Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2010

OR

¨    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File No. 001-14428

RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Bermuda   98-014-1974
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)   Identification Number)

Renaissance House, 12 Crow Lane, Pembroke HM 19 Bermuda

(Address of principal executive offices)

(441) 295-4513

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

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

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

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

The number of outstanding shares of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s common shares, par value US $1.00 per share, as of July 26, 2010 was 54,864,228.

Total number of pages in this report: 98

 

 

 


Table of Contents

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

Part I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  
 

Item 1 —

 

Financial Statements

  
    Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2010 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2009    3
    Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009    4
    Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009    5
    Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009    6
    Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009    7
    Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements    8
  Item 2 —   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    48
 

Item 3 —

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   94
  Item 4 —   Controls and Procedures    94

Part II — OTHER INFORMATION

   95
  Item 1 —   Legal Proceedings    95
  Item 1A —   Risk Factors    95
  Item 2 —   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    95
 

Item 3 —

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   96
  Item 5 —   Other Information    96
 

Item 6 —

 

Exhibits

   96

Signatures —

  RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.    98

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands of United States Dollars)

 

     June 30,
2010
   December 31,
2009
     (Unaudited)    (Audited)

Assets

     

Fixed maturity investments available for sale, at fair value

     

(Amortized cost $697,771 and $3,513,183 at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively)

   $ 725,730    $ 3,559,197

Fixed maturity investments trading, at fair value

     

(Amortized cost $3,822,606 and $747,983 at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively)

     3,847,759      736,595

Short term investments, at fair value

     792,308      1,002,306

Other investments, at fair value

     782,345      858,026

Investments in other ventures, under equity method

     86,448      97,287
             

Total investments

     6,234,590      6,253,411

Cash and cash equivalents

     285,054      260,716

Premiums receivable

     1,021,496      589,827

Ceded reinsurance balances

     276,296      91,852

Losses recoverable

     179,841      194,241

Accrued investment income

     34,649      31,928

Deferred acquisition costs

     100,725      61,870

Receivable for investments sold

     153,923      7,431

Other secured assets

     17,418      27,730

Other assets

     174,924      205,347

Goodwill and other intangibles

     74,143      76,688
             

Total assets

   $ 8,553,059    $ 7,801,041
             

Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Shareholders’ Equity

     

Liabilities

     

Reserve for claims and claim expenses

   $ 1,682,083    $ 1,702,006

Reserve for unearned premiums

     994,990      446,649

Debt

     549,109      300,000

Reinsurance balances payable

     406,891      381,548

Payable for investments purchased

     202,562      59,236

Other secured liabilities

     17,500      27,500

Other liabilities

     217,141      256,669
             

Total liabilities

     4,070,276      3,173,608
             

Commitments and Contingencies

     

Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     707,541      786,647

Shareholders’ Equity

     

Preference shares

     650,000      650,000

Common shares

     54,872      61,745

Additional paid-in capital

     —        —  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     22,153      41,438

Retained earnings

     3,048,217      3,087,603
             

Total shareholders’ equity

     3,775,242      3,840,786
             

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and shareholders’ equity

   $ 8,553,059    $ 7,801,041
             

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

(in thousands of United States Dollars, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended     Six months ended  
     June 30,
2010
    June 30,
2009
    June 30,
2010
    June 30,
2009
 

Revenues

        

Gross premiums written

   $ 841,506      $ 855,172      $ 1,404,971      $ 1,453,473   
                                

Net premiums written

   $ 552,562      $ 631,370      $ 968,545      $ 1,078,206   

Increase in unearned premiums

     (226,040     (251,553     (363,897     (396,641
                                

Net premiums earned

     326,522        379,817        604,648        681,565   

Net investment income

     27,607        114,293        94,788        156,419   

Net foreign exchange losses

     (609     (4,162     (11,951     (14,317

Equity in earnings of other ventures

     3,160        5,432        5,316        7,168   

Other loss

     (3,094     (3,656     (8,825     (18,451

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

     71,106        18,889        119,704        41,015   

Total other-than-temporary impairments

     (798     (5,289     (831     (24,311

Portion recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

     2        3,456        2        3,456   
                                

Net other-than-temporary impairments

     (796     (1,833     (829     (20,855
                                

Total revenues

     423,896        508,780        802,851        832,544   
                                

Expenses

        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     47,667        66,823        126,724        153,020   

Acquisition expenses

     39,944        52,495        84,619        97,099   

Operational expenses

     50,376        46,865        114,927        86,622   

Corporate expenses

     4,824        6,339        10,383        12,927   

Interest expense

     6,206        4,200        9,362        8,336   
                                

Total expenses

     149,017        176,722        346,015        358,004   
                                

Income before taxes

     274,879        332,058        456,836        474,540   

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (2,148     (652     2,067        200   
                                

Net income

     272,731        331,406        458,903        474,740   

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     (51,915     (49,652     (62,465     (85,127
                                

Net income attributable to RenaissanceRe

     220,816        281,754        396,438        389,613   

Dividends on preference shares

     (10,575     (10,575     (21,150     (21,150
                                

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

   $ 210,241      $ 271,179      $ 375,288      $ 368,463   
                                

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - basic

   $ 3.69      $ 4.35      $ 6.42      $ 5.94   

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted

   $ 3.66      $ 4.32      $ 6.37      $ 5.90   

Dividends per common share

   $ 0.25      $ 0.24      $ 0.50      $ 0.48   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

For the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

(in thousands of United States Dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     Six months ended  
     June 30,
2010
    June 30,
2009
 

Preference shares

    

Balance - January 1

   $ 650,000      $ 650,000   

Repurchase of shares

     —          —     
                

Balance - June 30

     650,000        650,000   
                

Common shares

    

Balance - January 1

     61,745        61,503   

Repurchase of shares

     (7,417     —     

Exercise of options and issuance of restricted stock and awards

     544        842   
                

Balance - June 30

     54,872        62,345   
                

Additional paid-in capital

    

Balance - January 1

     —          —     

Repurchase of shares

     (17,979     —     

Change in redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     5,267        3,505   

Exercise of options and issuance of restricted stock and awards

     12,712        15,095   
                

Balance - June 30

     —          18,600   
                

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    

Balance - January 1

     41,438        75,387   

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes (1)

     —          (76,198

Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments

     (19,283     16,332   

Portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in other comprehensive income

     (2     (3,456
                

Balance - June 30

     22,153        12,065   
                

Retained earnings

    

Balance - January 1

     3,087,603        2,245,853   

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes (1)

     —          76,198   

Net income

     458,903        474,740   

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     (62,465     (85,127

Repurchase of shares

     (385,939     —     

Dividends on common shares

     (28,735     (29,922

Dividends on preference shares

     (21,150     (21,150
                

Balance - June 30

     3,048,217        2,660,592   
                

Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 3,775,242      $ 3,403,602   
                

 

(1) Cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of April 1, 2009, related to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments, as required by the Investments - Debt and Equity Securities Topic of the FASB ASC.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

(in thousands of United States Dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended     Six months ended  
     June 30,
2010
    June 30,
2009
    June 30,
2010
    June 30,
2009
 

Comprehensive income

        

Net income

   $ 272,731      $ 331,406      $ 458,903      $ 474,740   

Change in net unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments available for sale

     (10,178     22,294        (19,107     15,922   

Portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in other comprehensive income

     (2     (3,456     (2     (3,456
                                

Comprehensive income

     262,551        350,244        439,794        487,206   

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     (51,915     (49,652     (62,465     (85,127

Change in net unrealized gains on investments attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     1,562        (105     (176     410   
                                

Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     (50,353     (49,757     (62,641     (84,717
                                

Comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe

   $ 212,198      $ 300,487      $ 377,153      $ 402,489   
                                

Disclosure regarding net unrealized gains

        

Total realized and net unrealized holding (losses) gains on fixed maturity investments available for sale and net other-than-temporary impairments

   $ 7,412      $ 39,245      $ 41,616      $ 36,492   

Net realized gains (losses) on fixed maturity investments available for sale

     (16,824     (18,889     (61,728     (41,015

Net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings

     796        1,833        829        20,855   
                                

Change in net unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments available for sale

   $ (8,616   $ 22,189      $ (19,283   $ 16,332   
                                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

(in thousands of United States dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     Six months ended  
     June 30,
2010
    June 30
2009
 

Cash flows provided by operating activities

    

Net income

   $ 458,903      $ 474,740   

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

    

Amortization, accretion and depreciation

     26,703        (1,604

Equity in undistributed losses of other ventures

     7,601        4,619   

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

     (119,704     (41,015

Net other-than-temporary impairments

     829        20,855   

Net unrealized gains included in net investment income

     (5,693     (52,283

Net unrealized losses included in other loss

     13,212        6,263   

Change in:

    

Premiums receivable

     (431,669     (506,036

Ceded reinsurance balances

     (184,444     (162,206

Deferred acquisition costs

     (38,855     (32,932

Reserve for claims and claim expenses, net

     (5,523     (189,776

Reserve for unearned premiums

     548,341        558,847   

Reinsurance balances payable

     25,343        184,036   

Other

     (6,526     (50,814
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     288,518        212,694   
                

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities

    

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments available for sale

     3,158,885        4,390,895   

Purchases of investments available for sale

     (316,717     (5,585,341

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments trading

     3,583,799        —     

Purchases of investments trading

     (6,621,127     —     

Net sales of short term investments

     209,998        1,097,874   

Net sales of other investments

     66,639        46,342   

Net sales (purchases) of other assets

     2,729        (1,157
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     84,206        (51,387
                

Cash flows used in financing activities

    

Dividends paid - RenaissanceRe common shares

     (28,735     (29,922

Dividends paid - preference shares

     (21,150     (21,150

RenaissanceRe common share repurchases

     (411,335     —     

Third party DaVinciRe share transactions

     (131,370     (123,718

Reverse repurchase agreement

     —          (50,042

Issuance of 5.75% Senior Notes

     249,046        —     
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (343,544     (224,832
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash

     (4,842     (1,234
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     24,338        (64,759

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     260,716        274,692   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 285,054      $ 209,933   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(Expressed in U.S. Dollars) (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“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 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. The preparation of unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these 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; losses recoverable, including allowances for losses recoverable deemed uncollectible; estimates of written and earned premiums; the fair value of investments and financial instruments, including derivative instruments; premiums and other accounts receivable, including allowances for amounts deemed uncollectible; and estimates relating to the Company’s deferred tax asset valuation allowance. This report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (“RenaissanceRe”) was formed under the laws of Bermuda on June 7, 1993. Together with its wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and DaVinciRe (as defined below), which are collectively referred to herein as the “Company”, RenaissanceRe provides reinsurance and insurance coverages and related services to a broad range of customers.

 

  •  

Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. (“Renaissance Reinsurance”), the Company’s principal reinsurance subsidiary, provides property catastrophe and specialty reinsurance coverages to insurers and reinsurers on a worldwide basis.

 

  •  

The Company also manages property catastrophe and specialty reinsurance business written on behalf of joint ventures, which principally include Top Layer Reinsurance Ltd. (“Top Layer Re”), recorded under the equity method of accounting, and DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd. (“DaVinci”). Because the Company owns a noncontrolling equity interest in, but controls a majority of the outstanding voting power of, DaVinci’s parent, DaVinciRe Holdings Ltd. (“DaVinciRe”), the results of DaVinci and DaVinciRe are consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. Redeemable noncontrolling interest – DaVinciRe represents the interests of external parties with respect to the net income and shareholders’ equity of DaVinciRe. Renaissance Underwriting Managers Ltd. (“RUM”), a wholly owned subsidiary, acts as exclusive underwriting manager for these joint ventures in return for fee-based income and profit participation.

 

  •  

RenaissanceRe Syndicate 1458 (“Syndicate 1458”) is the Company’s Lloyd’s syndicate which was licensed to start writing certain lines of insurance and reinsurance business effective June 1, 2009. RenaissanceRe Corporate Capital (UK) Limited (“RenaissanceRe CCL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is Syndicate 1458’s sole corporate member and RenaissanceRe Syndicate Management Ltd. (“RSML”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company from November 2, 2009, is the managing agent for Syndicate 1458.

 

  •  

The Company’s Insurance operations include direct insurance and quota share reinsurance written through the operating subsidiaries of RenRe Insurance Holdings Ltd. (“RenRe Insurance”). These operating subsidiaries principally include Stonington Insurance Company (“Stonington”), which writes business in the U.S. on an admitted basis, and Glencoe Insurance Ltd. (“Glencoe”) and Lantana Insurance Ltd. (“Lantana”), which write business in the U.S. on an excess and surplus lines basis, and also provide reinsurance coverage, principally through quota share contracts, which are analyzed on an individual risk basis. The Insurance operations also include the results of Agro National Inc. (“Agro National”), a managing general underwriter of crop insurance.

 

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  •  

The Company, through Renaissance Trading Ltd. (“Renaissance Trading”) and RenRe Energy Advisors Ltd. (“REAL”), provides certain derivative-based risk management products primarily to its clients to address weather and energy risk. The Company also engages in hedging and trading activities related to those transactions and provides fee-based consulting services.

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.

 

NOTE 2. CEDED 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. The earned reinsurance premiums ceded were $134.5 million and $122.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $252.0 million and $213.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. In addition to loss recoveries, certain of the Company’s ceded reinsurance contracts provide for recoveries of additional premiums, reinstatement premiums and for lost no-claims bonuses, which are incurred when losses are ceded to other reinsurance contracts. Total reinsurance recoveries netted against claims and claim expenses incurred were $30.2 million and $53.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $65.1 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009. The Company remains liable to the extent that any reinsurance company fails to meet its obligations.

 

NOTE 3. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company accounts for its weighted average shares in accordance with FASB ASC Topic Earnings per Share. Basic earnings per common share is based on weighted average common shares and excludes any dilutive effects of stock options and restricted stock. Diluted earnings per common share assumes the exercise of all dilutive stock options and restricted stock grants.

 

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The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data)             

Numerator:

    

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

   $ 210,241      $ 271,179   

Amount allocated to participating common shareholders (1)

     (5,322     (6,007
                
   $ 204,919      $ 265,172   
                

Denominator (in thousands):

    

Denominator for basic income per RenaissanceRe common share -

    

Weighted average common shares

     55,538        60,963   

Per common share equivalents of employee stock options and restricted shares

     506        359   
                

Denominator for diluted income per RenaissanceRe common share -

    

Adjusted weighted average common shares and assumed conversions

     56,044        61,322   
                

Basic income per RenaissanceRe common share

   $ 3.69      $ 4.35   

Diluted income per RenaissanceRe common share

   $ 3.66      $ 4.32   

 

(1) Represents earnings attributable to holders of unvested restricted shares issued under the Company’s 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan and for the three months ended June 30, 2010, the 2010 Performance-Based Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data)             

Numerator:

    

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

   $ 375,288      $ 368,463   

Amount allocated to participating common shareholders (1)

     (9,486     (7,424
                
   $ 365,802      $ 361,039   
                

Denominator (in thousands):

    

Denominator for basic income per RenaissanceRe common share -

    

Weighted average common shares

     56,972        60,799   

Per common share equivalents of employee stock options and restricted shares

     493        356   
                

Denominator for diluted income per RenaissanceRe common share -

    

Adjusted weighted average common shares and assumed conversions

     57,465        61,155   
                

Basic income per RenaissanceRe common share

   $ 6.42      $ 5.94   

Diluted income per RenaissanceRe common share

   $ 6.37      $ 5.90   

 

(1) Represents earnings attributable to holders of unvested restricted shares issued under the Company’s 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan and for the six months ended June 30, 2010, the 2010 Performance-Based Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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NOTE 4. DIVIDENDS AND COMMON SHARE REPURCHASES

The Board of Directors of RenaissanceRe declared, and RenaissanceRe paid, a dividend of $0.25 per common share to shareholders of record on each of March 15, 2010 and June 15, 2010.

On May 18, 2010, the Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company’s authorized share repurchase program to an aggregate amount of $500.0 million. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors, the program will expire when the Company has repurchased the full value of the shares authorized. The Company repurchased 7.4 million shares in open market transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2010, at an aggregate cost of $411.3 million and at an average share price of $55.44. Future repurchases of common shares will depend on, among other matters, the market price of the common shares and the capital requirements of the Company. See “Part II, Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds” for additional information.

 

NOTE 5. SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company has two reportable segments: Reinsurance and Insurance.

The Reinsurance segment consists of: 1) property catastrophe reinsurance, primarily written through Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci; 2) specialty reinsurance, primarily written through Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci; 3) Lloyd’s, which includes reinsurance and insurance business written through Syndicate 1458; and 4) certain other activities of ventures as described herein. The Reinsurance segment is managed by the Global Chief Underwriting Officer, who leads a team of underwriters, risk modelers and other industry professionals, who have access to the Company’s proprietary risk management, underwriting and modeling resources and tools.

The Insurance segment, formerly known as the Individual Risk segment, includes underwriting that involves understanding the characteristics of the original underlying insurance policy. The Company’s Insurance segment is also managed by the Global Chief Underwriting Officer. The Insurance segment currently provides insurance written on both an admitted basis and an excess and surplus lines basis, and also provides some reinsurance which is written on a quota share basis.

The Company’s financial results relating to the operating subsidiaries managed by the ventures unit include the financial results of Renaissance Trading and are included in the Other category of the Company’s segment results. Also included in the Other category of the Company’s segment results are the Company’s investments in other ventures, including Top Layer Re, Tower Hill Holdings Inc. and Tower Hill Insurance Group, LLC (collectively the “Tower Hill Companies”), and in respect of the Company’s ownership of a warrant to purchase 2.5 million common shares of Platinum Underwriters Holdings Ltd. (“Platinum”).

The Company does not manage its assets by segment; accordingly, net investment income and total assets are not allocated to the segments.

 

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A summary of the significant components of the Company’s revenues and expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:

 

Three months ended June 30, 2010

   Reinsurance     Insurance     Eliminations (1)     Other     Total  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                               

Gross premiums written

   $ 531,358      $ 331,224      $ (21,076   $ —        $ 841,506   
                                  

Net premiums written

   $ 351,330      $ 201,232          —        $ 552,562   
                            

Net premiums earned

   $ 214,853      $ 111,669          —        $ 326,522   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     (22,580     70,247          —          47,667   

Acquisition expenses

     21,113        18,831          —          39,944   

Operational expenses

     34,822        15,554          —          50,376   
                                  

Underwriting income

   $ 181,498      $ 7,037          —          188,535   
                      

Net investment income

           27,607        27,607   

Equity in earnings of other ventures

           3,160        3,160   

Other loss

           (3,094     (3,094

Interest and preference share dividends

           (16,781     (16,781

Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

           (51,915     (51,915

Other items, net

           (7,581     (7,581

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

           71,106        71,106   

Net other-than-temporary impairments

           (796     (796
                      

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

         $ 21,706      $ 210,241   
                      

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 58,808      $ 75,274          $ 134,082   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (81,388     (5,027         (86,415
                            

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ (22,580   $ 70,247          $ 47,667   
                            

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     27.4     67.4         41.1

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (37.9 %)      (4.5 %)          (26.5 %) 
                            

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     (10.5 %)      62.9         14.6

Underwriting expense ratio

     26.0     30.8         27.7
                            

Combined ratio

     15.5     93.7         42.3
                            

 

(1) Represents gross premiums ceded from the Insurance segment to the Reinsurance segment.

 

Three months ended June 30, 2009

   Reinsurance     Insurance     Eliminations (1)    Other     Total  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                              

Gross premiums written

   $ 555,632      $ 298,731      $ 809    $ —        $ 855,172   
                                 

Net premiums written

   $ 394,981      $ 236,389           —        $ 631,370   
                             

Net premiums earned

   $ 227,912      $ 151,905           —        $ 379,817   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     (40,789     107,612           —          66,823   

Acquisition expenses

     21,136        31,359           —          52,495   

Operational expenses

     35,189        11,676           —          46,865   
                                   

Underwriting income

   $ 212,376      $ 1,258           —          213,634   
                       

Net investment income

            114,293        114,293   

Equity in earnings of other ventures

            5,432        5,432   

Other loss

            (3,656     (3,656

Interest and preference share dividends

            (14,775     (14,775

Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

            (49,652     (49,652

Other items, net

            (11,153     (11,153

Net realized gains on investments

            18,889        18,889   

Net other-than-temporary impairments

            (1,833     (1,833
                       

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

          $ 57,545      $ 271,179   
                       

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 55,575      $ 117,465           $ 173,040   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (96,364     (9,853          (106,217
                             

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ (40,789   $ 107,612           $ 66,823   
                             

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     24.4     77.3          45.6

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (42.3 %)      (6.5 %)           (28.0 %) 
                             

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     (17.9 %)      70.8          17.6

Underwriting expense ratio

     24.7     28.4          26.2
                             

Combined ratio

     6.8     99.2          43.8
                             

 

(1) Represents gross premiums ceded from the Insurance segment to the Reinsurance segment.

 

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Six months ended June 30, 2010

   Reinsurance     Insurance     Eliminations (1)     Other     Total  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                               

Gross premiums written

   $ 1,043,750      $ 383,104      $ (21,883   $ —        $ 1,404,971   
                                  

Net premiums written

   $ 753,639      $ 214,906          —        $ 968,545   
                            

Net premiums earned

   $ 464,893      $ 139,755          —        $ 604,648   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     78,954        47,770          —          126,724   

Acquisition expenses

     44,931        39,688          —          84,619   

Operational expenses

     74,973        39,954          —          114,927   
                                  

Underwriting income

   $ 266,035      $ 12,343          —          278,378   
                      

Net investment income

           94,788        94,788   

Equity in earnings of other ventures

           5,316        5,316   

Other loss

           (8,825     (8,825

Interest and preference share dividends

           (30,512     (30,512

Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

           (62,465     (62,465

Other items, net

           (20,267     (20,267

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

           119,704        119,704   

Net other-than-temporary impairments

           (829     (829
                      

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

         $ 96,910      $ 375,288   
                      

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 265,559      $ 109,279          $ 374,838   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (186,605     (61,509         (248,114
                            

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ 78,954      $ 47,770          $ 126,724   
                            

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     57.1     78.2         62.0

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (40.1 %)      (44.0 %)          (41.0 %) 
                            

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     17.0     34.2         21.0

Underwriting expense ratio

     25.8     57.0         33.0
                            

Combined ratio

     42.8     91.2         54.0
                            

 

(1) Represents gross premiums ceded from the Insurance segment to the Reinsurance segment.

 

Six months ended June 30, 2009

   Reinsurance     Insurance     Eliminations (1)    Other     Total  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                              

Gross premiums written

   $ 1,088,548      $ 363,880      $ 1,045    $ —        $ 1,453,473   
                                 

Net premiums written

   $ 809,768      $ 268,438           —        $ 1,078,206   
                             

Net premiums earned

   $ 453,883      $ 227,682           —        $ 681,565   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     (24,218     177,238           —          153,020   

Acquisition expenses

     40,157        56,942           —          97,099   

Operational expenses

     64,304        22,318           —          86,622   
                                   

Underwriting income (loss)

   $ 373,640      $ (28,816        —          344,824   
                       

Net investment income

            156,419        156,419   

Equity in earnings of other ventures

            7,168        7,168   

Other loss

            (18,451     (18,451

Interest and preference share dividends

            (29,486     (29,486

Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

            (85,127     (85,127

Other items, net

            (27,044     (27,044

Net realized gains on investments

            41,015        41,015   

Net other-than-temporary impairments

            (20,855     (20,855
                       

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

          $ 23,639      $ 368,463   
                       

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 96,881      $ 155,094           $ 251,975   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (121,099     22,144             (98,955
                             

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ (24,218   $ 177,238           $ 153,020   
                             

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     21.3     68.1          37.0

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (26.6 %)      9.7          (14.5 %) 
                             

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     (5.3 %)      77.8          22.5

Underwriting expense ratio

     23.0     34.9          26.9
                             

Combined ratio

     17.7     112.7          49.4
                             

 

(1) Represents gross premiums ceded from the Insurance segment to the Reinsurance segment.

 

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NOTE 6. INVESTMENTS

Fixed Maturity Investments Available For Sale

The following table summarizes the amortized cost, fair value and related unrealized gains and losses and non-credit other-than-temporary impairments of fixed maturity investments available for sale at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

 

          Included in  Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income
            

At June 30, 2010

   Amortized Cost    Gross Unrealized
Gains
   Gross Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Non-Credit
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairments (1)
 
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                            

U.S. treasuries

   $ 12,665    $ 654    $ —        $ 13,319    $ —     

Agencies

     15,765      567      —          16,332      —     

Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)

     32,718      3,247      (363     35,602      —     

FDIC guaranteed corporate

     167,339      2,714      —          170,053      —     

Non-U.S. government-backed corporate

     38,894      776      —          39,670      —     

Corporate

     181,541      9,705      (826     190,420      (2,137

Agency mortgage-backed

     46,769      2,137      (6     48,900      —     

Non-agency mortgage-backed

     27,346      3,096      (64     30,378      (2,227

Commercial mortgage-backed

     126,415      5,272      (218     131,469      —     

Asset-backed

     48,319      1,339      (71     49,587      (598
                                     

Total

   $ 697,771    $ 29,507    $ (1,548   $ 725,730    $ (4,962
                                     

 

(1) Represents the non-credit component of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income since the adoption of guidance related to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments under FASB ASC Topic Financial Instruments - Debt and Equity Securities, during the second quarter of 2009, adjusted for subsequent sales of securities. It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date.

 

          Included in  Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income
            

At December 31, 2009

   Amortized Cost    Gross Unrealized
Gains
   Gross Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Non-Credit
Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairments (1)
 
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                            

U.S. treasuries

   $ 599,930    $ 691    $ (2,689   $ 597,932    $ —     

Agencies

     164,071      1,627      (121     165,577      —     

Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)

     171,137      8,706      (557     179,286      (88

FDIC guaranteed corporate

     850,193      6,175      (380     855,988      —     

Non-U.S. government-backed corporate

     248,888      1,557      (1,699     248,746      —     

Corporate

     811,304      32,128      (4,556     838,876      (4,659

Agency mortgage-backed

     289,433      4,521      (1,526     292,428      —     

Non-agency mortgage-backed

     35,071      1,888      (576     36,383      (2,949

Commercial mortgage-backed

     253,713      2,183      (4,424     251,472      —     

Asset-backed

     89,443      3,598      (532     92,509      (1,531
                                     

Total fixed maturity investments available for sale

   $ 3,513,183    $ 63,074    $ (17,060   $ 3,559,197    $ (9,227
                                     

 

(1) Represents the non-credit component of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income since the adoption of guidance related to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments under FASB ASC Topic Financial Instruments - Debt and Equity Securities, during the second quarter of 2009, adjusted for subsequent sales of securities. It does not include the change in fair value subsequent to the impairment measurement date.

 

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Fixed Maturity Investments Trading

During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company started designating, upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than as available for sale. The Company made this change, due in part to the new authoritative other-than-temporary impairment GAAP guidance that became effective on April 1, 2009, which has resulted in additional accounting judgments required to be made on a quarterly basis, combined with an effort to report the Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio results in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations in a manner consistent with the way in which the Company manages the portfolio, which is on a total investment return basis. The Company currently expects to continue to designate, in future periods, upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than as available for sale, and, as a result, the Company currently expects its fixed maturity investments available for sale balance to decrease and its fixed maturity trading balance to increase over time, resulting in a reduction in other-than-temporary accounting judgments the Company makes. This change will over time result in additional volatility in the Company’s net income (loss) in future periods as net unrealized gains and losses on these fixed maturity investments will be recorded currently in net income (loss), rather than as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity.

The following table summarizes the fair value of fixed maturity investments trading at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

     June 30,
2010
   December 31,
2009
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)          

U.S. treasuries

   $ 1,445,933    $ 320,225

Agencies

     155,173      —  

Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)

     89,864      18,773

FDIC guaranteed corporate

     340,980      —  

Non-U.S. government-backed corporate

     371,233      —  

Corporate

     1,237,063      296,628

Agency mortgage-backed

     139,541      100,969

Non-agency mortgage-backed securities

     6,282      —  

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

     61,690      —  
             

Total fixed maturity investments trading, at fair value

   $ 3,847,759    $ 736,595
             

Contractual maturities of fixed maturity investments are as follows. 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.

