PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 

		(unaudited)
		March 31, 2009				December 31, 2008
Assets
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (Amortized cost 2009: $1,279,902;  2008: $1,163,926)		$	1,219,451			$	1,119,955
Other investments, at fair value (Cost 2009: $5,919 ; 2008: $5,819)			5,386				5,291
Total investments			1,224,837				1,125,246
Cash and cash equivalents			95,193				131,897
Restricted cash and cash equivalents			362,583				409,277
Accrued investment income			9,453				10,293
Reinsurance balances receivable (includes $58,057 and $48,837 from related party in 2009 and 2008, respectively - see note 10)			182,052				71,895
Loan to related party (see note 10)			167,975				167,975
Deferred acquisition costs (includes $80,078 and $80,455 from related party in 2009 and 2008, respectively - see note 9)			152,616				104,470
Other assets			7,647				2,617
Intangible assets			53,582				55,147
Goodwill			49,747				49,747
Total Assets		$	2,305,685			$	2,128,564
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Reserve for losses and loss expenses (includes $91,442 and $69,646 from related party in 2009 and 2008, respectively- see note 10)		$	925,816			$	897,656
Unearned premiums (includes $245,069 and $245,742 from  related parties in 2009 and 2008, respectively- see note 10)			570,936				444,479
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			46,489				44,024
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value			-				232,646
Trust preferred securities – related parties (see note 6)			215,084				-
Total Liabilities			1,758,325				1,618,805
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders’ Equity:
Common shares, ($0.01 par value;71,250,000 and 59,550,000 shares issued in 2009 and 2008 respectively; 70,287,664 and 58,587,664 shares outstanding in 2009 and 2008 respectively)			713				596
Additional paid-in capital			575,606				530,519
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(60,985	)			(44,499	)
Retained earnings			35,827				26,944
Treasury Shares, at cost (2009 and 2008:962,336  shares)			(3,801	)			(3,801	)
Total Shareholders’ Equity			547,360				509,759
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity		$	2,305,685			$	2,128,564

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

(Unaudited)

		For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009				For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	13,100			$	12,516
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities :
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles			1,636				5
Net realized loss (gain) on sales of investments			1,930				(125	)
Foreign exchange loss on revaluation							-
Amortization of share-based compensation expense, bond premium and discount and trust preferred securities discount			(927	)			107
Changes in assets - (increase) decrease:
Reinsurance balances receivable			(110,157	)			(51,990	)
Accrued investment income			840				(2,008	)
Deferred commission and other acquisition costs			(48,146	)			(14,459	)
Other assets			(40	)			7
Changes in liabilities – increase (decrease):
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			1,763				(22	)
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves			28,160				23,140
Unearned premiums			126,457				37,127
Net cash provided by operating activities			14,616				4,298
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments:
Purchases of fixed-maturity securities			(222,323	)			(156,564	)
Purchases of other investments			(138	)			(23	)
Sale of investments:
Proceeds from sales of fixed-maturity securities			85,769				58,921
Proceeds from maturities and calls of fixed-maturity securities			19,423				-
Proceeds from redemption of other investments			22				-
Increase in restricted cash			46,694				-
Purchase of furniture and equipment			(381	)			(40	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(70,934	)			(97,706	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase agreements, net			(232,646	)			102,172
Common share issuance			117				-
Trust preferred securities issuance			260,000				-
Trust preferred securities issuance cost			(4,342	)			-
Dividend paid			(3,515	)			(1,489	)
Net cash provided by financing activities			19,614				100,683
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(36,704	)			7,275
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			131,897				35,729
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	95,193			$	43,004

 

Supplemental information about non-cash investing and financing activities
Discount on Trust preferred securities		$	(44,928	)		$	-
Additional paid in Capital			44,928				-

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 

 

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

(Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2009		Common Shares				Additional Paid-In Capital				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss				Retained Earnings				Treasury Shares				Total Shareholders’ Equity
Balance at December 31, 2008		$	596			$	530,519			$	(44,499	)		$	26,944			$	(3,801	)		$	509,759
Net income			-				-				-				13,100				-				13,100
Net unrealized losses			-				-				(16,486	)			-				-				(16,486	)
Comprehensive loss																							(3,386	)
Shares issued, net			117				44,928				-				-				-				45,045
Share based compensation			-				159				-				-				-				159
Dividends to shareholders			-				-				-				(4,217	)			-				(4,217	)
Balance at March 31, 2009		$	713			$	575,606			$	(60,985	)		$	35,827			$	(3,801	)		$	547,360

For the three months ended March 31, 2008		Common Shares				Additional Paid-In Capital				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss				Retained Earnings				Treasury Shares				Total Shareholders’ Equity
Balance at December 31, 2007		$	596			$	529,647			$	(13,496	)		$	20,598			$	-			$	537,345
Net income			-				-				-				12,516				-				12,516
Net unrealized losses			-				-				(16,493	)			-				-				(16,493	)
Comprehensive loss																							(3,977	)
Share based compensation			-				187				-				-				-				187
Dividends to shareholders			-				-				-				(2,978	)			-				(2,978	)
Balance at March 31, 2008			596			$	529,834			$	(29,989	)		$	30,136			$	-			$	530,577

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

 

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Maiden Holdings, Ltd. and its subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

 

These interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative, if annualized, of those to be expected for the full year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, including these notes, should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements, and related notes thereto, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

2.	Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued three FASB Staff Positions (“FSP”) – (1) FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments” (“FSP FAS 115-2”), (2) FSP FAS 157-4 “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP FAS 157-4”), and (3) FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1 “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“FSP FAS 107-1”). FSP FAS 115-2 amends the other-than-temporary impairment guidance in GAAP for debt securities to remove the requirement that a company must have the intent and ability to hold a debt security until its anticipated recovery, but rather, under the revised guidance, a company must recognize an other-than-temporary impairment charge on its income statement if it intends to sell the debt security or if it is more likely than not it will be required to sell a debt security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis. In addition, the new FSP FAS 115-2 also requires the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment charge if the present value of cash flows of a debt security expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis of the debt security. FSP FAS 115-2 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company will adopt FSP FAS 115-2 for the period ended June 30, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of FSP FAS 115-2 and its potential impact on future financial statements.   FSP FAS 157-4 provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased. FSP FAS 157-4 provides a list of non-exhaustive factors a company should consider in determining whether there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability when compared with normal market activity for that asset or liability (or similar assets or liabilities). If a company determines there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity of an asset or liability, further analysis of the transactions or quoted prices is needed, and a significant adjustment to the transactions or quoted prices may be necessary to estimate the fair value in accordance with SFAS 157. FSP FAS 157-4 also provides additional guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly, and therefore, excluded as an observable input in the determination of fair value. FSP FAS 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company will adopt FSP FAS 157-4 for the period ended June 30, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of FSP FAS 157-4 and its potential impact on future financial statements. FSP FAS 107-1 requires publicly traded companies to include disclosures about the fair value of its financial instruments whenever it issues its interim financial statements. FSP FAS 107-1 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company will include the required disclosures about the fair value of its financial instruments in its interim financial statements starting with the period ended June 30, 2009.

