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 March 31, 2010

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____ to ____

Commission file number 1-10804

XL CAPITAL LTD
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Cayman Islands

98-0191089

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

XL House, One Bermudiana Road, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 08
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(441) 292-8515
(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 o

          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 o   No o

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

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

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

          As of May 4, 2010, there were 342,083,631 outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value per share, of the registrant.



XL CAPITAL LTD

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page No.

 

 

 


 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements:

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as at March 31, 2010 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2009

 

3

 

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)

 

4

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)

 

5

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)

 

6

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)

 

7

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

8

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

36

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

65

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

71

 

 

 

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

72

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

73

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

73

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

74

 

Signatures

 

75



PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 


 

 

ITEM 1.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 

 

XL CAPITAL LTD

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
March 31,
2010

 

December 31,
2009

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A S S E T S

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities at fair value (amortized cost: 2010, $28,556,442; 2009, $28,798,504)

 

$

27,825,508

 

$

27,512,032

 

Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2010, $21,696; 2009, $12,344)

 

 

29,230

 

 

17,779

 

Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost: 2010, $1,913,664; 2009, $1,767,197)

 

 

1,924,651

 

 

1,777,360

 

 

 



 



 

Total investments available for sale

 

 

29,779,389

 

 

29,307,171

 

Fixed maturities, held to maturity at amortized cost (fair value: 2010, $522,305; 2009, $530,319)

 

$

516,470

 

$

546,067

 

Investments in affiliates

 

 

1,143,137

 

 

1,185,604

 

Other investments

 

 

814,303

 

 

783,189

 

 

 



 



 

Total investments

 

 

32,253,299

 

 

31,822,031

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

3,375,519

 

 

3,643,697

 

Accrued investment income

 

 

324,418

 

 

350,055

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

 

638,409

 

 

654,065

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

 

710,152

 

 

711,875

 

Premiums receivable

 

 

2,924,480

 

 

2,597,602

 

Reinsurance balances receivable

 

 

327,933

 

 

374,844

 

Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable

 

 

3,550,793

 

 

3,584,028

 

Net receivable from investments sold

 

 

 

 

84,617

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets

 

 

841,244

 

 

845,129

 

Deferred tax asset, net

 

 

135,678

 

 

193,868

 

Other assets

 

 

694,745

 

 

717,864

 

 

 



 



 

Total assets

 

$

45,776,670

 

$

45,579,675

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L I A B I L I T I E S  A N D  S H A R E H O L D E R S’  E Q U I T Y

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

 

$

20,670,113

 

$

20,823,524

 

Deposit liabilities

 

 

2,187,375

 

 

2,208,699

 

Future policy benefit reserves

 

 

5,115,700

 

 

5,490,119

 

Unearned premiums

 

 

3,938,736

 

 

3,651,310

 

Notes payable and debt

 

 

2,461,397

 

 

2,451,417

 

Reinsurance balances payable

 

 

419,331

 

 

378,887

 

Net payable for investments purchased

 

 

85,660

 

 

36,979

 

Other liabilities

 

 

784,895

 

 

923,650

 

 

 



 



 

Total liabilities

 

$

35,663,207

 

$

35,964,585

 

 

 



 



 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable Series C preference ordinary shares, 20,000,000 authorized, par value $0.01 Issued and outstanding: (2010, 2,876,000; 2009, 7,306,920)

 

$

71,900

 

$

182,673

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interest in equity of consolidated subsidiaries

 

$

2,305

 

$

2,305

 

Series E preference ordinary shares, 1,000,000 authorized, par value $0.01 Issued and outstanding: (2010, 1,000,000; 2009, 1,000,000)

 

 

10

 

 

10

 

Class A ordinary shares, 999,990,000 authorized, par value $0.01 Issued and outstanding: (2010, 342,083,631; 2009, 342,118,986)

 

 

3,421

 

 

3,421

 

Additional paid in capital

 

 

10,482,229

 

 

10,474,688

 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)

 

 

(634,546

)

 

(1,142,467

)

Retained earnings

 

 

188,144

 

 

94,460

 

 

 



 



 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

$

10,041,563

 

$

9,432,417

 

 

 



 



 

Total liabilities, redeemable preference ordinary shares and shareholders’ equity

 

$

45,776,670

 

$

45,579,675

 

 

 



 



 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

3


XL CAPITAL LTD

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

 

$

1,368,485

 

$

1,451,521

 

Net investment income

 

 

308,324

 

 

347,966

 

Realized investment gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized gains (losses) on investments sold

 

 

4,021

 

 

33,103

 

Other-than-temporary impairments on investments

 

 

(60,514

)

 

(285,040

)

Other-than-temporary impairments on investments transferred to other comprehensive income

 

 

20,317

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

Total net realized gains (losses) on investments

 

 

(36,176

)

 

(251,937

)

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

 

 

(20,480

)

 

(1,407

)

Income (loss) from investment fund affiliates

 

 

8,178

 

 

(26,893

)

Fee income and other

 

 

8,418

 

 

12,158

 

 

 



 



 

Total revenues

 

$

1,636,749

 

$

1,531,408

 

 

 



 



 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net losses and loss expenses incurred

 

$

892,200

 

$

790,283

 

Claims and policy benefits

 

 

123,743

 

 

157,959

 

Acquisition costs

 

 

201,137

 

 

218,219

 

Operating expenses

 

 

229,108

 

 

268,387

 

Exchange (gains) losses

 

 

(21,083

)

 

(24,624

)

Interest expense

 

 

49,070

 

 

61,341

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

465

 

 

465

 

 

 



 



 

Total expenses

 

$

1,474,640

 

$

1,472,030

 

 

 



 



 

Income (loss) before income tax and income (loss) from operating affiliates

 

$

162,109

 

$

59,378

 

Provision for income tax

 

 

29,836

 

 

45,953

 

Income (loss) from operating affiliates

 

 

11,606

 

 

(10,328

)

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

$

143,879

 

$

3,097

 

Non-controlling interest in net income (loss) of subsidiary

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 



 



 

Net income attributable to XL Capital Ltd

 

$

143,880

 

$

3,097

 

Preference share dividends

 

 

(32,500

)

 

(36,534

)

Gain on redemption of Series C Preference Ordinary Shares

 

 

16,616

 

 

211,816

 

 

 



 



 

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

 

$

127,996

 

$

178,379

 

 

 



 



 

Weighted average ordinary shares and ordinary share equivalents outstanding – basic

 

 

342,148

 

 

336,217

 

 

 



 



 

Weighted average ordinary shares and ordinary share equivalents outstanding – diluted

 

 

342,760

 

 

336,218

 

 

 



 



 

Earnings per ordinary share and ordinary share equivalent – basic

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.53

 

 

 



 



 

Earnings per ordinary share and ordinary share equivalent – diluted

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.53

 

 

 



 



 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

4


XL CAPITAL LTD

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

Net income attributable to XL Capital Ltd

 

$

143,880

 

$

3,097

 

Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax

 

 

556,024

 

 

(788,685

)

Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

(16,458

)

 

 

Change in underfunded pension liability

 

 

3,482

 

 

(66

)

Change in value of cash flow hedge

 

 

110

 

 

108

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net

 

 

(32,485

)

 

(95,254

)

Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on future policy benefit reserves

 

 

(2,752

)

 

7,494

 

 

 



 



 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

651,801

 

$

(873,306

)

 

 



 



 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

5


XL CAPITAL LTD

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest in Equity of Consolidated Subsidiaries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – beginning of year

 

$

2,305

 

$

1,598

 

Noncontrolling interest share in net income (loss) of subsidiary

 

 

(1

)

$

 

Noncontrolling interest share in change in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss

 

 

1

 

 

6

 

 

 



 



 

Balance – end of period

 

$

2,305

 

$

1,604

 

 

 



 



 

Series E Preference Ordinary Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – beginning of year

 

$

10

 

$

10

 

 

 



 



 

Balance – end of period

 

$

10

 

$

10

 

 

 



 



 

Class A Ordinary Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – beginning of year

 

$

3,421

 

$

3,308

 

Issuance of Class A ordinary shares

 

 

 

 

115

 

Exercise of stock options

 

 

1

 

 

 

Repurchase of shares

 

 

(1

)

 

(2

)

 

 



 



 

Balance – end of period

 

$

3,421

 

$

3,421

 

 

 



 



 

Additional Paid in Capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – beginning of year

 

$

10,474,688

 

$

9,792,371

 

Issuance of Class A ordinary shares

 

 

8

 

 

741,947

 

Repurchase of Class A ordinary shares

 

 

(1,840

)

 

 

Dividends on Class A ordinary shares

 

 

 

 

(34,192

)

Dividends on preference ordinary shares

 

 

 

 

(36,533

)

Exercise of stock options, net of tax benefit

 

 

104

 

 

 

Impact of share based compensation arrangements

 

 

1,447

 

 

 

Stock option expense

 

 

2,759

 

 

1,776

 

Net change in deferred compensation

 

 

5,063

 

 

12,820

 

 

 



 



 

Balance – end of period

 

$

10,482,229

 

$

10,478,189

 

 

 



 



 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – beginning of year

 

$

(1,142,467

)

$

(3,364,927

)

Change in net unrealized (losses) on investment portfolio, net of tax

 

 

542,109

 

 

(783,474

)

Change in net unrealized (losses) gains on affiliate and other investments, net of tax

 

 

13,915

 

 

(5,211

)

Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

(16,458

)

 

 

Change in underfunded pension liability

 

 

3,482

 

 

(66

)

Change in value of cash flow hedge

 

 

110

 

 

108

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

(32,485

)

 

(95,254

)

Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on future policy benefit reserves

 

 

(2,752

)

 

7,494

 

 

 



 



 

Balance – end of period

 

$

(634,546

)

$

(4,241,330

)

 

 



 



 

Retained Earnings (Deficit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – beginning of year

 

$

94,460

 

$

(315,529

)

Net income attributable to XL Capital Ltd.

 

 

143,880

 

 

3,097

 

Dividends on Series E preference ordinary shares

 

 

(32,500

)

 

 

Dividends on Class A ordinary shares

 

 

(34,312

)

 

 

Gain on redemption of Series C preference ordinary shares

 

 

16,616

 

 

211,816

 

 

 



 



 

Balance – end of period

 

$

188,144

 

$

(100,616

)

 

 



 



 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

10,041,563

 

$

6,141,278

 

 

 



 



 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

6


XL CAPITAL LTD

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to XL Capital Ltd

 

$

143,880

 

$

3,097

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized losses on sales investments

 

 

36,176

 

 

251,937

 

Net realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments

 

 

20,480

 

 

1,407

 

Amortization of (discounts) on fixed maturities

 

 

10,104

 

 

(15,243

)

(Income) loss from investment and operating affiliates

 

 

(19,784

)

 

37,221

 

Amortization of deferred compensation

 

 

6,280

 

 

10,511

 

Accretion of convertible debt

 

 

249

 

 

247

 

Accretion of deposit liabilities

 

 

21,860

 

 

11,726

 

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

 

 

52,377

 

 

(394,422

)

Future policy benefit reserves

 

 

(76,245

)

 

13,776

 

Unearned premiums

 

 

334,886

 

 

148,809

 

Premiums receivable

 

 

(372,830

)

 

14,125

 

Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable

 

 

228

 

 

166,213

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

 

(7,858

)

 

(2,990

)

Reinsurance balances receivable

 

 

43,101

 

 

(29,710

)

Deferred acquisition costs

 

 

2,125

 

 

(26,785

)

Reinsurance balances payable

 

 

48,446

 

 

64,174

 

Deferred tax asset

 

 

29,834

 

 

(3,138

)

Other assets

 

 

20,947

 

 

(124,338

)

Other liabilities

 

 

(133,651

)

 

(181,627

)

Other

 

 

46,216

 

 

(63,178

)

 

 



 



 

Total adjustments

 

$

62,941

 

$

(121,285

)

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

206,821

 

$

(118,188

)

 

 



 



 

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities and short-term investments

 

$

1,275,670

 

$

3,405,917

 

Proceeds from redemption of fixed maturities and short-term investments

 

 

670,954

 

 

467,254

 

Proceeds from sale of equity securities

 

 

2,495

 

 

276,575

 

Purchases of fixed maturities and short-term investments

 

 

(2,340,341

)

 

(3,400,142

)

Purchases of equity securities

 

 

(11,127

)

 

(18,369

)

Net dispositions of investment affiliates

 

 

86,828

 

 

453,790

 

Other investments, net

 

 

61,749

 

 

48,766

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

$

(253,772

)

$

1,233,791

 

 

 



 



 

Cash flows (used in) financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of Class A ordinary shares

 

$

 

$

745,000

 

Repurchase of Class A ordinary shares

 

 

(1,840

)

 

(517

)

Redemption of Series C preference ordinary shares

 

 

(94,157

)

 

(104,718

)

Dividends paid on Class A ordinary shares

 

 

(34,194

)

 

(34,182

)

Dividends paid on preference ordinary shares

 

 

(5,573

)

 

(17,678

)

Deposit liabilities

 

 

(47,999

)

 

(83,465

)

Repayment of debt

 

 

 

 

(745,000

)

Collateral received on securities lending

 

 

 

 

92,488

 

Collateral returned on securities lending

 

 

 

 

(215,370

)

 

 



 



 

Net cash (used in) financing activities

 

$

(183,763

)

$

(363,442

)

Effects of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash

 

 

(37,464

)

 

(39,800

)

 

 



 



 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(268,178

)

 

712,361

 

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period

 

 

3,643,697

 

 

4,353,826

 

Cash and cash equivalents – end of period

 

$

3,375,519

 

$

5,066,187

 

 

 



 



 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

7


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Preparation and Consolidation

          These unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and 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 addition, the year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In the opinion of management, these unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair statement of financial position and results of operations as at the end of and for the periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

          To facilitate period-to-period comparisons, certain reclassifications have been made to prior period consolidated financial statement amounts to conform to current period presentation. There was no effect on net income from this change in presentation.

          Unless the context otherwise indicates, references herein to the “Company” include XL Capital Ltd and its consolidated subsidiaries.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

          (a) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

          In June 2009, the FASB issued final authoritative guidance over accounting for transfers of financial assets which removes the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity from existing accounting guidance over transfers of financial assets and also removes the exception from applying guidance surrounding consolidation of variable interest entities to qualifying special-purpose entities. This new guidance was applied by the Company from January 1, 2010, however, it did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

          In June 2009, the FASB issued final authoritative accounting guidance in an effort to improve financial reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest entities. This guidance retains the scope of the previous standard covering variable interest entities except, as noted above, with the addition of entities previously considered qualifying special-purpose entities. The new guidance requires an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity under revised guidelines that are more qualitative than under previous guidance and amends previous guidance to require ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. Before this update, previous guidance required reconsideration of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity only when specific events occurred. The new guidance also amends previous guidance to require enhanced disclosures that provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprise’s involvement with a variable interest entity. The enhanced disclosures are required for any enterprise that holds a variable interest in a variable interest entity. The content of the enhanced disclosures required by this new guidance is generally consistent with that required by the previous standards. The Company applied this new guidance from January 1, 2010 however, it did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. See Note 10, “Variable Interest Entities”, for the disclosures required by this guidance.

          In January 2010, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. The provisions of this authoritative guidance require new disclosures about recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements including significant transfers into and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and information on purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance was effective for the Company from January 1, 2010, except for the Level 3 reconciliation disclosures which are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010. This standard affects disclosures only and accordingly did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

8


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

          (a) Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Continued)

          In March 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance relating to derivative accounting. Under this guidance, all entities that enter into contracts containing an embedded credit derivative feature related to the transfer of credit risk that is not only in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another will be affected by the amendments in this guidance as it clarifies that the embedded credit derivative scope exception found in existing derivative guidance does not apply to such contracts. As a result, entities that have contracts containing an embedded credit derivative feature in a form other than such subordination may need to separately account for the embedded credit derivative feature. This guidance will be effective at the beginning of the Company’s first fiscal quarter beginning after June 15, 2010. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this guidance on its financial condition and results of operations.

3. Fair Value Measurements

          Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price), in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. Applicable accounting guidance provides an established hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the factors that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. Assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classification on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.

9


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

3. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

          The following tables set forth the Company’s assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 by level within the fair value hierarchy (for further information, see Item 8, Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

 

Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

 

 

 

Balance
as of
March 31,
2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collateral and
Counterparty
Netting

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported

 

$

 

$

2,454,313

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,454,313

 

Corporate (1)

 

 

 

 

10,449,428

 

 

9,493

 

 

 

 

10,458,921

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities – Agency

 

 

 

 

6,019,579

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,019,579

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities – Non-Agency

 

 

 

 

1,378,352

 

 

30,000

 

 

 

 

1,408,352

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

1,210,604

 

 

41,655

 

 

 

 

1,252,259

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

 

 

11,249

 

 

711,749

 

 

 

 

722,998

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

 

 

1,098,572

 

 

52,082

 

 

 

 

1,150,654

 

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 

 

 

 

1,144,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,144,591

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government- Related

 

 

 

 

3,210,599

 

 

3,242

 

 

 

 

3,213,841

 

 

 















 

Total fixed maturities, at fair value

 

$

 

$

26,977,287

 

$

848,221

 

$

 

$

27,825,508

 

Equity securities, at fair value

 

 

15,235

 

 

13,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

29,230

 

Short-term investments, at fair value (2)

 

 

 

 

1,918,085

 

 

6,566

 

 

 

 

1,924,651

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total investments available for sale

 

$

15,235

 

$

28,909,367

 

$

854,787

 

$

 

$

29,779,389

 

Cash equivalents (3)

 

 

1,451,251

 

 

669,931

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,121,182

 

Other investments (4)

 

 

 

 

366,532

 

 

83,088

 

 

 

 

449,620

 

Other assets (5)(6)

 

 

 

 

146,120

 

 

189,211

 

 

(233,160

)

 

102,171

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total assets accounted for at fair value

 

$

1,466,486

 

$

30,091,950

 

$

1,127,086

 

$

(233,160

)

$

32,452,362

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased (7)

 

$

 

$

32,264

 

$

 

$

 

$

32,264

 

Other liabilities (5)(6)

 

 

 

 

22,458

 

 

84,737

 

 

(52,782

)

 

54,413

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total liabilities accounted for at fair value

 

$

 

$

54,722

 

$

84,737

 

$

(52,782

)

$

86,677

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

10


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

3. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

 

Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

 

Collateral and
Counterparty
Netting

 

Balance
as of
December 31,
2009

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported

 

$

 

$

2,664,625

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,664,625

 

Corporate (1)

 

 

 

 

9,788,689

 

 

10,311

 

 

 

 

9,799,000

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities – Agency

 

 

 

 

6,220,607

 

 

7,894

 

 

 

 

6,228,501

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities – Non-Agency

 

 

 

 

1,379,125

 

 

42,190

 

 

 

 

1,421,315

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

 

1,214,044

 

 

2,755

 

 

 

 

1,216,799

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

 

 

507,898

 

 

190,663

 

 

 

 

698,561

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

 

 

1,129,806

 

 

38,179

 

 

 

 

1,167,985

 

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 

 

 

 

913,473

 

 

 

 

 

 

913,473

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related

 

 

 

 

3,398,556

 

 

3,217

 

 

 

 

3,401,773

 

 

 















 

Total fixed maturities, at fair value

 

$

 

$

27,216,823

 

$

295,209

 

$

 

$

27,512,032

 

Equity securities, at fair value

 

 

5,621

 

 

12,158

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,779

 

Short-term investments, at fair value (2)

 

 

 

 

1,770,874

 

 

6,486

 

 

 

 

1,777,360

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total investments available for sale

 

$

5,621

 

$

28,999,855

 

$

301,695

 

$

 

$

29,307,171

 

Cash equivalents (3)

 

 

1,496,938

 

 

1,136,268

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,633,206

 

Other investments (4)

 

 

 

 

342,005

 

 

75,584

 

 

 

 

417,589

 

Other assets (5)(6)

 

 

 

 

117,401

 

 

185,455

 

 

(218,409

)

 

84,447

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total assets accounted for at fair value

 

$

1,502,559

 

$

30,595,529

 

$

562,734

 

$

(218,409

)

$

32,442,413

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased (7)

 

$

 

$

36,979

 

$

 

$

 

$

36,979

 

Other liabilities (5)(6)

 

 

 

 

24,337

 

 

84,940

 

 

(49,319

)

 

59,958

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Total liabilities accounted for at fair value

 

$

 

$

61,316

 

$

84,940

 

$

(49,319

)

$

96,937

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 


 

 

(1)

Included within Corporate are certain floating rate medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European credit with varying degrees of leverage. The notes have a fair value of $587.2 million and $587.7 million and an amortized cost of $663.4 million and $707.9 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. These notes allow the investor to participate in cash flows of the underlying bonds including certain residual values, which could serve to either decrease or increase the ultimate values of these notes.

 

 

(2)

Short-term investments consist primarily of corporate, U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported securities, Corporate and Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related securities.

 

 

(3)

Cash equivalents balances subject to fair value measurement include certificates of deposit and money market funds. Operating cash balances are not subject to fair value measurement guidance.

 

 

(4)

The Other investments balance excludes certain structured transactions including certain investments in project finance transactions, a payment obligation and liquidity financing provided to a structured credit vehicle as a part of a third party medium term note facility. These investments are carried at amortized cost that totaled $364.7 million at March 31, 2010 and $365.6 million at December 31, 2009.

 

 

(5)

Other assets and other liabilities include derivative instruments.

11


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

3. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

 

 

(6)

The derivative balances included in each category above are reported on a gross basis by level with a netting adjustment presented separately in the “Collateral and Counterparty Netting” column. The Company often enters into different types of derivative contracts with a single counterparty and these contracts are covered under a netting agreement. In addition, the Company held net cash collateral related to derivative assets of approximately $195.3 million and $169.1 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. This balance is included within cash and cash equivalents and the corresponding liability to return the collateral has been offset against the derivative asset within the balance sheet as appropriate under the netting agreement. The fair value of the individual derivative contracts are reported gross in their respective levels based on the fair value hierarchy.

 

 

(7)

Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased represent “short sales” and are included within “Net payable for investments purchased” on the balance sheet.

          Level 3 Gains and Losses

          The tables below present additional information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which Level 3 inputs were utilized to determine fair value. The table reflects gains and losses for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 for all financial assets and liabilities categorized as Level 3 as of March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively. The tables do not include gains or losses that were reported in Level 3 in prior periods for assets that were transferred out of Level 3 prior to March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009. Gains and losses for assets and liabilities classified within Level 3 in the table below may include changes in fair value that are attributable to both observable inputs (Levels 1 and 2) and unobservable inputs (Level 3). Further, it should be noted that the following tables do not take into consideration the effect of offsetting Level 1 and 2 financial instruments entered into by the Company that are either economically hedged by certain exposures to the Level 3 positions or that hedge the exposures in Level 3 positions.

          In general, Level 3 assets include securities for which the values were obtained from brokers where either significant inputs were utilized in determining the value that were difficult to corroborate with observable market data, or sufficient information regarding the specific inputs utilized by the broker was not available to support a Level 2 classification. Level 3 assets also include securities for which the Company determined that current market trades represent distressed transactions, and accordingly, the Company determined fair value using certain inputs that are not observable to market participants. Transfers into or out of Level 3 primarily arise as a result of the valuations utilized by the Company changing between either those provided by independent pricing services that do not contain significant unobservable inputs, and other valuations sourced from either brokers or in limited instances from internal models for certain assets, which are considered Level 3.

          There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three month periods ending March 31, 2010 and 2009.

12


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

3. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

          Level 3 Gains and Losses (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 3 Assets and Liabilities
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Corporate

 

Residential
mortgage-backed
securities –
Agency

 

Residential
mortgage-backed
securities – Non
Agency

 

Commercial
mortgage-backed
securities

 

Collateralized debt
obligations

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

10,311

 

$

7,894

 

$

42,190

 

$

2,755

 

$

190,663

 

Realized gains (losses)

 

 

(4,319

)

 

 

 

(817

)

 

(457

)

 

(4,917

)

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

4,392

 

 

1,337

 

 

31,384

 

Purchases, sales issuances and settlements, net

 

 

(927

)

 

 

 

(802

)

 

(524

)

 

(1,884

)

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

8,158

 

 

 

 

117

 

 

38,544

 

 

496,503

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

(2,600

)

 

(7,894

)

 

(15,080

)

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

(1,156

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Balance, end of period

 

$

9,493

 

$

 

$

30,000

 

$

41,655

 

$

711,749

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date

 

$

165

 

$

 

$

4,258

 

$

888

 

$

30,956

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 3 Assets and Liabilities
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 (Continued)

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Other asset
backed
securities

 

Non-U.S.
Sovereign
Government and
Supranationals
and Government
Related

 

Short-term
Investments

 

Other investments

 

Derivative
Contracts - Net

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

38,179

 

$

3,217

 

$

6,486

 

$

75,584

 

$

100,515

 

Realized gains (losses)

 

 

(6,351

)

 

 

 

(2,848

)

 

 

 

 

Movement in unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

4,545

 

 

11

 

 

2,448

 

 

3,985

 

 

(1,390

)

Purchases, sales issuances and settlements, net

 

 

22,257

 

 

 

 

(2,246

)

 

3,519

 

 

5,349

 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

204

 

 

14

 

 

1,570

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

(6,752

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities to short-term investments classification change

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,156

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Balance, end of period

 

$

52,082

 

$

3,242

 

$

6,566

 

$

83,088

 

$

104,474

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Movement in total gains (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date

 

$

(1,820

)

$

11

 

$

2,373

 

$

3,985

 

$

(1,390

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

13


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

3. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

          Level 3 Gains and Losses (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 3 Assets and
Liabilities
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Fixed
Maturities

 

Short-term
Investments

 

Other
Investments

 

Derivative
Contracts – Net

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

951,879

 

$

20,746

 

$

65,354

 

$

226,818

 

Realized gains (losses)

 

 

(42,579

)

 

(180

)

 

 

 

 

Movement in unrealized (losses) gains

 

 

(119,191

)

 

(3,727

)

 

(7,618

)

 

(45,349

)

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

(4,497

)

 

(3,009

)

 

6,655

 

 

4,979

 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

1,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

 

(165,132

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Balance, end of period

 

$

622,322

 

$

13,830

 

$

64,391

 

$

186,448

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Movement in total (losses) above relating to instruments still held at the reporting date

 

$

(132,016

)

$

(4,546

)

$

(7,618

)

$

(45,349

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

          Fixed maturities and short-term investments

          At March 31, 2010, certain collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) that were previously classified as Level 2 due to sufficient market data being available to allow a price to be determined and provided by third party pricing vendors, were transferred to Level 3 because third party vendor prices were no longer believed to be the most appropriate pricing source. Therefore, broker quotes are the primary source of the valuations for these CDOs.

