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EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv31w2.htm
EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv32w2.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv32w1.htm
EX-23.1 - EXHIBIT 23.1 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv23w1.htm
EX-21.1 - EXHIBIT 21.1 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv21w1.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv31w1.htm
EX-10.25 - EXHIBIT 10.25 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv10w25.htm
EX-10.27 - EXHIBIT 10.27 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv10w27.htm
EX-10.26 - EXHIBIT 10.26 - UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTDw77718exv10w26.htm
Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
 
     
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009
OR
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the Transition Period From            to           
 
000-50511
Commission File Number
United America Indemnity, Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Cayman Islands
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  98-0417107
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
WALKER HOUSE, 87 MARY STREET
 
KYI — 9002
 
GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN
 
CAYMAN ISLANDS
(Address of principal executive office including zip code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (345) 949-0100
 
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
     
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Exchange on Which Registered
 
Common A Common Shares,
$0.0001 Par Value
  The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
 
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES o     NO þ
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES o     NO þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YES þ     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 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  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. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES o     NO þ
 
The aggregate market value of the common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the price of the registrant’s Class A Common shares as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (based on the last reported sale price on the Nasdaq Global Market as of such date), was $161,824,608. Class A common shares held by each executive officer and director and by each person who is known by the registrant to beneficially own 5% or more of the registrant’s outstanding Class A common shares have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed affiliates. The determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
 
As of February 25, 2010, the registrant had outstanding 36,525,278 Class A Common Shares and 24,122,744 Class B Common Shares.
 


 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                 
        Page
 
PART I
  Item 1.     BUSINESS     3  
  Item 1A.     RISK FACTORS     32  
  Item 1B.     UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS     46  
  Item 2.     PROPERTIES     46  
  Item 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS     46  
  Item 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS     47  
 
PART II
  Item 5.     MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES     48  
  Item 6.     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA     51  
  Item 7.     MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS     53  
  Item 7A.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK     83  
  Item 8.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA     86  
  Item 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE     149  
  Item 9A.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES     149  
  Item 9B.     OTHER INFORMATION     149  
 
PART III
  Item 10.     DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE     149  
  Item 11.     EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION     149  
  Item 12.     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER ITEMS     149  
  Item 13.     CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE     150  
  Item 14.     PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES     150  
 
PART IV
  Item 15.     EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES     151  
 EXHIBIT 10.25
 EXHIBIT 10.26
 EXHIBIT 10.27
 EXHIBIT 21.1
 EXHIBIT 23.1
 EXHIBIT 31.1
 EXHIBIT 31.2
 EXHIBIT 32.1
 EXHIBIT 32.2
 
As used in this annual report, unless the context requires otherwise: 1) “United America Indemnity,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to United America Indemnity, Ltd., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and its U.S. and Non-U.S. Subsidiaries; 2) our “U.S. Subsidiaries” refers to United America Indemnity Group, Inc., AIS, Emerald Insurance Company, which was dissolved on March 24, 2008, Penn-America Group, Inc., our Insurance Operations and our Agency Operations; 3) our “U.S. Insurance Operations” refers to the insurance and related operations conducted by AIS’ subsidiaries, including American Insurance Adjustment Agency, Inc., United America Insurance Services, LLC, J.H. Ferguson & Associates, LLC, the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies; 4) our “U.S. Insurance Companies” refers to the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies; 5) our “Predecessor Insurance Operations” refers to Wind River Investment Corporation, which was dissolved on May 31, 2006, AIS, American Insurance Adjustment Agency, Inc., Emerald Insurance Company, which was dissolved on March 24, 2008, the United National Insurance Companies, United America Insurance Services, LLC, and J.H. Ferguson & Associates, LLC; 6) the “United National Insurance Companies” refers to the insurance and related operations conducted by United National Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, including Diamond State Insurance Company, United National Casualty Insurance Company, and United National Specialty Insurance


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Company; 7) the “Penn-America Insurance Companies” refers to the insurance and related operations of Penn-America Insurance Company, Penn-Star Insurance Company, and Penn-Patriot Insurance Company; 8) our “Insurance Operations” refers to the U.S. Insurance Operations; 9) our “Non-U.S. Insurance Operations” refers to the insurance related operations of Wind River Insurance Company (Barbados), Ltd. and Wind River Insurance Company, Ltd. prior to the amalgamation, which occurred on September 30, 2006; 10) “Wind River Reinsurance” refers to Wind River Reinsurance Company,; 11) our “Agency Operations” refers to the operations of Penn Independent Corporation and its subsidiaries, which were classified as discontinued operations as of September 30, 2006; 12) our “Non-U.S. Subsidiaries” refers to Wind River Reinsurance, U.A.I. (Gibraltar) Limited, which was liquidated on May 30, 2006, U.A.I. (Gibraltar) II Limited, which was liquidated on May 30, 2006, the Luxembourg Companies, U.A.I. (Ireland) Limited, and Wind River Services, Ltd., which was dissolved on August 17, 2007.; 13) our “Reinsurance Operations” refers to the reinsurance and related operations of Wind River Reinsurance; 14) the “Luxembourg Companies” refers to U.A.I. (Luxembourg) I S.à r.l., U.A.I. (Luxembourg) II S.à r.l., U.A.I. (Luxembourg) III S.à r.l., U.A.I. (Luxembourg) IV S.à r.l., U.A.I. (Luxembourg) Investment S.à r.l., and Wind River (Luxembourg) S.à r.l.; 15) “United America Indemnity Group” refers to United America Indemnity Group, Inc.; 16) “AIS” refers to American Insurance Service, Inc.; 17) “United National Group” refers to the United National Insurance Companies and Emerald Insurance Company, which was dissolved on March 24, 2008; 18) “Penn-America Group” refers to Penn-America Group, Inc. and the Penn-America Insurance Companies; 19) “Penn-America” refers to our product classification that includes property and general liability products for small commercial businesses distributed through a select network of wholesale general agents with specific binding authority; 20) “United National” refers to our product classification that includes property, general liability, and professional lines products distributed through program administrators with specific binding authority; 21) “Diamond State” refers to our product classification that includes property, casualty, and professional lines products distributed through wholesale brokers and program administrators with specific binding authority; 22) the “Statutory Trusts” refers to United National Group Capital Trust I, United National Group Capital Statutory Trust II, Penn-America Statutory Trust I, whose registration was cancelled effective January 15, 2008, and Penn-America Statutory Trust II, whose registration was cancelled effective February 2, 2009; 23) “Fox Paine & Company” refers to Fox Paine & Company, LLC and affiliated investment funds; 24) “GAAP” refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and 25) “$” or “dollars” refers to U.S. dollars.


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PART I
 
Item 1.   Business
 
Some of the information contained in this Item 1 or set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy, constitutes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of Item 7 of Part II and “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein.
 
Recent Developments
 
Redomestication to Ireland
 
On February 16, 2010, we announced that our Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan for us to re-domicile from the Cayman Islands to Ireland. Our shareholders will be asked to vote in favor of completing the reorganization proposal at a special shareholders meeting. If the proposal is accepted, we will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Indemnity plc, an Irish company.
 
If the move to Ireland is approved, our Class A common shares will be exchanged for Global Indemnity plc’s Class A ordinary shares on a two-for-one basis, which will trade on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GBLI.” Global Indemnity plc will be subject to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, the mandates of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq. Global Indemnity plc will report consolidated financial results in U.S. dollars and under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. If required by Irish law, audited consolidated annual financial statements prepared in accordance with Irish generally accepted accounting principles will also be made available to shareholders. In addition to shareholder approval, the move to Ireland is subject to an order from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands sanctioning the transaction.
 
Haiti Earthquake
 
In January 2010, a massive earthquake struck the Republic of Haiti that devastated the capital city Port-au-Prince and resulted in widespread damage. We do not expect much, if any, catastrophe loss exposure as insurance penetration in Haiti has historically been low. Any exposure that may develop would be as a result of tsunami activity that affected neighboring islands where we have exposure. At this time, however, we do not expect any significant exposure.
 
California Mudslides and Flooding
 
In January 2010, the southern California coast was battered by multiple heavy rainstorms that caused mudslides and flooding which resulted in significant property losses. We do not expect much, if any, catastrophe loss exposure since we expect losses to be within the retention limits of our property catastrophe reinsurance coverage.
 
Chile Earthquake
 
In February 2010, a massive earthquake struck the Republic of Chile that resulted in widespread damage. We do not anticipate any catastrophe loss exposure as our current exposures do not include Chilean risks. Any exposure that may develop would be as a result of tsunami activity that affected the Australian, Asian, or Pacific island regions where we have exposure. At this time, however, we do not expect any significant exposure.
 
Europe Winter Storm
 
In February 2010, a late winter storm with fierce rain and hurricane strength winds hit western Europe. At this time, we do not know the extent of our catastrophe loss exposure, if any.


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Appointment of Thomas M. McGeehan
 
On December 8, 2009, we announced the appointment of Thomas M. McGeehan as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective as of that day. Mr. McGeehan had been serving as Interim Chief Financial Officer since May 2008.
 
Our History
 
We are a holding company formed on August 26, 2003 under the laws of the Cayman Islands to acquire our Predecessor Insurance Operations.
 
Acquisition of Our Predecessor Insurance Operations
 
On September 5, 2003, Fox Paine & Company made a capital contribution of $240.0 million to us, in exchange for 10.0 million Class B common shares and 14.0 million Series A preferred shares, and we acquired Wind River Investment Corporation, the holding company for our Predecessor Insurance Operations, from a group of family trusts affiliated with the Ball family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the “Wind River Acquisition”).
 
To effect this acquisition, we used $100.0 million of the $240.0 million capital contribution to purchase a portion of the common stock of Wind River Investment Corporation held by the Ball family trusts. We then purchased the remainder of the common stock of Wind River Investment Corporation that was also held by the Ball family trusts, paying consideration consisting of 2.5 million Class A common shares, 3.5 million Series A preferred shares and senior notes issued by Wind River Investment Corporation having an aggregate principal amount of approximately $72.8 million, which have since been retired.
 
Of the remaining $140.0 million contributed to us, we then contributed $80.0 million to United National Group, used $42.4 million to capitalize our Non-U.S. Insurance Operations and used $17.6 million to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition.
 
Initial Public Offering of Class A Common Shares (“IPO”)
 
In December 2003, we consummated our IPO of 10,750,000 Class A common shares, including 1,000,000 Class A common shares issued in connection with the exercise of a portion of the underwriters’ overallotment option, at a price of $17.00 per share. Proceeds of the offering less underwriting discounts of $12.8 million were $170.0 million. Expenses for the IPO totaled $4.4 million, resulting in net proceeds to us of $165.6 million (the “IPO Proceeds”). We used $150.0 million of the IPO Proceeds to fund the redemption of all our Series A preferred shares. We contributed the remaining proceeds of $15.6 million to our Non-U.S. Insurance Operations. In January 2004, we issued an additional 462,500 Class A common shares in connection with the exercise of the underwriters’ remaining overallotment option at a price of $17.00 per share. Proceeds to us, net of underwriting discounts of $0.5 million, were $7.3 million, which we contributed to our Non-U.S. Insurance Operations.
 
Acquisition of Penn-America Group, Inc. and Penn Independent Corporation
 
On January 24, 2005, we completed our merger with Penn-America Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNG) for $249.4 million, which was comprised of $15.3 million in cash and approximately 7.9 million of our Class A common shares, and our acquisition of Penn Independent Corporation for $98.5 million in cash. These transactions resulted in goodwill of $102.0 million and intangible assets of $32.5 million. In connection with these transactions, our shareholders’ approved our change in name from United National Group, Ltd. to United America Indemnity, Ltd.
 
Our results of operations include the results of Penn-America Group, Inc. and Penn Independent Corporation from the date of their merger and acquisition, respectively.
 
In 2008, we impaired all of the goodwill and $12.2 million of intangible assets associated with our merger with Penn-America Group, Inc. This resulted in an after-tax loss of $92.2 million. See Note 5 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for details concerning this impairment.


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Sale of Agency Operations
 
On September 30, 2006, we sold substantially all of the assets of our Agency Operations to Brown & Brown, Inc., an unrelated third party. The gain on the sale was $9.4 million, net of applicable taxes of $4.5 million. We had acquired our Agency Operations through the acquisition of Penn Independent Corporation on January 24, 2005. With the divestiture of our Agency Operations complete, we are focused on our core competency, providing excess and surplus lines and specialty property and casualty insurance and reinsurance products. As a result of this sale, we terminated our Agency Operations segment and have classified the results of this segment as discontinued operations; however, due to immateriality, the results of our discontinued operations for all years subsequent to 2006 are included in income from continuing operations in the “Corporate and other operating expenses” line item.
 
Rights Offering
 
In May 2009, we received gross proceeds of $100.1 million from the issuance of 17.2 million and 11.4 million of our Class A and Class B common shares, respectively, in conjunction with the Rights Offering that was announced in March 2009. The net proceeds of $91.8 million were used to support strategic initiatives, enhance liquidity and financial flexibility, and for other general corporate purposes. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
General
 
United America Indemnity, one of the leading specialty property and casualty insurers in the industry, provides its insurance products across a full distribution network — binding authority, program, brokerage, and reinsurance. We manage the distribution of these products in two segments: (a) Insurance Operations and (b) Reinsurance Operations.
 
Our Insurance Operations
 
The United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies distribute property and casualty insurance products and operate predominantly in the excess and surplus lines marketplace. To manage our operations, we differentiate them by product classification. These product classifications are:
 
  •  Penn-America distributes property and general liability products for small commercial businesses distributed through a select network of wholesale general agents with specific binding authority;
 
  •  United National distributes property, general liability, and professional lines products distributed through program administrators with specific binding authority; and
 
  •  Diamond State distributes property, casualty, and professional lines products distributed through wholesale brokers that are underwritten by our personnel and selected brokers with specific binding authority.
 
See “Marketing and Distribution” below for a discussion on how our insurance products are underwritten.
 
These product classifications comprise our Insurance Operations business segment and are not considered individual business segments because each product has similar economic characteristics, distribution, and coverages. Our Insurance Operations provide property, casualty, and professional liability products utilizing customized guidelines, rates, and forms tailored to our risk and underwriting philosophy. Our Insurance Operations are licensed to write on a surplus lines (non-admitted) basis and an admitted basis in all 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which provides us with flexibility in designing products, programs, and in determining rates to meet emerging risks and discontinuities in the marketplace.
 
We distribute our insurance products through a group of approximately 110 professional wholesale general agencies that have specific quoting and binding authority, as well as a number of wholesale insurance brokers who in turn sell our insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers.
 
Our United National Insurance Companies and Penn-America Insurance Companies are rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, which assigns credit ratings to insurance companies transacting business in the United States. “A” (Excellent) is the third highest rating of sixteen rating categories. These ratings are based upon factors of concern to


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policyholders, such as capital adequacy, loss reserve adequacy, and overall operating performance, and are not directed to the protection of investors.
 
Our Reinsurance Operations
 
We provide third party treaty and facultative reinsurance for writers of excess and surplus and specialty lines of property and casualty insurance through Wind River Reinsurance. Wind River Reinsurance began offering third party reinsurance in the third quarter of 2006 and entered into its initial third party reinsurance treaty effective January 1, 2007. Wind River Reinsurance also provides reinsurance to our Insurance Operations.
 
Wind River Reinsurance is rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best.
 
Available Information
 
We maintain a website at www.uai.ky. We will make available, free of charge on our website, our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such material with, or furnish it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Recent Trends in Our Industry
 
The property and casualty insurance industry has historically been a cyclical industry. During periods of reduced underwriting capacity, which is characterized by a shortage of capital and reduced competition, underwriting results are generally more favorable for insurers due to more favorable policy terms and conditions and higher rate levels. During periods of excess underwriting capacity, which is characterized by an abundance of capital and increased competition, underwriting results are generally less favorable for insurers due to an expansion of policy terms and conditions and lower rate levels. Historically, several factors have affected the level of underwriting capacity, including industry losses, catastrophes, changes in legal and regulatory guidelines, investment results, and the ratings and financial strength of competitors. As underwriting capacity increases, the standard insurance markets begin to expand their risk selection criteria to include risks that have typically been placed in the non-standard excess and surplus lines market. This tends to shrink the demand for insurance coverage from insurers that are focused on writing in the excess and surplus line marketplace, such as United America Indemnity.
 
Currently we are in a period of excess underwriting capacity, and we continued to see rate decreases throughout 2009. Reinsurers’ 2009 growth, if any, became very selective as new business prices remained competitive and renewals saw little overall price increases. The 2009 market proved to be a positive risk selection, capacity management, and pricing environment for the catastrophe underwriters. Non-catastrophe segments of the reinsurance market continued to be strained further as the many opposing market forces failed to allow the upward rate pressures to take root. Reinsurers and carriers alike clearly observed that competition has caused the adequacy in underlying prices, terms, and conditions to be eroded over the past several years calling for a flight to improved pricing, terms, and conditions adequacy.
 
In order for property and casualty reinsurance and insurance companies to generate an acceptable return on capital in the current interest rate environment, companies are focusing on generating acceptable underwriting returns. The industry is making increased use of risk management tools to adequately compensate for the risks being written. The industry continues to focus on investment yields and the credit-worthiness of investment portfolios.
 
Although the discount rate was recently raised 0.25 points in February 2010, the Federal Funds rate remained at extremely low levels of 0.0% to 0.25% during 2009 causing investment yields on short-term and overnight investments to be low. Given low interest rates for Fed funds and current yields on investment grade fixed income securities, our investment portfolio has been positioned to protect against a rising interest rate environment by including fixed maturity investments with low durations. The fixed income portfolio continues to be biased toward high quality assets with an average quality of AA.


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In addition, developments in the regulatory environment could have some impact on our industry. In December 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009. This bill includes a number of provisions having a direct impact on the insurance industry, most notably, the creation of a Federal Insurance Office to monitor the insurance industry, streamlining of surplus lines insurance, credit for reinsurance, reinsurance insolvency regulation, and systemic risk regulation. This bill will be assigned to the Senate Banking Committee. We are continuing to monitor this development and the impact that it may have on our operations.
 
Excess and Surplus Lines Market
 
Our Insurance Operations operate in the excess and surplus lines market. The excess and surplus lines market differs significantly from the standard property and casualty insurance market. In the standard property and casualty insurance market, insurance rates and forms are highly regulated, products and coverages are largely uniform and have relatively predictable exposures. In the standard market, policies must be written by insurance companies that are admitted to transact business in the state in which the policy is issued. As a result, in the standard property and casualty insurance market, insurance companies tend to compete for customers primarily on the basis of price, coverage, value-added service, and financial strength. In contrast, the excess and surplus lines market provides coverage for businesses that often do not fit the underwriting criteria of an insurance company operating in the standard market due to their relatively greater unpredictable loss patterns and unique niches of exposure requiring rate and policy form freedom. Without the excess and surplus lines market, certain businesses would have to self insure their exposures, or seek coverage outside the U.S. market.
 
Competition in the excess and surplus lines market tends to focus less on price and more on availability, service, and other considerations. While excess and surplus lines market exposures may have higher perceived insurance risk than their standard market counterparts, excess and surplus lines market underwriters historically have been able to generate underwriting profitability superior to standard market underwriters.
 
