Shares to preference shareholders of record in the amounts and on the quarterly record dates and dividend payment dates set forth in the prospectus supplement and Certificate of Designation for the applicable series of preference shares, unless and until further action is taken by the Board of Directors. The dividend payment dates for the preference shares will be the first day of March, June, September and December of each year (or if this date is not a business day, on the business day immediately following this date). The record dates for the preference share dividends are one day prior to the dividend payment dates. The amount of the dividend on the Series C 6.08 % Preference Shares was an amount per share equal to 6.08 % of the liquidation preference per annum (the equivalent to $1.52 per share per annum, or $0.38 per share per quarter), and was paid prior to the redemption in full of the Series C 6.08 % shares on March 26, 2020. The amount of the dividend on the Series E 5.375 % Preference Shares is an amount per share equal to 5.375 % of the liquidation preference per annum (the equivalent to $1.34375 per share per annum, or $0.3359375 per share per quarter). The amount of the dividend on the 5.750 % Series F Preference Shares is an amount per share equal to 5.750 % of the liquidation preference per annum (the equivalent to $1,437.50 per 5.750 % Series F Preference Share per annum, or $359.375 per 5.750 % Series F Preference Share per quarter, or $1.4375 per Depositary Share per annum, or $0.359375 per Depositary Share per quarter).
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company paid $7.3 million in preference share dividends (2020 - $9.1 million) and $17.8 million in common share dividends (2020 - $15.4 million).
Share Repurchases
39
The Company’s share repurchase program may be effected from time to time, depending on market conditions and other factors, through open market purchases and privately negotiated transactions. On February 5, 2021, RenaissanceRe’s Board of Directors approved a renewal of its authorized share repurchase program for an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 million. Unless terminated earlier by RenaissanceRe’s Board of Directors, the program will expire when the Company has repurchased the full value of the common shares authorized. The Company’s decision to repurchase common shares will depend on, among other matters, the market price of the common shares and the capital requirements of the Company. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repurchased 1,076,344 common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $171.6 million and an average price of $159.47 per common share. At March 31, 2021, $328.4 million remained available for repurchase under the share repurchase program.
Refer to Note 15. “Subsequent Events” for additional information related to common share repurchases subsequent to March 31, 2021.
NOTE 11. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
(common shares in thousands) | March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
|||||||||||||||
Numerator: | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||||||||
Amount allocated to participating common shareholders (1) |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Net loss allocated to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||||||||
Denominator: | |||||||||||||||||
Denominator for basic loss per RenaissanceRe common share - weighted average common shares | |||||||||||||||||
Per common share equivalents of employee stock options and non-vested shares |
|||||||||||||||||
Denominator for diluted loss per RenaissanceRe common share - adjusted weighted average common shares and assumed conversions | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share – basic | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share – diluted | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||||||||
(1)Represents earnings and dividends attributable to holders of unvested shares issued pursuant to the Company's stock compensation plans.
40
NOTE 12. SEGMENT REPORTING
The Company’s reportable segments are defined as follows: (1) Property, which is comprised of catastrophe and other property reinsurance and insurance written on behalf of the Company’s operating subsidiaries and certain joint ventures and managed funds, and (2) Casualty and Specialty, which is comprised of casualty and specialty reinsurance and insurance written on behalf of the Company’s operating subsidiaries and certain joint ventures and managed funds. In addition to its reportable segments, the Company has an Other category, which primarily includes its strategic investments, investments unit, corporate expenses, capital servicing costs, noncontrolling interests and certain expenses related to acquisitions and disposals.
The Company’s Property segment is managed by the Chief Underwriting Officer - Property and the Casualty and Specialty segment is managed by the Chief Underwriting Officer - Casualty and Specialty, each of whom operate under the direction of the Company’s Group Chief Underwriting Officer, who in turn reports to the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
The Company does not manage its assets by segment; accordingly, net investment income and total assets are not allocated to the segments.
A summary of the significant components of the Company’s revenues and expenses by segment is as follows:
Three months ended March 31, 2021 | Property | Casualty and Specialty | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operational expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting (loss) income | $ | ( |
$ | $ | ( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net foreign exchange losses | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of other ventures |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss before taxes | ( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax benefit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on preference shares | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – current accident year |
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – prior accident years |
( |
( |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – total |
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – current accident year |
% | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – prior accident years |
( |
% | ( |
% | ( |
% | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – calendar year |
% | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combined ratio | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
41
Three months ended March 31, 2020 | Property | Casualty and Specialty | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operational expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting income (loss) | $ | $ | ( |
$ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net foreign exchange losses | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of other ventures |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other loss | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income before taxes |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax benefit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on preference shares | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – current accident year |
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – prior accident years |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – total |
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – current accident year |
% | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – prior accident years |
% | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – calendar year |
% | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio |
% | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combined ratio |
% | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
42
NOTE 13. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
43
The tables below show the gross and net amounts of recognized derivative assets and liabilities at fair value, including the location on the consolidated balance sheets of the Company’s principal derivative instruments:
Derivative Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At March 31, 2021 | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets | Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet | Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Balance Sheet | Balance Sheet Location | Collateral | Net Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate futures | $ | $ | $ | Other assets | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps | Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (1)
|
Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (2)
|
Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit default swaps | Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total derivative instruments not designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (3)
|
Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At March 31, 2021 | Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities | Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet | Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Balance Sheet | Balance Sheet Location | Collateral Pledged | Net Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate futures | $ | $ | $ | Other liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (1)
|
Other liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (2)
|
Other liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total derivative instruments not designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (3)
|
Other liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in underwriting and non-investment operations.
(2)Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in investment operations.
(3)Contracts designated as hedges of net investments in foreign operations.
44
Derivative Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2020 | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets | Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet | Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Balance Sheet | Balance Sheet Location | Collateral | Net Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate futures | $ | $ | $ | Other assets | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps | Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (1)
|
Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (2)
|
Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit default swaps | Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total derivative instruments not designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (3)
|
Other assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2020 | Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities | Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet | Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Balance Sheet | Balance Sheet Location | Collateral Pledged | Net Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate futures | $ | $ | $ | Other liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (1)
|
Other liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (2)
|
Other liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total derivative instruments not designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments designated as hedges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (3)
|
Other liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in underwriting and non-investment operations.
(2)Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in investment operations.
(3)Contracts designated as hedges of net investments in foreign operations.
45
The location and amount of the gain (loss) recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations related to its principal derivative instruments are shown in the following table:
Location of gain (loss) recognized on derivatives |
Amount of gain (loss) recognized on derivatives |
|||||||||||||||||||
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges |
||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate futures |
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps |
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | ( |
||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (1)
|
Net foreign exchange losses | ( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (2)
|
Net foreign exchange losses | ( |
||||||||||||||||||
Credit default swaps |
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | ( |
||||||||||||||||||
Total return swaps |
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | ( |
||||||||||||||||||
Equity futures |
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | ( |
||||||||||||||||||
Total derivative instruments not designated as hedges |
||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments designated as hedges |
||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency forward contracts (3)
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( |
||||||||||||||||||
Total derivative instruments designated as hedges |
( |
|||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
(1)Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in underwriting and non-investment operations.
(2)Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in investment operations.
(3)Contracts designated as hedges of net investments in foreign operations.
The Company is not aware of the existence of any credit-risk related contingent features that it believes would be triggered in its derivative instruments that are in a net liability position at March 31, 2021.
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedges
Interest Rate Derivatives
The Company uses interest rate futures and swaps within its portfolio of fixed maturity investments to manage its exposure to interest rate risk, which may result in increasing or decreasing its exposure to this risk.
Interest Rate Futures
The fair value of interest rate futures is determined using exchange traded prices. At March 31, 2021, the Company had $1.8 billion of notional long positions and $0.9 billion of notional short positions of primarily Eurodollar and U.S. treasury futures contracts (December 31, 2020 - $2.0 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively).
Interest Rate Swaps
The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined using the relevant exchange traded price where available or a discounted cash flow model based on the terms of the contract and inputs, including, where applicable, observable yield curves. At March 31, 2021, the Company had $Nil of notional positions paying a fixed rate and $20.2 million receiving a fixed rate denominated in U.S. dollar swap contracts (December 31, 2020 - $Nil and $23.5 million, respectively).
46
Foreign Currency Derivatives
The Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The Company writes a portion of its business in currencies other than U.S. dollars and may, from time to time, experience foreign exchange gains and losses in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. All changes in exchange rates, with the exception of non-monetary assets and liabilities, are recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Underwriting and Non-investments Operations Related Foreign Currency Contracts
The Company's foreign currency policy with regard to its underwriting operations is generally to enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts for notional values that approximate the foreign currency liabilities, including claims and claim expense reserves and reinsurance balances payable, net of any cash, investments and receivables held in the respective foreign currency. The Company's use of foreign currency forward and option contracts is intended to minimize the effect of fluctuating foreign currencies on the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated assets and liabilities associated with its underwriting operations. The Company may determine not to match a portion of its projected underwriting related assets or liabilities with underlying foreign currency exposure with investments in the same currencies, which would increase its exposure to foreign currency fluctuations and potentially increase the impact and volatility of foreign exchange gains and losses on its results of operations. The fair value of the Company’s underwriting operations related foreign currency contracts is determined using indicative pricing obtained from counterparties or broker quotes. At March 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding underwriting related foreign currency contracts of $843.3 million in notional long positions and $355.6 million in notional short positions, denominated in U.S. dollars (December 31, 2020 - $661.4 million and $504.2 million, respectively).
Investment Portfolio Related Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
The Company’s investment operations are exposed to currency fluctuations through its investments in non-U.S. dollar fixed maturity investments, short term investments and other investments. From time to time, the Company may employ foreign currency forward contracts in its investment portfolio to either assume foreign currency risk or to economically hedge its exposure to currency fluctuations from these investments. The fair value of the Company’s investment portfolio related foreign currency forward contracts is determined using an interpolated rate based on closing forward market rates. At March 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding investment portfolio related foreign currency contracts of $265.5 million in notional long positions and $139.3 million in notional short positions, denominated in U.S. dollars (December 31, 2020 - $269.5 million and $117.5 million, respectively).
Credit Derivatives
The Company’s exposure to credit risk is primarily due to its fixed maturity investments, short term investments, premiums receivable and reinsurance recoverable. From time to time, the Company may purchase credit derivatives to hedge its exposures in the insurance industry, and to assist in managing the credit risk associated with ceded reinsurance. The Company also employs credit derivatives in its investment portfolio to either assume credit risk or hedge its credit exposure.