In addition, in April 2009, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 111 that amended Topic 5.M. “Other Than Temporary Impairment of Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”. This SAB amends Topic 5.M. solely to include the staff’s view on equity securities and exclude debt securities from its scope. By excluding debt securities from the scope of Topic 5.M., companies are no longer required to assess if they have the intent and ability to hold available-for-sale debt securities until anticipated recovery to determine if there is an other-than-temporary impairment charge.

 

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

3.	Investments

(a)

Fixed Maturities and Other Investments

The original or amortized cost, estimated fair value and gross unrealized gains and losses of available-for-sale fixed maturities and other investments as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are as follows:

 

March 31, 2009		Original or amortized cost				Gross unrealized gains				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value
Fixed Maturities:
U.S. – treasury bonds			33,365				620				(235	)			33,750
U.S. Agency - mortgage backed securities		$	747,243			$	25,048			$	(3,455	)		$	768,836
Corporate fixed maturities			488,114				3,815				(86,305	)			405,624
Municipalities			11,180				61				-				11,241
Total available for sale fixed maturities			1,279,902				29,544				(89,995	)			1,219,451
Other investments			5,919				-				(533	)			5,386
Total investments		$	1,285,821			$	29,544			$	(90,528	)		$	1,224,837

		Less than 12 months								12 months or more								Total
December 31, 2008		Fair value				Unrealized losses				Fair value				Unrealized Losses				Fair value				Unrealized losses
Available-for-sale securities:
U.S. – treasury bonds		$	6,521			$	(30	)			-			$	-			$	6,521				(30	)
U.S. Agency mortgage backed securities			148,803				(5,302	)			-				-				148,803				(5,302	)
Corporate fixed maturities			104,279				(13,707	)			153,055				(49,205	)			257,334				(62,912	)
			259,603				(19,039	)			153,055				(49,205	)			412,658				(68,244	)
Other investments		$	4,722			$	(528	)		$	-			$	-			$	4,722				(528	)
Total temporarily impaired  available-for-sale securities and other investments		$	264,325			$	(19,567	)		$	153,055			$	(49,205	)		$	417,380			$	(68,772	)

As of December 31, 2008, there were approximately 40 securities in an unrealized loss position with a fair value of $417,380. Of these securities, there are 10 securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater with a value of $153,055.

Other-than-Temporary Impairments (“OTTI”)

We review our investment portfolio for impairment on a quarterly basis. Impairment of investments results in a charge to operations when a fair value decline below cost is deemed to be other-than-temporary. As of March 31, 2009, we reviewed our portfolio to evaluate the necessity of recording impairment losses for other-than-temporary declines in the fair value of investments.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company recognized no other than temporary impairment fixed income securities and other investments (2008: $-). Based on our qualitative and quantitative OTTI review of each asset class within our fixed maturity portfolio, the unrealized losses on fixed maturities at March 31, 2009, were primarily due to widening of credit spreads relating to the market illiquidity, rather than credit events. Because we have the ability and intent to hold these securities until a recovery of fair value to amortized cost, we currently believe it is probable that we will collect all amounts due according to their respective contractual terms. Therefore we do not consider these fixed maturities to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2009.

(b)

Restricted Cash and Investments

We are required to maintain assets on deposit to support our reinsurance operations and to serve as collateral for our reinsurance liabilities under various reinsurance agreements. The assets on deposit are available to settle reinsurance liabilities. We also utilize trust accounts to collateralize business with our reinsurance counterparties. These trust accounts generally take the place of letter of credit requirements. The assets in trust as collateral are primarily cash and highly rated fixed maturity securities. The fair value of our restricted assets was as follows:

 

		March 31, 2009				December 31, 2008
Restricted cash - third party agreements		$	268,453			$	335,201
Restricted cash -  related party agreements			94,130				74,076
Total restricted cash			362,583				409,277
Restricted investments - in Trust for third party agreements at fair value (Amortized cost: 2009 - $759,624; 2008 - $701,973)			703,729				660,388
Restricted investments - in Trust for related party agreements at fair value (Amortized cost: 2009 - $58,819; 2008 -  $1, 200)			59,264				1,203
Total restricted investments			762,994				661,591
Total restricted cash and investments		$	1,125,577			$	1,070,868

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

4.	Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company’s estimates of fair value for financial assets and financial liabilities are based on the framework established in SFAS 157. The framework is based on the inputs used in valuation and gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and requires that observable inputs be used in the valuations when available. The disclosure of fair value estimates in the SFAS 157 hierarchy is based on whether the significant inputs into the valuation are observable. In determining the level of the hierarchy in which the estimate is disclosed, the highest priority is given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s significant market assumptions. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

·

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.

·

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data.

·

Level 3 - Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable. The unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use.

In accordance with SFAS 157, the Company determines fair value based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following section describes the valuation methodologies used by the Company to measure assets and liabilities at fair value, including an indication of the level within the fair value hierarchy in which each asset or liability is generally classified.

Investments available for sale. Investments available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and include fixed maturities and securities sold under agreements to repurchase. Fair value of investments is measured based upon quoted prices in active markets, if available. If quoted prices in active markets are not available, fair values are measured by an independent pricing service that utilizes valuation techniques based upon observable market data. Level 1 investments include those traded on an active exchange, such as the NASDAQ. Since fixed maturities other than U.S. treasury securities generally do not trade on a daily basis, the independent pricing service prepares estimates of fair value measurements for these securities using its proprietary pricing applications which include available relevant market information. These investments are classified as Level 2 investments and include obligations of U.S. government agencies, municipals and corporate debt securities.

 

Other investments. Other investments consist primarily of hedge funds where the fair value estimate is determined by an external fund manager based on recent filings, operating results, balance sheet stability, growth and other business and market sector fundamentals. Due to the significant unobservable inputs in these valuations, the Company includes other investments in the amount disclosed in Level 3.