          During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company determined that for certain of its CDOs (with a fair value of $483.2 million and a par value of $801.5 million as at December 31, 2008) the trading activity was considered to be stressed transactions. The markets for CDOs had become extremely illiquid due to a number of factors including risk aversion and reduction of purchases among institutional buyers. As a result, the Company believed that broker bids reflected loss expectations that did not reflect fair values at which willing buyers and sellers would transact. The Company determined that internal models were more appropriate and better representative of the fair value at which these securities would be sold in an orderly market. However, as a result of numerous recent market factors, including increased volumes of trading, the Company believed that transactions in this market were no longer distressed and, accordingly, reverted to third-party vendor pricing sources where available as of December 31, 2009, and, where not available, broker quotes. As noted above, during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 valuations for the majority of CDOs were once again sourced from broker quotes. Accordingly, as at March 31, 2010, the Company now carries these assets at a fair value of $560.5 million and a par value of $783.0 million within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

          At March 31, 2009, certain fixed maturity securities that were previously classified as Level 3, due to a lack of available third party vendor pricing, were transferred to Level 2 as prices for these securities were provided by third party pricing vendors.

          The remainder of the Level 3 assets relate to private equity investments where the nature of the underlying assets held by the investee include positions such as private business ventures and are such that significant Level 3 inputs are utilized in the valuation, and certain derivative positions. The most significant of these transfers included $65.1 million of Non-U.S. Sovereign Government and Supranationals and Government Related, $28.4 million of Residential mortgage-backed securities-Non Agency, $27.0 of Other asset-backed securities and $16.6 million of Collateralized debt obligations.

          Other investments

          Included within the Other Investments component of the Company’s Level 3 valuations are private investments and alternatives where the Company is not deemed to have significant influence over the investee. The fair value of these investments is based upon net asset values received from the investment manager or general partner of the respective entity. The nature of the underlying investments held by the investee which form the basis of the net asset value include assets such as private business ventures and are such that significant Level 3 inputs are utilized in the determination of the individual underlying holding values and accordingly the fair value of the Company’s investment in each entity is classified within Level 3. The Company also incorporates factors such as the most recent financial information received, the values at which capital transactions with the investee take place, and management’s judgment regarding whether any adjustments should be made to the net asset value in recording the fair value of each position.

          Derivative instruments

          Derivative instruments classified within Level 3 include: (i) certain interest rate swaps where the duration of the contract the Company holds exceeds that of the longest term on a market observable input, (ii) weather and energy derivatives, (iii) GMIB benefits embedded within a certain reinsurance contract, (iv) a put option included within the Company’s remaining contingent capital facility and (v) credit derivatives sold providing protection on senior tranches of structured finance transactions where the value is obtained directly from the investment bank counterparty for which sufficient information regarding the inputs utilized in the valuation was not obtained to support a Level 2 classification. The majority of inputs utilized in the valuations of these types of derivative contracts are considered Level 1 or Level 2; however, each valuation includes at least one Level 3 input that was significant to the valuation and accordingly the values are disclosed within Level 3.

14


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

3. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

          Level 3 Gains and Losses (continued)

          In addition, see Item 8, Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “ Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for a general discussion of types of assets and liabilities that are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as well as the Company’s valuation policies for such instruments.

          Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value

          Authoritative guidance over disclosures about fair value of financial instruments requires additional disclosure of fair value information for financial instruments not carried at fair value in both interim and annual reporting periods. Certain financial instruments, particularly insurance contracts, are excluded from these fair value disclosure requirements. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income, net receivable from investments sold, other assets, net payable for investments purchased, other liabilities and other financial instruments not included below approximated their fair values. The following table includes financial instruments for which the carrying amount differs from the estimated fair values:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2010

 

As of December 31, 2009

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities, held to maturity

 

$

516,470

 

$

522,305

 

$

546,067

 

$

530,319

 

Other investments – structured transactions.

 

$

364,683

 

$

341,501

 

$

365,600

 

$

341,352

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Financial Assets

 

$

881,153

 

$

863,806

 

$

911,667

 

$

871,671

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposit liabilities

 

$

2,187,375

 

$

2,198,957

 

$

2,208,699

 

$

2,245,961

 

Notes payable and debt

 

 

2,461,397

 

 

2,445,982

 

 

2,451,417

 

 

2,504,386

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Financial Liabilities

 

$

4,648,772

 

$

4,644,939

 

$

4,660,116

 

$

4,750,347

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable series C preference ordinary shares

 

$

71,900

 

$

59,677

 

$

182,673

 

$

137,918

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

          The Company historically participated in structured transactions which include cash loans supporting project finance transactions, providing liquidity facility financing to structured project deals and an investment in a payment obligation with an insurance company. These transactions are carried at amortized cost. The fair value of these investments held by the Company is determined through use of internal models utilizing reported trades, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data.

          Deposit liabilities include obligations under structured insurance and reinsurance transactions as well as funding agreements issued. For purposes of fair value disclosures, the Company determines the fair value of the deposit liabilities by assuming a discount rate equal to the appropriate U.S. Treasury rate plus 108.1 basis points and the appropriate U.S. Treasury Rate plus 108.3 basis points at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, to determine the present value of projected contractual liability payments through final maturity. The discount rate incorporates the Company’s own credit risk into the determination of estimated fair value.

          The fair values of the Company’s notes payable and debt outstanding are determined based on quoted market prices.

          The fair value of the Company’s redeemable series C preference ordinary shares outstanding is determined based on indicative quotes provided by brokers.

          There are no significant concentrations of credit risk within the Company’s financial instruments as defined in the authoritative guidance over disclosures of fair value of financial instruments not carried at fair value.

15


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

4. Segment Information

          Following a streamlining of the Company’s operating segments in the first quarter of 2009, the Company is organized into three operating segments: Insurance, Reinsurance and Life operations. The Company’s general investment and financing operations are reflected in Corporate.

          The Company evaluates the performance for both the Insurance and Reinsurance segments based on underwriting profit and contribution from its Life operations segment. Other items of revenue and expenditure of the Company are not evaluated at the segment level for reporting purposes. In addition, the Company does not allocate investment assets by segment for its Property and Casualty (“P&C”) operations. Investment assets related to the Company’s Life operations and certain structured products included in the Insurance and Reinsurance segments and Corporate are held in separately identified portfolios. As such, net investment income from these assets is included in the contribution from each of these segments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2010:
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except ratios)
(Unaudited)

 

Insurance

 

Reinsurance

 

Total P&C

 

Life
Operations

 

Corporate (6)

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Gross premiums written

 

$

1,131,890

 

$

790,423

 

$

1,922,313

 

$

112,901

 

$

 

$

2,035,214

 

Net premiums written

 

 

901,264

 

 

695,261

 

 

1,596,525

 

 

104,666

 

 

 

 

1,701,191

 

Net premiums earned

 

 

897,011

 

 

366,590

 

 

1,263,601

 

 

104,884

 

 

 

 

1,368,485

 

Net losses and loss expenses

 

 

648,319

 

 

243,881

 

 

892,200

 

 

123,743

 

 

 

 

1,015,943

 

Acquisition costs

 

 

110,142

 

 

72,605

 

 

182,747

 

 

18,390

 

 

 

 

201,137

 

Operating expenses (1)

 

 

153,236

 

 

42,028

 

 

195,264

 

 

3,008

 

 

 

 

198,272

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Underwriting profit (loss)

 

$

(14,686

)

 

8,076

 

 

(6,610

)

 

(40,257

)

 

 

 

(46,867

)

Net investment income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

203,914

 

 

80,344

 

 

 

 

284,258

 

Net results from structured products (2)

 

 

5,639

 

 

2,476

 

 

8,115

 

 

 

 

3,653

 

 

11,768

 

Net fee income and other (3)

 

 

(3,786

)

 

319

 

 

(3,467

)

 

40

 

 

 

 

(3,427

)

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(28,577

)

 

(4,413

)

 

(3,186

)

 

(36,176

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Contribution from P&C, Life Operations and Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

173,375

 

 

35,714

 

 

467

 

 

209,556

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

Corporate & other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized & unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20,480

)

 

(20,480

)

Net income (loss) from financial, investments and other operating affiliates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,784

 

 

19,784

 

Exchange (gains) losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21,083

)

 

(21,083

)

Corporate operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,863

 

 

18,863

 

Interest expense (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,900

 

 

36,900

 

Non-controlling interest in net income (loss) of subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

(1

)

Income taxes & other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,301

 

 

30,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Net income attributable to XL Capital Ltd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

143,880

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Ratios—P&C operations: (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss expense ratio

 

 

72.3

%

 

66.5

%

 

70.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting expense ratio

 

 

29.3

%

 

31.3

%

 

29.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined ratio

 

 

101.6

%

 

97.8

%

 

100.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

Notes:

 


 

 

(1)

Operating expenses exclude Corporate operating expenses, shown separately.

 

 

(2)

The net results from P&C and Corporate structured products include net investment income, interest expense and operating expenses of $19.7 million , $11.5 million and $0.1 million and $4.3 million, $0.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

 

 

(3)

Net fee income and other includes operating expenses from the Company’s loss prevention consulting services business and expenses related to the cost of an endorsement facility with National Indemnity Company.

 

 

(4)

Interest expense excludes interest expense related to deposit liabilities recorded in the Insurance and Reinsurance segments and Corporate.

 

 

(5)

Ratios are based on net premiums earned from P&C operations.

16


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

4. Segment Information (Continued)

 

 

(6)

Corporate includes institutional investment business with the Company’s remaining funding agreements. These items were included in the Other Financial Lines segment prior to 2009.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2009:
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except ratios)
(Unaudited)

 

Insurance

 

Reinsurance

 

Total P&C

 

Life
Operations

 

Corporate (6)

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Gross premiums written

 

$

1,091,245

 

$

786,983

 

$

1,878,228

 

$

135,112

 

$

 

$

2,013,340

 

Net premiums written

 

 

832,168

 

 

673,143

 

 

1,505,311

 

 

121,585

 

 

 

 

1,626,896

 

Net premiums earned

 

 

910,111

 

 

411,576

 

 

1,321,687

 

 

129,834

 

 

 

 

1,451,521

 

Net losses and loss expenses

 

 

615,214

 

 

175,069

 

 

790,283

 

 

157,959

 

 

 

 

948,242

 

Acquisition costs

 

 

105,412

 

 

95,724

 

 

201,136

 

 

17,083

 

 

 

 

218,219

 

Operating expenses (1)

 

 

179,328

 

 

47,088

 

 

226,416

 

 

3,841

 

 

 

 

230,257

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Underwriting profit (loss) (7)

 

$

10,157

 

 

93,695

 

 

103,852

 

 

(49,049

)

 

 

 

54,803

 

Net investment income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

242,166

 

 

77,522

 

 

 

 

319,688

 

Net results from structured products (2)

 

 

3,121

 

 

8,424

 

 

11,545

 

 

 

 

4,645

 

 

16,190

 

Net fee income and other (3)

 

 

(1,000

)

 

2,051

 

 

1,051

 

 

51

 

 

 

 

1,102

 

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(162,813

)

 

(74,650

)

 

(14,474

)

 

(251,937

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Contribution from P&C, Life Operations and Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

195,801

 

 

(46,126

)

 

(9,829

)

 

139,846

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

Corporate & other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized & unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,407

)

 

(1,407

)

Net income (loss) from financial, investments and other operating affiliates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,221

)

 

(37,221

)

Exchange (gains) losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(24,624

)

 

(24,624

)

Corporate operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26,712

 

 

26,712

 

Interest expense (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

49,615

 

 

49,615

 

Non-controlling interest in net income (loss) of subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes & other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,418

 

 

46,418

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Net income attributable to XL Capital Ltd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,097

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Ratios—P&C operations: (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss expense ratio

 

 

67.6

%

 

42.5

%

 

59.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting expense ratio

 

 

31.3

%

 

34.7

%

 

32.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined ratio

 

 

98.9

%

 

77.2

%

 

92.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

Notes:

 


 

 

(1)

Operating expenses exclude Corporate operating expenses, shown separately.

 

 

(2)

The net results from P&C and Corporate structured products include net investment income, interest expense and operating expenses of $20.3 million, $8.8 million and $nil and $8.0 million, $3.0 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

 

 

(3)

Net fee income and other includes operating expenses from the Company’s loss prevention consulting services business and expenses related to the cost of an endorsement facility with National Indemnity Company.

 

 

(4)

Interest expense excludes interest expense related to deposit liabilities recorded in the Insurance and Reinsurance segments and Corporate.

 

 

(5)

Ratios are based on net premiums earned from P&C operations.

 

 

(6)

Corporate includes institutional investment business with guaranteed investment contracts and funding agreements. These items were included in the Other Financial Lines segment prior to 2009.

 

 

(7)

Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to current year presentation.

17


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

4. Segment Information (Continued)

          The following tables summarize the Company’s net premiums earned by line of business:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Insurance

 

Reinsurance

 

Life
Operations

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

P&C Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casualty – professional lines

 

$

337,058

 

$

55,720

 

$

 

$

392,778

 

Casualty – other lines

 

 

162,548

 

 

64,133

 

 

 

 

226,681

 

Property catastrophe

 

 

116

 

 

84,634

 

 

 

 

84,750

 

Other property

 

 

97,539

 

 

113,263

 

 

 

 

210,802

 

Marine, energy, aviation and satellite

 

 

140,770

 

 

20,190

 

 

 

 

160,960

 

Other specialty lines (1)

 

 

152,508

 

 

 

 

 

 

152,508

 

Other (2)

 

 

3,946

 

 

28,997

 

 

 

 

32,943

 

Structured indemnity

 

 

2,526

 

 

(347

)

 

 

 

2,179

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total P&C Operations

 

$

897,011

 

 

366,590

 

$

 

$

1,263,601

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Life Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Life

 

$

 

$

 

$

73,453

 

$

73,453

 

Annuity

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,431

 

 

31,431

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total Life Operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

104,884

 

$

104,884

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

897,011

 

$

366,590

 

$

104,884

 

$

1,368,485

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2009:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Insurance

 

Reinsurance

 

Life
Operations

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

P&C Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casualty – professional lines

 

$

315,616

 

$

61,994

 

$

 

$

377,610

 

Casualty – other lines

 

 

154,505

 

 

62,783

 

 

 

 

217,288

 

Property catastrophe

 

 

114

 

 

70,696

 

 

 

 

70,810

 

Other property

 

 

109,436

 

 

142,760

 

 

 

 

252,196

 

Marine, energy, aviation and satellite

 

 

147,648

 

 

21,281

 

 

 

 

168,929

 

Other specialty lines (1)

 

 

169,984

 

 

 

 

 

 

169,984

 

Other (2)

 

 

7,946

 

 

52,093

 

 

 

 

60,039

 

Structured indemnity

 

 

4,862

 

 

(31

)

 

 

 

4,831

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total P&C Operations

 

$

910,111

 

$

411,576

 

$

 

$

1,321,687

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Life Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Life

 

$

 

$

 

$

100,408

 

$

100,408

 

Annuity

 

 

 

 

 

 

29,426

 

 

29,426

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total Life Operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

129,834

 

$

129,834

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

910,111

 

$

411,576

 

$

129,834

 

$

1,451,521

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 


(1)

Other specialty lines within the Insurance segment includes: environmental, programs, equine, warranty, specie, middle markets and excess and surplus lines.

 

 

(2)

Other includes credit and surety, whole account contracts and other lines.

18


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

5. Investments

          The cost (amortized cost for fixed maturities and short-term investments), fair value, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized (losses), and other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) of the Company’s available for sale investments at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (“AOCI”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Unrealized Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

March 31, 2010
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Cost or
Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Related to
changes in
estimated
fair value

 

OTTI
included in
other
comprehensive
income
(Loss)(1)

 

Fair Value

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported (2)

 

$

2,402,485

 

 

$

74,562

 

 

$

(22,734

)

 

$

 

 

$

2,454,313

 

Corporate (3) (4)

 

 

10,514,351

 

 

 

319,015

 

 

 

(267,008

)

 

 

(107,437

)

 

 

10,458,921

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Agency

 

 

5,907,163

 

 

 

125,513

 

 

 

(13,097

)

 

 

 

 

 

6,019,579

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Non-Agency

 

 

1,908,056

 

 

 

13,621

 

 

 

(291,284

)

 

 

(222,041

)

 

 

1,408,352

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

1,259,234

 

 

 

27,874

 

 

 

(21,063

)

 

 

(13,786

)

 

 

1,252,259

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

1,022,982

 

 

 

12,390

 

 

 

(303,101

)

 

 

(9,273

)

 

 

722,998

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

1,192,116

 

 

 

18,091

 

 

 

(40,234

)

 

 

(19,319

)

 

 

1,150,654

 

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 

 

1,143,278

 

 

 

17,746

 

 

 

(16,433

)

 

 

 

 

 

1,144,591

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related (2)

 

 

3,206,777

 

 

 

78,011

 

 

 

(70,947

)

 

 

 

 

 

3,213,841

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

28,556,442

 

 

$

686,823

 

 

$

(1,045,901

)

 

$

(371,856

)

 

$

27,825,508

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

Total short-term investments

 

$

1,913,664

 

 

$

22,621

 

 

$

(11,634

)

 

$

 

 

$

1,924,651

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

Total equity securities

 

$

21,696

 

 

$

7,567

 

 

$

(33

)

 

$

 

 

$

29,230

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 


 

 


(1)

Represents the amount of OTTI losses in AOCI, which from April 1, 2009 was not included in earnings under authoritative accounting guidance.

 

 

(2)

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported and Non U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranationals and Government-Related includes government-related securities with an amortized cost of $2,216.3 million and fair value of $2,256.2 million and U.S. Agencies with an amortized cost of $1,227.6 million and fair value of $1,275.3 million.

 

 

(3)

Included within Corporate are certain medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European credit leveraged by a factor of 0.30 (i.e. $130 of Bonds held for every $100 of note). The notes have a fair value of $587.2 million and an amortized cost of $663.4 million. These notes allow the investor to participate in cash flows of the underlying bonds including certain residual values, which could serve to either decrease or increase the ultimate values of these notes.

 

 

(4)

Included in the table above are Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments senior to the common and preferred equities of the financial institutions. These securities have a fair value of $872.2 million and an amortized cost of $993.8 million as at March 31, 2010.

19


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

5. Investments (Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (“AOCI”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Unrealized Losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Cost or
Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Related to
changes in
estimated
fair value

 

OTTI
included in
other
comprehensive
income
(Loss)(1)

 

Fair Value

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported (2)

 

$

2,619,731

 

 

$

73,611

 

 

$

(28,717

)

 

$

 

 

$

2,664,625

 

Corporate (3) (4)

 

 

10,121,973

 

 

 

260,451

 

 

 

(472,170

)

 

 

(111,254

)

 

 

9,799,000

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Agency

 

 

6,169,707

 

 

 

96,715

 

 

 

(37,921

)

 

 

 

 

 

6,228,501

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Non-Agency

 

 

2,015,593

 

 

 

13,958

 

 

 

(397,696

)

 

 

(210,540

)

 

 

1,421,315

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

1,276,602

 

 

 

8,107

 

 

 

(54,095

)

 

 

(13,815

)

 

 

1,216,799

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

1,030,245

 

 

 

9,783

 

 

 

(332,403

)

 

 

(9,064

)

 

 

698,561

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

1,247,822

 

 

 

13,046

 

 

 

(82,438

)

 

 

(10,445

)

 

 

1,167,985

 

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 

 

909,609

 

 

 

18,465

 

 

 

(14,601

)

 

 

 

 

 

913,473

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related (2)

 

 

3,407,222

 

 

 

60,506

 

 

 

(65,955

)

 

 

 

 

 

3,401,773

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

28,798,504

 

 

$

554,642

 

 

$

(1,485,996

)

 

$

(355,118

)

 

$

27,512,032

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

Total short-term investments

 

$

1,767,197

 

 

$

16,899

 

 

$

(6,736

)

 

$

 

 

$

1,777,360

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

Total equity securities

 

$

12,344

 

 

$

5,793

 

 

$

(358

)

 

$

 

 

$

17,779

 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 


 

 



 

 

(1)

Represents the amount of OTTI losses in AOCI, which from April 1, 2009 was not included in earnings under authoritative accounting guidance.

 

 

(2)

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported and Non U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranationals and Government-Related includes government-related securities with an amortized cost of $2,325.4 million and fair value of $2,326.6 million and U.S. Agencies with an amortized cost of $1,361.6 million and fair value of $1,395.0 million.

 

 

(3)

Included within Corporate are certain medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European credit leveraged by a factor of 0.44 (i.e. $144 of Bonds held for every $100 of note). The notes have a fair value of $587.7 million and an amortized cost of $707.9 million. These notes allow the investor to participate in cash flows of the underlying bonds including certain residual values, which could serve to either decrease or increase the ultimate values of these notes.

 

 

(4)

Included in the table above are Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments senior to the common and preferred equities of the financial institutions. These securities have a fair value of $904.3 million and an amortized cost of $1,104.6 million as at December 31, 2009.

 

 

          The Company had gross unrealized losses totaling $1.4 billion at March 31, 2010 on its available for sale portfolio, which it considers to be temporarily impaired. Individual security positions comprising this balance have been evaluated by management, based on specified criteria, to determine if these impairments should be considered other than temporary. These criteria include an assessment of the severity of impairment along with management’s assessment as to whether it is likely to sell these securities, among other factors included below.

20


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

5. Investments (Continued)

          At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, approximately 3.9% and 3.6%, respectively, of the Company’s fixed income investment portfolio excluding operating cash at fair value was invested in securities which were below investment grade or not rated. The increase in below investment grade or not rated securities is primarily due to rating agency action on non-Agency residential mortgage-backed securities. Approximately 35.3% and 30.1% of the gross unrealized losses in the Company’s fixed income securities portfolio at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, related to securities that were below investment grade or not rated.

          The following is an analysis of how long the available for sale securities at March 31, 2010 had been in a continual unrealized loss position:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

Equal to or greater
than 12 months

 

 

 


 


 

March 31, 2010
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses (1)

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses (1)

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities and short-term investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Government Related/Supported

 

$

706,375

 

$

12,131

 

$

87,008

 

$

11,340

 

Corporate (2) (3)

 

 

1,654,986

 

 

26,666

 

 

2,700,504

 

 

352,850

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Agency

 

 

1,623,489

 

 

11,817

 

 

13,920

 

 

1,280

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Non-Agency

 

 

175,502

 

 

52,797

 

 

1,119,141

 

 

460,528

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

17,837

 

 

6,269

 

 

275,706

 

 

28,580

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

86,649

 

 

25,200

 

 

617,739

 

 

287,174

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

82,896

 

 

628

 

 

485,907

 

 

59,516

 

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 

 

570,328

 

 

8,092

 

 

41,286

 

 

8,341

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related

 

 

601,678

 

 

21,347

 

 

418,797

 

 

54,835

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities and short-term investments

 

$

5,519,740

 

$

164,947

 

$

5,760,008

 

$

1,264,444

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total equity securities

 

$

1,967

 

$

33

 

$

 

$

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 


 

 

(1)

Time of impairment on securities impacted by April 1, 2009 changes to OTTI values is measured from the point at which securities returned to a net unrealized loss position (i.e. from April 1, 2009).

 

 

(2)

Included within Corporate are certain medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European credit leveraged by factor of 0.30 (i.e. $130 of Bonds held for every $100 of note). The notes have a fair value of $545.2 million and an amortized cost of $624.3 million. These notes allow the investor to participate in cash flows of the underlying bonds including certain residual values, which could serve to either decrease or increase the ultimate values of these notes.

 

 

(3)

Included in the table above are Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments senior to the common and preferred equities of the financial institutions. These securities have a fair value of $872.2 million and an amortized cost of $993.8 million as at March 31, 2010.

21


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

5. Investments (Continued)

          The following is an analysis of how long each of those available for sale securities at December 31, 2009 had been in a continual unrealized loss position:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

Equal to or greater
than 12 months

 

 

 


 


 

December 31, 2009
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities and short-term investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported

 

$

792,605

 

$

15,527

 

$

84,105

 

$

13,691

 

Corporate (1) (2)

 

 

1,892,737

 

 

55,538

 

 

2,900,332

 

 

527,963

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Agency

 

 

2,948,912

 

 

37,592

 

 

2,342

 

 

329

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Non-Agency

 

 

208,914

 

 

71,999

 

 

1,140,549

 

 

536,237

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

231,230

 

 

9,347

 

 

558,551

 

 

58,563

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

127,171

 

 

36,144

 

 

563,340

 

 

306,058

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

273,034

 

 

4,555

 

 

553,286

 

 

88,677

 

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 

 

326,392

 

 

5,586

 

 

55,278

 

 

9,015

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related

 

 

944,204

 

 

17,499

 

 

514,058

 

 

53,530

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities and short-term investments

 

$

7,745,199

 

$

253,787

 

$

6,371,841

 

$

1,594,063

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total equity securities

 

$

1,660

 

$

358

 

$

 

$

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 


(1)

Time of impairment on securities impacted by April 1, 2009 changes to OTTI values is measured from the point at which securities returned to a net unrealized loss position (i.e. from April 1, 2009).

 

 

(2)

Included within Corporate are certain medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European credit leveraged by factor of 0.44 (i.e. $144 of Bonds held for every $100 of note). The notes have a fair value of $587.7 million and an amortized cost of $707.9 million. These notes allow the investor to participate in cash flows of the underlying bonds including certain residual values, which could serve to either decrease or increase the ultimate values of these notes.

 

 

(3)

Included in the table above are Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments senior to the common and preferred equities of the financial institutions. These securities have a fair value of $904.3 million and an amortized cost of $1,104.6 million as at December 31, 2009.

          The contractual maturities of available for sale fixed income securities are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2010 (1)

 

December 31, 2009 (1)

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Fair
Value

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Fair
Value

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Due after 1 through 5 years

 

$

8,143,231

 

$

8,258,981

 

$

7,969,186

 

$

8,010,078

 

Due after 5 through 10 years

 

 

4,092,478

 

 

4,175,102

 

 

3,936,489

 

 

3,962,993

 

Due after 10 years

 

 

5,031,182

 

 

4,837,583

 

 

5,152,860

 

 

4,805,800

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

17,266,891

 

 

17,271,666

 

 

17,058,535

 

 

16,778,871

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Agency

 

 

5,907,163

 

 

6,019,579

 

 

6,169,707

 

 

6,228,501

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities–Non-Agency

 

 

1,908,056

 

 

1,408,352

 

 

2,015,593

 

 

1,421,315

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

1,259,234

 

 

1,252,259

 

 

1,276,602

 

 

1,216,799

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

1,022,982

 

 

722,998

 

 

1,030,245

 

 

698,561

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

1,192,116

 

 

1,150,654

 

 

1,247,822

 

 

1,167,985

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total mortgage and asset-backed securities

 

 

11,289,551

 

 

10,553,842

 

 

11,739,969

 

 

10,733,161

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

28,556,442

 

$

27,825,508

 

$

28,798,504

 

$

27,512,032

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 


(1)

Included in the table above are $872.2 million and $904.3 million in Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments senior to the common and preferred equities of the financial institutions, at fair value as at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. These securities have been distributed in the table based on their call date and have net unrealized losses of $145.5 million and $225.2 million as at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

22


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

5. Investments (Continued)

          Factors considered in determining that the remaining gross unrealized loss is not other-than-temporarily impaired include management’s consideration of current and near term liquidity needs and other available sources, an evaluation of the factors and time necessary for recovery, and the results of on-going retrospective reviews of security sales and the basis for such sales.

