Arch Capital - 10-Q quarterly report FY2014 Q3

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (“ACGL”) is a Bermuda public limited liability company which provides insurance and reinsurance on a worldwide basis through its subsidiaries (together with ACGL, the “Company”).

The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and Watford. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. 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 from those estimates and assumptions. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normally recurring accruals) necessary for a fair statement of results on an interim basis. The results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year or any future periods.

 

 

The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior year information to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s net income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity or cash flows. Tabular amounts are in U.S. Dollars in thousands, except share amounts, unless otherwise noted.

On January 30, 2014, the Company’s U.S.-based subsidiaries completed the acquisition of the CMG Entities through a stock purchase agreement (“SPA”) from its previous owners, PMI, which has been in rehabilitation under the receivership of the Arizona Department of Insurance since 2011, and CMFG Life Insurance Company (“CUNA Mutual”). In addition, the Company entered into a distribution agreement with CUNA Mutual and a reinsurance agreement with an affiliate of CUNA Mutual. CMG Mortgage Insurance Company has been renamed “Arch Mortgage Insurance Company” (“Arch MI U.S.”). As part of the transaction, Arch MI U.S. obtained approval as an eligible mortgage insurer from Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (each a government sponsored enterprise or “GSE”), subject to maintaining certain ongoing requirements.

The completion of the SPA and APA transactions enabled the Company to enter the U.S. mortgage insurance marketplace and serve all lenders nationwide. The arrangements with CUNA Mutual also provided a seamless transition and enabled the Company to provide uninterrupted access and services to the credit union marketplace.

The following table summarizes the fair value of net assets acquired and allocation of purchase price, measured as of the acquisition date:

The Company includes the operations of Arch MI U.S. in its mortgage segment (see Note 6).

As discussed in Note 2, the Company completed its acquisition of the CMG Entities on January 30, 2014. As such, the Company has added relevant sections pertaining to mortgage insurance to its significant accounting policies as described in Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies,” of its audited consolidated financial statements and related notes of the 2013 Form 10-K.

Reinsurance premiums written are recorded based on the type of contracts the Company writes. Premiums on the Company’s excess of loss and pro rata reinsurance contracts are estimated when the business is underwritten. For excess of loss contracts, premiums are recorded as written based on the terms of the contract. Estimates of premiums written under pro rata contracts are recorded in the period in which the underlying risks are expected to incept and are based on information provided by the brokers and the ceding companies. For multi-year reinsurance treaties which are payable in annual installments, generally, only the initial annual installment is included as premiums written at policy inception due to the ability of the reinsured to commute or cancel coverage during the term of the policy. The remaining annual installments are included as premiums written at each successive anniversary date within the multi-year term.

Reinstatement premiums for the Company’s insurance and reinsurance operations are recognized at the time a loss event occurs, where coverage limits for the remaining life of the contract are reinstated under pre-defined contract terms. Reinstatement premiums, if obligatory, are fully earned when recognized. The accrual of reinstatement premiums is based on an estimate of losses and loss adjustment expenses, which reflects management’s judgment. Premium estimates are reviewed by management at least quarterly. Such review includes a comparison of actual reported premiums to expected ultimate premiums along with a review of the aging and collection of premium estimates. Based on management’s review, the appropriateness of the premium estimates is evaluated, and any adjustment to these estimates is recorded in the period in which it becomes known. Adjustments to premium estimates could be material and such adjustments could directly and significantly impact earnings favorably or unfavorably in the period they are determined because the estimated premium may be fully or substantially earned. A significant portion of amounts included as premiums receivable, which represent estimated premiums written, net of commissions, are not currently due based on the terms of the underlying contracts.

The Company also writes certain reinsurance business that is intended to provide insurers with risk management solutions that complement traditional reinsurance. Under these contracts, the Company assumes a measured amount of insurance risk in exchange for an anticipated margin, which is typically lower than on traditional reinsurance contracts. The terms and conditions of these contracts may include additional or return premiums based on loss experience, loss corridors, sublimits and caps. Examples of such business include aggregate stop-loss coverages, financial quota share coverages and multi- year retrospectively rated excess of loss coverages. If these contracts are deemed to transfer risk, they are accounted for as reinsurance.

Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written that is applicable to the estimated unexpired risk of insured loans. A portion of premium payments may be refundable if the insured cancels coverage, which generally occurs when the loan is repaid, the loan amortizes to a sufficiently low amount to trigger a lender permitted or legally required cancellation, or the value of the property has increased sufficiently in accordance with the terms of the contract. Premium refunds reduce premiums earned in the consolidated statements of operations.