 

a)

Fair Value Hierarchy

 

The following table presents the level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities are measured on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

March 31, 2009		Quoted Prices in  Active Markets  for Identical  Assets (Level 1)				Significant  Other Observable  Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)				Total Fair  Value
Assets
Fixed maturities		$	33,750			$	1,185,701			$	-			$	1,219,451
Other investments			-				-				5,386				5,386
Total		$	33,750			$	1,185,701			$	5,386			$	1,224,837
As a percentage of total assets			1.5	%			51.4	%			0.2	%			53.1	%

 

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

4.	Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)

 

December 31, 2008		Quoted Prices in  Active Markets  for Identical  Assets (Level 1)				Significant  Other Observable  Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)				Total Fair  Value
Assets
Fixed maturities		$	38,527			$	1,081,428			$	-			$	1,119,955
Other investments			-				-				5,291				5,291
Total		$	38,527			$	1,081,428			$	5,291			$	1,125,246
As a percentage of total assets			1.8	%			50.8	%			0.2	%			52.8	%
Liabilities
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		$	-			$	232,646			$	-			$	232,646
As a percentage of total liabilities			-				14.4	%			-				14.4	%

 

b)

Level 3 Financial Instruments

 

The following table presents changes in Level 3 for our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

Other Investments:		March 31, 2009				March 31, 2008
Balance at beginning of period		$	5,291			$	15,656
Change in net unrealized losses – included in other comprehensive loss			(6	)			(3,296	)
Net realized losses – included in net income			(15	)			-
Net purchases			116				23
Net transfers in (out of) of Level 3			-				-
Balance at end of period		$	5,386			$	12,383

 

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

 

5.	Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

The following table shows an analysis of goodwill and intangible assets:

 

March 31, 2009		Gross				Accumulated Amortization				Net			Useful Life
Goodwill		$	49,747			$	-			$	49,747		Indefinite
State licenses			5,000				-				5,000		Indefinite
Customer relationships			51,400				(2,818	)			48,582		15 years double declining
Net balance		$	106,147			$	(2,818	)		$	103,329

 

December 31, 2008		Gross				Accumulated Amortization				Net			Useful Life
Goodwill		$	49,747			$	-			$	49,747		Indefinite
State licenses			5,000				-				5,000		Indefinite
Customer relationships			51,400				(1,253	)			50,147		15 years double declining
Net balance		$	106,147			$	(1,253	)		$	104,894

On November 3, 2008, the Company acquired the reinsurance operations of GMAC Insurance (GMACI), including its book of assumed reinsurance business. As part of the transaction the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. (“Maiden NA”) acquired GMAC RE LLC, the reinsurance managing general agent writing business on behalf of Motors Insurance Corporation and the renewal rights for the business written by GMAC RE.  In connection with the transaction Maiden NA also entered into an agreement to acquire two licensed insurance companies, GMAC Direct Insurance Company (“GMAC Direct”) and Integon Specialty Insurance Company (“Integon”). Consummation of the acquisition of these insurance companies is subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition of GMAC Direct closed on December 23, 2008, and it was renamed Maiden Reinsurance Company on February 2nd 2009.

Goodwill and intangible assets are subject to annual impairment testing. No impairment was recorded during the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The amortization of the intangible assets with finite lives for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 will be $6,590, $5,808, $5,033, $4,362, $3,781, respectively.

 

6.	Trust Preferred Securities

On January 20, 2009, the Company completed a private placement of 260,000 units (the “Units”), each Unit consisting of $1,000 principal amount of capital securities (the “Trust Preferred Securities”) of Maiden Capital Financing Trust (the “Trust”) ,a trust established by Maiden NA,  and 45 common shares, $.01 par value, of the Company (the “Common Shares”), for a purchase price of $1,000.45 per Unit.  This resulted in gross proceeds to the Company of $260,117, before $4,342 of placement agent fees and expenses.  As a result the Company issued 11,700,000  of its Common Shares.  Certain trusts established by Michael Karfunkel and George Karfunkel, two of the Company’s founding shareholders, purchased an aggregate of 159,000 of the Units or 61%.  The remaining 101,000 Units were purchased by existing institutional shareholders of the Company.  

 

The Trust used the proceeds from the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities to purchase a subordinated debenture (the “Debenture”) in the principal amount of $260,000 issued by Maiden NA.

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

6.	Trust Preferred Securities (continued)

The Debenture was issued pursuant to an Indenture dated January 20, 2009 by and between the Maiden NA and Wilmington Trust Company (“Wilmington”).  The terms of the Debenture are substantially the same as the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities.  The interest payments by Maiden NA will be used by the Trust to pay the quarterly distributions to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.  The Indenture permits Maiden NA to redeem the Debenture (and thus a like amount of the Trust Preferred Securities) at stated value plus one year’s interest together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, through the date of redemption at any time until January 15, 2014.  On and after January 15, 2014, Maiden NA may redeem any or all of the Debenture (and thus a like amount of the Trust Preferred Securities) at stated value plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, through the date of redemption.  If the Company redeems any amount of its Debenture, the Trust must redeem a like amount of the Trust Preferred Securities.  The Indenture permits Maiden NA, as long as no event of default has occurred and continues, to defer interest payments on the Debenture for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods, during which interest accrues and compounds until paid.

Pursuant to separate Guarantee Agreements dated as of January 20, 2009 (each a “Guarantee Agreement”) with Wilmington, as guarantee trustee, each of the Company and Maiden NA has agreed to guarantee the payment of distributions and payments on liquidation or redemption of the Trust Preferred Securities.  

As a consequence of the issuance of a majority of the Units to a related party under FASB Interpretation 46R Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46R”), the Trust is a variable interest entity and the Company is deemed to be the Primary beneficiary and is required to consolidate the Trust. The issuance of common shares associated with the Trust Preferred Securities resulted in an original issuance discount of $44,928 based on market price on January 20, 2009. The discount is amortized over 30 years based on the effective interest method. The Debentures and Trust Preferred Securities mature in 2039 and carry a stated or coupon  rate of 14% with an effective interest rate of 16.95%. As of March 31, 2009, the stated value of the Trust Preferred Securities was $215,084 which comprises the principal amount of $260,000 and unamortized discount of $44,916.

7.	Earnings Per Share

The following is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share: 

 

		Three months ended March 31, 2009				Three months ended March 31, 2008
Net income available to common shareholders		$	13,100			$	12,516
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic			67,687,664				59,550,000
Potentially dilutive securities:
Warrants			-				-
Share options			250,126				-
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted			67,937,790				59,550,000
Basic and diluted earnings per common share:		$	0.19			$	0.21

 

As of March 31, 2009, 4,050,000 (2008: 4,050,000) warrants and 662,000 (2008: 793,700) share options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as they were anti-dilutive.

8.	Share Based Compensation

Share Options

 

The fair value of each option grant is separately estimated for each vesting date. The fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the grant date for the award and each vesting date. The Company has estimated the fair value of all share option awards as of the date of the grant by applying the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple-option pricing valuation model. The application of this valuation model involves assumptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R’s fair value method has resulted in share-based expense (a component of salaries and benefits) in the amount of approximately $159 and $187 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. 