According to A.M. Best, direct premiums written of the excess and surplus lines market shrank 11.2% the past two years, but from 1988 through 2008, it grew from an estimated $6.3 billion to $34.4 billion. In contrast, the U.S. property and casualty industry grew more moderately during this period from $211.3 billion in direct premiums written to $492.9 billion. During this period, the excess and surplus lines market as a percentage of the total property and casualty industry grew from approximately 3.0% to 7.0%.
 
Within the excess and surplus lines market, we write business on both a specialty admitted and surplus lines basis. Surplus lines business accounts for approximately 81.3% of the business that our Insurance Operations writes, while specialty admitted business accounts for the remaining 18.7%.
 
When writing on a specialty admitted basis, our focus is on writing insurance for insureds that engage in similar but often highly specialized types of activities. The specialty admitted market is subject to greater state regulation than the surplus lines market, particularly with regard to rate and form filing requirements and the ability to enter and exit lines of business. Insureds purchasing coverage from specialty admitted insurance companies do so because the insurance product is not otherwise available from standard market insurers. Yet, for regulatory or marketing reasons, these insureds require products that are written by an admitted insurance company.
 
Business Segments
 
We operate and manage our business through two business segments: Insurance Operations and Reinsurance Operations.
 
Insurance Operations
 
Our Insurance Operations segment includes the operations of the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies which distribute property and casualty products through three product classifications: 1) Penn-America; 2) United National; and 3) Diamond State. See “Our Insurance Operations” above for a description of these product classifications. Our insurance products target specific, defined groups of insureds with customized coverages to meet their needs. Our products include customized guidelines, rates, and forms


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tailored to our risk and underwriting philosophy. In 2009, gross premiums written were $268.0 million compared to $353.1 million for 2008.
 
Reinsurance Operations
 
Our Reinsurance Operations segment provides third party treaty and facultative reinsurance for writers of excess, surplus, and specialty property and casualty insurance and consists solely of the operations of Wind River Reinsurance. Wind River Reinsurance also provides quota share reinsurance to our Insurance Operations. In 2009, gross premiums written were $73.0 million compared to $25.6 million for 2008. Wind River Reinsurance is listed with the International Insurers Department (“IID”) of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). Although Wind River Reinsurance does not currently offer direct third party excess and surplus lines insurance products, it is eligible to write on a surplus lines basis in 31 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
 
Wind River Reinsurance conducts business in Bermuda. While many reinsurers in Bermuda continue to focus on catastrophe oriented reinsurance solutions, Wind River Reinsurance is part of a smaller group of companies looking to write niche and casualty oriented treaty and facultative opportunities. While Wind River Reinsurance will consider unique catastrophe oriented placements, this is a very selective process and is not its primary focus. Given the pricing environment of the larger casualty oriented organizations, Wind River Reinsurance continues to cautiously deploy and manage its capital while seeking to position itself as niche reinsurance solution provider. The current market dictates that growth will be very measured.
 
As part of the aforementioned quota share reinsurance that Wind River Reinsurance provides to our Insurance Operations, our Insurance Operations cede 50% of their net unearned premiums, plus 50% of the net retained insurance liability of all new and renewal business to Wind River Reinsurance.
 
Products and Product Development
 
Our Insurance Operations distribute property and casualty insurance products and operate predominantly in the excess and surplus lines marketplace. To manage our operations, we differentiate our products by product classification. See “Our Insurance Operations” above for a description of these product classifications. We have significant flexibility in designing products, programs, and in determining rates to meet the needs of the marketplace.
 
Our Reinsurance Operations offer third party treaty and facultative reinsurance for writers of excess, surplus, and specialty lines of property and casualty insurance. Our Reinsurance Operations also provide reinsurance to our Insurance Operations.
 
The following table sets forth an analysis of United America Indemnity’s gross premiums written, which is the sum of direct and assumed premiums written, by product classification within our Insurance Operations and Reinsurance Operations segments during the periods indicated:
 
                                                 
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  
(Dollars in thousands)                                    
 
Insurance Operations:
                                               
Penn-America
  $ 124,914       36.6 %   $ 172,869       45.6 %   $ 286,439       50.8 %
United National
    62,059       18.2       88,884       23.5       132,311       23.5  
Diamond State
    81,019       23.8       91,377       24.1       118,085       21.0  
                                                 
Total Insurance Operations
    267,992       78.6       353,130       93.2       536,835       95.3  
                                                 
Reinsurance Operations:
                                               
Wind River Reinsurance
    73,007       21.4       25,570       6.8       26,277       4.7  
                                                 
Total
  $ 340,999       100.0 %   $ 378,700       100.0 %   $ 563,112       100.0 %
                                                 
 
For a discussion of the variances between years, see “Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this report.


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The following table sets forth an analysis of United America Indemnity’s net premiums written, which is gross premiums written less ceded premiums written, by product classification within our Insurance Operations and Reinsurance Operations segments during the periods indicated:
 
                                                 
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  
(Dollars in thousands)                                    
 
Insurance Operations:
                                               
Penn-America
  $ 101,320       34.8 %   $ 158,136       51.1 %   $ 266,874       54.4 %
United National
    50,036       17.2       74,964       24.3       110,649       22.6  
Diamond State
    66,908       23.0       72,379       23.4       100,751       20.5  
                                                 
Total Insurance Operations
    218,264       75.0       305,479       98.8       478,274       97.5  
                                                 
Reinsurance Operations:
                                               
Wind River Reinsurance
    72,731       25.0       3,601       1.2       12,261       2.5  
                                                 
Total
  $ 290,995       100.0 %   $ 309,080       100.0 %   $ 490,535       100.0 %
                                                 
 
For a discussion of the variances between years, see “Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this report.
 
Geographic Concentration
 
The following table sets forth the geographic distribution of United America Indemnity’s gross premiums written by its Insurance and Reinsurance Operations for the periods indicated:
 
                                                 
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  
(Dollars in thousands)                                    
 
Florida
  $ 34,061       10.0 %   $ 41,893       11.0 %   $ 65,610       11.6 %
California
    28,264       8.3       39,793       10.5       67,578       12.0  
Texas
    24,292       7.1       26,029       6.9       37,252       6.6  
New York
    17,224       5.1       26,045       6.9       55,627       9.9  
Louisiana
    12,339       3.6       13,214       3.5       14,447       2.6  
Massachusetts
    11,948       3.5       16,956       4.5       24,054       4.3  
Pennsylvania
    9,506       2.8       12,446       3.3       17,527       3.1  
New Jersey
    8,918       2.6       13,617       3.6       26,767       4.7  
Illinois
    8,630       2.5       11,766       3.1       16,633       3.0  
Michigan
    6,927       2.0       8,467       2.2       9,257       1.6  
                                                 
Subtotal
    162,109       47.5       210,226       55.5       334,752       59.4  
Reinsurance Operations
    73,007       21.4       25,570       6.8       26,277       4.7  
All others
    105,883       31.1       142,904       37.7       202,083       35.9  
                                                 
Total
  $ 340,999       100.0 %   $ 378,700       100.0 %   $ 563,112       100.0 %
                                                 
 
Marketing and Distribution
 
We provide our insurance products across a full distribution network — binding authority, program, brokerage, and reinsurance. For our binding authority and program product classifications, we distribute our insurance products through a group of approximately 110 wholesale general agents and program administrators that have specific quoting and binding authority. For our brokerage business, we distribute our insurance products through wholesale insurance brokers who in turn sell our insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers.


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For our reinsurance business, we distribute our products through reinsurance brokers and directly through reinsurers.
 
Of our non-affiliated professional wholesale general agents and program administrators, the top five accounted for 34.1% of our gross premiums written for the year ended December 31, 2009. No one agency accounted for more than 12.9% of our gross premiums written.
 
Our distribution strategy is to maintain strong relationships with a limited number of high-quality wholesale professional general agents and wholesale insurance brokers. We carefully select our distribution sources based on their experience and reputation. We believe that our distribution strategy enables us to effectively access numerous markets at a relatively low cost structure through the marketing, underwriting, and administrative support of our professional general agencies and wholesale insurance brokers. These wholesale general agents and wholesale insurance brokers have local market knowledge and expertise that enables us to access business in these markets more effectively.
 
Underwriting
 
Our insurance products are underwritten in two ways: (1) specific binding authority in which we grant underwriting authority to our wholesale general agents and program administrators, and (2) brokerage in which our internal personnel underwrites business submitted by our wholesale insurance brokers.
 
Specific Binding Authority — Our wholesale general agents and program administrators have specific quoting and binding authority with respect to a single insurance product and some have limited quoting and binding authority with respect to multiple products.
 
We provide our wholesale general agents and program administrators with a comprehensive, regularly updated underwriting manual that specifically outlines risk eligibility, which is developed based on the type of insured, nature of exposure and overall expected profitability. This manual also outlines (a) premium pricing, (b) underwriting guidelines, including but not limited to policy forms, terms and conditions, and (c) policy issuance instructions.
 
Our wholesale general agents and program administrators are appointed to underwrite submissions received from their retail agents in accordance with our underwriting manual. Risks that are not within the specific binding authority must be submitted to our underwriting personnel directly for underwriting review and approval or denial of the application of the insured. Our wholesale general agents provide all policy issuance services in accordance with our underwriting manuals.
 
We regularly monitor the underwriting quality of our wholesale general agents and program administrators through disciplined system of controls, which includes the following:
 
  •  automated system criteria edits and exception reports;
 
  •  individual policy reviews to measure general agents adherence to underwriting manual including, risk selection, underwriting compliance, policy issuance and pricing.
 
  •  periodic on-site comprehensive general agency audits to evaluate processes, controls, profitability and adherence to all aspects of our underwriting manual including, risk selection, underwriting compliance, policy issuance and pricing; and
 
  •  internal quarterly actuarial analysis of loss ratios produced by business underwritten by our wholesale general agents and program administrators
 
  •  internal quarterly analysis of financial results, including premium growth and overall profitability of business produced by our wholesale general agents and program administrators
 
We provide incentives to certain of our wholesale general agents and program administrators to produce profitable business through contingent profit commission structures that are tied directly to the achievement of profitability targets.


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Brokerage — Our wholesale insurance brokers do not have specific binding authority, therefore, these risks are submitted to our underwriting personnel for review and processing.
 
We provide our underwriters with a comprehensive, regularly updated underwriting manual that specifically outlines risk eligibility, which is developed based on the type of insured, nature of exposure and overall expected profitability. This manual also outlines (a) premium pricing, (b) underwriting guidelines, including but not limited to policy forms, terms and conditions, and (c) policy issuance instructions.
 
Our underwriting personnel review submissions, issue all quotes and perform all policy issuance functions. We regularly monitor the underwriting quality of our underwriters through disciplined system of controls, which includes the following:
 
  •  individual policy reviews to measure our underwriters’ adherence to underwriting manual including, risk selection, underwriting compliance, policy issuance and pricing.
 
  •  periodic underwriting review to evaluate adherence to all aspects of our underwriting manual including, risk selection, underwriting compliance, policy issuance and pricing; and
 
  •  internal quarterly actuarial analysis of loss ratios produced by business underwritten by our underwriters
 
  •  internal quarterly analysis of financial results, including premium growth and overall profitability of business produced by our underwriters
 
Contingent Commissions
 
Certain professional general agencies of the Insurance Operations are paid special incentives, referred to as commissions, when loss results of business produced by these agencies are more favorable than predetermined thresholds. Similarly, in some circumstances, insurance companies that cede business to our Reinsurance Operations are paid ceding or profit commissions based on the profitability of the ceded portfolio. These commissions are charged to other underwriting expenses when incurred. The liability for the unpaid portion of these commissions is stated separately on the face of the consolidated balance sheet as contingent commissions.
 
The amount of contingent commissions for 2009 has increased from the prior year primarily due to several reinsurance treaties that were entered into by our Reinsurance Operations during the first quarter of 2009 that have generated profitable business and therefore resulted in increased commissions.
 
Pricing
 
We use our pricing actuaries to establish pricing tailored to each specific product we underwrite, taking into account historical loss experience and individual risk and coverage characteristics. We generally use the actuarial loss costs promulgated by the Insurance Services Office as a benchmark in the development of pricing for most of our products. We will only write business if we believe we can achieve an adequate rate of return.
 
Rates have generally declined over the last several years. During 2004 and the first eight months of 2005 the ability to achieve significant rate increases lessened with increased competition and additional industry capacity. This trend subsided, however, during the last four months of 2005 primarily as a result of the impact of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma on the United States. The underwriting capacity for writing property insurance in several wind-prone areas of the United States was reduced immediately, which led to dramatic increases in rate levels in many of the territories affected by these storms. Since 2005, the trend has reversed and prices have been steadily declining. Casualty rates have declined faster than property rates. Our market is facing competition from standard line companies who are writing risks that they had not insured previously, Bermuda companies who are establishing relationships with wholesale brokers, and excess and surplus competitors. New competition is driving much of the price decline. Although market prices have dropped, we have continued to maintain our underwriting discipline, and have therefore exited many programs. Renewal pricing on our book decreased approximately 2.2% in 2007, approximately 3.8% in 2008, and approximately 2.3% in 2009, on average.


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Reinsurance of Underwriting Risk
 
Our philosophy is to purchase reinsurance from third parties to limit our liability on individual risks and to protect against property catastrophe and casualty clash losses. Reinsurance assists us in controlling exposure to severe losses, and protecting capital resources. We purchase reinsurance on both an excess of loss and proportional basis. The type, cost and limits of reinsurance we purchase can vary from year to year based upon our desired retention levels and the availability of quality reinsurance at an acceptable price. Although reinsurance does not legally discharge an insurer from its primary liability for the full amount of the policies it has written, it does make the assuming reinsurer liable to the insurer to the extent of the insurance ceded. Our reinsurance contracts renew throughout the year, and all of our reinsurance is purchased following guidelines established by our management. We primarily utilize treaty reinsurance products, including proportional reinsurance, excess of loss reinsurance, casualty clash reinsurance, and property catastrophic excess of loss reinsurance. Additionally, we may purchase facultative reinsurance protection on single risks when deemed necessary.
 
We purchase specific types and structures of reinsurance depending upon the specific characteristics of the lines of business and specialty products we underwrite. We will typically seek to place proportional reinsurance for our umbrella and excess products, some of our specific specialty products, or in the development stages of a new product. We believe that this approach allows us to control our net exposure in these product areas more cost effectively.
 
We purchase reinsurance on an excess of loss basis to cover individual risk severity. These structures are utilized to protect our primary positions on property, casualty, and professional liability products. The excess of loss structures allow us to maximize our underwriting profits over time by retaining a greater portion of the risk in these products, while helping to protect against the possibility of unforeseen volatility.
 
We analyze our reinsurance contracts to ensure that they meet the risk transfer requirements of applicable accounting guidance, which requires that the reinsurer must assume significant insurance risk under the reinsured portions of the underlying insurance contracts and that there must be a reasonably possible chance that the reinsurer may realize a significant loss from the transaction. See Note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning our current reinsurance contracts.
 
We continually evaluate our retention levels across the entire line of business and specialty product portfolio to ensure that the ultimate reinsurance structures are aligned with the corporate risk tolerance levels associated with such lines of business products. Any decision to decrease our reliance upon proportional reinsurance or to increase our excess of loss retentions could increase our earnings volatility. In cases where we decide to increase our excess of loss retentions, such decisions will be a result of a change or progression in our risk tolerance level and will be supported by an actuarial analysis. We endeavor to purchase reinsurance from financially strong reinsurers with which we have long-standing relationships. In addition, in certain circumstances, we hold collateral, including letters of credit, under reinsurance agreements.


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The following table sets forth the ten reinsurers for which we have the largest reinsurance receivables, as of December 31, 2009. Also shown are the amounts of premiums ceded by us to these reinsurers during the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
                                                     
    A.M.
  Gross
    Prepaid
    Total
    Percent
    Ceded
    Percent
 
    Best
  Reinsurance
    Reinsurance
    Reinsurance
    of
    Premiums
    of
 
    Rating   Receivables     Premium     Assets     Total     Written     Total  
(Dollars in millions)                                        
 
Munich Re America, Inc. 
  A+   $ 256.5     $ 6.5     $ 263.0       44.5 %   $ 20.2       40.4 %
Westport Insurance Corp. 
  A     130.1             130.1       22.0       (0.1 )     (0.2 )
General Reinsurance Corp. 
  A++     27.3       0.6       27.9       4.7       1.8       3.6  
Hartford Fire Insurance Co. 
  A     21.7             21.7       3.7              
Transatlantic Reinsurance
  A     16.9       3.6       20.5       3.5       8.2       16.4  
GE Reinsurance Corporation (Swiss Re)
  A     14.8             14.8       2.5              
Finial Reinsurance Company
  A−     11.1             11.1       1.9              
Converium AG, Zurich
  A−     10.1             10.1       1.7              
Swiss Reinsurance America Corp
  A     9.2             9.2       1.6       0.1       0.2  
Clearwater Insurance Company
  A−     7.8             7.8       1.3              
                                                     
Subtotal
        505.5       10.7       516.2       87.4       30.2       60.4  
All other reinsurers
        68.3       5.8       74.1       12.6       19.8       39.6  
                                                     
Total reinsurance receivables before purchase accounting adjustments
        573.8       16.5       590.3       100.0 %   $ 50.0       100.0 %
                                                     
Purchase accounting adjustments, including uncollectible reinsurance reserve
        (30.4 )           (30.4 )                        
                                                     
Total receivables, net of purchase accounting adjustments and uncollectible reinsurance reserve
        543.4       16.5       559.9                          
Collateral held in trust from reinsurers
        (378.1 )     (5.4 )     (383.5 )                        
                                                     
Net receivables
      $ 165.3     $ 11.1     $ 176.4                          
                                                     
 
At December 31, 2009 and 2008, we carried reinsurance receivables of $543.4 million and $679.3 million, respectively. These amounts are net of a purchase accounting adjustment and an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables. The purchase accounting adjustment resulted from our acquisition of Wind River Investment Corporation on September 5, 2003 and is related to discounting the acquired loss reserves to their present value and applying a risk margin to the discounted reserves. This adjustment was $17.5 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008. The allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables was $12.9 million and $13.7 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The change is primarily due to a decrease in the amount of our carried reinsurance receivables.
 
Historically, there have been insolvencies following a period of competitive pricing in the industry. While we have recorded allowances for reinsurance receivables based on currently available information, conditions may change or additional information might be obtained that may require us to record additional allowances. On a quarterly basis, we review our financial exposure to the reinsurance market and assess the adequacy of our collateral and allowance for uncollectible reinsurance and continue to take actions to mitigate our exposure to possible loss.


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Claims Management and Administration
 
Our approach to claims management is designed to investigate reported incidents at the earliest juncture, to select, manage, and supervise all legal and adjustment aspects of claims, including settlement, for the mutual benefit of us, our professional general agents, wholesale brokers, reinsurers and insureds. Our professional general agents and wholesale brokers have no authority to settle claims or otherwise exercise control over the claims process, with the exception of one statutory managing general agent. Our claims management staff supervises or processes all claims. We have a formal claims review process, and all claims greater than $100,000, gross of reinsurance, are reviewed by our senior claims management and certain of our senior executives.
 
To handle claims, we utilize our own in-house claims department as well as third-party claims administrators (“TPAs”) and assuming reinsurers, to whom we delegate limited claims handling authority. Our experienced in-house staff of claims management professionals are assigned to one of five dedicated claim units: casualty claims, latent exposure claims, property claims, TPA oversight, and a wholly owned subsidiary that administers construction defect claims. The dedicated claims units meet regularly to communicate current developments within their assigned areas of specialty.
 
As of December 31, 2009, we had $431.0 million of gross outstanding loss and loss adjustment expense case reserves. Claims relating to approximately 80.0% of those reserves are handled by our in-house claims management professionals, while claims relating to approximately 5.0% of those reserves are handled by our TPAs, which send us detailed financial and claims information on a monthly basis. We also individually supervise in-house any significant or complicated TPA handled claims, and conduct two to five day on-site audits of our material TPAs at least twice a year. Approximately 15.0% of our reserves are handled by our assuming reinsurers. We diligently review and supervise the claims handled by our reinsurers to protect our reputation and minimize exposure.
 
Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
Applicable insurance laws require us to maintain reserves to cover our estimated ultimate losses under insurance policies that we write and for loss adjustment expenses relating to the investigation and settlement of policy claims.
 
We establish loss and loss adjustment expense reserves for individual claims by evaluating reported claims on the basis of:
 
  •  our knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the claim;
 
  •  the severity of injury or damage;
 
  •  jurisdiction of the occurrence;
 
  •  the potential for ultimate exposure;
 
  •  litigation related developments;
 
  •  the type of loss; and
 
  •  our experience with the insured and the line of business and policy provisions relating to the particular type of claim.
 
We generally estimate such losses and claims costs through an evaluation of individual reported claims. We also establish reserves for incurred but not reported losses (“IBNR”). IBNR reserves are based in part on statistical information and in part on industry experience with respect to the expected number and nature of claims arising from occurrences that have not been reported. We also establish our reserves based on our estimates of future trends in claims severity and other subjective factors. Insurance companies are not permitted to reserve for a catastrophe until it has occurred. Reserves are recorded on an undiscounted basis other than fair value adjustments recorded under purchase accounting. The reserves are reviewed quarterly by the in-house actuarial staff. In 2009, the internal workpapers supporting our reserves were reviewed by independent actuaries for the third quarter of 2009, and our reserves were reviewed in detail by independent actuaries for the second and fourth quarters of 2009. We do not rely


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upon the review by the independent actuaries to develop our reserves; however, the data is used to corroborate the analysis performed by the in-house actuarial staff.
 
With respect to some classes of risks, the period of time between the occurrence of an insured event and the final resolution of a claim may be many years, and during this period it often becomes necessary to adjust the claim estimates either upward or downward. Certain classes of umbrella and excess liability that we underwrite have historically had longer intervals between the occurrence of an insured event, reporting of the claim and final resolution. In such cases, we must estimate reserves over long periods of time with the possibility of several adjustments to reserves. Other classes of insurance that we underwrite, such as most property insurance, historically have shorter intervals between the occurrence of an insured event, reporting of the claim and final resolution. Reserves with respect to these classes are therefore inherently less likely to be adjusted.
 
The loss and loss expense reserving process is intended to reflect the impact of inflation and other factors affecting loss payments by taking into account changes in historical payment patterns and perceived trends. However, there is no precise method for the subsequent evaluation of the adequacy of the consideration given to inflation, or to any other specific factor, or to the way one factor may affect another.
 
The loss and loss expense development table below shows changes in our reserves in subsequent years from the prior loss and loss expense estimates based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year and in conformity with GAAP. The estimate is increased or decreased as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of losses for individual years. A redundancy means the original estimate was higher than the current estimate; a deficiency means that the current estimate is higher than the original estimate.
 
The first line of the loss and loss expense development table shows, for the years indicated, our net reserve liability including the reserve for incurred but not reported losses. The first section of the table shows, by year, the cumulative amounts of losses and loss adjustment expenses paid as of the end of each succeeding year. The second section sets forth the re-estimates in later years of incurred losses and loss expenses, including payments, for the years indicated. The “cumulative redundancy (deficiency)” represents, as of the date indicated, the difference between the latest re-estimated liability and the reserves as originally estimated.
 
In 2005, $235.2 million of loss reserves were acquired as a result of the merger with Penn-America Group, Inc. that took place on January 24, 2005. As such, there are no loss reserves in our loss development table related to the Penn-America Insurance Companies for any years prior to 2005.


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This loss development table shows development in United America Indemnity’s loss and loss expense reserves on a net basis:
 
                                                                                         
    1999     2000     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008     2009  
(Dollars in thousands)                                                                  
 
                                                                                         
Balance sheet reserves:
  $ 167,868     $ 131,128     $ 156,784     $ 260,820     $ 314,023     $ 344,614     $ 639,291     $ 735,342     $ 800,884     $ 835,838     $ 730,328  
                                                                                         
Cumulative paid as of:
                                                                                       
                                                                                         
One year later
  $ 64,139     $ 26,163     $ 63,667     $ 42,779     $ 76,048     $ 85,960     $ 154,069       169,899       190,723       215,903          
                                                                                         
Two years later
    82,119       72,579       82,970       96,623       136,133       139,822       268,827       300,041       360,336                  
                                                                                         
Three years later
    118,318       75,661       118,401       141,545       171,659       180,801       355,987       413,055                          
                                                                                         
Four years later
    110,640       98,654       150,062       164,181       197,596       209,938       414,068                                  
                                                                                         
Five years later
    126,119       121,407       164,023       182,043       214,376       237,636                                          
                                                                                         
Six years later
    143,782       129,371       177,682       193,536       235,022                                                  
                                                                                         
Seven years later
    149,413       139,090       186,173       211,036                                                          
                                                                                         
Eight years later
    157,431       143,435       201,899                                                                  
                                                                                         
Nine years later
    162,218       156,432                                                                          
                                                                                         
Ten years later
    174,512                                                                                  
                                                                                         
Re-estimated liability as of:
                                                                                       
                                                                                         
End of year
  $ 167,868     $ 131,128     $ 156,784     $ 260,820     $ 314,023     $ 344,614     $ 639,291     $ 735,342     $ 800,884     $ 835,838     $ 730,328  
                                                                                         
One year later
    157,602       124,896       228,207       261,465       313,213       343,332       632,327       716,361       832,733       827,442          
                                                                                         
Two years later
    155,324       180,044       228,391       263,995       315,230       326,031       629,859       732,056       812,732                  
                                                                                         
Three years later
    192,675       180,202       231,133       268,149       298,989       323,696       635,504       707,525                          
                                                                                         
Four years later
    192,714       175,198       236,271       252,078       301,660       332,302       622,122                                  
                                                                                         
Five years later
    175,478       179,727       226,116       264,058       308,775       323,547                                          
                                                                                         
Six years later
    180,735       173,424       242,666       272,806       303,146                                                  
                                                                                         
Seven years later
    177,025       187,441       254,110       266,880                                                          
                                                                                         
Eight years later
    193,337       198,999       249,861                                                                  
                                                                                         
Nine years later
    201,812       196,423                                                                          
                                                                                         
Ten years later
    201,424                                                                                  
                                                                                         
Cumulative redundancy/(deficiency)
  $ (33,556 )   $ (65,295 )   $ (93,077 )   $ (6,060 )   $ 10,877     $ 21,067     $ 17,169     $ 27,817     $ (11,848 )   $ 8,396     $  
                                                                                         
Gross Liability — end of year
    805,717       800,630       907,357       2,004,422       2,059,760       1,876,510       1,914,224       1,702,010       1,503,237       1,506,429       1,257,741  
                                                                                         
Less: Reinsurance recoverables
    637,849       669,502       750,573       1,743,602       1,745,737       1,531,896       1,274,933       966,668       702,353       670,591       527,413  
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
Net liability-end of year
    167,868       131,128       156,784       260,820       314,023       344,614       639,291       735,342       800,884       835,838       730,328  
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
Gross re-estimated liability
    1,167,929       1,284,806       1,604,977       1,707,488       1,594,873       1,369,457       1,500,971       1,324,044       1,490,514       1,461,854       1,257,741  
                                                                                         
Less: Re-estimated recoverables at December 31, 2009
    966,505       1,088,383       1,355,116       1,440,608       1,291,727       1,045,910       878,849       616,519       677,782       634,412       527,413  
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
Net re-estimated liability at December 31, 2009
  $ 201,424     $ 196,423     $ 249,861     $ 266,880     $ 303,146     $ 323,547     $ 622,122     $ 707,525     $ 812,732     $ 827,442     $ 730,328  
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
Gross cumulative redundancy/(deficiency)
  $ (362,212 )   $ (484,176 )   $ (697,620 )   $ 296,934     $ 464,887     $ 507,053     $ 413,253     $ 377,966     $ 12,723     $ 44,575     $  
                                                                                         
 
During 2009, we experienced a decrease in prior accident year net loss and loss adjustment expenses of $9.1 million, which includes a decrease in our allowance for reinsurance recoverables of $0.7 million due to a decrease in the amount of our carried insurance receivables. The remaining $8.4 million represents decreases to loss and loss adjustment expense reserves related to accident years 2008 and prior.
 
The loss reserves decrease of $8.4 million consisted a $5.5 million reduction in property lines, a $2.9 million reduction in general liability lines, and a $4.7 million reduction in umbrella lines, partially offset by a $4.7 million increase in professional liability lines:
 
  •  The reduction in the property lines primarily consisted of reductions related to accident year 2006 through 2008 due to better than expected loss emergence in brokerage.
 
  •  The reduction in the general liability lines primarily consisted of reductions of $13.5 million related to accident years 2006 and prior due to loss emergence that had been consistently lower than expected during the year, partially offset by increases of $10.6 million to accident years 2007 and 2008 that were driven by a large claim and an increase in our construction defect provisions for Penn America.
 
  •  The reduction in the umbrella lines primarily consisted of net reductions of $5.1 million related to accident years 2007 and prior that were driven by loss emergence throughout the year that was consistently better than expected, partially offset by increases of $0.4 million related to accident year 2008.


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  •  The increase to the professional liability lines primarily consisted of increases of $10.1 million related to accident years 2007 and 2008 due to an increase in severity, partially offset by net reductions of $5.4 million primarily related to accident years 2006 and prior.
 
See Note 8 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a reconciliation of United America Indemnity’s liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance ceded.
 
The adverse development noted from 1999 through 2002 is primarily related to increasing asbestos and environmental (“A&E”) reserves. The insurance industry continues to receive a substantial number of asbestos-related bodily injury claims, with an increasing focus being directed toward installers of products containing asbestos rather than against asbestos manufacturers. This shift has resulted in significant insurance coverage litigation implicating applicable coverage defenses or determinations, if any, including but not limited to, determinations as to whether or not an asbestos related bodily injury claim is subject to aggregate limits of liability found in most comprehensive general liability policies. In response to these developments, management increased gross and net A&E reserves during 2008 to reflect its best estimate of A&E exposures.
 
Asbestos and Environmental Exposure
 
Our environmental exposure arises from the sale of general liability and commercial multi-peril insurance. Currently, our policies continue to exclude classic environmental contamination claims. In some states we are required, however, depending on the circumstances, to provide coverage for certain bodily injury claims, such as an individual’s exposure to a release of chemicals. We have also issued policies that were intended to provide limited pollution and environmental coverage. These policies were specific to certain types of products underwritten by us. We have also received a number of asbestos-related claims, the majority of which are declined based on well-established exclusions. In establishing the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses related to A&E exposures, management considers facts currently known and the current state of the law and coverage litigations. Estimates of these liabilities are reviewed and updated continually.
 
Significant uncertainty remains as to our ultimate liability for asbestos-related claims due to such factors as the long latency period between asbestos exposure and disease manifestation and the resulting potential for involvement of multiple policy periods for individual claims, the increase in the volume of claims made by plaintiffs who claim exposure but who have no symptoms of asbestos-related disease, and an increase in claims subject to coverages under general liability policies that do not contain aggregate limits of liability. There is also the possibility of federal legislation that would address asbestos litigation.
 
The liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, inclusive of A&E reserves, reflects our best estimates for future amounts needed to pay losses and related adjustment expenses as of each of the balance sheet dates reflected in the financial statements herein in accordance with GAAP. As of December 31, 2009, we had $21.1 million of net loss reserves for asbestos-related claims and $10.5 million for environmental claims. We attempt to estimate the full impact of the A&E exposures by establishing specific case reserves on all known losses. See Note 8 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for tables showing our gross and net reserves for A&E losses.
 
In addition to the factors referenced above, establishing reserves for A&E and other mass tort claims involves more judgment than other types of claims due to, among other things, inconsistent court decisions, an increase in bankruptcy filings as a result of asbestos-related liabilities, and judicial interpretations that often expand theories of recovery and broaden the scope of coverage. The insurance industry continues to receive a substantial number of asbestos-related bodily injury claims, with an increasing focus being directed toward other parties, including installers of products containing asbestos rather than against asbestos manufacturers. This shift has resulted in significant insurance coverage litigation implicating applicable coverage defenses or determinations, if any, including but not limited to, determinations as to whether or not an asbestos related bodily injury claim is subject to aggregate limits of liability found in most comprehensive general liability policies. In response to these developments, management increased gross and net A&E reserves during the third quarter of 2007 to reflect its best estimate of A&E exposures. In 2009, one of our insurance companies was dismissed from a lawsuit seeking coverage from it and other unrelated insurance companies. The suit involved issues related to approximately 3,900 existing asbestos related bodily injury claims and future claims. The dismissal was the result of a settlement of a


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disputed claim related to accident year 1984. The settlement is conditioned upon certain legal events occurring which will trigger financial obligations by the insurance company. Management will continue to monitor the developments of the litigation to determine if any additional financial exposure is present.
 
See Note 8 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the survival ratios on a gross basis for our open A&E claims.
 
Investments
 
Our investment policy is determined by the Investment Committee of our Board of Directors. We have engaged third-party investment advisors to oversee our investments and to make recommendations to the Investment Committee of our Board of Directors. Our investment policy allows us to invest in taxable and tax-exempt fixed income investments including corporate loans and as well as publicly traded and private equity investments. With respect to fixed income investments, the maximum exposure per issuer varies as a function of the credit quality of the security. For our corporate loan portfolio, the maximum exposure per issuer is limited to 5% of the market value of the corporate loan portfolio. The allocation between taxable and tax-exempt bonds is determined based on market conditions and tax considerations, including the applicability of the alternative minimum tax. The maximum allowable investment in equity securities under our investment policy is 30% of our GAAP equity, or $250.0 million at December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, we had $1,694.1 million of investments and cash and cash equivalent assets, including $73.7 million of equity and limited partnership investments and $138.9 million in corporate loans, less a $37.3 million payable for securities purchased.
 
Insurance company investments must comply with applicable statutory regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentration of investments. These regulations permit investments, within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications, in federal, state, and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, and preferred and common equity securities.
 
The following table summarizes by type the estimated fair value of United America Indemnity’s investments and cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007:
 
                                                 
    December 31, 2009     December 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Estimated
    Percent
    Estimated
    Percent
    Estimated
    Percent
 
    Fair Value     of Total     Fair Value     of Total     Fair Value     of Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                                    
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 186,087       10.8 %   $ 292,604       18.3 %   $ 244,321       13.8 %
                                                 
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
    236,088       13.6       152,777       9.6       186,808       10.6  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    225,598       13.0       243,030       15.2       213,074       12.1  
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
    364,000       21.0       384,069       24.0       456,932       25.9  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
                144,457       9.0       175,160       9.9  
Asset-backed securities
    114,163       6.6       16,553       1.0       28,827       1.6  
Corporate notes and loans
    460,730       26.6       213,655       13.4       248,410       14.0  
Foreign corporate bonds
    70,993       4.1       29,150       1.8       32,107       1.8  
Other bonds
                21,283       1.3       29,248       1.7  
                                                 
Total fixed maturities
    1,471,572       84.9       1,204,974       75.3       1,370,566       77.6  
Equity securities
    65,656       3.8       55,278       3.5       85,677       4.9  
Other investments
    7,999       0.5       46,672       2.9       64,539       3.7  
                                                 
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents(2)
  $ 1,731,314       100.0 %   $ 1,599,528       100.0 %   $ 1,765,103       100.0 %
                                                 


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(1) Includes collateralized mortgage obligations of $21,959, $34,395, and $50,210 for 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
 
(2) Does not include payable for securities purchased of $37,258 and $710 for 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Although we generally intend to hold fixed maturities to recovery and/or maturity, we regularly reevaluate our position based upon market conditions. As of December 31, 2009, our fixed maturities had a weighted average maturity of 8.69 years and a weighted average duration, including cash and short-term investments, of 2.5 years. Our financial statements reflect a net unrealized gain on fixed maturities available for sale as of December 31, 2009 of $48.5 million on a pre-tax basis.
 
The following table shows the average amount of fixed maturities, income earned on fixed maturities, and the book yield thereon for the periods indicated:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Average fixed maturities at book value
  $ 1,307,718     $ 1,275,700     $ 1,311,033  
Gross income on fixed maturities(1)
    62,099       63,268       65,908  
Book yield
    4.75 %     4.96 %     5.03 %
 
 
(1) Represents income earned by fixed maturities, gross of investment expenses and excluding realized gains and losses.
 
We expect that default rates on collateralized commercial real estate obligations and asset-backed securities may continue to rise. To protect ourselves against this, we have structured our portfolio to reduce the risk of default. Of the $364.0 million of residential mortgage-backed securities, $342.0 million is invested in U.S. agency paper and $22.0 million is invested in collateralized mortgage obligations, of which $20.0 million, or 91.1%, are rated AAA. Of the $114.2 million in asset-backed securities, 87.1% are rated AAA. The weighted average credit enhancement for our asset-backed securities is 20.8. In addition, in order to minimize the risk of commercial mortgage backed securities (“CMBS”) defaults due to falling commercial property values, we sold all of our CMBS in the fourth quarter of 2009 and currently do not have any direct exposure to this sector. We also face liquidity risk. Liquidity risk is when the fair value of an investment is not able to be realized due to lack of interest by outside parties in the marketplace. We attempt to diversify our investment holdings to minimize this risk. Our investment managers run periodic analysis of liquidity costs to the fixed income portfolio. We also face credit risk. 90.6% of our bonds are investment grade securities. 50.4% of our bonds are rated AAA. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Item 7A of Part II of this report for a more detailed discussion of the credit market and our investment strategy.


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The following table summarizes, by Standard & Poor’s rating classifications, the estimated fair value of United America Indemnity’s investments in fixed maturities, as of December 31, 2009 and 2008:
 
                                 
    December 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    Estimated
    Percent
    Estimated
    Percent
 
    Fair Value     of Total     Fair Value     of Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
AAA
  $ 740,658       50.4 %   $ 812,659       67.4 %
AA
    231,403       15.7       139,906       11.6  
A
    299,703       20.4       197,345       16.4  
BBB
    60,439       4.1       48,388       4.0  
BB
    47,816       3.2       3,696       0.3  
B
    78,212       5.3              
CCC
    5,856       0.4              
C
                299       0.1  
Not rated
    7,485       0.5       2,681       0.2  
                                 
Total fixed maturities
  $ 1,471,572       100.0 %   $ 1,204,974       100.0 %
                                 
 
The following table sets forth the expected maturity distribution of United America Indemnity’s fixed maturities portfolio at their estimated market value as of December 31, 2009 and 2008:
 
                                 
    December 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    Estimated
    Percent of
    Estimated
    Percent of
 
    Market Value     Total     Market Value     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
One year or less
  $ 59,587       4.0 %   $ 49,303       4.1 %
More than one year to five years
    718,081       48.8       287,273       23.8  
More than five years to ten years
    149,785       10.2       202,482       16.8  
More than ten years to fifteen years
    26,679       1.8       73,108       6.1  
More than fifteen years
    39,277       2.7       47,729       4.0  
                                 
Securities with fixed maturities
    993,409       67.5       659,895       54.8  
Mortgaged-backed securities
    364,000       24.7       384,069       31.9  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
                144,457       12.0  
Asset-backed securities
    114,163       7.8       16,553       1.4  
                                 
Total fixed maturities
  $ 1,471,572       100.0 %   $ 1,204,974       100.0 %
                                 
 
The expected weighted average duration of our asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities is 2.5 years.
 
The value of our portfolio of bonds is inversely correlated to changes in market interest rates. In addition, some of our bonds have call or prepayment options. This could subject us to reinvestment risk should interest rates fall and issuers call their securities and we are forced to invest the proceeds at lower interest rates. We seek to mitigate our reinvestment risk by investing in securities with varied maturity dates, so that only a portion of the portfolio will mature, be called, or be prepaid at any point in time.
 
Our investments in corporate loans were valued at $138.9 million at December 31, 2009. Corporate loans, a new investment vehicle in 2009, sometimes also referred to as leveraged loans, are primarily investments in senior secured floating rate loans that banks have made to corporations. The loans are generally priced at an interest rate spread over LIBOR that resets every 60 to 90 days. As a result, this asset class provides protection against rising interest rates. However, this asset class is subject to default risk since these investments are typically below investment grade. To mitigate this risk, our investment managers perform an in-depth structural analysis. As part of this analysis, they focus on the strength of any security granted to the lenders, the position of the loan in the company’s capital structure and the appropriate covenant protection. In addition, as part of our risk control, our investment managers maintain appropriate portfolio diversification by limiting issuer and industry exposure.


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As of December 31, 2009, we had aggregate equity securities of $65.6 million that consisted of $63.0 million in common stocks and $2.6 million in preferred stocks.
 
Our investments in other invested assets are comprised primarily of limited liability partnerships, and were valued at $8.0 million at December 31, 2009. Of this amount, $6.9 million was comprised of securities for which there is no readily available independent market price, and the remaining $1.1 million was related to a limited partnership which holds convertible preferred securities of a privately held company. These securities are subject to an appraisal action in Delaware State Court. Until the appraisal action is resolved, our ownership interest in this limited partnership is wholly illiquid. The estimated fair value of these limited partnerships is determined by the general partner of each limited partnership based on comparisons to transactions involving similar investments. Material assumptions and factors utilized in pricing these securities include future cash flows, constant default rates, recovery rates, and any market clearing activity that may have occurred since the prior month-end pricing period. We obtain the value of the partnerships at the end of each reporting period; however, we are not provided with a detailed listing of the investments held by these partnerships. We receive annual audited financial statements from each of the partnerships we own.
 
Realized gains and (losses), including other than temporary impairments, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 were $15.9 million, $(50.3) million, and $1.0 million, respectively.
 
Competition
 
We compete with numerous domestic and international insurance companies and reinsurers, mutual companies, specialty insurance companies, underwriting agencies, diversified financial services companies, Lloyd’s syndicates, risk retention groups, insurance buying groups, risk securitization products and alternative self-insurance mechanisms. In particular, we compete against insurance subsidiaries of the groups in the specialty insurance market noted below, insurance companies, and others:
 
  •  American International Group;
 
  •  Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.;
 
  •  Berkshire Hathaway;
 
  •  Everest Re Group, Ltd.;
 
  •  Great American Insurance Group;
 
  •  HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.;
 
  •  IFG Companies;
 
  •  JRG Reinsurance Company, Ltd.;
 
  •  Maiden Holdings, Ltd.;
 
  •  Markel Corporation;
 
  •  Max Capital Group, Ltd.;
 
  •  Nationwide Insurance;
 
  •  Navigators Insurance Group;
 
  •  RLI Corporation;
 
  •  Torus Insurance Holdings, Ltd.;
 
  •  W.R. Berkley Corporation;
 
  •  Western World Insurance Group.


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In addition to the companies mentioned above, we are facing competition from standard line companies who are continuing to write risks that traditionally had been written by excess and surplus lines carriers, Bermuda companies who are establishing relationships with wholesale brokers, and other excess and surplus competitors.
 
Competition may also take the form of lower prices, broader coverages, greater product flexibility, higher quality services, reputation and financial strength or higher ratings by independent rating agencies. In all of our markets, we compete by developing insurance products to satisfy well-defined market needs and by maintaining relationships with brokers and insureds that rely on our expertise. For our program and specialty wholesale products, offering and underwriting products that are not readily available is our principal means of differentiating ourselves from our competition. Each of our products has its own distinct competitive environment. We seek to compete through innovative products, appropriate pricing, niche underwriting expertise, and quality service to policyholders, general agencies and brokers.
 
A number of recent, proposed, or potential legislative or marketplace developments could further increase competition in our industry. These developments include an influx of new capital that resulted from the formation of new insurers in the marketplace and existing companies that have attempted to expand their business as a result of better pricing or terms, legislative mandates for insurers to provide certain types of coverage in areas where existing insurers do business which could eliminate the opportunities to write those coverages, and proposed federal legislation which would establish national standards for state insurance regulation.
 
These developments are making the property and casualty insurance marketplace more competitive by increasing the supply of insurance capacity.
 
Employees
 
We have approximately 390 employees, most of whom are located at our Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania office. This includes two individuals who operate out of our Bermuda office and 67 individuals who operate out of our field offices that are located in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, and Texas. In addition, we have contracts with international insurance service providers based in Bermuda to provide services to our Reinsurance Operations.
 
Our Bermuda employees are either permanent residents of Bermuda who possess Bermuda status or are considered residents by the applicable employment visas issued by the Bermuda immigration authorities.
 
None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and our management believes that our relationship with our employees is excellent.
 
Ratings
 
A.M. Best ratings for the industry range from “A++” (Superior) to “F” (In Liquidation) with some companies not being rated. The United National Insurance Companies, Penn-America Insurance Companies, and Wind River Reinsurance are currently rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, the third highest of sixteen rating categories.
 
Publications of A.M. Best indicate that “A” (Excellent) ratings are assigned to those companies that, in A.M. Best’s opinion, have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. In evaluating a company’s financial and operating performance, A.M. Best reviews its profitability, leverage and liquidity, as well as its spread of risk, the quality and appropriateness of its reinsurance, the quality and diversification of its assets, the adequacy of its policy and loss reserves, the adequacy of its surplus, its capital structure and the experience and objectives of its management. These ratings are based on factors relevant to policyholders, general agencies, insurance brokers and intermediaries and are not directed to the protection of investors.
 
Regulation
 
General
 
The business of insurance is regulated in most countries, although the degree and type of regulation varies significantly from one jurisdiction to another. In Bermuda, we operate under a relatively less intensive regulatory


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framework than exists in the United States, where we are subject to extensive regulation, primarily by the various State departments of insurance.
 
As a holding company, United America Indemnity is not subject to any insurance regulation by any authority in the Cayman Islands.
 
U.S. Regulation
 
We have seven operating insurance subsidiaries domiciled in the United States; United National Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company, and Penn-Star Insurance Company, which are domiciled in Pennsylvania; Diamond State Insurance Company and United National Casualty Insurance Company, which are domiciled in Indiana; United National Specialty Insurance Company, which is domiciled in Wisconsin; and Penn-Patriot Insurance Company, which is domiciled in Virginia. We refer to these companies collectively as our U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries.
 
As the indirect parent of the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries, we are subject to the insurance holding company laws of Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. These laws generally require each company of our U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries to register with its respective domestic state insurance department and to furnish annually financial and other information about the operations of the companies within our insurance holding company system. Generally, all material transactions among affiliated companies in the holding company system to which any of the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries is a party must be fair, and, if material or of a specified category, require prior notice and approval or absence of disapproval by the insurance department where the subsidiary is domiciled. Material transactions include sales, loans, reinsurance agreements, and service agreements with the non-insurance companies within our family of companies, our Insurance Operations, or our Reinsurance Operations.
 
Changes of Control
 
Before a person can acquire control of a U.S. insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commissioner of the state where the domestic insurer is domiciled. Prior to granting approval of an application to acquire control of a domestic insurer, the state insurance commissioner will consider factors such as the financial strength of the applicant, the integrity and management of the applicant’s Board of Directors and executive officers, the acquirer’s plans for the management, Board of Directors and executive officers of the company being acquired, the acquirer’s plans for the future operations of the domestic insurer and any anti-competitive results that may arise from the consummation of the acquisition of control. Generally, state statutes provide that control over a domestic insurer is presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing, 10% or more of the voting securities of the domestic insurer. Because a person acquiring 10% or more of our common shares would indirectly control the same percentage of the stock of the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries, the insurance change of control laws of Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin would likely apply to such a transaction. While our articles of association limit the voting power of any U.S. shareholder to less than 9.5%, there can be no assurance that the applicable state insurance regulator would agree that such shareholder did not control the applicable Insurance Operations company.
 
These laws may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or prevent a change of control of United America Indemnity, including through transactions, and in particular unsolicited transactions, that some or all of the shareholders of United America Indemnity might consider desirable.
 
Notice must also be provided to the IID after a person acquires 10% or more of the voting securities of Wind River Reinsurance. Failure to do so may cause Wind River Reinsurance to be removed from the IID listing. In the event of a change in control and/or merger of Wind River Reinsurance, a complete application must be filed with the IID, including all documents that are necessary for the IID to determine if Wind River Reinsurance continues to be in compliance for listing with the IID. The IID may determine after a change in control and/or merger that Wind River Reinsurance is not in compliance and may remove it from continued listing.


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State Insurance Regulation
 
State insurance authorities have broad regulatory powers with respect to various aspects of the business of U.S. insurance companies, including but not limited to licensing companies to transact admitted business or determining eligibility to write surplus lines business, accreditation of reinsurers, admittance of assets to statutory surplus, regulating unfair trade and claims practices, establishing reserve requirements and solvency standards, regulating investments and dividends, approving policy forms and related materials in certain instances and approving premium rates in certain instances. State insurance laws and regulations may require the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries to file financial statements with insurance departments everywhere they will be licensed or eligible or accredited to conduct insurance business, and their operations are subject to review by those departments at any time. The U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting principles, or “SAP,” and procedures prescribed or permitted by these departments. State insurance departments also conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years, although market conduct examinations may take place at any time. These examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the NAIC. In addition, admitted insurers are subject to targeted market conduct examinations involving specific insurers by state insurance regulators in any state in which the insurer is admitted. The insurance departments for the states of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Virginia completed their financial examinations of our U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries for the periods ended December 31, 2007. Their final reports were issued in 2009, and there were no materially adverse findings.
 
Insurance Regulatory Information System Ratios
 
The NAIC Insurance Regulatory Information System, or “IRIS,” was developed by a committee of the state insurance regulators and is intended primarily to assist state insurance departments in executing their statutory mandates to oversee the financial condition of insurance companies operating in their respective states. IRIS identifies twelve industry ratios and specifies “usual values” for each ratio. Departure from the usual values of the ratios can lead to inquiries from individual state insurance commissioners as to certain aspects of an insurer’s business. Insurers that report four or more ratios that fall outside the range of usual values are generally targeted for increased regulatory review.
 
The following summarizes the 2009 IRIS ratio results for our insurance companies in our Insurance Operations:
 
  •  Except for United National Insurance Company, our insurance companies had an unusual value for the change in net written premiums resulting from the decline in gross written premiums during 2009 and the result of an unearned premium transfer within the group.
 
  •  Penn-America Insurance Company and United National Insurance Company had an unusual value for investment yield. The investment yield for each company exceeded the high end of the range due to dividend income received from its wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries.
 
  •  Diamond State Insurance Company had an unusual value for a liquidity ratio, equal to the ratio of liabilities, adjusted for deferred agents’ balances, to liquid assets. The unusual value results from a high concentration of investments in wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries which are excluded from the value of liquid assets. Diamond State Insurance Company is a participant in a pooling arrangement with our other U.S. insurance subsidiaries and has proportional surplus to meet its share of current and long-term obligations.
 
We do not believe that the above departures from the usual values will subject us to further regulatory review.
 
Risk-Based Capital Regulations
 
The state insurance departments of Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin require that each domestic insurer report its risk-based capital based on a formula calculated by applying factors to various asset, premium and reserve items. The formula takes into account the risk characteristics of the insurer, including asset risk, insurance risk, interest rate risk and business risk. The respective state insurance regulators use the formula as an early warning regulatory tool to identify possible inadequately capitalized insurers for purposes of initiating regulatory


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action, and generally not as a means to rank insurers. State insurance laws impose broad confidentiality requirements on those engaged in the insurance business (including insurers, general agencies, brokers and others) and on state insurance departments as to the use and publication of risk-based capital data. The respective state insurance regulators have explicit regulatory authority to require various actions by, or to take various actions against, insurers whose total adjusted capital does not exceed certain company action level risk-based capital levels.
 
Based on the standards currently adopted, we reported in our 2009 statutory filings that the capital and surplus of our U.S. Insurance Companies are above the prescribed Company Action Level Risk-based Capital requirements.
 
Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”)
 
SAP is a basis of accounting developed to assist insurance regulators in monitoring and regulating the solvency of insurance companies. SAP is primarily concerned with measuring an insurer’s surplus. Accordingly, statutory accounting focuses on valuing assets and liabilities of insurers at financial reporting dates in accordance with appropriate insurance laws, regulatory provisions, and practices prescribed or permitted by each insurer’s domiciliary state.
 
GAAP is concerned with a company’s solvency, but it is also concerned with other financial measurements, such as income and cash flows. Accordingly, GAAP gives more consideration to appropriate matching of revenue and expenses. As a direct result, different line item groupings of assets and liabilities and different amounts of assets and liabilities are reflected in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP than financial statements prepared in accordance with SAP.
 
Statutory accounting practices established by the NAIC and adopted in part by the Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin regulators determine, among other things, the amount of statutory surplus and statutory net income of the United National Insurance Companies and Penn-America Insurance Companies and thus determine, in part, the amount of funds these subsidiaries have available to pay dividends.
 
State Dividend Limitations
 
Under Indiana law, Diamond State Insurance Company and United National Casualty Insurance Company may not pay any dividend or make any distribution of cash or other property, the fair market value of which, together with that of any other dividends or distributions made within the 12 consecutive months ending on the date on which the proposed dividend or distribution is scheduled to be made, exceeds the greater of (1) 10% of its surplus as of the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, or (2) its net income for the 12 month period ending on the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, unless the commissioner approves the proposed payment or fails to disapprove such payment within 30 days after receiving notice of such payment. An additional limitation is that Indiana does not permit a domestic insurer to declare or pay a dividend except out of earned surplus unless otherwise approved by the commissioner before the dividend is paid. See Note 16 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the dividends declared and paid by the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies in 2009.
 
Under Pennsylvania law, United National Insurance Company, Penn-America Insurance Company, and Penn-Star Insurance Company may not pay any dividend or make any distribution that, together with other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 consecutive months, exceeds the greater of (1) 10% of its surplus as shown on its last annual statement on file with the commissioner or (2) its net income for the period covered by such statement, not including pro rata distributions of any class of its own securities, unless the commissioner has received notice from the insurer of the declaration of the dividend and the commissioner approves the proposed payment or fails to disapprove such payment within 30 days after receiving notice of such payment. An additional limitation is that Pennsylvania does not permit a domestic insurer to declare or pay a dividend except out of unassigned funds (surplus) unless otherwise approved by the commissioner before the dividend is paid. Furthermore, no dividend or other distribution may be declared or paid by a Pennsylvania insurance company that would reduce its total capital and surplus to an amount that is less than the amount required by the Insurance Department for the kind or kinds of business that it is authorized to transact.


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Under Virginia law, Penn-Patriot Insurance Company may not pay any dividend or make any distribution of cash or other property, the fair market value of which, together with that of any other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 consecutive months exceeds the lesser of either (1) 10% of its surplus as of the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, or (2) its net income, not including net realized capital gains, for the 12 month period ending on the 31st day of December of the last preceding year, not including pro rata distributions of any class of its securities, unless the commissioner approves the proposed payment or fails to disapprove such payment within 30 days after receiving notice of such payment. In determining whether the dividend must be approved, undistributed net income from the second and third preceding years, not including net realized capital gains, may be carried forward.
 
Under Wisconsin law, United National Specialty Insurance Company may not pay any dividend or make any distribution of cash or other property, other than a proportional distribution of its stock, the fair market value of which, together with that of other dividends paid or credited and distributions made within the preceding 12 months, exceeds the lesser of (1) 10% of its surplus as of the preceding 31st day of December, or (2) the greater of (a) its net income for the calendar year preceding the date of the dividend or distribution, minus realized capital gains for that calendar year or (b) the aggregate of its net income for the three calendar years preceding the date of the dividend or distribution, minus realized capital gains for those calendar years and minus dividends paid or credited and distributions made within the first two of the preceding three calendar years, unless it reports the extraordinary dividend to the commissioner at least 30 days before payment and the commissioner does not disapprove the extraordinary dividend within that period. Additionally, under Wisconsin law, all authorizations of distributions to shareholders, other than stock dividends, shall be reported to the commissioner in writing and no payment may be made until at least 30 days after such report.
 
The dividend limitations imposed by the state laws are based on the statutory financial results of each company within our Insurance Operations that are determined by using statutory accounting practices that differ in various respects from accounting principles used in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP. See “Regulation — Statutory Accounting Principles.” Key differences relate to among other items, deferred acquisition costs, limitations on deferred income taxes, and reserve calculation assumptions and surplus notes.
 
See Note 16 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the dividends declared and paid by the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies in 2009 and the maximum amount of distributions that they could pay as dividends in 2010.
 
Guaranty Associations and Similar Arrangements
 
Most of the jurisdictions in which our U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries are admitted to transact business require property and casualty insurers doing business within that jurisdiction to participate in guaranty associations. These organizations are organized to pay contractual benefits owed pursuant to insurance policies issued by impaired, insolvent or failed insurers. These associations levy assessments, up to prescribed limits, on all member insurers in a particular state on the basis of the proportionate share of the premiums written by member insurers in the lines of business in which the impaired, insolvent, or failed insurer is engaged. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets or in limited circumstances by surcharging policyholders.
 
Operations of Wind River Reinsurance
 
The insurance laws of each of the United States and of many other countries regulate or prohibit the sale of insurance and reinsurance within their jurisdictions by non-U.S. insurers and reinsurers that are not admitted to do business within such jurisdictions. Wind River Reinsurance is not admitted to do business in the United States. We do not intend for Wind River Reinsurance to maintain offices or solicit, advertise, settle claims or conduct other insurance and reinsurance underwriting activities in any jurisdiction in the United States where the conduct of such activities would require that Wind River Reinsurance be admitted or authorized.
 