 

     Available for Sale    Trading    Total Fixed Maturity Investments

At June 30, 2010

   Amortized Cost    Fair Value    Amortized Cost    Fair Value    Amortized Cost    Fair Value
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                              

Due in less than one year

   $ 20,815    $ 21,051    $ 1,997    $ 1,999    $ 22,812    $ 23,050

Due after one through five years

     318,707      328,366      2,787,676      2,804,908      3,106,383      3,133,274

Due after five through ten years

     88,879      93,155      718,360      719,484      807,239      812,639

Due after ten years

     20,521      22,824      109,890      113,855      130,411      136,679

Mortgage-backed

     200,530      210,747      204,683      207,513      405,213      418,260

Asset-backed

     48,319      49,587      —        —        48,319      49,587
                                         

Total

   $ 697,771    $ 725,730    $ 3,822,606    $ 3,847,759    $ 4,520,377    $ 4,573,489
                                         

 

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Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income are as follows:

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)             

Fixed maturity investments

   $ 27,742      $ 40,007   

Short term investments

     2,458        2,741   

Other investments

    

Hedge funds and private equity investments

     8,188        12,327   

Other

     (8,184     61,740   

Cash and cash equivalents

     65        157   
                
     30,269        116,972   

Investment expenses

     (2,662     (2,679
                

Net investment income

   $ 27,607      $ 114,293   
                

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)             

Fixed maturity investments

   $ 56,385      $ 79,134   

Short term investments

     4,742        5,812   

Other investments

    

Hedge funds and private equity investments

     25,724        (7,414

Other

     13,034        83,561   

Cash and cash equivalents

     131        530   
                
     100,016        161,623   

Investment expenses

     (5,228     (5,204
                

Net investment income

   $ 94,788      $ 156,419   
                

Net realized gains on the sale of investments are determined on the basis of the first in, first out cost method and for fixed maturity investments available for sale include adjustments to the cost basis of investments for declines in value that are considered to be other-than-temporary. During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company started designating upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading. As a result, unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity investments designated as trading, are recorded in net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. Unrealized gains (losses) on the Company’s fixed maturity investments available for sale, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

 

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The Company’s net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments and net other-than-temporary impairments are as follows:

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)             

Gross realized gains

   $ 29,058      $ 33,213   

Gross realized losses

     (5,962     (14,324
                

Net realized gains on fixed maturity investments

     23,096        18,889   

Net unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments, trading

     48,010        —     
                

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

   $ 71,106      $ 18,889   
                

Total other-than-temporary impairments

   $ (798   $ (5,289

Portion recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

     2        3,456   
                

Net other-than-temporary impairments

   $ (796   $ (1,833
                

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)             

Gross realized gains

   $ 77,945      $ 64,636   

Gross realized losses

     (11,132     (23,621
                

Net realized gains on fixed maturity investments

     66,813        41,015   

Net unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments, trading

     52,891        —     
                

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

   $ 119,704      $ 41,015   
                

Total other-than-temporary impairments

   $ (831   $ (24,311

Portion recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

     2        3,456   
                

Net other-than-temporary impairments

   $ (829   $ (20,855
                

 

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The following tables provide an analysis of the length of time the Company’s fixed maturity investments available for sale in an unrealized loss have been in a continual unrealized loss position.

 

     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Greater     Total  

At June 30, 2010

   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
 
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                                  

U.S. treasuries

   $ —      $ —        $ —      $ —        $ —      $ —     

Agencies

     —        —          —        —          —        —     

Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)

     5,967      (353     110      (10     6,077      (363

FDIC guaranteed corporate

     —        —          —        —          —        —     

Non-U.S. government-backed corporate

     —        —          —        —          —        —     

Corporate

     18,946      (607     1,936      (219     20,882      (826

Agency mortgage-backed

     531      (6     —        —          531      (6

Non-agency mortgage-backed

     421      (9     1,352      (55     1,773      (64

Commercial mortgage-backed

     19,381      (114     11,082      (104     30,463      (218

Asset-backed

     9,565      (53     3,195      (18     12,760      (71
                                             

Total

   $ 54,811    $ (1,142   $ 17,675    $ (406   $ 72,486    $ (1,548
                                             
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Greater     Total  

At December 31, 2009

   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
 
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                                  

U.S. treasuries

   $ 551,203    $ (2,689   $ —      $ —        $ 551,203    $ (2,689

Agencies

     75,537      (121     —        —          75,537      (121

Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)

     39,119      (540     209      (17     39,328      (557

FDIC guaranteed corporate

     156,989      (380     —        —          156,989      (380

Non-U.S. government-backed corporate

     106,971      (1,699     —        —          106,971      (1,699

Corporate

     253,828      (4,069     7,893      (487     261,721      (4,556

Agency mortgage-backed

     156,288      (1,348     3,818      (178     160,106      (1,526

Non-agency mortgage-backed

     2,558      (54     9,120      (522     11,678      (576

Commercial mortgage-backed

     77,796      (1,089     32,184      (3,335     109,980      (4,424

Asset-backed

     4,605      (18     14,407      (514     19,012      (532
                                             

Total

   $ 1,424,894    $ (12,007   $ 67,631    $ (5,053   $ 1,492,525    $ (17,060
                                             

At June 30, 2010, the Company held 33 fixed maturity investments available for sale securities that were in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater and does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities before the anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis. The Company performed reviews of its investments for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in order to determine whether declines in the fair value below the amortized cost basis of its fixed maturity investments available for sale were considered other-than-temporary in accordance with the applicable guidance, as discussed below.

At June 30, 2010, $1.3 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 principal letter of credit facility. Of this amount, $61.4 million are on deposit, or in trust accounts for the benefit of U.S. state regulatory authorities.

 

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Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Process Prior to April 1, 2009

Under the pre-existing guidance, which was in effect for the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company assessed, on a quarterly basis, whether declines in the fair value of its fixed maturity investments available for sale represented impairments that were other-than-temporary based on several factors. The factors the Company considered in the assessment of a security included: (i) the time period during which there had been a significant decline below cost; (ii) the extent of the decline below cost; (iii) the Company’s intent and ability to hold the security; (iv) the potential for the security to recover in value; (v) an analysis of the financial condition of the issuer; and (vi) an analysis of the collateral structure and credit support of the security, if applicable. Where the Company determined that there was an other-than-temporary decline in the fair value of the security, the cost of the security was written down to its fair value and the unrealized loss at the time of determination was reflected in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

The majority of the Company’s fixed maturity investments available for sale are managed by external investment managers in accordance with specific investment mandates and guidelines. The investment managers are directed to manage the Company’s investments to maximize total investment return in accordance with these investment mandates and guidelines. While the Company has adequate capital and liquidity to support its operations and to hold its fixed maturity investments available for sale which were in an unrealized loss position until they recover in value, the Company has not prohibited or restricted its investment managers from selling these investments and its investment managers actively traded the Company’s investments. The Company was therefore unable to represent or certify that it had the intent or ability to hold these investments until they recovered in value. As a consequence, under the pre-existing guidance, the Company impaired essentially all of its fixed maturity investments available for sale that were in an unrealized loss position at each quarterly reporting date. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company recorded other-than-temporary impairments of $19.0 million. As of March 31, 2009, the Company had essentially no fixed maturity investments available for sale in an unrealized loss position.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Process Effective April 1, 2009

Pursuant to the guidance effective April 1, 2009, the Company revised its quarterly process for assessing whether declines in the fair value of its fixed maturity investments available for sale represent impairments that are other-than-temporary. The process now includes reviewing each fixed maturity investment available for sale that is impaired and determining: (i) if the Company has the intent to sell the debt security or (ii) if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery; and (iii) assessing whether a credit loss exists, that is, where the Company expects that the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security are less than the amortized cost basis of the security.

In assessing the Company’s intent to sell securities, the Company’s procedures may include actions such as discussing planned sales with its third party investment managers, reviewing sales that have occurred shortly after the balance sheet date, and consideration of other qualitative factors that may be indicative of the Company’s intent to sell or hold the relevant securities. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recognized $nil, of other-than-temporary impairments due to the Company’s intent to sell these securities as of June 30, 2010.

In assessing whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell a security before its anticipated recovery, the Company considers various factors including its future cash flow forecasts and requirements, legal and regulatory requirements, the level of its cash, cash equivalents, short term investments, fixed maturity investments trading and fixed maturity investments available for sale in an unrealized gain position, and other relevant factors. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recognized $nil of other-than-temporary impairments due to required sales.

In evaluating credit losses, the Company considers a variety of factors in the assessment of a security including: (i) the time period during which there has been a significant decline below cost; (ii) the extent of the decline below cost and par; (iii) the potential for the security to recover in value; (iv) an analysis of the financial condition of the issuer; (v) the rating of the issuer; (vi) the implied rating of the issuer based on an analysis of option adjusted spreads; (vii) the absolute level of the option adjusted spread for the issuer; and (viii) an analysis of the collateral structure and credit support of the security, if applicable.

 

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Once the Company determines that it is possible that a credit loss may exist for a security, the Company performs a detailed review of the cash flows expected to be collected from the issuer. The Company estimates expected cash flows by applying estimated default probabilities and recovery rates to the contractual cash flows of the issuer, with such default and recovery rates reflecting long-term historical averages adjusted to reflect current credit, economic and market conditions, giving due consideration to collateral and credit support, if applicable, and discounting the expected cash flows at the purchase yield on the security. In instances in which a determination is made that an impairment exists but the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis, the impairment is separated into: (i) the amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss; and (ii) the amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors. The amount of the other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings. The amount of the other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recognized $0.8 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of credit related other-than-temporary impairments which were recognized in earnings and $2 thousand and $2 thousand, respectively, related to other factors.

The following table provides a rollforward of the amount of other-than-temporary impairments related to credit losses recognized in earnings for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010:

 

Three months ended June 30, 2010

      
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)       

Balance - April 1

   $ 4,064   

Additions:

  

Amount related to credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognized

     —     

Amount related to credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized

     39   

Reductions:

  

Securities sold during the period

     (505

Securities for which the amount previously recognized in other comprehensive income was recognized in earnings, because the Company intends to sell the security or is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security

     —     

Increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security

     —     
        

Balance - June 30

   $ 3,598   
        

 

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Six months ended June 30, 2010

      
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)       

Balance - January 1

   $ 9,987   

Additions:

  

Amount related to credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognized

     —     

Amount related to credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized

     70   

Reductions:

  

Securities sold during the period

     (6,459

Securities for which the amount previously recognized in other comprehensive income was recognized in earnings, because the Company intends to sell the security or is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security

     —     

Increases in cash flows expected to be collected that are recognized over the remaining life of the security

     —     
        

Balance - June 30

   $ 3,598   
        

 

NOTE 7. 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 financial statements, and is a critical accounting policy and estimate for the Company. Fair value is defined under accounting guidance currently applicable to the Company to be 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, with the exception of changes in unrealized gains and losses on its fixed maturity investments available for sale, which are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity.

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 unobservable inputs (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. 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 on 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.

 

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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 in the period represented by these consolidated financial statements.

 

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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 sheet:

 

At June 30, 2010

   Total     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
    Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                        

Fixed maturity investments

         

U.S. treasuries

   $ 1,459,252      $ 1,459,252      $ —      $ —     

Agencies

     171,505        —          171,505      —     

Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)

     125,466        —          125,466      —     

FDIC guaranteed corporate

     511,033        —          511,033      —     

Non-U.S. government-backed corporate

     410,903        —          410,903      —     

Corporate

     1,427,483        —          1,427,483      —     

Agency mortgage-backed

     188,441        —          188,441      —     

Non-agency mortgage-backed

     36,660        —          36,660      —     

Commercial mortgage-backed

     193,159        —          193,159      —     

Asset-backed

     49,587        —          49,587      —     
                               

Total fixed maturity investments

     4,573,489        1,459,252        3,114,237      —     

Short term investments

     792,308        —          792,308      —     

Other investments

         

Private equity partnerships

     298,306        —          —        298,306   

Catastrophe bonds

     183,793        —          183,569      224   

Senior secured bank loan funds

     167,132        —          150,999      16,133   

Non-U.S. fixed income funds

     66,190        —          66,190      —     

Hedge funds

     43,639        —          43,639      —     

Miscellaneous other investments

     23,285        —          23,285      —     
                               

Total other investments

     782,345        —          467,682      314,663   

Other secured assets

     17,418        —          17,418      —     

Other assets and (liabilities)

         

Platinum warrants

     29,506        —          29,506      —     

Weather and energy risk management operations

     1,196        1,695        —        (499

Assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts

     (3,643     —          —        (3,643

Derivatives

     (363     (776     413      —     

Other

     14,590        (1,597     —        16,187   
                               

Total other assets and (liabilities)

     41,286        (678     29,919      12,045   
                               
   $ 6,206,846      $ 1,458,574      $ 4,421,564    $ 326,708   
                               

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 U.S. agencies, non-U.S. government, corporate, FDIC guaranteed corporate, non-U.S. government-backed corporate, agency mortgage-backed, mortgage-backed and asset-backed fixed maturity investments.

The Company’s fixed maturity investments portfolios are priced using broker quotations and pricing services, such as index providers and pricing vendors. The pricing vendors provide pricing for a high volume of liquid securities

 

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that are actively traded. For securities that do not trade on an exchange, the pricing services generally utilize market data and other observable inputs in matrix pricing models to determine prices. Prices are generally verified using third party data. 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 Level 2 inputs as they are corroborated with other externally obtained information. The techniques generally used to determine the fair value of our fixed maturity investments are detailed below by asset class.

U.S. treasuries

At June 30, 2010, the Company’s U.S. treasuries fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.3%, a weighted average credit quality of AAA, and are primarily priced by pricing vendors. When pricing these securities, the vendor may utilize daily data from many real time market sources, including active broker dealers, as such, the Company considers its U.S. treasuries fixed maturity investments Level 1. All data sources are constantly reviewed for accuracy to ensure the most reliable price source is used for each issue and maturity date.

Agencies

At June 30, 2010, the Company’s agencies fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 0.9% and a weighted average credit quality of AAA. The issuers of the Company’s agencies 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 vendors. When evaluating these securities, the vendor may 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 dollar value for each security is individually computed using analytical models which incorporate option adjusted spreads and other daily interest rate data. The Company considers its agencies fixed maturity investments Level 2.

Non-U.S. government (Sovereign debt)

Non-U.S. government fixed maturity investments held by the Company at June 30, 2010, had a weighted average yield to maturity of 3.6% and a weighted average credit quality of AA. The issuers for securities in this sector are generally non-U.S. governments and agencies as well as supranational organizations. Securities held in these sectors, are primarily priced by pricing vendors who 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 vendor may 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 vendor may also 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. The Company considers its non-U.S. government fixed maturity investments Level 2.

FDIC guaranteed corporate

The Company’s FDIC guaranteed corporate fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 0.7% and a weighted average credit quality of AAA at June 30, 2010. The issuers consist of well known corporate issuers who participate in the FDIC program. The Company’s FDIC guaranteed corporate fixed maturity investments, are primarily priced by pricing vendors. When evaluating these securities, the vendor may gather information from market sources regarding the issuer of the security, 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 vendor may also consider the specific terms and conditions of the securities, including any specific features which may influence risk. Each security is individually evaluated using a spread model which is added to the U.S. treasury curve. The Company considers its FDIC guaranteed corporate fixed maturity investments Level 2.

 

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Non-U.S. government-backed corporate

Non-U.S. government-backed corporate fixed maturity investments are considered Level 2 by the Company and had a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.8% and a weighted average credit quality of AAA at June 30, 2010. Non-U.S. government-backed fixed maturity investments are primarily priced by pricing vendors who 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 vendor may 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 vendor may also 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

At June 30, 2010, the Company’s corporate fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 3.7% and a weighted average credit quality of A, and principally consist of U.S. and international corporations. The Company’s corporate fixed maturity investments are primarily priced by pricing vendors, and are considered Level 2 by the Company. When evaluating these securities, the vendor may gather information from market sources regarding the issuer of the security, 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 vendor may also consider the specific terms and conditions of the securities, including any specific features which may influence risk. Each security is individually evaluated using a spread model which is added to the U.S. treasury curve.

Agency mortgage-backed

At June 30, 2010, the Company’s agency mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments included agency residential mortgage-backed securities with a weighted average yield to maturity of 2.6%, a weighted average credit quality of AAA and a weighted average life of 3.1 years. The majority of the Company’s agency mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments held at June 30, 2010 are from vintage years 2009 and prior. The Company’s agency mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments are primarily priced by pricing vendors using a mortgage pool specific model which utilizes daily inputs from the active TBA market which is extremely liquid, as well as the U.S. treasury market. The vendor model may also utilize 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 may also be corroborated by daily active market quotes. The Company considers its agency mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments Level 2.

Non-agency mortgage-backed

The Company’s non-agency mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments include non-agency prime residential mortgage-backed and non-agency Alt-A fixed maturity investments, and considers these fixed maturity investments Level 2. The Company has no fixed maturity investments classified as sub-prime held in its fixed maturity investments portfolio. At June 30, 2010, the Company’s non-agency prime residential mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments have a weighted average yield to maturity of 4.9%, a weighted average credit quality of AA and a weighted average life of 2.9 years. The Company’s non-agency Alt-A fixed maturity investments held at June 30, 2010, have a weighted average yield to maturity of 7.5%, a weighted average credit quality of AA, a weighted average life of 3.9 years, and are from vintage years 2005 and prior. Securities held in these sectors, are primarily priced by pricing vendors using a mortgage pool specific model which utilizes daily inputs from the active TBA market which is extremely liquid, as well as the U.S. treasury market. The vendor model may also utilize 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 may also be corroborated by daily active market quotes.

 

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Commercial mortgage-backed

The Company’s commercial mortgage-backed fixed maturity investments held at June 30, 2010 have a weighted average yield to maturity of 3.5%, a weighted average credit quality of AA and a weighted average life of 3.7 years. Securities held in these sectors, are primarily priced by pricing vendors and are considered Level 2 by the Company. The pricing vendor may apply dealer quotes and other available trade information such as bid and offers, prepayment speeds which may be adjusted for the underlying collateral or current price data, the U.S. treasury curve, swap curve and TBA values as well as cash settlement. The model utilizes a single cash flow stream and computes both a yield to call and weighted average yield to maturity. The model generates a derived price for the bond by applying the most likely scenario.

Asset-backed

At June 30, 2010, the Company’s asset-backed fixed maturity investments had a weighted average yield to maturity of 1.2%, a weighted average credit quality of AAA and a weighted average life of 3.2 years. The underlying collateral for the Company’s asset-backed fixed maturity investments primarily consists of student loans, automobile loans and credit card receivables. Securities held in these sectors, are primarily priced by pricing vendors and are considered Level 2 by the Company. The pricing vendor may apply dealer quotes and other available trade information such as bid and offers, prepayment speeds which may be adjusted for the underlying collateral or current price data, the U.S. treasury curve, swap curve and TBA values as well as cash settlement. The model utilizes a single cash flow stream and computes both a yield to call and weighted average yield to maturity. The model generates a derived price for the bond by applying the most likely scenario.

Short term investments

Short term investments are considered Level 2 and fair values are 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.

Other Investments

Private equity partnerships

Included in the Company’s investments in private equity partnerships at June 30, 2010 are alternative asset limited partnerships that invest in certain private equity asset classes including U.S. and global leveraged buyouts; mezzanine investments; distressed securities; real estate; oil, gas and power; and secondaries. The fair value of private equity partnership investments is based on net asset values obtained from the investment manager or general partner of the respective entity. The type of underlying investments held by the investee which form the basis of the net asset valuation include assets such as private business ventures, for which the Company does not have access to, and as a result, is unable to corroborate the fair value measurement and therefore requires significant management judgment to determine the underlying value of the private equity partnership and accordingly the fair value of the Company’s investment in each private equity partnership is considered Level 3. The Company also considers factors such as recent financial information, the value of capital transactions with the partnership and management’s judgment regarding whether any adjustments should be made to the net asset value. The Company regularly reviews the performance of its private equity partnerships directly with the fund managers.

Catastrophe bonds

The Company’s other investments include investments in catastrophe bonds which are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices, or when such prices are not available, by reference to broker or underwriter bid indications. As such, the Company considers its catastrophe bonds Level 2.

 

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Senior secured bank loan funds

At June 30, 2010, the Company’s investments in senior secured bank loan funds include funds that invest primarily in bank loans and other senior debt instruments. The fair values of the Company’s senior secured bank loan funds are estimated using the net asset value per share of the funds. Investments of $151.0 million are redeemable, in whole or in part, on a monthly basis, and are valued at the net asset value of the fund and are considered Level 2. In addition, the Company has a $16.1 million investment in a bank loan fund for which it has no right to redeem its investment in advance of dissolution of the fund. Instead, the nature of this investment is that distributions are received by the Company in connection with the liquidation of the underlying assets of the fund. The Company’s investment in this bank loan fund is valued using monthly net asset valuations received from the investment manager. The underlying investments in this bank loan fund are relatively liquid and prices can be obtained on a daily basis. However, the lock up provisions in this fund result in a lack of current observable market transactions between the fund participants and the fund, and therefore, the Company considers the fair value of its investment in this fund to be determined using Level 3 inputs. The management of the senior secured bank loan funds which previously could generally not be redeemed has restructured these investments during 2010 to a fund structure which would liquidate in the near term, and the Company has elected to transfer its investment to the new fund structure. Subsequently, the Company has received $84.3 million in distributions from the new fund structure.

Non-U.S. fixed income funds

The Company considers its investments in non-U.S. fixed income funds Level 2. The Company’s non-U.S. fixed income funds invest primarily in European high yield bonds, non-U.S. convertible securities and high income convertible securities. The fair values of the investments in this category have been estimated using the net asset value per share of the investments which are provided by third parties such as the relevant investment manager or administrator, recent financial information issued by the applicable investee entity or available market data to estimate fair value.

Hedge funds

The Company invests in hedge funds that pursue multiple strategies without limiting itself to a predefined strategy or set of strategies. The strategies employed include, among others, the following: fundamentally driven long/short; event oriented; credit, distressed credit and structured credit investments and arbitrage; capital structure arbitrage; and private investments. The fair values of the Company’s hedge funds have been estimated using the net asset value per share of the investments which are provided by third parties such as the relevant investment manager or administrator, recent financial information issued by the applicable investee entity or available market data to estimate fair value. The Company considers its hedge fund investments Level 2.

Other secured assets

Other secured assets represent contractual rights under a purchase agreement, contingent purchase agreement and credit derivatives agreement with a major bank to sell certain securities within the Company’s catastrophe-linked securities portfolio. The Company’s other secured assets are accounted for at fair value based on quoted market prices, or when such prices are not available, by reference to broker or underwriter bid indications. As such, the Company considers its catastrophe bonds Level 2.

Other assets and liabilities

Included in other assets and liabilities measured at fair value is the Company’s investment in a warrant to purchase 2.5 million common shares of Platinum, estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which the Company has considered Level 2 as the inputs to the option pricing model are based on observable market inputs. Other assets and liabilities also include the Company’s weather and energy risk management operations, which principally includes certain derivative-based risk management products primarily to address weather and energy risks, and hedging and trading activities related to these risks. The trading markets for these derivatives are generally linked to energy and agriculture commodities, weather and other natural phenomena and the fair value of these contracts is obtained through the use of exchange traded market prices, or in the absence of such market prices,

 

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industry or internal valuation models, as such, these products are considered Level 1 and Level 3, respectively. The Company considers assumed and ceded (re)insurance contracts accounted for at fair value as Level 3, as the fair value of these contracts is obtained through the use of internal valuation models with the inputs to the internal valuation model based on proprietary data as observable market inputs are not available. In addition, other assets and liabilities include certain other derivatives entered into by the Company, the fair value of these transactions include certain exchange traded foreign currency forward contracts which are considered Level 1, and the fair value of certain credit derivatives, determined using industry valuation models and considered Level 2, as the inputs to the valuation model are based on observable market 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.

 

     Fair Value Measurements Using
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level  3)
 

Three months ended June 30, 2010

   Other
investments
    Other assets and
(liabilities)
    Total  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                   

Balance — April 1

   $ 393,388      $ 6,831      $ 400,219   

Total net unrealized (losses) gains

      

Included in net investment income

     (5,724     —          (5,724

Included in other loss

     —          9,542        9,542   

Total net realized gains

      

Included in net investment income

     —          —          —     

Included in other loss

     —          7,350        7,350   

Total net foreign exchange losses

     (1,051     (217     (1,268

Net purchases, issuances, and settlements

     (71,950     (11,461     (83,411

Net transfers in and/or out of Level 3

     —          —          —     
                        

Balance — June 30

   $ 314,663      $ 12,045      $ 326,708   
                        

 

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     Fair Value Measurements Using
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level  3)
 

Six months ended June 30, 2010

   Other
investments
    Other assets and
(liabilities)
    Total  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                   

Balance — January 1

   $ 393,913      $ 3,567      $ 397,480   

Total net unrealized losses

      

Included in net investment income

     3,167        —          3,167   

Included in other loss

     —          (594     (594

Total net realized gains

      

Included in net investment income

     —          —          —     

Included in other loss

     —          14,965        14,965   

Total net foreign exchange losses

     (3,266     (701     (3,967

Net purchases, issuances, and settlements

     (79,151     (5,192     (84,343

Net transfers in and/or out of Level 3

     —          —          —     
                        

Balance — June 30

   $ 314,663      $ 12,045      $ 326,708   
                        

Reinsurance Contracts Accounted for at Fair Value

The Company assumes and cedes certain reinsurance contracts that are accounted for at fair value under the fair value option. The fair value of these contracts is obtained through the use of internal valuation models. These contracts are recorded on the Company’s balance sheet in other assets and other liabilities and totaled $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively, at June 30, 2010 (December 31, 2009 – $2.2 million and $nil, respectively). During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recorded losses of $0.9 million and $2.3 million, respectively, which are included in other loss and represent changes in the fair value of these contracts (June 30, 2009 – $6.5 million and $7.4 million, respectively).

Insurance Contracts Accounted for at Fair Value

The Company enters into certain insurance contracts that are accounted for at fair value under the fair value option. The fair value of these contracts is obtained through the use of internal valuation models. These contracts are recorded on the Company’s balance sheet in other liabilities and totaled $3.1 million at June 30, 2010 (December 31, 2009 – $13.5 million). During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recorded unrealized gains of $0.6 million and unrealized losses of $0.6 million, respectively (June 30, 2009 – unrealized gains of $8 thousand and $0.1 million, respectively), and realized losses of $43 thousand and realized gains of $1.9 million, respectively (June 30, 2009 – realized losses of $nil and $30 thousand, respectively) which are included in other loss and represent changes in the fair value and realized gains of these contracts.

Weather and Energy Transactions Accounted for at Fair Value

Through the business conducted by Renaissance Trading on a regular basis and otherwise from time to time, the Company enters into certain weather and energy insurance type contracts through its trading activities that it has elected to account for at fair value under the fair value option. These contracts are recorded on the Company’s balance sheet in other liabilities and totaled $1.2 million at June 30, 2010 (December 31, 2009 – $0.5 million). During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recorded unrealized gains of $2.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, which are included in other loss and represent changes in the fair value of these contracts (June 30, 2009 – $nil and $nil, respectively).

 

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Senior Notes

In January 2003, RenaissanceRe issued $100.0 million, which represents the carrying amount on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, of 5.875% Senior Notes due February 15, 2013, with interest on the notes payable on February 15 and August 15 of each year. The notes can be redeemed by RenaissanceRe prior to maturity subject to payment of a “make-whole” premium. The notes, which are senior obligations, contain various covenants, including limitations on mergers and consolidations, restrictions as to the disposition of the stock of designated subsidiaries and limitations on liens of the stock of designated subsidiaries. At June 30, 2010, the fair value of the 5.875% Senior Notes was $104.5 million (December 31, 2009 – $103.7 million).

In March 2010, RenRe North America Holdings Inc. (“RRNAH”) issued $250.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes due March 15, 2020, with interest on the notes payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The notes are guaranteed by RenaissanceRe and can be redeemed by RRNAH prior to maturity subject to payment of a “make-whole” premium. The notes, which are senior obligations, contain various covenants, including limitations on mergers and consolidations, restrictions as to the disposition of the stock of designated subsidiaries and limitations on liens of the stock of designated subsidiaries. At June 30, 2010, the fair value of the 5.75% Senior Notes was $248.0 million.

The fair value of RenaissanceRe’s 5.875% Senior Notes and RRNAH’s 5.75% Senior Notes is determined using indicative market pricing obtained from third-party service providers.

The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

The Company has elected to account for certain assets and liabilities at fair value under FASB ASC Topic Financial Instruments. The Company has elected to use the guidance under FASB ASC Topic Financial Instruments, as it represents the most current authoritative GAAP. Below is a summary of the balances the Company has elected to account for at fair value:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)    June 30,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Other investments

   $ 782,345    $ 858,026

Other secured assets

   $ 17,418    $ 27,730

Other assets and (liabilities) (1)

   $ 12,543    $ 9,102

 

(1) Balance at June 30, 2010 includes $16.4 million of other assets and $3.8 million of other liabilities. Balance at December 31, 2009 includes $22.6 million of other assets and $13.5 million of other liabilities.

Included in net investment income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 is $(19.2) million and $5.7 million, respectively, of net unrealized (losses) gains related to the changes in fair value of other investments (June 30, 2009 – $69.3 million and $52.3 million, respectively, of net unrealized gains). Net unrealized losses related to the changes in the fair value of other secured assets recorded in other loss was $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively (June 30, 2009 – net unrealized gains of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively). Net unrealized gains (losses) related to the changes in the fair value of other assets and liabilities recorded in other loss was $0.4 million and $(1.6) million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively (June 30, 2009 – net unrealized losses of $0.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively).

 

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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:

 

At June 30, 2010

   Fair Value    Unfunded
Commitments
   Redemption
Frequency
   Redemption
Notice Period
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                    

Private equity partnerships

   $ 298,306    $ 162,017    See below    See below

Senior secured bank loan funds

     167,132      —      See below    See below

Non-U.S. fixed income funds

     66,190      —      Monthly, bi-monthly    5 - 20 days

Hedge funds

     43,639      —      Annually, bi-annually    45 - 90 days
                   

Total other investments measured using net asset valuations

   $ 575,267    $ 162,017      
                   

Private equity partnerships – Included in the Company’s investments in private equity partnerships are alternative asset limited partnerships that invest in certain private equity asset classes including U.S. and global leveraged buyouts; mezzanine investments; distressed securities; real estate; oil, gas and power; and secondaries. The fair values of the investments in this category have been estimated using the net asset value per share of the investments. The Company generally has no right to redeem its interest in any of these private equity partnerships in advance of dissolution of the applicable partnership. 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 applicable limited partnership. If these investments were held, it is estimated that the majority of the underlying assets of the limited partnerships would liquidate over 7 to 10 years.

Senior secured bank loan funds – The Company’s investment in senior secured bank loan funds includes funds that invest primarily in bank loans and other senior debt instruments. The fair values of the investments in this category have been estimated using the net asset value per share of the funds. Investments of $151.0 million are redeemable, in whole or in part, on a monthly basis. Currently, the Company generally has no right to redeem its remaining $16.1 million investment in bank loan funds in advance of dissolution of the applicable funds. 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 applicable fund. If these investments were held, it is estimated that the majority of the underlying assets of the funds would liquidate over 6 to 8 years. The management of the senior secured bank loan funds which previously could generally not be redeemed has restructured these investments during 2010 to a fund structure which would liquidate in the near term, and the Company has elected to transfer its investment to the new fund structure. Subsequently, the Company has received $84.3 million in distributions from the new fund structure.

Non-U.S. fixed income funds – The Company’s non-U.S. fixed income funds invest primarily in European high yield bonds, non-U.S. convertible securities and high income convertible securities. The fair values of the investments in this category have been estimated using the net asset value per share of the investments. Investments of $38.3 million are redeemable, in whole or in part, on a bi-monthly basis. The remaining $27.9 million can generally only be redeemed by the Company at a rate of 10% per month. These investments may permit redemptions which exceed this amount, but they are not obliged to do so.

Hedge funds – The Company invests in hedge funds that pursue multiple strategies without limiting itself to a pre-defined strategy or set of strategies. The strategies employed include, among others, the following: fundamentally driven long/short; event oriented; credit, distressed credit and structured credit investments and arbitrage; capital structure arbitrage; and private investments. The fair values of the investments in this category have been estimated using the net asset value per share of the investments. Included in the Company’s hedge fund investments is $10.0 million of so called “side pocket” investments which are not redeemable at the option of the shareholder. As to each investment in a hedge fund that includes side pocket investments, if the investment is otherwise fully redeemed, the Company will still retain its interest in the side pocket investments until the underlying investments attributable to such side pockets are liquidated, realized or deemed realized at the discretion of the fund manager.

 

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NOTE 8. REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

In October 2001, the Company formed DaVinciRe and DaVinci with other equity investors. 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. The portion of DaVinciRe’s earnings owned by third parties for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as redeemable noncontrolling interest.

DaVinciRe shareholders are party to a shareholders agreement (the “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 such date. Payment will be made by April 1 of the following year, following delivery of the audited financial statements for the year in which the repurchase was effective. The repurchase price is subject to a true-up for development on outstanding loss reserves after settlement of all claims relating to the applicable years. RenaissanceRe’s ownership in DaVinciRe was 41.2% at June 30, 2010 (December 31, 2009 – 38.2%).

Certain third party shareholders of DaVinciRe submitted repurchase notices on or before the required annual redemption notice date of March 1, 2010, in accordance with the third amended and restated shareholders agreement, which provides shareholders, excluding RenaissanceRe, with certain redemption rights such as allowing each shareholder to notify DaVinciRe of such shareholder’s desire for DaVinciRe to repurchase up to half of their initial aggregate number of shares held, subject to certain limitations. The repurchase notices submitted on or before March 1, 2010, were for shares of DaVinciRe with a GAAP book value of $82.6 million at June 30, 2010.

The Company expects its ownership in DaVinciRe to fluctuate over time.

The activity in the Company’s redeemable noncontrolling interest – DaVinciRe is detailed in the table below for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

 

     Redeemable
noncontrolling

interest -
DaVinciRe

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)           

Balance - April 1

   $ 658,525      $ 650,763

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes (1)

     —          42

Net purchase of shares from redeemable noncontrolling interest

     (1,337     —  

Comprehensive income:

    

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest

     51,915        49,652

Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (1,562     105
              

Balance - June 30

   $ 707,541      $ 700,562
              

 

(1) Cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of April 1, 2009, related to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments, as required by the Investments - Debt and Equity Securities Topic of the FASB ASC.

 

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Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)             

Balance - January 1

   $ 786,647      $ 768,531   

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes (1)

     —          42   

Purchase of shares from redeemable noncontrolling interest

     (141,747     (152,728

Comprehensive income:

    

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest

     62,465        85,127   

Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     176        (410
                

Balance - June 30

   $ 707,541      $ 700,562   
                

 

(1) Cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of April 1, 2009, related to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments, as required by the Investments - Debt and Equity Securities Topic of the FASB ASC.

 

NOTE 9. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company enters into derivative instruments such as futures, options, swaps, forward contracts and other derivative contracts in order to manage its foreign currency exposure, obtain exposure to a particular financial market, for yield enhancement, or for trading and speculation. The Company accounts for its derivatives in accordance with FASB ASC Topic Derivatives and Hedging, which requires all derivatives to be recorded at fair value on the Company’s balance sheet as either assets or liabilities, depending on the rights or obligations of the derivatives, with changes in fair value reflected in current earnings. The Company does not currently apply hedge accounting in respect of any positions reflected in its consolidated financial statements. The fair value of the Company’s derivatives are estimated by reference to quoted prices or broker quotes, where available, or in the absence of quoted prices or broker quotes, the use of industry or internal valuation models. Where the Company has entered into master netting agreements with counterparties, or the Company has the legal and contractual right to offset positions, the derivative positions are generally netted by counterparty and are reported accordingly in other assets and other liabilities.

The Company’s guidelines permit investments in derivative instruments such as futures, forward contracts, options, swap agreements and other derivative contracts which may be used to assume risk or for hedging purposes. The Company principally has exposure to derivatives related to the following types of risks: interest rate risk; foreign currency risk; credit risk; energy and weather-related risk; and equity price risk.

 

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The table below shows the location on the consolidated balance sheets and fair value of the Company’s principal derivative instruments:

 

     Derivative Assets
     At June 30, 2010    At December 31, 2009
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)    Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair
Value
   Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair
Value

Interest rate futures

   Other assets    $ 302    Other assets    $ 862

Foreign currency forward contracts (1)

   Other assets      851    Other assets      —  

Foreign currency forward contracts (2)

   Other assets      2,400    Other assets      3,292

Foreign currency forward contracts (3)

   Other assets      —      Other assets      49

Credit default swaps

   Other assets      34    Other assets      —  

Energy and weather contracts (4)

   Other assets      5,868    Other assets      17,006

Platinum warrant

   Other assets      29,506    Other assets      34,871
                   

Total

      $ 38,961       $ 56,080
                   
     Derivative Liabilities
     At June 30, 2010    At December 31, 2009
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)    Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair
Value
   Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair
Value

Interest rate futures

   Other liabilities    $ 72    Other liabilities    $ 143

Foreign currency forward contracts (1)

   Other liabilities      —      Other liabilities      776

Foreign currency forward contracts (2)

   Other liabilities      —      Other liabilities      —  

Foreign currency forward contracts (3)

   Other liabilities      960    Other liabilities      —  

Credit default swaps

   Other liabilities      438    Other liabilities      549

Energy and weather contracts (4)

   Other liabilities      6,403    Other liabilities      25,086

Platinum warrant

   Other liabilities      —      Other liabilities      —  
                   

Total

      $ 7,873       $ 26,554
                   

 

(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 used to manage foreign currency risks in energy and risk operations.
(4) Included in other assets is $9.3 million of derivative assets and $3.4 million of derivative liabilities at June 30, 2010 (December 31, 2009 - $22.7 million and $5.7 million, respectively). Included in other liabilities is $9.6 million of derivative assets and $16.0 million of derivative liabilities at June 30, 2010 (December 31, 2009 - $55.9 million and $81.0 million, respectively).

 

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The location and amount of the gain (loss) recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations related to its derivative instruments is shown in the following table:

 

          Amount of gain (loss)
recognized on derivatives
 

Three months ended June 30,

  

Location of gain (loss) recognized on derivatives

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                  

Interest rate futures

   Net investment income    $ 88      $ (2,879

Foreign currency forward contracts (1)

   Net foreign exchange losses      2,182        3,052   

Foreign currency forward contracts (2)

   Net foreign exchange losses      23,357        (7,512

Foreign currency forward contracts (3)

   Net foreign exchange losses      3,899        —     

Credit default swaps

   Other loss      (369     (536

Energy and weather contracts

   Other loss      4,095        9,731   

Platinum warrant

   Other loss      (1,668     424   
                   

Total

      $ 31,584      $ 2,280   
                   

 

(1) Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in underwriting operations.
(2) Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in investment operations.
(3) Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in energy and risk operations.

 

          Amount of gain (loss)
recognized on derivatives
 

Six months ended June 30,

  

Location of gain (loss) recognized on derivatives

   2010     2009  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                  

Interest rate futures

   Net investment income    $ (465   $ (1,552

Foreign currency forward contracts (1)

   Net foreign exchange losses      474        1,702   

Foreign currency forward contracts (2)

   Net foreign exchange losses      38,809        (3,206

Foreign currency forward contracts (3)

   Net foreign exchange losses      916        —     

Credit default swaps

   Other loss      (87     76   

Energy and weather contracts

   Other loss      7,185        17,177   

Platinum warrant

   Other loss      (5,365     (13,300
                   

Total

      $ 41,467      $ 897   
                   

 

(1) Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in underwriting operations.
(2) Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in investment operations.
(3) Contracts used to manage foreign currency risks in energy and risk 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 June 30, 2010.

Interest Rate Futures

The Company uses interest rate futures within its portfolio of fixed maturity investments to manage its exposure to interest rate risk, which can include increasing or decreasing its exposure to this risk. At June 30, 2010, the Company had $555.8 million of notional long positions and $108.7 million of notional short positions of primarily Eurodollar and U.S. Treasury and non-U.S. dollar futures contracts. The fair value of these derivatives is determined using exchange traded prices.

 

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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-U.S. dollar denominated investments classified as available for sale, are recognized currently in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Underwriting Operations Related Foreign Currency Contracts

The Company’s foreign currency policy with regard to its underwriting operations is generally to hold foreign currency assets, including cash, investments and receivables that approximate the foreign currency liabilities, including claims and claim expense reserves and reinsurance balances payable. When necessary, the Company may use 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 associated with its underwriting operations. At June 30, 2010, the total notional amount in U.S. dollars of the Company’s underwriting related foreign currency contracts was $53.5 million.

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. To economically hedge its exposure to currency fluctuations from these investments, the Company has entered into foreign currency forward contracts. Foreign exchange gains (losses) associated with the Company’s hedging of these non-U.S. dollar investments are recorded in net foreign exchange losses in its consolidated statements of operations. At June 30, 2010, the Company had outstanding investment portfolio related foreign currency contracts of $70.1 million in long positions and $314.0 million in short positions, denominated in U.S. dollars.

Energy and Risk Operations Related Foreign Currency Contracts

The Company’s energy and risk operations are exposed to currency fluctuations through certain derivative transactions it enters into that are denominated in non-U.S. dollars. The Company may, from time to time, use 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 associated with these operations. At June 30, 2010, the total notional amount in United States dollars of the Company’s energy and risk management operations related to foreign currency contracts was $32.0 million.

Credit Derivatives

The Company’s exposure to credit risk is primarily due to its fixed maturity investments, short term investments, premiums receivable and ceded reinsurance balances. From time to time, the Company purchases credit derivatives to hedge its exposures in the insurance industry, to assist in managing the credit risk associated with ceded reinsurance, or to assume credit risk. The fair value of the credit derivatives is determined using industry valuation models. The fair value of these credit derivatives 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 June 30, 2010, the Company had outstanding credit derivatives of $15.0 million in long positions and $22.0 million in short positions, denominated in U.S. dollars.

Energy and Weather-Related Derivatives

The Company regularly transacts certain derivative-based risk management products primarily to address weather and energy risks and engages in hedging and trading activities related to these risks. The trading markets for these derivatives are generally linked to energy and agriculture commodities, weather and other natural phenomena. Currently, a significant percentage of the Company’s derivative-based risk management products are transacted on a dual-trigger basis combining weather or other natural phenomenon, with prices for commodities or securities related

 

36


Table of Contents

to energy or agriculture. The fair value of these contracts is obtained through the use of quoted market prices, or in the absence of such quoted prices, industry or internal valuation models. Generally, the Company’s current portfolio of such derivative contracts is of comparably short duration and are predominantly seasonal in nature. Over time, the Company currently expects that its participation in these markets, and the impact of these operations on its financial results, is likely to increase on both an absolute and relative basis.

At June 30, 2010, the Company had the following gross derivative contract positions outstanding relating to its energy and weather derivatives trading activities.

 

Trading activity

   Quantity (1)   

Unit of measurement

Temperature

   6,080,791    $ per Degree Day Fahrenheit

Energy

   102,084,151    One million British thermal units (“MMBTUs”)

Agriculture

   3,570,000    Bushels

 

(1) Represents the sum of gross long and gross short derivative contracts.

The Company uses value-at-risk (“VaR”) analysis to monitor the risks associated with its energy and weather derivatives trading portfolio. VaR is a tool that measures the potential loss that could occur if the Company’s trading positions were maintained over a defined period of time, calculated at a given statistical confidence level. Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s energy and weather derivatives trading activities, the VaR is based on a rolling two season (one-year) holding period assuming no dynamic trading during the holding period. A 99% confidence level is used for the VaR analysis. A 99% confidence level implies that within a one-year period, the potential loss in the Company’s portfolio is not expected to exceed the VaR estimate in 99% of the possible modeled outcomes. In the remaining estimated 1% of the possible outcomes, the anticipated potential loss is expected to be higher than the VaR figure, and on average substantially higher.

The VaR model, based on a Monte Carlo simulation methodology, seeks to take into account correlations between different positions and potential for movements to offset one another within the portfolio. The expected value of the risk factors in the Company’s portfolio are generally obtained from exchange-traded futures markets. For most of the risk factors, the volatility is derived from exchange-traded options markets. For those risk factors for which exchange-traded options might not exist, the volatility is based on historical analysis matched to broker quotes from the over-the-counter market, where available. The joint distribution of outcomes is based on the Company’s estimate of the historical seasonal dependence among the underlying risk factors, scaled to the current market levels. The Company then estimates the expected outcomes by applying a Monte Carlo simulation to these risk factors. The joint distribution of the simulated risk factors is then filtered through the portfolio positions, and then the distribution of the outcomes is realized. The 99th percentile of this distribution is then calculated as the portfolio VaR. The major limitation of this methodology is that the market data used to forecast parameters of the model may not be an appropriate proxy of those parameters. The VaR methodology uses a number of assumptions, such as (i) risks are measured under average market conditions, assuming normal distribution of market risk factors, (ii) future movements in market risk factors follow estimated historical movements, and (iii) the assessed exposures do not change during the holding period. There is no guarantee that these assumptions will prove correct. The Company expects that, for any given period, its actual results will differ from its assumptions, including with respect to previously estimated potential losses and that such losses could be substantially higher than the estimated VaR.

At June 30, 2010, the estimated VaR for the Company’s portfolio of energy and weather-related derivatives, as described above, calculated at an estimated 99% confidence level, was $19.8 million. The average, low and high amounts calculated by the Company’s VaR analysis during the six months ended June 30, 2010 were $12.0 million, $0.4 million and $25.6 million, respectively.

At June 30, 2010, RenaissanceRe had provided guarantees in the amount of $150.8 million to certain counterparties of the weather and energy risk operations of Renaissance Trading. In the future, RenaissanceRe may issue guarantees for other purposes or increase the amount of guarantees issued to counterparties of Renaissance Trading.

 

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Table of Contents

Platinum Warrant

The Company holds a warrant, which expires on October 30, 2012, to purchase up to 2.5 million common shares of Platinum for $27.00 per share. The Company has recorded its investment in the Platinum warrant at fair value. The fair value of the warrant is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

NOTE 10. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH OUTSTANDING DEBT OF SUBSIDIARIES

The following tables present condensed consolidating balance sheets at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, condensed consolidating statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, and statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, for RenaissanceRe, RRNAH and RenaissanceRe’s other subsidiaries. RRNAH is a wholly owned subsidiary of RenaissanceRe.

On March 17, 2010, RRNAH issued, and RenaissanceRe guaranteed, $250.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes due March 15, 2020, with interest on the notes payable on March 15 and September 15. The notes can be redeemed by RRNAH prior to maturity subject to payment of a “make-whole” premium. The notes, which are senior obligations, contain various covenants, including limitations on mergers and consolidations, restrictions as to the disposition of the stock of designated subsidiaries and limitations on liens of the stock of designated subsidiaries.

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

June 30, 2010

   RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd.
(Parent
Guarantor)
   RenRe North
America
Holdings Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
   Other
RenaissanceRe
Holdings  Ltd.
Subsidiaries
and
Eliminations
(Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries)
(1)
   Consolidating
Adjustments
(2)
    RenaissanceRe
Consolidated

Assets

             

Total investments

   $ 446,672    $ 545    $ 5,787,373    $ —        $ 6,234,590

Cash and cash equivalents

     2,952      13,509      268,593      —          285,054

Investments in subsidiaries

     3,573,158      368,255      —        (3,941,413     —  

Due from subsidiaries and affiliates

     164,963      —        —        (164,963     —  

Premiums receivable

     —        —        1,021,496      —          1,021,496

Ceded reinsurance balances

     —        —        276,296      —          276,296

Losses recoverable

     —        —        179,841      —          179,841

Accrued investment income

     2,560      —        32,089      —          34,649

Deferred acquisition costs

     —        —        100,725      —          100,725

Other assets

     16,231      2,432      402,916      (1,171     420,408
                                   

Total assets

   $ 4,206,536    $ 384,741    $ 8,069,329    $ (4,107,547   $ 8,553,059
                                   

Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Shareholders’ Equity

             

Liabilities

             

Reserve for claims and claim expenses

   $ —      $ —      $ 1,682,083    $ —        $ 1,682,083

Reserve for unearned premiums

     —        —        994,990      —          994,990

Debt

     370,344      249,109      200,000      (270,344     549,109

Amounts due to subsidiaries and affiliates

     —        438      —        (438     —  

Reinsurance balances payable

     —        —        406,891      —          406,891

Other liabilities

     60,950      5,874      375,134      (4,755     437,203
                                   

Total liabilities

     431,294      255,421      3,659,098      (275,537     4,070,276
                                   

Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     —        —        707,541      —          707,541

Shareholders’ Equity

             

Total shareholders’ equity

     3,775,242      129,320      3,702,690      (3,832,010     3,775,242
                                   

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and shareholders’ equity

   $ 4,206,536    $ 384,741    $ 8,069,329    $ (4,107,547   $ 8,553,059
                                   

 

(1) Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.
(2) Includes Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer consolidating adjustments.

 

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

December 31, 2009

   RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd.
(Parent
Guarantor)
   RenRe North
America
Holdings Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
   Other
RenaissanceRe
Holdings  Ltd.
Subsidiaries
and
Eliminations
(Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries)
(1)
   Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    RenaissanceRe
Consolidated

Assets

             

Total investments

   $ 484,560    $ 410    $ 5,768,441    $ —        $ 6,253,411

Cash and cash equivalents

     15,206      7,606      237,904      —          260,716

Investments in subsidiaries

     3,310,916      369,997      —        (3,680,913     —  

Due from subsidiaries and affiliates

     182,565      —        —        (182,565     —  

Premiums receivable

     —        —        589,827      —          589,827

Ceded reinsurance balances

     —        —        91,852      —          91,852

Losses recoverable

     —        —        194,241      —          194,241

Accrued investment income

     1,727      —        30,201      —          31,928

Deferred acquisition costs

     —        —        61,870      —          61,870

Other assets

     17,199      —        304,863      (4,866     317,196
                                   

Total assets

   $ 4,012,173    $ 378,013    $ 7,279,199    $ (3,868,344   $ 7,801,041
                                   

Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Shareholders’ Equity

             

Liabilities

             

Reserve for claims and claim expenses

   $ —      $ —      $ 1,702,006    $ —        $ 1,702,006

Reserve for unearned premiums

     —        —        446,649      —          446,649

Debt

     124,000      80,000      200,000      (104,000     300,000

Amounts due to subsidiaries and affiliates

     12,522      1,155      —        (13,677     —  

Reinsurance balances payable

     —        —        381,548      —          381,548

Other liabilities

     34,865      15,138      293,402      —          343,405
                                   

Total liabilities

     171,387      96,293      3,023,605      (117,677     3,173,608
                                   

Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     —        —        786,647      —          786,647

Shareholders’ Equity

             

Total shareholders’ equity

     3,840,786      281,720      3,468,947      (3,750,667     3,840,786
                                   

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and shareholders’ equity

   $ 4,012,173    $ 378,013    $ 7,279,199    $ (3,868,344   $ 7,801,041
                                   

 

(1) Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.
(2) Includes Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer consolidating adjustments.

 

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Table of Contents

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the three months ended June 30, 2010

   RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd.
(Parent
Guarantor)
    RenRe North
America
Holdings Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other
RenaissanceRe
Holdings  Ltd.
Subsidiaries
and
Eliminations
(Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries)
(1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    RenaissanceRe
Consolidated
 

Revenues

          

Net premiums earned

   $ —        $ —        $ 326,522      $ —        $ 326,522   

Net investment (loss) income

     (2,589     550        29,646        —          27,607   

Net foreign exchange losses

     (530     —          (79     —          (609

Equity in earnings of other ventures

     —          —          3,160        —          3,160   

Other loss

     (374     —          (2,720     —          (3,094

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

     2,406        993        67,707        —          71,106   

Net other-than-temporary impairments

     —          —          (796     —          (796
                                        

Total revenues

     (1,087     1,543        423,440        —          423,896   
                                        

Expenses

          

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     —          —          47,667        —          47,667   

Acquisition expenses

     —          —          39,944        —          39,944   

Operational expenses

     (1,429     1,326        48,863        1,616        50,376   

Corporate expenses

     3,720        61        1,043        —          4,824   

Interest expense

     1,469        4,353        5,340        (4,956     6,206   
                                        

Total expenses

     3,760        5,740        142,857        (3,340     149,017   
                                        

(Loss) income before equity in net income of subsidiaries and taxes

     (4,847     (4,197     280,583        3,340        274,879   

Equity in net income of subsidiaries

     225,663        5,632        —          (231,295     —     
                                        

Income before taxes

     220,816        1,435        280,583        (227,955     274,879   

Income tax benefit (expense)

     —          1,020        (3,168     —          (2,148
                                        

Net income

     220,816        2,455        277,415        (227,955     272,731   

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     —          —          (51,915     —          (51,915
                                        

Net income attributable to RenaissanceRe

     220,816        2,455        225,500        (227,955     220,816   

Dividends on preference shares

     (10,575     —          —          —          (10,575
                                        

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

   $ 210,241      $ 2,455      $ 225,500      $ (227,955   $ 210,241   
                                        

 

(1) Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.
(2) Includes Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer consolidating adjustments.

 

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Table of Contents

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the three months ended June 30, 2009

   RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd.
(Parent
Guarantor)
    RenRe North
America
Holdings Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other
RenaissanceRe
Holdings  Ltd.
Subsidiaries
and
Eliminations
(Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries)
(1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments
(2)
    RenaissanceRe
Consolidated
 

Revenues

          

Net premiums earned

   $ —        $ —        $ 379,817      $ —        $ 379,817   

Net investment income

     2,496        4        111,793        —          114,293   

Net foreign exchange losses

     (7     —          (4,155     —          (4,162

Equity in earnings of other ventures

     —          —          5,432        —          5,432   

Other loss

     (461     —          (3,195     —          (3,656

Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on fixed maturity investments

     (395     —          19,284        —          18,889   

Net other-than-temporary impairments

     699        —          (2,532     —          (1,833
                                        

Total revenues

     2,332        4        506,444        —          508,780   
                                        

Expenses

          

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     —          —          66,823        —          66,823   

Acquisition expenses

     —          —          52,495        —          52,495   

Operational expenses

     (3,173     32        46,833        3,173        46,865   

Corporate expenses

     5,032        5        1,302        —          6,339   

Interest expense

     2,620        2,471        1,580        (2,471     4,200   
                                        

Total expenses

     4,479        2,508        169,033        702        176,722   
                                        

(Loss) income before equity in net income of subsidiaries and taxes

     (2,147     (2,504     337,411        (702     332,058   

Equity in net income of subsidiaries

     283,901        2,399        —          (286,300     —     
                                        

Income (loss) before taxes

     281,754        (105     337,411        (287,002     332,058   

Income tax expense

     —          (2,035     1,383        —          (652
                                        

Net income (loss)

     281,754        (2,140     338,794        (287,002     331,406   

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     —          —          (49,652     —          (49,652
                                        

Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe

     281,754        (2,140     289,142        (287,002     281,754   

Dividends on preference shares

     (10,575     —          —          —          (10,575
                                        

Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

   $ 271,179      $ (2,140   $ 289,142      $ (287,002   $ 271,179   
                                        

 

(1) Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.
(2) Includes Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer consolidating adjustments.

 

41


Table of Contents

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the six months ended June 30, 2010

   RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd.
(Parent
Guarantor)
    RenRe North
America
Holdings Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other
RenaissanceRe
Holdings  Ltd.
Subsidiaries
and
Eliminations

(Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries)
(1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    RenaissanceRe
Consolidated
 

Revenues

          

Net premiums earned

   $ —        $ —        $ 604,648      $ —        $ 604,648   

Net investment income

     3,055        880        90,853        —          94,788   

Net foreign exchange losses

     (695     —          (11,256     —          (11,951

Equity in earnings (losses) of other ventures

     —          —          5,316        —          5,316   

Other income (loss)

     267        —          (9,092     —          (8,825

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity investments

     6,565        (2,432     115,571        —          119,704   

Net other-than-temporary impairments

     —          —          (829     —          (829
                                        

Total revenues

     9,192        (1,552     795,211        —          802,851   
                                        

Expenses

          

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     —          —          126,724        —          126,724   

Acquisition expenses

     —          —          84,619        —          84,619   

Operational expenses

     (1,408     1,534        113,393        1,408        114,927   

Corporate expenses

     8,373        73        1,937        —          10,383   

Interest expense

     2,905        7,323        6,457        (7,323     9,362   
                                        

Total expenses

     9,870        8,930        333,130        (5,915     346,015   
                                        

(Loss) income before equity in net income of subsidiaries and taxes

     (678     (10,482     462,081        5,915        456,836   

Equity in net income of subsidiaries

     397,116        2,078        —          (399,194     —     
                                        

Income (loss) before taxes

     396,438        (8,404     462,081        (393,279     456,836   

Income tax benefit

     —          3,926        (1,859     —          2,067   
                                        

Net income (loss)

     396,438        (4,478     460,222        (393,279     458,903   

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     —          —          (62,465     —          (62,465
                                        

Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe

     396,438        (4,478     397,757        (393,279     396,438   

Dividends on preference shares

     (21,150     —          —          —          (21,150
                                        

Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

   $ 375,288      $ (4,478   $ 397,757      $ (393,279   $ 375,288   
                                        

 

(1) Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.
(2) Includes Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer consolidating adjustments.

 

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Table of Contents

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the six months ended June 30, 2009

   RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd.
(Parent
Guarantor)
    RenRe North
America
Holdings Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other
RenaissanceRe
Holdings  Ltd.
Subsidiaries

and
Eliminations
(Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries)
(1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    RenaissanceRe
Consolidated
 

Revenues

          

Net premiums earned

   $ —        $ —        $ 681,565      $ —        $ 681,565   

Net investment income

     4,478        9        151,932        —          156,419   

Net foreign exchange gains (losses)

     3        —          (14,320     —          (14,317

Equity in earnings of other ventures

     —          —          7,168        —          7,168   

Other income (loss)

     90        —          (18,541     —          (18,451

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

     729        —          40,286        —          41,015   

Net other-than-temporary impairments

     (102     —          (20,753     —          (20,855
                                        

Total revenues

     5,198        9        827,337        —          832,544   
                                        

Expenses

          

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     —          —          153,020        —          153,020   

Acquisition expenses

     —          —          97,099        —          97,099   

Operational expenses

     (4,648     68        86,554        4,648        86,622   

Corporate expenses

     10,255        5        2,667        —          12,927   

Interest expense

     4,955        4,116        3,381        (4,116     8,336   
                                        

Total expenses

     10,562        4,189        342,721        532        358,004   
                                        

(Loss) income before equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries and taxes

     (5,364     (4,180     484,616        (532     474,540   

Equity in net income of subsidiaries

     394,977        447        —          (395,424     —     
                                        

Income (loss) before taxes

     389,613        (3,733     484,616        (395,956     474,540   

Income tax (expense) benefit

     —          (2,415     2,615        —          200   
                                        

Net income (loss)

     389,613        (6,148     487,231        (395,956     474,740   

Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     —          —          (85,127     —          (85,127
                                        

Net income (loss) attributable to RenaissanceRe

     389,613        (6,148     402,104        (395,956     389,613   

Dividends on preference shares

     (21,150     —          —          —          (21,150
                                        

Net income (loss) available (attributable) to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

   $ 368,463      $ (6,148   $ 402,104      $ (395,956   $ 368,463   
                                        

 

(1) Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.
(2) Includes Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuer consolidating adjustments.

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the six months ended June 30, 2010

   RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd.
(Parent
Guarantor)
    RenRe North
America
Holdings Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other
RenaissanceRe
Holdings  Ltd.
Subsidiaries
and
Eliminations
(Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries)
(1)
    RenaissanceRe
Consolidated
 

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 17,878      $ (15,829   $ 286,469      $ 288,518   
                                

Cash flows provided by investing activities

        

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments available for sale

     37,457        244,147        2,877,281        3,158,885   

Purchases of investments available for sale

     (240     (246,570     (69,907     (316,717

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments trading

     445,754        —          3,138,045        3,583,799   

Purchases of investments trading

     (426,443     —          (6,194,684     (6,621,127

Net sales (purchases) of short term investments

     8,281        (135     201,852        209,998   

Net (purchases) sales of other investments

     (1,818     —          68,457        66,639   

Net sales of other assets

     —          —          2,729        2,729   

Dividends and return of capital from subsidiaries

     717,360        24,226        (741,586     —     

Contributions to subsidiaries

     (476,546     (18,728     495,274        —     

Due (from) to subsidiary

     (118,467     (717     119,184        —     
                                

Net cash provided by investing activities

     185,338        2,223        (103,355     84,206   
                                

Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities

        

Dividends paid - RenaissanceRe common shares

     (28,735     —          —          (28,735

Dividends paid - preference shares

     (21,150     —          —          (21,150

RenaissanceRe common share repurchases

     (411,335     —          —          (411,335

Return of additional paid in capital to parent company

     —          (149,600     149,600        —     

Net issuance (repayment) of debt

     246,344        169,109        (166,407     249,046   

Third party DaVinciRe share repurchase

     —          —          (131,370     (131,370
                                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (214,876     19,509        (148,177     (343,544
                                

Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash

     (594     —          (4,248     (4,842
                                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (12,254     5,903        30,689        24,338   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     15,206        7,606        237,904        260,716   
                                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 2,952      $ 13,509      $ 268,593      $ 285,054   
                                

 

(1) Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the six months ended June 30, 2009

   RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd.
(Parent
Guarantor)
    RenRe North
America
Holdings Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other
RenaissanceRe
Holdings  Ltd.
Subsidiaries
and
Eliminations
(Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries)
(1)
    RenaissanceRe
Consolidated
 

Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities

        

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   $ (7,987   $ (1,583   $ 222,264      $ 212,694   
                                

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities

        

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments available for sale

     267,196        —          4,123,699        4,390,895   

Purchases of investments available for sale

     (249,135     —          (5,336,206     (5,585,341

Net sales of short term investments

     120,655        —          977,219        1,097,874   

Net sales of other investments

     7,406        2        38,934        46,342   

Net purchases of other assets

     —          —          (1,157     (1,157

Dividends and return of capital from subsidiaries

     443,674        —          (443,674     —     

Contributions to subsidiaries

     (438,331     —          438,331        —     

Due to (from) subsidiaries

     29,872        553        (30,425     —     
                                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     181,337        555        (233,279     (51,387
                                

Cash flows used in financing activities

        

Dividends paid - RenaissanceRe common shares

     (29,922     —          —          (29,922

Dividends paid - preference shares

     (21,150     —          —          (21,150

Reverse repurchase agreement

     —          —          (50,042     (50,042

Third party DaVinciRe share repurchase

     (123,718     —          —          (123,718
                                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (174,790     —          (50,042     (224,832
                                

Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash

     —          —          (1,234     (1,234
                                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,440     (1,028     (62,291     (64,759

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     5,122        5,562        264,008        274,692   
                                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 3,682      $ 4,534      $ 201,717      $ 209,933   
                                

 

(1) Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.

 

NOTE 11. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140, and the FASB subsequently codified it as Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2009-16, updating ASC Topic 860 Transfers and Servicing. The objective of ASU 2009-16 is to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity provides in its financial statements about a transfer of financial assets; the effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; and a transferor’s continuing involvement, if any, in transferred financial assets. ASU 2009-16 must be applied as of the beginning of the reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual period and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter. Earlier application is prohibited. ASU 2009-16 must be applied to transfers occurring on or after the effective date. Additionally, the disclosure provisions of ASU 2009-16 should be applied to transfers that occurred both before and after the effective date. The Company adopted ASU 2009-16 effective January 1, 2010 and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and financial condition.

 

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Variable Interest Entities

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R,) and the FASB subsequently codified it as ASU 2009-17, updating ASC Topic 810 Consolidations. The objective of ASU 2009-17 is to improve financial reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest entities. The FASB undertook this project to address (1) the effects on certain provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – an Interpretation of ARB No. 51, as revised (“FIN 46(R)”), as a result of the elimination of the qualifying special-purpose entity concept in ASU 2009-16, and (2) constituent concerns about the application of certain key provisions of FIN 46(R), including those in which the accounting and disclosures under the interpretation do not always provide timely and useful information about an enterprise’s involvement in a variable interest entity. ASU 2009-17 was effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter. Earlier application is prohibited. The Company adopted ASU 2009-17 effective January 1, 2010 and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and financial condition.

Improving Fair Value Disclosure

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-6 which updated FASB ASU Topic 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The objective of ASU 2010-6 is to improve fair value disclosures by requiring the following: (1) disclose significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers; (2) present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis; (3) provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities, where a class is often a subset of a financial statement line; and (4) provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs for Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2010-06 was effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter, except for item (2) noted above, which shall become effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2010-06 effective January 1, 2010 and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and financial condition as it was a disclosure based ASU.

 

NOTE 12. LITIGATION

There are no material changes from the legal proceedings previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

The Company’s operating subsidiaries are subject to claims litigation involving disputed interpretations of policy coverages. Generally, the Company’s primary insurance operations are subject to greater frequency and diversity of claims and claims-related litigation and, in some jurisdictions, may be subject to direct actions by allegedly injured persons or entities seeking damages from policyholders. These lawsuits, involving claims on policies issued by the Company’s subsidiaries which are typical to the insurance industry in general and in the normal course of business, are considered in its loss and loss expense reserves which are discussed in its loss reserves discussion. In addition to claims litigation, 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 insurance policies. This category of business litigation may involve allegations of underwriting or claims-handling errors or misconduct, employment claims, regulatory activity or disputes arising from the Company’s business ventures. Any such litigation or arbitration contains an element of uncertainty, and the Company believes the inherent uncertainty in such matters may have increased recently and will likely continue to increase. Currently, the Company believes that no individual, normal course litigation or arbitration to which it is presently a party is likely to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, business or operations.

 

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NOTE 13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

As previously disclosed, ChannelRe Holdings Ltd. (“ChannelRe”), a financial guaranty reinsurance company that the Company has an ownership interest in, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting, suffered a significant net loss in 2007 which reduced ChannelRe’s GAAP shareholders’ equity below $nil. The net loss was driven by unrealized mark-to-market losses related to financial guaranty contracts accounted for as derivatives under GAAP. As a result, the Company reduced its carried value in ChannelRe to $nil in 2007 and combined with the fact that the Company had no further contractual obligations to provide capital or other support to ChannelRe, the Company concluded it had no further negative economic exposure to ChannelRe. Since ChannelRe has remained in a negative shareholders’ equity position since that time, the Company’s investment in ChannelRe has continued to be carried at $nil. In July 2010, the Company and certain other shareholders (collectively the “Sellers”) of ChannelRe reached an agreement in which the Sellers would transfer their entire ownership in ChannelRe to a buyer in consideration of a one-time cash payment from the buyer. Following the necessary approvals, $15.8 million, representing the portion of the one-time payment payable to the Company, was received by the Company in July 2010. The Company no longer has an ownership interest in ChannelRe and has no contractual obligations to provide capital or other financial support to ChannelRe. The Company expects to record the $15.8 million payment as a gain in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2010.

 

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Table of Contents
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 and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009. The following also includes a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources at June 30, 2010. 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. 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.”

OVERVIEW

RenaissanceRe was established in Bermuda in 1993 to write principally property catastrophe reinsurance and today is a leading global provider of reinsurance and insurance coverages and related services. Through our operating subsidiaries, we seek to produce superior returns for our shareholders by being a trusted, long-term partner to our customers for assessing and managing risk, delivering responsive solutions, and keeping our promises. We accomplish this by leveraging our core capabilities of risk assessment and information management, and by investing in our capabilities to serve our customers across the cycles that have historically characterized our markets. Overall, our strategy focuses on superior risk selection, marketing, capital management and joint ventures. We provide value to our customers and joint venture partners in the form of financial security, innovative products, and responsive service. We are known as a leader in paying valid reinsurance 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 Company’s performance, and believe we have delivered superior performance in respect of this measure over time.

Since a substantial 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 such 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 that we cover. Accordingly, we expect a significant degree of volatility in our financial results and our financial results may vary significantly from quarter-to-quarter or from year-to-year, based on the level of insured catastrophic losses occurring around the world.

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) other income received from our joint ventures, advisory services, weather and energy risk management operations 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, and other miscellaneous costs associated with operating as a publicly traded company; 5) redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe, which represents the interest of third parties with respect to the net income (loss) of DaVinciRe; 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; however, since the majority of our income is currently earned in Bermuda, a non-taxable jurisdiction, the tax impact to our operations has historically been minimal. We currently expect to experience a higher effective tax rate in future periods.

The operating results, also known as 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% generally indicates

 

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profitable underwriting prior to the consideration of investment income. A combined ratio over 100% generally indicates unprofitable underwriting prior to the consideration of investment income. We also discuss our net claims and claim expense ratio on an accident year basis. This ratio is calculated by taking net claims and claim expenses, excluding development on net claims and claim expenses from events that took place in prior fiscal years, divided by net premiums earned.

We currently conduct our business through two reportable segments, Reinsurance and Insurance. Those segments are more fully described as follows:

Reinsurance

Our Reinsurance segment has four main units:

 

1) Property catastrophe reinsurance, written for our own account and for DaVinci, is our traditional core business. We believe we are one of the world’s leading providers of this coverage, based on catastrophe gross premiums written. This coverage protects against large natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis, as well as claims arising from other natural and man-made catastrophes such as winter storms, freezes, floods, fires, wind storms, tornadoes, explosions and acts of terrorism. We offer this coverage to insurance companies and other reinsurers primarily on an excess of loss basis. This means that we begin paying when our customers’ claims from a catastrophe exceed a certain retained amount.

 

2) Specialty reinsurance, written for our own account and for DaVinci, covering certain targeted classes of business where we believe we have a sound basis for underwriting and pricing the risk that we assume. Our portfolio includes various classes of business, such as catastrophe exposed workers’ compensation, surety, terrorism, political risk, trade credit, medical malpractice, financial, mortgage guarantee, catastrophe-exposed personal lines property, casualty clash, certain other casualty lines and other specialty lines of reinsurance that we collectively refer to as specialty reinsurance. We believe that we are seen as a market leader in certain of these classes of business, such as casualty clash, surety, catastrophe-exposed workers’ compensation and terrorism.

 

3) Lloyd’s, which includes insurance and reinsurance business written for our own account through Syndicate 1458. Syndicate 1458 started writing certain lines of insurance and reinsurance business incepting on or after June 1, 2009. The syndicate was established to enhance our underwriting platform by providing access to Lloyd’s extensive distribution network and worldwide licenses. Although Syndicate 1458 writes direct insurance as well as reinsurance, we manage this business as part of our reinsurance operations and include its results of operations within our Reinsurance segment. RenaissanceRe CCL, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is the sole corporate member of Syndicate 1458. The results of Syndicate 1458 were not significant to our overall consolidated results of operations and financial position during 2009; however, we expect its absolute and relative contributions to our consolidated results of operations to grow over time.

 

4) Through our ventures unit, we pursue joint ventures and other strategic relationships. Our four principal business activities in this area are: 1) property catastrophe joint ventures which we manage, such as Top Layer Re and DaVinci; 2) strategic investments in certain markets we believe offer attractive risk-adjusted returns or where we believe our investment adds value, such as our investments in Platinum, Essent Group Ltd. and the Tower Hill Companies, where, rather than assuming exclusive management responsibilities ourselves, we partner with other market participants; and 3) weather and energy risk management operations primarily through Renaissance Trading and REAL. Only business activities that appear in our consolidated underwriting results, such as DaVinci, Timicuan Reinsurance II Ltd. and certain reinsurance transactions, are included in our Reinsurance segment results; our share of the results of our strategic investments in other ventures, accounted for under the equity method and our weather and energy risk management operations are included in the “Other” category of our segment results.

 

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Insurance

We define our Insurance segment to include underwriting that involves understanding the characteristics of the original underlying insurance policy. Our principal contracts currently include insurance contracts and some quota share reinsurance with respect to risks including: 1) crop insurance, which includes multi-peril crop insurance, crop hail and other named peril agriculture risk management products; 2) commercial property, which principally includes catastrophe-exposed commercial property products; 3) commercial multi-line, which includes commercial property and liability coverage, such as general liability, automobile liability and physical damage, building and contents, professional liability and various specialty products; and 4) personal lines property, which principally includes homeowners personal lines property coverage and catastrophe exposed personal lines property coverage.

Our Insurance business is primarily produced through four distribution channels: 1) wholly owned program managers – where we write primary insurance through our own subsidiaries; 2) third party program managers – where we write primary insurance through third party program managers, who produce business pursuant to agreed-upon underwriting guidelines and provide related back-office functions; 3) quota share reinsurance – where we write quota share reinsurance with primary insurers who, similar to our third party program managers, provide most of the back-office and support functions; and 4) brokers and agents – where we write primary insurance produced through licensed intermediaries on a risk-by-risk basis.

Our Insurance business is principally written through Glencoe and Lantana, which write on an excess and surplus lines basis, and through Stonington and Stonington Lloyd’s, which write on an admitted basis. Since the inception of our Insurance business, we have substantially relied on third parties for services including the generation of premium, the issuance of policies and the processing of claims, though as previously disclosed, we have internalized an increasing amount of these services over the past several years. We principally oversee our third party partners through a program operations team at RenRe North America Inc., which conducts initial due diligence as well as ongoing monitoring.

New Business

From time to time we consider diversification into new ventures, either through organic growth, the formation of new joint ventures, or the acquisition of or the investment in other companies or books of business of other companies. This potential diversification includes opportunities to write targeted, additional classes of risk-exposed business, both directly for our own account and through possible new joint venture opportunities. We also regularly evaluate potential strategic opportunities that utilize our skills, capabilities, proprietary technology and relationships to support possible expansion into further risk-related coverages, services and products. Generally, we focus on underwriting or trading risks where reasonably sufficient data may be available, and where our analytical abilities may provide us a competitive advantage, in order for us to seek to model estimated probabilities of losses and returns in accordance with our approach in respect of our current portfolio of risks.

In evaluating potential new ventures or investments, we generally seek an attractive estimated return on equity, the ability to develop or capitalize on a competitive advantage, and opportunities which we believe will not detract from our core operations. Accordingly, we regularly review strategic opportunities and periodically engage in discussions regarding possible transactions, although there can be no assurance that we will complete any such transactions or that any such transaction would be successful or contribute materially to our results of operations or financial condition. We believe that our ability to potentially attract investment and operational opportunities is supported by our strong reputation and financial resources, and by the capabilities and track record of our ventures unit.

Risk Management

We seek to develop and effectively utilize sophisticated computer models and other analytical tools to assess and manage the risks that we underwrite and attempt to optimize our portfolio of reinsurance and insurance contracts and other financial risks. Our policies, procedures, tools and resources to monitor and assess our operational risks companywide, as well as our global enterprise-wide risk management practices, are overseen by our Chief Risk Officer, who reports directly to our Chief Financial Officer.

 

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With respect to our Reinsurance operations, since 1993 we have developed and continuously seek to improve our proprietary, computer-based pricing and exposure management system, Renaissance Exposure Management System (“REMS©”). We believe that REMS©, as updated from time to time, is a more robust underwriting and risk management system than is currently commercially available elsewhere in the reinsurance industry and offers us a significant competitive advantage. REMS© was originally developed to analyze catastrophe risks, though we continuously seek ways to enhance the program in order to analyze other classes of risk.

In addition to using REMS©, within our Insurance operations we have developed a proprietary information management and analytical database, our Program Analysis Central Repository (“PACeR”), within which data related to substantially all our Insurance segment business is maintained. With the use and development of PACeR, we are seeking to develop statistical and analytical techniques to evaluate our program lines of business within our Insurance segment. We provide our third party program managers with access to PACeR’s capabilities, which we believe helps support superior underwriting decisions, thus creating value for them and for us. Our objective is to have PACeR create an advantage for our Insurance operations by assisting us in building and maintaining a well-priced portfolio of specialty insurance risks.

SUMMARY OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The Company’s critical accounting estimates are discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

For the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2009

Summary Overview

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change        
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts and ratios)                         

Gross premiums written

   $ 841,506      $ 855,172      $ (13,666  

Net premiums written

     552,562        631,370        (78,808  

Net premiums earned

     326,522        379,817        (53,295  

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     47,667        66,823        (19,156  

Underwriting income

     188,535        213,634        (25,099  

Net investment income

     27,607        114,293        (86,686  

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

     71,106        18,889        52,217     

Net other-than-temporary impairments

     (796     (1,833     1,037     

Net income

     272,731        331,406        (58,675  

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

     210,241        271,179        (60,938  

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted

   $ 3.66      $ 4.32      $ (0.66  

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     41.1     45.6     (4.5 %)   

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (26.5 %)      (28.0 %)      1.5  
                          

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     14.6     17.6     (3.0 %)   

Underwriting expense ratio

     27.7     26.2     1.5  
                          

Combined ratio

     42.3     43.8     (1.5 %)   
                          
     June 30,
2010
    March 31,
2010
    Change     %
Change
 

Book value per common share

   $ 56.96      $ 53.86      $ 3.10      5.8

Accumulated dividends per common share

     9.38        9.13        0.25      2.7
                          

Book value per common share plus accumulated dividends

   $ 66.34      $ 62.99      $ 3.35     
                          

 

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Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders was $210.2 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $271.2 million in the second quarter of 2009. Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per fully diluted common share was $3.66 for the second quarter of 2010, compared to $4.32 in the second quarter of 2009. The $60.9 million decrease in our net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders was primarily due to:

 

  •  

Lower Underwriting Income – our underwriting income decreased $25.1 million primarily driven by a decrease in gross premiums earned and partially offset by lower acquisition costs and lower net claims and claim expenses incurred principally due to a $39.0 million decrease in current accident year losses, offset by a $19.8 million decrease in favorable development on prior year reserves;

 

  •  

Lower Investment Results – including an $86.7 million decrease in net investment income, partially offset by a $52.2 million increase in net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments, during the second quarter of 2010, compared to the second quarter of 2009. The decrease in net investment income was primarily due to lower total returns on certain non-investment grade allocations which are included in other investments. In addition, we also experienced lower returns on our hedge fund and private equity investments during the second quarter of 2010, compared to the second quarter of 2009. The increase in net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments is due in part to the fact that during the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company started designating, upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than available for sale, and as a result, $48.0 million of net unrealized gains on these securities are recorded in net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations in the second quarter of 2010 rather than in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity; and partially offset by

 

  •  

Lower Net Foreign Exchange Losses – net foreign exchange losses incurred during the second quarter of 2010 decreased $3.6 million, to $0.6 million, compared to $4.2 million in the second quarter of 2009. Changes to the U.S. dollar predominately during the second quarter of 2009 against other major currencies with which we do business, resulted in unfavorable foreign exchange translations on our net non-U.S. dollar denominated monetary assets and liabilities during such period after taking into consideration our foreign exchange economic hedging activities.

Book value per common share increased $3.10 to $56.96 at June 30, 2010, compared to $53.86 at March 31, 2010. Book value per common share plus accumulated dividends increased $3.35 to $66.34 at June 30, 2010, compared to $62.99 at March 31, 2010. The 5.8% growth in book value per common share was driven by our net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders of $210.2 million, less $13.9 million of common dividends and an $8.6 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income. During the second quarter of 2010, we repurchased 3.7 million common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $207.6 million and at an average share price of $56.10.

Underwriting Results

In the second quarter of 2010, we generated $188.5 million of underwriting income, compared to $213.6 million in the second quarter of 2009. The decrease in underwriting income was driven primarily by a $53.3 million decrease in net premiums earned, and partially offset by a $12.6 million decrease in acquisition costs and a $19.2 million decrease in net claims and claim expenses. We generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of 14.6%, an underwriting expense ratio of 27.7% and a combined ratio of 42.3%, in the second quarter of 2010, compared to a net claims and claim expense ratio, an underwriting expense ratio and a combined ratio of 17.6%, 26.2% and 43.8%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2009.

Gross premiums written decreased $13.7 million, or 1.6%, to $841.5 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $855.2 million in the second quarter of 2009. Our catastrophe reinsurance gross premiums written decreased $69.5 million principally reflecting the deterioration of attractive market conditions on a risk-adjusted basis in our core markets combined with the nonrenewal of Timicuan Reinsurance II Ltd. (“Tim Re II”), a fully-collateralized property catastrophe joint venture for the 2009 underwriting year that generated $41.8 million of gross premiums written in the second quarter of 2009. Our specialty reinsurance premiums increased $10.3 million, to $7.0 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $(3.4) million in the second quarter of 2009. The increase

 

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in our specialty reinsurance premiums is primarily due to the negative impact during the second quarter of 2009 related to the non-renewal and portfolio transfer out of a catastrophe exposed homeowners personal lines property quota share contract, representing $24.2 million of negative gross premiums written in the second quarter of 2009. Excluding the impact of this transaction in the second quarter of 2009 our specialty premiums decreased $13.9 million, or 66.5%, in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009. This decrease was due to reductions in several lines of business as a result of softening market conditions combined with the timing of a political risk trade credit contract which incepted in the second quarter of 2009 and renewed in the first quarter of 2010. Our newly formed Lloyd’s unit generated $34.8 million of premium in the second quarter of 2010. Gross premiums written in our Insurance segment increased $32.5 million, or 10.9%, to $331.2 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $298.7 million in the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to growth in our crop insurance gross premiums written during the second quarter of 2010. Crop insurance gross premiums written increased $38.8 million, or 16.5%, to $273.8 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $235.0 million in the second quarter of 2009, driven by new business resulting from our growth in overall market share.

Net premiums written decreased $78.8 million in the second quarter of 2010 to $552.6 million from $631.4 million in the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to the decrease in gross premiums written noted above and a $65.1 million increase in ceded premiums written in the second quarter of 2010, compared to the second quarter of 2009. The increase in ceded premiums written was principally driven by our Insurance segment, where we ceded additional premium in our multi-peril crop insurance line of business to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (“FCIC”) and our crop hail insurance lines of business to third parties. Net premiums earned decreased $53.3 million to $326.5 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $379.8 million in the second quarter of 2009.

Net claims and claim expenses decreased by $19.2 million to $47.7 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $66.8 million in the second quarter of 2009 primarily due to the comparably low level of insured catastrophes, and was partially offset by lower favorable development on prior years reserves during the current quarter. We experienced $86.4 million of favorable development on prior year reserves in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $106.2 million of favorable development on prior year reserves in the second quarter of 2009, as discussed in more detail below.

 

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Underwriting Results by Segment

Reinsurance Segment

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our Reinsurance segment followed by an analysis of our catastrophe unit, specialty unit and Lloyd’s unit underwriting results and ratios for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

Reinsurance segment overview

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                   

Gross premiums written (1)

   $ 531,358      $ 555,632      $ (24,274
                        

Net premiums written

   $ 351,330      $ 394,981      $ (43,651
                        

Net premiums earned

     214,853        227,912        (13,059

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     (22,580     (40,789     18,209   

Acquisition expenses

     21,113        21,136        (23

Operational expenses

     34,822        35,189        (367
                        

Underwriting income

   $ 181,498      $ 212,376      $ (30,878
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 58,808      $ 55,575      $ 3,233   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (81,388     (96,364     14,976   
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ (22,580   $ (40,789   $ 18,209   
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     27.4     24.4     3.0

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (37.9 %)      (42.3 %)      4.4
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     (10.5 %)      (17.9 %)      7.4

Underwriting expense ratio

     26.0     24.7     1.3
                        

Combined ratio

     15.5     6.8     8.7
                        

 

(1) Reinsurance gross premiums written includes $21.1 million and $(0.8) million of premiums assumed from the Insurance segment for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Reinsurance Segment Gross Premiums Written – Gross premiums written in our Reinsurance segment decreased by $24.3 million, or 4.4%, to $531.4 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $555.6 million in the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to a decrease in gross premiums written in our catastrophe unit, which was impacted by reduced pricing on the June 2010 reinsurance renewals. In addition, as noted above, gross premiums written in our Reinsurance segment were also positively impacted by $41.8 million of gross premiums written on behalf of our fully-collateralized property catastrophe joint venture, Tim Re II, during the second quarter of 2009. Our Reinsurance segment premiums are prone to significant volatility due to the timing of contract inception and also due to the business being characterized by a relatively small number of relatively large transactions.

Reinsurance Segment Underwriting Results – Our Reinsurance segment generated $181.5 million of underwriting income in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $212.4 million in the second quarter of 2009, a decrease of $30.9 million. The decrease in underwriting income was primarily due to an increase in net claims and claim expenses of $18.2 million principally related to a $15.0 million decrease in favorable development on prior year reserves as discussed below. In the second quarter of 2010, our Reinsurance segment generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of negative 10.5%, an underwriting expense ratio of 26.0% and a combined ratio of 15.5%, compared to negative 17.9%, 24.7% and 6.8%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2009. Current accident year losses of $58.8 million increased $3.2 million from $55.6 million in the second quarter of 2009, and include $15.0 million of loss reserves established in the second quarter of 2010 associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil rig event.

 

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During the second quarter of 2010, we experienced favorable development on prior year reserves of $81.4 million, including $60.9 million, $20.5 million and $0.1 million in our catastrophe, specialty and Lloyd’s units, respectively. The favorable development on prior year reserves in our catastrophe unit was primarily due to reductions of $33.6 million in estimated ultimate losses associated with a review of mature, large, mainly international catastrophe events conducted during the quarter, $11.2 million associated with decreases in estimated ultimate losses on certain specific catastrophe events, including the 2004 hurricanes, 2005 hurricanes and the 2009 Austrian floods, as a result of lower than expected claims emergence, and $15.7 million due to better than expected claims emergence associated with a large number of relatively small catastrophes. In addition, our specialty unit experienced lower than expected claims emergence on prior accident year losses in the second quarter of 2010 which resulted in $20.5 million of favorable development on prior year reserves. During the second quarter of 2009, we experienced $96.4 million of favorable development on prior year reserves as a result of reductions in estimated ultimate losses on certain specific events within the catastrophe unit, including hurricanes Gustav and Ike (2008), the United Kingdom flooding (2007) and European windstorm Kyrill (2007).

We have entered into joint ventures and specialized quota share cessions of our book of business. In accordance with the joint venture and quota share agreements, we are entitled to certain fee income and profit commissions, subject to the terms of these agreements. We record these fees and profit commissions as a reduction in acquisition and operating expenses and, accordingly, these fees have generally reduced our underwriting expense ratios. These fees totaled $14.7 million and $18.7 million for the second quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively, and resulted in a corresponding decrease to the Reinsurance segment underwriting expense ratio of 6.8% and 8.2% for the second quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively. In addition, our agreements with DaVinci provide for certain fee income and profit commissions. Because the results of DaVinci, and its parent DaVinciRe, are consolidated in our results of operations, these fees and profit commissions are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements and are principally reflected in noncontrolling interest. The net impact of all fees and profit commissions related to these joint ventures and specialized quota share cessions within our Reinsurance segment was $21.5 million and $34.8 million for the second quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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Catastrophe

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our catastrophe unit for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

Catastrophe overview

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                   

Property catastrophe gross premiums written

      

Renaissance

   $ 302,625      $ 356,269      $ (53,644

DaVinci

     186,917        202,733        (15,816
                        

Total property catastrophe gross premiums written (1)

   $ 489,542      $ 559,002      $ (69,460
                        

Net premiums written

   $ 312,491      $ 398,629      $ (86,138
                        

Net premiums earned

     173,910        182,095        (8,185

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     (40,043     (56,723     16,680   

Acquisition expenses

     15,380        12,589        2,791   

Operational expenses

     24,045        26,834        (2,789
                        

Underwriting income

   $ 174,528      $ 199,395      $ (24,867
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 20,826      $ 20,210      $ 616   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (60,869     (76,933     16,064   
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ (40,043   $ (56,723   $ 16,680   
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     12.0     11.1     0.9

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (35.0 %)      (42.3 %)      7.3
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     (23.0 %)      (31.2 %)      8.2

Underwriting expense ratio

     22.6     21.7     0.9
                        

Combined ratio

     (0.4 %)      (9.5 %)      9.1
                        

 

(1) Includes gross premiums written ceded from the Insurance segment to the catastrophe unit of $0.1 million and $(0.8) million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Catastrophe Reinsurance Gross Premiums Written – In the second quarter of 2010, our catastrophe reinsurance gross premiums written decreased by $69.5 million, or 12.4%, to $489.5 million, compared to the second quarter of 2009. The decrease in catastrophe reinsurance gross premiums written principally reflected the execution of our fully-collateralized property catastrophe joint venture, Tim Re II, during the second quarter of 2009, which did not recur in the second quarter of 2010 and generated $41.8 million of gross premiums written in the second quarter of 2009, combined with less attractive market conditions on a risk-adjusted basis in our core markets. Our catastrophe reinsurance results have been increasingly impacted in recent periods by a relatively small number of comparably large transactions with significant clients.

Catastrophe Reinsurance Underwriting Results – Our catastrophe unit generated $174.5 million of underwriting income in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $199.4 million in the second quarter of 2009, a decrease of $24.9 million. The decrease in underwriting income was due primarily to a $16.7 million increase in net claims and claim expenses as a result of less favorable development on prior year reserves, as discussed above, combined with an $8.2 million decrease in net premiums earned. In the second quarter of 2010, our catastrophe unit generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of negative 23.0%, an underwriting expense ratio of 22.6% and a combined ratio of negative 0.4%, compared to negative 31.2%, 21.7% and negative 9.5%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2009. During the second quarter of 2010, we experienced $60.9 million of favorable development on prior year reserves,

 

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compared to $76.9 million of favorable development on prior year reserves in the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to reductions of $33.6 million in estimated ultimate losses associated with a review of mature, large, mainly international catastrophe events conducted during the quarter, $11.2 million associated with decreases in estimated ultimate losses on certain specific catastrophe events, including the 2004 hurricanes, 2005 hurricanes and the 2009 Austrian floods, as a result of lower than expected claims emergence, and $15.7 million due to better than expected claims emergence associated with a large number of relatively small catastrophes.

Specialty

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our specialty reinsurance unit for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

Specialty overview

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                   

Specialty gross premiums written

      

Renaissance

   $ 7,389      $ (3,370   $ 10,759   

DaVinci

     (414     —          (414
                        

Total specialty gross premiums written

   $ 6,975      $ (3,370   $ 10,345   
                        

Net premiums written

   $ 6,509      $ (3,648   $ 10,157   
                        

Net premiums earned

     24,313        45,817        (21,504

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     9,711        15,934        (6,223

Acquisition expenses

     2,561        8,547        (5,986

Operational expenses

     5,824        8,355        (2,531
                        

Underwriting income

   $ 6,217      $ 12,981      $ (6,764
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 30,168      $ 35,365      $ (5,197

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (20,457     (19,431     (1,026
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ 9,711      $ 15,934      $ (6,223
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     124.1     77.2     46.9

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (84.2 %)      (42.4 %)      (41.8 %) 
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     39.9     34.8     5.1

Underwriting expense ratio

     34.5     36.9     (2.4 %) 
                        

Combined ratio

     74.4     71.7     2.7
                        

Specialty Reinsurance Gross Premiums Written – In the second quarter of 2010, our specialty reinsurance gross premiums written increased by $10.3 million, to $7.0 million, compared to $(3.4) million in the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to the negative impact during the second quarter of 2009 related to the non-renewal and portfolio transfer out of a catastrophe exposed homeowners personal lines property quota share contract, representing $24.2 million of negative gross premiums written in the second quarter of 2009. Excluding the impact of this transaction in the second quarter of 2009, our specialty premiums decreased $13.9 million, or 66.5%, in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009. This decrease was due to reductions in several lines of business due to softening market conditions combined with the timing of a political risk trade credit contract which incepted in the second quarter of 2009 and renewed in the first quarter of 2010. Our specialty reinsurance premiums are prone to significant volatility as this business is characterized by a relatively small number of comparably large transactions.

Specialty Reinsurance Underwriting Results – Our specialty unit generated $6.2 million of underwriting income in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $13.0 million in the second quarter of 2009, a decrease of $6.8 million,

 

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principally due to a decrease in net premiums earned primarily due to the non-renewal and portfolio transfer out, as noted above, resulting in lower gross premiums written over the last year and consequently, lower net premiums earned. Current accident year losses decreased $5.2 million, to $30.2 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $35.4 million in the second quarter of 2009, and included $15.0 million of loss reserves established in the second quarter of 2010 associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil rig event. The favorable development on prior year reserves of $20.5 million and $19.4 million during the second quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively, was primarily driven by lower than expected reported claims on prior years reserves, and for 2009, specifically from the 2005 through 2008 underwriting years. In the second quarter of 2010, our specialty unit generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of 39.9%, an underwriting expense ratio of 34.5% and a combined ratio of 74.4%, compared to 34.8%, 36.9% and 71.7%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2009.

Lloyd’s

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our Lloyd’s unit for the three months ended June 30, 2010:

Lloyd’s overview

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)       

Lloyd’s gross premiums written

  

Catastrophe

   $ 7,324   

Specialty

     6,507   

Insurance

     21,010   
        

Total Lloyd’s gross premiums written (1)

   $ 34,841   
        

Net premiums written

   $ 32,330   
        

Net premiums earned

     16,630   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     7,752   

Acquisition expenses

     3,172   

Operational expenses

     4,953   
        

Underwriting income

   $ 753   
        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 7,814   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (62
        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ 7,752   
        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     47.0

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (0.4 %) 
        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     46.6

Underwriting expense ratio

     48.9
        

Combined ratio

     95.5
        

 

(1) Includes gross premiums written ceded from the Insurance segment to the Lloyd’s unit of $21.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

In 2009, we established Syndicate 1458, a Lloyd’s syndicate, to start writing certain lines of insurance and reinsurance business. The syndicate was established to enhance our underwriting platform by providing access to Lloyd’s extensive distribution network and worldwide licenses. Although Syndicate 1458 writes direct insurance as well as reinsurance, we manage this business as part of our reinsurance operations and include its results of operations within our Reinsurance segment. Our Lloyd’s unit results include Syndicate 1458, our corporate capital vehicle, RenaissanceRe CCL, prior to its inter-company cession of Syndicate 1458 business to Renaissance

 

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Reinsurance, and our managing agency, RSML. The results of our Lloyd’s unit were not significant in 2009; however, we expect its absolute and relative contributions to our consolidated results of operations to grow over time.

Lloyd’s Gross Premiums Written – In the second quarter of 2010, our Lloyd’s unit gross premiums written were $34.8 million, and include property catastrophe, specialty and insurance premiums written.

Lloyd’s Underwriting Results – Our Lloyd’s unit generated underwriting income of $0.8 million and a combined ratio of 95.5% in the second quarter of 2010. Net claims and claim expenses for the second quarter of 2010 are comprised primarily of incurred but not reported loss activity in the specialty and insurance lines of business. To date, the Lloyd’s unit has not incurred a catastrophe loss. Operational expenses of $5.0 million principally include compensation and related operating expenses.

Insurance Segment

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 for our Insurance segment:

Insurance segment overview

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                   

Crop

   $ 273,833      $ 234,994      $ 38,839   

Commercial multi-line

     30,911        25,447        5,464   

Commercial property

     20,801        32,366        (11,565

Personal lines property

     5,679        5,924        (245
                        

Gross premiums written

   $ 331,224      $ 298,731      $ 32,493   
                        

Net premiums written

   $ 201,232      $ 236,389      $ (35,157
                        

Net premiums earned

   $ 111,669      $ 151,905      $ (40,236

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     70,247        107,612        (37,365

Acquisition expenses

     18,831        31,359        (12,528

Operational expenses

     15,554        11,676        3,878   
                        

Underwriting income

   $ 7,037      $ 1,258      $ 5,779   
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 75,274      $ 117,465      $ (42,191

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior years

     (5,027     (9,853     4,826   
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ 70,247      $ 107,612      $ (37,365
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     67.4     77.3     (9.9 %) 

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (4.5 %)      (6.5 %)      2.0
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     62.9     70.8     (7.9 %) 

Underwriting expense ratio

     30.8     28.4     2.4
                        

Combined ratio

     93.7     99.2     (5.5 %) 
                        

Insurance Segment Gross Premiums Written – Gross premiums written by our Insurance segment increased $32.5 million, or 10.9%, to $331.2 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $298.7 million in the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to growth in our crop insurance gross premiums written during the second quarter of 2010. Crop insurance gross premiums written increased $38.8 million, or 16.5%, to $273.8 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $235.0 million in the second quarter of 2009, driven by new business resulting from our growth in overall market share. Our Insurance segment premiums can fluctuate significantly between quarters and between years based on several factors, including, without limitation, the timing of the inception or cessation of new program managers and quota share reinsurance contracts, including whether or not we have portfolio transfers in, or portfolio transfers out, of quota share reinsurance contracts of in-force books of business.

 

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Insurance Segment Underwriting Results – Our Insurance segment generated underwriting income of $7.0 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2009. In the second quarter of 2010, our Insurance segment generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of 62.9%, an underwriting expense ratio of 30.8% and a combined ratio of 93.7%, compared to 70.8%, 28.4% and 99.2%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2009. The increase in underwriting income and decrease in our combined ratio was due primarily to a $37.4 million decrease in net claims and claim expenses and a $12.5 million decrease in acquisition expenses in the second quarter of 2010. The decrease in net claims and claim expenses was principally driven by a reduction of losses in our crop insurance line of business in the second quarter of 2010, compared to the second quarter of 2009. The decrease in acquisition expenses in the second quarter of 2010, compared with the second quarter of 2009, was primarily related to the $67.7 million increase in ceded premiums written during the second quarter of 2010, which resulted in additional ceding commissions offsetting gross acquisition expenses, combined with the increase in the amount of crop insurance as a relative proportion of the Insurance segment’s gross premiums written, as crop insurance generally has a lower acquisition expense ratio than other lines of business within the Insurance segment. Our Insurance segment experienced $5.0 million of favorable development on prior year reserves in the second quarter of 2010 compared to $9.9 million of favorable development in the second quarter of 2009, primarily as a result of better than expected reported claims activity.

Operational expenses increased $3.9 million to $15.6 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $11.7 million in the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits-related costs as a result of an increase in allocated expenses given the Company’s increased headcount.

As discussed below under “Reserves for Claims and Claim Expenses,” the most significant accounting judgment made by management is our estimate of claims and claim expense reserves. In our crop insurance business, insureds are required under policy terms to report all potential claims whether or not the insured believes that the crops can be re-planted and harvested; therefore, management’s estimates are subject to significant variability based on factors such as whether an insured is able to re-plant and ultimately harvest all or a portion of the crop, which will not generally be known until the end of the crop season, or in some cases, well into the following year, as well as what commodity prices are at the end of the policy period. In addition, management has to estimate, by type of crop and state, which losses will be ceded to the FCIC. Our estimate of net claims and claim expenses incurred for our crop insurance business reflects these judgments and actual results will vary, perhaps materially so, and be adjusted as new information is known and becomes available.

Net Investment Income

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                   

Fixed maturity investments

   $ 27,742      $ 40,007      $ (12,265

Short term investments

     2,458        2,741        (283

Other investments

      

Hedge funds and private equity investments

     8,188        12,327        (4,139

Other

     (8,184     61,740        (69,924

Cash and cash equivalents

     65        157        (92
                        
     30,269        116,972        (86,703

Investment expenses

     (2,662     (2,679     17   
                        

Net investment income

   $ 27,607      $ 114,293      $ (86,686
                        

Net investment income was $27.6 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to net investment income of $114.3 million in the second quarter of 2009. The $86.7 million decrease in net investment income was principally driven by a $69.9 million decrease from our other investments, including senior secured bank loan funds and non-U.S. fixed income funds, a $4.1 million decrease in our hedge fund and private equity investments and a $12.3

 

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million decrease in net investment income from our fixed maturity investments. Net investment income for the second quarter of 2010 was favorably impacted by declining interest rates in the second quarter of 2010, which was partially offset by a widening of credit spreads in the quarter. The hedge fund, private equity and other investment portfolios are accounted for at fair value with the change in fair value recorded in net investment income which included net unrealized losses of $19.2 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $69.3 million of unrealized gains in the second quarter of 2009.

Reductions in the Federal Funds rate by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board and a corresponding decline in interest rates has lowered the interest rate at which we invest our assets. We expect these developments, combined with the current composition of our investment portfolio and other factors, to put downward pressure on our net investment income for the foreseeable future. Among other factors, our current asset allocations reflect a relative reduction from earlier periods of the number of classes of securities characterized by higher estimated yields and expected risk, which has reduced the weighted average yield to maturity for our investment portfolio and which we expect will also impact future net investment income.

Fixed Maturity Investments - Net Realized and Unrealized Gains and Net Other-Than-Temporary Impairments

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                   

Gross realized gains

   $ 29,058      $ 33,213      $ (4,155

Gross realized losses

     (5,962     (14,324     8,362   
                        

Net realized gains on fixed maturity investments

   $ 23,096      $ 18,889      $ 4,207   

Net unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments, trading

     48,010        —          48,010   
                        

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

   $ 71,106      $ 18,889      $ 52,217   
                        

Total other-than-temporary impairments

     (798     (5,289     4,491   

Portion recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

     2        3,456        (3,454
                        

Net other-than-temporary impairments

   $ (796   $ (1,833   $ 1,037   
                        

During the fourth quarter of 2009, we started designating, upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than as available for sale and, as a result, we recognized $48.0 million of net unrealized gains on these securities in our consolidated statement of operations for the second quarter of 2010. We currently expect to continue to designate, in future periods, upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than as available for sale, and, as a result, we currently expect our fixed maturity investments available for sale balance to decrease and our fixed maturity trading balance to increase over time, resulting in a reduction in other-than-temporary accounting judgments we make. This change will over time result in additional volatility in our net income (loss) in future periods as net unrealized gains and losses on these fixed maturity investments will be recorded currently in net income (loss), rather than as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity.

Net realized gains on fixed maturity investments were $23.1 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $18.9 million in the second quarter of 2009, an increase of $4.2 million, as a result of a $4.2 million decrease in gross realized gains and more than offset by an $8.4 million decrease in gross realized losses. Net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings were $0.8 million in the second quarter of 2010 compared to $1.8 million for the second quarter of 2009. Net other-than-temporary impairments relate to our fixed maturity investments available for sale. Of the total other-than-temporary impairment charges in the second quarter of 2010, $0.8 million was recognized in earnings and includes $0.8 million for credit losses and $nil for investments we intend to sell, and $2 thousand related to other factors recorded as an unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income. Under the guidance adopted in the second quarter of 2009, we recognize other-than-temporary impairments in earnings for impaired fixed maturity investments available for sale (i) for which we have the intent to sell the security or (ii) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery and (iii) for those securities which have a credit loss.

 

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Equity in Earnings of Other Ventures

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010    2009    Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                 

Top Layer Re

   $ 2,609    $ 4,176    $ (1,567

Tower Hill Companies

     229      536      (307

Other

     322      720      (398
                      

Total equity in earnings of other ventures

   $ 3,160    $ 5,432    $ (2,272
                      

Equity in earnings of other ventures represents primarily our pro-rata share of the net income from our investments in Top Layer Re and the Tower Hill Companies. Equity in earnings of other ventures generated $3.2 million of income in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $5.4 million in the second quarter of 2009. The $2.3 million decrease in equity in earnings of other ventures in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009 was primarily due to decreased earnings from Top Layer Re as a result of lower gross premiums written and lower investment results for Top Layer Re, for reasons similar to those noted above.

The equity pick-up for our earnings in the Tower Hill Companies is recorded one quarter in arrears.

Other Loss

The items reported in other loss are detailed below:

 

Three months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                   

Assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for as derivatives and deposits

   $ 128      $ (7,928   $ 8,056   

Weather-related and loss mitigation

     (18     (2,963     2,945   

Weather and energy risk management operations

     (492     6,428        (6,920

Mark-to-market on Platinum warrant

     (1,668     424        (2,092

Other items

     (1,044     383        (1,427
                        

Total other loss

   $ (3,094   $ (3,656   $ 562   
                        

In the second quarter of 2010, we incurred an other loss of $3.1 million, compared to $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2009. Other loss attributable to our weather and energy risk management operations of $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2010, decreased $6.9 million, from other income of $6.4 million in the second quarter of 2009, due to a combination of unusual weather patterns and less liquidity in the markets in which we operate. Our assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for as derivatives and deposits generated $0.1 million in other income in the second quarter of 2010, compared to an other loss of $7.9 million in the second quarter of 2009, an improvement of $8.1 million, primarily due to more ceded contracts accounted for at fair value in 2009, compared to 2010.

Certain contracts we enter into and our weather and energy risk operations are based in part on proprietary weather forecasts provided to us by our Weather Predict subsidiary. The weather and energy risk operations in which we engage are both seasonal and volatile, and there is no assurance that our performance to date will be indicative of future periods.

 

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Other Items

Operational Expenses

Operational expenses increased $3.5 million to $50.4 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $46.9 million in the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits related costs as a result of our increased headcount including $5.0 million of operational expenses associated with our new Lloyd’s unit.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased $2.0 million to $6.2 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $4.2 million in the first six months of 2009, primarily due to the $250.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes which were issued by RRNAH on March 17, 2010.

Attribution of Net Income

A portion of our net income is attributable to the third party redeemable noncontrolling interest holders in DaVinciRe. The net income attributed to the redeemable noncontrolling interest holders increased $2.3 million to $51.9 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $49.7 million in the second quarter of 2009, due to the increased profitability of DaVinciRe and partially offset by an increase in our ownership of DaVinciRe to 41.2% in the second quarter of 2010, compared to 38.2% in the second quarter of 2009.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

For the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2009

Summary Overview

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change        
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts and ratios)                         

Gross premiums written

   $ 1,404,971      $ 1,453,473      $ (48,502  

Net premiums written

     968,545        1,078,206        (109,661  

Net premiums earned

     604,648        681,565        (76,917  

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     126,724        153,020        (26,296  

Underwriting income

     278,378        344,824        (66,446  

Net investment income

     94,788        156,419        (61,631  

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

     119,704        41,015        78,689     

Net other-than-temporary impairments

     (829     (20,855     20,026     

Net income

     458,903        474,740        (15,837  

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders

     375,288        368,463        6,825     

Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted

   $ 6.37      $ 5.90      $ 0.47     

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     62.0     37.0     25.0  

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (41.0 %)      (14.5 %)      (26.5 %)   
                          

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     21.0     22.5     (1.5 %)   

Underwriting expense ratio

     33.0     26.9     6.1  
                          

Combined ratio

     54.0     49.4     4.6  
                          
     June 30,
2010
    December 31,
2009
    Change     %
Change
 

Book value per common share

   $ 56.96      $ 51.68      $ 5.28      10.2

Accumulated dividends per common share

     9.38        8.88        0.50      5.6
                          

Book value per common share plus accumulated dividends

   $ 66.34      $ 60.56      $ 5.78     
                          

 

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Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders was $375.3 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $368.5 million in the first six months of 2009. Net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per fully diluted common share was $6.37 for the first six months of 2010, compared to $5.90 in the first six months of 2009. The $6.8 million increase in net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders in the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009, was primarily due to:

 

  •  

Improved Investment Results – including a $78.7 million increase in net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments and a $20.0 million decrease in net other-than-temporary impairments and partially offset by a $61.6 million decrease in net investment income, which collectively increased our net income by $37.1 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009. The increase in our investment results was primarily due to the contraction of credit spreads on our fixed maturity investments and higher average invested assets compared to the first six months of 2009, and partially offset by lower returns on hedge fund and private equity investments and certain non-investment grade allocations which are included in other investments. The reduction in net other-than-temporary impairments was due in part to our adoption in the second quarter of 2009 of new guidance on the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments, as well as improving market conditions for our investments and the designation, upon acquisition of a significant portion of our fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than as available for sale;

 

  •  

Lower Net Income Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest – DaVinciRe – our net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest – DaVinciRe decreased $22.7 million principally due to a reduction in underwriting income, due to the increase in current accident year net claims and claim expenses as noted below, which also impacted DaVinciRe and decreased its net income in the first six months of 2010, and consequently decreased redeemable noncontrolling interest – DaVinciRe, combined with an increase in our ownership of DaVinciRe to 41.2% for the first six months of 2010, compared to 38.2% in the first six months of 2009;

 

  •  

Lower Other Loss – our other loss was $8.8 million in the first six months of 2010, an improvement of $9.6 million compared to the first six months of 2009, primarily as a result of improved results from our weather-related and loss mitigation activities and our assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for as derivatives and deposits, combined with a positive mark-to-market adjustment on our investment in the Platinum warrant; and partially offset by

 

  •  

Lower Underwriting Income – our underwriting income decreased $66.4 million due to a $28.3 million increase in operational expenses and a $76.9 million decrease in net premiums earned and partially offset by a $26.3 million decrease in net claims and claim expenses incurred and a $12.5 million decrease in acquisition expenses. The increase in operational expenses was primarily due to an increase in our employee base which has increased our compensation and related operating expenses. Included in the current accident year net claims and claim expenses of $374.8 million are $183.3 million of claims and claim expenses incurred as a result of the Chilean earthquake and European windstorm Xynthia (“Xynthia”), both of which occurred in the first quarter of 2010 and are described in more detail below. In addition, claims and claim expenses include $248.1 million of favorable development on prior accident years due to reductions to our estimated ultimate losses in our catastrophe unit, combined with lower than expected loss emergence in our specialty unit and Insurance segment, as discussed below.

Book value per common share increased $5.28 to $56.96 at June 30, 2010, compared to $51.68 at December 31, 2009. Book value per common share plus accumulated dividends increased $5.78 to $66.34 at June 30, 2010, compared to $60.56 at December 31, 2009. The 10.2% growth in book value per common share was driven by comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe of $377.2 million for the first six months of 2010, and partially offset by $28.7 million of common dividends declared and paid during the first six months of 2010. Book value per common share was also impacted by prior period common share repurchases, including no common share repurchases in the first six months of 2009, compared to $411.3 million of common shares repurchased in the first six months of 2010.

 

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Net Impact of the Chilean Earthquake and Xynthia

We recorded $122.7 million of net negative impact from the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia in the first six months of 2010. Net negative impact includes the sum of estimates of net claims and claim expenses incurred, earned reinstatement premiums assumed and ceded, lost profit commissions and redeemable noncontrolling interest. Our estimate of losses from the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia are based on initial industry insured loss estimates, market share analysis, the application of our modeling techniques, and a review of our in-force contracts. Given the preliminary nature of the information available, inadequacies in the data provided thus far by industry participants, the magnitude and recent occurrence of the events, the expected lengthy claims development period, in particular for the Chilean earthquake, and other factors and uncertainties inherent in loss estimation, meaningful uncertainty remains regarding losses from these events and our actual ultimate net losses from these events will vary from these estimates, perhaps materially so. Changes in these estimates will be recorded in the period in which they occur.

See the supplemental financial data below for additional information detailing the net negative impact from these events on our consolidated financial statements and our Reinsurance segment results.

Underwriting Results

In the first six months of 2010, we generated $278.4 million of underwriting income, compared to $344.8 million in the first six months of 2009. We had a net claims and claim expense ratio of 21.0%, an underwriting expense ratio of 33.0% and a combined ratio of 54.0%, in the first six months of 2010, compared to a net claims and claim expense ratio, underwriting expense ratio and a combined ratio of 22.5%, 26.9% and 49.4%, respectively, in the first six months of 2009.

Gross premiums written decreased $48.5 million to $1,405.0 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $1,453.5 million in the first six months of 2009. The decrease in gross premiums written was primarily due to less favorable pricing and terms experienced in our catastrophe unit during the January and June 2010 reinsurance renewals compared to the 2009 renewals as gross premiums written in the unit decreased $106.8 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009. The market conditions in our catastrophe unit were principally driven by softening market conditions as a result of the comparably low level of insured catastrophe losses in 2009, combined with the improved capital position of many participants in the (re)insurance industry. In addition, the Company’s decrease in catastrophe premiums for the first six months of 2010 reflects $41.8 million of gross premiums written on behalf of our fully-collateralized property catastrophe joint venture, Tim Re II, during the second quarter of 2009, which did not recur in 2010. The decrease in gross premiums written in our catastrophe unit was partially offset by an increase in gross premiums written in our Insurance segment, which increased $19.2 million, or 5.3%, to $383.1 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $363.9 million in the first six months of 2009. As discussed in more detail below, the increase in gross premiums written in our Insurance segment was primarily due to growth in our crop insurance and commercial multi-line lines of business, and partially offset by our commercial property and personal lines property lines of business. Our specialty reinsurance premiums increased $13.3 million, or 19.5%, to $81.4 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $68.1 million in the first six months of 2009. As discussed in more detail below, the increase in gross premiums written in our specialty unit was primarily due to the inception of several new contracts and the negative impact during the second quarter of 2009 related to the non-renewal and portfolio transfer out of a catastrophe exposed homeowners personal lines property quota share contract.