 

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

8.	Share Based Compensation (continued)

The key assumptions used in determining the fair value of options granted in the three months ended March 31, 2009 and a summary of the methodology applied to develop each assumption are as follows: 

 

Assumptions :		March 31, 2009
Volatility			29.8-43.9	%
Risk-free interest rate			2.36-3.30	%
Weighted average expected lives in years		5-6.1 years
Forfeiture rate			0	%
Dividend yield rate			1-5.39	%

 

Expected Price Volatility – This is a measure of the amount by which a price has fluctuated or is expected to fluctuate. At the times the Company granted options, there was no external market for the Company’s common shares. Thus, it was not possible to use actual experience to estimate the expected volatility of the price of the common shares in estimating the value of the options granted. As a substitute for such estimate, the Company used the historical volatility of companies in the industry in which the Company operates.

 

Risk-Free Interest Rate – This is the U.S. Treasury rate for the week of the grant having a term equal to the expected life of the option. An increase in the risk-free interest rate will increase compensation expense. 

Expected Lives – This is the period of time over which the options granted are expected to remain outstanding giving consideration to vesting schedules, historical exercise and forfeiture patterns. The Company uses the simplified method outlined in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 to estimate expected lives for options granted during the period as historical exercise data is not available and the options meet the requirements set out in the Bulletin. Options granted have a maximum term of ten years. An increase in the expected life will increase compensation expense.

Forfeiture Rate – This is the estimated percentage of options granted that are expected to be forfeited or cancelled before becoming fully vested. An increase in the forfeiture rate will decrease compensation expense.

The following schedules shows all options granted, exercised, expired and exchanged under the Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2009:

March 31, 2009		Number of Share Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
Outstanding, December 31, 2008			1,519,834			$	10.00				9.44 years
Granted			150,000				4.39				9.91 years
Exercised			-				-				-
Cancelled			(200,000	)			-				-
Outstanding, March 31, 2009			1,469,834			$	5.55				9.31 years

The following schedule shows all options granted, exercised, expired and exchanged under the Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2008:

March 31, 2008		Number of Share Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
Outstanding, December 31, 2007			716,000			$	10.00				9.60 years
Granted			167,000				10.00				9.90 years
Exercised			-				-				-
Cancelled			-				-				-
Outstanding, March 31, 2008			883,000			$	10.00				9.50 years

 

The weighted average grant date fair value was $0.82 and $3.42 for all options outstanding at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. There was approximately $ 1,878 and $2,518 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

11.   Segments

The Company currently operates two business segments, Reinsurance – AmTrust Quota Share and Reinsurance - Other. The Company evaluates segment performance based on segment profit, which excludes investment income, realized gains and losses, general corporate expenses, interest expenses, income taxes and any other non-core business income or expenses. The following tables summarize business segments as follows:   

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2009		Reinsurance - AmTrust Quota Share				Reinsurance - Other				Total
Net premiums written		$	85,371			$	251,177			$	336,548
Net premiums earned			92,420				117,672				210,092
Net losses and loss expenses			(57,272	)			(89,016	)			(146,288	)
Commissions and other acquisition costs			(30,409	)			(16,222	)			(46,631	)
General and administrative expenses			(374	)			(5,726	)			(6,100	)
Underwriting income		$	4,365			$	6,708			$	11,073
Reconciliation to net income
Net investment income											12,329
Amortization of intangibles											(1,564	)
Foreign exchange loss											(213	)
Trust preferred interest											(7,090	)
General and administrative expenses											(1,435	)
Net Income										$	13,100
Net loss and loss expense ratio*			62.0	%			75.6	%			69.6	%
Acquisition cost ratio**			32.9	%			13.8	%			22.2	%
General and administrative expense ratio***			0.4	%			4.9	%			3.6	%
Combined ratio			95.3	%			94.3	%			95.4	%
As of March 31, 2009
Reinsurance balances receivable			49,552				132,500				182,052
Deferred commission and other acquisition costs			76,261				76,355				152,616
Loan to related party			167,975				-				167,975
Goodwill			-				49,747				49,747
Intangibles			-				53,582				53,582
Restricted Investments and cash			152,278				570,086				722,364
Corporate and other assets			-				-				977,349
Total Assets			446,066				882,270				2,305,685

 

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

11.   Segments (continued)

For the three months ended March 31,  2008		Reinsurance - AmTrust Quota Share				Reinsurance - Other				Total
Net premiums written		$	82,948			$	19,484			$	102,432
Net premiums earned			63,790				1,515				65,305
Net losses and loss expenses			(37,208	)			(628	)			(37,836	)
Acquisition costs			(20,572	)			(689	)			(21,261	)
General and administrative expenses			(176	)			(149	)			(325	)
Underwriting income		$	5,834			$	49			$	5,883
Reconciliation to net income
Net investment income											7,734
General and administrative expenses											(1,101	)
Net Income										$	12,516
Net loss and loss expense ratio*			58.3	%			41.5	%			57.9	%
Acquisition cost ratio**			32.3	%			45.5	%			32.6	%
General and administrative expense ratio***			0.3	%			9.8	%			0.5	%
Combined ratio			90.9	%			96.8	%			91.0	%
As of March 31, 2008
Reinsurance balances receivable		$	69,425			$	10,555			$	79,980
Deferred commission and other acquisition costs			50,393				8,281				58,674
Loan to related party			113,542				-				113,542
Corporate and other assets			-								643,000
Total Assets		$	233,360			$	18,836			$	895,196

* Calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.

** Calculated by dividing commission and other acquisition costs by net premiums earned

*** Calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.

**** Calculated by adding together net loss and loss expense ratio, acquisition cost ratio and general and administrative expense ratio.

The following tables set forth financial information relating to gross and net premiums written and earned by major line of business for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

		Three months ended March 31,
		2009								2008
		Total				% of Total				Total				% of Total
Gross and net premiums written
Reinsurance - AmTrust Quota Share
Small Commercial Business		$	52,972				15.7	%		$	43,657				42.6	%
Specialty Middle Market Property & Casualty			9,228				2.7	%			6,867				6.7	%
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			23,171				6.9	%			32,424				31.7	%
Total Reinsurance - AmTrust Quota Share		$	85,371				25.3	%		$	82,948				81.00	%
Reinsurance – Other
Property			51,448				15.3	%			-				-	%
Casualty			150,075				44.6	%			19,484				19.0	%
Accident and Health			49,654				14.8	%			-				-	%
Total Reinsurance - Other			251,177				74.7	%			19,484				19.0	%
		$	336,548				100.0	%		$	102,432				100.0	%

 

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MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 (in thousands (000’s), except per share data)

(Unaudited)

11.   Segments (continued)

 

		Three months ended March 31
		2009								2008
		Total				% of Total				Total				% of Total
Gross and net premiums earned
Reinsurance – AmTrust Quota Share
Small Commercial Business		$	54,627				26.0	%		$	31,880				48.8	%
Specialty Middle Market Property & Casualty			13,348				6.4	%			10,314				15.8	%
Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty			24,445				11.6	%			21,596				33.1	%
Total AmTrust Quota Share		$	92,420				44.0	%		$	63,790				97.7	%
Reinsurance – Other
Property			25,999				12.4	%			-				-	%
Casualty			66,354				31.6	%			1,515				2.3	%
Accident and Health			25,318				12.0	%			-				-	%
Total Reinsurance - Other			117,672				56.0	%			1,515				2.3	%
		$	210,092				100.0	%		$	65,305				100.0	%

 

12.   Subsequent Events

On May 11, 2009, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per common share, payable on July 15, 2009 to shareholders of record on July 1, 2009.

 

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. References in this Form 10-Q to the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company” or other similar terms mean the consolidated operations of Maiden Holdings, Ltd and its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. References in this Form 10-Q to the term “Holdings” means Maiden Holdings, Ltd only.

 

Note on Forward-Looking Statement

 

This Form 10-Q and other publicly available documents may include, and our officers and representatives may from time to time make, projections concerning financial information and statements concerning future economic performance and events, plans and objectives relating to management, operations, products and services, and assumptions underlying these projections and statements. These projections and statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are not historical facts but instead represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside our control. These projections and statements may address, among other things, our strategy for growth, product development, financial results and reserves. Actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from these projections and statements and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those in the specific projections and statements are discussed throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 31, 2009. The projections and statements in this report speak only as of the date of this report and those in other publicly available documents or made by our officers and representatives from time to time speak only as of their respective date and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

General Overview

We are a Bermuda-based holding company formed in June 2007 to provide reinsurance solutions, products and services to U.S. and European insurance companies that specialize in products offering coverage at low limits or insuring risks that are believed to be low hazard, predictable and generally not susceptible to catastrophe claims. We have operations in Bermuda and the U.S.  We provide innovative reinsurance business solutions for such insurance companies to enable them to improve their capacity and ability to deliver and market their products and services.

On October 31, 2008, we acquired the reinsurance operations of GMAC Insurance from GMACI Holdings, LLC (“GMACI”), including a book of assumed reinsurance business. As part of the transaction, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. (“Maiden NA”), acquired GMAC RE LLC (“GMAC RE”), a reinsurance managing general agent writing business on behalf of Motors Insurance Corporation (“Motors”) and the renewal rights for the business written through GMAC RE.  GMAC RE was subsequently renamed Maiden Re Insurance Services, LLC (“Maiden Re”).  In connection with the transaction, Maiden NA also entered into stock purchase agreements to acquire insurance companies, GMAC Direct Insurance Company (“GMAC Direct”) and Integon Specialty Insurance Company (“Integon”). The acquisition of GMAC Direct was consummated on December 23, 2008 and it was renamed “Maiden Reinsurance Company” on February 2, 2009.  Regulatory approval for the acquisition of Integon is pending.  In conjunction with the GMAC Acquisition, on October 31, 2008, Maiden Insurance and Motors entered into a Portfolio Transfer and Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement under which Maiden Insurance reinsured (i) all of the existing contracts written by GMAC RE pursuant to a loss portfolio transfer, and (ii) contracts written pursuant to a fronting arrangement with Motors.  The acquisition of GMAC RE, GMAC Direct and Integon and the renewal rights to GMACI’s reinsurance business and the loss portfolio and quota share reinsurance transaction with Motors is referred to as the “GMAC Acquisition”.

To support the businesses acquired in the GMAC Acquisition and the North American operations of Maiden NA, on January 20, 2009, we completed a private placement of 260,000 units (the “Units”), each Unit consisting of $1,000 principal amount of capital securities (the “Trust Preferred Securities”) of Maiden Capital Financing Trust, a trust established by Maiden NA, and 45 common shares, $.01 par value, of the Company for a purchase price of $1,000.45 per Unit.  This resulted in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $260.1 million before approximately $4.3 million of placement agent fees and expenses.  As part of the transaction, the Company issued 11,700,000 common shares to the purchasers of the Units. The Trust Preferred Securities mature in 2039 and carry an interest rate of 14% and an effective rate of interest of 16.95%. Approximately 61% of these securities were placed privately with the Founding Shareholders and the remainder with several existing institutional shareholders of the Company.

 

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Relevant Factors

Revenues

We derive our revenues primarily from premiums on our insurance policies and reinsurance contracts, net of any reinsurance or retrocessional coverage purchased. Insurance and reinsurance premiums are a function of the amounts and types of policies and contracts we write, as well as prevailing market prices. Our prices are determined before our ultimate costs, which may extend far into the future, are known. In addition, our revenues include income generated from our investment portfolio, consisting of net investment income and net realized investment gains or losses. Investment income is principally derived from interest and dividends earned on investments, partially offset by investment management fees and fees paid to our custodian bank. Net realized investment gains or losses include (1) net realized investment gains or losses from the sale of investments and (2) write-downs related to declines in the market value of securities on our available for sale portfolio that were considered to be other than temporary.

 

Expenses

 

Our expenses consist largely of net losses and loss expenses, commissions and other acquisition costs, general and administrative expenses, amortization of intangible assets and foreign exchange gains or losses. Net losses and loss expenses incurred are comprised of three main components:

 

	•	losses paid, which are actual cash payments to insureds, net of recoveries from reinsurers;
	•	outstanding loss or case reserves, which represent management’s best estimate of the likely settlement amount for known claims, less the portion that can be recovered from reinsurers; and
	•	IBNR, which are reserves established by us for changes in the values of claims that have been reported to us but are not yet settled, as well as claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported. The portion recoverable from reinsurers is deducted from the gross estimated loss.

 

Acquisition costs are comprised of commissions, brokerage fees and insurance taxes. Commissions and brokerage fees are usually calculated as a percentage of premiums and depend on the market and line of business. Acquisition costs are reported after (1) deducting commissions received on ceded reinsurance, (2) deducting the part of acquisition costs relating to unearned premiums and (3) including the amortization of previously deferred acquisition costs.

 

General and administrative expenses include personnel expenses including share-based compensation charges, rent expense, professional fees, information technology costs and other general operating expenses. We are experiencing increases in general and administrative expenses resulting from additional staff, increased rent expense for our offices and increased professional fees. We believe this trend will continue in 2009 as we continue to hire additional staff and build our infrastructure, including additional expenses related to the GMAC RE business for the full year 2009.

 

Ratios

 

Management measures results for each segment on the basis of the “loss and loss expense ratio,” “acquisition cost ratio,” “general and administrative expense ratio,” “expense ratio” and the “combined ratio.” Because we do not manage our assets by segment, investment income, interest expense and total assets are not allocated to individual reportable segments. General and administrative expenses are allocated to segments based on various factors, including staff count and each segment’s proportional share of gross premiums written. The “loss and loss expense ratio” is derived by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned. The “acquisition cost ratio” is derived by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned. The “general and administrative expense ratio” is derived by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned. The “expense ratio” is the sum of the acquisition cost ratio and the general and administrative expense ratio. The “combined ratio” is the sum of the loss and loss expense ratio, the acquisition cost ratio and the general and administrative expense ratio.

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Critical Accounting Policies

It is important to understand our accounting policies in order to understand our financial position and results of operations. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect determinations that are inherently subjective in nature and require management to make assumptions and best estimates to determine the reported values. If events or other factors cause actual results to differ materially from management’s underlying assumptions or estimates, there could be a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. We believe that some of the more critical judgments in the areas of accounting estimates and assumptions that affect our financial condition and results of operations are related to reserves for losses and loss expenses, reinsurance recoverables, premiums and acquisition costs, valuation of financial instruments and other-than-temporary-impairment of investments. For a detailed discussion of our critical accounting policies please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the SEC. There were no material changes in the application of our critical accounting estimates subsequent to that report.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our selected consolidated statement of operations data for each of the periods indicated.

 

		Three Months ended March 31,
		2009				2008
		($ in thousands)
Gross and net premiums written		$	336,548			$	102,432
Net earned premium		$	210,092			$	65,305
Net investment income			14,259				7,609
Net realized investment (losses) gains			(1,930	)			125
Total Revenue			222,421				73,039
Loss and loss adjustment expenses			146,288				37,836
Commissions and other acquisition expenses			46,631				21,261
General and administrative expenses			7,535				1,426
Amortization of intangible assets			1,564				-
Interest expense			7,090				-
Foreign exchange loss			213				-
Total Expenses			209,321				60,523
Net income		$	13,100			$	12,516

 

		Three Months ended March 31,
		2009				2008
Selected Consolidated Ratios:
Loss and loss expense ratio			69.6	%			57.9	%
Acquisition cost ratio			22.2	%			32.6	%
General and administrative expense ratio			3.6	%			2.2	%
Expense ratio			25.8	%			34.8	%
Combined ratio			95.4	%			92.7	%

 

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Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and 2008

Premiums.  Net premium written increased by $234.1 million, or 228.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008.  This increase was primarily due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Net premium earned increased by $144.8 million, or 221.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. Approximately $112.3 million of this increase was due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008 and $17.8 million was due to the addition of UBI premium to the AmTrust Quota Share in the second quarter of 2008.

Net Investment Income. Net investment income increased by $6.7 million, or 87.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. Average invested assets for the period were approximately $1,724 million compared to $542 million and yields were approximately 3.3% compared to 4.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We also carried a substantial amount of cash and cash equivalents in the quarter as we continue to deploy the cash obtained through the GMAC Acquisition and also from the proceeds from the Trust Preferred issuance. We expect investment income and the yield achieved to increase over time as cash is more fully deployed.

Net Realized Investment (Losses) Gains. Net realized losses on investments were $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to a gain of $0.125 million three months ended March 31, 2008.  

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses. Loss and loss adjustment expenses were $146.3 million and $37.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company’s loss ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2009 increased to 69.6% from 57.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2008.   The increase in the loss ratio was primarily due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the addition of UBI premiums which carry a higher loss ratio to the AmTrust Quota Share in the second quarter of 2008. 

Commission and Other Acquisition Expenses. Commission and other acquisition expenses increased by $25.4 million, or 119.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $21.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. This increase was primarily due to the addition GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the addition of UBI to the AmTrust Quota Share in the second quarter of 2008. 

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses increased by $6.1 million, or 428.4%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. This increase was primarily due to due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the continued build out of our infrastructure.

Interest expense.  Interest expense for the quarter relates to the issuance of $260 million of 14% Trust Preferred Securities on January 20, 2009.

 

Underwriting Results by Segment

 

The Company currently operates two business segments Reinsurance - Other and Reinsurance – AmTrust Quota Share. The following tables summarize the underwriting results and associated ratios by segments:   

Reinsurance – Other Segment

The following table summarizes the underwriting results and associated ratios for the Reinsurance - Other segment. The comparisons with the prior year are not particularly meaningful due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008:

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		Three months ended March 31,
		2009				2008
		($ in thousands)
Net premiums written		$	251,177			$	19,484
Net premiums earned			117,671				1,515
Net losses and loss expenses			(89,016	)			(628	)
Commissions and other acquisition expenses			(16,222	)			(689	)
General and administrative expenses			(5,726	)			(149	)
Underwriting income		$	6,707			$	49
Net loss and loss expense ratio			75.6	%			41.5	%
Acquisition cost ratio			13.8	%			45.5	%
General and administrative expense ratio			4.9	%			9.8	%
Combined ratio			94.3	%			96.8	%

 

Premiums. Net premium written increased by $231.7 million, or 1,189% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008.  This increase was due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Net premium earned increased by $116.2 million, or 7,667% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. This increase was due to GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses. Loss and loss adjustment expenses were $89.0 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This increase was due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Commission and Other Acquisition Expenses. Commission and other acquisition expenses increased by $15.5 million, or 2,254% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. This increase was due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008.

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses increased by $5.6 million, or 3,743%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. This increase was due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Reinsurance – AmTrust Quota Share Segment

The following table summarizes the underwriting results and associated ratios for the Reinsurance – AmTrust Quota Share segment:

 

		Three months ended March 31,
For the three months ended March 31, 2009		2009				2008
		($ in thousands)
Net premiums written		$	85,371			$	82,948
Net premiums earned			92,420				63,790
Net losses and loss expenses			(57,272	)			(37,208	)
Commissions and other acquisition expenses			(30,409	)			(20,572	)
General and administrative expenses			(374	)			(176	)
Underwriting income		$	4,365			$	5,834
Net loss and loss expense ratio			62.0	%			58.3	%
Acquisition cost ratio			32.9	%			32.5	%
General and administrative expense ratio			0.4	%			0.3	%
Combined ratio			95.3	%			91.1	%

 

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Premiums. Net premium written increased by $2.4 million, or 2.9%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008.  Increases in the Small Commercial Business Insurance premium ceded by AmTrust were partially offset by lower Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty premium.

Net premium earned increased by $28.6 million, or 44.9%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. This increase is primarily due to the addition of UBI premium to the AmTrust Quota Share in the second quarter of 2008.

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses. Loss and loss adjustment expenses increased by $20.1 million, or 53.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008.  The Company’s loss ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2009 increased to 61.8% from 58.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The increase in the loss and loss adjustment ratio resulted, primarily, from the addition of UBI premiums, which carries a higher loss ratio, to the AmTrust Quota Share in the second quarter of 2008. 

Commission and Other Acquisition Expenses. Commission and other acquisition expenses increased by $9.7 million, or 46.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. The increase in commissions and other acquisition expenses is consistent with the increase in earned premiums except that the commission rate on the UBI premium ceded is slightly higher.

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses increased by $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Funds

 

Our sources of funds primarily consist of premium receipts net of paid losses and commissions, investment income, net proceeds from capital raising activities, which may include the issuance of common shares, and proceeds from sales and redemption of investments. Cash is used primarily to pay losses and loss expenses, general and administrative expenses and dividends, with the remainder made available to our investment managers for investment in accordance with our investment policy.

 

The following table is a summary of our statement of cash flows:

 

		Three months ended March 31,
		2009				2008
		($ in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in):
Operating activities		$	14,616			$	4,298
Investing activities			(70,934	)			(97,706	)
Financing activities			19,614				100,683
Change in cash and cash equivalents		$	(36,704	)		$	7,275

 

Cash flows from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $14.6 million compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. This increase was due to the GMAC Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Investing cash flows consist primarily of proceeds on the sale of investments and payments for investments acquired. We used $70.9 million in net cash for investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $97.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. 

Cash flows provided by financing activities were $19.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $100.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. < font style="DISPLAY: inline; COLOR: #000000">Included in cash flows provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were Trust Preferred issuance (net of expenses) of $255.8 million, dividends paid of $3.5 million and the repayment of $232.6 million of the proceeds from the securities sold under agreements to repurchase, at contract value. 

 

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Our funds are primarily invested in liquid, high-grade fixed income securities. As of March 31, 2009 97.6% of our fixed income portfolio consisted of investment grade securities. The maturity distribution of our fixed income portfolio (on a market value basis) as of March 31, 2009 was as follows:

 

		March 31,
		2009
		($ in thousands)
Due in one year or less		$	22,697
Due after one year through five years			167,878
Due after five years through ten years			206,195
Due after ten years			53,845
Mortgage and asset -backed			768,836
Total			1,219,451

 

We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our consolidated results of operations. The effects of inflation are considered implicitly in pricing. Loss reserves are established to recognize likely loss settlements at the date payment is made. Those reserves inherently recognize the effects of inflation. The actual effects of inflation on our results cannot be accurately known, however, until claims are ultimately resolved.

Trust Preferred Securities

On January 20, 2009, the Company completed a private placement of 260,000 units (the “Units”), each Unit consisting of $1,000 principal amount of capital securities (the “Trust Preferred Securities”) of Maiden Capital Financing Trust (the “Trust”) (an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) and 45 common shares, $.01 par value, of the Company (the “Common Shares”), for a purchase price of $1,000.45 per Unit.  This resulted in gross proceeds to the Company of $260.1 million before $4.3 million of placement agent fees and expenses.  11,700,000 Common Shares in the aggregate were issued by the Company.  Certain trusts established by Michael Karfunkel and George Karfunkel, two of the Company’s founding shareholders, purchased an aggregate of 159,000 of the Units or 61%.  The remaining 101,000 Units were purchased by existing institutional shareholders of the Company.  

 

The Trust used the proceeds from the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities to purchase a subordinated debenture (the “Debenture”) in the principal amount of $260 million issued by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. (“Maiden NA”).

As a consequence of the issuance of a majority of the Units to a related party under FASB Interpretation 46R Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46R”), the Trust is a variable interest entity and the Company is deemed to be the Primary beneficiary and is required to consolidate the Trust. The issuance of common shares associated with the Trust Preferred Securities resulted in an original issuance discount of $44.9 million based on market price on January 20, 2009. The discount is amortized over 30 years based on the effective interest method. The Debentures and Trust Preferred Securities mature in 2039 and carry a stated or coupon rate of 14% with an effective interest rate of 16.95%. As of March 31, 2009, the stated value of the Trust Preferred Securities was $215,084 which comprises the principal amount of $260 million and unamortized discount of $44.9 million.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase, at Contract Value 

The Company enters into repurchase agreements. The agreements are accounted for as collateralized borrowing transactions and are recorded at contract amounts. The Company receives cash or securities, that it invests or hold in short term or fixed income securities. In March 2009 the Company chose to end all of its agreements and repaid all amounts then outstanding from existing cash resources. Interest expense associated with these repurchase agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was $0.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

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Restrictions, Collateral and Specific Requirements

The jurisdictions in which our operating subsidiaries are licensed to write business impose regulations requiring companies to maintain or meet various defined statutory ratios, including solvency and liquidity requirements. Some jurisdictions also place restrictions on the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions.

The payment of dividends from Maiden Holdings’ Bermuda domiciled operating subsidiary is, under certain circumstances, limited under Bermuda law, which requires our Bermuda operating subsidiary to maintain certain measures of solvency and liquidity. Maiden Holdings’ U.S. domiciled operating subsidiaries are subject to significant regulatory restrictions limiting their ability to declare and pay dividends. The inability of the subsidiaries of Maiden Holdings to pay dividends and other permitted distributions could have a material adverse effect on Maiden Holdings’ cash requirements and ability to make dividend payments on its common shares.

Maiden Holdings’ operating subsidiary in Bermuda, Maiden Insurance, is neither licensed nor admitted as an insurer, nor is it accredited as a reinsurer, in any jurisdiction in the United States. As a result, it is generally required to post collateral security with respect to any reinsurance liabilities it assumes from ceding insurers domiciled in the United States in order for U.S. ceding companies to obtain credit on their U.S. statutory financial statements with respect to insurance liabilities ceded to them. Under applicable statutory provisions, the security arrangements may be in the form of letters of credit, reinsurance trusts maintained by trustees or funds-withheld arrangements where assets are held by the ceding company.

At this time, Maiden Insurance uses trust accounts primarily to meet collateral requirements - cash equivalents and investments pledged in favor of ceding companies in order to comply with relevant insurance regulations. As of March 31, 2009, total trust account deposits were $1.13 billion compared to $0 as of March 31, 2008. For the Quota Share Agreement with AII, Maiden Insurance has also loaned funds totaling $168.0 million and $113.5 million as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, to AmTrust’s Bermuda reinsurance subsidiary to satisfy collateral requirements.  

In addition, Maiden Insurance has outstanding letters of credit totaling $15.89 million and $0 as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Collateral arrangements with ceding insurers may subject our assets to security interests or require that a portion of our assets be pledged to, or otherwise held by, third parties. Both our trust accounts and letter of credit are fully collateralized by assets held in custodial accounts. Although the investment income derived from our assets while held in trust accrues to our benefit, the investment of these assets is governed by the terms of the letter of credit facilities or the investment regulations of the state or territory of domicile of the ceding insurer, which may be more restrictive than the investment regulations applicable to us under Bermuda law. The restrictions may result in lower investment yields on these assets, which may adversely affect our profitability.