As a reinsurer that is not licensed, accredited, or approved in any state in the United States, Wind River Reinsurance is required to post collateral security with respect to the reinsurance liabilities it assumes from our Insurance Operations as well as other U.S. ceding companies. The posting of collateral security is generally


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required in order for U.S. ceding companies to obtain credit on their U.S. statutory financial statements with respect to reinsurance liabilities ceded to unlicensed or unaccredited reinsurers. Under applicable United States “credit for reinsurance” statutory provisions, the security arrangements generally may be in the form of letters of credit, reinsurance trusts maintained by third-party trustees or funds-withheld arrangements whereby the ceded premium is held by the ceding company. If “credit for reinsurance” laws or regulations are made more stringent in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin or other applicable states or any of the Insurance Operations redomesticates to one of the few states that do not allow credit for reinsurance ceded to non-licensed reinsurers, we may be unable to realize some of the benefits we expect from our business plan. Accordingly, our Reinsurance Operations could be adversely affected. Even though Wind River Reinsurance does not currently offer third party excess and surplus lines insurance products, it maintains a U.S. surplus lines trust fund with a U.S. bank to secure its U.S. surplus lines policyholders. The amount held in trust at December 31, 2009 was $6.2 million. Outstanding reserves at December 31, 2009 were $0.1 million. The current minimum amount that Wind River Reinsurance needs to maintain in the trust fund is $5.4 million. In subsequent years, if Wind River Reinsurance were to write third party excess and surplus lines insurance, it would need to maintain in the trust fund an amount equal to 30% of any amount up to the first $200.0 million plus further graduated amounts of its U.S. surplus lines liabilities, as at each year end, as certified by an actuary, but subject to a current maximum of $100.0 million. The trust fund is irrevocable and must remain in force for a period of five years from the date of written notice to the trustee of the termination of the trust unless the liabilities with respect to all risks covered by the trust fund have been transferred to an insurer licensed to do business in all states where insurance is in force.
 
Apart from the financial and related filings required to maintain Wind River Reinsurance’s place on the IID’s Non-Admitted Insurers Quarterly Listing and its jurisdiction-specific approvals and eligibilities, Wind River Reinsurance generally is not subject to regulation by U.S. jurisdictions. Specifically, rate and form regulations otherwise applicable to authorized insurers generally do not apply to Wind River Reinsurance’s surplus lines transactions.
 
Bermuda Insurance Regulation
 
The Bermuda Insurance Act 1978 and related regulations, as amended (the “Insurance Act”), regulates the insurance business of Wind River Reinsurance and provides that no person may carry on any insurance business in or from within Bermuda unless registered as an insurer by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the “BMA”) under the Insurance Act. Wind River Reinsurance has been registered as a Class 3B insurer by the BMA. A body corporate is registrable as a Class 3B insurer if it intends to carry on insurance business in circumstances where 50% or more of the net premiums written or 50% or more of the loss and loss expense provisions represent unrelated business, or its total net premiums written from unrelated business are $50.0 million or more. The continued registration of an applicant as an insurer is subject to it complying with the terms of its registration and such other conditions as the BMA may impose from time to time.
 
The Insurance Act also imposes on Bermuda insurance companies solvency and liquidity standards and auditing and reporting requirements. Certain significant aspects of the Bermuda insurance regulatory framework are set forth below.
 
Classification of Insurers
 
Wind River Reinsurance, which is incorporated to carry on general insurance and reinsurance business, is registered as a Class 3B insurer in Bermuda.
 
Cancellation of Insurer’s Registration
 
An insurer’s registration may be canceled by the Supervisor of Insurance of the BMA on certain grounds specified in the Insurance Act, including failure of the insurer to comply with its obligations under the Insurance Act.


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Principal Representative
 
An insurer is required to maintain a principal office in Bermuda and to appoint and maintain a principal representative in Bermuda. Wind River Reinsurance’s principal office is its executive offices in Hamilton, Bermuda, and Wind River Reinsurance’s principal representative is its Chief Executive Officer.
 
Independent Approved Auditor
 
Every registered insurer, such as Wind River Reinsurance, must appoint an independent auditor who will audit and report annually on the statutory financial statements and the statutory financial return of the insurer, both of which are required to be filed annually with the BMA.
 
Loss Reserve Specialist
 
As a registered Class 3B insurer, Wind River Reinsurance is required to submit an opinion of its approved loss reserve specialist in respect of its losses and loss expense provisions with its statutory financial return.
 
Statutory Financial Statements
 
Wind River Reinsurance must prepare annual statutory financial statements. The Insurance Act prescribes rules for the preparation and substance of these statutory financial statements (which include, in statutory form, a balance sheet, an income statement, a statement of capital and surplus and notes thereto). Wind River Reinsurance is required to give detailed information and analyses regarding premiums, claims, reinsurance, and investments. The statutory financial statements are not prepared in accordance with GAAP or SAP and are distinct from the financial statements prepared for presentation to Wind River Reinsurance’s shareholders and under the Bermuda Companies Act 1981 (the “Companies Act”), which financial statements will be prepared in accordance with GAAP.
 
Annual Statutory Financial Return
 
Wind River Reinsurance is required to file with the BMA a statutory financial return no later than four months after its financial year end (unless specifically extended upon application to the BMA). The statutory financial return for a Class 3B insurer includes, among other matters, a report of the approved independent auditor on the statutory financial statements of the insurer, solvency certificates, the statutory financial statements, a declaration of statutory ratios and the opinion of the loss reserve specialist.
 
Minimum Margin of Solvency and Restrictions on Dividends and Distributions
 
The Insurance Act provides a minimum margin of solvency for Class 3B general business insurers, such as Wind River Reinsurance. A Class 3B insurer engaged in general business is required to maintain the amount by which the value of its assets exceed its liabilities at the greater of: (1) $1.0 million; (2) where net premiums written exceed $6.0 million: $1.2 million plus 15% of the excess over $6.0 million; or (3) 15% of loss and loss expenses provisions plus other insurance reserves, as such terms are defined in the Insurance Act.
 
Additionally, under the Companies Act, Wind River Reinsurance may only declare or pay a dividend if Wind River Reinsurance has no reasonable grounds for believing that it is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or if the realizable value of its assets would not be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts.
 
Minimum Liquidity Ratio
 
The Insurance Act provides a minimum liquidity ratio for general business insurers, such as Wind River Reinsurance. An insurer engaged in general business is required to maintain the value of its relevant assets at not less than 75% of the amount of its relevant liabilities, as such terms are defined in the Insurance Act.


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Restrictions on Dividends and Distributions
 
Wind River Reinsurance is prohibited from declaring or paying any dividends during any financial year if it is in breach of its minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio or if the declaration or payment of such dividends would cause it to fail to meet such margin or ratio. In addition, if it has failed to meet its minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio on the last day of any financial year, Wind River Reinsurance will be prohibited, without the approval of the BMA, from declaring or paying any dividends during the next financial year.
 
Wind River Reinsurance is prohibited, without the approval of the BMA, from reducing by 15% or more its total statutory capital as set out in its previous year’s financial statements, and any application for such approval must include such information as the BMA may require. In addition, at any time it fails to meet its minimum margin of solvency, Wind River Reinsurance is required within 30 days after becoming aware of such failure or having reason to believe that such failure has occurred, to file with the BMA a written report containing certain information.
 
Additionally, under the Companies Act, Wind River Reinsurance may not declare or pay a dividend, or make a distribution from contributed surplus, if there are reasonable grounds for believing that it is, or would after the payment, be unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or if the realizable value of its assets would be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts.
 
Supervision, Investigation and Intervention
 
The BMA has wide powers of investigation and document production in relation to Bermuda insurers under the Insurance Act. For example, the BMA may appoint an inspector with extensive powers to investigate the affairs of Wind River Reinsurance if the BMA believes that such an investigation is in the best interests of its policyholders or persons who may become policyholders.
 
Disclosure of Information
 
The BMA may assist other regulatory authorities, including foreign insurance regulatory authorities, with their investigations involving insurance and reinsurance companies in Bermuda, but subject to restrictions. For example, the BMA must be satisfied that the assistance being requested is in connection with the discharge of regulatory responsibilities of the foreign regulatory authority. Further, the BMA must consider whether cooperation is in the public interest. The grounds for disclosure are limited and the Insurance Act provides sanctions for breach of the statutory duty of confidentiality.
 
Under the Companies Act, the Minister of Finance may assist a foreign regulatory authority that has requested assistance in connection with inquiries being carried out by it in the performance of its regulatory functions. The Minster of Finance’s powers include requiring a person to furnish information to the Minister of Finance, to produce documents to the Minister of Finance, to attend and answer questions and to give assistance to the Minister of Finance in relation to inquiries. The Minister of Finance must be satisfied that the assistance requested by the foreign regulatory authority is for the purpose of its regulatory functions and that the request is in relation to information in Bermuda that a person has in his possession or under his control. The Minister of Finance must consider, among other things, whether it is in the public interest to give the information sought.
 
Certain Other Bermuda Law Considerations
 
Although Wind River Reinsurance is incorporated in Bermuda, it is classified as a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes by the BMA. Pursuant to the non-resident status, Wind River Reinsurance may engage in transactions in currencies other than Bermuda dollars, and there are no restrictions on its ability to transfer funds (other than funds denominated in Bermuda dollars) in and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to United States residents that are holders of its common shares.
 
Under Bermuda law, exempted companies are companies formed for the purpose of conducting business outside Bermuda from a principal place of business in Bermuda. As an “exempted” company, Wind River Reinsurance may not, without the express authorization of the Bermuda legislature or under a license or consent granted by the Minister of Finance, participate in certain business transactions, including transactions involving Bermuda landholding rights and the carrying on of business of any kind for which it is not licensed in Bermuda.


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Taxation of United America Indemnity and Subsidiaries
 
Cayman Islands
 
Under current Cayman Islands law, we are not required to pay any taxes in the Cayman Islands on our income or capital gains. We have received an undertaking that, in the event of any taxes being imposed, we will be exempted from taxation in the Cayman Islands until the year 2023. We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company and, as such, we obtained an undertaking on September 2, 2003 from the Governor in Council of the Cayman Islands substantially that, for a period of 20 years from the date of such undertaking, no law that is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profit or income or gains or appreciation shall apply to us and no such tax and no tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be payable, either directly or by way of withholding, on our common shares. Given the limited duration of the undertaking, we cannot be certain that we will not be subject to Cayman Islands tax after the expiration of the 20-year period.
 
Bermuda
 
Under current Bermuda law, we and our Bermuda subsidiaries are not required to pay any taxes in Bermuda on our income or capital gains. We have received an undertaking from Bermuda that, in the event of any taxes being imposed, we will be exempt from taxation until March 2016. Currently, there is no Bermuda income, corporation or profits tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, capital transfer tax, estate duty or inheritance tax payable by Wind River Reinsurance or its shareholders, other than shareholders ordinarily resident in Bermuda, if any. Currently, there is no Bermuda withholding or other tax on principal, interest, or dividends paid to holders of the common shares of Wind River Reinsurance, other than holders ordinarily resident in Bermuda, if any. There can be no assurance that Wind River Reinsurance or its shareholders will not be subject to any such tax in the future.
 
We have received a written assurance from the Bermuda Minister of Finance under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966 of Bermuda, that if any legislation is enacted in Bermuda that would impose tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then the imposition of that tax would not be applicable to Wind River Reinsurance or to any of its operations, shares, debentures or obligations through March 28, 2016; provided that such assurance is subject to the condition that it will not be construed to prevent the application of such tax to people ordinarily resident in Bermuda, or to prevent the application of any taxes payable by Wind River Reinsurance in respect of real property or leasehold interests in Bermuda held by them. Given the limited duration of the assurance, we cannot be certain that we will not be subject to any Bermuda tax after March 28, 2016.
 
Luxembourg
 
The Luxembourg Companies are all private limited liability companies, incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg Companies are all taxable companies, which may carry out any activities that fall within the scope of their corporate object clause. The Luxembourg Companies are resident taxpayers fully subject to Luxembourg corporate income tax at a rate of 28.59% and net worth tax at a rate of 0.5%. The Luxembourg Companies are entitled to benefits of the tax treaties concluded between Luxembourg and other countries and European Union Directives.
 
Profit distributions (not in respect to liquidations) by the Luxembourg Companies are generally subject to Luxembourg dividend withholding tax at a rate of 15% in 2008, unless a domestic law exemption or a lower tax treaty rate applies. There is no Luxembourg dividend withholding tax in 2008. Dividends paid by any of the Luxembourg Companies to their Luxembourg resident parent company are exempt from Luxembourg dividend withholding tax, provided that at the time of the dividend distribution, the resident parent company has held (or commits itself to continue to hold) 10% or more of the nominal paid up capital of the distributing entity or, in the event of a lower percentage participation, a participation having an acquisition price of Euro 1.2 million or more for a period of at least 12 months.
 
The Luxembourg Companies have obtained a confirmation from the Luxembourg Administration des Contributions Directes (“Luxembourg Tax Administration”) that the current financing activities of the Luxembourg Companies under the application of at arm’s length principles will not lead to any material taxation in Luxembourg.


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The confirmation from the Luxembourg Tax Administration covers the current financing operations of the Luxembourg Companies through September 15, 2018. Given the limited duration of the confirmation and the possibility of a change in the relevant tax laws or the administrative policy of the Luxembourg Tax Administration, we cannot be certain that we will not be subject to greater Luxembourg taxes in the future.
 
Ireland
 
U.A.I. (Ireland) Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, is a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Ireland. The company is a resident taxpayer fully subject to Ireland corporate income tax of 12.5% on trading income and 25.0% on non-trading income, including interest and dividends from foreign companies. Currently, U.A.I. (Ireland) Limited only has non-trading income, so it is subject to corporate income tax of 25.0%.
 
In February 2010, we announced that our Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan for us to re-domicile from the Cayman Islands to Ireland. (See “Recent Developments” above for details.) If the proposal is accepted, we will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Indemnity plc, a newly formed Irish company, which will be a resident taxpayer similar to U.A.I. (Ireland) Limited. It is anticipated that Global Indemnity plc will only have non-trading income, so it will be subject to corporate income tax of 25.0%.
 
United States
 
The following discussion is a summary of all material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to our operations. We manage our business in a manner designed to mitigate the risk that either United America Indemnity or Wind River Reinsurance will be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, whether business is being conducted in the United States is an inherently factual determination. Because the United States Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), regulations and court decisions fail to identify definitively activities that constitute being engaged in a trade or business in the United States, we cannot be certain that the IRS will not contend successfully that United America Indemnity or Wind River Reinsurance is or will be engaged in a trade or business in the United States. A non-U.S. corporation deemed to be so engaged would be subject to U.S. income tax at regular corporate rates, as well as the branch profits tax, on its income that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business unless the corporation is entitled to relief under the permanent establishment provision of an applicable tax treaty, as discussed below. Such income tax, if imposed, would be based on effectively connected income computed in a manner generally analogous to that applied to the income of a U.S. corporation, except that a non-U.S. corporation is generally entitled to deductions and credits only if it timely files a U.S. federal income tax return. Wind River Reinsurance is filing protective U.S. federal income tax returns on a timely basis in order to preserve the right to claim income tax deductions and credits if it is ever determined that it is subject to U.S. federal income tax. The highest marginal federal income tax rates currently are 35% for a corporation’s effectively connected income and 30% for the “branch profits” tax.
 
United America Indemnity Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation wholly owned by U.A.I. (Luxembourg) Investment S.à r.l. Under U.S. federal income tax law, dividends and interest paid by a U.S. corporation to a non-U.S. shareholder are generally subject to a 30% withholding tax, unless reduced by treaty. The income tax treaty between Luxembourg and the United States (the “Luxembourg Treaty”) reduces the rate of withholding tax on interest payments to 0% and on dividends to 15%, or 5% (if the shareholder owns 10% or more of the company’s voting stock).
 
If Wind River Reinsurance is entitled to the benefits under the income tax treaty between Bermuda and the United States (the “Bermuda Treaty”), Wind River Reinsurance would not be subject to U.S. income tax on any business profits of its insurance enterprise found to be effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, unless that trade or business is conducted through a permanent establishment in the United States. No regulations interpreting the Bermuda Treaty have been issued. Wind River Reinsurance currently conducts its activities to reduce the risk that it will have a permanent establishment in the United States, although we cannot be certain that we will achieve this result.
 
An insurance enterprise resident in Bermuda generally will be entitled to the benefits of the Bermuda Treaty if (1) more than 50% of its shares are owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by individual residents of the


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United States or Bermuda or U.S. citizens and (2) its income is not used in substantial part, directly or indirectly, to make disproportionate distributions to, or to meet certain liabilities to, persons who are neither residents of either the United States or Bermuda nor U.S. citizens. We cannot be certain that Wind River Reinsurance will be eligible for Bermuda Treaty benefits in the future because of factual and legal uncertainties regarding the residency and citizenship of our shareholders.
 
Foreign insurance companies carrying on an insurance business within the United States have a certain minimum amount of effectively connected net investment income, determined in accordance with a formula that depends, in part, on the amount of U.S. risk insured or reinsured by such companies. If Wind River Reinsurance is considered to be engaged in the conduct of an insurance business in the United States and it is not entitled to the benefits of the Bermuda Treaty in general (because it fails to satisfy one of the limitations on treaty benefits discussed above), the Code could subject a significant portion of Wind River Reinsurance’s investment income to U.S. income tax. In addition, while the Bermuda Treaty clearly applies to premium income, it is uncertain whether the Bermuda Treaty applies to other income such as investment income. If Wind River Reinsurance is considered engaged in the conduct of an insurance business in the United States and is entitled to the benefits of the Bermuda Treaty in general, but the Bermuda Treaty is interpreted to not apply to investment income, a significant portion of Wind River Reinsurance’s investment income could be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
 
Foreign corporations not engaged in a trade or business in the United States are subject to 30% U.S. income tax imposed by withholding on the gross amount of certain “fixed or determinable annual or periodic gains, profits and income” derived from sources within the United States (such as dividends and certain interest on investments), subject to exemption under the Code or reduction by applicable treaties. The Bermuda Treaty does not reduce the rate of tax in such circumstances. The United States also imposes an excise tax on insurance and reinsurance premiums paid to foreign insurers or reinsurers with respect to risks located in the United States. The rates of tax applicable to premiums paid to Wind River Reinsurance on such business are 4% for direct insurance premiums and 1% for reinsurance premiums.
 
Our U.S. Subsidiaries are each subject to taxation in the United States at regular corporate rates.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors
 
For purposes of this Risk Factors section, the use of “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to United America Indemnity.
 
The risks and uncertainties described below are those we believe to be material, but they are not the only ones we face. If any of the following risks, or other risks and uncertainties that we have not yet identified or that we currently consider not to be material, actually occur, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
 
Some of the statements regarding risk factors below and elsewhere in this report may include forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to us specifically and the insurance and reinsurance sectors in general, both as to underwriting and investment matters. Statements that include words such as “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “will” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the federal securities laws or otherwise. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in or additions to such forward-looking statements.
 
Risks Related to our Business
 
We Are Dependent on Our Senior Executives and the Loss of Any of These Executives or Our Inability to Attract and Retain Other Key Personnel Could Adversely Affect Our Business.
 
Our success substantially depends upon our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and upon the ability of our senior management and other key employees to implement our business strategy. We believe there are a limited number of available, qualified executives in the business lines in which we compete. The success of our


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initiatives and our future performance depend, in significant part, upon the continued service of our senior management team, including Larry A. Frakes, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas M. McGeehan, our Chief Financial Officer, Matthew B. Scott, President of Penn-America Group, J. Scott Reynolds, President of United National Group, David J. Myers, President of Diamond State Group, Troy W. Santora, President of Wind River Reinsurance Company, Limited, and Edward M. Rafter, Senior Vice President and Chief Information / Administrative Officer of the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies. Messrs. Frakes, McGeehan, Scott, Reynolds, Myers, and Rafter have employment agreements with us, although these agreements cannot assure us of the continued service of these individuals. We do not currently maintain key man life insurance policies with respect to any of our employees.
 