Net premiums written decreased $109.7 million in the first six months of 2010 to $968.5 million, from $1,078.2 million in the first six months of 2009. The decrease in net premiums written was due to the decrease in gross premiums written noted above and a $61.2 million increase in ceded premiums written in the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009, with the increase in ceded premiums written principally driven by the Insurance segment, as discussed in more detail below. Net premiums earned decreased $76.9 million to $604.6 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $681.6 million in the first six months of 2009.

Net claims and claim expenses incurred decreased by $26.3 million to $126.7 million in the first six months of 2010 compared to $153.0 million in the first six months of 2009, due to an increase in favorable development on prior years reserves which was partially offset by higher current accident year losses. Insured losses from catastrophes were significantly higher in the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009, specifically as a

 

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result of the impact of the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia which occurred in the first quarter of 2010 and impacted our Reinsurance segment results, as discussed in more detail below, compared to the first six months of 2009, and, as a result, our current accident year net claims and claim expenses increased to $374.8 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $252.0 million in the first six months of 2009. We experienced $248.1 million of favorable development on prior year reserves in the first six months of 2010, compared to $99.0 million of favorable development in the first six months of 2009, including $186.6 million attributable to our Reinsurance segment and $61.5 million to our Insurance segment, as discussed in more detail below.

The following is supplemental financial data regarding the net financial statement impact on our consolidated results for the first six months of 2010 due to the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia:

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2010  
(in thousands of United States dollars)    Chilean
Earthquake
    Xynthia     Total  

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ (159,378   $ (23,895   $ (183,273

Net reinstatement premiums earned

     27,000        2,679        29,679   

Lost profit commissions

     (6,577     (852     (7,429
                        

Net impact on underwriting result

     (138,955     (22,068     (161,023

Noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe

     32,934        5,356        38,290   
                        

Net negative impact

   $ (106,021   $ (16,712   $ (122,733
                        

Impact on combined ratio

     26.2     3.9     30.4

 

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Underwriting Results by Segment

Reinsurance Segment

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our Reinsurance segment followed by an analysis of our catastrophe unit, specialty unit and Lloyd’s unit underwriting results and ratios for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

Reinsurance segment overview

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                   

Gross premiums written (1)

   $ 1,043,750      $ 1,088,548      $ (44,798
                        

Net premiums written

   $ 753,639      $ 809,768      $ (56,129
                        

Net premiums earned

     464,893        453,883        11,010   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     78,954        (24,218     103,172   

Acquisition expenses

     44,931        40,157        4,774   

Operational expenses

     74,973        64,304        10,669   
                        

Underwriting income

   $ 266,035      $ 373,640      $ (107,605
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 265,559      $ 96,881      $ 168,678   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (186,605     (121,099     (65,506
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ 78,954      $ (24,218   $ 103,172   
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     57.1     21.3     35.8

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (40.1 %)      (26.6 %)      (13.5 %) 
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     17.0     (5.3 %)      22.3

Underwriting expense ratio

     25.8     23.0     2.8
                        

Combined ratio

     42.8     17.7     25.1
                        

 

(1) Reinsurance gross premiums written includes $21.9 million and $(1.0) million of premiums assumed from the Insurance segment for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Reinsurance Segment Gross Premiums Written – Gross premiums written in our Reinsurance segment decreased by $44.8 million, or 4.1%, to $1,043.8 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $1,088.5 million in the first six months of 2009, primarily due to a decrease in gross premiums written in our catastrophe unit, which was impacted by reduced pricing on the January and June 2010 reinsurance renewals, and by the additional premium written by Tim Re II in the second quarter of 2009 that did not recur in 2010, as noted above. Excluding the impact of $29.7 million of reinstatement premiums written and earned in the first quarter of 2010 as a direct result of the net claims and claim expenses incurred from the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia, our Reinsurance segment premiums would have declined $74.5 million, or 6.8%. Our Reinsurance segment premiums are prone to significant volatility due to the timing of contract inception and also due to the business being characterized by a relatively small number of relatively large transactions.

Reinsurance Segment Underwriting Results – Our Reinsurance segment generated $266.0 million of underwriting income in the first six months of 2010, compared to $373.6 million in the first six months of 2009, a decrease of $107.6 million. The decrease in underwriting income was primarily due to the decrease in gross premiums written, as noted above, combined with an increase in net claims and claim expenses of $103.2 million, as discussed below. In the first six months of 2010, our Reinsurance segment generated a net claims and claim expenses ratio of 17.0%, an underwriting expense ratio of 25.8% and a combined ratio of 42.8%, compared to negative 5.3%, 23.0% and

 

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17.7%, respectively, in the first six months of 2009. Current accident year losses of $265.6 million in the first six months of 2010 were up $168.7 million from $96.9 million in the first six months of 2009, principally due to the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia, as detailed in the table below.

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2010  
(in thousands of United States dollars)    Chilean
Earthquake
    Xynthia     Total  

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ (159,378   $ (23,895   $ (183,273

Net reinstatement premiums earned

     27,000        2,679        29,679   

Lost profit commissions

     (6,577     (852     (7,429
                        

Net impact on Reinsurance segment underwriting result

   $ (138,955   $ (22,068   $ (161,023
                        

Impact on Reinsurance segment combined ratio

     35.3     5.1     40.9

During the first six months of 2010 and 2009, we experienced favorable development on prior year reserves of $186.6 million and $121.1 million, respectively. Included in the favorable development on prior year reserves in the first six months of 2010 were $94.0 million and $92.5 million attributable to our specialty unit and catastrophe unit, respectively. The favorable development in our specialty unit in the first six months of 2010 was associated with actuarial assumption changes of $31.4 million made in the first quarter of 2010, principally in our casualty clash and surety lines of business primarily as a result of revised initial expected loss ratios and loss development factors due to actual experience coming in better than expected, and partially offset by an increase in reserves within our workers compensation per risk line of business; $28.0 million due to a decrease in case reserves and additional case reserves, which are reserves established at the contract level for specific losses or large events; and $34.5 million due to actual reported losses coming in lower than expected in the current quarter on prior accident years events. In addition, the favorable development in our catastrophe unit for the first six months of 2010 was primarily due to reductions in the estimated ultimate losses of mature, large, mainly international catastrophe events as a result of a review conducted during the second quarter of 2010, combined with decreases in estimated ultimate losses on certain specific catastrophe events as a result of lower than expected claims emergence. The favorable development in the first six months of 2009 was the result of reductions in estimated ultimate losses on certain specific events within the catastrophe unit, and lower than expected claims emergence within our specialty unit, as discussed in more detail below.

We have entered into joint ventures and specialized quota share cessions of our book of business. In accordance with the joint venture and quota share agreements, we are entitled to certain fee income and profit commissions, subject to the terms of these agreements. We record these fees and profit commissions as a reduction in acquisition and operating expenses and, accordingly, these fees have generally reduced our underwriting expense ratios. These fees totaled $26.1 million and $39.2 million for the first six months of 2010 and 2009, respectively, and resulted in a corresponding decrease to the Reinsurance segment underwriting expense ratio of 5.6% and 8.6% for the first six months of 2010 and 2009, respectively. In addition, our agreements with DaVinci provide for certain fee income and profit commissions. Because the results of DaVinci, and its parent DaVinciRe, are consolidated in our results of operations, these fees and profit commissions are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements and are principally reflected in noncontrolling interest. The net impact of all fees and profit commissions related to these joint ventures and specialized quota share cessions within our Reinsurance segment was $43.0 million and $65.4 million for the first six months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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Catastrophe

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our catastrophe unit for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

Catastrophe overview

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                   

Property catastrophe gross premiums written

      

Renaissance

   $ 570,919      $ 645,899      $ (74,980

DaVinci

     342,743        374,519        (31,776
                        

Total property catastrophe gross premiums written (1)

   $ 913,662      $ 1,020,418      $ (106,756
                        

Net premiums written

   $ 629,755      $ 746,072      $ (116,317
                        

Net premiums earned

     386,808        367,220        19,588   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     109,461        (49,232     158,693   

Acquisition expenses

     34,054        23,012        11,042   

Operational expenses

     52,057        49,435        2,622   
                        

Underwriting income

   $ 191,236      $ 344,005      $ (152,769
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 201,922      $ 40,017      $ 161,905   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (92,461     (89,249     (3,212
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ 109,461      $ (49,232   $ 158,693   
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     52.2     10.9     41.3

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (23.9 %)      (24.3 %)      0.4
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     28.3     (13.4 %)      41.7

Underwriting expense ratio

     22.3     19.7     2.6
                        

Combined ratio

     50.6     6.3     44.3
                        

 

(1) Includes gross premiums written ceded from the Insurance segment to the Catastrophe unit of $(0.2) million and $(1.0) million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Catastrophe Reinsurance Gross Premiums Written – In the first six months of 2010, our catastrophe reinsurance gross premiums written decreased by $106.8 million, or 10.5%, to $913.7 million, compared to the first six months of 2009. The decrease was principally due to less favorable pricing and terms for the January and June 2010 reinsurance renewals, which resulted in us writing less business, as well as experiencing lower premium rates on our renewal business and by $41.8 million of premiums written by our fully-collateralized property catastrophe joint venture, Tim Re II, in the second quarter of 2009 that did not recur in 2010, as noted above. Excluding the impact of $29.7 million of reinstatement premiums written and earned in 2010 as a direct result of the net claims and claim expenses incurred from the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia, our catastrophe reinsurance gross premiums written would have declined $136.4 million or 13.4%. Our catastrophe reinsurance results have been increasingly impacted in recent periods by a relatively small number of comparably large transactions with significant clients.

Catastrophe Reinsurance Underwriting Results – Our catastrophe unit generated $191.2 million of underwriting income in the first six months of 2010, compared to $344.0 million in the first six months of 2009, a decrease of $152.8 million. The decrease in underwriting income was due primarily to a $158.7 million increase in net claims and claim expenses as a result of $175.8 million of net claims and claim expenses related to the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia and partially offset by a $19.6 million increase in net premiums earned. Net premiums earned in the first six months of 2010 included $29.7 million of reinstatement premiums earned as a result of the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia.

 

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The Chilean earthquake and Xynthia added 40.2 and 6.1 percentage points, respectively, to the catastrophe unit’s combined ratio for the first six months of 2010 as detailed in the table below:

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2010  
     Catastrophe  
(in thousands of United States dollars)    Chilean
Earthquake
    Xynthia     Total  

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

   $ (151,878   $ (23,895   $ (175,773

Net reinstatement premiums earned

     27,000        2,679        29,679   

Lost profit commissions

     (6,577     (852     (7,429
                        

Net impact on underwriting result

   $ (131,455   $ (22,068   $ (153,523
                        

Impact on combined ratio

     40.2     6.1     47.1

In the first six months of 2010, our catastrophe unit generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of 28.3%, an underwriting expense ratio of 22.3% and a combined ratio of 50.6%, compared to negative 13.4%, 19.7% and 6.3%, respectively, in the first six months of 2009. The increase in our underwriting expense ratio by 2.6 percentage points was driven by an $11.0 million increase in acquisition expenses, primarily as a result of lower profit commissions on ceded premiums earned, and an increase in operational expenses of $2.6 million primarily as a result of an increase in our employee base which has increased compensation and related operating expenses.

During the first six months of 2010, we experienced $92.5 million of favorable development on prior year reserves due to reductions of $33.6 million to the estimated ultimate losses of mature, large, mainly international catastrophe events as a result of a review conducted during the second quarter of 2010, combined with reductions in net ultimate losses associated with the 2005 hurricanes of $14.6 million, the 2008 hurricanes of $6.9 million, and European windstorm Klaus of $5.2 million, with the remainder due to a reduction in ultimate losses on a large number of relatively small catastrophes. During the first six months of 2009, we experienced $89.2 million of favorable development on prior year reserves as a result of reductions in estimated ultimate losses on certain specific events within the catastrophe unit, including hurricanes Gustav and Ike (2008), the United Kingdom flooding (2007) and European windstorm Kyrill (2007).

 

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Specialty

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our specialty reinsurance unit for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

Specialty overview

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                   

Specialty gross premiums written

      

Renaissance

   $ 79,838      $ 65,603      $ 14,235   

DaVinci

     1,602        2,527        (925
                        

Total specialty gross premiums written

   $ 81,440      $ 68,130      $ 13,310   
                        

Net premiums written

   $ 77,903      $ 63,696      $ 14,207   
                        

Net premiums earned

     54,484        86,663        (32,179

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     (40,846     25,014        (65,860

Acquisition expenses

     6,546        17,145        (10,599

Operational expenses

     11,829        14,869        (3,040
                        

Underwriting income

   $ 76,955      $ 29,635      $ 47,320   
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 53,137      $ 56,864      $ (3,727

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (93,983     (31,850     (62,133
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ (40,846   $ 25,014      $ (65,860
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     97.5     65.6     31.9

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (172.5 %)      (36.7 %)      (135.8 %) 
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     (75.0 %)      28.9     (103.9 %) 

Underwriting expense ratio

     33.8     36.9     (3.1 %) 
                        

Combined ratio

     (41.2 %)      65.8     (107.0 %) 
                        

Specialty Reinsurance Gross Premiums Written – In the first six months of 2010, our specialty reinsurance gross premiums written increased by $13.3 million, or 19.5%, to $81.4 million, compared to $68.1 million in the first six months of 2009, due principally to the inception of several new contracts providing financial and credit reinsurance, and partially offset by the non-renewal of a quota share program in mid-2009 that did not meet our expectations and was included in gross premiums written for the first six months of 2009, but not in our gross premiums written for the first six months of 2010. Our specialty reinsurance premiums are prone to significant volatility as this business is characterized by a relatively small number of comparably large transactions.

Specialty Reinsurance Underwriting Results – Our specialty reinsurance unit generated $77.0 million of underwriting income in the first six months of 2010, compared to $29.6 million in the first six months of 2009, an increase of $47.3 million, primarily due to decreases of $65.9 million and $13.6 million in net claims and claim expenses and underwriting expenses, respectively, and partially offset by a $32.2 million decrease in net premiums earned. Current accident year losses in the first six months of 2010 of $53.1 million were down $3.7 million from $56.9 million in the first six months of 2009, and include $15.0 million of loss reserves established in the second quarter of 2010 associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil rig event. The $94.0 million of net favorable development in the first six months of 2010 includes $31.4 million associated with actuarial assumption changes made in the first quarter of 2010, which decreased our reserve for claims and claim expenses, principally in our casualty clash and surety lines of business and partially offset by an increase in reserves within our workers compensation per risk line of business, principally as a result of revised initial expected loss ratios and loss development factors due to actual experience coming in better than expected; $28.0 million due to a decrease in case reserves and additional case

 

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reserves, which are reserves established at the contract level for specific losses or large events; and $34.5 million due to actual reported losses coming in lower than expected in the first six months of 2010 on prior accident years events. During the first six months of 2009, we experienced $31.9 million of favorable development on prior accident years primarily as a result of lower than expected reported claims on prior year reserves, specifically related to the 2005 through 2008 underwriting years. In the first six months of 2010, our specialty unit generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of negative 75.0%, an underwriting expense ratio of 33.8% and a combined ratio of negative 41.2%, compared to 28.9%, 36.9% and 65.8%, respectively, in the first six months of 2009. The net claims and claim expense and combined ratios in the first six months of 2010, were impacted by a $32.2 million decrease in net premiums earned, principally due to the non-renewal and portfolio transfer out of a catastrophe exposed homeowners personal lines property quota share contract, as discussed above, combined with a $62.1 million increase in favorable development on prior year reserves, as discussed above.

Lloyd’s

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our Lloyd’s unit for the six months ended June 30, 2010:

Lloyd’s overview

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)       

Lloyd’s gross premiums written

  

Catastrophe

   $ 12,993   

Specialty

     14,230   

Insurance

     21,642   
        

Total Lloyd’s gross premiums written (1)

   $ 48,865   
        

Net premiums written

   $ 45,981   
        

Net premiums earned

     23,601   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     10,339   

Acquisition expenses

     4,331   

Operational expenses

     11,087   
        

Underwriting loss

   $ (2,156
        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 10,500   

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior accident years

     (161
        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ 10,339   
        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     44.5

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (0.7 %) 
        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     43.8

Underwriting expense ratio

     65.3
        

Combined ratio

     109.1
        

 

(1) Includes gross premiums written ceded from the Insurance segment to the Lloyd’s unit of $21.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

In 2009, we established Syndicate 1458, a Lloyd’s syndicate, to start writing certain lines of insurance and reinsurance business. The syndicate was established to enhance our underwriting platform by providing access to Lloyd’s extensive distribution network and worldwide licenses. Although Syndicate 1458 writes direct insurance as well as reinsurance, we manage this business as part of our reinsurance operations and include its results of operations within our Reinsurance segment. Our Lloyd’s unit results include Syndicate 1458, our corporate capital

 

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vehicle, RenaissanceRe CCL, prior to its inter-company cession of Syndicate 1458 business to Renaissance Reinsurance, and our managing agency, RSML. The results of our Lloyd’s unit were not significant in 2009; however, we expect its absolute and relative contributions to our consolidated results of operations to grow over time.

Lloyd’s Gross Premiums Written – In the first six months of 2010, our Lloyd’s unit gross premiums written were $48.9 million, and include property catastrophe, specialty and insurance premiums written.

Lloyd’s Underwriting Results – Our Lloyd’s unit incurred an underwriting loss of $2.2 million and a combined ratio of 109.1% for the first six months of 2010. Net claims and claim expenses for the first six months of 2010 are comprised primarily of incurred but not reported loss activity in the specialty and insurance lines of business. To date, the Lloyd’s unit has not incurred a catastrophe loss. Operational expenses of $11.1 million principally include compensation and related operating expenses.

Insurance Segment

Below is a summary of the underwriting results and ratios for our Insurance segment for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

Insurance segment overview

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except ratios)                   

Crop

   $ 280,969      $ 243,146      $ 37,823   

Commercial multi-line

     57,715        50,089        7,626   

Commercial property

     33,809        48,487        (14,678

Personal lines property

     10,611        22,158        (11,547
                        

Gross premiums written

   $ 383,104      $ 363,880      $ 19,224   
                        

Net premiums written

   $ 214,906      $ 268,438      $ (53,532
                        

Net premiums earned

   $ 139,755      $ 227,682      $ (87,927

Net claims and claim expenses incurred

     47,770        177,238        (129,468

Acquisition expenses

     39,688        56,942        (17,254

Operational expenses

     39,954        22,318        17,636   
                        

Underwriting income (loss)

   $ 12,343      $ (28,816   $ 41,159   
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - current accident year

   $ 109,279      $ 155,094      $ (45,815

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - prior years

     (61,509     22,144        (83,653
                        

Net claims and claim expenses incurred - total

   $ 47,770      $ 177,238      $ (129,468
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - current accident year

     78.2     68.1     10.1

Net claims and claim expense ratio - prior accident years

     (44.0 %)      9.7     (53.7 %) 
                        

Net claims and claim expense ratio - calendar year

     34.2     77.8     (43.6 %) 

Underwriting expense ratio

     57.0     34.9     22.1
                        

Combined ratio

     91.2     112.7     (21.5 %) 
                        

Insurance Segment Gross Premiums Written – Gross premiums written generated by our Insurance segment increased $19.2 million, or 5.3%, to $383.1 million in the first six months of 2010 compared to $363.9 million in the first six months of 2009. The increase was primarily due to growth in our crop insurance line of business as a result of increased market share, and partially offset by our prior decisions to terminate several program manager relationships and a commercial property quota share contract as a result of softening market conditions, resulting in reduced commercial property and personal lines property gross premiums written.

 

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Our Insurance segment premiums can fluctuate significantly between quarters and between years based on several factors, including, without limitation, the timing of the inception or cessation of new program managers and quota share reinsurance contracts, including whether or not we have portfolio transfers in, or portfolio transfers out, of quota share reinsurance contracts of in-force books of business.

Insurance Segment Underwriting Results – Our Insurance segment generated underwriting income of $12.3 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to incurring an underwriting loss of $28.8 million in the first six months of 2009, an increase of $41.2 million. In the first six months of 2010, our Insurance segment generated a net claims and claim expense ratio of 34.2%, an underwriting expense ratio of 57.0% and a combined ratio of 91.2%, compared to 77.8%, 34.9% and 112.7%, respectively, in the first six months of 2009.

The increase in underwriting income and decrease in our combined ratio was primarily due to a $129.5 million decrease in net claims and claim expenses, which was principally driven by $61.5 million of favorable development on prior year reserves in the first six months of 2010, compared to $22.0 million of unfavorable development on prior year reserves in the first six months of 2009, combined with a decrease of $45.8 million in current accident year losses to $109.3 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $155.1 million in the first six months of 2009.

Ceded premiums written in our Insurance segment increased $72.8 million, to $168.2 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $95.4 million in the first six months of 2009, primarily due to our decision to purchase additional reinsurance for our crop insurance line of business. In addition, during the first six months of 2010, our Insurance segment ceded $21.1 million of multi-peril crop insurance premiums to our Lloyd’s unit as part of an intercompany quota share agreement, which is eliminated upon consolidation. As a result of the increase in ceded premiums written and earned, net premiums earned in our Insurance segment decreased $87.9 million in the first six months of 2010, to $139.8 million, compared to $227.7 million in the first six months of 2009.

The 22.1 percentage point increase in the underwriting expense ratio is primarily related to the decrease in net premiums earned, as noted above, as total underwriting expenses were relatively flat at $79.6 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $79.3 million in the first six months of 2009. However, the composition of underwriting expenses changed during the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009, with a $17.3 million decrease in acquisition expenses, being offset by a $17.6 million increase in operational expenses. The decrease in acquisition expenses in the first six months of 2010, compared with the first six months of 2009, was primarily related to the increase in ceded premiums written during the first six months of 2010, as noted above, which resulted in additional ceding commissions offsetting gross acquisition expenses, combined with the increase in the amount of crop insurance as a relative portion of the Insurance segment’s gross premiums written, as crop insurance generally has a lower acquisition expense ratio than other lines of business within the Insurance segment. The increase in operational expenses was primarily due to increased compensation and benefits-related costs as a result of the Company’s increased headcount, including higher allocated expenses, and a $6.8 million charge for impairing software related assets and recognizing severance benefits related to the Company’s decision in the first three months of 2010 to discontinue a new initiative which was under development in 2009 and had yet to commence operations.

 

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During the first six months of 2010, we settled the majority of our outstanding claims associated with the 2009 crop year for our crop insurance business. Due primarily to better than expected yields on late harvested crops for the 2009 crop year, we experienced significantly better than expected results on the settlement of our crop claims and, as a result, we experienced $46.1 million of favorable loss development associated with our crop insurance business in the first six months of 2010. This resulted in a net underwriting gain of $18.4 million in the first six months of 2010 and decreased the Insurance segment’s combined ratio by 12.4 percentage points, after taking into consideration the fact that a portion of the underwriting gain was ceded to the FCIC, as discussed below. The $18.4 million underwriting gain includes $14.0 million and $4.4 million associated with our multi-peril crop insurance and crop hail lines of business, respectively. The multi-peril crop insurance is written through a government sponsored program. The Risk Management Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“RMA”) sponsors an insurance program that provides reinsurance for participating insurers, including our Company, for multi-peril crop insurance. The terms of the reinsurance agreement with the FCIC allow us to retain only a portion of any underwriting gain or loss experienced on multi-peril crop insurance policies issued in each state. These components are summarized below:

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2010  
(in thousands of United States dollars)    Insurance
Segment
excluding 2009
Crop Year
Impact
    2009 Crop
Year Impact (1)
    Insurance
Segment
 

Net premiums earned

   $ 167,536      $ (27,781   $ 139,755   

Net claims and claim expenses

     93,917        46,147        47,770   

Underwriting expenses

     79,642        —          79,642   
                        

Underwriting (loss) income

   $ (6,023   $ 18,366      $ 12,343   
                        

Combined ratio

     103.6     (12.4 %)      91.2

 

(1) The 2009 Crop Year Impact includes the favorable development on net claims and claim expenes recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2010, combined with the resulting cession of a portion of the favorable development to the FCIC which is reflected as ceded premiums earned in accordance with the terms of the reinsurance agreement with the FCIC.

In comparison, during the first six months of 2009, our Insurance segment experienced unfavorable development on prior year reserves of $22.1 million, primarily driven by our multi-peril crop insurance line of business related to the 2008 crop year due to an increase in the severity of reported losses incurred during 2008 and reported during the first six months of 2009.

As discussed below under “Reserves for Claims and Claim Expenses,” the most significant accounting judgment made by management is our estimate of claims and claim expense reserves. In our crop insurance business, insureds are required under policy terms to report all potential claims whether or not the insured believes that the crops can be re-planted and harvested; therefore, management’s estimates are subject to significant variability based on factors such as whether an insured is able to re-plant and ultimately harvest all or a portion of the crop, which will not generally be known until the end of the crop season, or in some cases, well into the following year, as well as what commodity prices are at the end of the policy period. In addition, management has to estimate, by type of crop and state, which losses will be ceded to the FCIC. Our estimate of net claims and claim expenses incurred for our crop insurance business reflects these judgments and actual results will vary, perhaps materially so, and be adjusted as new information is known and becomes available.

Net Investment Income

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                   

Fixed maturity investments

   $ 56,385      $ 79,134      $ (22,749

Short term investments

     4,742        5,812        (1,070

Other investments

      

Hedge funds and private equity investments

     25,724        (7,414     33,138   

Other

     13,034        83,561        (70,527

Cash and cash equivalents

     131        530        (399
                        
     100,016        161,623        (61,607

Investment expenses

     (5,228     (5,204     (24
                        

Net investment income

   $ 94,788      $ 156,419      $ (61,631
                        

 

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Net investment income was $94.8 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to net investment income of $156.4 million in the first six months of 2009. The $61.6 million decrease in net investment income was principally driven by lower yields on the Company’s fixed income portfolios and lower total returns on certain non-investment grade allocations which the Company includes in other investments. Net investment income for the first six months of 2010 was impacted by increased average invested assets and a modest decrease in interest rates. The hedge fund, private equity and other investment portfolios are accounted for at fair value with the change in fair value recorded in net investment income which included net unrealized gains of $5.7 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $52.3 million of net unrealized gains in the first six months of 2009.

Reductions in the Federal Funds rate by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board and a corresponding decline in interest rates has lowered the interest rate at which we invest our assets. We expect these developments, combined with the current composition of our investment portfolio and other factors, to put downward pressure on our net investment income for the foreseeable future. Among other factors, our current asset allocations reflect a relative reduction from earlier periods of the number of classes of securities characterized by higher estimated yields and expected risk, which has reduced the weighted average yield to maturity for our investment portfolio and which we expect will also impact future net investment income.

Fixed Maturity Investments - Net Realized and Unrealized Gains and Net Other-Than-Temporary Impairments

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                   

Gross realized gains

   $ 77,945      $ 64,636      $ 13,309   

Gross realized losses

     (11,132     (23,621     12,489   
                        

Net realized gains on fixed maturity investments

   $ 66,813      $ 41,015      $ 25,798   

Net unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments, trading

     52,891        —          52,891   
                        

Net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments

   $ 119,704      $ 41,015      $ 78,689   
                        

Total other-than-temporary impairments

     (831     (24,311     23,480   

Portion recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes

     2        3,456        (3,454
                        

Net other-than-temporary impairments

   $ (829   $ (20,855   $ 20,026   
                        

During the fourth quarter of 2009, we started designating, upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than as available for sale and, as a result, we recognized $52.9 million of net unrealized gains on these securities in our consolidated statement of operations for the first six months of 2010. We currently expect to continue to designate, in future periods, upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than as available for sale, and, as a result, we currently expect our fixed maturity investments available for sale balance to decrease and our fixed maturity trading balance to increase over time, resulting in a reduction in other-than-temporary accounting judgments we make. This change will over time result in additional volatility in our net income (loss) in future periods as net unrealized gains and losses on these fixed maturity investments will be recorded in net income (loss), rather than as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity.

Net realized gains on fixed maturity investments were $66.8 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $41.0 million in the first six months of 2009, an increase of $25.8 million, as a result of a $13.3 million increase in gross realized gains and a $12.5 million decrease in gross realized losses. Net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings were $0.8 million in the first six months of 2010 compared to $20.9 million for the first six months of 2009. Net other-than-temporary impairments relate to our fixed maturity investments available for sale. Of the total other-than-temporary impairment charges in the first six months of 2010, $0.8 million was recognized in earnings and includes $0.8 million for credit losses and $nil for investments we intend to sell, and $2 thousand related to other factors recorded as an unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income. Under the guidance adopted in the second quarter of 2009, we recognize other-than-temporary impairments in earnings for impaired fixed maturity investments available for sale (i) for which we have the intent to sell the security or (ii) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery and (iii) for those securities which have a credit loss.

 

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Equity in Earnings of Other Ventures

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009    Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                  

Top Layer Re

   $ 5,989      $ 6,322    $ (333

Tower Hill Companies

     (842     45      (887

Other

     169        801      (632
                       

Total equity in earnings of other ventures

   $ 5,316      $ 7,168    $ (1,852
                       

Equity in earnings of other ventures primarily represents our pro-rata share of the net income (loss) from our investments in Top Layer Re and the Tower Hill Companies. Equity in earnings of other ventures generated $5.3 million in income in the first six months of 2010, compared to $7.2 million in the first six months of 2009. The $1.9 million decrease in equity in earnings of other ventures in the first six months of 2010 compared to the first six months of 2009 was primarily due to the Tower Hill Companies and Top Layer Re experiencing lower operating results.

The equity pick-up for our earnings in Tower Hill and the Tower Hill Companies is recorded one quarter in arrears.

Other Income (Loss)

 

Six months ended June 30,

   2010     2009     Change  
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                   

Weather-related and loss mitigation

   $ 170      $ (6,242   $ 6,412   

Assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for as derivatives and deposits

     (1,312     (10,606     9,294   

Weather and energy risk management operations

     (2,317     11,242        (13,559

Mark-to-market on Platinum warrant

     (5,365     (13,300     7,935   

Other items

     (1     455        (456
                        

Total other loss

   $ (8,825   $ (18,451   $ 9,626   
                        

Our other loss was $8.8 million in the first six months of 2010, an improvement of $9.6 million, compared to an other loss of $18.5 million in the first six months of 2009. The $9.6 million improvement was primarily attributable to: our assumed and ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for as derivatives and deposits which improved $9.3 million as a result of higher expenses for these contracts in 2009; an improvement of $7.9 million related to the mark-to-market adjustment on our investment in the Platinum warrant due to less downward pressure on the stock price of Platinum during the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009; and a $6.4 million improvement in our weather-related and loss mitigation activities due to revised internal expense allocations; and partially offset by our weather and energy risk management operations which decreased $13.6 million, to a loss of $2.3 million, due to a combination of unusual weather patterns and less liquidity in the markets in which we operate.

The weather and energy risk operations in which we engage are both seasonal and volatile, and there is no assurance that our performance year to date will be indicative of future periods.

 

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Other Items

Operational Expenses

Operational expenses increased $28.3 million to $114.9 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $86.6 million in the first six months of 2009, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits related costs as a result of our increased headcount including $11.1 million of operational expenses associated with our new Lloyd’s unit, a $6.8 million charge for impairing software related assets and recognizing severance benefits related to the Company’s decision in the first quarter of 2010 to discontinue a new start-up initiative which was under development in 2009 and had yet to commence operations, and $3.4 million related to the previously announced retirement of senior executive officers.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased $1.0 million to $9.4 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $8.3 million in the first six months of 2009, primarily due to the $250.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes which were issued by RRNAH on March 17, 2010.

Income Tax (Expense) Benefit

Income tax benefit increased $1.9 million to $2.1 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $0.2 million in the first six months of 2009, due primarily to our U.S. operations generating higher pre-tax losses during the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009.

Attribution of Net Income

A portion of our net income is attributable to the third party redeemable noncontrolling interest holders in DaVinciRe. The net income attributed to the redeemable noncontrolling interest holders decreased $22.7 million to $62.5 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to $85.1 million in the first six months of 2009, due to the decreased profitability of DaVinciRe. The change in net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest was driven by DaVinciRe generating lower underwriting income in the first six months of 2010, compared to the first six months of 2009, related to the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia and by an increase in our ownership of DaVinciRe to 41.2% for the first six months of 2010, compared to 38.2% in the first six months of 2009.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Financial Condition

RenaissanceRe is a holding company, and we therefore rely on dividends from our subsidiaries and investment income to make principal and interest payments on our debt and to make dividend payments to our preference and RenaissanceRe common shareholders.

The payment of dividends by our subsidiaries is, under certain circumstances, limited under statutory regulations and insurance law, which require our insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain measures of solvency and liquidity. In addition, Bermuda regulations require approval from the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”) for any reduction of capital in excess of 15% of statutory capital, as defined in the Insurance Act. At June 30, 2010, the statutory capital and surplus of our Bermuda (re)insurance subsidiaries was $3.2 billion, and the amount of capital and surplus required to be maintained was $565.3 million. During the first six months of 2010, Renaissance Reinsurance, DaVinciRe and the operating subsidiaries of RenRe Insurance returned capital to our holding company, which included dividends declared and return of capital, net of capital contributions received, of $281.3 million, $175.8 million and $nil, respectively, compared with $415.3 million, $nil and $nil, respectively, during the first six months of 2009.

 

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Our principal U.S. insurance subsidiary, Stonington, is also required to maintain certain measures of solvency and liquidity. Restrictions with respect to dividends are based on state statutes. In addition, there are restrictions based on risk-based capital tests which are the threshold that constitutes the authorized control level. If Stonington’s statutory capital and surplus falls below the authorized control level, the Texas Department of Insurance (“TDI”) is authorized to take whatever regulatory actions are considered necessary to protect policyholders and creditors. At June 30, 2010, the estimated consolidated statutory capital and surplus of Stonington was $128.6 million. Because of an accumulated deficit in earned surplus from prior operations, Stonington cannot currently pay an ordinary dividend without TDI approval.

RenaissanceRe CCL and Syndicate 1458 are subject to regulation by the Council of Lloyd’s. Syndicate 1458 is also subject to regulation by the Financial Services Authority (the “FSA”) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Underwriting capacity of a member of Lloyd’s must be supported by providing a deposit in the form of cash, securities or letters of credit, which are referred to as Funds at Lloyd’s, in an amount determined by Lloyd’s in relation to the member’s underwriting capacity. This amount is determined by Lloyd’s through application of a risk-based capital formula. At June 30, 2010, the Company maintained $74.3 million and £15.0 million as a Funds at Lloyd’s facility. In addition, the FSA requires Lloyd’s syndicates to satisfy an annual solvency test and to maintain solvency on a continuous basis, which Syndicate 1458 was in compliance with at June 30, 2010.

In the aggregate, our operating subsidiaries have historically produced sufficient cash flows to meet their expected claims payments and operational expenses and to provide dividend payments to us. Our subsidiaries also 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. See “Capital Resources” section below.

Cash Flows and Liquidity

Cash flows provided by operating activities. Cash flows provided by operating activities in the first six months of 2010 were $288.5 million, which principally consisted of our net income of $458.9 million and an increase in our reserve for unearned premiums of $548.3 million, and partially offset by an increase in premiums receivable of $431.7 million, an increase in ceded reinsurance balances of $184.4 and an adjustment for net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments of $119.7 million. As discussed under “Summary of Results of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2009”, we generated positive underwriting income and improved investment results, which contributed to cash flows provided by operating activities. In addition, our claims and claim expenses, net, decreased $5.5 million in the first six months of 2010, compared to a decrease of $189.8 million in the first six months of 2009, primarily as a result of $132.2 million of paid claims and claim expenses during the first six months of 2010, and partially offset by $126.7 million of incurred claims and claim expenses. Cash flows provided by operating activities in the first six months of 2010 were primarily used to support our investing and financing activities, as discussed below.

Cash flows provided by investing activities. During the first six months of 2010, our cash flows provided by investing activities were $84.2 million, which principally reflects our decision to decrease our allocation to short term investments, and increase our allocation to fixed maturity investments, as a result of the continuing low interest rate environment. In the first six months of 2010, we purchased $6.6 billion of fixed maturity investments trading, compared to $nil in the first six months of 2009, as a result of our decision during the fourth quarter of 2009 to designate, upon acquisition, certain fixed maturity investments as trading, rather than as available for sale. As a result, we currently expect our fixed maturity investments available for sale balance to decrease and the fixed maturity trading balance to increase over time.

Cash flows used in financing activities. Our cash flows used in financing activities in the first six months of 2010 were $343.5 million, primarily as a result of the repurchase of $411.3 million of our common shares, the payment of $28.7 million and $21.2 million in dividends to our common and preferred shareholders, respectively, and the net repurchase of $131.4 million of DaVinciRe shares, partially offset by $249.0 million of net proceeds from the issuance of debt, as discussed in the “Capital Resources” section below.

We have generated cash flows from operations during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, significantly in excess of our operating commitments. However, because a large portion of the coverages we provide can produce

 

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losses of high severity and low frequency, it is not possible to accurately predict our future cash flows from operating activities. As a consequence, cash flows from operating activities may fluctuate, perhaps significantly, between individual quarters and years. Due to the magnitude and relatively recent occurrence of the Chilean earthquake in the first quarter of 2010, and hurricanes Gustav and Ike during the third quarter of 2008, meaningful uncertainty remains regarding losses from these events and our actual ultimate net losses from these events may vary from preliminary estimates, perhaps materially. As a result, our cash flows from operations would be impacted accordingly.

RESERVES 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. We establish our claims and claim expense reserves by taking claims reported to us by insureds and ceding companies, but which have not yet been paid (“case reserves”), adding the costs for additional case reserves (“additional case reserves”) which represent our estimates for claims previously reported to us which we believe may not be adequately reserved as of that date, and adding estimates for the anticipated cost of claims incurred but not yet reported to us (“IBNR”).

The following table summarizes our claims and claim expense reserves by line of business and split between case reserves, additional case reserves and IBNR at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

At June 30, 2010

   Case Reserves    Additional Case
Reserves
   IBNR    Total
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                    

Catastrophe

   $ 134,647    $ 270,696    $ 244,164    $ 649,507

Specialty

     110,188      80,107      358,056      548,351

Lloyd’s

     —        6,246      4,894      11,140
                           

Total Reinsurance

     244,835      357,049      607,114      1,208,998

Insurance

     153,782      11,413      307,890      473,085
                           

Total

   $ 398,617    $ 368,462    $ 915,004    $ 1,682,083
                           

At December 31, 2009

                   
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)                    

Catastrophe

   $ 165,153    $ 148,252    $ 258,451    $ 571,856

Specialty

     119,674      101,612      382,818      604,104
                           

Total Reinsurance

     284,827      249,864      641,269      1,175,960

Insurance

     189,389      3,658      332,999      526,046
                           

Total

   $ 474,216    $ 253,522    $ 974,268    $ 1,702,006
                           

Our estimates of claims and claim expense reserves are not precise in that, among other matters, they are based on predictions of future developments and estimates of future trends and other variable factors. Some, but not all, of our 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 which affect reserves and claims payments but cannot be determined with certainty in advance, our ultimate payments will vary, perhaps materially, from our estimates of reserves. If we determine in a subsequent period that adjustments to our previously established reserves are appropriate, such adjustments are recorded in the period in which they are identified. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, changes to prior year estimated claims reserves increased our net income by $248.1 million and $99.0 million, respectively, excluding the consideration of changes in reinstatement premiums, profit commissions, redeemable noncontrolling interest – DaVinciRe and income tax expense.

 

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Our reserving methodology for each line of business uses a loss reserving process that calculates a point estimate for the Company’s ultimate settlement and administration costs for claims and claim expenses. We do not calculate a range of estimates. We use this point estimate, along with paid claims and case reserves, to record our best estimate of additional case reserves and IBNR in our consolidated financial statements. Under GAAP, we are not permitted to establish estimates for catastrophe claims and claim expense reserves until an event occurs that gives rise to a loss.

Reserving for our reinsurance claims involves other uncertainties, such as the dependence on information from ceding companies, which among other matters, includes the time lag inherent in reporting information from the primary insurer to us or to our ceding companies and differing reserving practices among ceding companies. The information received from ceding companies is typically in the form of bordereaux, broker notifications of loss and/or discussions with ceding companies or their brokers. This information can be received on a monthly, quarterly or transactional basis and normally includes estimates of paid claims and case reserves. We sometimes also receive an estimate or provision for IBNR. This information is often updated and adjusted from time-to-time during the loss settlement period as new data or facts in respect of initial claims, client accounts, industry or event trends may be reported or emerge in addition to changes in applicable statutory and case laws.

We recorded $586.3 million of gross claims and claim expenses incurred in 2008 as a result of losses arising from hurricanes Gustav and Ike which struck the U.S. in the third quarter of 2008. In the first quarter of 2010, we recorded $224.5 million of gross claims and claim expenses as a result of losses arising from the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia. Our estimates of losses from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the Chilean earthquake and Xynthia, are based on factors including currently available information derived from the Company’s preliminary claims information from certain customers and brokers, industry assessments of losses from the events, proprietary models, and the terms and conditions of our contracts. Given the magnitude and relatively recent occurrence of these events, and the continuing uncertainty relating to the large storms of 2005, especially hurricane Katrina, meaningful uncertainty remains regarding total covered losses for the insurance industry and, accordingly, several of the key assumptions underlying our loss estimates. In addition, our actual net losses from these events may increase if our reinsurers or other obligors fail to meet their obligations. Our actual losses from these events will likely vary, perhaps materially, from these current estimates due to the inherent uncertainties in reserving for such losses, including the preliminary nature of the available information, the potential inaccuracies and inadequacies in the data provided by customers and brokers, the inherent uncertainty of modeling techniques and the application of such techniques, the effects of any demand surge on claims activity and complex coverage and other legal issues.

Because of the inherent uncertainties discussed above, we have developed a reserving philosophy which attempts to incorporate prudent assumptions and estimates, and we have generally experienced favorable net development on prior year reserves in the last several years. However, there is no assurance that this will occur in future periods.

 

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Capital Resources

Our total capital resources at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)    June 30,
2010
   December 31,
2009
   Change  

Common shareholders’ equity

   $ 3,125,242    $ 3,190,786    $ (65,544

Preference shares

     650,000      650,000      —     
                      

Total shareholders’ equity

     3,775,242      3,840,786      (65,544

5.875% Senior Notes

     100,000      100,000      —     

5.750% Senior Notes

     249,109      —        249,109   

RenaissanceRe revolving credit facility - borrowed

     —        —        —     

RenaissanceRe revolving credit facility - unborrowed

     150,000      345,000      (195,000

DaVinciRe revolving credit facility - borrowed

     200,000      200,000      —     

DaVinciRe revolving credit facility - unborrowed

     —        —        —     

Renaissance Trading credit facility - borrowed

     —        —        —     

Renaissance Trading credit facility - unborrowed

     10,000      10,000      —     
                      

Total capital resources

   $ 4,484,351    $ 4,495,786    $ (11,435
                      

In the first six months of 2010, our capital resources decreased by $11.4 million, principally due to the renewal of the RenaissanceRe revolving credit facility with a commitment amount of $150.0 million, compared to the commitment amount of $345.0 million which had previously been in effect, $28.7 million of dividends on common shares, and $411.3 million of common share repurchases during the first six months of 2010, and partially offset by our comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe of $377.2 million, and effective March 17, 2010, the issuance of $250.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes for $249.0 million, as discussed below.

Capital resources at June 30, 2010 have not changed materially compared to December 31, 2009, except as noted below.

5.75% Senior Notes

On March 17, 2010, RRNAH issued $250.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes due March 15, 2020, with interest on the notes payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The notes, which are senior obligations, are guaranteed by RenaissanceRe and can be redeemed by RRNAH prior to maturity subject to payment of a “make-whole” premium. The documents governing the notes contain various covenants, including limitations on the ability of RRNAH and RenaissanceRe to merge, consolidate and transfer or lease their respective properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, as well as restrictions on RRNAH and RenaissanceRe relating to the disposition of the stock of designated subsidiaries and the creation of liens on the stock of designated subsidiaries.

RenaissanceRe Revolving Credit Facility (“Credit Agreement”)

Effective April 22, 2010, RenaissanceRe entered into a revolving credit agreement with various financial institutions parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as fronting bank, letter of credit administrator and administrative agent for the lenders thereunder, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agent. The Credit Agreement replaced the third amended and restated credit agreement, dated as of April 9, 2009, which expired by its terms on March 31, 2010.

The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving commitment to RenaissanceRe of $150.0 million, including the issuance of letters of credit for the account of RenaissanceRe and RenaissanceRe’s insurance subsidiaries of up to $150.0 million and the issuance of letters of credit for the account of RenaissanceRe’s non-insurance subsidiaries of up to $50.0 million. RenaissanceRe has the right, subject to satisfying certain conditions, to increase the size of the facility to $250.0 million. The scheduled commitment maturity date of the Credit Agreement is April 22, 2013. The Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants customary for bank loan facilities of this

 

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type. In addition to customary covenants which limit the ability of RenaissanceRe and its subsidiaries to merge, consolidate, enter into negative pledge agreements, sell, transfer or lease all or any substantial part of their respective assets, incur liens and declare or pay dividends under certain circumstances, the Credit Agreement also contains certain financial covenants. These financial covenants generally provide that consolidated debt to capital shall not exceed the ratio of 0.35:1 and that the consolidated net worth of RenaissanceRe and Renaissance Reinsurance shall equal or exceed $2.1 billion and $960.0 million, respectively (the “Net Worth Requirements”). The Net Worth Requirements are recalculated effective as of the end of each fiscal year, all as more fully set forth in the Credit Agreement.

DaVinciRe Revolving Credit Facility

Effective as of March 9, 2010, DaVinciRe and the other parties to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2006 (the “DaVinciRe Credit Agreement”), entered into Amendment No. 1 to the DaVinciRe Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”). The Amendment provided for the release of certain collateral that was previously pledged by DaVinciRe in support of its obligations under the DaVinciRe Credit Agreement and the pledge by DaVinci of other collateral in substitution for the released collateral.

Principal Letter of Credit Facility

Effective April 22, 2010, RenaissanceRe and certain of its affiliates, Renaissance Reinsurance, Renaissance Reinsurance of Europe, Glencoe Insurance Ltd. and DaVinci (such affiliates, collectively, the “Account Parties”), entered into a Third Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement with various banks and financial institutions parties thereto (collectively, the “Banks”), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as issuing bank, administrative agent and collateral agent for the Banks, and certain other agents (the “Reimbursement Agreement”). The Reimbursement Agreement amended and restated in its entirety the Second Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2007.

The Reimbursement Agreement serves as the Company’s principal secured letter of credit facility and the commitments thereunder expire on April 22, 2013. The Reimbursement Agreement provides commitments from the Banks in an aggregate amount of $1.0 billion, which may be increased up to an amount not to exceed $1.5 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. The Reimbursement Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants in respect of RenaissanceRe and the Account Parties and RIHL (referred to below) that are customary for facilities of this type, including customary covenants limiting the ability to merge, consolidate, sell, transfer or lease all or any substantial part of their respective assets. The Reimbursement Agreement also contains certain financial covenants that are customary for reinsurance and insurance companies in facilities of this type, which require RenaissanceRe and DaVinci to maintain a minimum net worth of $1.75 billion and $650.0 million, respectively. The foregoing net worth requirements are recalculated effective as of the end of each fiscal year, all as more fully set forth in the Reimbursement Agreement.

Under the Reimbursement Agreement, each Account Party is required to pledge eligible collateral having a value sufficient to cover all of its obligations under the Reimbursement Agreement, including reimbursement obligations for outstanding letters of credit issued for its account. Eligible collateral includes, among other things, redeemable preference shares issued to the Account Parties by Renaissance Investment Holdings Ltd. (“RIHL”), a subsidiary of RenaissanceRe. Each Account Party that pledges RIHL shares as collateral must maintain additional unpledged RIHL shares that have a net asset value at least equal to 15% of the outstanding RIHL shares pledged by such Account Party pursuant to the Reimbursement Agreement. In addition, RIHL shares having an aggregate net asset value equal to at least 15% of the net asset value of all outstanding RIHL shares must remain unencumbered.

Under the Second Amended and Restated RIHL Undertaking and Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, executed by RIHL in favor of the administrative agent on behalf of the Banks in connection with the Reimbursement Agreement (the “RIHL Agreement”), RIHL agrees, among other things, to guarantee payment of the obligations of the Account Parties under the Reimbursement Agreement on the terms and subject to the limitations more fully described in the RIHL Agreement.

 

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Funds at Lloyd’s Letter of Credit Facility

On April 26, 2010, Renaissance Reinsurance and Citibank Europe PLC (“CEP”) entered into an Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”) in respect of its letter of credit facility with CEP which is evidenced by the Master Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2009, and provides for the issuance and renewal of letters of credit which are used to support business written by Syndicate 1458. Pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, Renaissance Reinsurance has agreed to pledge to CEP at all times during the term of the Reimbursement Agreement certain securities with a collateral value equal to 100% of the aggregate amount of the then-outstanding letters of credit.

Letters of Credit

At June 30, 2010, we had $633.4 million of letters of credit with effective dates on or before June 30, 2010 outstanding under the Reimbursement Agreement (defined above) and total letters of credit outstanding under all facilities of $775.6 million.

Guarantees

At June 30, 2010, RenaissanceRe has provided guarantees in the amount of $150.8 million to certain counterparties of the weather and energy risk operations of Renaissance Trading. In the future, RenaissanceRe may issue guarantees for other purposes or increase the amount of guarantees issued to counterparties of Renaissance Trading.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest – DaVinciRe

Certain third party shareholders of DaVinciRe submitted repurchase notices on or before the required annual redemption notice date of March 1, 2010, in accordance with the third amended and restated shareholders agreement, which provides shareholders, excluding RenaissanceRe, with certain redemption rights such as allowing each shareholder to notify DaVinciRe of such shareholders’ desire for DaVinciRe to repurchase up to half of their initial aggregate number of shares held, subject to certain limitations, as previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The repurchase notices submitted on or before March 1, 2010, were for shares of DaVinciRe with a GAAP book value of $82.6 million at June 30, 2010.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

In the first six months of 2010, our consolidated shareholders’ equity decreased by $65.5 million to $3.78 billion at June 30, 2010, from $3.84 billion at December 31, 2009. The decrease in shareholders’ equity was primarily due to $28.7 million of dividends paid to RenaissanceRe common shareholders and $411.3 million of common share repurchases made during the first six months of 2010 as discussed in more details in “Item 2 — Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds”, and partially offset by our comprehensive income attributable to RenaissanceRe of $377.2 million.

 

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INVESTMENTS

The table below shows the aggregate amounts of our invested assets at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)    June 30,
2010
   December 31,
2009
   Change  

Fixed maturity investments, at fair value (1)

   $ 4,573,489    $ 4,295,792    $ 277,697   

Short term investments, at fair value

     792,308      1,002,306      (209,998

Other investments, at fair value

     782,345      858,026      (75,681
                      

Total managed investments portfolio

     6,148,142      6,156,124      (7,982

Investments in other ventures, under equity method

     86,448      97,287      (10,839
                      

Total investments

   $ 6,234,590    $ 6,253,411    $ (18,821
                      

 

(1) Included in fixed maturity investments, at fair value at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are $3,847.8 million and $736.6 million, respectively, of fixed maturity investments designated as trading under FASB ASC Topic Investments - Debt and Equity Securities.

Our total investments at June 30, 2010 decreased by $18.8 million from December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of our common share repurchases and payment of our common share dividends during the first six months of 2010 of $411.3 million and $28.7 million, respectively, and partially offset by the investment of a portion of our operating cash flows generated during the first six months of 2010 and the net proceeds from the issuance of the 5.75% Senior Notes, as discussed above. Our fixed maturity investments portfolio increased by $277.7 million and our short term investments portfolio decreased by $210.0 million as we invested a portion of our short term investments in fixed maturity investments. 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.

Because the reinsurance coverages we sell include substantial protection for damages resulting from natural and man-made catastrophes, 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, highly rated sovereign and supranational securities, high-grade corporate securities, FDIC guaranteed corporate securities and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. At June 30, 2010, our invested asset portfolio of fixed maturities and short term investments had a dollar weighted average rating of AA (December 31, 2009 – AA), an average duration of 2.8 years (December 31, 2009 – 2.6 years) and a weighted average yield to maturity of 2.0% (December 31, 2009 – 2.3%).

Other Investments

The table below shows our portfolio of other investments at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)    June 30,
2010
   December 31,
2009
   Change  

Private equity partnerships

   $ 298,306    $ 286,108    $ 12,198   

Catastrophe bonds

     183,793      160,051      23,742   

Senior secured bank loan funds

     167,132      245,701      (78,569

Non-U.S. fixed income funds

     66,190      75,891      (9,701

Hedge funds

     43,639      54,163      (10,524

Miscellaneous other investments

     23,285      36,112      (12,827
                      

Total other investments

   $ 782,345    $ 858,026    $ (75,681
                      

The fair value of certain of our fund investments, which principally include hedge funds, private equity partnerships, senior secured bank loan funds and non-U.S. fixed income funds, is generally established on the basis of the net

 

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valuation criteria established by the managers of such investments, if applicable. These net asset valuations are determined based upon the valuation criteria established by the governing documents of such investments. Such valuations may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had ready markets existed for the shares, partnership interests or notes. 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. In addition, due to a lag in reporting, some of our fund managers, fund administrators, or both, are unable to provide final fund valuations as of our current reporting date. In these circumstances, we estimate the fair value of these funds by starting with the prior month’s or quarter’s fund valuation, adjusting these valuations for 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, we use all credible information available to us. This principally includes preliminary estimates reported to us by our fund managers, obtaining the valuation of underlying portfolio investments where such underlying investments are publicly traded and therefore have a readily observable price, using information that is available to us with respect to the underlying investments, reviewing various indices for similar investments or asset classes, as well as estimating returns based on the results of similar types of investments for which we have reported results, or other valuation methods, as necessary. Actual final fund valuations may differ from our estimates and these differences are recorded in the period they become known as a change in estimate. Our estimate of the fair value of catastrophe bonds are based on quoted market prices, or when such prices are not available, by reference to broker or underwriter bid indications.

Interest income, income distributions and realized and unrealized gains and losses on other investments are included in net investment income and resulted in $38.8 million of net investment income for the first six months of 2010, compared to $76.1 million for the first six months of 2009. Of this amount, $5.7 million relates to net unrealized gains compared with $52.3 million for the first six months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.

We have committed capital to private equity partnerships and other entities of $624.6 million, of which $429.3 million has been contributed at June 30, 2010. Our remaining commitments to these funds at June 30, 2010 totaled $198.4 million. In the future, we may enter into additional commitments in respect of private equity partnerships or individual portfolio company investment opportunities.

EFFECTS OF INFLATION

The potential exists, after a catastrophe loss, for the development of inflationary pressures in a local economy. The anticipated effects on us are considered 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. In addition, 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. The actual effects of this 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.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET AND SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITY ARRANGEMENTS

At June 30, 2010, we have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined by Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

In the normal course of its business, the Company is a party to a variety of contractual obligations as summarized in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. These contractual obligations are considered by the Company when assessing its liquidity requirements. As of June 30, 2010, there are no material changes in the Company’s contractual obligations as disclosed in the Company’s table of contractual obligations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, except as noted below.

On March 17, 2010, RRNAH issued, and RenaissanceRe guaranteed, $250.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes due March 15, 2020, with interest on the notes payable on March 15 and September 15. The notes can be redeemed by RRNAH prior to maturity subject to payment of a “make-whole” premium. The notes, which are senior obligations, contain various covenants, including limitations on mergers and consolidations, restrictions as to the disposition of the stock of designated subsidiaries and limitations on liens of the stock of designated subsidiaries.

 

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In certain circumstances, our contractual obligations may be accelerated to dates other than those in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, due to defaults under the agreement governing those obligations (including pursuant to cross-default provisions in such agreement) or in connection with certain changes in control of the Company, if applicable. In addition, in connection with any such default under the agreement governing these obligations, in certain circumstances these obligations may bear an increased interest rate or be subject to penalties as a result of such a default.

CURRENT OUTLOOK

General Economic Conditions

While economic conditions improved generally in the latter part of 2009 and early 2010, that trend may not continue and it is possible the U.S. economy or other key markets we serve could enter a “double dip” recession. In particular, certain key markets have shown increasing signs of fiscal and macroeconomic instability, especially certain Euro-dominated markets which are undergoing significant budgetary and financing challenges, the impact of which remains uncertain and potentially long-reaching. Accordingly, we believe meaningful risk remains for continued uncertainty or disruptions in general economic conditions, including additional dislocations in the financial markets. Moreover, if economic growth continues, such growth may be only at a comparably suppressed rate for a relatively extended period of time. While many governments, including the U.S. federal government, took substantial steps in 2009 to stabilize economic conditions, these stabilizing efforts have been coming to an end or are currently scheduled to cease in coming periods. Their cessation could give rise to increased uncertainty, to a slowing of growth or even deterioration of economic conditions. If the current economic conditions persist at their current levels or decline, demand for the products sold by us or our customers or our overall ability to write business at risk adequate rates could weaken. In addition, persistent low levels of economic activity could adversely impact other areas of our financial performance, such as by contributing to unforeseen premium adjustments, mid-term policy cancellations or commutations, or asset devaluation. Any of the foregoing or other outcomes of a prolonged period of economic weakness could adversely impact our financial results or position. In addition, during a period of extended economic weakness like the current one, we believe our consolidated credit risk, reflecting our counterparty dealings with customers, agents, brokers, retrocessionaires, capital providers and parties associated with our investment portfolio, among others, is likely to be increased. Moreover, we continue to monitor the risk that our principal markets will experience increased inflationary conditions, which would, among other things, cause costs related to our claims and claim expenses to increase, and impact the performance of our investment portfolio. The onset, duration and severity of an inflationary period cannot be estimated with precision.

Our specialty reinsurance portfolio is also exposed to emerging risks arising from the ongoing economic weakness, including with respect to a potential increase of claims in directors and officers, errors and omissions, surety, casualty clash and other lines of business.

Following a strong initial rebound in the financial markets during the first quarter of 2010, we currently continue to expect that 2010 will be characterized on a full-year basis by meaningful returns of capital, both by us and by participants in our industry more generally. However, our operations are subject to the ever present potential for significant volatility in capital due primarily to our exposure to potentially significant catastrophic events.

Reductions in the Federal Funds rate by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board and a corresponding decline in interest rates has lowered the interest rate at which we invest our assets. We expect these developments, combined with the current composition of our investment portfolio and other factors, to put downward pressure on our net investment income for the foreseeable future. In 2009 and the first six months of 2010, our investment results benefited substantially from factors including spreads tightening and improving valuations at levels which we would not anticipate repeating in future periods. In addition to impacting our reported net income, potential future losses on our investment portfolio, including potential future mark-to-market results, would adversely impact our equity capital. Moreover, as we invest cash from new premiums written or reinvest the proceeds of invested assets that mature or that we choose to sell, the yield on our portfolio is comparably impacted by the prevailing environment of low yields. We expect the current volatile financial markets and challenging economic conditions to persist and we are unable to predict with certainty when conditions will substantially improve, or the pace of any such improvement.

 

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Market Conditions and Competition

In 2009, U.S. coastal regions exposed to severe hurricane risk benefited from an unusually inactive year meteorologically in the Atlantic basin, which is often attributed to the El Nino effect. As a result, insured industry losses for 2009 were relatively benign, particularly in the Eastern and Southeastern U.S. This is in contrast to 2004, 2005 and 2008, for example, in which hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Ike, among others, resulted in substantial insured property losses. Subsequent periods have been characterized in general by a relative shift toward an ample supply of capital, impacted by recovery in the financial markets, asset valuations and a more positive perception of liquidity; decreasing demand, impacted by the same factors; and to a degree by exposure reduction. In addition, the competitive conditions in the markets we serve are believed to have been meaningfully impacted in 2009 by the U.S. federal government’s financing and backstopping of certain large market participants, which are deemed by many market observers and participants to have contributed to inadequate pricing conditions in respect of certain lines and coverages. We believe that the occurrence of the Chilean earthquake and windstorm Xynthia in the first half of this year did not fundamentally alter overall capital levels or market conditions, and the January 1 and June 1, 2010 reinsurance renewal seasons were characterized by overall stability.

Absent significant new loss events or the occurrence of other contingencies, we currently expect to see increasingly competitive market conditions for our products throughout 2010, particularly in lines of insurance and reinsurance lacking significant catastrophe exposure. The benign insured catastrophe loss activity in 2009 combined with improvement in the capital markets is likely to have a positive impact on the financial situation and capacity of our customers and our competitors, and is likely to result in increasingly competitive market conditions for our products throughout 2010. Among other things, increased capital levels and appetite for risk among primary insurance companies may continue to lead to increased retentions, impacting the reinsurance marketplace. Despite these possibilities, we believe that our strong relationships, and track record of superior claims paying ability and other client service, will enable us to compete for the business we find attractive. However, it is possible that industry pricing in our core product lines will decrease more rapidly than we anticipate, or that we will encounter more significant competitive barriers than we have in the past.

The market for our catastrophe reinsurance products is generally dynamic and volatile. The market dynamics noted above, increased or decreased catastrophe loss activity, and changes in the amount of capital in the industry can result in significant changes to the pricing, policy terms and demand for our catastrophe reinsurance products over a relatively short period of time. In addition, changes in state-sponsored catastrophe funds, or residual markets, which have generally grown dramatically in recent years, or the implementation of new government-subsidized or sponsored programs, can dramatically alter market conditions. We believe that the overall trend of increased frequency and severity of catastrophic Gulf and Atlantic Coast storms experienced in recent years may continue for the foreseeable future. Increased understanding of the potential increase in frequency and severity of storms may contribute to increased demand for protection in respect of coastal risks which could impact pricing and terms and conditions in coastal areas over time. We do not believe that the comparably low level of weather-related losses incurred in 2009 is indicative of the likely level of such losses in future periods. Overall, we expect higher property loss cost trends, driven by increased severity and by the potential for increased frequency, to continue over time in the future. At the same time, certain markets we target are currently being impacted by fundamental weakness experienced by primary insurers, due to the ongoing economic dislocation and, in many cases, inadequate primary insurance rate levels. These conditions, which occurred in a period characterized by unusually low insured catastrophic losses, contributed to certain publicly announced instances of insolvency, regulatory supervision and other regulatory actions, and have weakened the ability of certain carriers to invest in reinsurance and other protections for coming periods, and in some cases to meet their existing premium obligations. It is possible that these dynamics will continue in 2010.

With respect to our Insurance segment, certain competitors retained more programs in 2009 than we had originally expected and did so at economic terms and conditions that we did not find attractive. Moreover, as noted above, market conditions in certain of the sectors in which we focus were adversely impacted by the expansive government financing of certain market participants, which may have contributed to inadequate pricing levels for a number of lines and coverages. Market conditions are fluid and evolving and we cannot assure you that pricing conditions in these markets will improve or that we will succeed in growing our business if they do. We currently expect market conditions in the lines of primary insurance we target to remain very competitive throughout 2010, particularly for

 

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new business. Moreover, the dynamics which could contribute to a potential improvement in rates during 2010 in some product lines may well be largely offset by a decline in exposures arising from the ongoing economic weakness in our key markets. We plan to continue our disciplined underwriting approach with respect to both the products which we underwrite and the programs as to which we form partnerships. While we continuously and actively consider new or expanded relationships and seek to respond quickly to potential new business opportunities, our in-depth due diligence process means that executing on potential new opportunities within this segment takes time. We believe that we have established ourselves as an effective and creative, though disciplined, partner for program business opportunities.

In addition, we continue to explore potential strategic transactions or investments, and other opportunities, from time to time that are presented to us or that we originate. In evaluating these potential investments and opportunities, we seek an attractive return on equity, the ability to develop or capitalize on a competitive advantage, and opportunities that will not detract from our core operations.

Legislative and Regulatory Update

On April 27, 2010, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 2555, titled “the Homeowners Defense Act,” by a vote of 39-26. In addition, on the same day the Financial Services Committee passed legislation which would expand the National Flood Insurance Program (the “NFIP”) to cover damage to or loss of real or related personal property located in the U.S. arising from any windstorm (any hurricane, tornado, cyclone, typhoon, or other wind event) (this legislation, together with H.R. 2555, is referred to below as “the House Bills”). H.R. 2555 would, if enacted, provide for the creation of (i) a federal reinsurance catastrophe fund; (ii) a federal consortium to facilitate qualifying state residual markets and catastrophe funds in securing reinsurance; and (iii) a federal bond guarantee program for state catastrophe funds in qualifying state residual markets. While as of July 26, 2010 neither of the House Bills had been brought to a full floor vote, and it was at such date unclear when the full House will consider the House Bills, House leadership and the sponsors of the House Bills have publicly stated that they believe the legislation can be passed in the full House if brought to a vote.

Throughout 2009 and into early 2010, Congress passed a series of short term extensions of the NFIP. The House of Representatives and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are also exploring the possibility of new legislation which might reshape the federal flood insurance program, perhaps substantially. A failure to renew the NFIP program, particularly if unanticipated by industry participants, could have dislocating impacts on the industry and our customers and potentially have an adverse impact on us.

While the Senate has not yet enacted any of the legislation reflected in the House Bills (and has previously passed a competing version of the NFIP renewal bill which would not add wind to the program), the respective sponsors of the House Bills have indicated awareness of plans to reintroduce versions of this legislation in the Senate in 2010. If enacted, any of these bills, or legislation similar to these proposals, would, we believe, likely contribute to the growth of state entities offering below market priced insurance and reinsurance or to their inception or alteration in a manner adverse to us. While none of this legislation has been enacted to date, and although we believe such legislation will continue to be vigorously opposed, if enacted these bills would likely further erode the role of private market catastrophe reinsurers and could adversely impact our financial results, perhaps materially.

In 2007, the State of Florida enacted legislation to expand the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund’s (“FHCF”) provision of below-market rate reinsurance to up to $28.0 billion per season (the “2007 Florida Bill”). In May of 2009, the Florida legislature enacted Bill No. CS/HB 1495 (the “2009 Bill”), which will gradually phase out $12.0 billion in optional reinsurance coverage under the FHCF over the next five years, reducing the coverage amount to approximately $17.0 billion. The 2009 Bill will also increase the cost of the optional coverage, starting with an increase by a factor of two in the 2009-2010 season, and raising costs by a factor of one in each succeeding year until the phase-out is complete. The 2009 Bill similarly allows the state-sponsored property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”), to raise its rates up to 10% starting in 2010 and every year thereafter, until such time that it has sufficient funds to pay its claims and expenses. For 2010, the approved rate increase is approximately 5%. The rate increases and cut back on coverage by FHCF and Citizens will allow for an increased role of the private insurers in Florida, a market in which we have established substantial market share. This legislation may, however, take several years to have a significant effect on the private market.

 

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We believe the 2007 Florida Bill caused a substantial decline in the private reinsurance and insurance markets in and relating to Florida, and contributed to the decline in our property catastrophe gross premiums written in 2008 and 2007 as compared to 2006. The 2007 Florida Bill and other regulatory actions over this period may have contributed to instability in the Florida primary insurance market, where many insurers reported substantial and continuing losses in 2009, an unusually low catastrophe year. Because of our position as one of the largest providers of catastrophe-exposed coverage, both on a global basis and in respect of the Florida market, the 2007 Florida Bill and the weakened financial position of Florida insurers may have a disproportionate adverse impact on us compared to other reinsurance market participants. In addition, it is possible that other regulatory or legislative changes in, or impacting Florida could affect our ability to sell certain of our products and could therefore have a material adverse effect on our operations.

In July 2009, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal introduced H.R. 3424 (the “Neal Bill”), which provides that foreign insurers and reinsurers would be capped in deducting reinsurance premiums ceded from U.S. units to offshore affiliates. The Neal Bill, which was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, would limit deductions for related party reinsurance cessions to the average percentage of premium ceded to unrelated reinsurers (determined in reference to individual business lines). In the first quarter of 2010, the current administration released its 2010 initial budget, which included a proposal to raise revenue by enacting increased taxation on international reinsurance via means which appeared to have similarities with the Neal Bill. In the second quarter of 2010, the House Ways and Means Committee conducted hearings related to the Neal Bill and is reported to be considering legislation that would adversely affect reinsurance between affiliates and offshore insurance and reinsurance more generally. We can provide no assurance that this legislation or similar legislation will not be adopted. We believe that passage of such legislation would adversely affect us, perhaps materially.

In March 2009, U.S. Senator Carl Levin and Rep. Lloyd Doggett introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and House, respectively, entitled the “Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act” (S. 506). If enacted, this legislation would, among other things, cause to be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. tax purposes generally, entities whose shares are publicly traded on an established securities market, or whose gross assets are $50.0 million or more, if the “management and control” of such a corporation is, directly or indirectly, treated as occurring primarily within the U.S. The proposed legislation provides that a corporation will be so treated if substantially all of the executive officers and senior management of the corporation who exercise day-to-day responsibility for making decisions involving strategic, financial, and operational policies of the corporation are located primarily within the U.S. In addition, among other things, the legislation would establish presumptions for entities and transactions in jurisdictions deemed to be “offshore secrecy jurisdictions” and would provide a list of such jurisdictions. To date, this legislation has not been approved by either the House of Representatives or the Senate. However, we can provide no assurance that this legislation or similar legislation will not ultimately be adopted. While we do not believe that the legislation would impact us, it is possible that an adopted bill would include additional or expanded provisions which could negatively impact us, or that the interpretation or enforcement of the current proposal, if enacted, would be more expansive or adverse than we currently estimate.

In July 2010, the RMA adopted several changes to the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (the “SRA”), which governs substantial elements of the Federal multi-peril crop insurance program in which we participate. The changes have the effect of significantly reducing the administrative and operating support provided to participating insurers and, ultimately, agents. We cannot at this time precisely quantify the degree of impact of these changes, as, for example, the ultimate impact on the market of the relative cost increases shifting on and amongst insurers, agents and insureds or others is still fluid and developing. We cannot assure you that our efforts to compete effectively in light of the revised SRA will succeed.

The U.S. Congress and the current administration have made, or called for consideration of, several additional proposals relating to a variety of issues with respect to financial regulation reform, including regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market, the establishment of a single-state system of licensure for U.S. and foreign reinsurers, executive compensation and others. One of those initiatives, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), was signed into law by President Obama on July 21, 2010. The Dodd-Frank Act represents a comprehensive overhaul of the financial services industry within the United States, establishes the new federal Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (the “BCFP”), and will require the BCFP and other federal agencies to implement many new rules. At this time, it is difficult to predict the extent to which the Dodd-Frank Act or the resulting regulations will impact the Company’s business. However, compliance with these new laws and regulations will result in additional costs, which may adversely impact the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. Although we do not expect these costs to be material to RenaissanceRe as a whole, we cannot assure you this expectation will prove accurate or that the Dodd-Frank Act will not impact our business more adversely than we currently estimate.

 

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NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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”, “intends”, “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, reserves, overall market trends, 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, trends in market conditions, market standing and product volumes, investment results, government initiatives and regulatory matters, and pricing conditions in the reinsurance and insurance industries.

In light of the risks and uncertainties inherent in all future projections, the inclusion of forward-looking statements in this report should not be considered as a representation by us or any other person that our 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:

 

  •  

we are exposed to significant losses from catastrophic events and other exposures that we cover, which we expect to cause significant volatility in our financial results from time to time;

 

  •  

the frequency and severity of catastrophic events or other events which we cover could exceed our estimates and cause losses greater than we expect;

 

  •  

risks associated with implementing our business strategies and initiatives, including risks related to developing or enhancing the operations, controls and other infrastructure necessary in respect of our more recent, new or proposed initiatives;

 

  •  

the risk of the lowering or loss of any of the ratings of RenaissanceRe or of one or more of our subsidiaries or changes in the policies or practices of the rating agencies;

 

  •  

the inherent uncertainties in our reserving process, including those related to the 2005, 2008 and first quarter 2010 catastrophes, which uncertainties we believe are increasing as we diversify into new product classes;

 

  •  

risks relating to our strategy of relying on third party program managers, third party administrators, and other vendors to support our Insurance operations;

 

  •  

risks relating to adverse legislative developments including the risk of passage of the House Bills; the risk of new legislation in Florida continuing to expand the reinsurance coverages offered by the FHCF and the insurance policies written by the state-sponsored Citizens, or failing to reduce such coverages or implementing new programs which reduce the size of the private market; and the risk that new, state based or federal legislation will be enacted and adversely impact us;

 

  •  

the risk that the changes to the SRA promulgated by the RMA adversely change the financial terms under which our Insurance segment participates in the federal multi-peril crop insurance program, to a degree that is material to our operations, our agents, or the markets as a whole;

 

  •  

we are exposed to the risk that our customers may fail to make premium payments due to us (a risk that has increased in certain of our key markets), as well as the risk of failures of our reinsurers, brokers, third party program managers or other counterparties to honor their obligations to us, including their obligations to make third party payments for which we might be liable, which risks we believe continue to be heightened as a result of the current period of economic weakness and the continuing prevalence of risk inadequate rates in Florida;

 

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  •  

risks associated with appropriately modeling, pricing for, and contractually addressing new or potential factors in loss emergence, such as the trend toward potentially significant global warming and other aspects of climate change which have the potential to adversely affect our business, or the current period of economic weakness, which could cause us to underestimate our exposures and potentially adversely impact our financial results;

 

  •  

risks associated with continuing weakness and potential weakening in business and economic conditions, specifically in the principal markets in which we do business, which may adversely affect the demand for our products and ultimately our business and operating results;

 

  •  

risks associated with highly subjective judgments, such as valuing our more illiquid assets, and determining the impairments taken on our investments, which could impact our financial position or operating results;

 

  •  

risks associated with our investment portfolio, including the risk that investment managers may breach our investment guidelines, or the inability of such guidelines to mitigate risks arising out of the current period of economic weakness;

 

  •  

risks due to our dependence on a few insurance and reinsurance brokers for the preponderance of our revenue, a risk we believe is increasing as a larger portion of our business is provided by a small number of these brokers, including as a result of the merger of AON Corporation and Benfield Group Limited;

 

  •  

the risk we might be bound to policyholder obligations beyond our underwriting intent, and the risk that our third party program managers or agents may elect not to continue or renew their programs with us;

 

  •  

we are exposed to counterparty credit risk, including with respect to reinsurance brokers, customers, agents, retrocessionaires, capital providers and parties associated with our investment portfolio, energy trading business, and premiums and other receivables owed to us, which risks we believe continue to be heightened as a result of the current period of economic weakness;

 

  •  

emerging claims and coverage issues, which could expand our obligations beyond the amount we intend to underwrite;

 

  •  

the passage of federal or state legislation subjecting Renaissance Reinsurance or our other Bermuda subsidiaries to supervision, regulation or taxation in the U.S. or other jurisdictions in which we operate, or increasing the taxation of business ceded to us;

 

  •  

risks that acquisitions or strategic investments that we have made or may make could turn out to be unsuccessful;

 

  •  

a contention by the IRS that Renaissance Reinsurance, or any of our other Bermuda subsidiaries, is subject to U.S. taxation;

 

  •  

the risk that there could be regulatory or legislative changes adversely impacting us, as a Bermuda-based company, relative to our competitors, or actions taken by multinational organizations having such an impact;

 

  •  

loss of services of any one of our key senior officers, or difficulties associated with the transition of new members of our senior management team;

 

  •  

the risk that ongoing or future industry regulatory developments will disrupt our business, or that of our business partners, or mandate changes in industry practices in ways that increase our costs, decrease our revenues or require us to alter aspects of the way we do business;

 

  •  

operational risks, including system or human failures;

 

  •  

risks in connection with our management of third party capital;

 

  •  

changes in economic conditions, including interest rate, currency, equity and credit conditions which could affect our investment portfolio or declines in our investment returns for other reasons which could

 

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reduce our profitability and hinder our ability to pay claims promptly in accordance with our strategy, which risks we believe are currently enhanced in light of the current period economic weakness, both globally and in the U.S.;

 

  •  

risks relating to failure to comply with covenants in our debt agreements;

 

  •  

risks relating to the inability of our operating subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends to the Company;

 

  •  

risks that we may require additional capital in the future, particularly after a catastrophic event or to support potential growth opportunities in our business, which may not be available or may be available only on unfavorable terms;

 

  •  

risks that certain of our new or potentially expanding business lines could have a significant negative impact on our financial results or cause significant volatility in our results for any particular period;

 

  •  

changes in insurance regulations in the U.S. or other jurisdictions in which we operate, including the risks that U.S. federal or state governments will take actions to diminish the size of the private markets in respect of the coverages we offer, the risk of potential challenges to the Company’s claim of exemption from insurance regulation under current laws and the risk of increased global regulation of the insurance and reinsurance industry;

 

  •  

we operate in a highly competitive environment, which we expect to increase over time from new competition from non-traditional participants as capital markets products provide alternatives and replacements for our more traditional reinsurance and insurance products and as a result of consolidation in the (re)insurance industry;

 

  •  

risks arising out of possible changes in the distribution or placement of risks due to increased consolidation of customers or insurance and reinsurance brokers, or third party program managers, or from potential changes in their business practices which may be required by future regulatory changes;

 

  •  

risks relating to changes in regulatory regimes and/or accounting rules, such as the roadmap to International Financial Reporting Standards, which could result in significant changes to our financial results; and

 

  •  

acts of terrorism, war or political unrest.

The factors listed above should not be construed as exhaustive. Certain of these factors are described in more detail from time to time in our filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any future revisions we may make to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are principally exposed to five types of market risk: interest rate risk; foreign currency risk; credit risk; energy and weather-related risk; and equity price risk. The Company’s 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. See the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 for additional information related to the Company’s exposure to these risks.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls: We have designed various disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), to help ensure that information required to be disclosed in our periodic Exchange Act reports, such as this quarterly report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely and accurate basis. Our disclosure controls and procedures are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the issuer; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the issuer are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the issuer; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Limitations on the effectiveness of controls: Our Board of Directors and management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. Controls, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the controls are met. Further, we believe that the design of prudent controls must reflect appropriate resource constraints, such that the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all controls, there can be no absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, applicable to us have been or will be detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some individuals, by collusion of more than one person, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Evaluation: An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that, at June 30, 2010, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed 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 management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended June 30, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1 — Legal Proceedings

There are no material changes from the legal proceedings previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Our operating subsidiaries are subject to claims litigation involving disputed interpretations of policy coverages. Generally, our primary insurance operations are subject to greater frequency and diversity of claims and claims-related litigation and, in some jurisdictions, may be subject to direct actions by allegedly injured persons or entities seeking damages from policyholders. These lawsuits, involving claims on policies issued by our subsidiaries which are typical to the insurance industry in general and in the normal course of business, are considered in our claims and claim expense reserves which are discussed in more detail above under “Reserves for Claims and Claim Expenses.” In addition to claims litigation, we and our 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 insurance policies. This category of business litigation may involve allegations of underwriting or claims-handling errors or misconduct, employment claims, regulatory activity or disputes arising from our business ventures. Any such litigation or arbitration contains an element of uncertainty, and we believe the inherent uncertainty in such matters may have increased recently and will likely continue to increase. Currently, we believe that no individual, normal course litigation or arbitration to which we are presently a party is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, business or operations.

Item 1A — Risk Factors

In our registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on June 14, 2010, we revised certain of the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, however, the Company does not believe the revisions to be material. The following represents an update to the risk factors previously identified.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) may adversely impact our business.

The U.S. Congress and the current administration have made, or called for consideration of, several additional proposals relating to a variety of issues with respect to financial regulation reform, including regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market, the establishment of a single-state system of licensure for U.S. and foreign reinsurers, executive compensation and others. One of those initiatives, the Dodd-Frank Act, was signed into law by President Obama on July 21, 2010. The Dodd-Frank Act represents a comprehensive overhaul of the financial services industry within the United States, establishes the new federal Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (the “BCFP”), and will require the BCFP and other federal agencies to implement many new rules. At this time, it is difficult to predict the extent to which the Dodd-Frank Act or the resulting regulations will impact our business. However, compliance with these new laws and regulations will result in additional costs, which may adversely impact the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. Although we do not expect these costs to be material to the Company as a whole, we cannot assure you this expectation will prove accurate or that the Dodd-Frank Act will not impact our business more adversely than we currently estimate.

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

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 May 18, 2010, the Company approved an increase in its authorized share repurchase program to an aggregate amount of $500.0 million. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors, the program will expire when the Company has repurchased the full value of the shares authorized. The table below details the repurchases that were made under the program during the three months ended June 30, 2010, and also includes other shares purchased which represents withholdings from employees surrendered in respect of withholding tax obligations on the vesting of restricted stock, or in lieu of cash payments for the exercise price of employee stock options.

 

     Total shares purchased    Other shares purchased    Shares purchased under
repurchase program
   Dollar
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 millions)  

Beginning dollar amount available to be repurchased

                     $ 432.3   

April 1 - 30, 2010

   416,034    $ 56.85    —      $ —      416,034    $ 56.85      (23.7

May 1 - 31, 2010

   1,061,218    $ 55.66    1,218    $ 55.55    1,060,000    $ 55.66      (59.0

May 18, 2010 - increased authorized share repurchase program to $500.0 million

                       150.4   
                          

Dollar amount available to be repurchased

                       500.0   

June 1 -30, 2010

   2,265,334    $ 56.19    40,912    $ 57.24    2,224,422    $ 56.17      (124.9
                                

Total

   3,742,586    $ 56.11    42,130    $ 57.19    3,700,456    $ 56.10    $ 375.1   
                                

 

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In the future, the Company may adopt additional trading plans or authorize purchase activities under the remaining authorization, which the Board may increase in the future.

Item 3 — Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

Item 5 — Other Information

None

Item 6 – Exhibits

 

  a. Exhibits:

 

10.1

  Credit Agreement dated as of April 22, 2010 among RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., various financial institutions parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Fronting Bank, LC Administrator and Administrative Agent for the Lenders, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Syndication Agent, and Banc of America Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers (incorporated by reference to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 27, 2010).

10.2

  Third Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement dated as of April 22, 2010 by and among RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd., Renaissance Reinsurance of Europe, Glencoe Insurance Ltd., DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd., the banks and financial institutions parties thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as issuing bank, administrative agent, and collateral agent for the lenders, and certain other agents (incorporated by reference to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 27, 2010).

10.3

  Second Amended and Restated RIHL Undertaking and Agreement dated as of April 22, 2010 made by Renaissance Investment Holdings Ltd. in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other Lender Parties (incorporated by reference to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 27, 2010).

10.4

  Form of Performance-Based Annual Restricted Stock Grant Notice and Agreement for Executive Officers. (incorporated by reference to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 11, 2010).

10.5

  2010 CEO Special Retention Performance-Based Restricted Stock Grant Notice and Agreement with Neill Currie (incorporated by reference to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 11, 2010).

10.6

  RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. 2010 Performance-Based Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on April 8, 2010).

10.7

  Amendment No. 4 to the RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on April 8, 2010).

31.1

  Certification of Neill A. Currie, Chief Executive Officer of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

31.2

  Certification of Jeffrey D. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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32.1

  Certification of Neill A. Currie, Chief Executive Officer of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

  Certification of Jeffrey D. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS

  XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey D. Kelly

  Jeffrey D. Kelly
  Executive Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer
By:  

/s/ Mark A. Wilcox

  Mark A. Wilcox
  Senior Vice President,
  Corporate Controller and
  Chief Accounting Officer

Date: July 28, 2010

 

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