          Gross unrealized losses of $1.4 billion on available for sale assets at March 31, 2010 can be attributed to the following significant drivers:

 

 

 

 

§

gross unrealized losses of $272.5 million related to the Company’s Life operations investment portfolio, which had a fair value of $6.3 billion as at March 31, 2010. Of this, $168.2 million of gross unrealized losses related to $1.7 billion of exposures to corporate financial institutions including $113.4 million of losses on $698.9 million of Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities. At March 31, 2010, this portfolio had an average interest rate duration of 8.7 years, primarily denominated in U.K. Sterling and Euros. As a result of the long duration, significant gross losses have arisen as the fair values of these securities are more sensitive to prevailing government interest rates and credit spreads. This portfolio is matched to corresponding long duration liabilities. A hypothetical parallel increase in interest rates and credit spreads of 50 and 25 basis points, respectively, would increase the unrealized losses related to this portfolio at March 31, 2010 by approximately $264.2 million and $112.9 million, respectively on both the available for sale and held to maturity portfolios. Given the long term nature of this portfolio, and the level of credit spreads as at March 31, 2010 relative to historical averages within the U.K. and Euro-zone as well as the Company’s liquidity needs at March 31, 2010, the Company believes that these assets will continue to be held until such time as they mature, or credit spreads revert to levels more consistent with historical averages.

 

 

 

 

§

gross unrealized losses of $177.7 million related to the corporate holdings within the Company’s non-life fixed income portfolios, which had a fair value of $7.7 billion as at March 31, 2010. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, as a result of declining credit spreads, the gross unrealized losses on these holdings has declined. The Company continues to believe that the gross unrealized losses are a reflection of a premium being charged by the market for credit, rather than fundamental deterioration in the debt service capabilities of the issuers.

 

 

 

 

 

Of the gross unrealized losses noted above $75.1 million relate to medium term notes primarily supported by pools of investment grade European credit with varying degrees of leverage. These had a fair value of $562.5 million at March 31, 2010. Management believes that expected cash flows over the expected holding period from these bonds are sufficient to support the remaining reported amortized cost.

 

 

 

 

§

gross unrealized losses of $491.0 million related to non-Agency residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”) portfolio (which consists of the Company’s holdings of sub-prime non-agency securities, second liens, ABS CDOs with sub-prime collateral, Alt-A mortgage exposures and Prime RMBS), which had a fair value of $1,219.9 million as at March 31, 2010. The Company undertook a security level review in conjunction with its investment manager service providers of these securities and recognized charges to the extent it believed the discounted cash flow value (to fair value in certain cases) of any security was below its amortized cost. The Company has recognized realized losses, consisting of charges for OTTI and realized losses from sales, of approximately $1.2 billion since the beginning of 2007 and through March 31, 2010 on these asset classes.

 

 

 

 

 

The Company purchased a number of these assets to support the previously written guaranteed investment contract (“GIC”) and funding agreement contracts and has reduced its exposure to this asset class as part of its strategic portfolio realignment. The Company believes that, based on market conditions and liquidity needs at March 31, 2010, this reduction will be realized through natural cash flows of the portfolio, and limited selective sales, rather than selling these assets into markets which continue to not be reflective of the intrinsic value of these assets. The weighted average life of the sub-prime and Alt-A residential holdings within this portfolio at March 31, 2010 were 4.4 years and 4.2 years, respectively. The Company, based on current market conditions and liquidity needs as well as its assessment of the holdings, believes it will continue to hold these securities until either maturity, or a return of liquidity and valuations more reflective of intrinsic value of these holdings.

23


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

5. Investments (Continued)

 

 

 

 

§

gross unrealized losses of $308.3 million related to the non-Life portfolio of Core CDO holdings (defined by the Company as investments in non-subprime collateralized debt obligations), which consists primarily of CDOs and had a fair value of $725.1 million as of March 31, 2010. The Company undertook a security level review in conjunction with its investment manager service providers of these securities and recognized charges to the extent it believed the discounted cash flow value of the security was below the amortized cost. The Company believes that the level of impairment is primarily a function of historically wide spreads in the CDO market during the period, driven by the level of illiquidity in this market. The Company purchased a number of these assets to support the previously written GIC and funding agreement contracts and has announced its intention to reduce its exposure to this asset class over time as a part of its strategic portfolio realignment. The Company, based on current market conditions and liquidity needs as well as its assessment of the holdings, believes it is likely that the Company will continue to hold these securities until either maturity or a recovery of value, following which the Company intends to reduce its exposure to this asset class.

          Management, in its assessment of whether securities in a gross unrealized loss position are temporarily impaired, considers the significance of the impairments. The Company had structured credit securities with gross unrealized losses of $274.3 million, with a fair value of $134.9 million, which at March 31, 2010 were impaired by greater than 50% of amortized costs. All of these are asset-backed securities. Of these gross unrealized losses, $76.5 million are rated investment grade. The Company has evaluated each of these securities in conjunction with its investment manager service providers and believes it is more likely than not that the issuer will be able to fund sufficient principal and interest payments to support the current amortized cost. These securities include gross unrealized losses of $169.3 million on Topical assets, $75.9 million on Core CDOs, $0.8 million on prime RMBS and $11.3 million on commercial mortgage backed securities (“CMBS”) holdings.

          Included in the gross unrealized losses associated with the Company’s corporate portfolio as of March 31, 2010 are gross unrealized losses of $7.2 million related to Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities that have been rated below investment grade by at least one major rating agency. Of this total, none have gross unrealized losses representing greater than 50% of amortized cost. The Company has completed its review of this portfolio and believes, at this time, that these impairments remain temporary in nature. The primary basis for this conclusion was the analysis of the fundamentals of these securities using a debt-based impairment model, which indicated that these securities continue to meet their obligations, and the issuer has the ability to call these obligations at their call date. In addition, as these securities are below investment grade, the Company considered these securities using an equity-impairment model. Factors that were considered and supported that these impairments were temporary included that the vast majority of these securities had been rated below investment grade beginning in first quarter of 2009, in certain cases alternative ratings were available that indicated these securities remained investment grade, or the securities were only slightly below investment grade. At March 31, 2010, the Company believes that it is likely that the fair values of these securities will ultimately increase to equal the cost basis over a reasonable period of time. However, there is a high degree of judgment in reaching this conclusion, including an assessment of how various governments will treat these securities in the event of governmental intervention in these institutions’ operations or management’s decision to defer calls or coupons. Management will closely monitor the developments related to these securities.

          The Company recorded net impairment charges of $40.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The significant assumptions and inputs associated with these securities consist of:

 

 

 

 

§

For structured credit securities, the Company recorded net impairments of $28.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The Company determined that the likely recovery on these securities was below the amortized cost, and accordingly impaired the securities to the discounted value of the cash flows of these securities.

 

 

 

 

§

For corporate securities, excluding medium term notes backed primarily by investment grade European credit, the Company recorded net impairments totaling $0.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The impairment charges consisted of below investment grade securities and below investment grade hybrids, with respect to which the Company considered impairment factors consistent with an equity impairment model, along with a debt impairment model, and accordingly recorded impairment charges to fair value, or determined that the securities in an unrealized loss position would be sold.

 

 

 

 

 

In addition the Company recorded impairments totaling $5.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 in relation to medium term notes backed primarily by investment grade European credit. Management has concluded that, following recent credit spread movements since 2009, future yields within the supporting collateral were not sufficient to support the previously reported amortized cost.

24


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

5. Investments (Continued)

 

 

 

 

§

For non-equity accounted alternative funds, the Company recorded impairments of $5.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 because the fund was impaired by more than 50% of amortized cost.

          As discussed in Note 2, a portion of certain OTTI losses on fixed income securities and short-term investments is recognized in “Other comprehensive income (loss)” (“OCI”). Under final authoritative accounting guidance effective April 1, 2009, other than in a situation in which the Company has the intent to sell a security or more likely than not will be required to sell a security, the amount of the OTTI related to a credit loss is recognized in earnings, and the amount of the OTTI related to other factors (i.e., interest rates, market conditions, etc.) is recorded as a component of OCI. The net amount recognized in earnings (“credit loss impairments”) represents the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the net present value of its projected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. Any remaining difference between the fair value and amortized cost is recognized in OCI. The following table sets forth the amount of credit loss impairments on fixed income securities held by the Company as of the dates indicated, for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in OCI, and the corresponding changes in such amounts.

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2010
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

OTTI related to
Credit Losses
recognized in
earnings

 

 

 


 

Balance, January 1, 2010

 

$

537,121

 

Credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired

 

 

10,074

 

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period

 

 

(15,975

)

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities impaired to fair value during the period

 

 

 

Additional credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired

 

 

27,627

 

Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected

 

 

(7,099

)

 

 



 

Balance, March 31, 2010

 

$

551,748

 

 

 



 

          The determination of credit losses is based on detailed analyses of underlying cash flows. Such analyses require the use of certain assumption in developing the estimated performance of underlying collateral. Key assumptions used include, but are not limited to, items such as, RMBS default rates based on collateral duration in arrears, severity of losses on default by collateral class, collateral reinvestment rates and expected future general corporate default rates.

          The following represents an analysis of net realized gains (losses) on investments:

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2010
(Unaudited)

 

 

 


 

Gross realized gains

 

$

34,173

 

Gross realized losses

 

 

(70,349

)

 

 



 

Net realized (losses) on investments

 

$

(36,176

)

 

 



 

25


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

5. Investments (Continued)

     Transfer of Available for Sale Securities to Held to Maturity

          In November 2009, the Company formalized its intention to hold certain fixed income securities to maturity. Consistent with this intention, the Company has reclassified these securities from available for sale to held to maturity in the consolidated financial statements. As a result of this classification, these fixed income securities are reflected in the held to maturity portfolio and recorded at amortized cost in the consolidated balance sheet and not fair value. The held to maturity portfolio is comprised of long duration non-U.S. sovereign government and government-related securities which are primarily Euro denominated. The Company believes this held to maturity strategy is achievable due to the relatively stable and predictable cash flows of the Company’s long-term liabilities within its Life operations along with its ability to substitute other assets at a future date in the event that liquidity was required due to changes in expected cash flows or other transactions entered into related to the long-term liabilities supported by the held to maturity portfolio. The unrealized appreciation at the date of the transfer continues to be reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity and is being amortized over the remaining lives of the securities as an adjustment to yield in a manner consistent with the amortization of any premium or discount. The unrealized U.S. dollar equivalent appreciation on the date of transfer was $51.2 million and $46.6 million of this balance remains unamortized at March 31, 2010.

     Fixed Maturities–Held to Maturity

          The fair values and amortized cost of held to maturity fixed maturities at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2010
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Cost or
Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 


 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related

 

$

516,470

 

$

8,455

 

$

(2,620

)

$

522,305

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities held to maturity

 

$

516,470

 

$

8,455

 

$

(2,620

)

$

522,305

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Cost or
Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 


 


 


 


 


 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related

 

$

546,067

 

$

 

$

(15,748

)

$

530,319

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities held to maturity

 

$

546,067

 

$

 

$

(15,748

)

$

530,319

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

          The Company had gross unrealized losses totaling $2.6 million and $15.7 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, which it considers to be temporarily impaired. The Company’s held to maturity portfolio consists entirely of Non-U.S. sovereign holdings and all held to maturity fixed maturity securities have a maturity distribution of due after 10 years at each of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

26


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

6. Derivative Instruments

          The Company enters into derivative instruments for both risk management and investment purposes. The Company is exposed to potential loss from various market risks, and manages its market risks based on guidelines established by management. The Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and measures those instruments at fair value with the changes in fair value of derivatives shown in the consolidated statement of income as “net realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments” unless the derivatives are designated as hedging instruments. The accounting for derivatives that are designated as hedging instruments is described in Item 8, Note 2(h) to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Significant Accounting Policies – Derivative Instruments”, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          The following table summarizes information on the location and gross amounts of derivative fair values contained in the consolidated balance sheet as at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Asset
Derivative
Notional
Amount

 

Asset
Derivative
Fair
Value (1)

 

Liability
Derivative
Notional
Amount

 

Liability
Derivative
Fair
Value (1)

 

Asset
Derivative
Notional
Amount

 

Asset
Derivative
Fair
Value (1)

 

Liability
Derivative
Notional
Amount

 

Liability
Derivative
Fair
Value (1)

 














 












 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts (2)

 

$

2,162,724

 

$

254,098

 

$

95,648

 

$

(8,543

)

$

2,169,642

 

$

238,639

 

$

95,948

 

$

(8,225

)

Foreign exchange contracts

 

 

560,450

 

 

27,822

 

 

 

 

 

 

596,072

 

 

7,526

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

 

$

2,723,174

 

$

281,920

 

$

95,648

 

$

(8,543

)

$

2,765,714

 

$

246,165

 

$

95,948

 

$

(8,225

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Related Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate exposure

 

$

1,962,336

 

$

572

 

$

1,800

 

$

(4

)

$

111,875

 

$

1,248

 

$

1,800

 

$

(6

)

Foreign exchange exposure

 

 

482,598

 

 

23,238

 

 

300,064

 

 

(12,653

)

 

545,319

 

 

9,070

 

 

314,361

 

 

(8,226

)

Credit exposure

 

 

219,650

 

 

8,748

 

 

342,000

 

 

(3,914

)

 

214,650

 

 

13,244

 

 

741,388

 

 

(18,198

)

Financial market exposure

 

 

300,310

 

 

1,617

 

 

 

 

 

 

306,464

 

 

1,983

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Operations Derivatives: (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit exposure

 

 

 

 

 

 

265,511

 

 

(22,386

)

 

 

 

 

 

271,704

 

 

(18,386

)

Other Non-Investment Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent capital facility

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guaranteed minimum income benefit contract

 

 

 

 

 

 

87,098

 

 

(21,296

)

 

 

 

 

 

86,250

 

 

(22,909

)

Modified coinsurance funds withheld contract

 

 

 

 

 

 

68,746

 

 

(285

)

 

 

 

 

 

71,695

 

 

(266

)

Foreign exchange exposure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

 

$

3,314,894

 

$

34,175

 

$

1,065,219

 

$

(60,538

)

$

1,528,308

 

$

25,545

 

$

1,487,198

 

$

(67,991

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 


 

 


 

 

(1)

Derivative instruments in an asset or liability position are included within Other Assets or Other Liabilities, respectively, in the Balance Sheet.

 

 

(2)

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company held net cash collateral related to these derivative assets of $195.3 million and $169.1 million. The collateral balance is included within cash and cash equivalents and the corresponding liability to return the collateral has been offset against the derivative asset within the balance sheet as appropriate under the netting agreement.

 

 


(3)

Financial operations derivatives represent interests in variable interest entities as described in Note 10, “Variable Interest Entities.”

   

27


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

6. Derivative Instruments (Continued)

          (a) Derivative Instruments Designated as Fair Value Hedges

          The Company designates certain of its derivative instruments as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges and formally and contemporaneously documents all relationships between the hedging instruments and hedged items and links the hedging derivative to specific assets and liabilities. The Company assesses the effectiveness of the hedge, both at inception and on an on-going basis and determines whether the hedge is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of the linked hedged item.

          At March 31, 2010, a portion of the Company’s liabilities are hedged against changes in the applicable designated benchmark interest rate. Interest rate swaps are also used to hedge the changes in fair value of certain fixed rate liabilities and fixed income securities due to changes in the designated benchmark interest rate. In addition, the Company utilizes foreign exchange contracts to hedge the fair value of certain fixed income securities as well as to hedge certain net investments in foreign operations.

          The following table provides the total impact on earnings relating to derivative instruments formally designated as fair value hedges along with the impacts of the related hedged items for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At March 31, 2010
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Hedged Items – Amount of Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income Attributable to
Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Derivatives Designated as Fair Value
Hedges:

 

Gain/(Loss)
Recognized
in Income on
Derivative

 

Deposit
Liabilities

 

Fixed Maturity
Investments

 

Notes
Payable and
Debt

 

Ineffective
Portion of
Hedging
Relationship –
Gain/ (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 




 


 

 

 

Interest rate exposure

 

$

11,820

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange exposure

 

 

35,244

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

47,064

 

 

(824

)

 

(34,666

)

 

(15,415

)

 

(3,841

)

 

 



 









 



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At March 31, 2009
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Hedged Items – Amount of Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income Attributable to
Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Derivatives Designated as Fair Value
Hedges:

 

Gain/(Loss)
Recognized
in Income on
Derivative

 

Deposit
Liabilities

 

Fixed Maturity
Investments

 

Notes
Payable and
Debt

 

Ineffective
Portion of
Hedging
Relationship –
Gain/ (Loss
)

 

 

 

 

 

 





 


 

 

 

 

Interest rate exposure

 

$

(62,639

)

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange exposure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

(62,639

)

 

64,804

 

 

(854

)

 

 

 

1,311

 

 

 



 









 



 

          The gains (losses) recorded on both the derivatives instruments and specific items designated as being hedged as part of the fair value hedging relationships outlined above are recorded through net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments in the income statement along with any associated ineffectiveness in the relationships. In addition, the periodic coupon settlements relating to the interest rate swaps are recorded as adjustments to net investment income for the hedges of fixed maturity investments and as adjustments to interest expense for the hedges of deposit liabilities and notes payable and debt. These coupon settlements resulted in increases to net investment income of $3.8 million and $2.5 million at March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively. The coupon settlements also resulted in a decrease in interest expense of $9.2 million and $6.2 million at March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively.

28


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

6. Derivative Instruments (Continued)

          (b) Derivative Instruments Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

          During March 2007, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement in connection with the issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes, as described in Item 8, Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Notes Payable and Debt and Financing Arrangements,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. This transaction, which met the requirements of accounting guidance applicable to a cash flow hedge of a forecasted transaction, was entered into to mitigate the interest rate risk associated with the subsequent issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes. The gain on the settlement of the swap transaction on May 2, 2007 of $3.8 million was credited to AOCI and is being amortized to interest expense over the 20-year term of the related debt. In addition, the Company entered into a treasury rate guarantee agreement in anticipation of the issuance of $300.0 million of 5.25% Senior Notes due September 15, 2014 during 2004. The loss on the settlement of the treasury rate guarantee transaction on August 18, 2004 of $6.3 million was charged to AOCI and is being amortized to interest expense over the 10-year term of the related debt. The impact on earnings relating to these derivative instruments formally designated as cash flow hedges for each of the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were increases to interest expense of $0.1 million.

          (c) Derivative Instruments Designated as Hedges of the Net Investment in a Foreign Operation

          The Company utilizes foreign exchange contracts to hedge the fair value of certain net investments in foreign operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company entered into foreign exchange contracts that were formally designated as hedges of the investment in foreign subsidiaries with functional currencies of U.K. Sterling and the Euro. The U.S. Dollar equivalent of foreign denominated net assets of $372.7 million was hedged which resulted in a derivative gain of $22.6 million being recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment account within AOCI. There was no ineffectiveness resulting from these transactions. The Company did not have any hedge of net investments in foreign operations in place during the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

          (d) Derivative Instruments Not Formally Designated As Hedging Instruments

          The following table provides the total impact on earnings relating to derivative instruments not formally designated as hedging instruments under authoritative accounting guidance. The impacts are all recorded through Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives in the income statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative

 

 

 


 

 

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,
2010

 

Three Months Ended March 31,
2009

 

 

 


 


 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Related Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate exposure

 

$

1,997

 

$

873

 

Foreign exchange exposure

 

 

(13,437

)

 

(6,416

)

Credit exposure

 

 

(1,271

)

 

1,036

 

Financial market exposure

 

 

511

 

 

1,960

 

Financial Operations Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit exposure

 

 

(4,002

)

 

5,585

 

Other Non-Investment Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent capital facility

 

 

(2,030

)

 

(2,030

)

Guaranteed minimum income benefit contract

 

 

1,613

 

 

(3,963

)

Modified coinsurance funds withheld contract

 

 

(20

)

 

237

 

 

 



 



 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

 

 

(16,639

)

 

(2,718

)

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income from ineffective portion of fair value hedges

 

 

(3,841

)

 

1,311

 

 

 



 



 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

 

$

(20,480

)

$

(1,407

)

 

 



 



 

          The Company’s objectives in using these derivatives are explained in sections (d) and (e) of this note below.

29


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

6. Derivative Instruments (Continued)

          d)(i) Investment Related Derivatives

          The Company, either directly or through its investment managers, may use derivative instruments within its investment portfolio, including interest rate swaps, inflation swaps, credit derivatives (single name and index credit default swaps), options, forward contracts and financial futures (foreign exchange, bond and stock index futures), primarily as a means of economically hedging exposures to interest rate, credit spread, equity price changes and foreign currency risk or in limited instances for investment purposes. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties under any swap contracts although the Company generally seeks to use credit support arrangements with counterparties to help manage this risk.

          Investment Related Derivatives–Interest Rate Exposure

          The Company utilizes risk management and overlay strategies that incorporate the use of derivative financial instruments, primarily to manage its fixed income portfolio duration and exposure to interest rate risks associated with certain of its assets and liabilities primarily in relation to certain legacy other financial lines and structured indemnity transactions. The Company uses interest rate swaps to convert certain liabilities from a fixed rate to a variable rate of interest and may also use them to convert a variable rate of interest from one basis to another.

          Investment Related Derivatives – Foreign Exchange Exposure

          The Company uses foreign exchange contracts to manage its exposure to the effects of fluctuating foreign currencies on the value of certain of its foreign currency fixed maturities primarily within its Life operations portfolio. These contracts are not designated as specific hedges for financial reporting purposes and therefore, realized and unrealized gains and losses on these contracts are recorded in income in the period in which they occur. These contracts generally have maturities of twelve months or less.

          In addition, certain of the Company’s investment managers may, subject to investment guidelines, enter into forward contracts where potential gains may exist. The Company has exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations through its operations and in its investment portfolio.

          Investment Related Derivatives – Credit Exposure

          Credit derivatives are purchased within the Company’s investment portfolio in the form of single name and basket credit default swaps, which are used to mitigate credit exposure through a reduction in credit spread duration (i.e. macro credit strategies rather than single-name credit hedging) or exposure to selected issuers, including issuers that are not held in the underlying bond portfolio.

          Investment Related Derivatives – Financial Market Exposure

          Stock index futures may be purchased within the Company’s investment portfolio in order to create synthetic equity exposure and to add value to the portfolio with overlay strategies where market inefficiencies are believed to exist. The Company previously wrote a number of resettable strike swaps contracts relating to an absolute return index and diversified baskets of funds. Finally, from time to time, the Company may enter into other financial market exposure derivative contracts on various indices including, but not limited to, inflation and commodity contracts.

          (d)(ii) Financial Operations Derivatives – Credit Exposure

          The Company held credit derivative exposures through a limited number of contracts written as part of the Company’s previous financial lines businesses, and through the Company’s prior reinsurance agreements with Syncora, as described below. Following the secondary sale of Syncora common shares, the Company retained some credit derivative exposures written by Syncora and certain of its subsidiaries through reinsurance agreements that had certain derivatives exposures embedded within them. The change in value of the derivative portion of the financial guarantee reinsurance agreements the Company had with Syncora was included in “Net (loss) income from operating affiliates.” Following the closing of the Master Agreement during August 2008, as described in Item 8, Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Syncora Holdings Ltd.,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which terminated certain reinsurance and other agreements, these credit derivative exposures were eliminated by virtue of the commutation of the relevant reinsurance agreements.

30


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

6. Derivative Instruments (Continued)

          (d)(ii) Financial Operations Derivatives – Credit Exposure (Continued)

          As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 the remaining credit derivative exposures outside of the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of 2 contracts written by the Company that provide credit protection on senior tranches of structured finance transactions with total insured contractual payments outstanding of $265.5 million ($240.9 million principal and $24.6 million interest), and $271.7 million ($244.9 million principal and $26.8 million interest), weighted average contractual term to maturity of 5.7 years and 6.0 years, a total liability recorded of $22.4 million and $18.4 million, respectively, and underlying obligations with an average rating of A at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. As of March 31, 2010, there were no reported events of default on the underlying obligations. Credit derivatives are recorded at fair values, which are determined using either models developed by the Company or third party prices and are dependent upon a number of factors, including changes in interest rates, future default rates, credit spreads, changes in credit quality, future expected recovery rates and other market factors. The change resulting from movements in credit and credit quality spreads is unrealized as the credit derivatives are not traded to realize this resultant value.

          (d)(iii) Other Non-Investment Derivatives

          The Company entered into derivatives as part of its contingent capital facility including put options, interest rate swaps, and asset return swaps. These derivatives are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings.

          The Company also has derivatives embedded in certain reinsurance contracts. For a particular life reinsurance contract, the Company pays the ceding company a fixed amount equal to the estimated present value of the excess of guaranteed benefit GMIB over the account balance upon the policyholder’s election to take the income benefit. The fair value of this derivative is determined based on the present value of expected cash flows. In addition, the Company has modified coinsurance and funds withheld reinsurance agreements that provide for a return based on a portfolio of fixed income securities. As such, the agreements contain embedded derivatives. The embedded derivative is bifurcated from the funds withheld balance and recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings through net realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments.

           (e) Contingent Credit Features

          Certain derivatives agreements entered into by the Company or its subsidiaries contain rating downgrade provisions that permit early termination of the agreement by the counterparty if collateral is not posted following failure to maintain certain credit ratings from one or more of the principal credit rating agencies. If the Company were required to early terminate such agreements due to rating downgrade, it could potentially be in a net liability position at time of settlement. The aggregate fair value of all derivatives agreements containing such rating downgrade provisions that were in a liability position on March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $27.5 million and $30.8 million, respectively. The Company has not been required to post collateral under any of these agreements as of March 31, 2010.

7. Share Capital

          (a) Authorized and Issued

          As described in further detail within Item 8, Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Share Capital,” in the Company’s Annual Report of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, on February 15, 2009 following the maturity of the purchase contracts associated with the 7.0% equity security units, the Company issued 11,461,080 shares for net proceeds of approximately $745.0 million, which was used to retire the senior notes previously due February 2011, which had a fixed coupon of 5.25%.

          (b) Redeemable Series C Preference Ordinary Shares

          On February 12, 2010, the Company repurchased a portion of its outstanding Series C Preference Ordinary Shares which resulted in approximately 4.4 million Series C Preference Ordinary Shares with a liquidation value of $110.8 million being purchased by the Company for approximately $94.2 million. As a result, a book value gain of approximately $16.6 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2010 to common shareholders.