Acquisition expenses, net of ceding commissions received from reinsurers, consist principally of commissions and premium taxes paid to obtain the Company’s business. Other operating expenses also include expenses that vary with, and are directly related to, the acquisition of business. Deferred acquisition costs are carried at their estimated realizable value and take into account anticipated losses and loss adjustment expenses, based on historical and current experience, and anticipated investment income. A premium deficiency occurs if the sum of anticipated losses and loss adjustment expenses, unamortized acquisition costs and maintenance costs exceed unearned premiums (including expected future premiums) and anticipated investment income. A premium deficiency is recorded by charging any unamortized acquisition costs to expense to the extent required in order to eliminate the deficiency. If the premium deficiency exceeds unamortized acquisition costs then a liability is accrued for the excess deficiency.

The establishment of reserves across the Company’s segments is an inherently uncertain process, are necessarily based on estimates, and the ultimate net cost may vary from such estimates. The methods for making such estimates and for establishing the resulting liability are reviewed and updated using the most current information available. Any resulting adjustments, which may be material, are reflected in current operations

A new accounting standard issued in the 2014 second quarter will change the manner in which most companies recognize revenue. The standard requires that revenue reflect the transfer of goods or services to customers based on the consideration or payment the company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services; however, the standard does not change the accounting for insurance contracts or financial instruments. The new standard also requires enhanced disclosures about revenue. This accounting guidance is effective in the 2017 first quarter and may be applied on a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently assessing the impact the implementation of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired and is assigned to the applicable reporting unit at acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized and is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis. Impairment tests may be performed more frequently if the facts and circumstances indicate a possible impairment. In performing impairment tests, the Company may first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, more than a 50% probability) that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in the accounting guidance.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as insurance licenses, are not amortized and are evaluated for impairment similar to goodwill. Finite-lived intangible assets and liabilities include the value of insurance and reinsurance contracts, which are estimated based on the present value of future expected cash flows and amortized in ‘acquisition expenses’ in proportion to the estimated profits expected to be realized. Other finite-lived intangible assets or liabilities, including favorable or unfavorable contracts, are amortized in ‘other operating expenses’ over their useful lives. Finite-lived intangible assets and liabilities are periodically reviewed for indicators of impairment. An impairment is recognized when the carrying amount is not recoverable from its undiscounted cash flows and is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and fair value.

If goodwill or intangible assets are impaired, such assets are written down to their realizable values with the related expense recorded in the Company’s results of operations.

A VIE refers to an entity that has characteristics such as (i) insufficient equity at risk to allow the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support or (ii) instances where the equity investors, as a group, do not have characteristics of a controlling financial interest. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is defined as the variable interest holder that is determined to have the controlling financial interest as a result of having both (i) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. If a company is determined to be the primary beneficiary, it is required to consolidate the VIE in its financial statements.

The Company concluded that Watford is a VIE due to both the reinsurance management services agreement with AUL and the investment management agreement with Highbridge. Both of these agreements provide for services for an extended period of time with limited termination rights by Watford. In addition, these agreements allow for both AUL and Highbridge to participate in the favorable results of Watford in the form of performance fees. To determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary of Watford, the Company concluded that the most significant activity of Watford pertains to the insurance activities arising from the reinsurance management services agreement, as these activities will ultimately generate the investable assets required by Highbridge to execute the investment strategy. In addition, the Company factored into its analysis qualitative aspects of the relationship with Watford that are indicative of power to direct the insurance activities. These aspects coupled with the Company’s board seats and a former executive of the Company serving as Watford’s CEO resulted in the Company concluding that it is the primary beneficiary of Watford. As such, the results of Watford are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company concluded that Watford represents a separate operating segment and provides the income statement and total investable assets, total assets and total liabilities of Watford within Note 6. Because Watford is an independent company, the assets of Watford can be used only to settle obligations of Watford and Watford is solely responsible for its own liabilities and commitments. The Company’s financial exposure to Watford is limited to its investment in Watford’s common shares and counterparty credit risk (mitigated by collateral) arising from the reinsurance transactions.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

The Company’s insurance, reinsurance and mortgage segments each have managers who are responsible for the overall profitability of their respective segments and who are directly accountable to the Company’s chief operating decision makers, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACGL and the Chief Financial Officer of ACGL. The chief operating decision makers do not assess performance, measure return on equity or make resource allocation decisions on a line of business basis. Management measures segment performance for its three underwriting segments based on underwriting income or loss. The Company does not manage its assets by underwriting segment, with the exception of goodwill and intangible assets, and, accordingly, investment income is not allocated to each underwriting segment.

The corporate (non-underwriting) segment results include net investment income, other income (loss), other expenses incurred by the Company, interest expense, net realized gains or losses, net impairment losses included in earnings, equity in net income (loss) of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net foreign exchange gains or losses, income taxes and items related to the Company’s non-cumulative preferred shares. Such amounts exclude the results of the ‘other’ segment.

The ‘other’ segment includes the results of Watford (see Note 4). Watford has its own management and board of directors that is responsible for the overall profitability of the ‘other’ segment. For the ‘other’ segment, performance is measured based on net income or loss.

The following tables summarize the Company’s underwriting income or loss by segment, together with a reconciliation of underwriting income or loss to net income available to common shareholders: