Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the period ended March 31, 2010

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from          to  

 

Commission file number 1-33128

 

ONEBEACON INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Bermuda

 

98-0503315

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

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

 

 

 

601 Carlson Parkway

 

 

Minnetonka, Minnesota

 

55305

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (952) 852-2431

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes o  No o

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated Filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

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

 

As of April 27, 2010, 23,368,400 Class A common shares, par value of $0.01 per share, and 71,754,738 Class B common shares, par value of $0.01 per share, were outstanding.

 

 

 


 


Table of Contents

 

ONEBEACON INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

 

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets:
As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income:
Three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity:
Three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
Three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

 

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

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results of Operations — For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary of Investment Results

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 6.

 

Exhibits

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

 

48

 



Table of Contents

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

 

ONEBEACON INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions, except
share and per share
amounts)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity investments, at fair value (amortized cost $2,249.1 and $2,900.6)

 

$

2,344.5

 

$

2,994.3

 

Short-term investments, at amortized cost (which approximates fair value)

 

1,068.8

 

544.4

 

Common equity securities, at fair value (cost $227.1 and $176.3)

 

245.6

 

187.6

 

Convertible bonds, at fair value (amortized cost $152.3 and $153.7)

 

170.9

 

170.2

 

Other investments, at fair value (cost $130.8 and $122.8)

 

160.5

 

146.3

 

Total investments

 

3,990.3

 

4,042.8

 

Cash

 

45.4

 

44.8

 

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

 

680.1

 

664.1

 

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses—Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

 

1,520.7

 

1,528.8

 

Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses

 

19.8

 

15.9

 

Premiums receivable

 

459.2

 

469.1

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

188.5

 

215.0

 

Net deferred tax asset

 

147.6

 

161.1

 

Investment income accrued

 

21.2

 

29.4

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

112.5

 

49.9

 

Accounts receivable on unsettled investment sales

 

42.7

 

24.2

 

Other assets

 

313.5

 

286.9

 

Total assets

 

$

7,541.5

 

$

7,532.0

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and LAE reserves

 

$

3,991.3

 

$

3,934.8

 

Unearned premiums

 

999.4

 

1,018.3

 

Debt

 

594.0

 

620.5

 

Securities lending payable

 

1.7

 

1.7

 

Ceded reinsurance payable

 

89.3

 

24.7

 

Accounts payable on unsettled investment purchases

 

11.5

 

7.6

 

Other liabilities

 

425.7

 

476.3

 

Total liabilities

 

6,112.9

 

6,083.9

 

Shareholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares and paid-in surplus (par value $0.01; authorized, 200,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, 95,123,138 and 95,121,050 shares)

 

1,010.1

 

1,009.7

 

Retained earnings

 

405.5

 

425.5

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, after tax:

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized foreign currency translation losses

 

(0.7

)

(0.7

)

Other comprehensive income and loss items

 

(5.3

)

(5.5

)

Total OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity

 

1,409.6

 

1,429.0

 

Total noncontrolling interests

 

19.0

 

19.1

 

Total OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests

 

1,428.6

 

1,448.1

 

Total liabilities, OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests

 

$

7,541.5

 

$

7,532.0

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEBEACON INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions, except per
share amounts)

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

$

453.2

 

$

487.8

 

Net investment income

 

28.3

 

21.9

 

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)

 

42.4

 

(5.9

)

Net other revenues

 

6.5

 

9.4

 

Total revenues

 

530.4

 

513.2

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and LAE

 

333.7

 

288.0

 

Policy acquisition expenses

 

101.4

 

95.9

 

Other underwriting expenses

 

74.2

 

72.7

 

General and administrative expenses

 

7.7

 

5.5

 

Accretion of fair value adjustment to loss and LAE reserves

 

 

1.4

 

Interest expense on debt

 

9.1

 

10.9

 

Total expenses

 

526.1

 

474.4

 

Pre-tax income

 

4.3

 

38.8

 

Income tax expense

 

(4.0

)

(5.5

)

Net income including noncontrolling interests

 

0.3

 

33.3

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(0.3

)

(0.5

)

Net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

 

32.8

 

Change in other comprehensive income and loss items

 

0.2

 

1.1

 

Comprehensive net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

$

0.2

 

$

33.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders – basic and diluted

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

$

0.0

 

$

0.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared and paid per share

 

$

0.21

 

$

0.21

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEBEACON INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

OneBeacon’s Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common
shareholders’
equity

 

Common
shares and
paid-in
surplus

 

Retained
earnings

 

Accum. other
comprehensive
(loss) income,
after tax

 

Noncontrolling
interests,
after tax

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balances at January 1, 2010

 

$

1,429.0

 

$

1,009.7

 

$

425.5

 

$

(6.2

)

$

19.1

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

Accrued option expense

 

0.4

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

Repurchases and retirements of common shares

 

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

Dividends

 

(20.0

)

 

(20.0

)

 

(0.7

)

Other comprehensive income, after tax

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

Balances at March 31, 2010

 

$

1,409.6

 

$

1,010.1

 

$

405.5

 

$

(6.0

)

$

19.0

 

 

 

 

OneBeacon’s Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common
shareholders’
equity

 

Common
shares and
paid-in
surplus

 

Retained
earnings

 

Accum. other
comprehensive
(loss) income,
after tax

 

Noncontrolling
interests,
after tax

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balances at January 1, 2009

 

$

1,155.1

 

$

1,016.7

 

$

163.4

 

$

(25.0

)

$

17.2

 

Net income

 

32.8

 

 

32.8

 

 

0.5

 

Accrued option expense

 

0.3

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

Repurchases and retirements of common shares

 

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

Dividends

 

(20.0

)

 

(20.0

)

 

(0.6

)

Contributions

 

 

 

 

 

2.0

 

Other comprehensive income, after tax

 

1.1

 

 

 

1.1

 

 

Balances at March 31, 2009

 

$

1,169.3

 

$

1,017.0

 

$

176.2

 

$

(23.9

)

$

19.4

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEBEACON INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Cash flows from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income including noncontrolling interests

 

$

0.3

 

$

33.3

 

Charges (credits) to reconcile net income to cash flows used for operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized investment (gains) losses

 

(42.4

)

5.9

 

Net other realized losses

 

0.5

 

 

Deferred income tax expense

 

13.5

 

57.9

 

Other operating items:

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in loss and LAE reserves

 

56.5

 

(82.8

)

Net change in unearned premiums

 

(18.9

)

(16.2

)

Net change in ceded reinsurance payable

 

64.6

 

(7.0

)

Net change in ceded unearned premiums

 

(62.6

)

(2.2

)

Net change in premiums receivable

 

9.9

 

7.5

 

Net change in reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses

 

(11.8

)

64.3

 

Net change in other assets and liabilities

 

(38.8

)

(118.5

)

Net cash used for operations

 

(29.2

)

(57.8

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net maturities, purchases and sales of short-term investments

 

(524.4

)

162.2

 

Maturities of fixed maturity investments

 

683.0

 

76.5

 

Sales of fixed maturity investments

 

286.5

 

248.3

 

Sales of common equity securities

 

11.3

 

156.9

 

Sales of convertible bonds

 

29.5

 

83.5

 

Distributions and redemptions of other investments

 

2.1

 

7.2

 

Purchases of fixed maturity investments

 

(297.7

)

(611.7

)

Purchases of common equity securities

 

(61.8

)

(13.9

)

Purchases of convertible bonds

 

(23.7

)

(50.2

)

Contributions for other investments

 

(12.5

)

(3.5

)

Net change in unsettled investment purchases and sales

 

(14.6

)

31.7

 

Net acquisitions of property and equipment

 

(0.8

)

0.6

 

Net cash provided from investing activities

 

76.9

 

87.6

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment of debt

 

(14.0

)

(2.0

)

Repurchases of debt

 

(13.1

)

(8.1

)

Cash dividends paid to common shareholders

 

(20.0

)

(20.0

)

Net cash used for financing activities

 

(47.1

)

(30.1

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash during period

 

0.6

 

(0.3

)

Cash balance at beginning of period

 

44.8

 

53.0

 

Cash balance at end of period

 

$

45.4

 

$

52.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flows information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

0.4

 

$

0.8

 

Net tax payments to state and national governments

 

5.1

 

1.4

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

5


 


Table of Contents

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of presentation

 

These interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. (the “Company” or the “Registrant”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, “OneBeacon”) and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company is an exempted Bermuda limited liability company. The OneBeacon operating companies are U.S.-based property and casualty insurance writers, most of which operate in a multi-company pool. OneBeacon offers a wide range of insurance personal products and services sold through independent agencies, brokers and managing general agencies. OneBeacon has historically offered a range of specialty, commercial and personal products and services, however, OneBeacon has recently entered into two transactions that will transform it into a specialty lines company. On December 3, 2009, OneBeacon sold the renewal rights to approximately $490 million in premiums from its non-specialty commercial lines business to The Hanover Insurance Group (“The Hanover”). The transaction includes small commercial accounts and the non-specialty portion of the middle-market business, beginning with January 1, 2010 effective dates (the “Commercial Lines Transaction”). On February 2, 2010, OneBeacon entered into a definitive agreement to sell its personal lines business. See Note 2 for further discussion.

 

OneBeacon was acquired by White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (“White Mountains”) from Aviva plc (“Aviva”, formerly CGNU) in 2001 (the “OneBeacon Acquisition”). White Mountains is a holding company whose businesses provide property and casualty insurance, reinsurance and certain other products. During the fourth quarter of 2006, White Mountains sold 27.6 million or 27.6% of the Company’s common shares in an initial public offering. Prior to the initial public offering, OneBeacon was a wholly-owned subsidiary of White Mountains. As of March 31, 2010, White Mountains owned 75.4% of the Company’s common shares. Within this report, the term “OneBeacon” is used to refer to one or more entities within the consolidated organization, as the context requires. The Company is a Bermuda exempted limited company with its headquarters located at 14 Wesley Street, 5th Floor, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. The Company’s principal executive office is located at 601 Carlson Parkway, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305, its U.S. headquarters are located at 1 Beacon Lane, Canton, Massachusetts 02021 and its registered office is located at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.

 

OneBeacon’s reportable segments are Insurance Operations and Other Operations. OneBeacon’s Insurance Operations segment includes the results of its insurance operations. OneBeacon currently manages its Insurance Operations segment through a specialty lines underwriting unit and a personal lines underwriting unit, nearly all of which is subject to the personal lines transaction described in Note 2. The Insurance Operations segment also includes run-off business, which primarily consists of non-specialty commercial lines business which is being transferred to The Hanover, as described above, and other run-off business. OneBeacon’s Other Operations segment consists of the Company and its intermediate holding companies which include OneBeacon U.S. Enterprises Holdings, Inc. and OneBeacon U.S. Holdings, Inc. (“OBH”), both U.S.-domiciled companies, as well as various intermediate holding companies domiciled in the United States, Gibraltar, Luxembourg and Bermuda.

 

All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, considered necessary by management to fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of OneBeacon. These interim financial statements may not be indicative of financial results for the full year and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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 as of 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. Refer to the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete discussion regarding OneBeacon’s significant accounting policies. Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

Recently Adopted Changes in Accounting Principles

 

Transfers of Financial Assets and Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable Interest Entities

 

On January 1, 2010, OneBeacon adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-16 and ASU 2009-17, codified within Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 860 and ASC 810, respectively. Under ASC 860, the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity (“QSPE”) has been eliminated and accordingly, any existing QSPE must be evaluated for consolidation upon adoption. The appropriateness of derecognition is evaluated based on whether or not the transferor has surrendered control of the transferred assets. The evaluation must consider any continuing involvement by the transferor. OneBeacon does not have any entities that were considered a QSPE under guidance prior to ASC 860. ASC 810 clarifies the application of consolidation accounting for entities for which the controlling financial interest might not be solely identified

 

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Table of Contents

 

through voting rights. The guidance under ASC 810 still requires a reporting entity to perform an analysis to determine if its variable interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The analysis required identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the entity having both of the following:

 

·                  The power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and

 

·                  The obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

 

In addition, a reporting entity must assess whether it has an implicit financial responsibility to ensure that a VIE operates as designed when determining if it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance. The concept of a reconsideration event is retained and an ongoing reassessment of whether a reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of a VIE is required. Specifically, the list of reconsideration events includes a change in facts and circumstances where the holders of an equity investment at risk as a group lose the power from voting or similar rights to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance. In addition, a troubled debt-restructuring is now defined as a reconsideration event. Both statements expand required disclosures and are effective as of the beginning of the first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 860 and ASC 810 had no material impact on OneBeacon’s financial position or results of operations.

 

Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements

 

On January 1, 2010, OneBeacon adopted ASU 2010-06, codified within ASC 820. ASU 2010-06 requires new disclosures and clarifies existing disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASU 2010-06 requires disclosure of the amounts and nature of the transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 measurements. The ASU also requires a gross presentation of activity within the Level 3 rollforward, presenting separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements. In addition, fair value measurements by Level will now be presented on a more disaggregated basis, by asset or liability class. The ASU also requires more detailed disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques for Level 2 and Level 3 measurements for interim and annual reporting periods. The ASU is effective for the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the gross presentation of the Level 3 rollforward, which is required for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010 and for interim reporting periods within those years. The adoption of ASU 2010-06 had no material impact on OneBeacon’s financial position or results of operations. See Note 5 for required disclosures.

 

NOTE 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions

 

On February 2, 2010, OneBeacon entered into a definitive agreement to sell its traditional personal lines business to Tower Group, Inc. (the “Personal Lines Transaction”). The Personal Lines Transaction includes two insurance companies containing the personal lines business, and two attorneys-in-fact managing the reciprocal insurance exchanges (“reciprocals”) that write the personal lines business in New York and New Jersey. Net written premiums for the affected books totaled approximately $420 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. As consideration, OneBeacon will receive an amount equal to the statutory surplus in the reciprocals, the GAAP equity in the insurance companies and attorneys-in-fact, plus $32.5 million. All specialty lines, including the collector cars and boats business, will remain with OneBeacon. The sale is subject to certain state regulatory approvals.

 

Except as described above with respect to entering into the Personal Lines Transaction, during the first quarter of 2010, there were no acquisitions or dispositions. During the first quarter of 2009, there were no acquisitions or dispositions.

 

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Table of Contents

 

NOTE 3. Reserves for Unpaid Loss and LAE

 

The following table summarizes the loss and LAE reserve activities of OneBeacon’s insurance subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Gross beginning balance

 

$

3,934.8

 

$

4,294.0

 

Less beginning reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

 

(2,192.9

)

(2,503.3

)

Net loss and LAE reserves

 

1,741.9

 

1,790.7

 

Loss and LAE incurred relating to:

 

 

 

 

 

Current year losses

 

339.7

 

302.8

 

Prior year losses

 

(6.0

)

(14.8

)

Total incurred loss and LAE

 

333.7

 

288.0

 

Accretion of fair value adjustment to net loss and LAE reserves

 

 

1.4

 

Loss and LAE paid relating to:

 

 

 

 

 

Current year losses

 

(73.0

)

(76.3

)

Prior year losses

 

(212.1

)

(233.5

)

Total loss and LAE payments

 

(285.1

)

(309.8

)

Net ending balance

 

1,790.5

 

1,770.3

 

Plus ending reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

 

2,200.8

 

2,440.9

 

Gross ending balance

 

$

3,991.3

 

$

4,211.2

 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2010, OneBeacon experienced $6.0 million of favorable loss and LAE reserve development on prior accident year loss reserves. The favorable loss reserve development was primarily due to lower than expected severity on non-catastrophe losses related to professional liability lines, commercial package business and other general liability lines. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, OneBeacon experienced $14.8 million of favorable loss and LAE reserve development on prior accident year loss reserves. The favorable loss reserve development was primarily due to lower than expected severity on non-catastrophe losses related to professional liability lines and commercial package business lines, partially offset by adverse loss reserve development primarily related to New York personal injury protection litigation at AutoOne Insurance (“AutoOne”).