Credit Default Swaps
The fair value of the Company’s credit default swaps is determined using industry valuation models, broker bid indications or internal pricing valuation techniques. The fair value of these credit default swaps can change based on a variety of factors including changes in credit spreads, default rates and recovery rates, the correlation of credit risk between the referenced credit and the counterparty, and market rate inputs such as interest rates. At March 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding credit default swaps of $25.0 million in notional positions to hedge credit risk and $77.9 million in notional positions to assume credit risk, denominated in U.S. dollars (December 31, 2020 - $Nil and $96.8 million, respectively).
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Total Return Swaps
From time to time, the Company uses total return swaps as a means to manage spread duration and credit exposure in its investment portfolio. The fair value of the Company’s total return swaps is determined using broker-dealer bid quotations, market-based prices from pricing vendors or valuation models. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had no outstanding total return swaps, respectively.
Equity Derivatives
Equity Futures
From time to time, the Company uses equity derivatives in its investment portfolio from time to time to either assume equity risk or hedge its equity exposure. The fair value of the Company’s equity futures is determined using market-based prices from pricing vendors. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had no outstanding equity futures, respectively.
Derivative Instruments Designated as Hedges of Net Investments in Foreign Operations
Foreign Currency Derivatives
Hedges of Net Investments in Foreign Operations
Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries use non-U.S. dollar functional currencies. The Company, from time to time, enters into foreign exchange forwards to hedge currencies, which currently includes the Australian dollar and Euro net investment in foreign operations, on an after-tax basis, from changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and these currencies.
The Company utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge the fair value of its net investment in a foreign operation. The Company has entered into foreign exchange forward contracts that were formally designated as hedges of its investment in subsidiaries with non-U.S. dollar functional currencies. There was no ineffectiveness in these transactions.
The table below provides a summary of derivative instruments designated as hedges of net investments in foreign operations, including the weighted average U.S. dollar equivalent of foreign denominated net (liabilities) assets that were hedged and the resulting derivative (losses) gains that are recorded in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax, within accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income on the Company’s consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity:
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2021 |
March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Weighted average of U.S. dollar equivalent of foreign denominated net (liabilities) assets | $ | ( |
$ | ||||||||||||||
Derivative (losses) gains (1)
|
$ | ( |
$ | ||||||||||||||
(1) Derivative (losses) gains from derivative instruments designated as hedges of the net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax, within accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income on the Company’s consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity.
NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER ITEMS
There are no material changes from the commitments, contingencies and other items previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Legal Proceedings
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to lawsuits and regulatory actions in the normal course of business that do not arise from or directly relate to claims on reinsurance treaties or contracts or direct surplus lines insurance policies. In the Company’s industry, business litigation may involve allegations of underwriting or claims-handling errors or misconduct, disputes relating to the scope of, or compliance with, the terms of delegated underwriting agreements, employment claims, regulatory actions or disputes arising
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NOTE 15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Effective April 1, 2021, the Company raised over $100.0 million of capital through Medici. Following this transaction, the Company’s ownership in Medici was 13.7 %.
Subsequent to March 31, 2021 and through the period ended April 23, 2021, we repurchased 330 thousand common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $55.3 million and an average price of $167.62 per common share.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following is a discussion and analysis of our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, as well as our liquidity and capital resources at March 31, 2021. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this filing and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. This filing contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results described or implied by these forward-looking statements. See “Note on Forward-Looking Statements.”
In this Form 10-Q, references to “RenaissanceRe” refer to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (the parent company) and references to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. together with its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.
All dollar amounts referred to in this Form 10-Q are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Due to rounding, numbers presented in the tables included in this Form 10-Q may not add up precisely to the totals provided.
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INDEX TO MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Page | |||||
OVERVIEW
RenaissanceRe is a global provider of reinsurance and insurance. We provide property, casualty and specialty reinsurance and certain insurance solutions to customers, principally through intermediaries. Established in 1993, we have offices in Bermuda, Australia, Ireland, Singapore, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S. Our operating subsidiaries include Renaissance Reinsurance, Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. Inc., RenaissanceRe Specialty U.S. Ltd. (“RenaissanceRe Specialty U.S.”), RenaissanceRe Europe AG (“RREAG”), Renaissance Reinsurance of Europe Unlimited Company (“Renaissance Reinsurance of Europe”) and our Lloyd’s syndicate, RenaissanceRe Syndicate 1458 (“Syndicate 1458”). We also underwrite reinsurance on behalf of joint ventures, including DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd. (“DaVinci”), Top Layer Reinsurance Ltd. (“Top Layer Re”), Upsilon RFO Re Ltd. (“Upsilon RFO”) and Vermeer Reinsurance Ltd. (“Vermeer”). In addition, through RenaissanceRe Medici Fund Ltd. (“Medici”), we invest in various insurance-based investment instruments that have returns primarily tied to property catastrophe risk.
We aspire to be the world’s best underwriter by matching well-structured risks with efficient sources of capital and our mission is to produce superior returns for our shareholders over the long term. We seek to accomplish these goals by being a trusted, long-term partner to our customers for assessing and managing risk, delivering responsive and innovative solutions, leveraging our core capabilities of risk assessment and information management, investing in these core capabilities in order to serve our customers across market cycles, and keeping our promises. Our strategy focuses on superior risk selection, superior customer relationships and superior capital management. We provide value to our customers and joint venture and managed funds partners in the form of financial security, innovative products, and responsive service. We are known as a leader in paying valid claims promptly. We principally measure our financial success through long-term growth in tangible book value per common share plus the change in accumulated dividends, which we believe is the most appropriate measure of our financial performance, and in respect of which we believe we have delivered superior performance over time. The principal drivers of our profit are underwriting income, investment income and fee income generated by our third-party capital management business.
Our core products include property, casualty and specialty reinsurance, and certain insurance products principally distributed through intermediaries, with whom we have cultivated strong long-term relationships. We believe we have been one of the world’s leading providers of catastrophe reinsurance since our founding. In recent years, through the strategic execution of several initiatives, including organic growth and acquisitions, we have expanded and diversified our casualty and specialty platform and products, and believe we are a leader in certain casualty and specialty lines of business. We also pursue a number of other opportunities, such as creating and managing our joint ventures and managed funds, executing
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customized reinsurance transactions to assume or cede risk, and managing certain strategic investments directed at classes of risk other than catastrophe reinsurance. From time to time we consider diversification into new ventures, either through organic growth, the formation of new joint ventures or managed funds, or the acquisition of, or the investment in, other companies or books of business of other companies.
We have determined our business consists of the following reportable segments: (1) Property, which is comprised of catastrophe and other property reinsurance and insurance written on behalf of our operating subsidiaries and certain joint ventures and managed funds, and (2) Casualty and Specialty, which is comprised of casualty and specialty reinsurance and insurance written on behalf of our operating subsidiaries and certain joint ventures and managed funds.
To best serve our clients in the places they do business, we have operating subsidiaries, branches, joint ventures, managed funds and underwriting platforms around the world. We write property and casualty and specialty reinsurance through our wholly owned operating subsidiaries, joint ventures, managed funds and Syndicate 1458 and certain insurance products primarily through Syndicate 1458 and RenaissanceRe Specialty U.S. Syndicate 1458 provides us with access to Lloyd’s extensive distribution network and worldwide licenses, and also writes business through delegated authority arrangements. The underwriting results of our operating subsidiaries and underwriting platforms are included in our Property and Casualty and Specialty segment results as appropriate.
A meaningful portion of the reinsurance and insurance we write provides protection from damages relating to natural and man-made catastrophes. Our results depend to a large extent on the frequency and severity of these catastrophic events, and the coverages we offer to customers affected by these events. We are exposed to significant losses from these catastrophic events and other exposures we cover, which primarily impact our Property segment, in both the property catastrophe and other property lines of business. Accordingly, we expect a significant degree of volatility in our financial results and our financial results may vary significantly from quarter-to-quarter and from year-to-year, based on the level of insured catastrophic losses occurring around the world. Our Casualty and Specialty business, which represents approximately half of our gross premiums written annually, is an efficient use of capital that is generally less correlated with our Property business. It allows us to bring additional capacity to our clients, across a wider range of product offerings, while continuing to be good stewards of our shareholders’ capital.
We continually explore appropriate and efficient ways to address the risk needs of our clients and the impact of various regulatory and legislative changes on our operations. We have created and managed, and continue to manage, multiple capital vehicles across several jurisdictions and may create additional risk bearing vehicles or enter into additional jurisdictions in the future. In addition, our differentiated strategy and capabilities position us to pursue bespoke or large solutions for clients, which may be non-recurring. This, and other factors including the timing of contract inception, could result in significant volatility of premiums in both our Property and Casualty and Specialty segments. As our product and geographical diversity increases, we may be exposed to new risks, uncertainties and sources of volatility.
Our revenues are principally derived from three sources: (1) net premiums earned from the reinsurance and insurance policies we sell; (2) net investment income and realized and unrealized gains from the investment of our capital funds and the investment of the cash we receive on the policies which we sell; and (3) fees and other income received from our joint ventures and managed funds, advisory services and various other items.
Our expenses primarily consist of: (1) net claims and claim expenses incurred on the policies of reinsurance and insurance we sell; (2) acquisition costs which typically represent a percentage of the premiums we write; (3) operating expenses which primarily consist of personnel expenses, rent and other operating expenses; (4) corporate expenses which include certain executive, legal and consulting expenses, costs for research and development, transaction and integration-related expenses, and other miscellaneous costs, including those associated with operating as a publicly traded company; (5) redeemable noncontrolling interests, which represent the interests of third parties with respect to the net income of DaVinciRe Holdings Ltd. (“DaVinciRe”), Medici and Vermeer; and (6) interest and dividend costs related to our debt and preference shares. We are also subject to taxes in certain jurisdictions in which we operate. Since the majority of our income is currently earned in Bermuda, which does not have a corporate income tax, the tax impact to our operations has historically been minimal. In the future, our net tax exposure may increase as our operations expand geographically, or as a result of adverse tax developments.
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The underwriting results of an insurance or reinsurance company are discussed frequently by reference to its net claims and claim expense ratio, underwriting expense ratio, and combined ratio. The net claims and claim expense ratio is calculated by dividing net claims and claim expenses incurred by net premiums earned. The underwriting expense ratio is calculated by dividing underwriting expenses (acquisition expenses and operational expenses) by net premiums earned. The combined ratio is the sum of the net claims and claim expense ratio and the underwriting expense ratio. A combined ratio below 100% indicates profitable underwriting prior to the consideration of investment income. A combined ratio over 100% indicates unprofitable underwriting prior to the consideration of investment income. We also discuss our net claims and claim expense ratio on a current accident year basis and a prior accident years basis. The current accident year net claims and claim expense ratio is calculated by taking current accident year net claims and claim expenses incurred, divided by net premiums earned. The prior accident years net claims and claim expense ratio is calculated by taking prior accident years net claims and claim expenses incurred, divided by net premiums earned.