We do not currently anticipate that the restrictions on liquidity resulting from restrictions on the payments of dividends by our subsidiary companies or from assets committed in trust accounts or to collateralize the letter of credit facilities will have a material impact on our ability to carry out our normal business activities, including, our ability to make dividend payments on our common shares. In addition, the terms of the Debentures would limit, in the event of certain circumstances, Maiden NA’s ability to pay dividends to the Company.

Investment Portfolio

Our investment portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, increased by $16.1 million, or 1.0% to $1,682 million at March 31, 2009 from $1,666 million as of December 31, 2008. Our fixed maturities are classified as available for sale (99.6%) as of March 31, 2009, as defined by SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.” As such, the reported value of those securities is equal to their fair value. Our fixed maturity securities, gross, as of this date had a fair value of $1,219.5 million and an amortized cost of $1,279.9 million.  Our investment portfolio is summarized in the table below by type of investment:

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		(Unaudited) March 31, 2009								December 31, 2008
		Fair value				Percentage of portfolio				Fair value				Percentage of portfolio
		($ in thousands)								($ in thousands)
U.S. – treasury bonds		$	33,750				2.8	%		$	38,527				3.4	%
U.S. Agency - mortgage backed securities			768,836				62.8	%			771,899				68.6	%
Corporate fixed maturities			405,624				33.1	%			309,529				27.5	%
Municipalities			11,241				0.9	%			-				-	%
Other investments			5,386				0.4	%			5,291				0.5	%
Total available for sale investments		$	1,224,837				100.0	%		$	1,125,246				100.0	%

 

Quarterly, the Company evaluates for other-than-temporary-impairment, whereby it evaluates each security which has an unrealized loss as of the end of the subject reporting period. We use a set of quantitative and qualitative criteria to review our investment portfolio to evaluate the necessity of recording impairment losses for other-than-temporary declines in the fair value of our investments. Some of the criteria we consider include:

·

how long and by how much the fair value of the security has been below its amortized cost;

·

the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer of the security, including any specific events that may affect its operations or earnings;

·

our intent and ability to keep the security for a sufficient time period for it to recover its value;

·

any nonpayment of scheduled interest payments; and

·

the occurrence of discrete credit event resulting in (i) the issuer defaulting on material outstanding obligation (ii) the issuer seeking protection under bankruptcy law.

Impairment of investment securities results in a charge to operations when a market decline below cost is deemed to be other-than-temporary. During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, based on the criteria above, we determined that no securities were other-than-temporarily-impaired.  

At March 31, 2009, the Company had $86.3 million of gross unrealized losses related to available-for-sale fixed income securities. Corporate bonds represent 33% of the fair value of our fixed maturities and 96% of the total unrealized losses of our fixed maturities. The Company owns 62 corporate bonds in the industrial, bank and financial and other sectors, which have a fair value of approximately 6%, 24% and 3%, respectively, and 2%, 94% and 0% of total unrealized losses, respectively, of our fixed maturities. The Company believes that the unrealized losses in these securities are the result, primarily, of general economic conditions and not the condition of the issuers, which we believe are solvent and have the ability to meet their obligations. Therefore, the Company expects that the market price for these securities should recover within a reasonable time.

Item 3. Exposures to Market Risk

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Market risk is the risk that we will incur losses in our investments due to adverse changes in market rates and prices. Market risk is directly influenced by the volatility and liquidity in the market in which the related underlying assets are invested. We believe that we are principally exposed to two types of market risk: changes in interest rates and changes in credit quality of issuers of investment securities and reinsurers.

Interest Rate Risk

 

Interest rate risk is the risk that we may incur economic losses due to adverse changes in interest rates. The primary market risk to the investment portfolio is interest rate risk associated with investments in fixed maturity securities. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. At March 31, 2009, we had fixed maturity securities with a fair value of $1,219.5 million that are subject to interest rate risk.

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The table below summarizes the interest rate risk associated with our fixed maturity securities by illustrating the sensitivity of the fair value and carrying value of our fixed maturity securities as of March 31, 2009 to selected hypothetical changes in interest rates, and the associated impact on our stockholders’ equity. Temporary changes in the fair value of our fixed maturity securities that are held as available-for-sale do impact the carrying value of these securities and are reported in our shareholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income. The selected scenarios in the table below are not predictions of future events, but rather are intended to illustrate the effect such events may have on the fair value and carrying value of our fixed maturity securities and on our shareholders’ equity, as of March 31, 2009. 

Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates		Fair Value				Estimated Change in Fair Value				Hypothetical Percentage Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders’ Equity
200 basis point increase		$	1,172,035			$	(47,416	)			(9	%)
100 basis point increase			1,194,939				(24,512	)			(4	%)
No change			1,219,451				-				0	%
100 basis point decrease			1,243,812				24,362				4	%
200 basis point decrease		$	1,272,076			$	52,625				10	%

The interest rate sensitivity on the $168 million loan to related party which carries an interest rate of one month LIBOR plus 90 basis points, a fluctuation of 100 and 200 basis points in LIBOR would affect our earnings and cash flows by $1.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively, on an annual basis, but would not affect the carrying value of the loan.

Credit Risk

 

In providing reinsurance, we have premiums receivable subject to credit risk of the ceding company. Our credit risk results from our insureds’ potential inability to meet their premium obligations. We also are exposed to credit risk on our investment portfolio. Our credit risk is the potential loss in market value resulting from adverse change in the borrower’s ability to repay its obligations. Our investment objectives are to preserve capital, generate investment income and maintain adequate liquidity for the payment of claims and debt service, if any. We seek to achieve these goals by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities. We manage credit risk through regular review and analysis of the creditworthiness of all investments and potential investments. If we retrocede business to other reinsurers, we will have reinsurance recoverables subject to credit risk. To mitigate the risk of these counterparties’ nonpayment of amounts due, we will establish business and financial standards for reinsurer approval, incorporating ratings and outlook by major rating agencies and considering then-current market information. Further, we are subject to the credit risk that AII and/or AmTrust will fail to perform their obligations to pay interest on and repay principal of amounts loaned to AII pursuant to its loan agreement with Maiden Insurance, and to reimburse Maiden Insurance for any assets or other collateral of Maiden that AmTrust’s U.S. insurance company subsidiaries apply or retain, and income on those assets.

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements or transactions with unconsolidated, special purpose entities.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, such disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is timely recorded, processed, summarized and reported. The principal executive officer and principal financial officer also concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under such Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. During the most recent fiscal quarter, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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