 

In connection with purchase accounting for the OneBeacon Acquisition, loss and LAE reserves and the related reinsurance recoverables were adjusted to fair value on the balance sheets. The net reduction to loss and LAE reserves was accreted through an income statement charge ratably with and over the period the claims were settled. Accordingly, OneBeacon recognized $1.4 million of such charges for the three months ended March 31, 2009. As of March 31, 2010, the outstanding pre-tax unaccreted adjustment was $0.

 

NOTE 4. Reinsurance

 

In the normal course of business, OneBeacon’s insurance subsidiaries seek to limit losses that may arise from catastrophes or other events by reinsuring with third party reinsurers. OneBeacon remains liable for risks reinsured even if the reinsurer does not honor its obligations under reinsurance contracts.

 

Effective July 1, 2009, OneBeacon renewed its property catastrophe reinsurance program through June 30, 2010. The program provides coverage for OneBeacon’s personal and commercial property business as well as certain acts of terrorism. Under the program, the first $100 million of losses resulting from any single catastrophe are retained and the next $750 million of losses resulting from the catastrophe are reinsured. Any loss above $850 million would be retained. In the event of a catastrophe, OneBeacon’s property catastrophe reinsurance program is reinstated for the remainder of the original contract term by paying a reinstatement premium that is based on the percentage of coverage reinstated and the original property catastrophe coverage premium.

 

OneBeacon entered into a 30% quota share agreement with a group of reinsurers that ran from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, and renewed the agreement effective January 1, 2010. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, OneBeacon ceded $11.6 million and $13.6 million, respectively, of written premiums from its Northeast homeowners business written through OneBeacon Insurance Company (“OBIC”) and its subsidiary companies, along with Adirondack Insurance Exchange and New Jersey Skylands Insurance Association in New York and New Jersey, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

 

At March 31, 2010, OneBeacon had $19.8 million of reinsurance recoverables on paid losses and $2,387.8 million (gross of $187.0 million in purchase accounting adjustments, as described in Note 3) that will become recoverable if claims are paid in accordance with current reserve estimates. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve OneBeacon of its obligations. Therefore, collectibility of balances due from its reinsurers is critical to OneBeacon’s financial strength. OneBeacon is selective in regard to its reinsurers, principally placing reinsurance with those reinsurers with strong financial condition, industry ratings and underwriting ability. Management monitors the financial condition and ratings of its reinsurers on an ongoing basis. As a result, uncollectible amounts have historically not been significant. The following table provides a listing of OneBeacon’s top reinsurers for its insurance operations, excluding industry pools and associations and affiliates of OneBeacon, based upon recoverable amounts, the percentage of total reinsurance recoverables and the reinsurers’ A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) ratings.

 

($ in millions)

 

Balance at
March 31, 2010

 

% of total

 

A.M. Best
Rating (1)

 

National Indemnity Company and General Reinsurance Corporation (2)

 

$

1,840.9

 

76

%

A

++

Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire (3)

 

45.5

 

2

%

A

++

Munich Reinsurance America

 

40.9

 

2

%

A

+

QBE Insurance Corporation

 

28.2

 

1

%

A

 

Swiss Re

 

18.6

 

1

%

A

 

 


(1)          A.M. Best ratings as detailed above are: “A++” (Superior, which is the highest of fifteen financial strength ratings), “A+” (Superior, which is the second highest of fifteen financial strength ratings) and “A” (Excellent, which is the third highest of fifteen financial strength ratings).

 

(2)          Includes $320.2 million of Third Party Recoverables (as defined below), which NICO (as defined below) would pay under the terms of the NICO Cover (as defined below) if they are unable to collect from third party reinsurers. OneBeacon also has an additional $105.4 million of Third Party Recoverables from various reinsurers, the majority of which are rated “A” or better by A.M. Best.

 

(3)          Includes $38.8 million of reinsurance recoverables from various reinsurers that are guaranteed by Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire under the terms of a 100% quota share reinsurance agreement between Houston General Insurance Company and Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire.

 

In connection with the OneBeacon Acquisition, Aviva caused OneBeacon to purchase two reinsurance contracts: a reinsurance contract with National Indemnity Company (“NICO”), for up to $2.5 billion in old asbestos and environmental (“A&E”) claims and certain other exposures (the “NICO Cover”) and an adverse loss reserve development cover from General Reinsurance Corporation (“GRC”) for up to $570.0 million, comprised of $400.0 million of adverse loss reserve development occurring in years 2000 and prior (the “GRC Cover”) in addition to $170.0 million of reserves ceded as of the date of the OneBeacon Acquisition. The NICO Cover and GRC Cover, which were contingent on and occurred contemporaneously with the OneBeacon Acquisition, were put in place in lieu of a seller guarantee of loss and LAE reserves and are therefore accounted for under GAAP as a seller guarantee. NICO and GRC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

 

Under the terms of the NICO Cover, NICO receives the economic benefit of reinsurance recoverables from certain of OneBeacon’s third party reinsurers (“Third Party Reinsurers”) in existence at the time the NICO Cover was executed (“Third Party Recoverables”). As a result, the Third Party Recoverables serve to protect the $2.5 billion limit of NICO coverage for the benefit of OneBeacon. OneBeacon estimates that on an incurred basis it has used approximately $2.2 billion of the coverage provided by NICO at March 31, 2010. Since entering into the NICO Cover, approximately 4% of the $2.2 billion of utilized coverage relates to uncollectible Third Party Recoverables and settlements on Third Party Recoverables through March 31, 2010. Net losses paid totaled approximately $1.2 billion as of March 31, 2010. To the extent that actual experience differs from OneBeacon’s estimate of ultimate A&E losses and Third Party Recoverables, future losses could exceed the $320.2 million of protection remaining under the NICO Cover at March 31, 2010.

 

Pursuant to the GRC Cover, OneBeacon is not entitled to recover losses to the full contract limit if such losses are reimbursed by GRC more quickly than anticipated at the time the contract was signed. OneBeacon intends to seek reimbursement from GRC only for claims which result in payment patterns similar to those supporting its recoverables recorded pursuant to the GRC Cover. The economic cost of not submitting certain other eligible claims to GRC is primarily the investment spread between the rate credited by GRC and the rate achieved by OneBeacon on its own investments. This cost, if any, is expected to be nominal.

 

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Table of Contents

 

NOTE 5. Investment Securities

 

OneBeacon’s invested assets are comprised of securities and other investments held for general investment purposes. Refer to the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete discussion.

 

In accordance with ASC 825, OneBeacon classifies its portfolio of fixed maturity investments and common equity securities, including convertible bonds, held for general investment purposes as trading securities. Trading securities are reported at fair value as of the balance sheet date as determined by quoted market prices when available. Realized and unrealized investment gains and losses on trading securities are reported pre-tax in revenues.

 

Short-term investments consist of money market funds, certificates of deposit and other securities which, at the time of purchase, mature or become available for use within one year. Short-term investments are carried at amortized cost, which approximated fair value as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

Other investments include hedge funds and private equity funds. OneBeacon measures its investments in hedge funds and private equity funds at fair value with changes therein reported in revenues on a pre-tax basis.

 

OneBeacon participated in a securities lending program as a mechanism for generating additional investment income on its fixed maturity and common equity portfolios. Under the securities lending arrangements, certain of its fixed maturity and common equity investments were loaned to other institutions for short periods of time through a lending agent. OneBeacon maintained control over the securities it loaned, retained the earnings and cash flows associated with the loaned securities and received a fee from the borrower for the temporary use of the asset. Collateral, in the form of cash and United States government securities, was required at a rate of 102% of the fair value of the loaned securities. An indemnification agreement with the lending agent protected OneBeacon in the event a borrower became insolvent or failed to return any of the securities on loan. In the event of a shortfall in the collateral amount required to be returned to the securities lending counterparty (e.g., as a result of investment losses), OneBeacon was obligated to make up any deficiency.

 

Prior to February 2009, the collateral was controlled by the lending agent. The lending agent managed the investment of the cash collateral, however, other than in the event of default by the borrower, this collateral was not available to OneBeacon and was remitted to the borrower by the lending agent upon the return of the loaned securities. Because of these restrictions, OneBeacon considered its securities lending activities to be non-cash transactions. The fair value of the securities lending collateral was recorded as both an asset and liability on the balance sheet.

 

In February 2009, OneBeacon amended the terms of the securities lending program to give it more control over the investment of borrowers’ collateral and to separate the assets supporting that collateral into a segregated account. Pursuant to the amendment, (i) the guidelines for the investment of any new cash collateral as well as the reinvestment of cash were narrowed to permit investment in only cash equivalent securities, (ii) OneBeacon has the authority to direct the lending agent to both sell specific collateral securities in the segregated account and to not sell certain collateral securities which the lending agent proposes to sell, and (iii) OneBeacon and the lending agent agreed to manage the securities lending program toward an orderly wind-down. In May 2009, OneBeacon instructed the lending agent not to make any additional loans of securities and to recall all of the securities on loan and fund the return of collateral to the borrower. As a result of the actions described above, the securities lending assets are no longer segregated and are included within OneBeacon’s investment securities. As of March 31, 2010, $1.7 million in collateral had not been returned to the borrower.

 

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Table of Contents

 

OneBeacon’s net investment income is comprised primarily of interest income associated with OneBeacon’s fixed maturity investments, dividend income from its equity investments and interest income from its short-term investments. Net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 consisted of the following:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Investment income:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

$

27.7

 

$

21.0

 

Short-term investments

 

0.1

 

1.6

 

Common equity securities

 

0.8

 

0.4

 

Convertible bonds

 

1.6

 

1.5

 

Other investments

 

0.4

 

0.3

 

Gross investment income

 

30.6

 

24.8

 

Less investment expenses

 

(2.3

)

(2.9

)

Net investment income, pre-tax

 

$

28.3

 

$

21.9

 

 

The composition of net realized investment gains (losses), a component of net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses), consisted of the following:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

$

24.4

 

$

(18.2

)

Short-term investments

 

 

0.1

 

Common equity securities

 

0.3

 

(39.6

)

Convertible bonds

 

4.1

 

0.7

 

Other investments

 

(2.4

)

0.7

 

Net realized investment gains (losses), pre-tax

 

$

26.4

 

$

(56.3

)

 

The net changes in fair value for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2010

 

 

 

Changes in
net unrealized
gains and losses (1)

 

Changes in net foreign
currency
translation gains and
losses (1)

 

Total net changes in fair
value reflected in
revenues (1)

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

$

(1.8

)

$

2.6

 

$

0.8

 

Short-term investments

 

 

(0.3

)

(0.3

)

Common equity securities

 

7.2

 

 

7.2

 

Convertible bonds

 

2.1

 

 

2.1

 

Other investments

 

6.2

 

 

6.2

 

Total

 

$

13.7

 

$

2.3

 

$

16.0

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2009

 

 

 

Changes in
net unrealized
gains and losses (1)(2)

 

Changes in net foreign
currency
translation gains and
losses (1)

 

Total net changes in fair
value reflected in
revenues (1)(2)

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

$

33.7

 

$

6.4

 

$

40.1

 

Short-term investments

 

(0.1

)

0.2

 

0.1

 

Common equity securities

 

9.1

 

0.1

 

9.2

 

Convertible bonds

 

(1.7

)

 

(1.7

)

Other investments

 

2.7

 

 

2.7

 

Total

 

$

43.7

 

$

6.7

 

$

50.4

 

 


(1)          Includes changes in net deferred gains and losses on sales of investments between OneBeacon and entities under White Mountains’ common control of $(0.9) million and $0.3 million, pre-tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

(2)          Includes net unrealized gains related to OneBeacon’s securities lending program of $3.2 million, pre-tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

The components of OneBeacon’s ending net unrealized investment gains and losses, excluding the impact of net unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses, on its trading investment portfolio as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross unrealized investment gains

 

$

169.1

 

$

167.2

 

Gross unrealized investment losses

 

(10.8

)

(23.5

)

Net unrealized gains from investment securities

 

158.3

 

143.7

 

Income taxes

 

(55.4

)

(50.3

)

Total net unrealized investment gains, after tax

 

$

102.9

 

$

93.4

 

 

The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized investment gains and losses, and carrying values of OneBeacon’s fixed maturity investments as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

 

 

Cost or
amortized
cost

 

Gross
unrealized
gains

 

Gross
unrealized
losses

 

Net foreign
currency
gains

 

Carrying
value

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

U.S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

409.5

 

$

11.7

 

$

 

$

 

$

421.2

 

Debt securities issued by industrial corporations

 

895.1

 

60.0

 

(0.8

)

3.9

 

958.2

 

Municipal obligations

 

1.9

 

 

 

 

1.9

 

Asset-backed securities

 

856.1

 

18.8

 

(0.6

)

 

874.3

 

Foreign government obligations

 

15.7

 

0.9

 

 

 

16.6

 

Preferred stocks

 

70.8

 

1.5

 

 

 

72.3

 

Total fixed maturity investments

 

$

2,249.1

 

$

92.9

 

$

(1.4

)

$

3.9

 

$

2,344.5

 

 

12



Table of Contents

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Cost or
amortized
cost

 

Gross
unrealized
gains

 

Gross
unrealized
losses

 

Net foreign
currency
gains

 

Carrying
value

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

U.S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

519.4

 

$

12.4

 

$

(0.2

)

$

 

$

531.6

 

Debt securities issued by industrial corporations

 

1,278.6

 

73.5

 

(6.4

)

1.3

 

1,347.0

 

Municipal obligations

 

2.5

 

0.1

 

 

 

2.6

 

Asset-backed securities

 

1,003.7

 

18.4

 

(7.2

)

 

1,014.9

 

Foreign government obligations

 

25.6

 

1.1

 

 

 

26.7

 

Preferred stocks

 

70.8

 

0.7

 

 

 

 

71.5

 

Total fixed maturity investments

 

$

2,900.6

 

$

106.2

 

$

(13.8

)

$

1.3

 

$

2,994.3

 

 

The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized investment gains and losses, and carrying values of OneBeacon’s common equity securities, convertible bonds and other investments as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

 

 

Cost or
amortized
cost

 

Gross
unrealized
gains

 

Gross
unrealized
losses

 

Net foreign
currency
gains

 

Carrying
value

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Common equity securities

 

$

227.1

 

$

21.4

 

$

(2.9

)

$

 

$

245.6

 

Convertible bonds

 

152.3

 

18.7

 

(0.1

)

 

170.9

 

Other investments

 

130.8

 

36.1

 

(6.4

)

 

160.5

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Cost or
amortized
cost

 

Gross
unrealized
gains

 

Gross
unrealized
losses

 

Net foreign
currency
gains

 

Carrying
value

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Common equity securities

 

$

176.3

 

$

12.3

 

$

(1.0

)

$

 

$

187.6

 

Convertible bonds

 

153.7

 

16.6

 

(0.1

)

 

170.2

 

Other investments

 

122.8

 

32.1

 

(8.6

)

 

146.3

 

 

Fair value measurements at March 31, 2010

 

OneBeacon records its investments in accordance with ASC 820 which provides a revised definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands financial statement disclosure requirements for fair value information. Under ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants (an “exit price”). ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between inputs based on market data from independent sources (“observable inputs”) and a reporting entity’s internal assumptions based upon the best information available when external market data is limited or unavailable (“unobservable inputs”). The fair value hierarchy in ASC 820 prioritizes fair value measurements into three levels based on the nature of the inputs as follows:

 

Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets;

 

Level 2 — Valuations based on observable inputs that do not meet the criteria for Level 1, including quoted prices in inactive markets and quoted prices in active markets for similar, but not identical instruments; and

 

Level 3 — Valuations based on unobservable inputs.