Segments
Our reportable segments are defined as follows: (1) Property, which is comprised of catastrophe and other property reinsurance and insurance written on behalf of our operating subsidiaries and certain joint ventures and managed funds, and (2) Casualty and Specialty, which is comprised of casualty and specialty reinsurance and insurance written on behalf of our operating subsidiaries and certain joint ventures and managed funds. In addition to our two reportable segments, we have an Other category, which primarily includes our strategic investments, investments unit, corporate expenses, capital servicing costs, noncontrolling interests and certain expenses related to acquisitions and disposals.
COVID-19 Pandemic
In late 2019, an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus emerged and has since spread globally. It is not yet possible to give an estimate of all of the Company’s potential reinsurance, insurance or investment exposures, or any other effects that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our results of operations or financial condition. Due to the ongoing and rapidly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuing to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, operations and financial condition, including our potential loss exposures.
We approach estimation of our potential loss exposure by dividing our exposures into three categories: (1) event-like losses, such as event contingency, event-based casualty class and certain types of accident and health, (2) developing losses, such as traditional casualty lines, financial credit lines, such as mortgage and trade credit and surety, and (3) known unknowns, which is primarily business interruption. We continue to evaluate industry trends and our potential exposure associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and expect historically significant industry losses to emerge over time as the full impact of the pandemic and its effects on the global economy are realized. A longer or more severe recession will increase the probability of losses. Potential legislative, regulatory and judicial actions are also causing significant uncertainty with respect to policy coverage and other issues. Among other things, we continue to actively monitor information received from or reported by clients, brokers, industry actuaries, regulators, courts, and others, and to assess that information in the context of our own portfolio.
In addition to coverage exposures, volatility in global financial markets, together with low or negative interest rates, reduced liquidity and a slowdown in global economic conditions in many economies, have impacted, and may affect, our investment portfolio in the future. These conditions may also negatively impact our ability to access liquidity and capital markets financing, which may not be available or may only be available on unfavorable terms.
While we believe we have been able to operate effectively with most of our employees working remotely, an extended period of remote work arrangements could strain the Company’s business continuity plans, introduce operational risk, including but not limited to cybersecurity risks, and adversely affect the Company’s ability to manage our business.
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SUMMARY OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our critical accounting estimates include “Claims and Claim Expense Reserves,” “Premiums and Related Expenses,” “Reinsurance Recoverables,” “Fair Value Measurements and Impairments” and “Income Taxes,” and are discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting estimates as disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Below is a discussion of the results of operations for the first quarter of 2021, compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Statement of operations highlights | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written |
$ | 2,652,442 | $ | 2,025,721 | $ | 626,721 | |||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written |
$ | 1,824,083 | $ | 1,269,808 | $ | 554,275 | |||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned |
$ | 1,153,836 | $ | 913,098 | $ | 240,738 | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred |
867,051 | 570,954 | 296,097 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition expenses |
267,234 | 210,604 | 56,630 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operational expenses |
55,311 | 67,461 | (12,150) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting (loss) income | $ | (35,760) | $ | 64,079 | $ | (99,839) | |||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 79,804 | $ | 99,473 | $ | (19,669) | |||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | (345,563) | (110,707) | (234,856) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment result |
$ | (265,759) | $ | (11,234) | $ | (254,525) | |||||||||||||||||
Net (loss) income | $ | (330,495) | $ | 25,173 | $ | (355,668) | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | (290,934) | $ | (81,974) | $ | (208,960) | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share – diluted | $ | (5.87) | $ | (1.89) | $ | (3.98) | |||||||||||||||||
Dividends per common share |
$ | 0.36 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||||
Key ratios | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – current accident year |
75.9 | % | 61.0 | % | 14.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – prior accident years |
(0.8) | % | 1.5 | % | (2.3) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – calendar year | 75.1 | % | 62.5 | % | 12.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio | 28.0 | % | 30.5 | % | (2.5) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Combined ratio | 103.1 | % | 93.0 | % | 10.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Return on average common equity - annualized | (17.1) | % | (6.3) | % | (10.8) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Book value | March 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
Book value per common share |
$ | 131.15 | $ | 138.46 | $ | (7.31) | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated dividends per common share |
22.44 | 22.08 | 0.36 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Book value per common share plus accumulated dividends |
$ | 153.59 | $ | 160.54 | $ | (6.95) | |||||||||||||||||
Change in book value per common share plus change in accumulated dividends |
(5.0) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders was $290.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders of $82.0 million in the first quarter of 2020. As a result of our net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders in the first quarter of 2021, we generated an annualized return on average common equity of negative 17.1% and our book value per common share decreased from $138.46 at December 31, 2020 to $131.15 at March 31, 2021, a 5.0% decrease, after considering the change in accumulated dividends paid to our common shareholders.
The most significant items affecting our financial performance during the first quarter of 2021, on a comparative basis to the first quarter of 2020, include:
•Impact of Winter Storm Uri - in the first quarter of 2021 we had a net negative impact on net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders of $179.8 million resulting from Winter Storm Uri.
•Underwriting Results - we incurred an underwriting loss of $35.8 million and had a combined ratio of 103.1% in the first quarter of 2021, compared to underwriting income of $64.1 million and a combined ratio of 93.0% in the first quarter of 2020. Our underwriting loss in the first quarter of 2021 was comprised of a $41.8 million underwriting loss in our Property segment and $6.0 million underwriting income in our Casualty and Specialty segment. In comparison, our underwriting income in the first quarter of 2020 was comprised of our Property segment, which generated underwriting income of $147.2 million, and our Casualty and Specialty segment, which incurred an underwriting loss of $83.2 million.
Included in our underwriting results in the first quarter of 2021 was the impact of the Winter Storm Uri, which resulted in a net negative impact on the underwriting result of $291.5 million and added 26.9 percentage points to the combined ratio, primarily in the Property segment. In comparison, the first quarter of 2020 was impacted by net claims and claim expenses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic of $103.8 million, which added 21.1 percentage points to the Casualty and Specialty segment combined ratio. The losses primarily represent the cost of claims incurred but not yet reported, with respect to exposures such as event contingency and event-based casualty covers.
•Gross Premiums Written - our gross premiums written increased by $626.7 million, or 30.9%, to $2.7 billion, in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the first quarter of 2020, with an increase of $396.3 million in the Property segment and an increase of $230.4 million in the Casualty and Specialty segment, driven by growth from both new and existing business across a number of our underwriting platforms, rate improvements, and, in our Property segment, reinstatement premiums associated with Winter Storm Uri.
•Investment Results - our total investment result, which includes the sum of net investment income and net realized and unrealized losses on investments, was a loss of $265.8 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $11.2 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase in the loss of $254.5 million. Impacting the investment result were realized and unrealized losses on our fixed maturity and equity investments trading portfolios.
•Net Loss Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests - our net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests was $46.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests of $98.1 million in the first quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by underwriting losses in DaVinci and Vermeer as a result of Winter Storm Uri, as well as investment losses, and a decrease in Medici net income.
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Net Negative Impact
Net negative impact on underwriting result includes the sum of (1) net claims and claim expenses incurred, (2) assumed and ceded reinstatement premiums earned and (3) earned and lost profit commissions. Net negative impact on net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders is the sum of (1) net negative impact on underwriting result and (2) redeemable noncontrolling interest. Our estimates of net negative impact are based on a review of our potential exposures, preliminary discussions with certain counterparties and actuarial modeling techniques. Our actual net negative impact, both individually and in the aggregate, may vary from these estimates, perhaps materially. Changes in these estimates will be recorded in the period in which they occur.
Meaningful uncertainty remains regarding the estimates and the nature and extent of the losses from catastrophe events, driven by the magnitude and recent nature of each event, the geographic areas impacted by the events, relatively limited claims data received to date, the contingent nature of business interruption and other exposures, potential uncertainties relating to reinsurance recoveries and other factors inherent in loss estimation, among other things.
The financial data below provides additional information detailing the net negative impact on our consolidated financial statements in the first quarter of 2021 of the major winter storms in February 2021 which caused widespread damage in the U.S., predominantly in Texas, and are referred to herein as "Winter Storm Uri.”
Three months ended March 31, 2021 | Winter Storm Uri | ||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||
Net claims and claims expenses incurred | $ | (372,894) | |||||||||
Assumed reinstatement premiums earned | 91,191 | ||||||||||
Ceded reinstatement premiums earned | (10,570) | ||||||||||
Earned profit commissions | 773 | ||||||||||
Net negative impact on underwriting result | (291,500) | ||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 111,666 | ||||||||||
Net negative impact on net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders | $ | (179,834) | |||||||||
The financial data below provides additional information detailing the net negative impact of Winter Storm Uri on our segment underwriting results and consolidated combined ratio in the first quarter of 2021.
Three months ended March 31, 2021 | Winter Storm Uri | ||||||||||
(in thousands, except percentages) | |||||||||||
Net negative impact on Property segment underwriting result | $ | (288,470) | |||||||||
Net negative impact on Casualty and Specialty segment underwriting result | (3,030) | ||||||||||
Net negative impact on underwriting result | $ | (291,500) | |||||||||
Percentage point impact on consolidated combined ratio | 26.9 | ||||||||||
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Underwriting Results by Segment
Property Segment
Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our Property segment:
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except percentages) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 1,616,819 | $ | 1,220,526 | $ | 396,293 | |||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 1,008,460 | $ | 674,581 | $ | 333,879 | |||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 605,166 | $ | 421,335 | $ | 183,831 | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred | 498,832 | 144,745 | 354,087 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition expenses | 112,754 | 85,351 | 27,403 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operational expenses | 35,375 | 44,007 | (8,632) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting (loss) income | $ | (41,795) | $ | 147,232 | $ | (189,027) | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – current accident year |
$ | 503,994 | $ | 130,844 | $ | 373,150 | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – prior accident years |
(5,162) | 13,901 | (19,063) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – total |
$ | 498,832 | $ | 144,745 | $ | 354,087 | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – current accident year |
83.3 | % | 31.1 | % | 52.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – prior accident years |
(0.9) | % | 3.3 | % | (4.2) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – calendar year |
82.4 | % | 34.4 | % | 48.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio |
24.5 | % | 30.7 | % | (6.2) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Combined ratio |
106.9 | % | 65.1 | % | 41.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Property Gross Premiums Written
In the first quarter of 2021, our Property segment gross premiums written increased by $396.3 million, or 32.5%, to $1.6 billion, compared to $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2020.