          On March 26, 2009, the Company completed a cash tender offer for a portion of its outstanding Series C Preference Ordinary Shares that resulted in approximately 12.7 million Series C Preference Ordinary Shares with a liquidation value of $317.3 million being purchased by the Company for approximately $104.7 million plus accrued and unpaid dividends, combined with professional fees totaling $0.8 million. As a result, a book value gain of approximately $211.8 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2009 to common shareholders.

31


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

7. Share Capital (Continued)

          (c) Stock Plans

          The Company’s Performance Incentive Programs provide for grants of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units and stock appreciation rights. Share based compensation granted by the Company generally contains a vesting period of three or four years and certain awards will also contain performance conditions. The Company records compensation expense related to each award over its vesting period incorporating the best estimate of the expected outcome of performance conditions where applicable. Compensation expense is generally recorded on a straight line basis over the vesting period of an award. See Item 8, Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Share Capital,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further information on the company’s Performance Incentive Programs and associated accounting.

          On February 28, 2010, the Company granted approximately 0.9 million stock options with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $9.32 per option. The fair value of the options issued was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following weighted average assumptions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend yield

 

 

3.25

%

 

Risk free interest rate

 

 

2.73

%

 

Volatility

 

 

72.5

%

 

Expected lives

 

 

6.0

 years

          On February 28, 2010, the Company granted approximately 1.1 million restricted stock units to officers of the Company and its subsidiaries with an aggregate grant date fair value of approximately $20.2 million. Each restricted stock unit represents the Company’s obligation to deliver to the holder one Class A Ordinary Share upon satisfaction of the three year vesting term. Restricted stock units are granted at the closing market price on the day of grant and entitle the holder to receive dividends declared and paid in the form of additional Class A Ordinary Shares contingent upon vesting.

          On February 28, 2010, the Company granted approximately 1.5 million performance units (representing a potential maximum share payout of approximately 3.1 million Class A Ordinary Shares) to certain employees with an aggregate grant date fair value of approximately $26.3 million. The performance units vest after three years and entitle the holder to shares of the Company’s stock. There are no dividend rights associated with the performance units. Each grant of performance units has a target number of shares, with final payouts ranging from 0% to 200% of the grant amount depending upon a combination of corporate and business segment performance along with each employee’s continued service through the vest date. Performance targets are based on relative and absolute financial performance metrics.

8. XL Capital Finance (Europe) plc

          XL Capital Finance (Europe) plc (“XLFE”) is a wholly owned finance subsidiary of the Company. In January 2002, XLFE issued $600.0 million par value 6.5% Guaranteed Senior Notes due January 2012. These Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. XL Capital Ltd’s ability to obtain funds from its subsidiaries is subject to certain contractual restrictions, applicable laws and statutory requirements of the various countries in which the Company operates including Bermuda, the U.S. and the U.K., among others. Required statutory capital and surplus for the principal operating subsidiaries of the Company was $7.0 billion as of December 31, 2009.

32


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

9. Related Party Transactions

          At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company owned non-controlling stakes in eight and nine independent investment management companies (“Investment Manager Affiliates”) totaling $162.0 million and $210.7 million, respectively. The Company sought to develop relationships with specialty investment management organizations, generally acquiring an equity interest in the business. The Company also invests in certain of the funds and limited partnerships and other legal entities managed by these affiliates and through these funds and partnerships pay management and performance fees to the Company’s Investment Manager Affiliates.

          In the normal course of business, the Company enters into certain quota share reinsurance contracts with a subsidiary of one of its other strategic affiliates, ARX Holding Corporation. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, these contracts resulted in reported net premiums of $31.1 million, net paid claims of $13.5 million and reported acquisition costs of $14.3 million. During the same period in 2009, these contracts resulted in reported net premiums of $10.3 million, net paid claims of $8.1 million and reported acquisition costs of $5.8 million. Management believes that these transactions are conducted at market rates consistent with negotiated arms-length contracts.

          In the normal course of business, the Company enters into cost sharing and service level agreement transactions with certain other strategic affiliates, which management believes to be conducted consistent with arms-length rates. Such transactions, individually and in the aggregate, are not material to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

10. Variable Interest Entities

          At times, the Company has utilized variable interest entities both indirectly and directly in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.

          The Company invests in CDOs, and other structured investment vehicles that are issued through variable interest entities as part of the Company’s investment portfolio. The activities of these variable interest entities are generally limited to holding the underlying collateral used to service investments therein. Management has evaluated the nature of the Company’s involvement in such entities and has concluded that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of these variable interest entities as contemplated in current authoritative accounting guidance. The Company’s involvement in these entities is passive in nature and management was not involved in either the establishment or arrangement of these entities. Management does not believe that the Company has the power to direct activities, such as asset selection and collateral management, which most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. The Company’s financial results are impacted by the changes in fair value of the variable interest entities consistent with the accounting policies applied to invested assets. For further details on the nature of the Company’s investment portfolio, in particular mortgage and asset backed securities which typically represent interests in variable interest entities, see Item 8, Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Investments,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          The Company has utilized variable interest entities in certain instances as a means of accessing contingent capital. The Company has utilized unconsolidated entities in the formation of contingent capital facilities. The Company’s interest in Stoneheath Re (“Stoneheath”) represents an interest in a variable interest entity under current authoritative accounting guidance; however, the Company is not the primary beneficiary as contemplated in that guidance. The Company’s interest in such entities is as a contributor of variability and not an absorber of losses and, as such, the Company would not be considered the primary beneficiary. Given that there are no contractual requirements or intentions to enter into additional variable interests in this entity, management considers the likelihood of consolidating Stoneheath in the future to be remote. For further details regarding Stoneheath, see Item 8, Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          The Company has a limited number of remaining outstanding credit enhancement exposures including written financial guarantee and credit default swap contracts. The obligations related to these transactions are often securitized through variable interest entities. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of these variable interest entities as contemplated in current authoritative accounting guidance on the basis that management does not believe that the Company has the power to direct the activities, such as asset selection and collateral management, which most significantly impact each entity’s economic performance. For further details on the nature of the obligations and the size of the Company’s maximum exposure see Item 8, Note 2(r), “Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” and Note 17, “Derivative Instruments,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          The credit exposures represent the most significant risks associated with the Company’s involvement with variable interest entities and there have been no significant changes in the nature of the Company’s involvement with variable interest entities during the three months ended March 31, 2010.

33


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

11. Computation of Earnings Per Ordinary Share and Ordinary Share Equivalent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

Basic earnings per ordinary share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

143,880

 

$

3,097

 

Less: preference share dividends

 

 

(32,500

)

 

(36,534

)

Add: gain on redemption of Series C Preference Ordinary Shares

 

 

16,616

 

 

211,816

 

 

 



 



 

Net income available to ordinary shareholders

 

$

127,996

 

$

178,379

 

 

 



 



 

Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding

 

 

342,148

 

 

336,217

 

Basic earnings per ordinary share

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.53

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per ordinary share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

143,880

 

$

3,097

 

Less: preference share dividends

 

 

(32,500

)

 

(36,534

)

Add: gain on redemption of Series C Preference Ordinary Shares

 

 

16,616

 

 

211,816

 

 

 



 



 

Net income available to ordinary shareholders

 

$

127,996

 

$

178,379

 

 

 



 



 

Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding – basic

 

 

342,148

 

 

336,217

 

Impact of share based compensation and certain conversion features

 

 

612

 

 

1

 

 

 



 



 

Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding – diluted

 

 

342,760

 

 

336,218

 

 

 



 



 

Diluted earnings per ordinary share

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.53

 

 

 



 



 

Dividends per ordinary share

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.10

 

 

 



 



 

12. Commitments and Contingencies

          Financial and Other Guarantee Exposures

          As part of the Company’s legacy financial guarantee business, which was put into run off in 2008, the Company’s outstanding financial guarantee contracts as of March 31, 2010 included the reinsurance of 41 financial guarantee contracts with total insured contractual payments outstanding of $674.7 million ($544.3 million of principal and $130.4 million of interest) and having a remaining weighted-average contract period of 11.3 years. The total gross claim liability and unearned premiums recorded at March 31, 2010 were $14.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Of the contractual exposure existing at March 31, 2010, the Company has reinsured $373.9 million with subsidiaries of Syncora Holdings Ltd (“Syncora”), however, as of March 31, 2010 there are no gross claim liabilities or recoverables recorded relating to this exposure. Of the 41 contracts noted above, 3 contracts with total insured contractual payments outstanding of $15.7 million had experienced an event of default and were considered by the Company to be non-performing at March 31, 2010, while the remaining 38 contracts were considered to be performing at such date. As of December 31, 2009, the Company’s outstanding financial guarantee contracts that were subject to the new accounting guidance included the reinsurance of 41 financial guarantee contracts with total insured contractual payments outstanding of $713.6 million ($568.2 million of principal and $145.4 million of interest) and having a remaining weighted-average contract period of 11.5 years. The total gross claim liability and unearned premiums recorded at December 31, 2009 were $14.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively. Of the contractual exposure existing at December 31, 2009, the Company had reinsured $401.9 million with subsidiaries of Syncora however as at December 31, 2009 no reinsurance balances recoverable from Syncora had been recorded. Of the 41 contracts noted above, 3 contracts with total insured contractual payments outstanding of $16.1 million had experienced an event of default and were considered by the Company to be non-performing at December 31, 2009, while the remaining 38 contracts were considered to be performing at such date. Surveillance procedures to track and monitor credit deteriorations in the insured financial obligations are performed by the primary obligors for each transaction on the Company’s behalf. Information regarding the performance status and updated exposure values is provided to the Company on a quarterly basis and evaluated by management in recording claims reserves.

34


XL CAPITAL LTD

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

12. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

          The Company continues to be subject to guarantees provided in respect of financial guaranty policies issued by subsidiaries of Syncora to the European Investment Bank (the “EIB Policies”), subject to certain limitations, which have been accounted for under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) section 460-10, Guarantees (previously FIN 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.”) These guarantees were provided for the benefit of EIB Policies relating to project finance transactions comprised of transportation, school and hospital projects with an average rating of BBB, written between 2001 and 2006 with anticipated maturities ranging between 2027 and 2038. As at March 31, 2010, the Company’s exposures relating to the EIB Policies was approximately $869.3 million, as compared to $920.4 million at December 31, 2009, decreasing mainly due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the currencies of the underlying obligations. As of March 31, 2010, there have been no reported events of default on the underlying obligations. Accordingly, no reserves have been recorded.

13. Taxation

          During the first quarter of 2010, the Company revised its capital strategy such that it is no longer able to positively assert that all earnings arising within the United States will be permanently reinvested in that jurisdiction. As a result, the effective tax rate for the quarter includes a provision for withholding tax on certain earnings arising in the United States. The impact of this change on the estimated effective rate for the quarter is an increase of approximately 0.5%.

35



 

 

 


 

 

ITEM 2.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


 

 

          General

          The following is a discussion of the Company’s financial condition and liquidity and results of operations. Certain aspects of the Company’s business have loss experience characterized as low frequency and high severity. This may result in volatility in both the Company’s and an individual segment’s results of operations and financial condition.

          This “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon current plans, estimates and projections. Actual results may differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on them. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below for a list of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

          This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto, presented under Item 7 and Item 8, respectively, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

           Executive Overview

          See “Executive Overview” in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          Results of Operations and Key Financial Measures

          The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s net income available to ordinary shareholders and other financial measures (described below) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

Net income available to ordinary shareholders

 

$

127,996

 

$

178,379

 

Earnings per ordinary share – basic

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.53

 

Earnings per ordinary share – diluted

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.53

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary share equivalents – basic

 

 

342,148

 

 

336,217

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary share equivalents – diluted

 

 

342,760

 

 

336,218

 

          The following are some of the financial measures management considers important in evaluating the Company’s operating performance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except ratios and per share amounts)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

Underwriting profit (loss) – property and casualty operations

 

$

(6,610

)

$

103,852

 

Combined ratio – property and casualty operations

 

 

100.5

%

 

92.1

%

Net investment income – property and casualty operations

 

$

223,639

 

$

262,460

 

Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity

 

 

5.9

%

 

13.9

%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
March 31,
2010

 

December 31,
2009

 

 

 


 


 

Book value per ordinary share

 

$

26.42

 

$

24.64

 

Fully diluted book value per ordinary share (1)

 

$

26.38

 

$

24.60

 


 

 

 


 

 

(1)

Fully diluted book value per ordinary share is a non-GAAP measure and represents book value per ordinary share combined with the impact from dilution of share based compensation including in-the-money stock options at any period end. The Company believes that fully diluted book value per ordinary share is a financial measure important to investors and other interested parties who benefit from having a consistent basis for comparison with other companies within the industry. However, this measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by companies either outside or inside of the insurance industry.

36


Key Financial Measures

Underwriting profit – property and casualty operations

          One way that the Company evaluates the performance of its insurance and reinsurance operations is the underwriting profit or loss. The Company does not measure performance based on the amount of gross premiums written. Underwriting profit or loss is calculated from premiums earned less net losses incurred and expenses related to underwriting activities. The Company’s underwriting profit for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 was primarily reflective of the combined ratio discussed below.

Combined ratio – property and casualty operations

          The combined ratio for Property and Casualty (“P&C”) operations is used by the Company and many other insurance and reinsurance companies as another measure of underwriting profitability. The combined ratio is calculated from the net losses incurred and underwriting expenses as a ratio of the net premiums earned for the Company’s insurance and reinsurance operations. A combined ratio of less than 100% indicates an underwriting profit and greater than 100% reflects an underwriting loss. The Company’s combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2010, is higher than the same period in the previous year, primarily as a result of an increase in the loss and loss expense ratio, partially offset by a decrease in the underwriting expense ratio. The loss and loss expense ratio has increased as a result of higher levels of catastrophe losses in both the insurance and reinsurance segments. The decreased underwriting expense ratio is reflective of the additional costs incurred in 2009 associated with the Company’s restructuring activities.

Net investment income – property and casualty operations

          Net investment income related to P&C operations is an important measure that affects the Company’s overall profitability. The largest liability of the Company relates to its unpaid loss reserves, and the Company’s investment portfolio provides liquidity for claims settlements of these reserves as they become due. Thus, a significant part of the investment portfolio is invested in fixed income securities. Net investment income is influenced by a number of factors, including the amounts and timing of inward and outward cash flows, the level of interest rates and credit spreads and changes in overall asset allocation. Net investment income related to P&C operations decreased by $38.8 million during the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period in the prior year. Overall, portfolio yields have decreased as a result of the impact of declines in U.S. interest rates, and particularly the impact of decreased U.S. Dollar Libor on the Company’s floating rate securities previously supporting the GIC and funding agreement business. In addition, the Company increased its holdings in lower-yielding cash, government and agency RMBS securities in connection with its investment portfolio de-risking efforts as the Company re-aligned its portfolio to one more typical of a P&C portfolio.

Book value per ordinary share

          Management also views the change in the Company’s book value per ordinary share as an additional measure of the Company’s performance. Book value per ordinary share is calculated by dividing ordinary shareholders’ equity by the number of outstanding ordinary shares at any period end. Book value per ordinary share is affected primarily by the Company’s net income (loss), by any changes in the net unrealized gains and losses on its investment portfolio and currency translation adjustments and also the impact of any share repurchase or issuance activity.

          Book value per ordinary share increased by $1.78 in the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to a decrease of $0.44 during the first three months of 2009. During the first three months of 2010, there was a decrease in net unrealized losses of $0.6 billion, net of tax. The impact of improved credit spreads in certain asset classes combined with the benefit from declining interest rates near the end of the quarter resulted in overall increased book value. In addition, book value per ordinary share increased as a result of net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of $128.0 million which included a $16.6 million gain associated with the purchase of an additional portion of the Company’s Redeemable Series C Preference Ordinary Shares.

          As noted above, fully diluted book value per ordinary share represents book value per ordinary share combined with the impact from dilution of share based compensation including in-the-money stock options and certain other share based compensation units at any period end. Fully diluted book value per ordinary share increased by $1.78 and decreased by $0.44 during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as a result of the factors noted above.

Annualized return on average ordinary shareholders’ equity

          Return on average ordinary shareholder’s equity (“ROE”) is another financial measure that management considers important in evaluating the Company’s operating performance. ROE is calculated by dividing the net income for any period by the average of the opening and closing ordinary shareholders’ equity. The Company establishes minimum target ROEs for its total operations, segments and lines of business. If the Company’s minimum ROE targets over the longer term are not met with respect to any line of business, the Company seeks to modify and/or exit these lines. In addition, among other factors, the Company’s compensation of its senior officers is dependent on the achievement of the Company’s performance goals to enhance shareholder value as measured by ROE (adjusted for certain items considered to be ‘non-operating’ in nature). In the first quarter of 2010, ROE was 5.9%, significantly lower than the same period in the prior year when it was 13.9%, mainly as a result of a slight decrease in earnings combined with significantly higher equity levels during 2010 following the increase in value of the Company’s investment portfolio.

37


Significant Items Affecting the Results of Operations

          The Company’s net income and other financial measures as shown above for the three months ended March 31, 2010 have been affected by among other things, the following significant items:

 

 

 

 

1)

The impact of natural catastrophes during the first quarter of 2010;

 

 

 

 

2)

Market movement impacts on the Company’s investment portfolio;

 

 

 

 

3)

Continuing competitive factors impacting the underwriting environment.

1) The impact of natural catastrophes during the first quarter of 2010

          Net losses incurred were higher during the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 as a result of higher levels of natural catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2010, mainly as a result of the Chilean Earthquake and European Windstorm Xynthia.

          The Company recorded preliminary loss estimates related to the Chilean Earthquake, pretax and net of reinsurance of approximately $157.1 million, of which $78.0 million is attributable to the Insurance segment and $79.1 million to the Reinsurance segment.

          Management’s preliminary loss estimates related to Windstorm Xynthia, pretax and net of reinsurance, were approximately $23.5 million almost exclusively in the Reinsurance segment.

          The Company’s March 31, 2010 estimates are based on its review of individual treaties and policies expected to be impacted along with the limited client data received to date and reflect current total insured market loss estimates, both from published sources and the Company’s internal analysis. To date the Reinsurance segment has received very little reported loss information from its cedents and therefore has relied heavily on modeled loss estimates. These preliminary loss estimates correspond to expected insured market losses in the range of $6 billion to $8 billion for the earthquake in Chile and $1.5 billion to $3 billion for Windstorm Xynthia. Given there is currently a wide range of estimates for the extent of total economic and insured industry losses, the Company’s loss estimates involve the exercise of considerable judgment and are, accordingly, subject to revision as additional information becomes available. Actual losses may differ materially from these preliminary estimates.

          For further details see the segment results in the “Income Statement Analysis” below.

2) Market movement impacts on the Company’s investment portfolio

          During the three months ended March 31, 2010, financial market conditions continued to improve. Credit spreads continued to tighten as economic indicies pointed to a gradual economic recovery. Interest rates also declined in the Company’s major markets. The net impact of the market conditions on the Company’s investment portfolio for the year resulted in a decrease in net unrealized losses on available for sale investments as compared to December 31, 2009 of $0.5 billion. This represents approximately a 1.2% appreciation on average assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

          The following table provides further detail regarding the movements in the global credit markets, as well as in government interest rates using some sample market indices:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Movement for the quarter
ended March 31, 2010 (1)

 

Credit Spread Movement for the quarter
ended March 31, 2010 (2)

 

 

(‘+’/‘-’ represents increases / decreases in interest rates)

 

(‘-’ represents tightening of credit spreads)

United States

 

- 14 basis points (5 year Treasury)

 

- 35 basis points (US Corporate A rated)

 

 

+ 4 basis points (3 month LIBOR)

 

- 1 basis points (US Agency RMBS, AAA rated)

 

 

 

 

- 109 basis points (US CMBS, AAA rated)

United Kingdom

 

- 8 basis points (10 year Gilt)

 

- 27 basis points (UK Corporate, AA rated)

Euro-zone

 

- 29 basis points (5 year Bund)

 

- 26 basis points (Europe Corporate, A rated)


 

 

 


 

(1)

Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.

 

 

(2)

Source: Merrill Lynch Global Indices.

          Net realized losses on investments in the quarter ended March 31, 2010 totaled $36.2 million, including net realized losses of approximately $40.2 million related to the impairment of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments, where the Company determined that there was an other-than-temporary decline in the value of those investments related to credit.

38


          Of the $36.2 million, there were net realized losses of $28.9 million related to credit impairments on structured credit securities. Primarily these represented below investment grade non-Agency RMBS, including those with sub-prime and Alt-A collateral. A further $5.3 million in net realized losses related to impairments of medium term notes backed primarily by investment grade European credit. The remaining impairment during the quarter was spread across the investment portfolio including non-equity accounted alternative funds and other fixed income investments. Consistent with prior quarters, management continues to evaluate the impairment of the investment portfolio and satisfy itself that the remaining gross unrealized losses are temporary in nature.

3) Continuing competitive factors impacting the underwriting environment

          Insurance

          The market conditions within the core lines of business of the Insurance segment during the first quarter 2010 saw renewals and new business reflect continued competitive pressures both in terms of pricing and terms and conditions. Premium rates reflected an aggregate price decrease of approximately 1.3% for the entire book, largely influenced by 2-3% rate declines in the Insurance segment’s P&C and professional lines offset by single digit increases in certain niche specialty and casualty lines. Retention ratios have shown significant improvement over the prior year quarter as concerns over the Company’s financial condition have dissipated as most insurance lines experienced a 10% improvement in retention over the prior year quarter led by a 19% increase in professional lines. The overall Insurance segment retention rate has improved back to historical levels from 70% in the prior year quarter to 86% in the current year quarter.

          Gross premiums written in the first quarter of 2010 were favorable to the prior year quarter by 3.7% driven by new business particularly in professional, aviation, marine and middle market lines, improved retentions across all lines of business, and favorable foreign exchange rate movements. The favorable variance was partially impacted by the Company’s decision to reduce its writings of long-term agreements, and the strategic decisions to exit some specific sub-lines of business and to terminate an automobile warranty program and an aerospace managing general agency (“MGA”) contract.

          The following table provides an analysis of gross premiums written, net premiums written and net premiums earned for the Insurance segment for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2010

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2009 (1)

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

Gross
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Earned

 

Gross
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Earned

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Casualty – professional lines

 

$

266,533

 

$

248,675

 

$

337,058

 

$

213,755

 

$

202,288

 

$

315,616

 

Casualty – other lines

 

 

287,557

 

 

200,408

 

 

162,548

 

 

311,748

 

 

207,507

 

 

154,505

 

Property catastrophe

 

 

(6

)

 

116

 

 

116

 

 

(8

)

 

114

 

 

114

 

Other property

 

 

210,813

 

 

149,579

 

 

97,539

 

 

196,277

 

 

138,860

 

 

109,436

 

Marine, energy, aviation, and satellite

 

 

201,783

 

 

168,054

 

 

140,770

 

 

194,402

 

 

146,422

 

 

147,648

 

Other specialty lines (2)

 

 

161,854

 

 

130,837

 

 

152,508

 

 

171,692

 

 

131,639

 

 

169,984

 

Other (3)

 

 

2,156

 

 

2,395

 

 

3,946

 

 

3,169

 

 

5,128

 

 

7,946

 

Structured indemnity

 

 

1,200

 

 

1,200

 

 

2,526

 

 

210

 

 

210

 

 

4,862

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

1,131,890

 

$

901,264

 

$

897,011

 

$

1,091,245

 

$

832,168

 

$

910,111

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 


 

(1)

Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to current presentation.

 

 

(2)

Other specialty lines within the Insurance segment includes: environmental, programs, equine, warranty, specie, middle markets and excess and surplus lines.

 

 

(3)

Other includes credit and surety and other lines.

          Reinsurance

          The challenging market conditions remain for the Reinsurance segment. There is abundant capacity across all lines of business, which has greatly affected the rate environment, particularly in US casualty. Gross premiums written in the first quarter of 2010 were flat on the prior year quarter mainly due to regaining business that was lost at the end of 2008 and selected new business opportunities. However, due to market conditions, the Reinsurance segment continues its philosophy of disciplined underwriting where it has, and will shrink the portfolio if market conditions do not warrant deploying capital.

39


          The following table provides an analysis of gross premiums written, net premiums written and net premiums earned for the Reinsurance segment for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2010

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2009

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

Gross
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Earned

 

Gross
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Earned

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Casualty – professional lines

 

$

82,316

 

 

82,406

 

 

55,720

 

$

71,652

 

$

71,653

 

$

61,994

 

Casualty – other lines

 

 

107,962

 

 

107,087

 

 

64,133

 

 

76,642

 

 

73,640

 

 

62,783

 

Property catastrophe

 

 

218,877

 

 

208,968

 

 

84,634

 

 

203,468

 

 

191,868

 

 

70,696

 

Other property

 

 

242,581

 

 

174,009

 

 

113,263

 

 

277,868

 

 

193,962

 

 

142,760

 

Marine, energy, aviation, and satellite

 

 

55,159

 

 

52,072

 

 

20,190

 

 

46,878

 

 

43,895

 

 

21,281

 

Other (1)

 

 

83,335

 

 

70,526

 

 

28,997

 

 

111,649

 

 

99,299

 

 

52,093

 

Structured indemnity

 

 

193

 

 

193

 

 

(347

)

 

(1,174

)

 

(1,174

)

 

(31

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

790,423

 

 

695,261

 

 

366,590

 

$

786,983

 

$

673,143

 

$

411,576

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 


 

(1)

Other includes employers’ liability, surety, political risk and other lines.

Other Key Focuses of Management

          Throughout the latter part of 2009 and into 2010, the Company remains focused on, among other things, simplifying the Company’s business model to focus on core P&C business and enhancing its enterprise risk management capabilities. Details relating to these initiatives are discussed in Other Key Focuses of Management in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. That discussion is updated with the disclosures set forth below.

           Redomestication to Ireland from The Cayman Islands

          On January 12, 2010 the Company announced that it proposes to change the parent holding company’s place of incorporation to Ireland from the Cayman Islands, with the parent holding company to be renamed “XL Group plc”. To effect the redomestication, a new Irish public limited company, XL Group plc, would replace XL Capital Ltd as the ultimate holding company of the XL group of companies, and the Company’s ordinary shareholders would receive one ordinary share of the new Irish company in lieu of each ordinary share of the Company held by them. The Company submitted the proposal for redomestication, along with related proposals, to its shareholders for consideration on April 30, 2010. The redomestication proposal and related proposals were approved. Management plans to complete the transaction on or about July 1, 2010 assuming the transaction is approved by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands at a hearing currently scheduled for May 20, 2010, and that the other conditions to the redomestication are satisfied.

          The Company has operated in Ireland for most of its corporate history and is very familiar with its regulatory and legal environment. Ireland has strong international relationships as a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union, a long history of international investment, and long-established commercial relationships, trade agreements and tax treaties with the other European Union member states, the United States and other countries around the world. As a result, the Company believes Ireland offers a stable long-term legal and regulatory environment with the financial sophistication to meet the needs of XL’s global business. The Company does not expect the redomestication will have any material impact on its financial results. The Company will continue to be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and be subject to SEC reporting requirements. Further, the Company will continue to be subject to the mandates of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), and will continue to report its financial results in U.S. dollars and under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, in addition to any reporting requirements under Irish law. The Company’s shares will continue to trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “XL”.

40


          Capital Management

          Fundamental to supporting the Company’s business model is its ability to underwrite business, which is largely dependent upon the quality of its claims paying and financial strength ratings as evaluated by independent rating agencies. As a result, in the event that the Company is downgraded, its ability to write business as well as its financial condition and/or results of operations, could be adversely affected. See Item 1, “Business – Ratings” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further information regarding rating actions by the various rating agencies, as well as details regarding the Company’s financial strength and debt ratings.

          In relation to the Company’s capital position, the following activities have occurred in 2010:

 

 

 

 

On February 12, 2010, the Company redeemed approximately 4.4 million Series C Preference Ordinary Shares with a liquidation value of $110.8 million for approximately $94.2 million. As a result, a book value gain of approximately $16.6 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2010 to common shareholders.

          Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

          See the discussion of the Company’s Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          Variable Interest Entities and Other Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

          For further information, see the discussion of the Company’s variable interest entities and other off-balance sheet arrangements in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Item 1, Note 10, “Variable Interest Entities”, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

 

 

 

Segment Results for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009

          Following a streamlining of the Company’s operating segments in the first quarter of 2009, the Company is organized into three operating segments: Insurance, Reinsurance and Life operations. The Company’s general investment and financing operations are reflected in Corporate.

          The Company evaluates the performance of both the Insurance and Reinsurance segments based on underwriting profit and the performance of its Life operations segment based on contribution. Other items of revenue and expenditure of the Company are not evaluated at the segment level for reporting purposes. In addition, the Company does not allocate investment assets by segment for its P&C operations. Investment assets related to the Company’s Life operations and certain structured products included in the Insurance and Reinsurance segments are held in separately identified portfolios. As such, net investment income from these assets is included in the contribution from each of these segments.

41


          Income Statement Analysis

          Insurance

          The Company’s Insurance segment provides commercial property, casualty and specialty insurance products on a global basis. Products generally provide tailored coverages for complex corporate risks and include the following lines of business: property, casualty, professional liability, environmental liability, aviation and satellite, marine and offshore energy, equine, fine art and specie, excess and surplus lines and other insurance coverages including program business. These lines of business are divided across operating units: North America Property and Casualty, International Property and Casualty, Global Professional Lines and Global Specialty.

          The following table summarizes the underwriting results for this segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

% Change

 

 

 


 


 


 

Gross premiums written

 

$

1,131,890

 

$

1,091,245

 

 

3.7

%

Net premiums written

 

 

901,264

 

 

832,168

 

 

8.3

%

Net premiums earned

 

 

897,011

 

 

910,111

 

 

(1.4

)%

Net losses and loss expenses

 

 

648,319

 

 

615,214

 

 

5.4

%

Acquisition costs

 

 

110,142

 

 

105,412

 

 

4.5

%

Operating expenses

 

 

153,236

 

 

179,328

 

 

(14.5

)%

 

 



 



 



 

Underwriting profit (loss)

 

$

(14,686)

 

$

10,157

 

 

NM

*

Net results – structured products

 

$

5,639

 

$

3,121

 

 

80.7

%

Fee income and other

 

 

(3,786

)

 

(1,000

)

 

NM

*



 

 

*

NM – Not meaningful

          Gross premiums written increased by 3.7% during the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase was driven largely by improved retention levels across most lines as a result of the Company’s stronger market position since the first quarter of 2009, significant new business in Global Professional Lines and continued growth in our professional, marine and upper middle market businesses. In addition, the Company reported positive amendments to prior year premium estimates. Offsetting the growth were decreases in North American P&C lines mainly due to the run off of a large U.S. automobile warranty program combined with lower new business volume and pricing and in specialty lines, due to the termination of an aviation program in 2009.

          Net premiums written increased by 8.3% in the three month period ended March 31, 2010 compared with the three month period ended March 31, 2010. The increase resulted from the gross written premium increases outlined above coupled with the reduction in ceded written premiums. The decrease in ceded written premiums is largely related to specialty lines due to cost savings from a restructuring of the marine and specie global excess of loss reinsurance. In addition, certain premium adjustments and return premiums in aviation and excess casualty also gave rise to a positive variance on the first quarter of 2009.

          Net premiums earned decreased by 1.4% in the three month period ended March 31, 2010 compared with the three month period ended March 31, 2009. The decrease primarily resulted from planned exit of certain lines of business and the overall earn-out of lower net premiums written in the past twelve months.

          The following table presents the ratios for this segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

Loss and loss expense ratio

 

 

72.3

%

 

67.6

%

Underwriting expense ratio

 

 

29.3

%

 

31.3

%

 

 



 



 

Combined ratio

 

 

101.6

%

 

98.9

%

 

 



 



 

          The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current quarter and any favorable or adverse prior year development of loss and loss expense reserves held at the beginning of the year. The following table summarizes the net (favorable) adverse prior year development relating to the Insurance segment for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

42



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

(U.S. dollars in millions)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

Property

 

$

(24.0

)

$

(9.0

)

Casualty

 

 

(7.0

)

 

2.9

 

Professional

 

 

(1.8

)

 

(12.7

)

Specialty and other

 

 

(0.1

)

 

12.1

 

 

 


 


 

Total

 

$

(32.9

)

$

(6.7

)

 

 


 


 

Loss and loss expense ratio excluding prior year development

 

 

75.9

%

 

68.3

%

 

 


 


 

          Excluding prior year development, the loss ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased by 7.6 loss percentage points as compared to the same period in 2009 due primarily to higher levels of catastrophe losses occurring in the first quarter of 2010. The Chilean Earthquake and European Windstorm Xynthia contributed $78.0 million and $1.5 million in losses respectively to the quarter. Excluding favorable prior year development and catastrophe losses in both quarters, the loss ratio decreased by 0.7 points from 2009 to 2010 due to the mix of business and the premium adjustments noted above.

          Net favorable prior year reserve development of $32.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was mainly attributable to the following:

 

 

For property lines, net prior year development during the quarter was $24.0 million favorable due to lower actual losses than estimated in the first quarter for non-catastrophe exposures. The reserve releases were $9.0 million favorable for North America and $15.0 million favorable for International business.

 

 

For casualty lines, net prior year development during the quarter was $7.0 million favorable due to a $6.0 million decrease in the uncollectible reinsurance reserve from reduced exposures and lower estimated risk levels from the Swiss operations and a $1.0 million decrease in North American uncollectible reinsurance reserve.

 

 

For professional lines, net prior year development was $1.8 million favorable from discontinued lines due to beneficial case reserve movements on mature years with limited case and IBNR reserves.

 

 

For specialty and other lines, net prior year development was $0.1 million favorable.

          The decrease in the underwriting expense ratio in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to the same period in 2009 was due to an decrease in the operating expense ratio of 2.7 points (17.0% as compared to 19.7%) and partially offset by an increase in the acquisition expense ratio of 0.7 points (12.3% as compared to 11.6%). The decrease in the operating expense ratio was as a result of costs savings associated with the Company’s expense reduction initiatives announced in the third quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009 including changes to the Company’s previously communicated operational transformation program. The increase in the acquisition expense ratio is attributable to changes in business mix as well as the impact of higher commission rates in certain professional and North American property and casualty lines.

          Fee income and other decreased in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 mainly as a result of lower engineering fee income associated with the Company’s loss prevention consulting services business coupled with other expenses in professional lines related to the cost of an endorsement facility with National Indemnity Company, under which National Indemnity Company issued endorsements to “Side A” directors and officers liability insurance policies underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company. For further information, see Note 11, “Other Investments” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Management has concluded that it will not require the $100 million extension to this endorsement facility and will not purchase the related payment obligation.

          Net results from structured insurance products include certain structured indemnity contracts that are accounted for as deposit contracts. Net results from these contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2010 have increased compared to the same period in 2009 mainly due to favorable development in the liability interest rate hedges in place partially offset by lower net investment income as a result of lower yields combined with lower average investment base.

43


          Reinsurance

          The Company’s Reinsurance segment provides casualty, property risk (including energy and engineering), property catastrophe, marine, aviation, and other specialty reinsurance on a global basis with business being written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis and in certain limited instances on a direct basis.

          The following table summarizes the underwriting results for this segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

% Change

 

 

 


 


 


 

Gross premiums written

 

$

790,423

 

$

786,983

 

 

0.4

%

Net premiums written

 

 

695,261

 

 

673,143

 

 

3.3

%

Net premiums earned

 

 

366,590

 

 

411,576

 

 

(10.9

)%

Net losses and loss expenses

 

 

243,881

 

 

175,069

 

 

39.3

%

Acquisition costs

 

 

72,605

 

 

95,724

 

 

(24.2

)%

Operating expenses

 

 

42,028

 

 

47,088

 

 

(10.7

)%

 

 



 



 



 

Underwriting profit

 

$

8,076

 

$

93,695

 

 

(91.4

)%

Net results – structured products

 

$

2,476

 

$

8,424

 

 

(70.6

)%

Fee income and other

 

 

319

 

 

2,051

 

 

(84.4

)%

          Gross premiums written increased by 0.4% during the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the three months ended March 31, 2009. Premium growth was mainly due to the recapture of previously lost business as well as new business in Europe and Asia and loss related premium adjustments in Europe. Offsetting the growth was reduced premiums from a U.S. agricultural program due to a fall in winter wheat prices and reduced premiums from the exit of certain casualty facultative markets.

          Net premiums written increased by 3.3% in the three month period ended March 31, 2010 compared with the three month period ended March 31, 2009. The increase resulted from the gross written premium increases outlined above coupled with the reduction in ceded written premiums. The decrease in ceded written premiums is due to the reduction in volume associated with the U.S. agricultural program already mentioned above, of which a significant portion has retroceded.

          Net premiums earned decreased by 10.9% in the three month period ended March 31, 2010 compared with the three month period ended March 31, 2009. The decrease is a reflection of the overall reduction in net premiums written over the last 24 months and the resulting earn-out of these lower net premiums written.

          The following table presents the ratios for this segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

Loss and loss expense ratio

 

 

66.5

%

 

42.5

%

Underwriting expense ratio

 

 

31.3

%

 

34.7

%

 

 



 



 

Combined ratio

 

 

97.8

%

 

77.2

%

 

 



 



 

          The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any favorable or adverse prior year development of loss and loss expense reserves held at the beginning of the year. The following table summarizes the net (favorable) adverse prior year development relating to the Reinsurance segment for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

(U.S. dollars in millions)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 


 


 

Property and other short-tail lines

 

$

(50.0

)

$

(57.9

)

Casualty and other

 

 

(3.8

)

 

(25.6

)

 

 



 



 

Total

 

$

(53.8

)

$

(83.5

)

 

 



 



 

Loss and loss expense ratio excluding prior year development

 

 

81.2

%

 

62.8

%

 

 



 



 

          Excluding prior year development, the loss ratio for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 increased by 18.4 loss percentage points as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009 attributable primarily to the impact of catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009. The Chilean Earthquake and European Windstorm Xynthia contributed $79.1 million and $22.0 million in losses respectively to the quarter. These reported losses are based on modeled estimates as very little cedent

44


information has been received to date. Excluding favorable prior year development and catastrophe losses in both quarters, the loss ratio decreased by 3.3 points from 2009 to 2010. This improvement relates in part to changes in business mix as well as the impact of certain casualty reinstatement premium adjustments earned in the period with minimal related incurred losses.

          Net favorable prior year reserve development for the Reinsurance segment of $53.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was mainly attributable to the following:

 

 

 

 

Net favorable prior year development of $50.0 million for the short-tailed lines in the quarter and details of these by specific lines are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

$13.6 million in favorable property catastrophe development due to reduction of expected loss ratios to attritional levels on the 2009 underwriting year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

$34.8 million in favorable property other development due to reported losses coming in better than expected across most underwriting years and geographies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

$1.6 million in marine and aviation lines due to favorable aviation development of $6.0 million offset by adverse marine development of $4.4 million related to adverse development on two claims occurring late in 2009.

 

 

 

 

Net favorable prior year development of $3.8 million for the long-tailed lines in the quarter and details of these by specific lines are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

$12.3 million in unfavorable casualty development related primarily to an account impacted by Italian hospital medical malpractice exposures for underwriting years 2006 to 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

$16.1 million in favorable other lines development due mainly to a reduction of $7.5 million in a political risks loss, $6.6 million releases related to non-proportional whole account contracts written in Lloyds syndicates and the reflection of the reinsurance-to-close (“RITC”) process for years of account 2003 to 2006, and $3.1 million in Latin America Surety release related to better than expected loss experience across most underwriting years.

          The decrease in the underwriting expense ratio in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 was due to a decrease in the acquisition expense ratio of 3.5 points (19.8% as compared to 23.3% in 2009) and partially offset by an increase in the operating expense ratio of 0.1 points (11.5% as compared to 11.4% in 2009). The decrease in the acquisition expense ratio was a result of reduced net earned premiums in relation to a large U.S. agricultural program which carries very low acquisition costs partially combined with the reinstatement premium adjustments noted above. The marginal increase in the operating expense ratio is attributable to the reduced net earned premium compared to the reduction in operating expenses.

          Fee income and other decreased in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 which included the sale of underwriting year 2009 renewal rights for the European life, accident and health business.

          Net results from structured reinsurance products include certain structured indemnity contracts that are accounted for as deposit contracts. Results from these products for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased compared to the same period in 2009 mainly due to higher interest expense associated with an accretion adjustment recorded in the first quarter of 2010 based on changes in expected cash flows on some structured indemnity contracts and from lower net investment income as a result of lower yields combined with a smaller investment base.

45


          Life Operations

          During 2009, the Company completed a strategic review of its life reinsurance business. In relation to this initiative, the Company sold the renewal rights to its Continental European short-term life, accident and health business in December 2008. The Company also announced in March 2009 that it would run-off its existing book of U.K. and Irish traditional life and annuity business, and not accept new business. In addition, during July 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its U.S. life reinsurance business. The transaction closed during the fourth quarter of 2009. In December 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to novate and recapture a number of U.K. and Irish term assurance and critical illness treaties. The transaction closed during the fourth quarter of 2009. During the first quarter of 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to recapture three U.K. and Irish term assurance treaties, and this transaction closed during March 2010.

          Prior to the decision being made to run-off the business, products offered included a broad range of underlying lines of life reinsurance business, including term assurances, group life, critical illness cover, immediate annuities and disability income. In addition, prior to selling the renewal rights, the products offered included short-term life, accident and health business. The segment also covers a range of geographic markets, with an emphasis on the U.K., U.S., Ireland and Continental Europe.

          The following summarizes the contribution from this segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

% Change

 

 

 


 


 


 

Gross premiums written

 

$

112,901

 

$

135,112

 

 

(16.4

)%

Net premiums written

 

 

104,666

 

 

121,585

 

 

(13.9

)%

Net premiums earned

 

 

104,884

 

 

129,834

 

 

(19.2

)%

Claims and policy benefits

 

 

123,743

 

 

157,959

 

 

(21.7

)%

Acquisition costs

 

 

18,390

 

 

17,083

 

 

7.7

%

Operating expenses

 

 

3,008

 

 

3,841

 

 

(21.7

)%

Net investment income

 

 

80,344

 

 

77,522

 

 

3.6

%

Fee income and other

 

 

40

 

 

51

 

 

(21.6

)%

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

 

 

(4,413

)

 

(74,650

)

 

NM

*

 

 



 



 



 

Contribution from Life operations

 

$

35,714

 

$

(46,126

)

 

NM

*

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

*

NM – Not meaningful

          The following table is an analysis of the Life operations gross premiums written, net premiums written and net premiums earned for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2010

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2009

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

Gross
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Earned

 

Gross
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Written

 

Net
Premiums
Earned

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Other Life

 

$

74,362

 

$

73,235

 

$

73,453

 

$

98,923

 

$

92,159

 

$

100,408

 

Annuity

 

 

38,539

 

 

31,431

 

 

31,431

 

 

36,189

 

 

29,426

 

 

29,426

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

112,901

 

$

104,666

 

$

104,884

 

$

135,112

 

$

121,585

 

$

129,834

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

          Gross premiums written relating to other life business decreased by $24.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 mainly due to a $13.7 million decrease as a result of the novation of a long-term care treaty and the novation/recapture of a number of term assurance treaties during the second half of 2009, $9.5 million from the sale of the US business during the fourth quarter of 2009, and a $6.0 million decrease from the short-term life, accident and health business in line with run-off expectations, offset by favorable foreign exchange movement of $4.6 million. Gross premiums written relating to annuity business increased by $2.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009 mainly due to favorable foreign exchange rate movements. Ceded premiums written during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 decreased by $5.3 million as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009 as a result of last year’s higher cession ratio associated with short-term life, accident and health business underwritten in the 2009 underwriting year, which occurred as part of the sale of the renewal rights as mentioned above.

          Net premiums earned in the first quarter of 2010 decreased 19.2% as compared to the first quarter of 2009. This decrease was consistent with the decrease in gross and net premiums written as described above.

46


          Claims and policy benefit reserves decreased by $34.2 million or 21.7% in the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009, as a result of a $13.6 million gain on recapture of three treaties, combined with a decrease in incurred losses consistent with the decrease in gross premiums written associated with term assurance business as noted above, as well as the sale of the US business during the fourth quarter of 2009, and despite unfavorable foreign exchange movements. Changes in claims and policy benefits include the movement in policy benefit reserves related to other contracts (such as immediate annuities) where investment assets were acquired with the assumption of the policy benefit reserves at the inception of the contract.

          For the three months ended March 31, 2010, acquisition costs increased by 7.7% as compared to the same period in 2009, largely as a result of the timing of certain fees in relation to letters of credit and of the amortization of deferred acquisition costs. Operating expenses decreased by 21.7% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period in the prior year due mainly to lower compensation expenses as a result of overall lower staffing levels.

          Net investment income is included in the calculation of contribution from Life operations, as it relates to income earned on portfolios of separately identified and managed life investment assets and other allocated assets. Net investment income increased by $2.8 million or 3.6% in the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to the same period in 2009, primarily as a result of a larger asset balance.

          See below for an analysis of the Company’s total realized losses on investments during the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Investment Activities

          The following table illustrates the change in net investment income from P&C operations, net income from investment fund affiliates, net realized (losses) gains on investments and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment derivative instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

% Change

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net investment income – property and casualty operations

 

$

223,639

 

$

262,460

 

 

(14.8

)%

Net income (loss) from investment fund affiliates (1)

 

 

8,178

 

 

(26,893

)

 

NM

*

Net realized (losses) on investments (2)

 

 

(36,176

)

 

(251,937

)

 

85.6

%

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment and other derivative instruments

 

 

(20,480

)

 

(1,407

)

 

NM

*



 

 

(1)

The Company records the income related to alternative fund affiliates on a one month lag and the private investment fund affiliates on a three month lag in order for the Company to meet the accelerated filing deadlines.

 

 

(2)

Results to March 31, 2009 include charges for OTTI related to the non-credit impairment of unrealized losses. From April 1, 2009, the non-credit impairment is excluded from realized losses.

 

 

*

NM – Not meaningful

          Net investment income related to P&C operations decreased in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 due primarily to declining portfolio yields. Overall, portfolio yields have decreased as a result of the impact of declines in U.S. interest rates, and particularly the impact of decreased U.S. Dollar Libor on the Company’s floating rate securities previously supporting the GIC and funding agreement business. In addition, the Company increased its holdings in lower-yielding cash, government and agency RMBS securities in connection with its investment portfolio de-risking efforts as the Company re-aligned its portfolio to one more typical of a P&C portfolio.

          Net income from investment fund affiliates increased in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009. These results reflect solid results from the Company’s private investment portfolio, as compared to a loss during the first quarter of 2009, offset by earnings from alternative funds, which were lower than the results during the first quarter of 2009.

          The Company manages its investment grade fixed income securities in accordance with investment guidelines approved by the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors. Due to the unique nature of the underlying liabilities, customized benchmarks are used to measure investment performance and comparison to standard market indices is not meaningful. Investment performance is not monitored for certain assets primarily consisting of operating cash and special regulatory deposits. The following is a summary of the investment portfolio returns for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

47



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2010(1)

 

2009 (1)

 

 

 


 


 

Fixed income portfolios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USD fixed income portfolio

 

 

2.0

%

 

(2.1

)%

GBP fixed income portfolio

 

 

2.6

%

 

(6.0

)%

EUR fixed income portfolio

 

 

2.6

%

 

(2.4

)%

Other portfolios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative portfolio (2)

 

 

1.1

%

 

1.7

%

Equity portfolio

 

 

17.7

%

 

(12.2

)%

High-Yield fixed income portfolio

 

 

2.4

%

 

(6.3

)%



 

 

(1)

Portfolio returns are calculated by dividing the sum of net investment income or net income from investment affiliates, realized gains (losses) and unrealized gains (losses) by the average market value of each portfolio. Performance is measured in either the underlying asset currency.

 

 

(2)

Performance on the alternative portfolio reflects the three months ended February 28, 2010 and February 29, 2009, respectively.

          Net Realized Gains and Losses and Other than Temporary Declines in the Value of Investments

          Net realized losses on investments in the quarter ended March 31, 2010 included net realized losses of approximately $40.2 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments. Impairment charges to March 31, 2009 include charges of OTTI related to the non-credit impairment of unrealized losses. From April 1, 2009, as a result of changes in GAAP, the non-credit impairment is excluded from net impairments. In addition, included in the net realized losses noted above are net realized gains of $4.0 million from sales of investments.

          The significant assumptions and inputs associated with the net impairment charges of $40.2 million consist of:

 

 

 

 

For corporate securities, excluding medium term notes backed primarily by investment grade European credit, the Company recorded net impairments totaling $0.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The impairment charges consisted of below-investment grade securities and below-investment grade hybrids, with respect to which the Company considered impairment factors consistent with an equity impairment model, along with a debt impairment model, and accordingly recorded impairment charges to fair value, or determined that the securities in an unrealized loss position would be sold.

 

 

 

 

 

In addition the Company recorded impairments totaling $5.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 in relation to medium term notes backed primarily by investment grade European credit. Management has concluded that, following recent credit spread movements since 2009, future yields within the supporting collateral were not sufficient to support the previously reported amortized cost.

 

 

 

 

For structured credit securities, the Company recorded net impairments of $28.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The Company determined that the likely recovery on these securities was below the carrying value, and accordingly impaired the securities to the discounted value of the cash flows of these securities.

 

 

 

 

For non-equity accounted alternative funds, the Company recorded impairments of $5.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 because the fund that was impaired by more than 50% of amortized cost.

          Net realized losses in the first quarter of 2009 included net realized losses of $285.0 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments with respect to which the Company determined that there was an other-than-temporary decline in the value of those investments as well as net realized gains of $33.1 million from sales of investments. Of the other-than-temporary impairments, $117.5 million related to changes of intent to hold, of which $66.3 million was within the Company’s Life operations. Included in the net realized losses of $251.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 is $74.7 million of realized investment losses associated with the Company’s Life operations segment mainly as a result of other-than-temporary impairments arising from the Company’s exchange of hybrid securities in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds HBOS.

48


          Net Realized and Unrealized Gains and Losses on Derivatives

          Net realized and unrealized gains on investment derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2010 resulted from the Company’s investment strategy to manage interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk and credit risk, and to replicate permitted investments.

          Other Revenues and Expenses

          The following table sets forth other revenues and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

% Change

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net income (loss) from operating affiliates (1)

 

$

11,606

 

$

(10,328

)

 

NM

*

Exchange (gains) losses

 

 

(21,083

)

 

(24,624

)

 

(14.4

)%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

465

 

 

465

 

 

NM

*

Corporate operating expenses

 

 

18,863

 

 

26,712

 

 

(29.4

)%

Interest expense (2)

 

 

36,900

 

 

49,615

 

 

(25.6

)%

Income tax expense

 

 

29,836

 

 

45,953

 

 

(35.1

)%



 

 

(1)

The Company generally records the income related to certain operating affiliates on a three month lag in order for the Company to meet accelerated filing deadlines.

 

 

(2)

Interest expense does not include interest expense related structured products as reported within the Insurance and Reinsurance segments and Corporate.

 

 

*

NM – Not meaningful

          The following table sets forth the net income (loss) from operating affiliates for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

% Change

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net (loss) from financial operating affiliates

 

$

(1,328

)

$

 

 

NM

*

Net income (loss) from investment manager affiliates

 

 

5,007

 

 

(15,539

)

 

NM

*

Net income from other strategic operating affiliates

 

 

7,927

 

 

5,211

 

 

52.1

%

 

 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

11,606

 

$

(10,328

)

 

NM

*

 

 



 



 



 



 

 

*

NM – Not meaningful

          Investment manager affiliate income increased during the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily as a result of more benign capital market conditions in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the challenging conditions for alternative asset managers reported in the fourth quarter of 2008. The Company also benefited during the quarter from a modest gain associated with the sale of its stake in one of the investment manager affiliates.

          Income from other strategic operating affiliates increased in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 mainly due to higher earnings reported in the first quarter of 2010 relating to an insurance affiliate which writes largely direct U.S. homeowners insurance and a net loss from the Company’s Brazilian joint venture ITAÚ XL Seguros Corporativos S.A. in the first quarter of 2009.

          Foreign exchange gains in the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and in the quarter ended March 31, 2009 were due primarily to the change in the value of the U.S. dollar against certain European currencies including the U.K. Sterling and the Euro on certain inter-company balances and net underwriting liability balances.

          Corporate operating expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily as a result of the restructuring costs incurred in 2009 as well as the cost savings achieved from these restructuring activities.

          Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 was lower mainly as a result of the interest associated retirement of the 2011 Senior Notes in February 2009. For more information on the Company’s financial structure, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

49


          The decrease in the Company’s income taxes in the quarter ended March 31, 2010, compared to the same period in 2009 arose principally from the lower taxable income, when adjusted for the effects of OTTI, in the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Balance Sheet Analysis

          Investments

          The primary objectives of the investment strategy are to support the liabilities arising from the operations of the Company, generate stable investment income and build book value for the Company over the longer term. The strategy strives to balance investment returns against market and credit risk. The Company’s overall investment portfolio is structured to take into account a number of variables including local regulatory requirements, business needs, collateral management and risk tolerance.

          At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, total investments, cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased was $35.9 billion. The following table summarizes the composition of the Company’s invested assets at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

Carrying value
March 31, 2010
(1)

 

Percent of
Total

 

Carrying Value
December 31, 2009 (1)

 

Percent of
Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

3,375,519

 

 

9.4

%

$

3,643,697

 

 

10.2

%

Net receivable/ (payable) for investments sold/ (purchased)

 

 

(85,660

)

 

(0.2

)%

 

47,638

 

 

0.1

%

Accrued investment income

 

 

324,418

 

 

0.9

%

 

350,055

 

 

1.0

%

Short-term investments

 

 

1,924,651

 

 

5.4

%

 

1,777,360

 

 

5.0

%

Fixed maturities, available for sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and Government-Related/Supported

 

 

2,454,313

 

 

6.8

%

 

2,664,625

 

 

7.4

%

Corporate

 

 

10,458,921

 

 

29.2

%

 

9,799,000

 

 

27.3

%

Residential mortgage-backed securities – Agency

 

 

6,019,579

 

 

16.8

%

 

6,228,501

 

 

17.4

%

Residential mortgage-backed securities – Non-Agency

 

 

1,408,352

 

 

3.9

%

 

1,421,315

 

 

4.0

%

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

1,252,259

 

 

3.5

%

 

1,216,799

 

 

3.4

%

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

722,998

 

 

2.0

%

 

698,561

 

 

1.9

%

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

1,150,654

 

 

3.2

%

 

1,167,985

 

 

3.3

%

U.S. States and political subdivisions of the States

 

 

1,144,591

 

 

3.2

%

 

913,473

 

 

2.5

%

Non-U.S. Sovereign Government, Supranational and Government-Related

 

 

3,213,841

 

 

9.0

%

 

3,401,773

 

 

9.5

%

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total fixed maturities

 

$

27,825,508

 

 

77.6

%

$

27,512,032

 

 

76.7

%

Fixed maturities, held to maturity

 

 

516,470

 

 

1.4

%

 

546,067

 

 

1.5

%

Equity securities

 

 

29,230

 

 

0.0

%

 

17,779

 

 

0.0

%

Investments in affiliates

 

 

1,143,137

 

 

3.2

%

 

1,185,604

 

 

3.3

%

Other investments

 

 

814,303

 

 

2.3

%

 

783,189

 

 

2.2

%

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total investments and cash and cash equivalents

 

$

35,867,576

 

 

100.0

%

$

35,863,421

 

 

100.0

%

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

(1)

Carrying value represents the fair value for available for sale fixed maturities and amortized cost for held to maturity securities.

          The Company reviews on a regular basis its corporate debt concentration, credit quality and compliance with established guidelines. At both March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the average credit quality of the Company’s total fixed income portfolio (including fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investment purchased) was “AA”. As at March 31, 2010, approximately 54.1% of the fixed income portfolio excluding operating cash was rated “AAA” by one or more of the principal ratings agencies. Approximately 3.9% was below investment grade or not rated.

          Refer to “Significant Items Affecting the Results of Operations” for further discussion surrounding the impact of credit market movements on the Company’s investment portfolio and exposure to sub-prime related assets.

          Gross and Net Unrealized Losses on Investments

          At March 31, 2010, the Company had net unrealized losses on fixed maturities and short-term investments of $719.9 million. Of these amounts, gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities and short term investments were $1,429.4 million. The information presented below for the gross unrealized losses on the Company’s investments at March 31, 2010 shows the potential effect upon future earnings and financial position should management later conclude that some of the current declines in the fair value of these investments are other than temporary. Realized losses or

50


impairments, depending on their magnitude, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations. The decrease in net unrealized losses on investments during the three months ended March 31, 2010 was primarily due to tightening credit spreads. See Item 3 “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Credit Risk.”

          The following is an analysis of how long each of those securities with an unrealized loss at March 31, 2010 had been in a continual unrealized loss position:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Type of Securities

 

Length of time in a continual
unrealized loss position

 

(Unaudited)
Amount of
unrealized loss at
March 31, 2010

 

(Unaudited)
Fair Value of
Securities in an
unrealized loss position
at March 31, 2010

 


 


 


 


 

Fixed Maturities and
Short-Term
Investments

 

Less than six months

 

 

$

61,254

 

 

 

$

4,683,866

 

 

 

 

At least 6 months but less than 12 months

 

 

 

103,693

 

 

 

 

835,874

 

 

 

 

At least 12 months but less than 2 years

 

 

 

323,348

 

 

 

 

1,358,286

 

 

 

 

2 years and over

 

 

 

941,096

 

 

 

 

4,401,722

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

$

1,429,391

 

 

 

$

11,279,748

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

Equities

 

Less than six months

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

At least 6 months but less than 12 months

 

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

1,967

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

$

33

 

 

 

$

1,967

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

          The following is the maturity profile of the fixed income securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position at March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Maturity profile in years of fixed
maturities in a continual gross
unrealized loss position

 

(Unaudited)
Amount of
unrealized loss at
March 31, 2010

 

(Unaudited)
Fair value of securities in
an unrealized loss position
at March 31, 2010

 


 


 


 

Less than 1 year remaining

 

 

$

11,634

 

 

 

$

186,541

 

 

At least 1 year but less than 5 years remaining

 

 

 

126,564

 

 

 

 

2,402,898

 

 

At least 5 years but less than 10 years remaining

 

 

 

68,690

 

 

 

 

1,285,686

 

 

At least 10 years but less than 20 years remaining

 

 

 

60,106

 

 

 

 

1,009,508

 

 

At least 20 years or more remaining

 

 

 

229,199

 

 

 

 

1,909,525

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities - Agency

 

 

 

13,097

 

 

 

 

1,636,822

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities - Non-Agency

 

 

 

513,325

 

 

 

 

1,294,179

 

 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

 

 

 

34,849

 

 

 

 

293,438

 

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

 

312,374

 

 

 

 

700,331

 

 

Other asset-backed securities

 

 

 

59,553

 

 

 

 

560,820

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

Total

 

 

$

1,429,391

 

 

 

$

11,279,748

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

          Factors considered in determining that additional OTTI charges were not warranted include management’s consideration of current and near term liquidity needs and other available sources, an evaluation of the factors and time necessary for recovery, and the results of on-going retrospective reviews of security sales and the basis for such sales (see Item 1, Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

51


          Gross Unrealized Gains and Losses

          The following tables summarizes the fair value, gross unrealized losses, credit rating and asset class of securities in a gross unrealized loss position within the Company’s structured credit and corporate portfolios, which comprised $1.3 billion of the Company’s total gross unrealized loss position of $1.4 billion at March 31, 2010. The remaining $0.1 billion is related to government and government-related/supported securities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in millions)
Corporates:

 

AAA

 

AA

 

A

 

BBB

 

BB & Below

 

Total

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Financials (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

126.6

 

$

348.2

 

$

1,080.5

 

$

468.8

 

$

78.6

 

$

2,102.7

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(3.4

)

$

(15.1

)

$

(127.0

)

$

(82.9

)

$

(9.7

)

$

(238.1

)

Non-Financials (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

40.5

 

$

520.3

 

$

1,126.5

 

$

463.4

 

$

146.1

 

$

2,296.8

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(0.5

)

$

(22.4

)

$

(46.2

)

$

(58.8

)

$

(12.0

)

$

(139.9

)

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

167.1

 

$

868.5

 

$

2,207.0

 

$

932.2

 

$

224.7

 

$

4,399.5

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(3.9

)

$

(37.5

)

$

(173.2

)

$

(141.7

)

$

(21.7

)

$

(378.0

)

% Impaired (of amortized cost) (3)

 

 

(0.8

)%

 

(1.4

)%

 

(3.1

)%

 

(7.7

)%

 

(5.1

)%

 

(3.4

)%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Structured Credit:

 

AAA

 

AA

 

A

 

BBB

 

BB & Below

 

Total

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

CMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

182.5

 

$

84.5

 

$

12.0

 

$

5.6

 

$

10.2

 

$

294.8

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(8.5

)

$

(5.6

)

$

(6.9

)

$

(2.4

)

$

(11.0

)

$

(34.4

)

Non Agency RMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

218.0

 

$

162.8

 

$

132.0

 

$

71.0

 

$

554.7

 

$

1,138.5

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(24.9

)

$

(46.9

)

$

(72.1

)

$

(45.7

)

$

(301.4

)

$

(491.0

)

Core CDOs (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

54.7

 

$

103.2

 

$

284.3

 

$

96.1

 

$

166.1

 

$

704.4

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(6.5

)

$

(19.1

)

$

(103.2

)

$

(37.9

)

$

(141.6

)

$

(308.3

)

Other Asset & Mortgage Backed Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

281.0

 

$

153.9

 

$

149.8

 

$

98.2

 

$

28.4

 

$

711.3

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(15.5

)

$

(12.2

)

$

(9.7

)

$

(13.3

)

$

(24.8

)

$

(75.5

)

Agency RMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

1,642.9

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,642.9

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(12.9

)

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

(12.9

)

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

$

2,379.1

 

$

504.4

 

$

578.1

 

$

270.9

 

$

759.4

 

$

4,491.9

 

Gross unrealized loss

 

$

(68.3

)

$

(83.8

)

$

(191.9

)

$

(99.3

)

$

(478.8

)

$

(922.1

)

% Impaired (of amortized cost) (3)

 

 

(2.7

)%

 

(13.0

)%

 

(23.6

)%

 

(25.8

)%

 

(38.5

)%

 

(16.4

)%


 

 

(1)

Included in the gross unrealized losses on corporate financials are gross unrealized losses of $145.8 million on Tier One and upper Tier Two securities of financial institutions (“Hybrids”), as well as $58.1 million of subordinated debt with a fair value of $1.1 billion.

 

 

(2)

Included within Corporate are certain floating rate medium term notes supported primarily by pools of European corporate bonds with varying degrees of leverage. The notes have a fair value of $587.2 million and an amortized cost of $663.4 million. These securities have been allocated ratings of the underlying pool of collateral. These notes allow the investor to participate in cash flows of the underlying bonds including certain residual values, which could serve to either decrease or increase the ultimate values of these notes.

 

 

(3)

Management considers these impairments to be temporary.

 

 

(4)

The Company defines Core CDOs as investments in non-subprime collateralized debt obligations, which primarily consisted of collateralized loan obligations.

52


          Management, in its assessment of whether securities in a gross unrealized loss position are temporarily impaired, considers the significance of the impairments. The Company had structured credit securities with gross unrealized losses of $274.3 million, with a fair value of $134.9 million, which as at March 31, 2010 were impaired by greater than 50% of amortized costs. All of these are asset-backed securities. Of these gross unrealized losses, $76.5 million are rated investment grade. The Company has evaluated each of these securities in conjunction with its investment manager service providers and believes it is more likely than not that the issuer will be able to fund sufficient principal and interest payments to support the current amortized cost. These securities include gross unrealized losses of $170.1 million on non-Agency RMBS, $75.9 million on Core CDOs and $11.3 million on CMBS holdings.

          Included in the gross unrealized losses associated with the Company’s corporate portfolio as of March 31, 2010 are gross unrealized losses of $7.2 million related to Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities that have been rated below investment grade by at least one major rating agency. Of this total, none have gross unrealized losses representing greater than 50% of amortized cost. The Company has completed its review of this portfolio and believes, at this time, that these impairments remain temporary in nature. The primary basis for this conclusion was the analysis of the fundamentals of these securities using a debt-based impairment model, which indicated these securities continue to meet their obligations, and the issuer has the ability to call these obligations at their call date. In addition, as these securities are below investment grade, the Company considered these securities using an equity-impairment model. Factors that were considered and supported the belief that these impairments were temporary included that the vast majority of these securities had only been rated below-investment-grade beginning in the first quarter of 2009, in certain cases alternative ratings were available that indicated these securities remained investment grade, or the securities were only slightly below investment-grade. At March 31, 2010, the Company believes that it is likely that the fair values of these securities will ultimately increase to equal the cost basis over a reasonable period of time. However, there is a high degree of judgment in reaching this conclusion, including an assessment of how various governments will treat these securities in the event of governmental intervention in these institutions’ operations or management’s decision to defer calls or coupons. Management will closely monitor the developments related to these securities.

          Net Unrealized Gains and Losses

          The following table details the Company’s corporate credit exposures by certain asset classes as well as ratings levels within the Company’s fixed income investment portfolio and the current net unrealized (loss) position at March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in millions)
Corporates:

 

AAA

 

AA

 

A

 

BBB

 

BB & Below

 

Total

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Financials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

389.6

 

$

1,143.9

 

$

1,971.0

 

$

558.2

 

$

92.8

 

$

4,155.5

 

Net unrealized (loss)

 

$

6.9

 

$

15.8

 

$

(90.5

)

$

(79.0

)

$

(3.4

)

$

(150.2

)

Non-Financials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

122.5

 

$

1,673.8

 

$

3,706.1

 

$

1,217.5

 

$

341.0

 

$

7,060.9

 

Net unrealized (loss)

 

$

1.9

 

$

25.6

 

$

80.8

 

$

(10.2

)

$

7.5

 

$

105.6

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

512.1

 

$

2,817.7

 

$

5,677.1

 

$

1,775.7

 

$

433.8

 

$

11,216.4

 

Net unrealized (loss)

 

$

8.8

 

$

41.4

 

$

(9.7

)

$

(89.2

)

$

4.1

 

$

(44.6

)

          At March 31, 2010, approximately $1.7 billion of the Company’s $4.2 billion in corporate financial sector securities was held in the portfolios supporting the Company’s Life operations portfolio. The assets associated with that business are more heavily weighted towards longer term securities from financial institutions, including a significant portion of the Company’s Tier 1 and Upper Tier 2 securities, representing committed term debt and hybrid instruments senior to the common and preferred equity of the financial institutions. Financials held in Life portfolios accounted for $150.1 million of the Company’s net unrealized loss as at March 31, 2010. At March 31, 2010 approximately 40.7% of the overall sensitivity to interest rate risk and 33.9% to credit risk was related to the Life operations portfolio, despite these portfolios accounting for only 18.6% of the fixed income portfolio.

53


          The following table details the Company’s structured credit exposures by certain asset classes as well as ratings levels within the Company’s fixed income investment portfolio and the current net unrealized gain (loss) position at March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in millions)
Structured Credit:

 

AAA

 

AA

 

A

 

BBB

 

BB & Below

 

Total

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

CMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

1,047.4

 

$

164.2

 

$

18.3

 

$

10.9

 

$

17.8

 

$

1,258.6

 

Net unrealized (loss)

 

$

15.9

 

$

(4.4

)

$

(6.2

)

$

(1.8

)

$

(9.6

)

$

(6.1

)

Non-Agency RMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

230.9

 

$

175.2

 

$

138.9

 

$

80.0

 

$

594.9

 

$

1,219.9

 

Net unrealized (loss)

 

$

(23.7

)

$

(46.3

)

$

(71.6

)

$

(44.6

)

$

(296.6

)

$

(482.8

)

Core CDOs (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

58.0

 

$

103.2

 

$

285.5

 

$

96.1

 

$

182.3

 

$

725.1

 

Net unrealized (loss)

 

$

(6.5

)

$

(19.1

)

$

(103.0

)

$

(37.9

)

$

(133.3

)

$

(299.8

)

Other Asset & Mortgage Backed Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

780.6

 

$

209.8

 

$

236.6

 

$

109.5

 

$

28.9

 

$

1,365.4

 

Net unrealized (loss)

 

$

(1.3

)

$

(10.8

)

$

(7.1

)

$

(12.5

)

$

(24.7

)

$

(56.4

)

Agency RMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

6,045.3

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

6,045.3

 

Net unrealized gain

 

$

116.1

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

116.1

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value

 

$

8,162.2

 

$

652.4

 

$

679.3

 

$

296.5

 

$

823.9

 

$

10,614.3

 

Net unrealized (loss)

 

$

100.5

 

$

(80.6

)

$

(187.9

)

$

(96.8

)

$

(464.2

)

$

(729.0

)


 

 

 



 

(1)

The Company defines Core CDOs as investments in non-mortgage collateralized debt obligations, primarily consisting of collateralized loan obligations.

          The following table details the current exposures to Non-Agency RMBS and Core CDOs within the Company’s fixed income portfolio as well as the current net unrealized (loss) gain position at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 


 


 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

Holding at
Fair Value

 

Percent
of Fixed
Income
Portfolio

 

Net
Unrealized
(Loss) Gain

 

Holding
at Fair
Value

 

Percent
of Fixed
Income
Portfolio

 

Net
Unrealized
(Loss) Gain

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Non-Agency RMBS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-prime first lien mortgages

 

$

383,961

 

 

1.1

%

$

(222,577

)

$

377,609

 

 

1.1

%

$

(252,745

)

Alt-A mortgages

 

 

320,149

 

 

0.9

%

 

(181,047

)

 

316,795

 

 

0.9

%

 

(209,731

)

Second lien mortgages (including sub-prime second lien mortgages)

 

 

37,727

 

 

0.1

%

 

(16,370

)

 

37,776

 

 

0.1

%

 

(19,920

)

ABS CDOs with sub-prime collateral

 

 

5,348

 

 

%

 

446

 

 

5,429

 

 

%

 

32

 

Prime RMBS

 

 

472,719

 

 

1.4

%

 

(63,261

)

 

484,004

 

 

1.4

%

 

(88,153

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Total exposure to Non-Agency RMBS

 

$

1,219,904

 

 

3.5

%

$

(482,809

)

$

1,221,613

 

 

3.5

%

$

(570,517

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Core CDOs

 

$

725,092

 

 

2.1

%

 

(299,789

)

$

700,884

 

 

2.1

%

 

(333,257

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

          Of the total Non-Agency RMBS with fair value exposure at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 of $1,219.9 million and $1,221.6 million, respectively, approximately $33.6 million and $32.8 million, respectively, of the related securities had ratings dependent on guarantees issued by third party guarantors (i.e., monoline insurers). Decreases in the ratings of such third party guarantors would typically decrease the fair value of guaranteed securities; however, at March 31, 2010, in the event of non-performance at such date on the part of these third party guarantors, the Company estimated that the average credit quality of this portfolio would be ‘A’ and that approximately 91.8% would have remained investment grade at such date. In addition, of the total fixed income portfolio of $33.9 billion at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, less than 2% were guaranteed by such third parties with no individual third party representing more than 1%.

54


          At March 31, 2010, the Company’s sub-prime and Alt-A exposures had adequate underlying loan characteristics and the Company believed at such date that the current amortized cost levels were at or below the discounted cash flow value of the holdings, based on an analysis of subordination levels relative to current expectations of house price declines, loss severities and default levels. The Company had approximately $265.6 million of Non-Agency RMBS downgraded during the quarter ended March 31, 2010. However, 51.2% of the Company’s holdings excluding operating cash remain rated investment grade at March 31, 2010.

          Refer to “Significant Items Affecting the Results of Operations” for further discussion surrounding the impact of credit market movements on the Company’s investment portfolio and exposure to sub-prime related assets.

          As noted in Item 8, Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, the determination of the amount of OTTI varies by investment type and is based upon management’s periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective asset class. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. Management considers a wide range of factors about the securities and uses their best judgment in evaluating the cause of the decline in the estimated fair value of the security and in assessing the prospects for near-term recovery. Inherent in management’s evaluation of the security are assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential. Management updates its evaluations regularly and reflects additional impairments in net income as determinations are made. Management’s determination of the amount of the impairment taken on investments is highly subjective and could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations. There can be no assurance that management has accurately assessed the level of OTTI taken and reflected in the Company’s financial statements. Furthermore, additional impairments may need to be taken in the future. Historical trends may not be indicative of future impairments.

          Levels of write down or OTTI are also impacted by the Company’s assessment of the intent to sell securities that have declined in value until recovery. If, due to changes in circumstances, the Company determines to reposition or realign portions of the portfolio and the Company determines not to hold certain securities in an unrealized loss position to recovery, then the Company will incur OTTI charges, which charges could be significant.

          Fair Value Measurements of Assets and Liabilities

          The Company provides disclosures by level within the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value in Item 1, Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Fair Value Measurements.” For a full description of the valuation methodologies utilized by the Company for all asset and liabilities carried at fair value, see Item 8, Notes 2 and 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Significant Accounting Policies” and “Fair Value Measurements,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          At March 31, 2010, our Level 3 assets represented approximately 3.5% of our assets that are measured at fair value and less than 3% of our total assets. Our Level 3 liabilities represented approximately 97.8% of our liabilities that are measured at fair value and less than 1% of our total liabilities at March 31, 2010. As defined in the hierarchy, those assets and liabilities categorized as Level 3 have valuations determined using unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs may include the entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions, applied to a modeled valuation; however, this is not the case with respect to the Company’s Level 3 assets and liabilities. The vast majority of the assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 are made up of those securities for which the values were obtained from brokers where either significant inputs were utilized in determining the value that were difficult to corroborate with observable market data, or sufficient information regarding the specific inputs utilized by the broker were not obtained to support a Level 2 classification. In limited instances, the Company utilized internal valuation models.

          At March 31, 2010, the Company did not have any liabilities that were carried at fair value based on Level 3 inputs other than derivative instruments in a liability position.

          At March 31, 2010, certain CDOs that were previously classified as Level 2 due to sufficient market data being available to allow a price to be determined and provided by third party pricing vendors, were transferred to Level 3 because third party vendor prices were no longer believed to be the most appropriate pricing source, therefore, broker quotes are the primary source of the valuations for these CDOs.

55


          During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company determined that for certain of its CDOs (with a fair value of $483.2 million and a par value of $801.5 million at December 31, 2008) the trading activity was considered to be stressed transactions. The markets for CDOs had become extremely illiquid due to a number of factors including risk aversion and reduction of purchases among institutional buyers. As a result, the Company believed that broker bids reflected loss expectations that did not reflect fair values at which willing buyers and sellers would transact. The Company determined that internal models were more appropriate and better representative of the fair value at which these securities would be sold in an orderly market. However, as a result of numerous recent market factors, including increased volumes of trading, the Company believed that transactions in this market were no longer distressed and, accordingly, reverted to third-party vendor pricing sources where available as of December 31, 2009, and, where not available, broker quotes. As noted above, during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 valuations for the majority of CDOs were once again sourced from broker quotes. Accordingly, at March 31, 2010, the Company now carries these assets at a fair value of $560.5 million and a par value of $783.0 million within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

          Controls over Valuation of Financial Instruments

          The Company performs quarterly reviews of the prices received from its third party valuation sources to assess if the prices represent a reasonable estimate of the fair value. This process is completed by investment and accounting personnel who are independent of those responsible for providing the valuations. These reviews include, but are not limited to, valuation comparisons between external sources and the completion of recurring reviews of third party pricing services methodologies. As a result of this analysis, if the Company determines there is a more appropriate fair value based upon available market data, the price received from one third party may be substituted for another or, in limited circumstances, management may determine that an adjustment is required to a third party value. In addition, similar valuation controls are followed by external parties responsible for sourcing appropriate valuations from third parties on the Company’s behalf which provides additional support regarding the reasonableness of the fair values recorded in the Company’s financial statements.

          Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses

          The Company establishes reserves to provide for estimated claims, the general expenses of administering the claims adjustment process and losses incurred but not reported. These reserves are calculated using actuarial and other reserving techniques to project the estimated ultimate net liability for losses and loss expenses. The Company’s reserving practices and the establishment of any particular reserve reflects management’s judgment concerning sound financial practice and do not represent any admission of liability with respect to any claims made against the Company.

Unpaid losses and loss expenses totaled $20.7 billion at March 31, 2010, and $20.8 billion at December 31, 2009. The table below represents a reconciliation of the Company’s P&C unpaid losses and loss expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

(Unaudited)
Gross unpaid
losses and loss
expenses

 

(Unaudited)
Unpaid
losses and
loss expenses
recoverable

 

(Unaudited)
Net unpaid
losses
and loss
expenses

 

 

 


 


 


 

Balance as at December 31, 2009

 

$

20,823,524

 

$

(3,557,391

)

$

17,266,133

 

Losses and loss expenses incurred

 

 

1,153,008

 

 

(260,808

)

 

892,200

 

Losses and loss expenses paid/recovered

 

 

(1,073,302

)

 

257,616

 

 

(815,686

)

Foreign exchange and other

 

 

(233,117

)

 

35,669

 

 

(197,448

)

 

 



 



 



 

Balance as at March 31, 2010

 

$

20,670,113

 

$

(3,524,914

)

$

17,145,199

 

 

 



 



 



 

          While the Company reviews the adequacy of established reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses regularly, no assurance can be given that actual claims made and payments related thereto will not be in excess of the amounts reserved. In the future, if such reserves develop adversely, such deficiency would have a negative impact on future results of operations. See “Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses” in Item 1, “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Item 7 and Item 8, Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, each in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further discussion.

          Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses Recoverable and Reinsurance Balances Receivable

          As a significant portion of the Company’s net premiums written incept in the first three months of the year, certain assets and liabilities have increased at March 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009. This includes deferred acquisition costs, unearned premiums, premiums receivable and prepaid reinsurance premiums.

          In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce the potential amount of loss arising from claims events by reinsuring certain levels of risk assumed in various areas of exposure with other insurers or reinsurers. While reinsurance agreements are designed to limit the Company’s losses from large exposures and permit recovery of a portion of direct unpaid losses, reinsurance does not relieve the Company of its ultimate liability to its insureds. Accordingly, the loss and loss expense reserves on the balance

56


sheet represent the Company’s total unpaid gross losses. Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable relate to estimated reinsurance recoveries on the unpaid loss and loss expense reserves.

          Unpaid losses and loss expense recoverables were $3.5 billion and $3.7 billion at March 31, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, reinsurance balances receivable were $0.3 billion and $0.6 billion, respectively. The table below presents the Company’s net paid and unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable and reinsurance balances receivable at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

(Unaudited)
March 31,
2010

 

December 31,
2009

 

 

 


 


 

Reinsurance balances receivable

 

$

399,965

 

$

454,660

 

Reinsurance recoverable on future policy benefits

 

 

25,879

 

 

26,637

 

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses

 

 

3,629,024

 

 

3,667,344

 

Bad debt reserve on unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable and reinsurance balances receivable

 

 

(176,142

)

 

(189,769

)

 

 



 



 

Net paid and unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable and reinsurance balances receivable

 

$

3,878,726

 

$

3,958,872

 

 

 



 



 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

          Liquidity is a measure of the Company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the short- and long-term cash requirements of the Company’s business operations.

          As a global insurance and reinsurance company, one of the Company’s principal responsibilities to its clients is to ensure that the Company has ready access to funds with which to settle large unforeseen claims. The Company would generally expect that positive cash flow from operations (underwriting activities and investment income) will be sufficient to cover cash outflows under most future loss scenarios. However, there is a possibility that unforeseen demands could be placed on the Company due to extraordinary events and as such the Company’s liquidity needs may change. Such events include, among other things, several significant catastrophes occurring in a relatively short period of time resulting in material incurred losses; rating agency downgrades of the Company’s core insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries that would require posting of collateral, return of unearned premium and/or the settlement of derivative transactions; large scale uncollectible reinsurance recoverables on paid losses (as a result of coverage disputes, reinsurers’ credit problems or decreases in the value of collateral supporting reinsurance recoverables), etc. Any one or a combination of such events may cause a liquidity strain for the Company. In addition, a liquidity strain could also occur in an illiquid market, such as that which was experienced in 2008. Investments that may be used to meet liquidity needs in the event of a liquidity strain may not be liquid, given inactive markets, or may have to be sold at a significant loss as a result of depressed prices. Because each subsidiary focuses on a more limited number of specific product lines than is collectively available from the consolidated group of companies, the mix of business tends to be less diverse at the subsidiary level. As a result, the probability of a liquidity strain, as described above, may be greater for individual subsidiaries than when liquidity is assessed on a consolidated basis. If such a liquidity strain were to occur in a subsidiary, XL Capital Ltd may be required to contribute capital to the particular subsidiary and/or curtail dividends from the subsidiary to support holding company operations.

          A downgrade below “A-” of the Company’s principal insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries by either S&P or A.M. Best, which is two notches below the current S&P financial strength rating of “A” (Negative) and the A.M. Best financial strength rating of “A” (Stable) of these subsidiaries, may trigger cancellation provisions in a significant amount of the Company’s assumed reinsurance agreements and may potentially require the Company to return unearned premiums to cedants. In addition, due to collateral posting requirements under the Company’s letter of credit and revolving credit facilities, such a downgrade may require the posting of cash collateral in support of certain “in use” portions of these facilities. Specifically, a downgrade below “A-” by A.M. Best would trigger such collateral requirements for the Company’s largest credit facility. In certain limited instances, such downgrades may require the Company to return cash or assets to counterparties or to settle derivative and/or other transactions with the respective counterparties. See Item 1, “Business – Ratings,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further information. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” “A downgrade or potential downgrade in our financial strength and credit ratings by one or more rating agencies could materially and negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

57


          Holding Company Liquidity

          As a holding company, XL Capital Ltd has no operations of its own and its assets consist primarily of its investments in its subsidiaries. Accordingly, XL Capital Ltd’s future cash flows largely depend on the availability of dividends or other statutorily permissible payments from its subsidiaries. The ability to pay such dividends is limited by the applicable laws and regulations of the various countries and states in which XL Capital Ltd’s subsidiaries operate, including, among others, Bermuda, New York, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. See the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 Item 8, Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Statutory Financial Data,” for further discussion and details regarding the dividend capacity of the Company’s major operating subsidiaries. See also Item 1A to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Company - Our holding company structure and certain regulatory and other constraints affect our ability to pay dividends, make payments on our debt securities and make other payments.” The ability to pay such dividends is also limited by the regulations of the Society of Lloyd’s and certain contractual provisions. No assurance can be given that the Company’s subsidiaries will pay dividends in the future to XL Capital Ltd.

          At March 31,2010 the Holding Company, XL Capital Ltd, had cash and investments of $1.4 billion compared to $1.5 billion at December 31, 2009 (net of liabilities associated with cash sweeping arrangements).

          XL Capital Ltd’s principal uses of liquidity are for dividend payments to holders of its ordinary shares and preferred shares, interest and principal payments on debt, capital investments in its subsidiaries and corporate operating expenses.

          XL Capital Finance (Europe) plc (“XLFE”) is a wholly owned finance subsidiary of the XL Capital Ltd. In January 2002, XLFE issued $600 million par value 6.5% Guaranteed Senior Notes due January 2012. These notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by XL Capital Ltd.

          The Company and its subsidiaries provide no guarantees or other commitments (express or implied) of financial support to the Company’s subsidiaries or affiliates, except for such guarantees or commitments that are in writing.

          See also the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in Item 1, Financial Statements, above.

          Sources of Liquidity for the Company

          At March 31, 2010, the consolidated Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.4 billion as compared to approximately $3.6 billion at December 31, 2009. There are three main sources of cash flows for the Company – those provided by operations, investing activities and financing activities.

          Operating Cash Flows

          Historically, cash receipts from operations, consisting of premiums and investment income, generally have provided sufficient funds to pay losses as well as operating expenses of the Company’s subsidiaries and to fund dividends to XL Capital Ltd. However, as a result of the combination of current soft market conditions, the decision to put the Life segment and certain P&C lines into run-off and lower investment yields, operating cash flows excluding extraordinary events are expected to be lower than prior years. Cash receipts from operations is generally derived from the receipt of investment income on the Company’s investment portfolio as well as the net receipt of premiums less claims and expenses related to the Company’s underwriting activities in its P&C operations as well as its Life operations segment. The Company’s operating subsidiaries provide liquidity in that premiums are generally received months or even years before losses are paid under the policies related to such premiums. Premiums and acquisition expenses are settled based on terms of trade as stipulated by an underwriting contract, and generally are received within the first year of inception of a policy when the premium is written, but can be up to three years on certain reinsurance business assumed. Operating expenses are generally paid within a year of being incurred. Claims especially for casualty business, may take a much longer time before they are reported and ultimately settled, requiring the establishment of reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses. Therefore, the amount of claims paid in any one year is not necessarily related to the amount of net losses incurred, as reported in the consolidated statement of income.

          During the three months ended March 31, 2010, net cash flows provided by operating activities were $206.8 million compared to net cash flows used of $118.2 million for the same period in 2009. The cash flows provided in the three months ended March 31, 2010 resulted primarily from lower levels of claim payments from previous underwriting years being offset by premium income. During the first quarter of 2009 the cash flows used in operating activities were primarily as a result of claims payments associated with Hurricane Ike and Gustav losses.

          Investing Cash Flows

          Generally, positive cash flow from operations and financing activities is invested in the Company’s investment portfolio, including affiliates or acquisition of subsidiaries.

58


          Net cash used in investing activities was $253.8 million in the first three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to net cash provided of $1.2 billion for the same period in 2009. The 2010 cash outflow was mainly associated with normal purchase and sale of portfolio investments.

          Financing Cash Flows

          Cash flows related to financing activities include ordinary and preferred share related transactions, the payment of dividends, the issue or repayment of preferred ordinary shares and deposit liability transactions.

          During the three months ended March 31, 2010, net cash flows used in financing activities were $183.8 million. Net cash outflows related primarily to the redemption of Series C Preference Ordinary Shares, repayment of deposit liabilities and the payment of common and preferred dividends. For more information on the repurchase of debt please see Item 1, Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Share Capital”.

          In addition the Company maintains letter of credit facilities which provide liquidity. Details of these facilities are described below in “Capital Resources.”

Capital Resources

          At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had total shareholders’ equity of $10.0 billion and $9.4 billion, respectively. In addition to ordinary share capital, the Company depends on external sources of financing to support its underwriting activities in the form of:

 

 

 

 

a.

debt;

 

 

 

 

b.

preference shares;

 

 

 

 

c.

contingent capital; and

 

 

 

 

d.

letter of credit facilities and other sources of collateral.

 

 

 

 

In particular, the Company requires, among other things:

 

 

 

 

§

sufficient capital to maintain its financial strength and credit ratings, as issued by several ratings agencies, at levels considered necessary by management to enable the Company’s key operating subsidiaries to compete;

 

 

 

 

§

sufficient capital to enable its regulated subsidiaries to meet the regulatory capital levels required in the U.S., the U.K., Bermuda, Ireland, Switzerland and other key markets;

 

 

 

 

§

letters of credit and other forms of collateral that are required to be posted or deposited, as the case may be, by the Company’s operating subsidiaries that are “non-admitted” under U.S. state insurance regulations in order for the U.S. cedant to receive statutory credit for reinsurance. The Company also uses letters of credit to support its operations at Lloyd’s; and

 

 

 

 

§

revolving credit to meet short-term liquidity needs.

 

 

 

 

The following risks are associated with the Company’s requirement to renew its credit facilities:

 

 

 

 

§

the credit available from banks may be reduced resulting in the Company’s need to pledge its investment portfolio to customers. This could result in a lower investment yield;

 

 

 

 

§

the Company may be downgraded by one or more rating agencies which could materially and negatively impact the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity; and

 

 

 

 

§

the volume of business that the Company’s subsidiaries that are not admitted in the U.S. are able to transact could be reduced if the Company is unable to renew its letter of credit facilities at an appropriate amount.

          Continued consolidation within the banking industry may result in the aggregate amount of credit provided to the Company being reduced. The Company attempts to mitigate this risk by identifying and/or selecting additional banks that can participate in the credit facilities upon renewal.

          The following table summarizes the components of the Company’s current capital resources at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

59



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

March 31,
2010

 

December 31,
2009

 

 

 


 


 

Preferred share capital

 

$

1,071,900

 

$

1,182,673

 

Ordinary share capital

 

 

9,041,563

 

 

8,432,417

 

 

 



 



 

Total Ordinary and Preferred capital

 

$

10,113,463

 

$

9,615,090

 

Notes payable and debt

 

 

2,445,982

 

 

2,445,733

 

 

 



 



 

Total capital

 

$

12,559,445

 

$

12,060,823

 

 

 



 



 

a) Ordinary Share Capital

          The following table reconciles the opening and closing common equity positions at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

March 31,
2010

 

December 31,
2009

 

 

 


 


 

Ordinary share equity – beginning of period

 

$

8,432,417

 

$

5,116,831

 

Net income (loss) attributable to XL Capital Ltd.

 

 

143,880

 

 

74,991

 

Share repurchases

 

 

(1,840

)

 

(626

)

Share issues

 

 

8

 

 

741,291

 

Common share dividends

 

 

(34,312

)

 

(136,804

)

Preferred share dividends

 

 

(32,500

)

 

(80,200

)

Gain on redemption of Series C preference ordinary shares

 

 

16,616

 

 

211,816

 

Change in accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

507,921

 

 

2,222,460

 

Impact of adoption of new authoritative OTTI guidance, net of tax

 

 

 

 

229,670

 

Share based compensation and other

 

 

9,373

 

 

52,988

 

 

 



 



 

Ordinary equity – end of period

 

$

9,041,563

 

$

8,432,417

 

 

 



 



 

b) Debt

          The following table presents the Company’s debt under outstanding securities and lenders’ commitments as at March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Notes Payable and Debt
(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

Commitment/
Debt

 

In Use/
Outstanding

 

Year of
Expiry

 

Less than
1 Year

 

1 to 3
Years

 

3 to 5
Years

 

After 5
Years

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

5-year revolvers (1)

 

$

1,000,000

 

$

 

 

2010/2012

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

5-year revolver

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.50% Guaranteed Senior Notes

 

 

600,000

 

 

599,428

 

 

2012

 

 

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.25% Senior Notes

 

 

600,000

 

 

597,096

 

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

8.25% Senior Notes

 

 

575,000

 

 

575,000

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

575,000

 

6.375% Senior Notes

 

 

350,000

 

 

350,000

 

 

2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

6.25% Senior Notes

 

 

325,000

 

 

324,458

 

 

2027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

325,000

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

3,550,000

 

$

2,445,982

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

600,000

 

$

600,000

 

$

1,250,000

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Adjustment to carrying value – impact of fair value hedge

 

 

 

 

 

15,415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying value

 

 

 

 

$

2,461,397

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          “In Use” and “Outstanding” data represents March 31, 2010 accreted values. “Payments Due by Period” data represents ultimate redemption values.

 

 

 


 

(1)

The 2010 and 2012 5-year revolving credit facilities share a $1.0 billion revolving credit sublimit.

          In addition, see Item 1, Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Notes Payable and Debt and Financing Arrangements,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further information.

60


          At March 31, 2010, banks and investors provided the Company and its subsidiaries with $3.6 billion of debt capacity, of which $2.4 billion was utilized by the Company. These facilities consist of:

 

 

 

 

§

revolving credit facilities of $1.1 billion in aggregate.

 

 

 

 

§

senior Unsecured Notes of approximately $2.4 billion. These notes require the Company to pay a fixed rate of interest during their terms. At March 31, 2010, there were five outstanding issues of senior unsecured notes:

 

 

 

 

§

$600 million senior notes due January 2012, with a fixed coupon of 6.5%. The security is publicly traded. The notes were issued at $99.469 and gross proceeds were $596.8 million. Related expenses of the offering amounted to $7.9 million.

 

 

 

 

§

$600 million senior notes due September 2014, with a fixed coupon of 5.25%. The security is publicly traded. The notes were issued in two tranches of $300 million aggregate principal amount each–one tranche at 99.432% and the other at 98.419%. Aggregate gross proceeds were $593.6 million. Related expenses of the offering amounted to $4 million.

 

 

 

 

§

$575 million of senior notes due August 2021, with a fixed coupon of 8.25%. These securities are a component of the 10.75% Equity Security Units that are publicly traded. In addition to the coupon paid on the senior notes, quarterly contract adjustment payments at an annual rate of 2.50% per annum are paid on forward purchase contracts for the Company’s common shares for a total distribution of 10.75% per annum. The purchase contracts mature in 2011, and the senior notes mature in 2021. In August 2011, the senior notes will be remarketed whereby the interest rate will be reset in order to generate sufficient remarketing proceeds to satisfy the 10.75% Equity Security Unit holders’ obligations under the purchase contract.

 

 

 

 

§

$350 million senior notes due November 2024, with a fixed coupon of 6.375%. The security is publicly traded. The notes were issued at 100.0% and gross proceeds were $350 million. Related expenses of the offering amounted to $2 million.

 

 

 

 

§

$325 million of senior notes due 2027, with a fixed coupon of 6.25%. The security is publicly traded. The notes were issued at 99.805% and gross proceeds were $324.4 million. Related expenses of the offering amounted to $2.5 million.

c) Preferred shares

          At March 31, 2010 the Company’s preferred share capital was made up of $1.0 billion Series E Preference ordinary shares and $71.9 million Series C Preference ordinary shares. At December 31, 2009 the Company’s preferred share capital was made up of $1.0 billion Series E Preference ordinary shares and $182.7 million Series C Preference ordinary shares.

          On February 12, 2010, the Company repurchased approximately 4.4 million Series C Preference Ordinary Shares with a liquidation value of $110.8 million for approximately $94.2 million, which was a portion of its outstanding Series C Preference Ordinary Shares. As a result, a book value gain of approximately $16.6 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2010 to common shareholders. In addition, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Share Capital,” for further information.

          On March 26, 2009, the Company completed a cash tender offer for its outstanding Series C Preference Ordinary Shares that resulted in approximately 12.7 million Series C Preference Ordinary Shares with a liquidation value of $317.3 million being purchased by the Company for approximately $104.7 million plus accrued and unpaid dividends, combined with professional fees totaling $0.8 million. As a result, a book value gain of approximately $211.8 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2009 to ordinary shareholders. In addition, see Item 1, Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Share Capital,” above for further information.

d) Contingent Capital

          At March 31, 2010, the Company has one contingent capital transaction where the outstanding put option has not been exercised. No up-front proceeds were received by the Company under this transaction. In the event that the associated irrevocable put option agreement is exercised, proceeds previously raised from investors from the issuance of pass-through trust securities would be received in return for the issuance of preferred shares. See below for further details on this transaction.

          On December 5, 2006, the Company and certain operating subsidiaries (“Ceding Insurers”) entered into a securities issuance agreement (the “Securities Issuance Agreement”), and certain of the Company’s foreign insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries (“Ceding Insurers”) entered into an excess of loss reinsurance agreement (the “Reinsurance Agreement”), with Stoneheath Re (“Stoneheath”). The net effect of these agreements to the Company is the creation of a contingent put option to issue $350.0 million of preference ordinary shares in the aggregate. The agreements provide the Company with a Reinsurance Collateral Account in support of certain covered perils named in the Reinsurance Agreement. The covered perils include United States wind, European wind, California earthquake and terrorism worldwide. After an initial three-month period, the covered perils as well as the attachment points and aggregate retention amounts may be changed by the Ceding Insurers in their sole discretion. This may result in a material increase or decrease in the likelihood of payment under the Reinsurance Agreement. On each date on which a Ceding Insurer withdraws funds from the Reinsurance Collateral Account, the Company must issue and deliver to Stoneheath an amount of XL Capital Ltd Series D Preference Shares (the “XL Preferred Securities”) having an aggregate liquidation preference that is equal to the amount of funds so

61


withdrawn from the Collateral Account. The Company is obligated to reimburse Stoneheath for certain fees and ordinary expenses. The initial term of the Reinsurance Agreement was for the period from the Closing Date through June 30, 2007, with four annual mandatory extensions through June 30, 2011 (unless coverage is exhausted thereunder prior to such date). The Ceding Insurers may thereafter extend the Reinsurance Agreement at their option for additional calendar quarters without limit (unless coverage is exhausted thereunder). The contingent put option is recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. The XL Preferred Securities, if issued, will pay dividends on a non-cumulative basis at a fixed rate of 6.868% per annum through October 15, 2011 and thereafter at a floating rate based on 3-month LIBOR, plus 3.12%.

e) Letter of Credit Facilities and other sources of collateral

          At March 31, 2010, the Company had six letter of credit facilities in place with total availability of $7.25 billion, of which $2.8 billion was utilized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of Commitment
Expiration per period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Other Commercial
Commitments
(U.S. dollars in thousands)

 

Commitment

 

In Use

 

Year of
Expiry

 

Less
than
1 Year

 

1 to 3
Years

 

3 to 5
Years

 

After 5
Years

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Letter of Credit Facility

 

$

250,000

 

 

113,086

 

 

Continuous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter of Credit Facility (1)

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

 

2010

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter of Credit Facility (1)

 

 

4,000,000

 

 

2,216,523

 

 

2012

 

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

Letter of Credit Facility

 

 

21

 

 

21

 

 

Continuous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter of Credit Facility

 

 

93

 

 

93

 

 

Continuous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter of Credit Facility

 

 

750,000

 

 

493,404

 

 

Continuous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Six letter of credit facilities

 

$

7,250,114

 

$

2,823,127

 

 

 

 

$

2,250,000

 

$

4,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 


 

(1)

Of the total letter of credit facilities above, $1 billion is also included in the revolvers under notes payable and debt.

          In the event that such credit support is insufficient, the Company could be required to provide alternative security to cedants. This could take the form of insurance trusts supported by the Company’s investment portfolio or funds withheld (amounts retained by ceding companies to collateralize loss or premium reserves) using the Company’s cash resources or combinations thereof. The face amount of letters of credit required is driven by, among other things, loss development of existing reserves, the payment pattern of such reserves, the expansion of business written by the Company and the loss experience of such business. In addition to letters of credit, the Company has established insurance trusts in the U.S. that provide cedants with statutory credit for reinsurance under state insurance regulation in the U.S.

          The Company reviews current and projected collateral requirements on a regular basis, as well as new sources of collateral. Management’s objective is to maintain an excess amount of collateral sources over expected uses. The Company also reviews its liquidity needs on a regular basis.

          Ratings

          The Company’s ability to underwrite business is dependent upon the quality of its claims paying and financial strength ratings as evaluated by independent rating agencies. As a result, in the event that the Company is downgraded, its ability to write business as well as its financial condition and/or results of operations could be adversely affected. The Company regularly evaluates its capital needs to support the volume of business written in order to maintain its claims paying and financial strength ratings.

 

62


For further information, see the Risk Factor titled “A downgrade or potential downgrade in our financial strength and credit ratings by one or more rating agencies could materially and negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows” in Item 1A to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          The following are the financial strength and claims paying ratings at May 4, 2010 from internationally recognized rating agencies in relation to the Company’s principal insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries and pools:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rating agency

 

Rating

 


 


 

A.M. Best

 

 

A

 

 

(Stable

)

Standard & Poor’s

 

 

A

 

 

(Negative

)

Moody’s Investor Services

 

 

A2

 

 

(Stable

)

Fitch

 

 

A

 

 

(Negative

)

          In addition, at May 4, 2010 XL Capital Ltd had the following long-term debt ratings: ‘bbb’ (Stable) from A.M. Best, ‘BBB+’ (Negative) from S&P, ‘Baa2’ (Stable) from Moody’s and ‘BBB+’ (Negative) from Fitch.

          Other

          For information regarding cross-default and certain other provisions in the Company’s debt and convertible securities documents, see Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          See Part II, Item 2 “Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds,” below.

63


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

          The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Any prospectus, prospectus supplement, the Company’s Annual Report to ordinary shareholders, any proxy statement, any other Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K of the Company or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company may include forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to the Company in general, and to the insurance and reinsurance sectors in particular (both as to underwriting and investment matters). Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “will,” “may” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the PSLRA or otherwise.

          All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. The Company believes that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) changes in ratings, rating agency policies or practices; (ii) changes in the size of the Company’s claims relating to natural catastrophe losses due to the preliminary nature of some reports and estimates of loss and damage to date; (iii) trends in rates for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance; (iv) the timely and full recoverability of reinsurance placed by the Company with third parties, or other amounts due to the Company; (v) changes in the projected amount of ceded reinsurance recoverables and the ratings and creditworthiness of reinsurers; (vi) the timing of claims payments being faster or the receipt of reinsurance recoverables being slower than anticipated by the Company; (vii) ineffectiveness or obsolescence of the Company’s business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; (viii) increased competition on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage terms or other factors; (ix) greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity than the Company’s underwriting, reserving or investment practices anticipate based on historical experience or industry data; (x) the effects of inflation on our business, including on pricing and reserving; (xi) developments, including uncertainties related to the depth and duration of the current recession, and future volatility, in the world’s credit, financial and capital markets that adversely affect the performance and valuation of XL’s investments or access to such markets; (xii) the potential impact on the Company from government-mandated insurance coverage for acts of terrorism; (xiii) the potential for changes to methodologies, estimations and assumptions that underlie the valuation of the Company’s financial instruments that could result in changes to investment valuations; (xiv) changes to the Company’s assessment as to whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell, or has the intent to sell, available for sale debt securities before their anticipated recovery; (xv) developments in bankruptcy proceedings or other developments related to bankruptcies of companies insofar as they affect property and casualty insurance and reinsurance coverages or claims that the Company may have as a counterparty; (xvi) availability of borrowings and letters of credit under the Company’s credit facilities; (xvii) the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to pay dividends to the holding company, XL Capital Ltd; (xviii) the potential effect of regulatory developments in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, including those which could impact the financial markets or increase the Company’s business costs and required capital levels; (xix) changes in regulation or tax laws applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries, brokers or customers; (xx) acceptance of the Company’s products and services, including new products and services; (xxi) changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance; (xxii) changes in the distribution or placement of risks due to increased consolidation of insurance and reinsurance brokers; (xxiii) loss of key personnel; (xxiv) the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; (xxv) changes in accounting policies or practices or the application thereof; (xxvi) legislative or regulatory developments including, but not limited to, changes in regulatory capital balances that must be maintained by the Company’s operating subsidiaries and governmental actions for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets; (xxvii) other changes in general economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, credit spreads, foreign currency exchange rates, inflation and other factors; (xxviii) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to war, terrorism or other hostilities; (xxix) changes in applicable tax laws, tax treaties or tax regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof; (xxx) the satisfaction of conditions to the completion of XL’s previously announced redomestication to Ireland from the Cayman Islands within the expected time frame or at all; (xxxi) XL’s ability to realize the expected benefits from the redomestication; (xxxii) the occurrence of difficulties in connection with the redomestication; (xxxiii) any unanticipated costs in connection with the redomestication; and (xxxiv) the other factors set forth in the Company’s other documents on file with the SEC. The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein or elsewhere. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by the federal securities laws.

64



 

 

 


 

 

ITEM 3.

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK


 

 

          Except as described below, there have been no material changes in the Company’s market risk exposures or how those exposures are managed since December 31, 2009. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” presented under Item 7A of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

          Market risk represents the potential for loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. The Company is principally exposed to the following market risks: interest rate risk; foreign currency exchange rate risk; equity price risk; credit risk; and other related market risks.

          The Company’s investment market risk arises from its investment portfolio which consists of fixed income securities, alternative investments, public equities, private investments, derivatives, other investments, and cash, denominated in both U.S. and foreign currencies, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates, credit spreads, equity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and other related market risks. The Company’s fixed income and equity securities are classified as available for sale, and as such changes in interest rates, credit spreads on corporate and structured credit, equity prices, foreign currency exchange rates or other related market instruments will have an immediate effect on comprehensive income and shareholders’ equity but will not ordinarily have an immediate effect on net income. Nevertheless, changes in interest rates, credit spreads, equity prices and other related market instruments effect consolidated net income when, and if, a security is sold or impaired.

          On a limited basis the Company enters into derivatives and other financial instruments primarily for risk management purposes. From time to time, the Company also uses investment derivative instruments such as futures, options, interest rate swaps, credit default swaps and foreign currency forward contracts to manage the duration of its investment portfolio and foreign currency exposures and also to obtain exposure to a particular financial market. Historically the Company entered into credit derivatives outside of the investment portfolio in conjunction with the financial guarantee and financial products operations. The Company attempts to manage the risks associated with derivative use with guidelines established by senior management. Derivative instruments are carried at fair value with the resulting changes in fair value recognized in income in the period in which they occur.

          This risk management discussion and the estimated amounts generated from the sensitivity and value at risk (“VaR”) analyses presented in this document are forward-looking statements of market risk assuming certain adverse market conditions occur. Actual results in the future may differ materially from these estimated results due to, among other things, actual developments in the global financial markets and changes in the composition of the Company’s investment portfolio. The results of analysis used by the Company to assess and mitigate risk should not be considered projections of future events of losses. See generally “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Item 2.

Interest Rate Risk

          The Company’s fixed income portfolio is exposed to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the price sensitivity of a fixed income security to changes in interest rates. The Company manages interest rate risk within the context of its overall asset liability management strategy by setting duration targets for its investment portfolio in line with the estimated duration of its liabilities, thus mitigating the overall economic effect of interest rate risk. Nevertheless, the Company remains exposed to interest rate risk from an accounting standpoint since the assets are marked to market, thus subject to market conditions, while liabilities are accrued at a static rate. The hypothetical case of an immediate 100 basis point adverse parallel shift in global bond curves as at March 31, 2010, would decrease the fair value of the Company’s fixed income portfolio by approximately 3.8% or $1.3 billion.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

          Many of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries maintain both assets and liabilities in local currencies. Foreign currency exchange rate gains and losses arise for accounting purposes when net assets or liabilities are denominated in foreign currencies that differ from the functional currency of those subsidiaries. While unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses on underwriting balances are reported in earnings, the offsetting unrealized gains and losses on invested assets are recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, to the extent that the asset currency does not match that entity’s functional currency. This results in an accounting mismatch that will result in foreign exchange gains or losses in the consolidated statements of income depending on the movement in certain currencies. In order to improve administrative efficiencies as well as to address this accounting imbalance, the Company formed several branches with Euro and U.K. Sterling functional currencies during 2006, 2007 and 2008. Management continues to focus on attempting to limit this type of exposure in the future.

          Foreign currency exchange rate risk in general is reviewed as part of the Company’s risk management process. Foreign exchange contracts within the investment portfolio are utilized to manage individual portfolio foreign exchange exposures, subject to investment management service providers’ guidelines established by management. These contracts are not designated as specific hedges for financial reporting purposes and, therefore, realized and unrealized gains and losses on these contracts are recorded in income in the period in which they occur. These contracts generally have maturities of three months or less. The Company also

65


attempts to manage the foreign exchange volatility arising on certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. These include, but are not limited to, premium receivable, reinsurance contracts, claims payable and investments in subsidiaries.

          The principal currencies creating foreign exchange risk for the Company are the British pound Sterling, the Euro, the Swiss Franc, and the Canadian dollar. The Company’s net notional foreign currency denominated exposure on foreign exchange contracts was $782.7 million and $859.7 million at March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively, with a net unrealized gain of $10.6 million and a net unrealized loss of $0.8 million at March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively.

Equity Price Risk

          The Company’s equity portfolio as well as other investments, primarily representing certain derivatives and certain affiliate investments, are exposed to equity price risk. Equity price risk is the potential loss arising from changes in the market value of equities. An immediate hypothetical 10% change in the value of equity exposures in the Company’s equity portfolio, certain equity-sensitive alternate investment managers and private equity investments would affect the fair value of these investments by approximately $56.0 million at March 31, 2010. This excludes exposures to equities in the Company’s affiliate investments.

         At March 31, 2010, the Company’s equity portfolio was approximately $27.9 million as compared to $12.0 million at December 31, 2009. This excludes fixed income fund investments that generally do not have the risk characteristics of equity investments. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company’s allocation to equity securities was a negligible percentage of the total investment portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased).

Credit Risk

          The Company’s exposure to credit spreads primarily relates to market price and cash flow variability associated with changes in credit spreads. A widening of credit spreads will increase the net unrealized loss position of the investment portfolio, will increase losses associated with credit based non-qualifying derivatives where the Company assumes credit exposure, and, if issuer credit spreads increase significantly or for an extended period of time, would likely result in higher other-than-temporary impairments. Credit spread tightening will reduce net investment income associated with new purchases of fixed maturities. In addition, market volatility can make it difficult to value certain of the Company’s securities if trading becomes less frequent. As such, valuations may include assumptions or estimates that may have significant period to period changes which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition. Credit spreads on both corporate and structured securities tightened during the quarter ended March 31, 2010, resulting in a recovery of market values. Continuing challenges include continued weakness in the U.S. real estate market and increased mortgage delinquencies, investor anxiety over the U.S. economy, rating agency downgrades of various structured products and financial issuers, unresolved issues with structured investment vehicles and monolines, deleveraging of financial institutions and alternative funds and a serious dislocation in the inter-bank market. If significant, continued volatility, changes in interest rates, changes in credit spreads and defaults, a lack of pricing transparency, market liquidity, declines in equity prices, and the strengthening or weakening of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar, individually or in tandem, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows through realized losses, impairments, and changes in unrealized positions.

          The Company’s exposure to market movements related to credit risk is primarily due to its investment portfolio, receivable and ceded reinsurance balances. Within the investment portfolio, credit risk is the exposure to adverse changes in the creditworthiness of individual investment holdings, issuers, groups of issuers, industries or countries. In addition, credit risk pertains to adverse change in the creditworthiness of the Company’s reinsurers and retrocessionaires, and their ability to pay certain reinsurance receivable and recoverable balances. The hypothetical case of an immediate 25 basis point increase in all the global corporate and structured credit spreads to which the Company’s fixed income portfolio is exposed at March 31, 2010 would decrease the fair value of the Company’s fixed income portfolio by approximately $270.6 million. This excludes exposure to credit in the Company’s alternative investments, private investments, and counterparty exposure.

          The table below shows the Company’s aggregate fixed income portfolio by credit rating in percentage terms of the Company’s aggregate fixed income exposure (including fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased) at March 31, 2010.

66



 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage of Aggregate Fixed Income
Portfolio

 

 

 

 


 

 

AAA

 

54.1

 

 

AA

 

14.8

 

 

A

 

20.1

 

 

BBB

 

7.1

 

 

BB & below

 

3.9

 

 

NR

 

0.0

 

 

 

 


 

 

Total (1)

 

100.0

%

 


 

 



(1)

Included in the above are $587.2 million, or 1.7% of the portfolio which represents medium term notes rated at the average credit rating of the underlying asset pools backing the notes.

          At March 31, 2010, the average credit quality of the Company’s aggregate fixed income investment portfolio was “AA”, excluding operating cash.

          The Company is closely monitoring its corporate financial bond holdings in light of the current credit market conditions. The table below summarizes the Company’s significant exposures (defined as bonds issued by financial institutions with an amortized cost in excess of $50.0 million) to corporate bonds of financial issuers held within its available for sale investment portfolio at March 31, 2010, representing both amortized cost and unrealized gains (losses):

(U.S. dollars in millions)

Issuer (by Global Ultimate Parent)    Amortized Cost
March 31, 2010 (1)

 

Unrealized Gain/
(Loss)
March 31, 2010

 


 


 

Bank Of America Corporation

$

236.6

 

$

(9.8

)

Lloyds Banking Group Plc

 

167.3

 

 

3.9

 

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

 

140.9

 

 

(0.1

)

Wells Fargo & Company

 

133.5

 

 

2.2

 

Morgan Stanley

 

131.4

 

 

3.2

 

Citigroup Inc

 

130.4

 

 

(6.2

)

Barclays Plc

 

125.1

 

 

(17.3

)

HSBC Holdings Plc

 

121.2

 

 

(1.5

)

BNP Paribas

 

116.2

 

 

(3.1

)

JP Morgan Chase & Co

 

112.7

 

 

(4.3

)

Banco Santander S.A

 

112.4

 

 

(16.4

)

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A.

 

102.6

 

 

(0.9

)

Australia And New Zealand Banking Group Limited

 

89.8

 

 

1.7

 

AIG Inc

 

84.0

 

 

(5.0

)

National Australia Bank Limited

 

83.4

 

 

(2.0

)

Aviva Plc

 

78.0

 

 

(11.1

)

Credit Suisse Group AG

 

72.4

 

 

1.0

 

RFS Holdings B.V.

 

65.6

 

 

3.5

 

Nationwide Building Society

 

64.8

 

 

(4.8

)

Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A.

 

57.5

 

 

(5.8

)

Legal & General Group Plc

 

56.7

 

 

(8.2

)

Credit Agricole SA

 

56.0

 

 

(4.9

)

Danske Bank A/S

 

52.6

 

 

(6.7

)

Northern Rock Plc

 

51.9

 

 

(0.5

)

Unicredit S.P.A.

 

51.2

 

 

(6.5

)

Standard Chartered Plc

 

51.0

 

 

(1.5

)


 


 

 

(1)

Government-guaranteed paper has been excluded from the above figures.

          Within the Company’s corporate financial bond holdings, the Company is further monitoring its exposures to hybrid securities, representing Tier One and Upper Tier Two securities of various financial institutions. The following table summarizes the top ten exposures to hybrid securities, listed by amortized cost representing both amortized cost and unrealized (losses):

67


(U.S. dollars in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuer (by Global Ultimate Parent)

 

Tier One
Amortized Cost
March 31, 2010

 

Upper Tier Two
Amortized Cost
March 31, 2010

 

Total
Amortized Cost
March 31, 2010

 

Net Unrealized
(Loss)
March 31, 2010

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Barclays, Plc

 

 

$

52.8

 

 

 

$

56.7

 

 

 

$

109.5

 

 

 

$

(16.7

)

 

Banco Santander, S.A.

 

 

 

46.3

 

 

 

 

34.9

 

 

 

 

81.2

 

 

 

 

(15.3

)

 

Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A

 

 

 

57.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

57.5

 

 

 

 

(5.8

)

 

Aviva PLC

 

 

 

5.5

 

 

 

 

51.9

 

 

 

 

57.4

 

 

 

 

(9.1

)

 

Danske Bank A/S

 

 

 

33.0

 

 

 

 

19.5

 

 

 

 

52.5

 

 

 

 

(6.5

)

 

Credit Agricole SA

 

 

 

10.2

 

 

 

 

40.1

 

 

 

 

50.3

 

 

 

 

(5.0

)

 

Unicredit S.P.A.

 

 

 

43.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43.5

 

 

 

 

(6.9

)

 

Bank of America Corporation

 

 

 

28.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28.9

 

 

 

 

(7.5

)

 

Nordea Bank AB (PUBL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27.7

 

 

 

 

27.7

 

 

 

 

(1.2

)

 

BNP Paribas

 

 

 

27.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27.2

 

 

 

 

(3.2

)

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

Total

 

 

$

304.9

 

 

 

$

230.8

 

 

 

$

535.7

 

 

 

$

(77.2

)

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

          At March 31, 2010, the top 10 corporate holdings listed below represent the direct exposure to the corporations listed below, including their subsidiaries, and excludes any securitized, credit enhanced and collateralized asset or mortgage backed securities, cash and cash equivalents, pooled notes and any OTC derivative counterparty exposure, if applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Corporate Holdings (1)

 

 

Percentage of Aggregate
Fixed Income Portfolio (2)

 


 

 


 

Bank of America Corporation

 

0.70

%

 

General Electric Company

 

0.60

%

 

Pfizer Inc.

 

0.60

%

 

Lloyds Banking Group PLC

 

0.53

%

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

 

0.48

%

 

AT&T Inc.

 

0.47

%

 

Verizon Communications, Inc.

 

0.47

%

 

Conocophillips

 

0.44

%

 

BP PLC

 

0.44

%

 

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

 

0.44

%

 


 


 

 

 

(1)

Corporate issuers exclude government-backed, government-sponsored enterprises and cash and cash equivalents.

 

 

(2)

Includes fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased and excludes government-guaranteed paper.

          At March 31, 2010, the top 5 corporate sector exposures listed below represented 26.5% of the aggregate fixed income investment portfolio and 79.7% of all corporate holdings.

(U.S. dollars in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Sector Exposures

 

 

Fair Value

 

Percentage of
Aggregate
Fixed Income
Portfolio

 


 

 


 


 

Financials (1)

 

$

4,155.5

 

 

12.3

%

 

Consumer, Non-Cyclical

 

 

1,883.8

 

 

5.6

%

 

Utilities

 

 

1,082.6

 

 

3.2

%

 

Communications

 

 

951.5

 

 

2.8

%

 

Energy

 

 

869.9

 

 

2.6

%

 

 

 



 



 

 

Total

 

$

8,943.3

 

 

26.5

%

 

 

 



 



 

 


 


 

 

 

(1)

Government-guaranteed paper has been excluded from the above figures.

68


          The Company also has exposure to market movement related to credit risk associated with its mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The table below shows the breakdown of the $10.6 billion structured credit portfolio, of which 76.9% is AAA rated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(U.S. dollars in millions)

 

Fair Value

 

Percentage of
Structured Portfolio

 

 

 

 


 


 

 

CMBS

 

$

1,258.6

 

11.9

%

 

 

Agency RMBS

 

 

6,045.3

 

57.0

%

 

 

Prime RMBS

 

 

472.7

 

4.5

%

 

 

Core CDO (non-ABS CDOs and CLOs)

 

 

725.1

 

6.8

%

 

 

Other ABS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABS – Auto

 

 

231.8

 

2.2

%

 

 

ABS – Credit Cards

 

 

247.7

 

2.3

%

 

 

ABS – Other

 

 

886.0

 

8.2

%

 

 

Topical:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-prime first lien

 

 

384.0

 

3.6

%

 

 

Alt-A

 

 

320.1

 

3.0

%

 

 

Second lien (including sub-prime second lien mortgages)

 

 

37.7

 

0.4

%

 

 

ABS CDO’s with sub-prime collateral

 

 

5.3

 

0.1

%

 

 

 

 



 

 


 

 

 

Total

 

$

10,614.3

 

 

100

%

 

 

 

 



 

 


 

 

          Within the Company’s fixed income portfolios, the Company is further monitoring its exposures to holdings representing risk in certain Eurozone countries. In particular, the Company has government holdings of $34.5 million, corporate holdings of $485.6 million and structured credit holdings of $7.9 million in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The corporate holdings primarily consist of multinationals with low reliance on local economics and systemically important industries such as utilities and telecoms.

          For further discussion of the exposure to credit market movements in the Company’s investment portfolio see the Investment Value-at-Risk section below.

          Credit derivatives are purchased within the Company’s investment portfolio, have been sold through a limited number of contracts written as part of the Company’s previous XL Financial Solutions business, and were previously entered into through the Company’s prior reinsurance agreements with Syncora, as described below. From time to time, the Company may purchase credit default swaps to hedge an existing position or concentration of holdings. The credit derivatives are recorded at fair value. Following the secondary sale of Syncora common shares, the Company retained some credit derivative exposures written by Syncora and certain of its subsidiaries through reinsurance agreements that had certain derivatives exposures embedded within them. Following the closing of the Master Agreement which terminated certain reinsurance and other agreements, these credit derivative exposures were eliminated by virtue of the commutation of the relevant reinsurance agreements. At March 31, 2010, the remaining credit derivative exposure outside of the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of 2 contracts written by the Company that provide credit protection on senior tranches of structured finance transactions with total insured contractual payments outstanding of $265.5 million ($240.9 million principal and $24.6 million interest), weighted average contractual term to maturity of 5.7 years, a total liability recorded of $22.4 million and an average rating of A underlying obligations. At March 31, 2010, there have been no reported events of default on the underlying obligations.

          The Company has exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, alternatives and other investment funds and other institutions. Many of these transactions expose the Company to credit risk in the event of default of the Company’s counterparty. In addition, with respect to secured transactions, the Company’s credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by the Company cannot be sold or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the loan or derivative exposure that is due. The Company also has exposure to financial institutions in the form of unsecured debt instruments, derivative transactions, revolving credit facility and letter of credit commitments and equity investments. There can be no assurance that any such losses or impairments to the carrying value of these assets would not materially and adversely affect the Company’s business and results of operations.

          With regards to unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable and reinsurance balances receivable, the Company has credit risk should any of its reinsurers be unable or unwilling to settle amounts due to the Company; however, these exposures are not marked to market. For further information relating to reinsurer credit risk, see Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses Recoverable and Reinsurance Balances Receivable.”

          The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the other parties to its derivative instruments in general; however, the Company does not anticipate non-performance. The difference between the notional principal amounts and the associated market value is the Company’s maximum credit exposure.

Other Market Risks

          The Company’s private investment portfolio is invested in limited partnerships and other entities which are not publicly traded. In addition to normal market risks, these positions may also be exposed to liquidity risk, risks related to distressed investments, and risks specific to startup or small companies. At March 31, 2010, the Company’s exposure to private investments was $332.1 million, as compared to $322.4 million at December 31, 2009.

69


          The Company’s alternative investment portfolio, which is exposed to equity and credit risk as well as certain other market risks, had a total exposure of $822.7 million making up approximately 2.3% of the total investment portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased) at March 31, 2010, as compared to December 31, 2009, where the Company had a total exposure of $800.2 million representing approximately 2.4% of the total investment portfolio. The VaR associated with the alternative investment portfolio at March 31, 2010 based on a 95% confidence level with a one year holding period, excluding foreign exchange risk, was approximately $53.3 million.

          At March 31, 2010, bond and stock index futures outstanding had a net long position of $145.5 million as compared to a net long position of $81.8 million at December 31, 2009. A 10% appreciation or depreciation of the underlying exposure to these derivative instruments would have resulted in realized gains or realized losses of $14.6 million at March 31, 2010 and $8.2 million at December 31, 2009, respectively. The Company may reduce its exposure to these futures through offsetting transactions, including options and forwards.

          The Company invests a portion of its invested assets in investment funds, many of which make private equity investments. The amount and timing of income from such investment funds tend to be uneven as a result of the performance of the underlying investments, including private equity investments. As a result, the amount of income that the Company records from these investments can vary substantially from quarter to quarter. Recent equity and credit market volatility may reduce net income from investment affiliates for these type of investments. The timing of distributions from the funds, which depends on particular events relating to the underlying investments, as well as the funds’ schedules for making distributions and their needs for cash, can be difficult to predict.

Investment Value-at-Risk (VaR)

          The VaR of the investment portfolio at March 31, 2010, based on a 95% confidence level with a one year holding period, excluding foreign exchange risk, was approximately $1,035.3 million as compared to $1,415.0 million at December 31, 2009. The VaR of all investment related derivatives excluding investments in affiliates and other investments was approximately $36.6 million as at March 31, 2010 as compared to $44.5 million at December 31, 2009. The Company’s investment portfolio VaR as at March 31, 2010 is not necessarily indicative of future VaR levels.

          To complement the VaR analysis based on normal market environments, the Company considers the impact on the investment portfolio of several different historical stress periods to analyze the effect of unusual market conditions. The Company establishes certain historical stress test scenarios that are applied to the actual investment portfolio. As these stress tests and estimated gains and losses are based on historical events, they will not necessarily reflect future stress events or gains and losses from such events. The results of the stress test scenarios are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are appropriate, based on current shareholders equity, market conditions and the Company’s total risk tolerance.

          Given the investment portfolio allocations as at March 31, 2010, the Company would expect to lose approximately 3.9% of the portfolio excluding foreign exchange movements, if the most damaging event stress tested was repeated, all other things held equal, as compared to 3.8% at December 31, 2009. Given the investment portfolio allocations at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company would expect to gain approximately 11.7% of the portfolio if the most favorable event stress tested was repeated, all other things held equal. The Company assumes that no action is taken during the stress period to either liquidate or rebalance the portfolio. The Company believes that this fairly reflects the potential decreased liquidity that is often associated with distressed market environments.

Stress Testing

          VaR does not provide the means to estimate the magnitude of the loss in the 5% of occurrences when the Company expects the VaR level to be exceeded. To complement the VaR analysis based on normal market environments, the Company considers the impact on the investment portfolio in several different historical stress periods to analyze the effect of unusual market conditions. The Company establishes certain historical stress test scenarios which are applied to the actual investment portfolio. As these stress tests and estimated gains and losses are based on historical events, they will not necessarily reflect future stress events or gains and losses from such events. The results of the stress test scenarios are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are appropriate, based on current shareholders equity, market conditions and the Company’s total risk tolerance. It is important to note that when assessing the risk of the Company’s investment portfolio, the Company does not take into account either the value or risk associated with the liabilities arising from the Company’s operations.

70



 

 

 


 

 

ITEM 4.

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


 

 

          Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

          The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that all material information relating to the Company required to be included in this report has been made known to them in a timely fashion.

          Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

          There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the Company’s evaluation required pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

71


PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 


 

 

ITEM 1.

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


 

 

          In November 2006, a subsidiary of the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and a subpoena from the SEC, both of which sought documents in connection with an investigation into the municipal GICs market and related products. In June 2008, subsidiaries of the Company also received a subpoena from the Connecticut Attorney General and an Antitrust Civil Investigative Demand from the Office of the Florida Attorney General in connection with a coordinated multi-state Attorneys General investigation into the matters referenced in the DOJ and SEC subpoenas. The Company is fully cooperating with these investigations.

          Commencing in March 2008, the Company and two of its subsidiaries were named, along with approximately 20 other providers and insurers of municipal Guaranteed Investment Contracts and similar derivative products in the U.S. (collectively “Municipal Derivatives”) as well as fourteen brokers of such products, in several purported federal antitrust class actions. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that these be consolidated for pretrial purposes and assigned them to the Southern District of New York. The consolidated amended complaint filed in August 2008 alleges that there was a conspiracy among the defendants during the period from January 1, 1992 to the present to rig bids and otherwise unlawfully decrease the yield for Municipal Derivative products. The purported class of plaintiffs consists of purchasers of Municipal Derivatives. On October 21, 2008 most of the defendants filed motions to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. The District Judge granted the motions by order dated April 29, 2009, but allowed plaintiffs leave to file a second amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed a Second Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint on June 18, 2009, but did not include the Company or any subsidiaries as a defendant. The remaining defendants in that action again moved to dismiss, which motion was denied by the Court on March 25, 2010.

          In addition, the Company and three subsidiaries of the Company (along with numerous other parties) were named as defendants in eleven individual (i.e., non-class) actions filed by various municipalities or other local government bodies in California state and federal courts. The allegations are similar to the allegations in the Second Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint described above. The defendants removed the state court cases to federal court, and all eleven cases were then transferred to the Southern District of New York by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. On April 26, 2010, the District Judge dismissed all eleven cases against the Company and its subsidiaries without prejudice, but denied motions to dismiss as respects most of the other defendants.

          In August 2005, plaintiffs in a proposed class action (the “Class Action”) that was consolidated into a multidistrict litigation in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, captioned In re Brokerage Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1663, Civil Action No. 04-5184 (the “MDL”), filed a consolidated amended complaint (the “Amended Complaint”), which named as new defendants approximately 30 entities, including Greenwich Insurance Company, Indian Harbor Insurance Company and XL Capital Ltd. In the MDL, the Class Action plaintiffs asserted various claims purportedly on behalf of a class of commercial insureds against approximately 113 insurance companies and insurance brokers through which the named plaintiffs allegedly purchased insurance. The Amended Complaint alleged that the defendant insurance companies and insurance brokers conspired to manipulate bidding practices for insurance policies in certain insurance lines and failed to disclose certain commission arrangements and asserted statutory claims under the Sherman Act, various state antitrust laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), as well as common law claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. By Opinion and Order dated August 31, 2007, the Court dismissed the Sherman Act claims with prejudice and, by Opinion and Order dated September 28, 2007, the Court dismissed the RICO claims with prejudice. The plaintiffs then appealed both Orders to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Oral argument before the appellate court was held on April 21, 2009. In accordance with the Third Circuit’s April 23, 2009 directive, the parties submitted on May 13, 2009 their respective supplemental letter briefs addressing a question raised by the Court. The appeal remains pending.

          Various XL entities have been named as defendants in three of the many tag-along actions that have been consolidated into the MDL for pretrial purposes. The complaints in these tag-along actions make allegations similar to those made in the Amended Complaint but do not purport to be class actions. On April 4, 2006, a tag-along complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on behalf of New Cingular Wireless Headquarters LLC and several other corporations against approximately 100 defendants, including Greenwich Insurance Company, XL Specialty Insurance Company, XL Insurance America, Inc., XL Insurance Company Limited, Lloyd’s syndicates 861, 588 and 1209 and XL Capital Ltd. On or about May 21, 2007, a tag-along complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on behalf of Henley Management Company, Big Bear Properties, Inc., Northbrook Properties, Inc., RCK Properties, Inc., Kitchens, Inc., Aberfeldy LP and Payroll and Insurance Group, Inc. against multiple defendants, including “XL Winterthur International.” On October 12, 2007, a complaint in a third tag-along action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by Sears, Roebuck & Co., Sears Holdings Corporation, Kmart Corporation and Lands’ End Inc. against many named defendants including X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance America, Inc., XL Specialty Insurance Company and XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd. The three tag-along actions are currently stayed.

72


 

          The Company and one of its subsidiaries (collectively “XL”), Syncora, four Syncora officers, and various underwriters of Syncora securities were named in a Consolidated Amended Complaint (“CAC”) filed in August 2008 on behalf of shareholders of Syncora in the Southern District of New York. The CAC alleges violations of the Securities Act of 1933 arising out of the secondary public offering of Syncora common shares held by XL on June 6, 2007 and sales/exchanges by Syncora of certain preferred shares as well as under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 arising out of trading in Syncora securities during the asserted class period of March 15, 2007 to March 17, 2008. The principal allegations are that Syncora failed to appropriately and timely disclose its exposures under certain derivative contracts and insurance of tranches of structured securities. XL is named as a party that “controlled” Syncora during the relevant time period. By Order dated March 31, 2010, Judge Deborah Batts granted motions to dismiss all claims asserted in the CAC as against all defendants principally on the basis of absence of loss causation. Judge Batts, however, granted the Plaintiffs leave to amend the CAC. The Company will vigorously defend any future amended complaint.

          In connection with the secondary offering of the Company’s Syncora shares, the Company and Syncora each agreed to indemnify the several underwriters of that offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 for payment of legal fees and expenses, settlements and judgments incurred with respect to litigation such as this. The Company and Syncora have agreed to each bear 50% of this indemnity obligation.

          The Company is subject to litigation and arbitration in the normal course of its business. These lawsuits and arbitrations principally involve claims on policies of insurance and contracts of reinsurance and are typical for the Company and for the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance industry in general. Such legal proceedings are considered in connection with the Company’s loss and loss expense reserves. Reserves in varying amounts may or may not be established in respect of particular claims proceedings based on many factors, including the legal merits thereof. In addition to litigation relating to insurance and reinsurance claims, 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 or reinsurance policies. This category of business litigation typically involves, amongst other things, allegations of underwriting errors or misconduct, employment claims, regulatory activity, shareholder disputes or disputes arising from business ventures. The status of these legal actions is actively monitored by management. The Company believes that the expected ultimate outcome of all outstanding litigation and arbitration will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, operating results and/or cash flow, although an adverse resolution of one or more of these items could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in a particular fiscal quarter or year.

 

 

 


 

 

ITEM 1A.

 

RISK FACTORS


 

 

          Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further information.

 

 

 


 

 

ITEM 2.

 

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS


 

 

          (c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliate Purchasers

          The following table provides information about purchases by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2010 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period

 

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (1)

 

Average Price
Paid
per Share

 

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs

 

Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans
or Programs (2)

 


 


 


 


 


 

January 1-31, 2010

 

 

8,067

 

 

18.63

 

 

 

$

375.5 million

 

February 1-28, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

375.5 million

 

March 1-31, 2010

 

 

90,829

 

$

18.62

 

 

 

$

375.5 million

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

 

98,896

 

$

18.62

 

 

 

$

375.5 million

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 


 

(1)

All shares were purchased in connection with the vesting of restricted shares granted under the Company’s restricted stock plan. All of these purchases were made in connection with satisfying tax withholding obligations of those employees. These shares were not purchased as part of the Company’s share repurchase program noted below.

 

 

(2)

On September 24, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a share repurchase program, authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $500.0 million of its Class A ordinary shares. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, no share repurchases were made under the share repurchase program. As at March 31, 2010, the Company could repurchase $375.5 million of its equity securities under the share repurchase program.

73



 

 

 

ITEM 6.

 

EXHIBITS


 


 

 

 

10.1**

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.

 

 

 

10.2**

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (for Employees Subject to IRC Section 457A).

 

 

 

10.3**

 

Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement.

 

 

 

10.4**

 

Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement (for Employees Subject to IRC Section 457A).

 

 

 

10.5**

 

Form of Option Award Agreement.

 

 

 

10.6**

 

2009 Cash Long Term Incentive Program.

 

 

 

31**

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications.

 

 

 

32**

 

Section 1350 Certification.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

**

Filed herewith

74


SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

Date: May 6, 2010

 

 

 

XL Capital Ltd

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

/s/ MICHAEL S. MCGAVICK

 

 


 

 

Name: Michael S. McGavick

 

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

 

XL Capital Ltd

 

 

 

 

Date: May 6, 2010

 

 

 

/s/ SIMON RICH

 

 


 

 

Name: Simon Rich

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

 

XL Capital Ltd

75