 

As of both March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, approximately 93% of the investment portfolio recorded at fair value was priced based upon observable inputs.

 

Fair values for securities for which quoted prices are unavailable are estimated based upon reference to observable inputs other than quoted prices, such as benchmark interest rates, market comparables, broker quotes and other relevant observable inputs. In circumstances where observable inputs are adjusted to reflect management’s best estimate of fair value, such fair value measurements are considered a lower level measurement in the fair value hierarchy.

 

13


 


Table of Contents

 

Other investments, which are comprised of hedge funds and private equity funds for which the fair value option has been elected, are carried at fair value based upon OneBeacon’s proportionate interest in the underlying fund’s net asset value, which is deemed to approximate fair value. The fair value of OneBeacon’s investments in hedge funds and private equity funds has been estimated using net asset value because it reflects the fair value of the funds’ underlying investments in accordance with ASC 820. OneBeacon employs a number of procedures to assess the reasonableness of the fair value measurements, including obtaining and reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and discussing each fund’s pricing with the fund’s manager. However, since the fund managers do not provide sufficient information to independently evaluate the pricing inputs and methods for each underlying investment, the inputs are considered to be unobservable. Accordingly, the fair values of OneBeacon’s investment in hedge funds and private equity funds have been classified as Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy.

 

In circumstances where the underlying investments are publicly traded, such as the investments made by hedge funds, the fair value of the underlying investments is determined using current market prices. In circumstances where the underlying investments are not publicly traded, such as the investments made by private equity funds, the private equity fund managers have considered the need for a liquidity discount on each of the underlying investments when determining the fund’s net asset value in accordance with ASC 820. In circumstances where OneBeacon’s portion of a fund’s net asset value is deemed to differ from fair value due to illiquidity or other factors associated with OneBeacon’s investment in the fund, including counterparty credit risk, the net asset value is adjusted accordingly. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, OneBeacon did not record an adjustment to the net asset value related to its investments in hedge funds or private equity funds.

 

As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, other investments represented approximately 4% of the investment portfolio recorded at fair value. Other investments accounted for at fair value as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were comprised of $79.7 million and $74.2 million, respectively, in hedge funds, $63.3 million and $58.0 million, respectively, in private equity funds, $14.1 million for both periods of an investment in a community reinvestment vehicle, and $3.4 million of an investment in a tax credit stimulus fund as of March 31, 2010. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we held investments in 15 hedge funds and 16 and 15 private equity funds, respectively. The largest investment in a single fund was $11.3 million and $10.8 million, respectively, at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

14



Table of Contents

 

The fair value measurements at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and their related inputs are as follows:

 

 

 

Fair value at
March 31, 2010

 

Level 1 Inputs

 

Level 2 Inputs

 

Level 3 Inputs

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Fixed maturity investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

421.2

 

$

418.6

 

$

2.6

 

$

 

Debt securities issued by industrial corporations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AA

 

23.8

 

 

23.8

 

 

A

 

261.2

 

 

261.2

 

 

BBB

 

659.6

 

 

659.6

 

 

BB

 

13.6

 

 

13.6

 

 

Debt securities issued by industrial corporations

 

958.2

 

 

958.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal obligations

 

1.9

 

 

1.9

 

 

Asset-backed securities

 

874.3

 

 

859.6

 

14.7

 

Foreign government obligations

 

16.6

 

11.3

 

5.3

 

 

Preferred stocks

 

72.3

 

 

1.6

 

70.7

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

2,344.5

 

429.9

 

1,829.2

 

85.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments

 

1,068.8

 

1,068.8

 

 

 

Common equity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financials

 

88.5

 

54.5

 

 

34.0

 

Basic Materials

 

46.6

 

46.6

 

 

 

Consumer

 

39.0

 

39.0

 

 

 

Energy

 

27.2

 

25.4

 

 

1.8

 

Utilities

 

23.9

 

23.9

 

 

 

Other

 

20.4

 

20.3

 

0.1

 

 

Common equity securities

 

245.6

 

209.7

 

0.1

 

35.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible bonds

 

170.9

 

 

170.9

 

 

Other investments

 

160.5

 

 

 

160.5

 

Total

 

$

3,990.3

 

$

1,708.4

 

$

2,000.2

 

$

281.7

 

 

15



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Fair value at
December 31, 2009

 

Level 1 Inputs

 

Level 2 Inputs

 

Level 3 Inputs

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Fixed maturity investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

531.6

 

$

529.0

 

$

2.6

 

$

 

Debt securities issued by industrial corporations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AA

 

101.0

 

 

100.8

 

0.2

 

A

 

398.3

 

 

398.3

 

 

BBB

 

794.0

 

 

794.0

 

 

BBB

 

31.6

 

 

31.6

 

 

Other

 

22.1

 

 

22.1

 

 

Debt securities issued by industrial corporations

 

1,347.0

 

 

1,346.8

 

0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal obligations

 

2.6

 

 

2.6

 

 

Asset-backed securities

 

1,014.9

 

 

999.2

 

15.7

 

Foreign government obligations

 

26.7

 

21.4

 

5.3

 

 

Preferred stocks

 

71.5

 

 

1.5

 

70.0

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

2,994.3

 

550.4

 

2,358.0

 

85.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments

 

544.4

 

544.4

 

 

 

Common equity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financials

 

82.3

 

50.1

 

 

32.2

 

Basic Materials

 

32.3

 

32.3

 

 

 

Consumer

 

19.2

 

19.2

 

 

 

Energy

 

29.4

 

27.8

 

 

1.6

 

Utilities

 

7.2

 

7.2

 

 

 

Other

 

17.2

 

17.2

 

 

 

Common equity securities

 

187.6

 

153.8

 

 

33.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible bonds

 

170.2

 

 

170.2

 

 

Other investments

 

146.3

 

 

 

146.3

 

Total

 

$

4,042.8

 

$

1,248.6

 

$

2,528.2

 

$

266.0

 

 

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, OneBeacon held one private preferred stock that represented approximately 98% of its preferred stock portfolio. OneBeacon used quoted market prices for similar securities that were adjusted to reflect management’s best estimate of fair value; this security is classified as a Level 3 measurement.

 

In addition to the investment portfolio described above, OneBeacon had $40.7 million and $27.2 million, respectively, of liabilities recorded at fair value and included in other liabilities as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. These liabilities relate to securities that have been sold short by a limited partnership that OneBeacon invests in and is required to consolidate in accordance with GAAP. All of the liabilities included in the $40.7 million and $27.2 million, respectively, have been deemed to have a Level 1 designation as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

Asset-backed Securities 

 

OneBeacon purchases commercial and residential mortgage backed securities to maximize its fixed income portfolio’s risk adjusted returns in the context of a diversified portfolio. OneBeacon’s non-agency commercial mortgage-backed portfolio (“CMBS”) is generally short tenor, fixed rate and structurally senior, with more than 30 points of subordination on average for fixed rate CMBS and more than 60 points of subordination on average for floating rate CMBS as of March 31, 2010. In general, subordination represents the percentage of principal loss on the underlying collateral that would have to occur before the security incurs a loss.  These collateral losses, instead, are first absorbed by other securities lower in the capital structure.  OneBeacon believes these levels of protection will mitigate the risk of loss tied to refinancing challenges facing the commercial real estate market.  As of March 31, 2010, on average approximately 6% of the underlying loans were reported as non-performing for all CMBS held by OneBeacon. OneBeacon is not an originator of residential mortgage loans and held $0.1 million of residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) categorized as sub-prime as of March 31, 2010. In addition, OneBeacon’s investments in hedge funds and private equity funds contain negligible amounts of sub-prime mortgage backed securities as of March 31, 2010. OneBeacon considers sub-prime mortgage backed securities to be those that are issued from dedicated sub-prime shelves, have underlying loan pools that exhibit weak credit characteristics and dedicated second-lien shelf registrations (i.e., OneBeacon considers investments backed primarily by second-liens to be a sub-prime risk regardless of credit scores or other metrics).

 

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There are also mortgage backed securities that OneBeacon categorizes as “non-prime” (also called “Alt A” or “A-”) that are backed by collateral that has overall credit quality between prime and sub-prime, as determined based on OneBeacon’s review of the characteristics of their underlying mortgage loan pools, such as credit scores and financial ratios. As of March 31, 2010, OneBeacon did not hold any mortgage backed securities that were classified as non-prime.  OneBeacon’s non-agency residential mortgage-backed portfolio is generally of moderate average life, fixed rate and structurally senior. OneBeacon does not own any collateralized debt obligations, including residential mortgage-backed collateralized debt obligations.

 

The following table summarizes the carrying value of OneBeacon’s asset-backed securities as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Fair Value

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GNMA

 

$

452.6

 

$

452.6

 

$

 

$

483.0

 

$

483.0

 

$

 

FNMA

 

120.8

 

120.8

 

 

149.1

 

149.1

 

 

FHLMC

 

55.3

 

55.3

 

 

76.3

 

76.3

 

 

Total Agency(1)

 

 

628.7

 

 

628.7

 

 

 

 

708.4

 

 

708.4

 

 

 

Non-agency:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

25.1

 

25.1

 

 

30.7

 

30.7

 

 

Commercial

 

96.8

 

82.1

 

14.7

 

136.1

 

120.4

 

15.7

 

Total Non-agency

 

121.9

 

107.2

 

14.7

 

166.8

 

151.1

 

15.7

 

Total mortgage-backed securities

 

750.6

 

735.9

 

14.7

 

875.2

 

859.5

 

15.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit card receivables

 

11.1

 

11.1

 

 

27.7

 

27.7

 

 

Auto loans

 

112.1

 

112.1

 

 

111.1

 

111.1

 

 

Other

 

0.5

 

0.5

 

 

0.9

 

0.9

 

 

Total other asset-backed securities

 

123.7

 

123.7

 

 

139.7

 

139.7

 

 

Total asset-backed securities

 

$

874.3

 

$

859.6

 

$

14.7

 

$

1,014.9

 

$

999.2

 

$

15.7

 

 


(1)          Represents publicly traded mortgage-backed securities which carry the full faith and credit guaranty of the U.S. government (i.e., GNMA) or are guaranteed by a government sponsored entity (i.e., FNMA, FHLMC).

 

The security issuance years of OneBeacon’s investments in non-agency RMBS and non-agency CMBS securities as of March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Security Issuance Year

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

2001

 

2003

 

2004

 

2005

 

2006

 

2007

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Non-agency RMBS

 

$

25.1

 

$

 

$

 

$

4.5

 

$

16.7

 

$

3.8

 

$

0.1

 

Non-agency CMBS

 

96.8

 

11.3

 

3.3

 

 

18.5

 

4.4

 

59.3

 

Total

 

$

121.9

 

$

11.3

 

$

3.3

 

$

4.5

 

$

35.2

 

$

8.2

 

$

59.4

 

 

Non-agency Residential Mortgage Securities

 

The classification of the underlying collateral quality and the tranche levels of OneBeacon’s non-agency RMBS securities are as follows as of March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

Super Senior (1)

 

Senior (2)

 

Subordinate (3)

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Prime

 

$

25.0

 

$

 

$

25.0

 

$

 

Sub-prime

 

0.1

 

 

0.1

 

 

Total

 

$

25.1

 

$

 

$

25.1

 

$

 

 


(1)          At issuance, Super Senior were rated AAA and were senior to other AAA bonds.

 

(2)          At issuance, Senior were rated AAA and were senior to non-AAA bonds.

 

(3)          At issuance, Subordinate were not rated AAA and were junior to other bonds.

 

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Non-agency Commercial Mortgage Securities

 

On average, these CMBS have over 30% of subordination and less than 6% of the underlying loans are non-performing.  The amount of fixed and float rate securities and their tranche levels are as follows as of March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

Super Senior (1)

 

Senior(2)

 

Subordinate(3)

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Fixed rate CMBS

 

$

 76.9

 

$

 62.4

 

$

 3.3

 

$

11.2

 

Float rate CMBS

 

19.9

 

18.0

 

 

1.9

 

Total

 

$

 96.8

 

$

 80.4

 

$

 3.3

 

$

13.1

 

 


(1)           At issuance, Super Senior were rated AAA and were senior to other AAA bonds.

(2)           At issuance, Senior were rated AAA and were senior to non-AAA bonds.

(3)           At issuance, Subordinate were not rated AAA and were senior to other bonds.

 

The changes in Level 1 fair value measurements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

 

 

Fixed
maturity
investments

 

Common
equity
securities

 

Convertible
bonds

 

Other
investments

 

Total (1)

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Balance at January 1, 2010

 

$

 550.4

 

$

153.8

 

$

 

$

 

$

704.2

 

Amortization/accretion

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

Total net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

 

2.1

 

5.1

 

 

 

7.2

 

Purchases

 

185.8

 

61.7

 

 

 

247.5

 

Sales

 

(308.5

)

(10.9

)

 

 

(319.4

)

Transfers in

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers out

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2010

 

$

 429.9

 

$

209.7

 

$

 

$

 

$

639.6

 

 


(1)           Excludes short-term investments which are deemed to have a Level 1 designation as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The net maturities, purchases and sales of short-term investments resulted in an increase of $524.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2010.

 

The changes in Level 2 fair value measurements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

 

 

Fixed
maturity
investments

 

Common
equity
securities

 

Convertible
bonds

 

Other
investments

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Balance at January 1, 2010

 

$

2,358.0

 

$

 

$

170.2

 

$

 

$

2,528.2

 

Amortization/accretion

 

(1.9

)

 

0.3

 

 

(1.6

)

Total net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

 

20.3

 

 

6.2

 

 

26.5

 

Purchases

 

111.9

 

0.1

 

23.7

 

 

135.7

 

Sales

 

(659.3

)

 

(29.5

)

 

(688.8

)

Transfers in

 

0.2

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

Transfers out

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2010

 

$

1,829.2

 

$

0.1

 

$

170.9

 

$

 

$

2,000.2

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

The changes in Level 3 fair value measurements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

 

 

Fixed
maturity
investments

 

Common
equity
securities

 

Convertible
bonds

 

Other
investments

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Balance at January 1, 2010

 

$

85.9

 

$

33.8

 

$

 

$

146.3

 

$

266.0

 

Amortization/accretion

 

(1.4

)

 

 

 

(1.4

)

Total net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

 

2.8

 

2.4

 

 

3.8

 

9.0

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

12.5

 

12.5

 

Sales

 

(1.7

)

(0.4

)

 

(2.1

)

(4.2

)

Transfers in

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers out

 

(0.2

)

 

 

 

(0.2

)

Balance at March 31, 2010

 

$

85.4

 

$

35.8

 

$

 

$

160.5

 

$

281.7

 

 

“Transfers out” of Level 3 and included in “transfers in” of Level 2 fixed maturity investments of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 comprise one security which had been previously classified as a Level 3 measurement and was recategorized as a Level 2 measurement when quoted market prices for similar securities that were considered reliable and could be validated against an alternative source became available during the three months ended March 31, 2010.