Gross premiums written in the catastrophe class of business were $1.1 billion in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of $194.9 million, or 20.8% compared to the first quarter of 2020. The increase in gross premiums written in the catastrophe class of business was primarily driven by $90.1 million of reinstatement premiums associated with Winter Storm Uri, in addition to rate improvements which contributed to growth with existing clients and new opportunities across underwriting platforms.
Gross premiums written in the other property class of business were $485.7 million in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of $201.4 million, or 70.8%, compared to the first quarter of 2020. The increase in gross premiums written in the other property class of business was primarily driven by rate improvements which contributed to growth in new and existing business written in the current and prior periods across underwriting platforms.
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Property Ceded Premiums Written
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ceded premiums written - Property |
$ | 608,359 | $ | 545,945 | $ | 62,414 | |||||||||||||||||
Ceded premiums written in our Property segment increased $62.4 million, to $608.4 million, in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $545.9 million in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in ceded premiums written was principally due to an increase in gross premiums written which were ceded to third-party investors in our managed vehicles, primarily RenaissanceRe Upsilon Fund Ltd. (“Upsilon Fund”), and $10.6 million of ceded reinstatement premiums earned associated with Winter Storm Uri. As part of our gross-to-net strategy, the amount of ceded premiums written increased on an absolute basis, however the percentage of ceded premiums written relative to gross premiums written decreased.
Property Underwriting Results
Our Property segment incurred an underwriting loss of $41.8 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to underwriting income of $147.2 million in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of $189.0 million. In the first quarter of 2021, our Property segment generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of 82.4%, an underwriting expense ratio of 24.5% and a combined ratio of 106.9%, compared to 34.4%, 30.7% and 65.1%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2020.
Principally impacting the Property segment underwriting result and combined ratio in the first quarter of 2021 was Winter Storm Uri, which resulted in a net negative impact on the Property segment underwriting result of $288.5 million and added 53.9 percentage points to the combined ratio. In comparison, the first quarter of 2020 was impacted by attritional losses associated with the other property class of business, as well as a number of small insured catastrophe events, resulting in a lower current accident year net claims and claim expense ratio in the first quarter of 2020, compared to the first quarter of 2021. In addition, the underwriting expense ratio decreased by 6.2 percentage points primarily driven by lower operating expenses in the current period due to reduced travel, marketing, and office operational expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with higher net premiums earned including $79.7 million of net reinstatement premiums earned from Winter Storm Uri.
See “Note 6. Reserve for Claims and Claim Expenses” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to the development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses.
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Casualty and Specialty Segment
Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our Casualty and Specialty segment:
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except percentages) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross premiums written | $ | 1,035,623 | $ | 805,195 | $ | 230,428 | |||||||||||||||||
Net premiums written | $ | 815,623 | $ | 595,227 | $ | 220,396 | |||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | $ | 548,670 | $ | 491,763 | $ | 56,907 | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred | 368,219 | 426,209 | (57,990) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition expenses | 154,480 | 125,253 | 29,227 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operational expenses | 19,936 | 23,454 | (3,518) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting income (loss) | $ | 6,035 | $ | (83,153) | $ | 89,188 | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – current accident year |
$ | 372,089 | $ | 426,210 | $ | (54,121) | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – prior accident years |
(3,870) | (1) | (3,869) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expenses incurred – total |
$ | 368,219 | $ | 426,209 | $ | (57,990) | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – current accident year |
67.8 | % | 86.7 | % | (18.9) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – prior accident years |
(0.7) | % | — | % | (0.7) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Net claims and claim expense ratio – calendar year |
67.1 | % | 86.7 | % | (19.6) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Underwriting expense ratio |
31.8 | % | 30.2 | % | 1.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Combined ratio |
98.9 | % | 116.9 | % | (18.0) | % | |||||||||||||||||
Casualty and Specialty Gross Premiums Written
In the first quarter of 2021, our Casualty and Specialty segment gross premiums written increased by $230.4 million, or 28.6%, to $1.0 billion, compared to $805.2 million in the first quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily due to growth in new and existing casualty business written in the current and prior periods, and rate improvements.
Casualty and Specialty Ceded Premiums Written
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ceded premiums written - Casualty and Specialty |
$ | 220,000 | $ | 209,968 | $ | 10,032 | |||||||||||||||||
Ceded premiums written in our Casualty and Specialty segment increased by $10.0 million, to $220.0 million, in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $210.0 million in the first quarter of 2020, primarily resulting from increased gross premiums written subject to our retrocessional quota share reinsurance programs, partially offset by a decrease in retrocessional purchases.
Casualty and Specialty Underwriting Results
Our Casualty and Specialty segment generated underwriting income of $6.0 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to an underwriting loss of $83.2 million in the first quarter of 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, our Casualty and Specialty segment generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of 67.1%, an underwriting expense ratio of 31.8% and a combined ratio of 98.9%, compared to 86.7%, 30.2% and 116.9%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2020. The underwriting loss in the first quarter of 2020 was principally driven by net claims and claim expenses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic of $103.8 million, which added 21.1 percentage points to the combined ratio during the first quarter of 2020.
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The decrease in the Casualty and Specialty segment combined ratio in the first quarter of 2021 was principally driven by a decrease of 19.6 percentage points in the net claims and claim expense ratio, as a result of the impact of losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the prior period. Additionally, our Casualty and Specialty segment experienced net favorable development on prior accident years net claims and claim expenses of $3.9 million, or 0.7 percentage points, during the first quarter of 2021. The net favorable development during the first quarter of 2021 was driven by reported losses generally coming in lower than expected on attritional net claims and claim expenses. See “Note 6. Reserve for Claims and Claim Expenses” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to the development of prior accident years net claims and claim expenses.
The underwriting expense ratio in the Casualty and Specialty segment increased 1.6 percentage points principally due to the effects of purchase accounting amortization related to the acquisition of TMR which decreased the acquisition ratio in the first quarter of 2020. This was partially offset by improved operating leverage in the first quarter of 2021.
Fee Income
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Management fee income |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint ventures |
$ | 11,128 | $ | 11,781 | $ | (653) | |||||||||||||||||
Structured reinsurance products and other |
8,774 | 8,597 | 177 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Managed funds |
8,622 | 6,418 | 2,204 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total management fee income |
28,524 | 26,796 | 1,728 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Performance fee income |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint ventures |
1,556 | 7,828 | (6,272) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Structured reinsurance products and other |
(1,293) | 8,375 | (9,668) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Managed funds |
(4,798) | 2,363 | (7,161) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total performance fee (loss) income | (4,535) | 18,566 | (23,101) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total fee income |
$ | 23,989 | $ | 45,362 | $ | (21,373) | |||||||||||||||||
The table above shows total fee income earned through third-party capital management, as well as various joint ventures, managed funds and certain structured retrocession agreements to which we are a party. Performance fees are based on the performance of the individual vehicles or products, and may be zero or negative in a particular period if, for example, large losses occur, which can potentially result in no performance fees or the reversal of previously accrued performance fees. Joint ventures include DaVinciRe, Top Layer Re, Vermeer and certain entities investing in Langhorne Holdings LLC. Managed funds include Upsilon Fund and Medici. Structured reinsurance products and other includes certain other vehicles and reinsurance contracts which transfer risk to capital. The fees earned through third-party capital management are principally recorded through redeemable noncontrolling interest, or as a reduction to operating expenses and acquisition expenses, as applicable.
In the first quarter of 2021, total fee income earned through various joint ventures, managed funds and certain structured retrocession agreements to which we are a party decreased $21.4 million, to $24.0 million, compared to $45.4 million in the first quarter of 2020, primarily driven by lower performance fee income due to the impact of Winter Storm Uri on our joint ventures, managed funds and structured reinsurance agreements. Partially offsetting this was higher management fees related to an increase in the dollar value of capital under management. Of the $24.0 million in total fee income earned in the first quarter of 2021 through various joint ventures, managed funds and certain structured retrocession agreements to which we are a party, $13.4 million was recorded through redeemable noncontrolling interest and $10.5 million was recorded through underwriting income as a reduction to operating expenses and acquisition expenses (2020 - $26.9 million and $18.4 million, respectively).
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In addition to the $10.5 million of fee income earned through joint ventures, managed funds and certain structured retrocession agreements to which we are a party that is recorded through underwriting income, as detailed above, we also earn fee income on certain other underwriting-related activities. These fees, in the aggregate, are recorded as a reduction (increase) to operating expenses or acquisition expenses, as applicable. The total fees, including the $10.5 million of fee income detailed in the table above plus other fee income we earn on certain other underwriting activities, earned by us in the first quarter of 2021 that were recorded as a reduction (increase) to operating expenses or acquisition expenses were $30.8 million and $(5.6) million, respectively, resulting in a reduction to the combined ratio of 2.2% (2020 - $26.3 million, $3.6 million and 3.3%, respectively).
Net Investment Income
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturity investments trading | $ | 62,933 | $ | 73,338 | $ | (10,405) | |||||||||||||||||
Short term investments | 573 | 12,092 | (11,519) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity investments trading | 1,491 | 1,551 | (60) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Catastrophe bonds | 14,468 | 14,139 | 329 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 3,801 | 1,629 | 2,172 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 102 | 1,504 | (1,402) | ||||||||||||||||||||
83,368 | 104,253 | (20,885) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Investment expenses | (3,564) | (4,780) | 1,216 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 79,804 | $ | 99,473 | $ | (19,669) | |||||||||||||||||
Net investment income was $79.8 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $99.5 million in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of $19.7 million. Impacting our net investment income for the first quarter of 2021 were lower returns in our fixed maturity and short term investment portfolios, primarily as a result of lower yields on these investments following the decline in interest rates in early 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Net Realized and Unrealized Losses on Investments
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains on fixed maturity investments trading |
$ | 20,398 | $ | 57,487 | $ | (37,089) | |||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized losses on fixed maturity investments trading | (297,018) | (20,345) | (276,673) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on fixed maturity investments trading | (276,620) | 37,142 | (313,762) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments-related derivatives |
14,861 | 33,181 | (18,320) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains (losses) on equity investments trading | 109,887 | (15,047) | 124,934 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized losses on equity investments trading | (177,809) | (105,937) | (71,872) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on equity investments trading | (67,922) | (120,984) | 53,062 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on other investments - catastrophe bonds | (19,083) | (14,352) | (4,731) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on other investments - other | 3,201 | (45,694) | 48,895 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | $ | (345,563) | $ | (110,707) | $ | (234,856) | |||||||||||||||||
Our investment portfolio strategy is structured to emphasize the preservation of capital and the availability of liquidity to meet our claims obligations and to be well diversified across market sectors. A large majority of our investments are invested in the fixed income markets and, therefore, our net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments are highly correlated to fluctuations in interest rates and credit spreads. Therefore, everything else being constant, as interest rates or credit spreads decline, we will tend to have realized and unrealized gains from our fixed maturity investments portfolio, and as interest rates and credit spreads rise, we will tend to have realized and unrealized losses from our fixed maturity investments portfolio.
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments were $345.6 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to net realized and unrealized losses of $110.7 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase in net realized and unrealized losses of $234.9 million. Principally impacting our net realized and unrealized losses on investments in the first quarter of 2021 were:
•net realized and unrealized losses on our fixed maturity investments trading of $276.6 million compared to net realized and unrealized gains of $37.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase in net realized and unrealized losses of $313.8 million, principally driven by increasing yields on U.S. treasuries during the first quarter of 2021;
•net realized and unrealized losses on equity investments trading of $67.9 million compared to $121.0 million in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease in net realized and unrealized losses of $53.1 million. The net realized and unrealized losses in the first quarter of 2021 were principally driven by the Company’s strategic investment in Trupanion, Inc., where we recorded a net change in realized and unrealized losses pertaining to this investment totaling $90.8 million, which includes $109.7 million of net realized gain from the partial sale of this investment; and
•net realized and unrealized gains on our other investments of $3.2 million compared to net realized and unrealized losses of $45.7 million in the first quarter of 2020, an improvement of $48.9 million, principally driven by higher returns in our private equity investment portfolio.
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Net Foreign Exchange Losses
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net foreign exchange losses | $ | (22,788) | $ | (5,728) | $ | (17,060) | |||||||||||||||||
Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. We routinely write a portion of our business in currencies other than U.S. dollars and invest a portion of our cash and investment portfolio in those currencies. Certain of our subsidiaries use non-U.S. dollar functional currencies. As a result, we may experience foreign exchange gains and losses in our consolidated financial statements. We are primarily impacted by foreign currency exposures associated with our underwriting operations, investment portfolio, and operations with non-U.S. dollar functional currencies, and may, from time to time, enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts to minimize the effect of fluctuating foreign currencies on the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated assets and liabilities.
Equity in (Losses) Earnings of Other Ventures
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Tower Hill Companies | $ | (9,812) | $ | 409 | $ | (10,221) | |||||||||||||||||
Top Layer Re | 2,145 | 2,406 | (261) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 2,109 | 1,749 | 360 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity in (losses) earnings of other ventures | $ | (5,558) | $ | 4,564 | $ | (10,122) | |||||||||||||||||
Losses from our investments in other ventures was $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to earnings of $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of $10.1 million, principally driven by reduced profitability of our equity investments in the Tower Hill Companies.
Other Income (Loss)
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for as derivatives and deposits |
$ | 2,136 | $ | (5,007) | 7,143 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | 35 | 571 | (536) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total other income (loss) | $ | 2,171 | $ | (4,436) | $ | 6,607 | |||||||||||||||||
In the first quarter of 2021, we generated other income of $2.2 million, compared to an other loss of $4.4 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of $6.6 million, driven by gains on our assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for as derivatives and deposits.
Corporate Expenses
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses | $ | 10,405 | $ | 15,991 | $ | (5,586) | |||||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses include certain executive, director, legal and consulting expenses, costs for research and development, impairment charges related to goodwill and other intangible assets, and other miscellaneous costs, including those associated with operating as a publicly traded company, as well as costs associated with the acquisition of TMR, primarily in the first quarter of 2020.
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Corporate expenses decreased $5.6 million to $10.4 million, in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $16.0 million in the first quarter of 2020. The decrease of $5.6 million was primarily due to certain TMR-related integration and compensation related costs that were incurred in the first quarter of 2020.
Income Tax Benefit
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax benefit | $ | 19,516 | $ | 8,846 | $ | 10,670 | |||||||||||||||||
In the first quarter of 2021, we recognized an income tax benefit of $19.5 million, compared to $8.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. The income tax benefit in the first quarter of 2021 was principally driven by unrealized investment losses in the Company’s taxable jurisdictions.
Net Loss (Income) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | $ | 46,850 | $ | (98,091) | $ | 144,941 | |||||||||||||||||
Our net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests was $46.9 million, a decrease of $144.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by losses in DaVinci and Vermeer as a result of Winter Storm Uri, as well as investment losses, and a decrease in Medici net income.
FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Financial Condition
As a Bermuda-domiciled holding company, RenaissanceRe has limited operations of its own. Its assets consist primarily of investments in subsidiaries and cash and securities in amounts which fluctuate over time. We therefore rely on dividends and distributions (and other statutorily permissible payments) from our subsidiaries, investment income and fee income to meet our liquidity requirements, which primarily include making principal and interest payments on our debt and dividend payments to our preference and common shareholders.
The payment of dividends by our subsidiaries is, under certain circumstances, limited by the applicable laws and regulations in the various jurisdictions in which our subsidiaries operate, including Bermuda, the U.S., the U.K., Switzerland, Australia, Singapore and Ireland. In addition, insurance laws require our insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain measures of solvency and liquidity. We believe that each of our insurance subsidiaries and branches exceeded the minimum solvency, capital and surplus requirements in their applicable jurisdictions at March 31, 2021. Certain of our subsidiaries and branches are required to file financial condition reports (“FCRs”) with their regulators, which provide details on solvency and financial performance. Where required, these FCRs will be posted on our website. The regulations governing our and our principal operating subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends and to maintain certain measures of solvency and liquidity, and requirements to file FCRs are discussed in detail in “Part I, Item 1. Business, Regulation” and “Note 18. Statutory Requirements” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Liquidity and Cash Flows
Holding Company Liquidity
RenaissanceRe’s principal uses of liquidity are: (1) common share related transactions including dividend payments to our common shareholders and common share repurchases, (2) preference share related transactions including dividend payments to our preference shareholders and preference share redemptions, (3) interest and principal payments on debt, (4) capital investments in our subsidiaries, (5)
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acquisition of new or existing companies or businesses, such as our acquisition of TMR and (6) certain corporate and operating expenses.
We attempt to structure our organization in a way that facilitates efficient capital movements between RenaissanceRe and our operating subsidiaries and to ensure that adequate liquidity is available when required, giving consideration to applicable laws and regulations, and the domiciliary location of sources of liquidity and related obligations. For example, our internal investment structures and a cash pooling arrangement among the Company and certain of our subsidiaries help to efficiently facilitate capital and liquidity movements.
In the aggregate, our principal operating subsidiaries have historically produced sufficient cash flows to meet their expected claims payments and operational expenses and to provide dividend payments to us. In addition, our subsidiaries maintain a concentration of investments in high quality liquid securities, which management believes will provide additional liquidity for extraordinary claims payments should the need arise. However, in some circumstances, RenaissanceRe may contribute capital to its subsidiaries. For example, during 2019, RenaissanceRe contributed capital to RenaissanceRe Specialty Holdings (UK) Limited to fund the acquisition of TMR and made a capital contribution to Renaissance Reinsurance to increase its shareholders’ equity, consistent with past practice following a significant acquisition and to support growth in premiums, and in 2020, RenaissanceRe contributed capital to RREAG to support additional growth in our European business. In addition, from time to time we invest in new managed joint ventures or managed funds, increase our investments in certain of our managed joint ventures or managed funds and contribute cash to investment subsidiaries. In certain instances, we are required to make capital contributions to our subsidiaries, for example, Renaissance Reinsurance is obligated to make a mandatory capital contribution of up to $50.0 million in the event that a loss reduces Top Layer Re’s capital below a specified level.
Sources of Liquidity
Historically, cash receipts from operations, consisting primarily of premiums, investment income and fee income, have provided sufficient funds to pay the losses and operating expenses incurred by our subsidiaries and to fund dividends and distributions to RenaissanceRe. Other potential sources of liquidity include borrowings under our credit facilities and issuances of securities.
The premiums received by our operating subsidiaries are generally received months or even years before losses are paid under the policies related to such premiums. Premiums and acquisition expenses generally are received within the first two years of inception of a contract, while operating expenses are generally paid within a year of being incurred. It generally takes much longer for net claims and claims expenses incurred to be reported and ultimately settled, requiring the establishment of reserves for claims and claim expenses and losses recoverable. Therefore, the amount of net claims paid in any one year is not necessarily related to the amount of net claims and claims expenses incurred in that year, as reported in the consolidated statement of operations.
While we expect that our liquidity needs will continue to be met by our cash receipts from operations, as a result of the combination of current market conditions, lower than usual investment yields, and the nature of our business where a large portion of the coverages we provide can produce losses of high severity and low frequency, future cash flows from operating activities cannot be accurately predicted and may fluctuate significantly between individual quarters and years. In addition, due to the magnitude and complexity of certain large loss events, meaningful uncertainty remains regarding losses from these events and our actual ultimate net losses from these events may vary materially from preliminary estimates, which would impact our cash flows from operations. Further, we expect historically significant industry losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic to emerge over time as the full impact of the pandemic and its effects on the global economy are realized, which may impact our cash flows from operations.
Our “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act allows for the public offering of various types of securities, including common shares, preference shares and debt securities, and thus provides a source of liquidity. Because we are a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined by the rules promulgated under the Securities Act, we are also eligible to file additional automatically effective registration statements on Form S-3 in the future for the potential offering and sale of additional debt and equity securities.
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Credit Facilities
In addition, we, and certain of our subsidiaries, joint ventures and managed funds, maintain credit facilities that provide liquidity and allow us to satisfy certain collateral requirements. The outstanding amounts drawn under each of our significant credit facilities are set forth below:
At March 31, 2021 | Issued or Drawn | ||||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility (1)
|
$ | — | |||||||||
Bilateral Letter of Credit Facilities |
|||||||||||
Secured |
392,116 | ||||||||||
Unsecured |
488,532 | ||||||||||
Funds at Lloyd’s Letter of Credit Facility |
225,000 | ||||||||||
$ | 1,105,648 | ||||||||||
(1) At March 31, 2021, no amounts were issued or drawn under this facility.
There have been no material changes to our credit facilities as disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Refer to “Note 7. Debt and Credit Facilities” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to our significant debt and credit facilities.
Funds at Lloyd’s
As a member of Lloyd’s, the underwriting capacity, or stamp capacity, of Syndicate 1458 must be supported by providing a deposit, the FAL, in the form of cash, securities or letters of credit. At March 31, 2021, the FAL required to support the underwriting activities at Lloyd’s through Syndicate 1458 was £696.2 million (December 31, 2020 - £696.2 million). Actual FAL posted for Syndicate 1458 at March 31, 2021 by RenaissanceRe Corporate Capital (UK) Limited was $862.7 million (December 31, 2020 - $874.2 million), supported by a $225.0 million letter of credit and a $637.7 million deposit of cash and fixed maturity securities (December 31, 2020 - $225.0 million and $649.2 million, respectively).
Multi-Beneficiary Reinsurance Trusts, Multi-Beneficiary Reduced Collateral Reinsurance Trusts and Other Collateral Arrangements
Certain of our insurance subsidiaries use multi-beneficiary reinsurance trusts and multi-beneficiary reduced collateral reinsurance trusts to collateralize reinsurance liabilities. From time to time, we also use other types of collateral arrangements. Refer to “Note 18. Statutory Requirements” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for additional information on our multi-beneficiary reinsurance trusts.
Multi-Beneficiary Reinsurance Trusts
Assets held under trust at March 31, 2021 with respect to our multi-beneficiary reinsurance trusts totaled $1.2 billion and $269.0 million for Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, respectively (December 31, 2020 - $1.3 billion and $289.6 million, respectively), compared to the minimum amount required under U.S. state regulations of $658.9 million and $228.1 million, respectively, at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020 - $878.2 million and $270.5 million, respectively).
Multi-Beneficiary Reduced Collateral Reinsurance Trusts
Assets held under trust at March 31, 2021 with respect to our multi-beneficiary reduced collateral reinsurance trusts totaled $122.2 million and $129.2 million for Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, respectively (December 31, 2020 - $74.4 million and $90.1 million, respectively), compared to the minimum amount required under U.S. state regulations of $116.4 million and $121.2 million, respectively (December 31, 2020 - $70.0 million and $86.5 million, respectively).
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Cash Flows
Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 206,538 | $ | 475,466 | |||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (463,131) | (530,282) | |||||||||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (193,579) | (429,617) | |||||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash | 20 | 1,581 | |||||||||||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (450,152) | (482,852) | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 1,736,813 | 1,379,068 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 1,286,661 | $ | 896,216 | |||||||||||||
2021
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $450.2 million, to $1.3 billion at March 31, 2021, compared to $1.7 billion at December 31, 2020.
Cash flows provided by operating activities. Cash flows provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2021 were $206.5 million, compared to $475.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Cash flows provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2021 were primarily the result of certain adjustments to reconcile our net loss of $330.5 million to net cash provided by operating activities, including:
•an increase in unearned premiums of $1.1 billion due to the growth in gross premiums written across both our Property and Casualty and Specialty segments;
•an increase in reinsurance balances payable of $766.3 million principally driven by the issuance of non-voting preference shares to investors in Upsilon RFO, which are accounted for as prospective reinsurance and included in reinsurance balances payable on our consolidated balance sheet. See “Note 9. Variable Interest Entities” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to Upsilon RFO’s non-voting preference shares;
•an increase in reserve for claims and claim expenses of $572.2 million primarily the result of net claims and claim expenses associated with Winter Storm Uri;
•net realized and unrealized losses on investments of $360.4 million principally driven by net unrealized losses on fixed maturity investments and equity investments trading, partially offset by net realized gains in equity investments trading, primarily in the strategic investment portfolio; partially offset by
•an increase in premiums receivable of $1.0 billion due to the timing of receipts and increase in our gross premiums written;
•an increase of $406.1 million in our prepaid reinsurance premiums due to the timing of payments and increase in ceded premiums written; and
•a decrease in other operating cash flows of $423.4 million primarily reflecting subscriptions received in advance of the issuance of Upsilon RFO’s non-voting preference shares effective January 1, 2021, which were recorded in other liabilities at December 31, 2020. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, in connection with the issuance of the non-voting preference shares of Upsilon RFO, other liabilities were reduced by the subscriptions received in advance, and reinsurance balances payable were increased by an offsetting amount, with corresponding impacts to other operating cash flows and the change in reinsurance balances payable, as noted above, on our consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021. See “Note 9. Variable Interest Entities” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to Upsilon RFO’s non-voting preference shares.
Cash flows used in investing activities. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, our cash flows used in investing activities were $463.1 million, principally reflecting net purchases of fixed maturity investments
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trading, short term investments and other investments of $339.5 million, $111.1 million and $127.7 million, respectively, partially offset by net sales of equity investments trading of $128.0 million. The net purchase of fixed maturity investments trading was primarily funded by cash flows provided by operating activities, as described above, whereas the net purchase of short term investments was primarily associated with capital received from investors in Upsilon RFO during the three months ended March 31, 2021. The net purchase of other investments during the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily driven by an increased allocation to catastrophe bonds.
Cash flows used in financing activities. Our cash flows used in financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2021 were $193.6 million, and were principally the result of:
•the repurchase of 1.1 million of our common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $171.6 million and an average price of $159.47 per common share;
•dividends paid on our common and preference shares of $17.8 million and $7.3 million, respectively; partially offset by
•net inflows of $13.0 million primarily related to net third-party redeemable noncontrolling interest share transactions in Medici and DaVinci.
2020
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $482.9 million, to $896.2 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $1.4 billion at December 31, 2019.
Cash flows provided by operating activities. Cash flows provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $475.5 million, compared to $377.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019. Cash flows provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2020 were primarily the result of certain adjustments to reconcile our net income of $25.2 million to net cash provided by operating activities, including:
•an increase in reinsurance balances payable of $944.7 million principally driven by the issuance of non-voting preference shares to investors in Upsilon RFO, which are accounted for as prospective reinsurance and included in reinsurance balances payable on our consolidated balance sheet. See “Note 9. Variable Interest Entities” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to Upsilon RFO’s non-voting preference shares;
•an increase in unearned premiums of $714.9 million due to the growth in gross premiums written across both our Property and Casualty and Specialty segments;
•net realized and unrealized losses on investments of $110.7 million principally due to negative performances from our equity investments trading and other investments, due in part to the recent disruption in global financial markets associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; partially offset by
•increase in premiums receivable of $505.5 million due to the timing of receipts and increase in our gross premiums written;
•an increase of $384.1 million in our prepaid reinsurance premiums due to the timing of payments and increase in ceded premiums written; and
•a decrease in other operating cash flows of $405.5 million primarily reflecting subscriptions received in advance of the issuance of Upsilon RFO’s non-voting preference shares effective January 1, 2020, which were recorded in other liabilities at December 31, 2019. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, in connection with the issuance of the non-voting preference shares of Upsilon RFO, other liabilities were reduced by the subscriptions received in advance, and reinsurance balances payable were increased by an offsetting amount, with corresponding impacts to other operating cash flows and the change in reinsurance balances payable, as noted above, on our consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020. See “Note 9. Variable Interest Entities” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to Upsilon RFO’s non-voting preference shares.
Cash flows used in investing activities. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, our cash flows used in investing activities were $530.3 million, principally reflecting net purchases of short term investments,
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other investments and equity investments trading of $704.2 million, $79.7 million and $44.5 million, respectively. Partially offsetting these net purchases was proceeds from net sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments trading of $290.9 million, which, along with cash flows provided by operating activities, were primarily used to fund our cash flows used in financing activities as described below. The net purchase of short term investments was funded in part by the capital received from investors in Upsilon RFO, and other net cash flows provided by operating activities. The net purchase of other investments during the three months ended March 31, 2020, was primarily driven by an increased allocation to catastrophe bonds.
Cash flows provided by financing activities. Our cash flows used in financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $429.6 million, and were principally the result of:
•the repayment in full at maturity the aggregate principal amount of $250.0 million, plus applicable accrued interest, of our 5.75% Senior Notes due 2020 of RenRe North America Holdings Inc. and RenaissanceRe Finance;
•the redemption of all 5 million of our outstanding Series C 6.08% Preference Shares on March 26, 2020 for $125.0 million plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon;
•the repurchase of 406 thousand of our common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $62.6 million and an average price of $154.36 per common share;
•dividends paid on our common and preference shares of $15.4 million and $9.1 million, respectively; partially offset by
•net inflows of $42.6 million primarily related to net third party redeemable noncontrolling interest share transactions in DaVinciRe and Medici.
Capital Resources
We monitor our capital adequacy on a regular basis and seek to adjust our capital according to the needs of our business. In particular, we require capital sufficient to meet or exceed the capital adequacy ratios established by rating agencies for maintenance of appropriate financial strength ratings, the capital adequacy tests performed by regulatory authorities and the capital requirements under our credit facilities. We may seek to raise additional capital or return capital to our shareholders through common share repurchases and cash dividends (or a combination of such methods). In the normal course of our operations, we may from time to time evaluate additional share or debt issuances given prevailing market conditions and capital management strategies, including for our operating subsidiaries, joint ventures and managed funds. In addition, as noted above, we enter into agreements with financial institutions to obtain letter of credit facilities for the benefit of our operating subsidiaries and certain of our joint ventures and managed funds in their reinsurance and insurance business.
Our total shareholders’ equity attributable to RenaissanceRe and debt was as follows:
At March 31, 2021 | At December 31, 2020 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common shareholders’ equity | $ | 6,553,337 | $ | 7,035,248 | $ | (481,911) | |||||||||||||||||
Preference shares | 525,000 | 525,000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to RenaissanceRe | 7,078,337 | 7,560,248 | (481,911) | ||||||||||||||||||||
3.600% Senior Notes due 2029 | 392,619 | 392,391 | 228 | ||||||||||||||||||||
3.450% Senior Notes due 2027 | 296,909 | 296,787 | 122 | ||||||||||||||||||||
3.700% Senior Notes due 2025 | 298,519 | 298,428 | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4.750% Senior Notes due 2025 (DaVinciRe) (1)
|
148,736 | 148,659 | 77 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total debt |
$ | 1,136,783 | $ | 1,136,265 | $ | 518 | |||||||||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to RenaissanceRe and debt |
$ | 8,215,120 | $ | 8,696,513 | $ | (481,393) | |||||||||||||||||
(1) RenaissanceRe owns a noncontrolling economic interest in its joint venture DaVinciRe. Because RenaissanceRe controls a majority of DaVinciRe’s outstanding voting rights, the consolidated financial statements of DaVinciRe are included in the consolidated financial statements of RenaissanceRe. However, RenaissanceRe does not guarantee or provide credit support for
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DaVinciRe and RenaissanceRe’s financial exposure to DaVinciRe is limited to its investment in DaVinciRe’s shares and counterparty credit risk arising from reinsurance transactions.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, our total shareholders’ equity attributable to RenaissanceRe and debt decreased by $0.5 billion, to $8.2 billion.