The future loss of any of the services of other members of our senior management team or the inability to attract and retain other talented personnel could impede the further implementation of our business strategy, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
If Actual Claims Payments Exceed Our Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses, Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations Could Be Adversely Affected.
 
Our success depends upon our ability to accurately assess the risks associated with the insurance and reinsurance policies that we write. We establish reserves on an undiscounted basis to cover our estimated liability for the payment of all losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred with respect to premiums earned on the insurance policies that we write. Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves are estimates of what we expect to be the ultimate cost of resolution and administration of claims under the insurance policies that we write. These estimates are based upon actuarial and statistical projections, our assessment of currently available data, as well as estimates and assumptions as to future trends in claims severity and frequency, judicial theories of liability and other factors. We continually refine our reserve estimates in an ongoing process as experience develops and claims are reported and settled. Our insurance subsidiaries obtain an annual statement of opinion from an independent actuarial firm on the reasonableness of these reserves.
 
Establishing an appropriate level of reserves is an inherently uncertain process. The following factors may have a substantial impact on our future actual losses and loss adjustment experience:
 
  •  claim and expense payments;
 
  •  severity of claims;
 
  •  legislative and judicial developments; and
 
  •  changes in economic conditions, including the effect of inflation.
 
For example, as industry practices and legal, judicial, social and other conditions change, unexpected and unintended exposures related to claims and coverage may emerge. Recent examples include claims relating to mold, asbestos and construction defects, as well as larger settlements and jury awards against professionals and corporate directors and officers. In addition, there is a growing trend of plaintiffs targeting property and casualty insurers in purported class action litigations relating to claims-handling, insurance sales practices and other practices. These exposures may either extend coverage beyond our underwriting intent or increase the frequency or severity of claims. As a result, such developments could cause our level of reserves to be inadequate.
 
Actual losses and loss adjustment expenses we incur under insurance policies that we write may be different from the amount of reserves we establish, and to the extent that actual losses and loss adjustment expenses exceed our expectations and the reserves reflected on our financial statements, we will be required to immediately reflect those changes by increasing our reserves. In addition, regulators could require that we increase our reserves if they determine that our reserves were understated in the past. When we increase reserves, our pre-tax income for the period in which we do so will decrease by a corresponding amount. In addition to having an effect on reserves and pre-tax income, increasing or “strengthening” reserves causes a reduction in our insurance companies’ surplus and could cause the rating of our insurance company subsidiaries to be downgraded or placed on credit watch. Such a downgrade could, in turn, adversely affect our ability to sell insurance policies.


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Catastrophic Events Can Have a Significant Impact on Our Financial and Operational Condition.
 
Results of operations of property and casualty insurers are subject to man-made and natural catastrophes. While there were no individual catastrophic events that generated significant losses for us in 2009, we have experienced, and expect to experience in the future, catastrophe losses. It is possible that a catastrophic event or a series of multiple catastrophic events could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. Our operating results could be negatively impacted if we experience losses from catastrophes that are in excess of the catastrophe reinsurance coverage of our Insurance Operations. In 2009, our Reinsurance Operations began to participate as a retrocessionaire on a global property catastrophe treaty. Our operating results could be negatively impacted if losses and expenses related to the property catastrophe treaty exceed premiums assumed from that treaty. Catastrophes include windstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, hail, severe winter weather, fires and may include terrorist events such as the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001. We cannot predict how severe a particular catastrophe may be until after it occurs. The extent of losses from catastrophes is a function of the total amount and type of losses incurred, the number of insureds affected, the frequency of the events and the severity of the particular catastrophe. Most catastrophes occur in small geographic areas. However, some catastrophes may produce significant damage in large, heavily populated areas.
 
A Decline in Rating for Any of Our Insurance or Reinsurance Subsidiaries Could Adversely Affect Our Position in the Insurance Market, Make It More Difficult To Market Our Insurance Products and Cause Our Premiums and Earnings To Decrease.
 
Ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position for insurance companies. A.M. Best ratings currently range from “A++” (Superior) to “F” (In Liquidation), with a total of 16 separate ratings categories. A.M. Best currently assigns the companies in our Insurance Operations and Reinsurance Operations a financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent), the third highest of their 16 rating categories. The objective of A.M. Best’s rating system is to provide potential policyholders an opinion of an insurer’s financial strength and its ability to meet ongoing obligations, including paying claims. In evaluating a company’s financial and operating performance, A.M. Best reviews its profitability, leverage and liquidity, its spread of risk, the quality and appropriateness of its reinsurance, the quality and diversification of its assets, the adequacy of its policy and loss reserves, the adequacy of its surplus, its capital structure, and the experience and objectives of its management. These ratings are based on factors relevant to policyholders, general agencies, insurance brokers, reinsurers, and intermediaries and are not directed to the protection of investors. These ratings are not an evaluation of, nor are they directed to, investors in our Class A common shares and are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold our Class A common shares. Publications of A.M. Best indicate that companies are assigned “A” (Excellent) ratings if, in A.M. Best’s opinion, they have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. These ratings are subject to periodic review by, and may be revised downward or revoked at the sole discretion of, A.M. Best.
 
If the rating of any of the companies in our Insurance Operations or Reinsurance Operations is reduced from its current level of “A” by A.M. Best, our competitive position in the insurance industry could suffer, and it could be more difficult for us to market our insurance products. A downgrade could result in a significant reduction in the number of insurance contracts we write and in a substantial loss of business, as such business could move to other competitors with higher ratings, thus causing premiums and earnings to decrease.
 
We Cannot Guarantee that Our Reinsurers Will Pay in a Timely Fashion, if At All, and as a Result, We Could Experience Losses.
 
We cede a portion of gross premiums written to third party reinsurers under reinsurance contracts. Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to us to the extent the risk is transferred, it does not relieve us of our liability to our policyholders. Upon payment of claims, we will bill our reinsurers for their share of such claims. Our reinsurers may not pay the reinsurance receivables that they owe to us or they may not pay such receivables on a timely basis. If our reinsurers fail to pay us or fail to pay us on a timely basis, our financial results would be adversely affected. Lack of reinsurer liquidity, perceived improper underwriting, or claim handling by us, and other factors could cause a reinsurer not to pay.


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As of December 31, 2009, we had $543.4 million of reinsurance receivables, and $378.1 million of collateral was held in trust to support our reinsurance receivables. Our reinsurance receivables, net of collateral held, were $165.3 million. We also had $11.1 million of prepaid reinsurance premiums, net of collateral held. As of December 31, 2009, our largest reinsurer represented approximately 44.7% of our reinsurance receivables, or $256.5 million, and our second largest reinsurer represented approximately 22.7% of our reinsurance receivables, or $130.1 million. As of December 31, 2009, we had collateral of $207.6 million and $123.3 million from our largest reinsurer and second largest reinsurer, respectively. See “Business — Reinsurance of Underwriting Risk” in Item 1 of Part I of this report.
 
Our Investment Performance May Suffer as a Result of Adverse Capital Market Developments or Other Factors, Which Would In Turn Adversely Affect Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
We derive a significant portion of our income from our invested assets. As a result, our operating results depend in part on the performance of our investment portfolio. For 2009, our income derived from invested assets, was $86.1 million, net of investment expenses, including net realized gains of $15.9 million. Of this amount, $5.6 million were other than temporary impairments. For 2008, our income derived from invested assets, was $17.6 million, net of investment expenses, including net realized losses of $50.3 million. Of this amount, $32.1 million were other than temporary impairments. Our operating results are subject to a variety of investment risks, including risks relating to general economic conditions, market volatility, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity risk and credit and default risk. The fair value of fixed income investments can fluctuate depending on changes in interest rates and the credit quality of underlying issuers. Generally, the fair market value of these investments has an inverse relationship with changes in interest rates, while net investment income earned by us from future investments in fixed maturities will generally increase or decrease with changes in interest rates. Additionally, with respect to certain of our investments, we are subject to pre-payment or reinvestment risk.
 
Credit tightening could negatively impact our future investment returns and limit the ability to invest in certain classes of investments. Credit tightening may cause opportunities that are marginally attractive to not be financed, which could cause a decrease in the number of bond issuances. If marginally attractive opportunities are financed, they may be at higher interest rates, which would cause credit risk of such opportunities to increase. If new debt supply is curtailed, it could cause interest rates on securities that are deemed to be credit-worthy to decline. Funds generated by operations, sales, and maturities will need to be invested. If we invest during a tight credit market, our investment returns could be lower than the returns we are currently realizing and/or we may have to invest in higher risk securities.
 
With respect to our longer-term liabilities, we strive to structure our investments in a manner that recognizes our liquidity needs for our future liabilities. In that regard, we attempt to correlate the maturity and duration of our investment portfolio to our liability for insurance reserves. However, if our liquidity needs or general and specific liability profile unexpectedly changes, we may not be successful in continuing to structure our investment portfolio in that manner. To the extent that we are unsuccessful in correlating our investment portfolio with our expected liabilities, we may be forced to liquidate our investments at times and prices that are not optimal, which could have a material adverse affect on the performance of our investment portfolio. We refer to this risk as liquidity risk, which is when the fair value of an investment is not able to be realized due to low demand by outside parties in the marketplace.
 
We are also subject to credit risk due to non-payment of principal or interest. Current market conditions increase the risk that companies may default on their credit obligations. Several classes of securities that we hold, including our corporate notes and loan securities, have default risk. As interest rates rise for companies that are deemed to be less creditworthy, there is a greater risk that they will be unable to pay contractual interest or principal on their debt obligations.
 
Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond our control. Although we attempt to take measures to manage the risks of investing in a changing interest rate environment, we may not be able to mitigate interest rate sensitivity effectively. A significant increase in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the


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market value of our fixed maturities securities. Our mitigation efforts include maintaining a high-quality portfolio with a relatively short duration to reduce the effect of interest rate changes on market value.
 
We also have an equity portfolio that represented approximately 3.9% of our total investments and cash and cash equivalents portfolio, net of payable for securities purchased of $37.3 million, as of December 31, 2009. The performance of our equity portfolio is dependent upon a number of factors, including many of the same factors that affect the performance of our fixed income investments, although those factors sometimes have the opposite effect on the performance of the equity portfolio. Individual equity securities have unsystematic risk. We could experience market declines on these investments. We also have systematic risk, which is the risk inherent in the general market due to broad macroeconomic factors that affect all companies in the market. If the market indexes were to decline, we anticipate that the value of our portfolio would be negatively affected.
 
We have $138.9 million of investments in corporate loans. Corporate loans are primarily investments in senior secured floating rate loans that banks have made to corporations. The loans are generally priced at an interest rate spread over LIBOR that resets every 60 to 90 days. As a result, this asset class provides protection against rising interest rates. However, this asset class is subject to default risk since these investments are typically below investment grade.
 
We have $8.0 million of investments in limited partnerships. Material assumptions and factors utilized in pricing these securities include future cash flows, constant default rates, recovery rates, and any market clearing activity that may have occurred since the prior month-end pricing period.
 
Our limited partnership investments are not liquid. Several of the investment contracts state that we need to provide advance notice to the partnerships of up to three months if we wished to liquidate part or all of the investment. Several of the contracts have provisions that allow the general partner to delay distribution of funds if it would negatively impact the partnership. Our returns could be negatively affected if the market value of the partnership declines. We may miss the opportunity to reinvest proceeds from a partnership at attractive rates. If the general partner exercised a provision to not distribute funds, and we needed liquidity, we might be forced to liquidate other investments at a time when prices are not optimal.
 
As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately $2.5 million worth of investment exposure to subprime investments and Alt-A investments. Of that amount, approximately $0.8 million of those investments have been rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s, $1.6 million were rated BBB- to AA, and $0.1 million were rated CCC. Impairments on these investments were $0.9 million during 2009.
 
Since We Depend On Professional General Agencies For a Significant Portion of Our Revenue, a Loss of Any One of Them Could Adversely Affect Us.
 
We market and distribute our insurance products through a group of approximately 110 professional general agencies that have specific quoting and binding authority and that in turn sell our insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our top five non-affiliated agencies, all of which market more than one specific product, represented 34.1% of our gross premiums written. No one agency accounted for more that 12.9% of our gross premiums written. A loss of all or substantially all of the business produced by any more of these general agencies could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
If Market Conditions Cause Reinsurance To Be More Costly or Unavailable, We May Be Required To Bear Increased Risks or Reduce the Level of Our Underwriting Commitments.
 
As part of our overall strategy of risk and capacity management, we purchase reinsurance for a portion of the risk underwritten by our insurance subsidiaries. Market conditions beyond our control determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance we purchase, which may affect the level of our business and profitability. Our third party reinsurance facilities are generally subject to annual renewal. We may be unable to maintain our current reinsurance facilities or obtain other reinsurance facilities in adequate amounts and at favorable rates. If we are unable to renew our expiring facilities or obtain new reinsurance facilities, either our net exposure to risk would increase or, if we are unwilling to bear an increase in net risk exposures, we would have to reduce the amount of risk we underwrite.


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Our Results May Fluctuate as a Result of Many Factors, Including Cyclical Changes in the Insurance Industry.
 
Historically, the results of companies in the property and casualty insurance industry have been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties. The industry’s profitability can be affected significantly by:
 
  •  competition;
 
  •  capital capacity;
 
  •  rising levels of actual costs that are not foreseen by companies at the time they price their products;
 
  •  volatile and unpredictable developments, including man-made, weather-related and other natural catastrophes or terrorist attacks;
 
  •  changes in loss reserves resulting from the general claims and legal environments as different types of claims arise and judicial interpretations relating to the scope of insurers’ liability develop; and
 
  •  fluctuations in interest rates, inflationary pressures and other changes in the investment environment, which affect returns on invested assets and may affect the ultimate payout of losses.
 
The demand for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance can also vary significantly, rising as the overall level of economic activity increases and falling as that activity decreases. The property and casualty insurance industry historically is cyclical in nature. These fluctuations in demand and competition could produce underwriting results that would have a negative impact on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
 
We Face Significant Competitive Pressures in Our Business that Could Cause Demand for Our Products to Fall and Adversely Affect Our Profitability.
 
We compete with a large number of other companies in our selected lines of business. We compete, and will continue to compete, with major U.S. and Non-U.S. insurers and other regional companies, as well as mutual companies, specialty insurance companies, reinsurance companies, underwriting agencies and diversified financial services companies. Our competitors include, among others: American International Group, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Berkshire Hathaway, Everest Re Group, Ltd., Great American Insurance Group, HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., IFG Companies, JRG Reinsurance Company, Ltd., Maiden Holdings, Ltd., Markel Corporation, Max Capital Group, Ltd., Nationwide Insurance, Navigators Insurance Group, RLI Corporation, Torus Insurance Holdings, Ltd., W.R. Berkley Corporation, and Western World Insurance Group. Some of our competitors have greater financial and marketing resources than we do. Our profitability could be adversely affected if we lose business to competitors offering similar or better products at or below our prices.
 
Our General Agencies Typically Pay the Insurance Premiums On Business They Have Bound To Us On a Monthly Basis. This Accumulation of Balances Due To Us Exposes Us To a Credit Risk.
 
Insurance premiums generally flow from the insured to their retail broker, then into a trust account controlled by our professional general agencies. Our general agencies are typically required to forward funds, net of commissions, to us following the end of each month. Consequently, we assume a degree of credit risk on the aggregate amount of these balances that have been paid by the insured but have yet to reach us.
 
Because We Provide Our General Agencies with Specific Quoting and Binding Authority, If Any of Them Fail To Comply With Our Pre-Established Guidelines, Our Results of Operations Could Be Adversely Affected.
 
We market and distribute our insurance products through professional general agencies that have limited quoting and binding authority and that in turn sell our insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers. These agencies can bind certain risks without our initial approval. If any of these wholesale professional general agencies fail to comply with our underwriting guidelines and the terms of their appointment, we could be


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bound on a particular risk or number of risks that were not anticipated when we developed the insurance products or estimated loss and loss adjustment expenses. Such actions could adversely affect our results of operations.
 
As a Property and Casualty Insurer and Reinsurer, We Could Face Losses from Terrorism and Political Unrest.
 
We may have exposure to losses resulting from acts of terrorism and political instability. Even if reinsurers are able to exclude coverage for terrorist acts or price that coverage at rates that we consider unattractive, direct insurers, like our insurance company subsidiaries, might not be able to likewise exclude terrorist acts because of regulatory constraints. If this does occur, we, in our capacity as a primary insurer, would have a significant gap in our reinsurance protection and would be exposed to potential losses as a result of any terrorist acts. These risks are inherently unpredictable, although recent events may lead to increased frequency and severity. It is difficult to predict occurrence of such events with statistical certainty or to estimate the amount of loss per occurrence they will generate.
 
Our Holding Company Structure and Regulatory Constraints Limit Our Ability to Receive Dividends from Our Subsidiaries in Order to Meet Our Cash Requirements.
 
United America Indemnity is a holding company and, as such, has no substantial operations of its own, and its assets primarily consist of cash and invested assets and its ownership of the shares of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Dividends and other permitted distributions from insurance subsidiaries, which include payment for equity awards granted by United America Indemnity to employees of such subsidiaries, are expected to be United America Indemnity’s sole source of funds to meet ongoing cash requirements, including debt service payments and other expenses.
 
Due to our corporate structure, any dividends that United America Indemnity receives from its subsidiaries must pass through Wind River Reinsurance. The inability of Wind River Reinsurance to pay dividends to United America Indemnity in an amount sufficient to enable United America Indemnity to meet its cash requirements at the holding company level could have a material adverse effect on its operations.
 
Bermuda law does not permit payment of dividends or distributions of contributed surplus by a company if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company, after the payment is made, would be unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or the realizable value of the company’s assets would be less, as a result of the payment, than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts. Furthermore, pursuant to the Bermuda Insurance Act 1978, an insurance company is prohibited from declaring or paying a dividend during the financial year if it is in breach of its minimum solvency margin or minimum liquidity ratio or if the declaration or payment of such dividends would cause it to fail to meet such margin or ratio. See “Regulation — Bermuda Insurance Regulation” in Item 1 of Part I of this report.
 
In addition, the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies, which are indirect subsidiaries of Wind River Reinsurance, are subject to significant regulatory restrictions limiting their ability to declare and pay dividends, which must first pass through Wind River Reinsurance before being paid to United America Indemnity. See “Regulation — U.S. Regulation of United America Indemnity” in Item 1 of Part I of this report. Also, see Note 16 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the maximum amount of distributions that could be paid by the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies in 2009.
 
Because We Are Heavily Regulated by the U.S. States in Which We Operate, We May Be Limited in the Way We Operate.
 
We are subject to extensive supervision and regulation in the U.S. states in which our Insurance Operations operate. This is particularly true in those states in which our insurance subsidiaries are licensed, as opposed to those states where our insurance subsidiaries write business on a surplus lines basis. The supervision and regulation relate to numerous aspects of our business and financial condition. The primary purpose of the supervision and regulation is the protection of our insurance policyholders and not our investors. The extent of regulation varies, but generally


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is governed by state statutes. These statutes delegate regulatory, supervisory, and administrative authority to state insurance departments. This system of regulation covers, among other things:
 
  •  standards of solvency, including risk-based capital measurements;
 
  •  restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments;
 
  •  restrictions on the types of terms that we can include or exclude in the insurance policies we offer;
 
  •  restrictions on the way rates are developed and the premiums we may charge;
 
  •  standards for the manner in which general agencies may be appointed or terminated;
 
  •  certain required methods of accounting;
 
  •  reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes; and
 
  •  potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain insurance policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies.
 
The statutes or the state insurance department regulations may affect the cost or demand for our products and may impede us from obtaining rate increases or taking other actions we might wish to take to increase our profitability. Further, we may be unable to maintain all required licenses and approvals and our business may not fully comply with the wide variety of applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority’s interpretation of the laws and regulations. Also, regulatory authorities have discretion to grant, renew or revoke licenses and approvals subject to the applicable state statutes and appeal process. If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals (including in some states the requisite secretary of state registration) or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could stop or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our activities or monetarily penalize us.
 
In recent years, the U.S. insurance regulatory framework has come under increased federal scrutiny, and some state legislators have considered or enacted laws that may alter or increase state regulation of insurance and reinsurance companies and holding companies. Moreover, the NAIC, which is an association of the insurance commissioners of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and state insurance regulators regularly reexamine existing laws and regulations. Changes in these laws and regulations or the interpretation of these laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
We May Require Additional Capital in the Future That May Not Be Available or Only Available On Unfavorable Terms.
 
Our future capital requirements depend on many factors, including the incurring of significant net catastrophe losses, our ability to write new business successfully and to establish premium rates and reserves at levels sufficient to cover losses. To the extent that we need to raise additional funds, any equity or debt financing for this purpose, if available at all, may be on terms that are not favorable to us. If we cannot obtain adequate capital, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
 
Interests of Holders of Class A Common Shares May Conflict with the Interests of Our Controlling Shareholder.
 
Fox Paine & Company beneficially owns shares having approximately 89.6% of our total voting power. The percentage of our total voting power that Fox Paine & Company may exercise is greater than the percentage of our total shares that Fox Paine & Company beneficially owns because Fox Paine & Company beneficially owns a large number of Class B common shares, which have ten votes per share as opposed to Class A common shares, which have one vote per share. The Class A common shares and the Class B common shares generally vote together as a single class on matters presented to our shareholders. Based on the ownership structure of the affiliates of Fox Paine & Company that own these shares, these affiliates are subject to the voting restriction contained in our articles


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of association. As a result, Fox Paine & Company has and will continue to have control over the outcome of certain matters requiring shareholder approval, including the power to, among other things:
 
  •  amend our memorandum or articles of association;
 
  •  prevent schemes of arrangement of our subsidiaries’ assets; and
 
  •  approve redemption of the common shares.
 
Fox Paine & Company will also be able to prevent or cause a change of control. Fox Paine & Company’s control over us, and Fox Paine & Company’s ability to prevent or cause a change of control, may delay or prevent a change of control, or cause a change of control to occur at a time when it is not favored by other shareholders. As a result, the trading price of our Class A common shares could be adversely affected.
 
In addition, we have agreed to pay Fox Paine & Company annual management fees of $1.5 million. Fox Paine & Company may in the future make significant investments in other insurance or reinsurance companies. Some of these companies may compete with us or with our subsidiaries. Fox Paine & Company is not obligated to advise us of any investment or business opportunities of which they are aware, and they are not prohibited or restricted from competing with us or with our subsidiaries.
 
Our Controlling Shareholder Has the Contractual Right to Nominate a Majority of the Members of Our Board of Directors and Also Otherwise Controls the Election of Directors Due to Its Majority Ownership.
 
While Fox Paine & Company has the contractual right, under the terms of a shareholders agreement between us, Fox Paine & Company, and certain affiliates of Fox Paine & Company, to nominate a majority of the members of our Board of Directors, it also controls the election of all directors to the Board of Directors due to its controlling share ownership. Our Board of Directors currently consists of seven directors, all of which other than Mr. Frakes were identified and proposed for consideration for the Board of Directors by Fox Paine & Company.
 
Our Board of Directors, in turn, and subject to its fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law, appoints the members of our senior management, who also have fiduciary duties to the Company. As a result, Fox Paine & Company effectively has the ability to control the appointment of the members of our senior management and to prevent any changes in senior management that other shareholders, or that other members of our Board of Directors, may deem advisable.
 
Because We Rely on Certain Services Provided by Fox Paine & Company, the Loss of Such Services Could Adversely Affect Our Business.
 
During 2007, 2008, and 2009, Fox Paine & Company provided certain management services to us. To the extent that Fox Paine & Company is unable or unwilling to provide similar services in the future, and we are unable to perform those services ourselves or we are unable to secure replacement services, our business could be adversely affected.
 
The Current Recession and Other Adverse Consequences of the Recent U.S. and Global Economic and Financial Industry Downturns Could Harm Our Business, Our Liquidity and Financial Condition, and Our Stock Price.
 
Global market and economic conditions have been severely disrupted. These conditions may potentially affect (among other aspects of our business) the demand for and claims made under our products, the ability of customers, counterparties and others to establish or maintain their relationships with us, our ability to access and efficiently use internal and external capital resources, the availability of reinsurance protection, the risks we assume under reinsurance programs covering variable annuity guarantees, and our investment performance. Continued volatility in the U.S. and other securities markets may adversely affect our stock price.


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Risks Related to Taxation
 
Legislative and Regulatory Action by the U.S. Congress Could Materially and Adversely Affect Us.
 
Our tax position could be adversely impacted by changes in tax laws, tax treaties or tax regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof. Legislative action may be taken by the U.S. Congress which, if ultimately enacted, could override tax treaties upon which we rely or could broaden the circumstances under which we would be considered a U.S. resident, each of which could materially and adversely affect our effective tax rate and cash tax position.
 
In addition, there continues to be negative publicity regarding, and criticism of, companies that conduct substantial business in the U.S. but are domiciled in countries like the Cayman Islands.
 
We May Become Subject To Taxes in the Cayman Islands or Bermuda in the Future, Which May Have a Material Adverse Effect on our Results of Operations.
 
United America Indemnity has been incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company and, as such, obtained an undertaking on September 2, 2003 from the Governor in Council of the Cayman Islands substantially that, for a period of 20 years from the date of such undertaking, no law that is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profit or income or gains or appreciation shall apply to us and no such tax and no tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be payable, either directly or by way of withholding, on our common shares. This undertaking would not, however, prevent the imposition of taxes on any person ordinarily resident in the Cayman Islands or any company in respect of its ownership of real property or leasehold interests in the Cayman Islands. Given the limited duration of the undertaking, we cannot be certain that we will not be subject to Cayman Islands tax after the expiration of the 20-year period.
 
Wind River Reinsurance was formed in 2006 through the amalgamation of our Non-U.S. Operations. We received an assurance from the Bermuda Minister of Finance, under the Bermuda Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966, as amended, that if any legislation is enacted in Bermuda that would impose tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then the imposition of any such tax will not be applicable to Wind River Reinsurance or any of its operations, shares, debentures or other obligations through March 28, 2016. Given the limited duration of the assurance, we cannot be certain that we will not be subject to any Bermuda tax after March 28, 2016.
 
Following the expiration of the periods described above, we may become subject to taxes in the Cayman Islands or Bermuda, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
United America Indemnity or Wind River Reinsurance May Be Subject to U.S. Tax That May Have a Material Adverse Effect on United America Indemnity’s, or Wind River Reinsurance’s Results of Operations.
 
United America Indemnity is a Cayman Islands company and Wind River Reinsurance is a Bermuda company. We have managed our business in a manner designed to reduce the risk that United America Indemnity and Wind River Reinsurance will be treated as being engaged in a U.S. trade or business for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, because there is considerable uncertainty as to the activities that constitute being engaged in a trade or business within the United States, we cannot be certain that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will not contend successfully that United America Indemnity or Wind River Reinsurance will be engaged in a trade or business in the United States. If United America Indemnity or Wind River Reinsurance were considered to be engaged in a business in the United States, we could be subject to U.S. corporate income and branch profits taxes on the portion of our earnings effectively connected to such U.S. business, in which case our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.


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The Impact of the Cayman Islands’ Letter of Commitment or Other Concessions to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to Eliminate Harmful Tax Practices Is Uncertain and Could Adversely Affect Our Tax Status in the Cayman Islands or Bermuda.
 
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which is commonly referred to as the OECD, has published reports and launched a global dialogue among member and non-member countries on measures to limit harmful tax competition. These measures are largely directed at counteracting the effects of tax havens and preferential tax regimes in countries around the world. In the OECD’s report dated February 22, 2010, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda were not listed as uncooperative tax haven jurisdictions because each had previously committed itself to eliminate harmful tax practices and to embrace international tax standards for transparency, exchange of information and the elimination of any aspects of the regimes for financial and other services that attract business with no substantial domestic activity. We are not able to predict what changes will arise from the commitment or whether such changes will subject us to additional taxes.
 
There Is A Risk That Interest Paid By Our U.S. Subsidiaries To a Luxembourg Affiliate May Be Subject to 30% U.S. Withholding Tax.
 
U.A.I. (Luxembourg) Investment, S.à r.l., an indirectly owned Luxembourg subsidiary of Wind River Reinsurance, owns two notes issued by United America Indemnity Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Under U.S. federal income tax law, interest paid by a U.S. corporation to a non-U.S. shareholder is generally subject to a 30% withholding tax, unless reduced by treaty. The income tax treaty between the United States and Luxembourg (the “Luxembourg Treaty”) generally eliminates the withholding tax on interest paid to qualified residents of Luxembourg. Were the IRS to contend successfully that U.A.I. (Luxembourg) Investment, S.à r.l. is not eligible for benefits under the Luxembourg Treaty, interest paid to U.A.I. (Luxembourg) Investment, S.à r.l. by United America Indemnity Group, Inc. would be subject to the 30% withholding tax. Such tax may be applied retroactively to all previous years for which the statute of limitations has not expired, with interest and penalties. Such a result may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.
 
There is a Risk That Interest Income Imputed to Our Irish Affiliate May be Subject to 25% Irish Income Tax
 
U.A.I. (Ireland) Limited is a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Ireland. The company is a resident taxpayer fully subject to Ireland corporate income tax of 12.5% on trading income and 25.0% on non-trading income, including interest and dividends from foreign companies. The company intends to manage its operations in such a way that there will not be any material taxable income generated in Ireland under Irish law. However, there can be no assurance from the Irish authorities that a law may not be enacted that would impute income to U.A.I. (Ireland) Limited in the future or retroactively arising out of our current operations.
 
Risks Related to Our Proposed Redomestication to Ireland
 
The Rights of Our Shareholders Will Change as a Result of Our Proposed Redomestication.
 
Because of differences between Irish law and Cayman Islands law and differences between the governing documents of Global Indemnity plc and United America Indemnity, the rights of shareholder will change if the proposed redomestication transaction (the “Transaction”) is completed.
 
Fox Paine & Company and Affiliated Investment Funds of Fox Paine & Company (collectively, the “Fox Paine Entities”) Will Continue to Control a Substantial Interest in Us and Thus May Exert Significant Influence on Corporate Affairs and Actions, Including Those Submitted to a Shareholder Vote.
 
Following the Transaction, the Fox Paine Entities will continue to beneficially own approximately 17.8% of Global Indemnity plc Class A ordinary shares and 100.0% of our issued and outstanding Class B ordinary shares, together representing approximately 89.6% of our total voting power. As a result of their majority ownership, the


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Fox Paine Entities have and will continue to have control over the outcome of most matters requiring shareholder approval, including the power to, among other things:
 
  •  elect all of our directors;
 
  •  amend our articles of association (as long as their voting power is greater than 75%);
 
  •  elect our auditors;
 
  •  increase our share capital;
 
  •  resolve to pay dividends or distributions; and
 
  •  approve the annual report and the annual financial statements.
 
Subject to certain exceptions, the Fox Paine Entities may also be able to prevent or cause a change of control. The Fox Paine Entities’ control over us, and Fox Paine & Company’s ability in certain circumstances to prevent or cause a change of control, may delay or prevent a change of control, or cause a change of control to occur at a time when it is not favored by other shareholders. As a result, the trading price of our Global Indemnity plc Class A ordinary shares could be adversely affected.
 
Under the terms of an existing shareholders agreement between us and certain Fox Paine Entities, the applicable Fox Paine Entities have the contractual right to nominate a majority of the members of our board of directors. Our board of directors currently consists of seven directors, all of which, other than Mr. Frakes, were identified and proposed for consideration for the Board of Directors by such Fox Paine Entities. Global Indemnity plc will assume the obligations of United America Indemnity under the shareholders agreement. Following the Transaction, the right of Fox Paine Entities to appoint directors to the board will be included in Global Indemnity plc’s memorandum and articles of association, which will permit certain Fox Paine affiliates to appoint by written notice to the board a certain number of directors, dependent on their percentage ownership of voting shares in Global Indemnity plc for so long as Fox Paine & Company and its affiliates hold an aggregate of 25% or more of the voting power in the company.
 
Our board of directors, in turn, and subject to its fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law and Irish law, appoints or will appoint, as applicable, the members of our senior management, who also have fiduciary duties to the Company. As a result, the Fox Paine Entities have the ability to control the appointment of the members of our senior management and to prevent any changes in senior management that other shareholders, or that other members of our board of directors, may deem advisable.
 
Legislative and Regulatory Action Could Materially and Adversely Affect Us Regardless of Whether or Not We Complete the Transaction.
 
Legislative action may be taken by the U.S. Congress which, if ultimately enacted, could override tax treaties upon which we rely or could broaden the circumstances under which we would be considered a U.S. resident regardless of whether we complete the Transaction, each of which could materially and adversely affect our effective tax rate and cash tax position. We cannot predict the outcome of any specific legislative proposals. However, if proposals were enacted that had the effect of disregarding the Transaction or limiting our ability to take advantage of the tax treaties between Ireland and the U.S., we could be subjected to increased taxation. In addition, any future amendments to the current income tax treaty between Ireland and the U.S. could subject us to increased taxation.
 
As a company incorporated in the European Union, Global Indemnity plc is subject to European Union law and this could impose regulatory burdens on Global Indemnity plc in the future.
 
Our Effective Tax Rate May Increase After the Transaction.
 
While the Transaction is not anticipated to have any material impact on our effective tax rate, there is uncertainty regarding the tax policies of the jurisdictions where we operate (which include the potential legislative actions described above), and our effective tax rate may increase and any such increase may be material.


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Additionally, the tax laws of Ireland and other jurisdictions could change in the future, and such changes could cause a material change in our effective tax rate.
 
The Transaction Will Result In Additional Direct and Indirect Costs, Even If It Is Not Completed.
 
Although we do not expect these costs to be material, we will incur additional direct costs as a result of the Transaction. In addition to Global Indemnity plc being incorporated in Ireland and being governed by Irish law, we will expand our presence in Ireland. In general, we will hold at least half of our board of directors meetings in Ireland. We also expect to incur costs and expenses, including professional fees, to comply with Irish corporate and tax laws and financial reporting requirements. In addition, we expect to incur attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, filing fees, mailing expenses and financial printing expenses in connection with the Transaction, even if the scheme of arrangement, pursuant to which we will effect the redomestication (the “Scheme of Arrangement”) is not approved or completed. The Transaction also may negatively affect us by diverting attention of our management and employees from our operating business during the period of implementation and by increasing other administrative costs and expenses.
 
We May Choose to Abandon or Delay the Transaction.
 
We may abandon or delay the Transaction at any time prior to the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective by action of our board of directors, even after obtaining the necessary approval of United America Indemnity common shareholders at the special meeting of shareholders relating to this transaction and sanction of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (the “Grand Court”). While we currently expect to complete the Transaction as soon as practicable after obtaining shareholder approval of the Scheme of Arrangement at the Special Meeting and sanction of the Grand Court, our board of directors may delay the Transaction for a significant time or may abandon the Transaction after the Special Meeting because, among other reasons, of an increase in our estimated cost of the Transaction or a determination by the board of directors that completing the Transaction is no longer in our best interest or the best interests of our shareholders or may not result in the benefits we expect. Additionally, we may not be able to obtain the requisite shareholder approval or court sanction.
 
If the Shareholders of United America Indemnity Do Not Approve the Proposal Relating to Global Indemnity plc’s Distributable Reserves Proposal, Global Indemnity Plc May Not Have Sufficient Distributable Reserves to Pay Dividends (or to Repurchase or Redeem Shares) Following the Transaction. In Addition, There Is No Guarantee That Irish High Court Approval of the Creation of Distributable Reserves Will Be Forthcoming.
 
Under Irish law, dividends must be paid (and share repurchases and redemptions must generally be funded) out of “distributable reserves,” which Global Indemnity plc will not have immediately following the Transaction. If the Scheme of Arrangement is approved, shareholders of United America Indemnity also will be asked at the special meeting of shareholders to approve the reduction of share premium of Global Indemnity plc to allow the creation of distributable reserves of Global Indemnity plc (through the reduction of the share premium account of Global Indemnity plc), so that we may pay dividends and repurchase or redeem shares. The approval of the distributable reserves proposal is not a condition to the consummation of the Transaction. Accordingly, if the common shareholders of United America Indemnity approve the Scheme of Arrangement but do not approve the distributable reserves proposal, and the Transaction is consummated, Global Indemnity plc may not have sufficient distributable reserves to make distributions or pay dividends (or to repurchase or redeem shares) following the Transaction.
 
In addition, the creation of distributable reserves requires the approval of the Irish High Court. Although we are not aware of any reason why the Irish High Court would not approve the creation of distributable reserves, the issuance of the required order is a matter for the discretion of the Irish High Court and there is no guarantee that such approval will be forthcoming. Even if the Irish High Court does approve the creation of distributable reserves, it may take substantially longer than we anticipate.


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As a Result Of Different Shareholder Voting Requirements in Ireland Relative to the Cayman Islands, We Will Have Less Flexibility with Respect to Certain Aspects of Capital Management Than We Now Have.
 
Under Cayman Islands law, our directors may issue, without shareholder approval, any common shares authorized in our memorandum of association that are not already issued. Irish law allows shareholders to authorize share capital which then can be issued by a board of directors without shareholder approval. Additionally, subject to specified exceptions, Irish law grants statutory pre-emptive rights to existing shareholders to subscribe for new issuances of shares for cash, but allows shareholders to authorize the waiver of the statutory pre-emptive rights with respect to any particular allotment of shares. These authorizations must be renewed by the shareholders at least every five years and we cannot guarantee that these authorizations will always be approved, which could limit our ability to issue equity. While we do not believe that the differences between Cayman Islands law and Irish law relating to our capital management will have an adverse effect on us, situations may arise where the flexibility we now have in the Cayman Islands would have provided benefits to our shareholders.
 
After The Transaction, A Future Transfer of Global Indemnity Plc Ordinary Shares May Be Subject to Irish Stamp Duty.
 