 

The following table summarizes the change in net unrealized gains or losses for assets designated as Level 3 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

$

 2.3

 

$

 (1.0

)

Short-term investments

 

 

 

Common equity securities

 

2.3

 

0.2

 

Convertible bonds

 

 

 

Other investments

 

 

(4.3

)

Total

 

$

 4.6

 

$

 (5.1

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

Other Investments

 

OneBeacon holds investments in hedge funds and private equity funds which are included in other investments. The fair value of these investments has been estimated using the net asset value of the funds. The following table summarizes investments in hedge funds and private equity funds at March 31, 2010:

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

Unfunded
Commitments

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Hedge funds

 

 

 

 

 

Long/short credit and distressed

 

$

23.6

 

None

 

Long bank loan

 

3.6

 

None

 

Long/short equity

 

44.9

 

None

 

Long/short equity real estate investment trust

 

1.0

 

None

 

Long/short equity activist

 

6.6

 

None

 

Total hedge funds

 

$

79.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private equity funds

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance

 

$

6.4

 

$

0.1

 

Banking

 

4.2

 

0.1

 

Distressed residential real estate

 

5.0

 

20.5

 

Energy infrastructure and services

 

18.2

 

8.3

 

Healthcare

 

0.8

 

4.0

 

Multi-sector

 

18.2

 

7.6

 

Private equity secondaries

 

5.8

 

1.9

 

Real estate

 

4.7

 

0.9

 

Total private equity funds

 

$

63.3

 

$

43.4

 

Total hedge funds and private equity funds(1)

 

$

143.0

 

$

43.4

 

 


(1)   Other investments also includes $14.1 million of an investment in a community reinvestment vehicle and $3.4 million of an investment in a tax credit stimulus fund. The tax credit stimulus fund has an unfunded commitment of $21.6 million as of March 31, 2010.

 

The following table summarizes investments in hedge funds and private equity funds as of December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

Unfunded
Commitments

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Hedge funds

 

 

 

 

 

Long/short credit and distressed

 

$

21.7

 

None

 

Long bank loan

 

3.4

 

None

 

Long/short equity

 

47.8

 

None

 

Long/short equity activist

 

1.3

 

None

 

Total hedge funds

 

$

74.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private equity funds

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance

 

$

5.8

 

$

0.1

 

Banking

 

4.2

 

0.1

 

Distressed residential real estate

 

4.6

 

20.5

 

Energy infrastructure and services

 

17.2

 

8.8

 

Healthcare

 

 

4.8

 

Multi-sector

 

16.7

 

7.7

 

Private equity secondaries

 

4.6

 

3.4

 

Real estate

 

4.9

 

1.1

 

Total private equity funds

 

$

58.0

 

$

46.5

 

Total hedge funds and private equity funds(1)

 

$

132.2

 

$

46.5

 

 


(1)   Other investments also includes $14.1 million of an investment in a community reinvestment vehicle.

 

20



Table of Contents

 

Redemptions of investments in certain funds are subject to restrictions including lock-up periods where no redemptions or withdrawals are allowed, restrictions on redemption frequency and advance notice periods for redemptions. Amounts requested for redemptions remain subject to market fluctuations until the redemption effective date, which generally falls at the end of the defined redemption period. The following summarizes the March 31, 2010 fair value of hedge funds subject to restrictions on redemption frequency and advance notice period requirements for investments in active hedge funds:

 

 

 

Hedge Funds—Active Funds

 

 

 

30 - 59 days
notice

 

60 - 89 days
notice

 

90 - 119 days
notice

 

120+ days
notice

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Redemption frequency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monthly

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

5.9

 

$

 5.9

 

Quarterly

 

18.0

 

16.6

 

10.6

 

 

45.2

 

Semi-annual

 

11.1

 

0.4

 

1.1

 

 

12.6

 

Annual

 

 

 

12.4

 

3.6

 

16.0

 

Total

 

$

29.1

 

$

20.0

 

$

24.1

 

$

9.5

 

$

79.7

 

 

The following summarizes the December 31, 2009 fair value of hedge funds subject to restrictions on redemption frequency and advance notice period requirements for investments in active hedge funds:

 

 

 

Hedge Funds—Active Funds

 

 

 

30 - 59 days
notice

 

60 - 89 days
notice

 

90 - 119 days
notice

 

120+
days
notice

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Redemption frequency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarterly

 

$

17.9

 

$

20.7

 

$

10.4

 

$

 

$

49.0

 

Semi-annual

 

10.8

 

1.3

 

 

 

12.1

 

Annual

 

0.7

 

 

9.1

 

3.3

 

13.1

 

Total

 

$

29.4

 

$

22.0

 

$

19.5

 

$

3.3

 

$

74.2

 

 

Certain of the hedge fund investments are no longer active and are in the process of disposing of their underlying investments. Distributions from such funds are remitted to investors as the fund’s underlying investments are liquidated. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, $17.8 million and $16.2 million, respectively, of hedge funds were in liquidation. The actual amount of the final distribution is subject to market fluctuations. The date at which such distributions will be received is not determinable at March 31, 2010. OneBeacon has submitted redemption requests for certain of its investments in active hedge funds. Redemptions are recorded as receivables when approved by the hedge funds and when no longer subject to market fluctuations.

 

Investments in private equity funds are generally subject to “lock-up” periods during which investors may not request a redemption. Distributions prior to the expected termination date of the fund may be limited to dividends or proceeds arising from the liquidation of the fund’s underlying investment. In addition, certain private equity funds provide an option to extend the lock-up period at either the sole discretion of the fund manager or upon agreement between the fund and the investors. At March 31, 2010, investments in private equity funds were subject to lock-up periods as follows:

 

 

 

1 - 3 years

 

3 - 5 years

 

5 - 10 years

 

>10 years

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Private Equity Funds—expected lock-up period remaining

 

$

6.3

 

$

5.1

 

$

51.9

 

$

 

$

63.3

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

NOTE 6. Debt

 

OneBeacon’s debt outstanding as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consisted of the following:

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Senior unsecured notes, at face value

 

$

 594.5

 

$

 607.1

 

Unamortized original issue discount

 

(0.5

)

(0.6

)

Senior unsecured notes, carrying value

 

594.0

 

606.5

 

Atlantic Specialty Note

 

 

14.0

 

Total debt

 

$

 594.0

 

$

 620.5

 

 

Senior Notes

 

In May 2003, OBH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued $700.0 million face value of senior unsecured debt through a public offering, at an issue price of 99.7% (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes bear an annual interest rate of 5.875%, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15, until maturity on May 15, 2013, and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by White Mountains. OBH incurred $7.3 million in expenses related to the issuance of the Senior Notes (including the $4.5 million underwriting discount), which have been deferred and are being recognized into interest expense over the life of the Senior Notes. Taking into effect the amortization of the original issue discount and all underwriting and issuance expenses, the Senior Notes have an effective yield to maturity of approximately 6.0% per annum. During the first quarter of 2010, OBH repurchased $11.5 million of outstanding Senior Notes for $11.9 million, which resulted in a $0.5 million loss. During the first quarter of 2010, OBIC purchased $1.1 million of outstanding Senior Notes for $1.1 million. During the first quarter of 2009, OBH repurchased $10.6 million of outstanding Senior Notes for $8.1 million, which resulted in a $2.5 million gain. At March 31, 2010, OBH was in compliance with all of the covenants under the Senior Notes.

 

Additionally, in April 2010, OBH repurchased $18.2 million of outstanding Senior Notes for $18.9 million, which resulted in a $0.7 million loss.

 

White Mountains has provided and, pursuant to a separation agreement, continues to provide an irrevocable and unconditional guarantee as to the payment of principal and interest on the Senior Notes.  Refer to “Note 16. Related Party Disclosures” of the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Mortgage Note on Real Estate Owned

 

In connection with its December 2005 purchase of land and an office building that is now its U.S. headquarters, OneBeacon entered into a $40.8 million, 18-year mortgage note which had a variable interest rate based upon the lender’s 30-day LIBOR rate. As of December 31, 2008, OneBeacon had drawn the full amount of $40.8 million on the mortgage note. Repayment on the mortgage note commenced in January 2009. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, OneBeacon repaid $0.2 million of principal in accordance with the terms of the mortgage note. On May 7, 2009, OneBeacon repaid $40.6 million, representing the outstanding principal on the mortgage note.

 

Concurrent with entering into the mortgage note, OneBeacon also entered into an interest rate swap to hedge its exposure to the variability in the interest rate on the mortgage note. The notional amount of the swap was equal to the debt outstanding on the mortgage note and was adjusted to match the drawdowns and repayments on the mortgage note so that the principal amount of the mortgage note and the notional amount of the swap were equal at all times. Under the terms of the swap, OneBeacon paid a fixed interest rate of approximately 6% and received a variable interest rate based on the same LIBOR index used for the mortgage note. Interest paid or received on the swap was reported in interest expense. In accordance with GAAP, OneBeacon accounted for the swap as a cash flow hedge and recorded the interest rate swap at fair value on the balance sheet in other assets or liabilities depending on the value as of the balance sheet date. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap were reported as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. Any gains and losses on the derivatives representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness were recorded in revenues. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, OneBeacon recognized income, after tax, of $0.8 million in other comprehensive income. At the time of repayment of the outstanding balance on the mortgage note, OneBeacon settled the interest rate swap.

 

Other Debt of Operating Subsidiaries

 

In connection with the acquisition of Atlantic Specialty Insurance Company on March 31, 2004, OneBeacon issued a $20.0 million ten-year note to the seller (the “Atlantic Specialty Note”). OneBeacon was required to repay $2.0 million of principal on the Atlantic Specialty Note each year, commencing in January 2007. The Atlantic Specialty Note accrued interest at a rate of 5.2% except that the outstanding principal amount in excess of $15.0 million accrued interest at a rate of 3.6%. During the three

 

22


 


Table of Contents

 

months ended March 31, 2009, OneBeacon repaid $2.0 million on the Atlantic Specialty Note. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, OneBeacon repaid $14.0 million on the Atlantic Specialty Note, representing the outstanding principal on the note.

 

NOTE 7. Segment Information

 

OneBeacon’s segments consist of the following: (1) Insurance Operations; and (2) Other Operations. OneBeacon has made its segment determination based on consideration of the following criteria: (i) the nature of the business activities of each of the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates; (ii) the manner in which the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates are organized; (iii) the existence of primary managers responsible for specific subsidiaries and affiliates; and (iv) the organization of information provided to the chief operating decision makers and the Board of Directors (the “Board”). Significant intercompany transactions among OneBeacon’s segments have been eliminated herein. Financial information for OneBeacon’s segments follows:

 

 

 

Insurance
Operations

 

Other
Operations

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended March 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

$

453.2

 

$

 

$

453.2

 

Net investment income (expense)

 

29.0

 

(0.7

)

28.3

 

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)

 

43.4

 

(1.0

)

42.4

 

Net other revenues (expenses)

 

7.4

 

(0.9

)

6.5

 

Total revenues

 

533.0

 

(2.6

)

530.4

 

Loss and LAE

 

333.7

 

 

333.7

 

Policy acquisition expenses

 

101.4

 

 

101.4

 

Other underwriting expenses

 

74.2

 

 

74.2

 

General and administrative expenses

 

4.7

 

3.0

 

7.7

 

Interest expense on debt

 

0.1

 

9.0

 

9.1

 

Total expenses

 

514.1

 

12.0

 

526.1

 

Pre-tax income (loss)

 

$

18.9

 

$

(14.6

)

$

4.3

 

Three months ended March 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

$

487.8

 

$

 

$

487.8

 

Net investment income

 

21.6

 

0.3

 

21.9

 

Net realized and unrealized investment losses

 

(5.9

)

 

(5.9

)

Net other revenues

 

7.3

 

2.1

 

9.4

 

Total revenues

 

510.8

 

2.4

 

513.2

 

Loss and LAE

 

288.0

 

 

288.0

 

Policy acquisition expenses

 

95.9

 

 

95.9

 

Other underwriting expenses

 

72.7

 

 

72.7

 

General and administrative expenses

 

4.0

 

1.5

 

5.5

 

Accretion of fair value adjustment to loss and LAE reserves

 

 

1.4

 

1.4

 

Interest expense on debt

 

0.8

 

10.1

 

10.9

 

Total expenses

 

461.4

 

13.0

 

474.4

 

Pre-tax income (loss)

 

$

49.4

 

$

(10.6

)

$

38.8

 

 

OneBeacon currently manages its Insurance Operations segment through a specialty lines underwriting unit and a personal lines underwriting unit, nearly all of which is subject to the Personal Lines Transaction, as described in Note 2. The Insurance Operations segment also includes run-off business, which primarily consists of non-specialty commercial lines business which is being transferred to The Hanover, as described in Note 1, and other run-off business.

 

OneBeacon’s specialty lines underwriting unit is a collection of niche insurance businesses, including professional liability products, marine insurance, collectors cars and boats, property and inland marine, tuition reimbursement, excess property and accident & health products, as well as property and casualty insurance coverages tailored to industry groups such as technology, financial services, entertainment, sports and leisure industries and government entities. OneBeacon’s personal lines underwriting unit provides homeowners, automobile and combination insurance policies. The personal lines underwriting unit also includes AutoOne, a subsidiary within OneBeacon that offers products and services to assigned risk markets. OneBeacon’s Insurance Operations segment also includes run-off which consists of non-specialty commercial lines business included in the Commercial Lines Transaction, as well as national accounts, certain specialty programs and regional agency business transferred to Liberty Mutual Insurance Group effective November 1, 2001.

 

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The following tables provide ratios, net written premiums and earned premiums for OneBeacon’s Insurance Operations by major underwriting unit and in total for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

Specialty(1)

 

Personal

 

Run-off(2)

 

Total(1)

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended March 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and LAE

 

57.4

%

85.4

%

99.1

%

73.6

%

Expense

 

39.5

 

35.4

 

41.2

 

38.8

 

Total GAAP combined

 

96.9

%

120.8

%

140.3

%

112.4

%

Net written premiums

 

$

260.3

 

$

111.5

 

$

(0.3

)

$

371.5

 

Earned premiums

 

235.9

 

122.8

 

94.5

 

453.2

 

Three months ended March 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and LAE

 

32.4

%

89.4

%

68.8

%

59.0

%

Expense

 

38.5

 

27.7

 

36.1

 

34.6

 

Total GAAP combined

 

70.9

%

117.1

%

104.9

%

93.6

%

Net written premiums

 

$

229.5

 

$

131.7

 

$

108.2

 

$

469.4

 

Earned premiums

 

215.7

 

150.2

 

121.9

 

487.8

 

 


(1)           Specialty lines now includes Technology, Financial Services, OneBeacon Specialty Property and Property and Inland Marine which were formerly reported in commercial lines. The prior period has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

(2)           Run-off now includes non-specialty commercial lines business subject to the Commercial Lines Transaction and other run-off business. The prior period has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

NOTE 8. Variable Interest Entities

 

Reciprocals

 

Reciprocals are not-for-profit, policyholder-owned insurance carriers organized as unincorporated associations. Each policyholder insured by the reciprocal shares risk with the other policyholders. Policyholders share profits and losses in the same proportion as the amount of insurance purchased but are not subject to assessment for net losses of the reciprocal.

 

OneBeacon has capitalized three reciprocals by loaning funds to them in exchange for surplus notes. In 2002, OneBeacon formed New Jersey Skylands Management LLC (“NJSM”) to provide management services for a fee to New Jersey Skylands Insurance Association, a reciprocal, and its wholly-owned subsidiary New Jersey Skylands Insurance Company (together, “New Jersey Skylands Insurance”). New Jersey Skylands Insurance was capitalized with a $31.3 million surplus note issued to OneBeacon in 2002. OneBeacon also loaned $0.2 million to New Jersey Skylands Insurance in the form of a security deposit. In 2004, OneBeacon formed Houston General Management Company to provide management services for a fee to another reciprocal, Houston General Insurance Exchange. During 2004, OneBeacon contributed $2.0 million of capital to Houston General Insurance Exchange. In 2005, OneBeacon contributed one of its subsidiaries, Houston General Insurance Company with assets of $149.4 million and liabilities of $127.6 million, to Houston General Insurance Exchange (together “Houston General Insurance”). Subsequent to the contribution of Houston General Insurance Company, Houston General Insurance Exchange issued a surplus note of $23.7 million to OneBeacon. In 2006, Adirondack AIF, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of OneBeacon, entered into an agreement to provide management services for a fee to Adirondack Insurance, a reciprocal. Adirondack Insurance was capitalized with a $70.7 million surplus note issued to OneBeacon in May 2006. Principal and interest on the surplus notes are repayable to OneBeacon only with regulatory approval. The obligation to repay principal on the notes is subordinated to all other liabilities including obligations to policyholders and claimants for benefits under insurance policies. OneBeacon has no ownership interest in New Jersey Skylands Insurance, Houston General Insurance or Adirondack Insurance.

 

Under the provisions of ASC 810, OneBeacon has determined that each of the reciprocals qualifies as a VIE. Further, OneBeacon has determined that it is the primary beneficiary as it has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE as a result of the management services provided to the reciprocals and the funds loaned to them. Accordingly, OneBeacon consolidates all three reciprocals.

 

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, consolidated amounts related to New Jersey Skylands Insurance included total assets of $131.6 million and $134.9 million, respectively, and total liabilities of $156.0 million and $154.8 million, respectively. At

 

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Table of Contents

 

March 31, 2010, the net amount of capital at risk is equal to the surplus note of $31.3 million less the accumulated losses as of March 31, 2010 of $24.4 million which includes accrued interest on the surplus note of $23.4 million which eliminates in consolidation.

 

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, consolidated amounts related to Houston General Insurance included total assets of $151.4 million and $111.4 million, respectively, and total liabilities of $167.8 million and $127.2 million, respectively. At March 31, 2010, the net amount of capital at risk is equal to the surplus note of $23.7 million less the accumulated losses as of March 31, 2010 of $16.4 million which includes accrued interest on the surplus note of $12.6 million which eliminates in consolidation.

 

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, amounts related to Adirondack Insurance included total assets of $280.1 million and $281.0 million, respectively, and total liabilities of $289.3 million and $280.9 million, respectively. At March 31, 2010, the net amount of capital at risk is equal to the surplus note of $70.7 million less the accumulated losses as of March 31, 2010 of $9.2 million which includes accrued interest on the surplus note of $29.1 million which eliminates in consolidation.

 

NOTE 9. Retirement Plans

 

OneBeacon sponsors qualified and non-qualified, non-contributory, defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all employees who were employed as of December 31, 2001 and remain actively employed with OneBeacon. Current plans include a OneBeacon qualified pension plan (the “Qualified Plan”) and a OneBeacon non-qualified pension plan (the “Non-qualified Plan”) (collectively the “Plans”). OneBeacon’s Plans were frozen and curtailed in the fourth quarter of 2002.

 

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Service cost

 

$

0.2

 

$

0.1

 

Interest cost

 

1.5

 

1.6

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(1.9

)

(1.6

)

Amortization of unrecognized loss

 

0.2

 

0.4

 

Net periodic pension cost before special termination benefits expense

 

 

0.5

 

Special termination benefits expense(1)

 

0.2

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

0.2

 

$

0.5

 

 


(1)           Special termination benefits represent additional payments made from the Qualified Plan to certain vested participants when their employment was terminated due to a reduction in force.

 

OneBeacon does not expect to make a contribution to its Qualified Plan in 2010. OneBeacon anticipates contributing $2.8 million to the Non-qualified Plan, for which OneBeacon has assets held in a rabbi trust. As of March 31, 2010, $0.7 million in contributions have been made to the Non-qualified Plan.

 

NOTE 10.  Employee Share-Based Incentive Compensation Plans

 

OneBeacon’s share-based compensation plans consist of performance shares, stock options granted in connection with the initial public offering and restricted stock units. OneBeacon’s share-based compensation plans are designed to maximize shareholder value over long periods of time by aligning the financial interests of its management with those of its owners. Performance shares are payable only upon achievement of pre-defined business goals and are valued based on the market value of OneBeacon’s common shares at the time awards are earned. See “Performance Shares” below. Performance shares are typically paid in cash, though, in some instances, they may be paid in common shares or may be deferred in accordance with the terms of one of the deferred compensation plans of the Company’s subsidiaries. OneBeacon expenses the full cost of all its share-based compensation.

 

OneBeacon records its share-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718. ASC 718 applies to new grants of share-based awards, award modifications and the remaining portion of the fair value of unvested awards. The unvested portion of OneBeacon performance share awards, as well as the stock options granted in connection with the initial public offering, are subject to the fair value measurement and recognition requirements of ASC 718.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Performance Shares

 

The following summarizes performance share activity for performance shares whose value is based upon the market price of an underlying OneBeacon common share (“OB Performance Shares”) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

Target
OB
Performance
Shares
outstanding

 

Accrued
expense

 

Target
OB
Performance
Shares
outstanding

 

Accrued
expense

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Beginning of period

 

2,224,215

 

$

15.1

 

2,212,313

 

$

4.6

 

Payments and deferrals (1)(2)

 

(682,344

)

(2.3

)

(137,400

)

 

New awards

 

272,411

 

 

364,982

 

 

Forfeitures and net change in assumed forfeitures

 

(1,945

)

 

(121,046

)

(0.3

)

Expense recognized

 

 

3.4

 

 

1.4

 

End of period

 

1,812,337

 

$

16.2

 

2,318,849

 

$

5.7

 

 


(1)            Performance shares earned for the 2007-2009 performance cycle were based upon a performance factor of 14.2%.

 

(2)            Performance shares earned for the 2007-2008 performance cycle were based upon a performance factor of 1.4%.

 

The following summarizes performance shares outstanding and accrued performance share expense at March 31, 2010 for each performance cycle:

 

 

 

Target
OB
Performance
Shares
outstanding

 

Accrued
expense

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Performance cycle:

 

 

 

 

 

2008—2010

 

1,219,176

 

$

11.1

 

2009—2011

 

361,219

 

5.1

 

2010—2012

 

272,411

 

0.3

 

Sub-total

 

1,852,806

 

16.5

 

Assumed forfeitures

 

(40,469

)

(0.3

)

Total at March 31, 2010

 

1,812,337

 

$

16.2

 

 

If 100% of the outstanding performance shares had been vested on March 31, 2010, the total additional compensation cost to be recognized would have been $14.8 million, based on current accrual factors (common share price and payout assumptions).

 

All performance shares earned for the 2007-2009 and 2007-2008 performance cycles were settled in cash or by deferral into certain non-qualified deferred compensation plans of the Company’s subsidiaries.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Stock Options

 

As described in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, in November 2006, in connection with the initial public offering, OneBeacon issued to its key employees 1,420,000 options to acquire common shares of the Company at an above-market fixed exercise price. The following summarizes option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

Target
options
outstanding

 

Accrued
expense

 

Target
options
outstanding

 

Accrued
expense

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Beginning of period

 

1,015,610

 

$

3.6

 

1,237,872

 

$

2.5

 

New awards

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeitures

 

(98,783

)

 

(89,522

)

 

Expense recognized

 

 

0.4

 

 

0.3

 

End of period

 

916,827

 

$

4.0

 

1,148,350

 

$

2.8

 

 

The options vest in equal installments on each of the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of their issuance. These options expire five and a half years from the anniversary of issuance. The fair value of each option award at grant date was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model using an expected volatility assumption of 30%, a risk-free interest rate assumption of 4.6%, a forfeiture assumption of 5%, an expected dividend rate assumption of 3.4% and an expected term assumption of 5.5 years. The options originally had a per share exercise price of $30.00. On May 27, 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) amended the exercise price to $27.97 as a result of the $2.03 per share special dividend paid in the first quarter of 2008. The compensation expense associated with the options and the incremental fair value of the award modification is being recognized ratably over the remaining period.

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

The options granted in connection with OneBeacon’s initial public offering did not include a mechanism in the options to reflect the contribution to total return from the regular quarterly dividend. As a result, on February 26, 2008, OneBeacon granted 116,270 Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) to actively employed option holders. The RSUs vest one-third on each of November 9, 2009, 2010 and 2011 subject to, for each vesting tranche of units, various factors including but not limited to the attainment of growth of 4% per cycle in adjusted book value per share. The performance goal for the first vesting tranche of units was not attained by the 2009 vesting date and will be reassessed at the 2010 and 2011 vesting dates, consistent with the terms of the RSU plan. Upon vesting, the RSUs will be mandatorily deferred into one of the non-qualified deferred compensation plans of the Company’s subsidiaries and will be paid out in 2012 in cash or shares at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. The expense associated with the RSUs is being recognized over the vesting period. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, OneBeacon recognized $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, in expense. As of March 31, 2010, there were 85,670 RSUs outstanding to actively employed option holders.

 

NOTE 11. Income Taxes

 

While OneBeacon is subject to taxation in several jurisdictions, the majority of OneBeacon’s subsidiaries file a consolidated tax return in the United States. Income earned or losses generated by companies outside the United States are generally subject to an overall effective rate lower than that imposed by the United States.

 

OneBeacon’s income tax expense related to pre-tax income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 represented effective tax rates of 93.0% and 14.2%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 35% due to an increase in the valuation allowance for the insurance reciprocals, partially offset by income generated in jurisdictions other than the United States. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was lower than the U.S. statutory rate of 35% due to income generated in jurisdictions other than the United States.

 

In arriving at the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010, OneBeacon forecasted the change in net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses for the year ending December 31, 2010 and included these gains or losses in the effective tax rate calculation pursuant to ASC 740-270. In arriving at the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2009, OneBeacon treated the net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses as a discrete item separate from the other components of pre-tax income. Therefore, the benefit of these net gains or losses was calculated at the statutory rate applicable to the jurisdiction in which the gains or losses were recorded. The majority of the investment assets incurring current period net realized and unrealized gains or losses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were recorded in the U.S. and were taxed at the statutory rate of 35%. Net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses were treated as a discrete item due to the inability to reliably estimate this amount for the full year.

 

OneBeacon classifies all interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits as part of income tax expense. With few exceptions, OneBeacon is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years

 

27



Table of Contents

 

before 2005. In October 2008, the IRS commenced examination of OneBeacon’s U.S. income tax returns for 2005 and 2006. As of March 31, 2010, the IRS has not proposed any significant adjustments to taxable income as a result of the 2005 and 2006 tax examination. It is possible that the 2005 and 2006 examination will conclude within the next 12 months.  However, an estimate of the range of potential outcomes cannot be made at this time. OneBeacon does not expect to receive any adjustments that would result in a material change to its financial position.

 

NOTE 12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

ASC 825 requires disclosure of fair value information of financial instruments. For certain financial instruments where quoted market prices are not available, other independent valuation techniques and assumptions are used. Because considerable judgment is used, these estimates are not necessarily indicative of amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange. Certain financial instruments are excluded from disclosure, including insurance contracts, other than financial guarantees and investment contracts. OneBeacon carries its financial instruments on its balance sheet at fair value with the exception of its fixed-rate, long-term indebtedness.

 

The fair values of the fixed-rate, long-term indebtedness were estimated by discounting future cash flows using current market rates for similar obligations or using quoted market prices. Considerable judgment is required to develop such estimates of fair value. Therefore, the estimate provided herein is not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange.

 

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the fair value of OneBeacon’s Senior Notes (its fixed-rate, long-term indebtedness) was $611.9 million and $605.8 million, respectively, which compared to a carrying value of $594.0 million and $606.5 million, respectively.

 

In March 2004, OneBeacon issued the Atlantic Specialty Note. At December 31, 2009, the carrying value of the note of $14.0 million was considered to approximate its fair value. OneBeacon repaid the Atlantic Specialty Note in its entirety in March 2010. Refer to Note 6.

 

NOTE 13. Earnings per Share

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share amounts have been determined in accordance with ASC 260. During the second quarter of 2009, 26,851 shares of the Company’s Class A common shares were awarded to certain non-employee members of the Company’s Board, in lieu of their 2009 annual cash retainer. During the third quarter of 2007, the Company began a share repurchase program. Since the inception of this program, the Company has repurchased and retired 5.0 million of its class A common shares. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, no shares were repurchased.

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Basic earnings attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders (in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

$

0.0

 

$

32.8

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

95.1

 

95.1

 

Diluted earnings attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders (in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

$

0.0

 

$

32.8

 

Weighted average shares outstanding (1)

 

95.1

 

95.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders (in dollars):

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

$

0.0

 

$

0.34

 

Diluted earnings per share attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders (in dollars):

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

$

0.0

 

$

0.34

 

 


(1)   Common shares issuable upon exercise of the options (see Note 10) were not included as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

 

 

28


 


Table of Contents

 

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

 

The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements.” Statements that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements. OneBeacon cannot promise that its expectations in such forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct. OneBeacon’s actual results could be materially different from and worse than its expectations. See “Forward-Looking Statements” on page 45 for specific important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements.

 

Book Value Per Share

 

The following table presents our book value per share.

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2009

 

 

 

(in millions except per share amounts)

 

Numerator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,409.6

 

$

1,429.0

 

$

1,169.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares outstanding

 

95.1

 

95.1

 

95.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book value per share

 

$

14.82

 

$

15.03

 

$

12.30

 

 

We ended the first quarter of 2010 with a book value per share of $14.82 consistent with book value as of December 31, 2009, including dividends. This result includes a 1.8% total return on invested assets for the three months ended March 31, 2010. We reported comprehensive net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders of $0.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to comprehensive net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders of $33.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The decrease as compared to the prior year was due primarily to increased loss and loss adjustment expenses, both catastrophe and non-catastrophe losses, which drove the underwriting loss reported for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The impact of these losses was partially offset by an increase in net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) during the three months ended March 31, 2010, as described below.

 

Our GAAP combined ratio was 112.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to 93.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase in the combined ratio was primarily due to higher current accident year catastrophe losses, a number of non-catastrophe large losses and somewhat higher expenses as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. The three months ended March 31, 2010 included $44.3 million of current accident year catastrophe losses primarily related to the March Northeast U.S. storms, compared to $2.6 million of current accident year catastrophe losses in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The three months ended March 31, 2009 also included the benefit of slightly more favorable loss reserve development. Total net written premiums decreased 20.9% in the three months ended March 31, 2010 to $371.5 million, compared to $469.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The decrease in net written premiums is due primarily to the renewal rights transaction described below and decreases in personal lines both in traditional personal lines and at AutoOne Insurance (AutoOne).  These decreases were partially offset by an increase in specialty lines net written premiums driven primarily by OneBeacon Professional Insurance (OBPI).

 

Recent Developments

 

We recently entered into two transactions that will transform us into a specialty lines insurance company. The transactions will free up significant capital, increase our financial flexibility and substantially reduce our catastrophe exposure.

 

Commercial lines.  On December 3, 2009, we sold the renewal rights to approximately $490 million in premiums from our non-specialty commercial lines business to The Hanover Insurance Group (The Hanover). The transaction included small commercial accounts and the non-specialty portion of the middle-market business, beginning with January 1, 2010 effective dates (the Commercial Lines Transaction). As consideration, we received $23.2 million, and will receive an additional 10% of premiums renewed in excess of $200 million for the first renewal period. We will continue to manage claims from business written prior to the Commercial Lines Transaction and for business written by The Hanover through June 30, 2010. The Hanover will reimburse us for our expenses incurred to provide the claims administration services.

 

Personal lines.  On February 2, 2010, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell our traditional personal lines business to Tower Group, Inc. (Tower) (the Personal Lines Transaction). The Personal Lines Transaction includes the sale of two insurance companies containing the personal lines business, two attorneys-in-fact managing the reciprocal insurance exchanges (reciprocals) that write the personal lines business in New York and New Jersey, and the surplus notes issued by each of the reciprocals. Net written premiums for the affected books totaled approximately $420 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. As consideration, we will receive an

 

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amount equal to the statutory surplus in the reciprocals, the GAAP equity in the insurance companies and attorneys-in-fact, plus $32.5 million. AutoOne is not being sold as part of this transaction. The sale is subject to certain state regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2010.

 

Results of Operations

 

Review of Consolidated Results

 

A summary of our consolidated financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Net written premiums

 

$

371.5

 

$

469.4

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

$

453.2

 

$

487.8

 

Net investment income

 

28.3

 

21.9

 

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)

 

42.4

 

(5.9

)

Net other revenues

 

6.5

 

9.4

 

Total revenues

 

530.4

 

513.2

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and LAE

 

333.7

 

288.0

 

Policy acquisition expenses

 

101.4

 

95.9

 

Other underwriting expenses

 

74.2

 

72.7

 

General and administrative expenses

 

7.7

 

5.5

 

Accretion of fair value adjustment to loss and LAE reserves

 

 

1.4

 

Interest expense on debt

 

9.1

 

10.9

 

Total expenses

 

526.1

 

474.4

 

Pre-tax income

 

4.3

 

38.8

 

Income tax expense

 

(4.0

)

(5.5

)

Net income including noncontrolling interests

 

0.3

 

33.3

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(0.3

)

(0.5

)

Net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

 

32.8

 

Change in other comprehensive income and loss items

 

0.2

 

1.1

 

Comprehensive net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders

 

$

0.2

 

$

33.9

 

 

Consolidated Results—Three months ended March 31, 2010 versus three months ended March 31, 2009

 

Our comprehensive net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders was $0.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to comprehensive net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders of $33.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. Net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders was essentially break-even in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to net income attributable to OneBeacon’s shareholders of $32.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

Our total revenues increased 3.4% to $530.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $513.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase was mainly due to a $48.3 million increase in net realized and unrealized investment gains to $42.4 million. Net investment income increased 29.2% to $28.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, due to higher investment yields principally driven by a $0.5 million inflation adjustment related to our inflation indexed treasury securities as compared to a $(7.2) million inflation adjustment related to these securities for the three months ended March 31, 2009. These increases were partially offset by a 7.9% decrease in earned premiums primarily due to decreased earned premiums in personal lines and our non-specialty commercial lines which is included in run-off. Net other revenues decreased 30.9% to $6.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $9.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily due to a $0.5 million loss related to the purchase of a portion of our senior notes. The three months ended March 31, 2009 included a $2.5 million gain related to the purchase of a portion of our senior notes.

 

Our total expenses increased 10.9% in the three months ended March 31, 2010 to $526.1 million, compared to $474.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. Loss and LAE increased 15.9% to $333.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to higher current accident year catastrophe losses. Current accident year catastrophe losses were $44.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $2.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. Policy acquisition

 

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expenses increased by 5.7% to $101.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 mainly due to changes in the mix of business and the mix of products offered within those businesses, partially offset by changes in the deferral rate of policy acquisition expenses to better align with the individual products within the respective businesses. Our collector cars and boats business and some of our other newer specialty lines businesses receive higher compensation than the previous mix of business. Other underwriting expenses increased 2.1% to $74.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010. General and administrative expenses increased 40.0% to $7.7 million. These increases were partially offset by a 16.5% decrease in interest expense.

 

Our income tax expense related to pre-tax income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 represented effective tax rates of 93.0% and 14.2%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 35% due to an increase in the valuation allowance for the insurance reciprocals, partially offset by income generated in jurisdictions other than the United States. In arriving at the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010, we forecasted the change in net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses for the year ending December 31, 2010 and included these gains or losses in the effective tax rate calculation pursuant to ASC 740-270. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was lower than the U.S. statutory rate of 35% due to income generated in jurisdictions other than the United States. In arriving at the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2009, we treated net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses as a discrete item separate from the other components of pre-tax income. Therefore, the benefit of these net gains or losses was calculated at the statutory rate applicable to the jurisdiction in which the gains or losses were recorded. The majority of the investment assets incurring current period realized and unrealized net gains or losses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were recorded in the U.S. and were taxed at the statutory rate of 35%. Net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses were treated as a discrete item due to the inability to reliably estimate this amount for the full year.

 

Our GAAP combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased to 112.4% from 93.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The loss and LAE ratio increased 14.6 points to 73.6% while the expense ratio increased 4.2 points to 38.8%. The increase in the loss and LAE ratio was primarily due to an increase in current accident year catastrophe and non-catastrophe losses. The three months ended March 31, 2010 included $44.3 million or 9.8 points of current accident year catastrophe losses, as compared to $2.6 million or 0.5 points of current accident year catastrophe losses in the three months ended March 31, 2009. We also experienced a number of non-catastrophe large losses in our property and inland marine business within specialty lines and in our non-specialty commercial lines business in run-off. The three months ended March 31, 2010 included $6.0 million or 1.3 points of favorable loss reserve development, as compared to $14.8 million or 3.0 points of favorable loss reserve development in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The favorable loss reserve development was primarily related to lower than expected severity on non-catastrophe losses on professional liability lines, commercial package business and other general liability lines. The expense ratio increased primarily due to higher policy acquisition expenses, as described above, as well as a slight increase in other underwriting expenses.

 

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Summary of Operations By Segment

 

Our segments consist of the following: (1) Insurance Operations; and (2) Other Operations. Specialty lines includes OBPI, International Marine Underwriters (IMU), Entertainment Brokers International Insurance Services, Specialty Accident and Health (A&H), OneBeacon Government Risks (OBGR), OneBeacon Energy, A.W.G. Dewar, Collector Cars and Boats and, Technology, Financial Services, OneBeacon Specialty Property (OBSP) and Property and Inland Marine (PIM) which were formerly reported in commercial lines. Personal lines includes our traditional personal lines and AutoOne. Run-off includes non-specialty commercial lines business subject to the Commercial Lines Transaction and other run-off business. The prior period has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

Our investments are managed by our affiliate, White Mountains Advisors LLC, and by Prospector Partners, LLC. A discussion of our consolidated investment operations is included after the discussion of operations by segment. Our segment information is presented in Note 7 — “Segment Information” of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Insurance Operations

 

Financial results for our Insurance Operations segment for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Net written premiums

 

$

371.5

 

$

469.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

$

453.2

 

$

487.8

 

Net investment income

 

29.0

 

21.6

 

Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses)

 

43.4

 

(5.9

)

Net other revenues

 

7.4

 

7.3

 

Total revenues

 

533.0

 

510.8

 

Loss and LAE

 

333.7

 

288.0

 

Policy acquisition expenses

 

101.4

 

95.9

 

Other underwriting expenses

 

74.2

 

72.7

 

General and administrative expenses

 

4.7

 

4.0

 

Interest expense on debt

 

0.1

 

0.8

 

Total expenses

 

514.1

 

461.4

 

Pre-tax income

 

$

18.9

 

$

49.4

 

 

The following tables provide ratios, net written premiums and earned premiums by underwriting unit for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2010

 

 

 

Specialty(1)

 

Personal

 

Run-off(2)

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

GAAP Ratios: (3)(4)(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and LAE

 

57.4

%

85.4

%

99.1

%

73.6

%

Expense

 

39.5

 

35.4

 

41.2

 

38.8

 

Total GAAP Combined

 

96.9

%

120.8

%

140.3

%

112.4

%

Net written premiums

 

$

260.3

 

$

111.5

 

$

(0.3

)

$

371.5

 

Earned premiums

 

235.9

 

122.8

 

94.5

 

453.2

 

 

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Three months ended March 31, 2009

 

 

 

Specialty(1)

 

Personal

 

Run-off(2)

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

GAAP Ratios: (3)(4)(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and LAE

 

32.4

%

89.4

%

68.8

%

59.0

%

Expense

 

38.5

 

27.7

 

36.1

 

34.6

 

Total Combined

 

70.9

%

117.1

%

104.9

%

93.6

%

Net written premiums

 

$

229.5

 

$

131.7

 

$

108.2

 

$

469.4

 

Earned premiums

 

215.7

 

150.2

 

121.9

 

487.8

 

 


(1)          Specialty lines now includes Technology, Financial Services, OBSP and PIM which were formerly reported in commercial lines. The prior period has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

(2)          Run-off now includes non-specialty commercial lines business subject to the renewal rights agreement with The Hanover and other run-off business. The prior period has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

(3)          Includes our long-term incentive compensation expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, long-term incentive compensation expense increased our total combined ratio by 2.6 points and 0.5 points, respectively.

 

(4)          Includes loss and LAE relating to catastrophes. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, total calendar year incurred loss and LAE relating to catastrophes increased our loss and LAE and total combined ratios by 9.7 points and 0.1 point, respectively, including development on prior accident year catastrophes which decreased our loss and LAE and total combined ratios by 0.1 points and 0.4 points, respectively.

 

(5)          Prior accident year development, including development on catastrophes, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 decreased our loss and LAE and total combined ratios by 1.3 points and 3.0 points, respectively.

 

Insurance Operations—Three months ended March 31, 2010 versus three months ended March 31, 2009

 

Overview.  We reported a GAAP combined ratio of 112.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to 93.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase in our combined ratio was primarily due to higher current accident year catastrophe and non-catastrophe losses, as well as slightly lower favorable loss reserve development and higher expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2010.

 

Specialty lines.  Net written premiums for specialty lines increased by 13.4% to $260.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 from $229.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase was due to new business growth particularly within the provider excess line at OBPI, and solid retention levels for many of the businesses. The increase reflects a $29.0 million increase in net written premiums compared to the prior year period from OBPI. The increase compared to the prior year period was also due to a $3.9 million increase in net written premiums from A&H and a $2.2 million increase in net written premiums from OBGR, partially offset by a $3.1 million decrease in net written premiums from IMU.

 

The specialty lines combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased to 96.9% from 70.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The loss and LAE ratio increased 25.0 points to 57.4% while the expense ratio increased 1.0 point to 39.5%. The increase in the loss and LAE ratio was partially due to an 11.1 point increase in current accident year non-catastrophe and catastrophe losses in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2009. The three months ended March 31, 2010 included the impact of catastrophe losses primarily related to severe wind and rainstorms in the northeastern U.S. as well as large losses at PIM and also at IMU. Further, the three months ended March 31, 2010 included 1.5 points of favorable loss reserve development primarily related to lower than expected severity in professional liability, compared with 15.4 points in the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily related to professional liability. The increase in the expense ratio was mainly due to an increase in other underwriting expenses related to increased compensation costs.

 

Personal lines. Net written premiums for personal lines decreased by 15.3% to $111.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 from $131.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. In traditional personal lines, net written premiums decreased 12.2% to $88.7 million, primarily due to declines in new business, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. Further, net written premiums at AutoOne decreased 25.7% to $22.8 million due to actions taken to reduce our exposure in the voluntary private passenger automobile market.

 

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The personal lines combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased to 120.8% from 117.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The loss and LAE ratio decreased 4.0 points to 85.4%, while the expense ratio increased by 7.7 points to 35.4%. The increase in the expense ratio was primarily due to higher policy acquisition expenses as well as increased other underwriting expenses. The increase in other underwriting expenses was primarily due to increased incentive compensation costs. The decrease in the loss and LAE ratio was mainly due to adverse loss reserve development of 0.4 points in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with 19.0 points of adverse loss reserve development in the three months ended March 31, 2009, primarily related to personal injury protection litigation at AutoOne. The decrease was partially offset by 10.2 points of current accident year catastrophe losses in the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily related to severe wind and rainstorms in the northeastern U.S., as well as a 4.4 point increase in current accident year non-catastrophe losses primarily driven by results in the automobile line, as compared with the prior year period.

 

On February 2, 2010, we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell our traditional personal lines business to Tower. The transaction includes two insurance companies containing the personal lines business, and two attorneys-in-fact managing the reciprocals which write the personal lines business in New York and New Jersey. Net written premiums for the affected books totaled approximately $420 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. As consideration, we will receive an amount equal to the statutory surplus in the reciprocals, the GAAP equity in the insurance companies and attorneys-in-fact, plus $32.5 million. All specialty lines, including the collector cars and boats business, will remain. The sale is subject to certain state regulatory approvals.

 

Run-off.  Net written premiums for run-off decreased by 100.3% to $(0.3) million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with $108.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. Net written premiums from non-specialty commercial businesses were $(0.4) million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with $108.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The decrease was due to the Commercial Lines Transaction, as described above. Net written premiums from legacy run-off business were $0.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with $0.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

The run-off combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased to 140.3% from 104.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The loss and LAE ratio increased 30.3 points to 99.1%, while the expense ratio increased 5.1 points to 41.2%. The increase in the loss and LAE ratio was primarily due to an increase in current accident year non-catastrophe and catastrophe losses. The three months ended March 31, 2010 included 22.7 points of current accident year catastrophe losses primarily related to severe wind and rainstorms in the northeastern U.S., compared with 1.2 points of current accident year catastrophe losses in the three months ended March 31, 2009. In addition, current accident year non-catastrophe losses were 3.5 points higher than the prior year period due to higher-than-average levels of large losses in our non-specialty commercial business. Further, the three months ended March 31, 2010 included 2.9 points of favorable loss reserve development, mainly due to lower than expected severity in commercial package business, compared with 8.2 points of favorable loss reserve development related to lower than expected severity in package business and commercial multi-peril in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase in the expense ratio was primarily due to a 7.4 point increase in policy acquisition expenses as expenses have not decreased proportionately with the reduction in earned premiums, partially offset by a 2.3 point decrease in other underwriting expenses.

 

Results from run-off include underwriting losses from legacy run-off operations, including national accounts, certain specialty programs and regional agency business transferred to Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. Legacy run-off business generated an underwriting loss of $1.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to underwriting income of $0.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The change was primarily due to increased expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared with the prior year period. The three months ended March 31, 2010 also included $1.6 million of loss and LAE, compared with $1.4 million of loss and LAE in the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

Other Operations

 

Our Other Operations segment consists of the activities of OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. and our intermediate subsidiary holding companies which include OneBeacon U.S. Enterprises Holdings, Inc. and OneBeacon U.S. Holdings, Inc. (OBH), both U.S.-domiciled companies, as well as various intermediate holding companies domiciled in the United States, Gibraltar, Luxembourg and Bermuda. Our Other Operations segment primarily consists of financing activities, purchase accounting adjustments relating to our acquisition by White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (White Mountains) in 2001 (the OneBeacon Acquisition) and other assets and liabilities, and general and administrative expenses incurred at the holding company level.

 

The purchase accounting adjustments relating to the OneBeacon Acquisition were made to reflect the estimated fair value of our assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the date of the acquisition. The purchase accounting adjustments were primarily comprised of an adjustment to our loss and LAE reserves and related reinsurance recoverables to record them at fair value, an

 

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adjustment to record the cost of our investments at fair value and an allocation of the excess of acquired net assets over the purchase price to our non-current, non-financial assets, primarily our property, plant and equipment.

 

The Other Operations segment results are affected by purchase accounting over time as the fair value adjustments made at our acquisition unwind. Fair value adjustments other than those related to loss and LAE reserves and related reinsurance recoverables have been fully recognized in our financial statements in periods prior to those presented below. The fair value adjustment to net loss and LAE reserves is expensed through income as our net loss and LAE reserves at the time of the OneBeacon Acquisition are settled.

 

A summary of results from our Other Operations segment for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Net investment (expense) income

 

$

(0.7

)

$

0.3

 

Net realized and unrealized investment losses

 

(1.0

)

 

Net other (expenses) revenues

 

(0.9

)

2.1

 

Total revenues

 

(2.6

)

2.4

 

General and administrative expenses

 

3.0

 

1.5

 

Accretion of fair value adjustment to loss and LAE reserves

 

 

1.4

 

Interest expense on debt

 

9.0

 

10.1

 

Total expenses

 

12.0

 

13.0

 

Pre-tax loss

 

$

(14.6

)

$

(10.6

)

 

Other Operations Results—Three months ended March 31, 2010 versus three months ended March 31, 2009

 

Our Other Operations segment reported a pre-tax loss of $14.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to a pre-tax loss of $10.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase in loss was primarily related to a decrease in net other (expenses) revenues mainly due to a $0.5 million loss related to the purchase of a portion of our senior notes, compared with a $2.5 million gain related to the purchase of a portion of our senior notes in the prior year period. Net investment (expense) income decreased to $(0.7) million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $0.3 million in the prior year period. The increase in general and administrative expenses was offset by decreases in interest expense and accretion of the fair value adjustment to loss and LAE reserves.

 

Summary of Investment Results

 

Investment Philosophy

 

Our long-term investment philosophy has historically been to maximize our after tax total risk-adjusted return. Under this approach, each dollar of after tax investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses is valued equally. In the second half of 2008, we shifted our investment philosophy from a total return focus to a capital preservation focus in response to the significant declines and high volatility in equity markets, the lack of liquidity in the credit markets and the widening of credit spreads on fixed income securities. In particular, we significantly reduced the size of our equity portfolio and now have a larger percentage of our invested assets in cash and short-term investments than we have in the past under a total return approach. As overall financial markets and our investment results continue to stabilize, we are gradually shifting back from a focus on capital preservation to our traditional total return investment philosophy.

 

Our investment portfolio mix as of March 31, 2010 consisted in large part of high quality, fixed maturity investments and short-term investments, as well as a smaller allocation to equity investments which are comprised of common stock, convertible bonds and other investments such as hedge funds and private equity funds. Our management believes that prudent levels of investments in common equity securities, convertible bonds and other investments within our investment portfolio are likely to enhance long-term after tax total returns without significantly increasing the risk profile of the portfolio.

 

Our overall fixed maturity investment strategy is to purchase securities that are attractively priced in relation to credit risks. We also generally manage the interest rate risk associated with holding fixed maturity investments by actively maintaining the average duration of the portfolio to achieve an adequate after tax total return without subjecting the portfolio to an unreasonable level of interest rate risk.

 

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Our common stock and convertible bonds investment strategy is to maximize absolute total return through investments in a variety of equity, equity-related and convertible bond instruments. Using a value orientation, we invest in relatively concentrated positions in the United States and other developed markets. Our philosophy is to invest for total risk-adjusted return using a bottom-up, value discipline. Preservation of capital is of the utmost importance.

 

Investment Returns

 

A summary of our consolidated pre-tax investment results for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Net investment income

 

$

28.3

 

$

21.9

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

26.4

 

(56.3

)

Change in net unrealized investment gains and losses

 

16.0

 

50.4

 

Total GAAP pre-tax investment results

 

$

70.7

 

$

16.0

 

 

Gross investment returns versus typical benchmarks for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

 

 

As of March 31, (1)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

2.0

%

1.9

%

Short-term investments

 

 

0.2

 

Total fixed income

 

1.5

 

1.4

 

Barclays U.S. Intermediate Aggregate Index

 

1.8

 

0.9

 

Common stock

 

3.8

 

(15.8

)

Convertible bonds

 

4.4

 

0.2

 

Total common stock and convertible bonds

 

4.1

 

(7.1

)

Other investments

 

2.7

 

1.9

 

Total common stock, convertible bonds and other investments

 

3.7

 

(4.3

)

S&P 500 Index (total return)

 

5.4

 

(11.0

)

Total consolidated portfolio

 

1.8

%

0.5

%

 


(1)          Gross investment income returns exclude investment expenses of $2.3 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

During the third and fourth quarters of 2008, there were significant declines and high volatility in the equity markets, a lack of liquidity in the credit markets and a widening of credit spreads on debt securities. These factors had a significant adverse effect on the performance of our investment portfolio in 2008. In the second half of 2008, we shifted our investment philosophy from a total return focus to a capital preservation focus in response to the significant declines and high volatility in equity markets, the lack of liquidity in the credit markets and the widening of credit spreads on fixed income securities experienced. In particular, we significantly reduced the size of our equity portfolio and now have a larger percentage of our invested assets in cash and short-term investments than we have in the past under a total return approach. As overall financial markets and our investment results continue to stabilize, we are gradually shifting back from a focus on capital preservation to our traditional total return investment philosophy.

 

Investment Returns—Three months ended March 31, 2010 versus three months ended March 31, 2009

 

Overview

 

Our total pre-tax investment results were $70.7 million, a return of 1.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $16.0 million, a return of 0.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2009. Net investment income in the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $28.3 million, an increase of $6.4 million, compared to $21.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase was principally due to higher investment yields mainly driven by a $0.5 million inflation adjustment related to our inflation indexed treasury securities for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to a $(7.2) million inflation adjustment related to these securities for the three months ended March 31, 2009. Net realized investment gains (losses) were $26.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, an increase of $82.7 million compared to $(56.3) million in the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase was mainly due to $24.4 million of realized gains on the sales of fixed maturity securities in the three months ended March 31, 2010 in preparation of the close of the Personal Lines Transaction and $30.5 million of realized losses on the sales of equity investments resulting from the reduction in the size of the equity portfolio in the three months ended March 31, 2009 discussed

 

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previously. The change in net unrealized investment gains and losses was an increase of $16.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to an increase of $50.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

Fixed income

 

Our fixed income portfolio, which includes fixed maturity and short-term investments, returned 1.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to 1.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2009.  We recorded $24.4 million in net realized gains in the three months ended March 31, 2010, mainly due to sales of fixed maturity investments in preparation of the close of the Personal Lines Transaction.  During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, we maintained a high quality fixed maturity portfolio with a relatively short duration of approximately 3 years for both periods which performed consistently with its characteristics and slightly below the Barclays U.S. Intermediate Aggregate Index benchmark for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and above for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

Common stock, convertible bonds and other investments

 

Our total common stock, convertible bond and other investments portfolio returned 3.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to (4.3)% for the three months ended March 31, 2009. Our total common stock and convertible bond portfolio returned 4.1% and (7.1)% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, or 1.3 percentage points worse and 3.9 percentage points better, respectively, than the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) benchmark. We recorded $4.4 million in net realized gains in the three months ended March 31, 2010. Our other investment portfolio returned 2.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to 1.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

Fair Value Considerations

 

We record our investments in accordance with ASC 820 which provides a revised definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands financial statement disclosure requirements for fair value information. Under ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants (an “exit price”). ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between inputs based on market data from independent sources (“observable inputs”) and a reporting entity’s internal assumptions based upon the best information available when external market data is limited or unavailable (“unobservable inputs”). The fair value hierarchy in ASC 820 prioritizes fair value measurements into three levels based on the nature of the inputs. Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities have the highest priority (“Level 1”), followed by observable inputs other than quoted prices, including prices for similar but not identical assets or liabilities (“Level 2”) and unobservable inputs, including the reporting entity’s estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use, having the lowest priority (“Level 3”).

 

We use brokers and outside pricing services to assist in determining fair values. For investments in active markets, we use the quoted market prices provided by the outside pricing services to determine fair value. The outside pricing services used by us have indicated that they will only provide prices where observable inputs are available. In circumstances where quoted market prices are unavailable, we utilize fair value estimates based upon other observable inputs including matrix pricing, benchmark interest rates, market comparables and other relevant inputs. In circumstances where observable inputs are adjusted to reflect management’s best estimate of fair value, such fair value measurements are considered a lower level measurement in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Our process to validate the market prices obtained from the outside pricing sources include, but is not limited to, periodic evaluation of model pricing methodologies and analytical reviews of certain prices. We also periodically perform back-testing of selected sales activity to determine whether there are any significant differences between the market price used to value the security prior to sale and the actual sale price.

 

Other investments, which are comprised of hedge funds and private equity funds for which the fair value option has been elected, are carried at fair value based upon our proportionate interest in the underlying fund’s net asset value, which is deemed to approximate fair value. The fair value of our investments in hedge funds and private equity funds has been estimated using net asset value because it reflects the fair value of the funds’ underlying investments in accordance with ASC 820. We employ a number of procedures to assess the reasonableness of the fair value measurements, including obtaining and reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and discussing each fund’s pricing with the fund’s manager. However, since the fund managers do not provide sufficient information to independently evaluate the pricing inputs and methods for each underlying investment, the inputs are considered to be unobservable. Accordingly, the fair values of our investment in hedge funds and private equity funds have been classified as Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy.

 

In circumstances where the underlying investments are publicly traded, such as the investments made by hedge funds, the fair value of the underlying investments is determined using current market prices. In circumstances where the underlying investments are

 

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not publicly traded, such as the investments made by private equity funds, the private equity fund managers have considered the need for a liquidity discount on each of the underlying investments when determining the fund’s net asset value in accordance with ASC 820. In circumstances where our portion of a fund’s net asset value is deemed to differ from fair value due to illiquidity or other factors associated with our investment in the fund, including counterparty credit risk, the net asset value is adjusted accordingly. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we did not record an adjustment to the net asset value related to our investments in hedge funds or private equity funds.

 

As of both March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, other investments represented approximately 4% of the investment portfolio recorded at fair value. Other investments accounted for at fair value as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were comprised of $79.7 million and $74.2 million, respectively, in hedge funds, $63.3 million and $58.0 million, respectively, in private equity funds, $14.1 million for both periods of an investment in a community reinvestment vehicle, and $3.4 million of an investment in a tax credit stimulus fund as of March 31, 2010. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we held investments in 15 hedge funds and 16 and 15 private equity funds, respectively. The largest investment in a single fund was $11.3 million and $10.8 million, respectively, at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

As of both March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, approximately 93% of the investment portfolio recorded at fair value was priced based upon observable inputs.

 

The fair value measurements at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 for assets recorded in accordance with ASC 825 and any related Level 3 inputs are as follows:

 

 

 

Fair value at
March 31, 2010

 

Level 3
Inputs

 

Level 3
Percentage

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Fixed maturity investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

421.2

 

$

 

%

Debt securities issued by industrial corporations

 

958.2

 

 

 

Municipal obligations

 

1.9

 

 

 

Asset-backed securities

 

874.3

 

14.7

 

1.7

 

Foreign government obligations

 

16.6

 

 

 

Preferred stocks

 

72.3

 

70.7

 

97.8

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

2,344.5

 

85.4

 

3.6

 

Short-term investments

 

1,068.8

 

 

 

Common equity securities

 

245.6

 

33.7

 

13.7

 

Convertible bonds

 

170.9

 

 

 

Other investments

 

160.5

 

160.5

 

100.0

 

Total

 

$

3,990.3

 

$

279.6

 

7.0

%

 

 

 

Fair value at
December 31, 2009

 

Level 3
Inputs

 

Level 3
Percentage

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

Fixed maturity investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government and agency obligations

 

$

531.6

 

$

 

%

Debt securities issued by industrial corporations

 

1,347.0

 

0.2

 

 

Municipal obligations

 

2.6

 

 

 

Asset-backed securities

 

1,014.9

 

15.7

 

1.5

 

Foreign government obligations

 

26.7

 

 

 

Preferred stocks

 

71.5

 

70.0

 

97.9

 

Fixed maturity investments

 

2,994.3

 

85.9

 

2.9

 

Short-term investments

 

544.4

 

 

 

Common equity securities

 

187.6

 

33.8

 

18.1

 

Convertible bonds

 

170.2

 

 

 

Other investments

 

146.3

 

146.3

 

100.0

 

Total

 

$

4,042.8

 

$

266.0

 

6.6

%

 

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we held one private preferred stock that represented approximately 98% of our preferred stock portfolio. We used quoted market prices for similar securities that were adjusted to reflect management’s best estimate of fair value; this security is classified as a Level 3 measurement.

 

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In addition to the investment portfolio described above, we had $40.7 million and $27.2 million, respectively, of liabilities recorded at fair value and included in other liabilities as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. These liabilities relate to securities that have been sold short by a limited partnership that we invest in and are required to consolidate in accordance with GAAP. All of the liabilities included in the $40.7 million and $27.2 million, respectively, have been deemed to have a Level 1 designation as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

The changes in Level 3 fair value measurements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

 

 

Fixed
maturity
investments

 

Common
equity
securities

 

Convertible
bonds

 

Other
investments

 

Total

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Balance at January 1, 2010

 

$

85.9

 

$

33.8

 

$

 

$

146.3

 

$

266.0

 

Amortization/accretion

 

(1.4

)

 

 

 

(1.4

)

Total net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

 

2.8

 

2.4

 

 

3.8

 

9.0

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

12.5

 

12.5

 

Sales

 

(1.7

)

(0.4

)

 

(2.1

)

(4.2

)

Transfers in

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers out

 

(0.2

)

 

 

 

(0.2

)

Balance at March 31, 2010

 

$

85.4

 

$

35.8

 

$

 

$

160.5

 

$

281.7

 

 

“Transfers out” of Level 3 fixed maturity investments of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 comprise one security which had been previously classified as a Level 3 measurement and was recategorized as a Level 2 measurement when quoted market prices for similar securities that were considered reliable and could be validated against an alternative source became available during the three months ended March 31, 2010.

 

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Securities Lending

 

We participated in a securities lending program as a mechanism for generating additional investment income on our fixed maturity and common equity portfolios. Under the securities lending arrangements, certain of our fixed maturity and common equity investments were loaned to other institutions for short periods of time through a lending agent. We maintained control over the securities we loaned, retained the earnings and cash flows associated with the loaned securities and received a fee from the borrower for the temporary use of the asset. Collateral, in the form of cash and United States government securities, was required at a rate of 102% of the fair value of the loaned securities. An indemnification agreement with the lending agent protected us in the event a borrower became insolvent or failed to return any of the securities on loan. In the event of a shortfall in the collateral amount required to be returned to the securities lending counterparty (e.g., as a result of investment losses), we were obligated to make up any deficiency.

 

Prior to February 2009, the collateral was controlled by the lending agent. The lending agent managed the investment of the cash collateral, however, other than in the event of default by the borrower, this collateral was not available to us and was remitted to the borrower by the lending agent upon the return of the loaned securities. Because of these restrictions, we considered our securities lending activities to be non-cash transactions. The fair value of the securities lending collateral was recorded as both an asset and liability on the balance sheet.

 

In February 2009, we amended the terms of the securities lending program to give us more control over the investment of borrowers’ collateral and to separate the assets supporting that collateral into a segregated account. Pursuant to the amendment, (i) the guidelines for the investment of any new cash collateral as well as the reinvestment of cash were narrowed to permit investment in only cash equivalent securities, (ii) we had the authority to direct the lending agent to both sell specific collateral securities in the segregated account and to not sell certain collateral securities which the lending agent proposes to sell, and (iii) we and the lending agent agreed to manage the securities lending program toward an orderly wind-down. In May 2009, we instructed the lending agent not to make any additional loans of securities and to recall all of the securities on loan and fund the return of collateral to the borrower. As a result of the actions described above, the securities lending assets are no longer segregated and are included within our investment securities. As of March 31, 2010, $1.7 million in collateral had not been returned to the borrower.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Operating cash and short-term investments

 

Our sources and uses of cash are as follows:

 

Holding company level. The primary sources of cash for OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. and certain of our intermediate holding companies are expected to be dividends and tax sharing payments received from our insurance operating subsidiaries, capital raising activities, and net investment income and proceeds from sales and maturities of holding company investments. The primary uses of cash are expected to be share repurchases, interest payments on our debt obligations, repurchases of debt, dividend payments on our common shares, purchases of investments, payments made to tax authorities, contributions to subsidiaries, and holding company operating expenses.

 

Operating subsidiary level. The primary sources of cash for our operating subsidiaries are expected to be premium collections, net investment income, capital raising activities, and proceeds from sales and maturities of investments. The primary uses of cash are expected to be claim payments, policy acquisition costs, debt obligations, operating expenses, purchases of investments, and dividend and tax sharing payments made to parent holding companies.

 

Insurance companies typically collect premiums on policies that they write prior to paying claims made under those policies. During periods of premium growth, insurance companies typically experience positive cash flow from operations, as premium receipts typically exceed claim payments. When this happens, positive cash flow from operations is usually offset by negative cash flow from investing activities, as the positive operating cash flow is used to purchase investments. Conversely, during periods of premium decline, insurance companies typically experience negative cash flow from operations, even during periods in which they report GAAP net income, as the claims that they pay exceed the premiums that they collect. When this happens, negative cash flow from operations is typically offset by positive cash flow from investing activities, as invested assets are sold to fund current claim payments.

 

Both internal and external forces influence our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Claim settlements, premium levels and investment returns may be impacted by changing rates of inflation and other economic conditions. In many cases, significant periods of time, ranging up to several years or more, may lapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss to us and the settlement of the liability for that loss. The exact timing of the payment of claims and benefits cannot be predicted with certainty. Our operating subsidiaries maintain portfolios of invested assets with varying maturities and a substantial amount of short-term investments to provide adequate liquidity for the payment of claims.

 

Management believes that our cash balances, cash flows from operations and cash flows from investments are adequate to meet expected cash requirements for the foreseeable future on both a holding company and operating subsidiary level.

 

Dividend Capacity

 

Under the insurance laws of the states and jurisdictions under which our operating subsidiaries are domiciled, an insurer is restricted with respect to the timing or the amount of dividends it may pay without prior approval by regulatory authorities. Accordingly, there can be no assurance regarding the amount of such dividends that may be paid by such subsidiaries in the future.

 

Generally, our regulated insurance operating subsidiaries have the ability to pay dividends during any 12-month period in an amount equal to the greater of prior year statutory net income or 10% of prior year end statutory surplus, subject to the availability of unassigned funds. Based on 2009 statutory surplus of $1.6 billion, our top tier regulated insurance operating subsidiaries have the ability to pay approximately $157 million of dividends during 2010, subject to the availability of unassigned funds. As of December 31, 2009, OneBeacon’s top tier regulated insurance operating subsidiaries had $1.1 billion of unassigned funds. As of March 31, 2010, we had approximately $170 million of unrestricted net cash and fixed maturity investments outside of our regulated insurance operating subsidiaries.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, our regulated operating subsidiaries paid $71.0 million and $0, respectively, of dividends to OneBeacon Insurance Group LLC. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, our unregulated insurance operating subsidiaries paid $3.6 million and $3.4 million, respectively, of dividends to their immediate parent.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2010, we paid $20.0 million of regular quarterly dividends to holders of OneBeacon’s common shares.

 

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Insurance Float

 

Insurance float is an important aspect of our insurance operations. Insurance float represents funds that an insurance company holds for a limited time. In an insurance operation, float arises because premiums are collected before losses are paid. This interval can extend over many years. During that time, the insurer invests the funds. When the premiums that an insurer collects do not cover the losses and expenses it eventually must pay, the result is an underwriting loss, which is considered to be the cost of insurance float. The amount and cost of insurance float for us is affected by underlying market conditions, as well as acquisitions or dispositions of insurance business.

 

Although insurance float can be calculated using numbers determined under GAAP, insurance float is not a GAAP concept and, therefore, there is no comparable GAAP measure.

 

We calculate our insurance float by taking our net invested assets and subtracting our total capital. The following table illustrates our consolidated insurance float position as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Total investments

 

$

3,990.3

 

$

4,042.8

 

Cash

 

45.4

 

44.8

 

Accounts receivable on unsettled investment sales

 

42.7

 

24.2

 

Accounts payable on unsettled investment purchases

 

(11.5

)

(7.6

)

Net invested assets

 

$

4,066.9

 

$

4,104.2

 

OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,409.6

 

$

1,429.0

 

Debt

 

594.0

 

620.5

 

Total capital

 

$

2,003.6

 

$

2,049.5

 

Insurance float

 

$

2,063.3

 

$

2,054.7

 

Insurance float as a multiple of total capital

 

1.0

x

1.0

x

Net invested assets as a multiple of total capital

 

2.0

x

2.0

x

Insurance float as a multiple of OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity

 

1.5

x

1.4

x

Net invested assets as a multiple of OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity

 

2.9

x

2.9

x

 

Financing

 

The following table summarizes our capital structure as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Senior Notes, carrying value

 

$

594.0

 

$

606.5

 

Other debt

 

 

14.0

 

Total debt

 

594.0

 

620.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OneBeacon’s shareholders’ equity

 

1,409.6

 

1,429.0

 

Total capital

 

$

2,003.6

 

$

2,049.5

 

Ratio of debt to total capital

 

29.6

%

30.3

%

 

We believe that we have the flexibility and capacity to obtain funds externally as needed through debt or equity financing on both a short-term and long-term basis. However, given the recent disruptions in the capital markets, we can provide no assurance that, if needed, we would be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing on satisfactory terms, if at all.

 

The 5.875% Senior Notes due 2013 of our subsidiary OBH, which we refer to as the Senior Notes, are currently rated “Baa2” (Medium Grade, the ninth highest of twenty-one creditworthiness ratings) with a negative outlook by Moody’s, “BBB” (Adequate, the ninth highest of twenty-two creditworthiness ratings) on watch negative by Standard & Poor’s, “bbb” (Good, the ninth highest of twenty-two creditworthiness ratings) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and “BBB” (Good, the ninth highest of twenty-three creditworthiness ratings) with a negative outlook by Fitch, Inc. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, OBH repurchased $11.5 million of outstanding Senior Notes for $11.9 million, which resulted in a $0.5 million loss. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, OneBeacon Insurance Company (OBIC) purchased $1.1 million of outstanding Senior Notes for $1.1

 

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million. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, OBH repurchased $10.6 million of outstanding Senior Notes for $8.1 million, which resulted in a $2.5 million gain.

 

Additionally, in April 2010, OBH repurchased $18.2 million of outstanding Senior Notes for $18.9 million, which resulted in a $0.7 million loss.

 

White Mountains currently provides an irrevocable and unconditional guarantee as to the payment of principal and interest (the Guarantee) on the Senior Notes. In consideration of this Guarantee, we have agreed to pay a specified fee to White Mountains in the amount of 25 basis points per annum on the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes. We have further agreed that if White Mountains’ voting interest in us ceases to represent more than 50% of all our voting securities, we will redeem, exchange or otherwise modify the Senior Notes in order to fully and permanently eliminate White Mountains’ obligations under the Guarantee (the Guarantee Elimination). White Mountains has agreed to provide written notice to us when its voting interest in us has been reduced below 50%. We will have 180 days from the receipt of such notification to complete the Guarantee Elimination. If the Guarantee Elimination is not completed within the initial 180-day period, the Guarantee fee shall increase by 200 basis points. The Guarantee fee shall further increase by 100 basis points for each subsequent 90-day period thereafter, up to a maximum Guarantee fee of 425 basis points, until the Guarantee Elimination has been completed.

 

The Senior Notes were issued under an indenture which contains restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of White Mountains, OBH and their respective subsidiaries, which includes us, as a subsidiary of White Mountains, to create liens and enter into sale and leaseback transactions and substantially limit the ability of OBH and its respective subsidiaries to consolidate, merge or transfer their properties and assets. The indenture does not contain any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity to which White Mountains or OBH must adhere. At March 31, 2010, OBH was in compliance with all of the covenants under the Senior Notes.

 

The indenture also contains a cross default provision which provides that if White Mountains as guarantor has a payment default in excess of $25 million under a credit agreement, mortgage or similar debt agreement, the default provisions under the indenture to the Senior Notes will be triggered. White Mountains has two revolving credit facilities which provide for borrowing up to a maximum of $450.8 million and which contain restrictive financial covenants. As of March 31, 2010, the facilities were undrawn. Refer to “Note 16. Related Party Disclosures” of the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

On August 22, 2007, our Board authorized us to repurchase up to $200.0 million of OneBeacon’s Class A common shares from time to time, subject to market conditions. Shares may be repurchased on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. This program does not have a stated expiration date. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, no shares were repurchased.

 

Cash Flows

 

Detailed information concerning our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 follows:

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010

 

Financing and Other Capital Activities

 

During the first quarter of 2010, we declared and paid $20.0 million in regular quarterly cash dividends to holders of OneBeacon’s common shares.

 

During the first quarter of 2010, we paid a total of $0.4 million in interest on our debt obligations.

 

During the first quarter of 2010, OBIC purchased a portion of the Senior Notes for $1.1 million.

 

During the first quarter of 2010, OBH repurchased and retired a portion of the Senior Notes for $11.9 million.

 

During the first quarter of 2010, we repaid the $14.0 million outstanding balance on the note issued in connection with the acquisition of the Atlantic Specialty Insurance Company

 

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Other Liquidity and Capital Resource Activities

 

During the first quarter of 2010, we made payments with respect to our long-term incentive compensation plans totaling $21.4 million, in cash or by deferral into certain of our non-qualified compensation plans. These payments were made primarily with respect to 682,344 performance shares for the 2007-2009 performance cycle.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2009

 

Financing and Other Capital Activities

 

During the first quarter of 2009, we declared and paid $20.0 million in regular quarterly cash dividends to holders of OneBeacon’s common shares.

 

During the first quarter of 2009, we paid a total of $0.8 million in interest, and repaid a total of $2.2 million in principal on our debt obligations.

 

During the first quarter of 2009, OBH repurchased and retired a portion of the Senior Notes for $8.1 million.

 

Other Liquidity and Capital Resource Activities

 

During the first quarter of 2009, we made payments with respect to our long-term incentive compensation plans totaling $27.3 million, in cash or by deferral into certain of our non-qualified compensation plans. These payments were made primarily with respect to 137,400 performance shares and 148,422 performance units for various performance cycles.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Refer to the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete discussion regarding our critical accounting estimates. As of March 31, 2010, there were no material changes to our critical accounting estimates.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The information contained in this report may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or referenced in this report that address activities, events or developments which we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words “will,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “predict” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to our:

 

·       change in book value per share or return on equity;

 

·       business strategy;

 

·       financial and operating targets or plans;

 

·      incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses and the adequacy of our loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance;

 

·      projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per share, dividends, market share or other financial forecasts;

 

·       expansion and growth of our business and operations; and

 

·       future capital expenditures.

 

These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including:

 

·                     the risks associated with Item 1A of the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Item 1A of this Form 10-Q;

 

·                     recorded loss and loss adjustment expense reserves subsequently proving to have been inadequate;

 

·                     claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, floods, fires, explosions, terrorist attacks or severe winter weather;

 

·                     the continued availability and cost of reinsurance;

 

·                     competitive forces, including the conduct of other property and casualty insurers and agents;

 

·                     changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretation, applicable to us, our competitors, our agents or our customers;

 

·                     the continued availability of capital and financing;

 

·                     general economic, market or business conditions;

 

·                     an economic downturn or other economic conditions adversely affecting our financial position, including stock market volatility;

 

·                     business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to us and pursued;

 

·                     actions taken by rating agencies from time to time, such as financial strength or credit rating downgrades or placing ratings on negative watch; and

 

·                     other factors, most of which are beyond our control.

 

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Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business or operations. We assume no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

ITEM 3.        QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Refer to our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in particular item 7A — “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”.  As of March 31, 2010, there were no material changes to the market risks described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 4.        CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Management’s Quarterly Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure.

 

The CEO and CFO of OneBeacon (the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that as of March 31, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be included in our periodic SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in rules and forms. There were no significant changes with respect to our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

PART II.       OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.        LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company from time to time is involved in various routine legal proceedings.  We believe that the outcome of these proceedings, even if determined adversely, would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

ITEM 1A.     RISK FACTORS

 

Our business is subject to a number of risks, including those identified in Item 1A — “Risk Factors” of our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, that could have a material effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity and that could cause our operating results to vary significantly from period to period. As of March 31, 2010, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, although we may disclose changes to such factors or disclose additional factors from time to time in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

ITEM 2.        UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

On August 22, 2007, the Company’s board of directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $200.0 million of its Class A common shares from time to time, subject to market conditions. Shares may be repurchased on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. This program does not have a stated expiration date. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, no shares were repurchased.

 

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ITEM 6.        EXHIBITS

 

 

(a) Exhibits

 

 

11*

Statement Re Computation of Per Share Earnings.

31.1**

Certification of T. Michael Miller pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2**

Certification of Paul H. McDonough pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1***

Certification of T. Michael Miller pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2***

Certification of Paul H. McDonough pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 


*

Not included as an exhibit as the information is contained elsewhere within this report. See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

**

Filed Herewith

***

Furnished Herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ ANN MARIE ANDREWS

 

Ann Marie Andrews

Date: April 29, 2010

Chief Accounting Officer

 

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