Our shareholders’ equity attributable to RenaissanceRe decreased $0.5 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2021 principally as a result of:
•our comprehensive loss attributable to RenaissanceRe of $283.4 million;
•the repurchase of 1.1 million common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $171.6 million and an average price of $159.47 per common share; and
•$17.8 million and $7.3 million of dividends on our common and preference shares, respectively.
Our debt increased $0.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
For additional information related to the terms of our debt and significant credit facilities, see “Note 7. Debt and Credit Facilities” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in this Form 10-Q and “Note 9. Debt and Credit Facilities” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. See “Note 10. Shareholders’ Equity” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in this Form 10-Q and “Note 12. Shareholders’ Equity” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for additional information related to our common and preference shares.
Reserve for Claims and Claim Expenses
We believe the most significant accounting judgment made by management is our estimate of claims and claim expense reserves. Claims and claim expense reserves represent estimates, including actuarial and statistical projections at a given point in time, of the ultimate settlement and administration costs for unpaid claims and claim expenses arising from the insurance and reinsurance contracts we sell. Our actual net claims and claim expenses paid will differ, perhaps materially, from the estimates reflected in our financial statements, which may adversely impact our financial condition, liquidity and capital resources.
Refer to “Note 8. Reserve for Claims and Claim Expenses” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and “Note 6. Reserve for Claims and Claim Expenses” included herein for more information on the risks we insure and reinsure, the reserving techniques, assumptions and processes we follow to estimate our claims and claim expense reserves, prior year development of the reserve for claims and claim expenses, analysis of our incurred and paid claims development and claims duration information for each of our Property and Casualty and Specialty segments. In addition, refer to “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates, Claims and Claim Expense Reserves” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for more information on the reserving techniques, assumptions and processes we follow to estimate our claims and claim expense reserves, our current estimates versus our initial estimates of our claims reserves, and sensitivity analysis for each of our Property and Casualty and Specialty segments.
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Investments
The table below shows our invested assets:
March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except percentages) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. treasuries | $ | 5,107,878 | 25.1 | % | $ | 4,960,409 | 24.1 | % | $ | 147,469 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agencies | 227,184 | 1.1 | % | 368,032 | 1.8 | % | (140,848) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. government | 518,162 | 2.5 | % | 491,531 | 2.4 | % | 26,631 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. government-backed corporate | 335,662 | 1.6 | % | 338,014 | 1.6 | % | (2,352) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate | 4,289,072 | 21.1 | % | 4,261,025 | 20.7 | % | 28,047 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agency mortgage-backed | 957,563 | 4.7 | % | 1,113,792 | 5.4 | % | (156,229) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-agency mortgage-backed | 272,529 | 1.3 | % | 291,444 | 1.4 | % | (18,915) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial mortgage-backed | 713,044 | 3.5 | % | 791,272 | 3.8 | % | (78,228) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset-backed | 888,140 | 4.4 | % | 890,984 | 4.3 | % | (2,844) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturity investments, at fair value |
13,309,234 | 65.3 | % | 13,506,503 | 65.5 | % | (197,269) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Short term investments, at fair value | 5,091,143 | 25.0 | % | 4,993,735 | 24.3 | % | 97,408 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity investments trading, at fair value | 503,137 | 2.5 | % | 702,617 | 3.4 | % | (199,480) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments, at fair value | 1,379,056 | 6.8 | % | 1,256,948 | 6.2 | % | 122,108 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total managed investment portfolio | 20,282,570 | 99.6 | % | 20,459,803 | 99.4 | % | (177,233) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in other ventures, under equity method |
91,362 | 0.4 | % | 98,373 | 0.6 | % | (7,011) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investments |
$ | 20,373,932 | 100.0 | % | $ | 20,558,176 | 100.0 | % | $ | (184,244) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
At March 31, 2021, we held investments totaling $20.4 billion, compared to $20.6 billion at December 31, 2020. Our investment guidelines stress preservation of capital, market liquidity, and diversification of risk. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our investments are subject to market-wide risks and fluctuations, as well as to risks inherent in particular securities. In addition to the information presented above and below, see “Note 3. Investments” and “Note 4. Fair Value Measurements” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information regarding our investments and the fair value measurement of our investments, respectively.
As the reinsurance coverages we sell include substantial protection for damages resulting from natural and man-made catastrophes, as well as for potentially large casualty and specialty exposures, we expect from time to time to become liable for substantial claim payments on short notice. Accordingly, our investment portfolio as a whole is structured to seek to preserve capital and provide a high level of liquidity, which means that the large majority of our investment portfolio consists of highly rated fixed income securities, including U.S. treasuries, agencies, highly rated sovereign and supranational securities, high-grade corporate securities and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. We also have an allocation to publicly traded equities reflected on our consolidated balance sheet as equity investments trading and an allocation to other investments (including catastrophe bonds, private equity investments, and fund investments).
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Other Investments
The table below shows our portfolio of other investments:
March 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
Change | |||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Catastrophe bonds | $ | 941,604 | $ | 881,290 | $ | 60,314 | |||||||||||||||||
Private equity investments | 75,874 | 79,807 | (3,933) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fund investments | 361,578 | 295,851 | 65,727 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total other investments | $ | 1,379,056 | $ | 1,256,948 | $ | 122,108 | |||||||||||||||||
We account for our other investments at fair value in accordance with FASB ASC Topic Financial Instruments. The fair value of our fund investments, which principally include private equity funds that invest in certain private equity and private credit asset classes, senior secured bank loan funds and hedge funds, is recorded on our consolidated balance sheet in other investments, and is generally established on the basis of the net asset valuation criteria established by the managers of such investments, if applicable. The net asset valuation criteria established by the managers of such investments is established in accordance with the governing documents of such investments. Many of our fund investments are subject to restrictions on redemptions and sales which are determined by the governing documents and limit our ability to liquidate these investments in the short term.
Some of our fund managers and fund administrators are unable to provide final fund valuations as of our current reporting date. We typically experience a reporting lag to receive a final net asset value report of one month for our hedge funds and senior secured bank loan funds and three months for private equity funds, although we have occasionally experienced delays of up to six months at year end, as the private equity funds typically complete their year-end audits before releasing their final net asset value statements.
In circumstances where there is a reporting lag between the current period end reporting date and the reporting date of the latest fund valuation, we estimate the fair value of these funds by starting with the prior month or quarter-end fund valuations, adjusting these valuations for actual capital calls, redemptions or distributions, and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and then estimating the return for the current period. In circumstances in which we estimate the return for the current period, all information available to us is utilized. This principally includes using preliminary estimates reported to us by our fund managers, estimating returns based on the performance of broad market indices, or other valuation methods, where necessary. Actual final fund valuations may differ, perhaps materially so, from our estimates and these differences are recorded in our consolidated statement of operations in the period in which they are reported to us as a change in estimate. Included in net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is income of $1.8 million (2020 - $1.3 million) representing the change in estimate during the period related to the difference between our estimated net realized and unrealized gains (losses) due to the lag in reporting discussed above and the actual amount as reported in the final net asset values provided by our fund managers.
Our estimate of the fair value of catastrophe bonds is based on quoted market prices, or when such prices are not available, by reference to broker or underwriter bid indications. See “Note 4. Fair Value Measurements” in our “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information regarding the fair value of measurement of our investments.
We have committed capital to private equity investments, fund investments and investments in other ventures of $2.0 billion, of which $872.0 million has been contributed at March 31, 2021. Our remaining commitments to these investments at March 31, 2021 totaled $1.1 billion. In the future, we may enter into additional commitments in respect of private equity investments or individual portfolio company investment opportunities.
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Ratings
Financial strength ratings are important to the competitive position of reinsurance and insurance companies. We have received high long-term issuer credit and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”), as applicable. These ratings represent independent opinions of an insurer’s financial strength, operating performance and ability to meet policyholder obligations, and are not an evaluation directed toward the protection of investors or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any of our securities. Rating organizations continually review the financial positions of our principal operating subsidiaries and joint ventures and ratings may be revised or revoked by the agencies which issue them.
The ratings of our principal operating subsidiaries and joint ventures as of April 23, 2021 are presented below.
A.M. Best (1) | S&P (2) | Moody's (3) | Fitch (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. | A+ | A+ | A1 | A+ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd. | A | A+ | A3 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Renaissance Reinsurance of Europe Unlimited Company | A+ | A+ | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. Inc. | A+ | A+ | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
RenaissanceRe Europe AG | A+ | A+ | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
RenaissanceRe Specialty U.S. Ltd. | A+ | A+ | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top Layer Reinsurance Ltd. | A+ | AA | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vermeer Reinsurance Ltd. | A | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
RenaissanceRe Syndicate 1458 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lloyd's Overall Market Rating | A | A+ | — | AA- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The A.M. Best ratings for our principal operating subsidiaries and joint ventures represent the insurer’s financial strength rating. The Lloyd’s Overall Market Rating represents Syndicate 1458’s financial strength rating.
(2) The S&P ratings for our principal operating subsidiaries and joint ventures represent the insurer’s financial strength rating and the issuer’s long-term issuer credit rating. The Lloyd’s Overall Market Rating represents Syndicate 1458’s financial strength rating.
(3) The Moody’s ratings represent the insurer’s financial strength rating.
(4) The Fitch rating for Renaissance Reinsurance represents the insurer’s financial strength rating. The Lloyd’s Overall Market Rating represents Syndicate 1458’s financial strength rating.
As of April 23, 2021, there were no material changes to our ratings as disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
In March 2020, the SEC issued Rule Release No. 33-10762, Financial Disclosures About Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities and Affiliates Whose Securities Collateralize a Registrant’s Securities ("Release 33-10762”). Release 33-10762 simplifies the disclosure requirements related to certain registered securities under Rules 3-10 and 3-16 of SEC Regulation S-X, permitting registrants to provide certain alternative financial disclosures and non-financial disclosures in lieu of separate consolidating financial statements for subsidiary issuers and guarantors of registered debt securities if certain conditions are met. The amendments in Release 33-10762 are generally effective for filings on or after January 4, 2021, with early application permitted. We adopted the new disclosure requirements permitted under Release 33-10762 effective for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.
RenaissanceRe Finance, Inc. (“RenaissanceRe Finance”), a 100% owned subsidiary of RenaissanceRe, is the issuer of certain 3.700% Senior Notes due 2025 and 3.450% Senior Notes due 2027, each of which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by RenaissanceRe. The guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of RenaissanceRe and rank equally in right of payment with all other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of RenaissanceRe which may be outstanding from time to time. Each series of notes contain various covenants, including limitations on mergers and consolidations, and restrictions as
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to the disposition of, and the placing of liens on, stock of designated subsidiaries. For additional information related to the terms of the Company’s outstanding debt securities, see “Note 9. Debt and Credit Facilities” in the “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and “Note 7. Debt and Credit Facilities” included herein.
The following tables present supplemental summarized financial information for RenaissanceRe and RenaissanceRe Finance (the “Obligor Group”). Intercompany transactions among the members of the Obligor Group have been eliminated. The financial information of non-obligor subsidiaries has been excluded from the summarized financial information. Significant intercompany transactions and receivable/payable balances between the Obligor Group and non-obligor subsidiaries are presented separately in the summarized financial information:
Summarized Balance Sheets
(in thousands) | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||||
Receivables due from non-obligor subsidiaries | $ | 12,373 | $ | 11,662 | |||||||||||||
Other current assets | 185,204 | 251,415 | |||||||||||||||
Total current assets | $ | 197,577 | $ | 263,077 | |||||||||||||
Goodwill and other intangibles | $ | 111,148 | $ | 112,110 | |||||||||||||
Loan receivable from non-obligor subsidiaries | 931,286 | 841,450 | |||||||||||||||
Other noncurrent assets | 3,057,205 | 2,963,307 | |||||||||||||||
Total noncurrent assets | $ | 4,099,639 | $ | 3,916,867 | |||||||||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
Payables due to non-obligor subsidiaries | $ | 211,791 | $ | 10,281 | |||||||||||||
Other current liabilities | 25,881 | 25,645 | |||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | $ | 237,672 | $ | 35,926 | |||||||||||||
Loan payable to non-obligor subsidiaries | $ | 202,979 | $ | 987,605 | |||||||||||||
Other noncurrent liabilities | 1,093,551 | 307,168 | |||||||||||||||
Total noncurrent liabilities | $ | 1,296,530 | $ | 1,294,773 | |||||||||||||
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Summarized Statement of Operations
(in thousands) | Three months ended March 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||
Intercompany revenue with non-obligor subsidiaries | $ | 4,178 | |||||||||
Other revenue | (3,008) | ||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,170 | ||||||||||
Expenses | |||||||||||
Intercompany expense with non-obligor subsidiaries | 9,139 | ||||||||||
Other expense | 14,413 | ||||||||||
Total expenses | 23,552 | ||||||||||
Income tax benefit | 1,065 | ||||||||||
Net loss | (21,317) | ||||||||||
Dividends on RenaissanceRe preference shares | (7,289) | ||||||||||
Net loss attributable to Obligor Group | $ | (28,606) | |||||||||
EFFECTS OF INFLATION
It is possible that the risk of general economic inflation has increased which could, among other things, cause claims and claim expenses to increase and also impact the performance of our investment portfolio. This risk may be exacerbated by the steps taken by governments and central banks throughout the world in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The actual effects of this potential increase in inflation on our results cannot be accurately known until, among other items, claims are ultimately settled. The onset, duration and severity of an inflationary period cannot be estimated with precision. We consider the anticipated effects of inflation on us in our catastrophe loss models. Our estimates of the potential effects of inflation are also considered in pricing and in estimating reserves for unpaid claims and claim expenses. The potential exists, after a catastrophe loss, for the development of inflationary pressures in a local economy.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET AND SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITY ARRANGEMENTS
At March 31, 2021, we had not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
In the normal course of business, we are party to a variety of contractual obligations as summarized in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. We consider these contractual obligations when assessing our liquidity requirements. As of March 31, 2021, there were no material changes in our contractual obligations as disclosed in the table of contractual obligations and related footnotes included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
CURRENT OUTLOOK
General Economic Conditions and the COVID-19 Pandemic
At the January 1 renewals, we were able to grow with existing and new customers across both of our segments and all of our platforms. We fully deployed the $1.1 billion of capital raised in our June 2020 equity offerings into our underwriting portfolio. We also raised and deployed significant additional capital within our joint venture and managed fund businesses. As we have grown, we have broadened our access to risk, writing more lines of business on more platforms. We have diversified our sources of capital through various owned and managed balance sheets as well as equity, debt and insurance-linked securities markets. This has afforded us significant flexibility to react when the world changes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had immense impacts on a global scale, including on the insurance and reinsurance industries where it has raised many new questions and challenges for us and our industry.
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While we believe that we can continue to execute on our strategic plan and compete for, and meet, the demand for the protection that we provide, it is difficult to predict all of the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the markets in which we participate and our ability to effectively respond to these changing market dynamics.
In particular, we believe the stresses in the global economy will continue and that this may result in increased market volatility. Also, the ongoing period of low interest rates may affect our ability to derive investment income from our investments. As interest rates begin to rise from historic lows, we expect that we will see an increase in investment income from our investment portfolio. The effects of these interest rate trends on our reinsurance and insurance business could be magnified for longer-tail business lines that are more inflation sensitive, particularly in our Casualty and Specialty segment, and in our other property class of business within our Property segment. Notwithstanding the many uncertainties and challenges that lie ahead, we believe that our track record of responding to industry events, differentiated risk management and client service capabilities, and access to diverse sources of both capital and risk position us favorably in the current environment.
Reinsurance Market Trends and Developments
Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, rates were rising across most lines of business. We believe that, unlike previous hard markets that have often been driven in large part by a lack of reinsurance capital, rate increases in the underlying insurance market are a primary contributor to the current market. We think that market conditions have also been impacted by factors such as climate change and social inflation, which have increased loss costs, and, together with historically low interest rates, are putting more pressure on underwriting results as a driver of returns.
We believe that these market conditions have created significant opportunities to source attractive risk in the lines of business that we write, and that we believe will result in superior returns for our shareholders. In the first quarter of 2021 we grew gross premiums written in areas where we saw the most opportunities for growth, notably, in our Casualty and Specialty segment and other property class of business. These areas of our business are particularly attractive at this time due to above trend rate increases, our strong risk selection capabilities and our long-standing customer relationships which provide us with superior access to these lines of business. Additionally, we believe that we are uniquely positioned to write a variety of risks, leveraging the enhancements we made over the last several years to our risk and capital management technology and underwriting expertise to cover additional lines of business. We anticipate that the markets in which we participate will continue to harden in 2021, and we plan to continue to seek to take advantage of additional opportunities throughout the year. We believe that our clients value our ability to be a long-term partner who brings access to multiple forms of capital and innovative, large-scale solutions.
Property. Winter Storm Uri posed unique challenges in the first quarter of 2021. However, we took a disciplined approach at the January 1 and April 1 property catastrophe renewals, expanding participation predominately with existing customers at improved rates. We also grew in catastrophe-exposed U.S. property excess and surplus lines in the other property class of business. We continue to carefully monitor ongoing, adverse trends in the Florida market with respect to claims practices, litigation risks, and exposure growth, and are prepared to continue to reduce our exposure to risks and accounts exposed to these trends.
Casualty and Specialty. We continue to see acceleration in the underlying rate increases across multiple lines of business and geographies within our Casualty and Specialty segment, and we expanded participation on multiple casualty and specialty lines. We anticipate that dislocation in several of these classes of business will continue to provide opportunities in 2021. We think that our prior work building strong relationships with key customers allowed us to gain superior access to desirable business.
See “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for additional information on factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q and other documents we file with the SEC.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are principally exposed to four types of market risk: interest rate risk; foreign currency risk; credit risk; and equity price risk. Our investment guidelines permit, subject to approval, investments in derivative instruments such as futures, options, foreign currency forward contracts and swap agreements, which may be used to assume risks or for hedging purposes.
There were no material changes to these market risks, as disclosed in “Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, during the three months ended March 31, 2021, except as described below. See “Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for a discussion of our exposure to these risks.
The ongoing and rapidly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to periods of financial market volatility or a recession, which may increase the probability of credit losses in our investment portfolio. Volatility in global financial markets, together with low or negative interest rates, reduced liquidity and a slowdown in global economic conditions may adversely affect our investment portfolio. Additionally, we are exposed to counterparty credit risk, including with respect to reinsurance brokers, customers and retrocessionaires, which may materially increase to the extent the COVID-19 pandemic affects our ability to collect premiums receivable or reinsurance recoverable.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that, at March 31, 2021, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which were identified in connection with our evaluation required pursuant to Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There have been no material changes to the legal proceedings previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Our share repurchase program may be effected from time to time, depending on market conditions and other factors, through open market purchases and privately negotiated transactions. On February 5, 2021, our Board of Directors approved a renewal of our authorized share repurchase program to an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 million. Unless terminated earlier by our Board of Directors, the program will expire when we have repurchased the full value of the shares authorized. The table below details the repurchases that were made under the program during the first quarter of 2021, and also includes other shares purchased, which represents common shares surrendered by employees in respect of withholding tax obligations on the vesting of restricted stock.
Total shares purchased | Other shares purchased | Shares purchased under publicly announced repurchase program | Dollar maximum amount still available under repurchase program | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares purchased |
Average price per share |
Shares purchased |
Average price per share |
Shares purchased |
Average price per share |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning dollar amount available to be repurchased (reflecting renewal on February 5, 2021) | $ | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 1 - 31, 2021 | — | $ | — | — | $ | — | — | $ | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February 1 - 28, 2021 | 1,111,545 | $ | 159.46 | 35,201 | $ | 159.23 | 1,076,344 | $ | 159.47 | (171,645) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 1 - 31, 2021 | 26,010 | $ | 162.61 | 26,010 | $ | 162.61 | — | $ | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 1,137,555 | $ | 159.53 | 61,211 | $ | 160.67 | 1,076,344 | $ | 159.47 | $ | 328,355 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, pursuant to our publicly announced share repurchase program, we repurchased 1.1 million common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $171.6 million and an average price of $159.47 per common share. At March 31, 2021, $328.4 million remained available for repurchase under the share repurchase program. Subsequent to March 31, 2021 and through the period ended April 23, 2021, we repurchased 330 thousand common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $55.3 million and an average price of $167.62 per common share. In the future, we may authorize additional purchase activities under the currently authorized share repurchase program, increase the amount authorized under the share repurchase program, or adopt additional trading plans. Our decision to repurchase common shares will depend on, among other matters, the market price of the common shares and our capital requirements.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
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Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
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Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
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104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit 101). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.
Date: April 29, 2021 /s/ Robert Qutub
Robert Qutub
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)
Date: April 29, 2021 /s/ James C. Fraser
James C. Fraser
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
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