Transfers by shareholders who hold their Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares beneficially through banks, brokers, trustees, custodians or other nominees, which in turn hold those shares through DTC, will not be subject to Irish stamp duty where such transfers are to holders who also hold through DTC. If shareholders hold their Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares directly rather than beneficially, any purchase of their shares will be subject to Irish stamp duty. Irish stamp duty is currently at the rate of 1% of the price paid or, if higher, the market value of the ordinary shares acquired. Any transfer of Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares which is subject to Irish stamp duty will not be registered in the name of the buyer unless an instrument of transfer is executed by or on behalf of the seller, is duly stamped and is provided to our transfer agent. Only registered shareholders of Global Indemnity plc will be entitled to receive dividends. Subject to certain exceptions, only registered shareholders of Global Indemnity plc will be entitled to vote in general meetings of Global Indemnity plc. The potential for stamp duty could adversely affect the price of Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares.
 
Dividends Received by Shareholders May Be Subject to Irish Dividend Withholding Tax.
 
In certain circumstances, as an Irish tax resident company, we are required to deduct Irish dividend withholding tax (currently at the rate of 20%) from dividends paid to our shareholders. In the majority of cases, shareholders resident in the U.S. will not be subject to Irish dividend withholding tax, and shareholders resident in a number of other countries will not be subject to Irish dividend withholding tax provided that they complete certain Irish dividend withholding tax forms. However, some shareholders may be subject to withholding tax, which could adversely affect the price of our shares.
 
Dividends Received by Shareholders Could Be Subject to Irish Income Tax.
 
Dividends paid in respect of our shares will generally not be subject to Irish income tax where the beneficial owner of these dividends is exempt from dividend withholding tax, unless the beneficial owner of the dividend has some connection with Ireland other than his or her shareholding in Global Indemnity plc.
 
Global Indemnity plc shareholders who receive their dividends subject to Irish dividend withholding tax will generally have no further liability to Irish income tax on the dividend unless the beneficial owner of the dividend has some connection with Ireland other than his or her shareholding in Global Indemnity plc.
 
A Change of Control Could Accelerate Certain of Our Indebtedness.
 
We have $90.0 million principal amount of Notes outstanding under the Note and Guarantee Agreement dated as of July 20, 2005. Pursuant to the terms of these Notes, if Global Indemnity plc ceases to be an affiliate of the Fox Paine Entities, then unless certain ratings of United America Indemnity or Global Indemnity plc and its subsidiaries remain constant, we will be required to offer to repurchase such indebtedness pursuant to a change of control provision set forth therein.


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The Total Market Capitalization of Global Indemnity Plc Ordinary Shares After the Transaction May Be Lower Than the Total Market Capitalization of United America Indemnity Common Shares Before the Transaction
 
Reducing the number of outstanding shares through the one-for-two exchange pursuant to the Transaction is intended, absent other factors, to increase the per share market price of Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares. However, other factors, such as financial results, market conditions and the market perception of our business and the one-for-two exchange may adversely affect the market price of Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares. As a result, there can be no assurance that the one-for-two exchange pursuant to the Transaction, if completed, will result in the intended benefits, that the market price of Global Indemnity plc will increase following the Transaction or that the market price of Global Indemnity plc will not decrease in the future. Additionally, we cannot assure our shareholders that the market price per share of Global Indemnity plc after the Transaction will increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of United America Indemnity common shares outstanding before the Transaction. Accordingly, the total market capitalization of Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares after the Transaction may be lower than the market capitalization of United America Indemnity common shares before the Transaction.
 
The Transaction May Result in Some Shareholders Owning “Odd Lots” of Less Than 100 Shares of Global Indemnity Plc Ordinary Shares
 
The Transaction may result in some shareholders owning “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares because of the one-for-two exchange of Global Indemnity plc ordinary shares for United America Indemnity common shares. Odd lot shares may be more difficult to sell, and brokerage commissions and other costs of transactions in odd lots are generally somewhat higher than the costs of transactions in “round lots” of even multiples of 100 shares.
 
Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments
 
None.
 
Item 2.   Properties
 
We lease approximately 71,150 square feet of office space in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, which serves as the headquarters location for our Insurance Operations, pursuant to a lease that expires on December 31, 2013. In addition, we lease approximately 29,800 square feet of additional office space in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, and Texas, which serve as office space for our field offices, pursuant to various leases that expire at various times from June 30, 2010 to March 31, 2016. Some of the office space in California also serves as office space for our claims operations. We also lease approximately 1,600 square feet of office space in Hamilton, Bermuda, which is used by our Reinsurance Operations, pursuant to a lease that expires on December 31, 2013.
 
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings
 
We are, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including litigation regarding claims. There is a greater potential for disputes with reinsurers who are in a runoff of their reinsurance operations. Some of our reinsurers are in a runoff of their reinsurance operations, and therefore, we closely monitor those relationships. We do not believe that the resolution of any currently pending legal proceedings, either individually or taken as a whole, will have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. We anticipate that, similar to the rest of the insurance and reinsurance industry, we will continue to be subject to litigation and arbitration proceedings in the ordinary course of business.
 
On July 24, 2009, a federal judge from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) upheld a jury verdict in favor of United National Insurance Company, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, against AON Corp., an insurance and reinsurance broker. See Note 12 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning this legal proceeding.


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Item 4.   Submission Of Matters To A Vote Of Security Holders
 
The following matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders at our Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on October 27, 2009:
 
1. Election of the following nominees to our Board of Directors.
 
                         
Nominee
  Votes For     Votes Against     Votes Abstained  
 
Saul A. Fox
    261,715,487       14,129,278       656,439  
Larry A. Frakes
    267,661,688       8,186,080       653,436  
Stephen A. Cozen
    266,596,209       9,251,859       653,136  
Seth J. Gersch
    267,261,051       8,584,014       656,139  
James R. Kroner
    268,051,467       7,799,098       650,639  
Chad A. Leat
    268,294,198       7,779,636       427,370  
Michael J. Marchio
    268,059,572       7,791,293       650,339  
 
2. Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditor for 2009 and the authorization of our Board of Directors acting by its Audit Committee to set the fees for the independent auditor.
 
         
Votes For   Votes Against   Votes Abstained
 
275,793,080
  695,395   12,729
 
3. Election of the following nominees to the Wind River Reinsurance Company, Ltd. Board of Directors.
 
                         
Nominee
  Votes For     Votes Against     Votes Withheld  
 
Alan Bossin
    275,839,880             661,324  
Larry A. Frakes
    275,803,913             697,291  
Troy W. Santora
    275,841,819             659,385  
Janita Burke Waldron (Alternate Director)
    275,840,054             661,150  
 
4. Approval of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hamilton, Bermuda, as the independent auditor of Wind River Reinsurance Company, Ltd. for 2009.
 
         
Votes For   Votes Against   Votes Abstained
 
275,870,510
  608,155   22,539
 
5. Approval of the payment of an arrangement fee and a backstop fee to Fox Paine & Company in connection with the Rights Offering.
 
         
Votes For   Votes Against   Votes Abstained
 
150,399,810
  6,276,258   119,825,136
 
6. Approval of the GAAP audited financial statements of Wind River Reinsurance Company, Ltd. and the report of the independent auditors on these financial statements.
 
         
Votes For   Votes Against   Votes Abstained
 
222,835,120
   


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PART II
 
Item 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Market for Our Class A Common Shares
 
Our Class A common shares, par value $0.0001 per share, began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market, formerly the Nasdaq National Market, under the symbol “UNGL” on December 16, 2003. On March 14, 2005 we changed our symbol to “INDM.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of our Class A common shares, as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market:
 
                 
    High     Low  
 
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009:
               
First Quarter
  $ 13.48     $ 3.70  
Second Quarter
    6.47       3.73  
Third Quarter
    7.69       4.37  
Fourth Quarter
    8.91       6.62  
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008:
               
First Quarter
  $ 21.44     $ 17.52  
Second Quarter
    20.22       13.22  
Third Quarter
    17.64       11.75  
Fourth Quarter
    15.74       8.46  
 
There is no established public trading market for our Class B common shares, par value $0.0001 per share.
 
As of February 25, 2010, there were approximately 2,100 beneficial holders of record of our Class A common shares. As of February 25, 2010, there were 10 holders of record of our Class B common shares, all of whom are affiliates of Fox Paine & Company.


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Performance of Our Class A Common Shares
 
graph
 
                                                                                 
      12/16/03       12/31/03       12/31/04       12/31/05       12/31/06       12/31/07       12/31/08       12/31/09  
United America Indemnity, Ltd. 
    $ 100.0       $ 103.9       $ 109.5       $ 108.0       $ 149.0       $ 117.2       $ 75.4       $ 46.6  
NASDAQ Insurance Index
      100.0         103.1         123.4         134.9         151.2         150.0         132.5         133.2  
NASDAQ Composite Index
      100.0         104.1         113.1         114.6         125.5         137.8         82.0         117.9  
                                                                                 
 
  Note:  We completed our Rights Offering on May 5, 2009, which increased our total outstanding Class A common shares by 17.2 million shares. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the Rights Offering.


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Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
 
On May 5, 2009, we completed the Rights Offering in which a total of 17,178,421 Class A common shares and 11,435,244 Class B common shares were issued. The issuance of the Class A common shares included 41,588 Class A common shares issued to an affiliate of Fox Paine & Company in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, as amended. The affiliate of Fox Paine & Company purchased the 41,588 Class A common shares for $3.50 per share, which was the subscription price at which all Class A common shareholders and Class B common shareholders were entitled to purchase additional shares. All other shares issued in the Rights Offering were issued pursuant to a registration statement. The net proceeds of $91.8 million were used to support our strategic initiatives, enhance liquidity and financial flexibility, and for other general corporate purposes. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
Purchases of Our Class A Common Shares
 
Our Share Incentive Plan allows employees to surrender shares of our Class A common shares as payment for the tax liability incurred upon the vesting of restricted stock that was issued under our Share Incentive Plan. During 2009, we purchased an aggregate of 27,057 of surrendered Class A common shares from our employees for $0.2 million. All shares purchased from employees are held as treasury stock and recorded at cost.
 
As part of the Rights Offering that was completed in May 2009, we purchased 10,000 Class A common shares for $0.04 million that had been purchased by a former employee with the non-transferable Class A Rights that were distributed to that former employee for Class A common shares held of non-vested restricted stock. Since the restricted stock was not vested, the former employee, upon leaving the Company, had to forfeit those Class A common shares that had been purchased with the non-transferable Class A Rights that were distributed on that restricted stock. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
Dividend Policy
 
We did not declare or pay cash dividends on any class of our common shares in 2009 or 2008, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on any class of our common shares in the foreseeable future. However, this is subject to future determinations by the Board of Directors based on our results, financial conditions, amounts required to grow our business, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
 
We are a holding company and have no direct operations. Our ability to pay dividends depends, in part, on the ability of Wind River Reinsurance, the Luxembourg Companies, the United National Insurance Companies, and the Penn-America Insurance Companies to pay dividends. Wind River Reinsurance, the United National Insurance Companies, and the Penn-America Insurance Companies are subject to significant regulatory restrictions limiting their ability to declare and pay dividends.
 
See Note 16 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the dividends declared and paid by the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies in 2009 and the maximum amount of distributions that they could pay as dividends in 2010.
 
For 2010, we believe that Wind River Reinsurance should have sufficient liquidity and solvency to pay dividends. In the future, we anticipate paying dividends from Wind River Reinsurance to fund obligations of United America Indemnity. Wind River Reinsurance is prohibited, without the approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”), from reducing by 15% or more its total statutory capital as set out in its previous year’s statutory financial statements, and any application for such approval must include such information as the BMA may require. Based upon the total statutory capital plus the statutory surplus as set out in its 2009 statutory financial statements that will be filed in 2010, Wind River Reinsurance could pay a dividend of up to $175.8 million without requesting BMA approval.
 
Under the Companies Act, Wind River Reinsurance may only declare or pay a dividend if Wind River Reinsurance has no reasonable grounds for believing that it is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or if the realizable value of its assets would not be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts.


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In 2009, profit distributions (not in respect to liquidations) by the Luxembourg Companies were generally subject to Luxembourg dividend withholding tax at a rate of 15%, unless a domestic law exemption or a lower tax treaty rate applies. There is no Luxembourg dividend withholding tax in 2009. Dividends paid by any of the Luxembourg Companies to their Luxembourg resident parent company are exempt from Luxembourg dividend withholding tax, provided that at the time of the dividend distribution, the resident parent company has held (or commits itself to continue to hold) 10% or more of the nominal paid up capital of the distributing entity or, in the event of a lower percentage participation, a participation having an acquisition price of Euro 1.2 million or more for a period of at least twelve months.
 
For a discussion of factors affecting our ability to pay dividends, see “Business — Regulation” in Item 1 of Part I, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Sources and Uses of Funds and — Capital Resources” in Item 7 of Part II, and the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report.
 
Our common shareholders are not subject to taxes, including withholding provisions, under existing laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands.
 
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data
 
The following information presented in this Item 6 Selected Financial Data includes historical financial data for United America Indemnity only, and excludes information relating to the business and operations of Penn-America Group and Penn Independent Group prior to our acquisition of them on January 24, 2005. Prior data relating to Penn-America Group, Inc. and Penn Independent Corporation can be found in our Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed on April 7, 2005.
 
The following table sets forth selected consolidated historical financial data for United America Indemnity and should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this report.
 
                                         
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
(Dollars in thousands)                              
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
                                       
Gross premiums written
  $ 340,999     $ 378,700     $ 563,112     $ 652,965     $ 622,878  
Net premiums written
    290,995       309,080       490,535       560,535       519,733  
Net premiums earned
    301,674       382,508       536,323       546,469       475,430  
Net realized investment gains (losses)
    15,862       (50,259 )     968       (570 )     554  
Total revenues
    387,750       400,079       614,632       612,437       523,102  
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets
          (96,449 )                  
Income (loss) from continuing operations(1)
    75,437       (141,560 )     98,917       89,338       64,751  
Net income (loss)
    75,437       (141,560 )     98,917       99,418       65,593  
Per share data:(2)
                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations(1)
  $ 75,437     $ (141,560 )   $ 98,917     $ 89,338     $ 64,751  
Basic
    1.46       (3.87 )     2.40       2.18       1.62  
Diluted
    1.46       (3.87 )     2.38       2.16       1.59  
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ 75,437     $ (141,560 )   $ 98,917     $ 99,418     $ 65,593  
Basic
    1.46       (3.87 )     2.40       2.43       1.64  
Diluted
    1.46       (3.87 )     2.38       2.41       1.61  
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
                                       
Basic
    51,712,098       36,556,189       41,258,027       40,957,109       39,983,638  
Diluted
    51,763,220       36,556,189       41,570,239       41,336,616       40,669,413  
 
 
(1) The results of our discontinued operations for 2009, 2008, and 2007 relating to our Agency Operations that were sold in 2006 are included in income from continuing operations due to immateriality. The results of discontinued operations continue to be stated separately for 2006 and 2005.
 
(2) In 2008, “Diluted” loss per share is the same as “Basic” loss per share since there was a net loss for that year.
 
(3) In May 2009, we issued 17.2 million Class A common shares and 11.4 million Class B common shares in conjunction with the Rights Offering. In computing the basic and diluted weighted share counts, the number of


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shares outstanding prior to May 5, 2009 (the date that the common shares were issued in conjunction with the Rights Offering) was adjusted by a factor of 1.114 to reflect the impact of a bonus element associated with the Rights Offering in accordance with appropriate accounting guidance. As a result, share counts for the prior periods have been restated.
 
                                         
Consolidated Insurance Operating Ratios based on our GAAP Results:(1)
                                       
Before purchase accounting adjustments:
                                       
Loss ratio(2)(3)
    56.2       79.8       55.8       55.7       58.0  
Expense ratio
    39.8       37.3       32.5       31.8       33.2  
                                         
Combined ratio(2)(3)
    96.0       117.1       88.3       87.5       91.2  
                                         
Impact of purchase accounting adjustments:
                                       
Loss ratio
                            2.6  
Expense ratio
                            (2.9 )
                                         
Combined ratio
                            (0.3 )
                                         
As reported, after purchase accounting adjustments:
                                       
Loss ratio(2)(3)
    56.2       79.8       55.8       55.7       60.6  
Expense ratio
    39.8       37.3       32.5       31.8       30.3  
                                         
Combined ratio(2)(3)
    96.0       117.1       88.3       87.5       90.9  
                                         
Net/gross premiums written
    85.3       81.6       87.1       85.8       83.4  
                                         
Financial Position as of Last Day of Period:
                                       
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,731,314     $ 1,599,528     $ 1,765,103     $ 1,656,664     $ 1,419,564  
Reinsurance receivables, net of allowance
    543,351       679,277       719,706       982,502       1,278,156  
Total assets
    2,445,780       2,477,059       2,775,172       2,984,616       3,102,002  
Senior notes payable
    90,000       90,000       90,000       90,000       90,000  
Junior subordinated debentures
    30,929       30,929       46,393       61,857       61,857  
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    1,257,741       1,506,429       1,503,237       1,702,010       1,914,224  
Total shareholders’ equity
    831,976       631,993       836,276       763,270       639,927  
 
 
(1) Our insurance operating ratios are non-GAAP financial measures that are generally viewed in the insurance industry as indicators of underwriting profitability. The loss ratio is the ratio of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net premiums earned. The expense ratio is the ratio of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to net premiums earned. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss and expense ratios. The ratios presented here represent the consolidated results of both our Insurance Operations and Reinsurance Operations.
 
(2) Our 2009 loss and combined ratios were impacted by a $9.1 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years. Our 2008 loss and combined ratios were impacted by a $34.9 million increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years. Our 2007 loss and combined ratios were impacted by a $29.1 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years. Our 2006 loss and combined ratios were impacted by a $15.6 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years. See “Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this report for details of these items and their impact on the loss and combined ratios.
 
(3) Our loss and combined ratios for 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005 include $5.8 million, $21.5 million, $1.7 million, $4.6 million, and $8.0 million, respectively, of catastrophic losses. See “Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this report for a discussion of the impact of these losses on the loss and combined ratios.
 
No cash dividends were declared on common stock in any year presented in the table.


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Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of United America Indemnity included elsewhere in this report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy, constitutes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this Item 7 and “Risk Factors” in Item 1A above for more information. You should review “Risk Factors” in Item 1A above for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein.
 
Recent Developments
 
Redomestication to Ireland
 
On February 16, 2010, we announced that our Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan for us to re-domicile from the Cayman Islands to Ireland. Our shareholders will be asked to vote in favor of completing the reorganization proposal at a special shareholders meeting. If the proposal is accepted, we will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Indemnity plc, an Irish company.
 
If the move to Ireland is approved, our Class A common shares will be exchanged for Global Indemnity plc’s Class A ordinary shares on a two-for-one basis, which will trade on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GBLI.” Global Indemnity plc will be subject to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, the mandates of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq. Global Indemnity plc will continue to report our consolidated financial results in U.S. dollars and under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. If required by Irish law, audited consolidated annual financial statements prepared in accordance with Irish generally accepted accounting principles will also be made available to shareholders. In addition to shareholder approval, the move to Ireland is subject to an order from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands sanctioning the transaction.
 
Haiti Earthquake
 
On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the Republic of Haiti that devastated the capital city Port-au-Prince and resulted in widespread damage. We do not expect much, if any, catastrophe loss exposure as insurance penetration in Haiti has historically been low. Any exposure that may develop would be as a result of tsunami activity that affected neighboring islands where we have exposure. At this time, however, we do not expect any significant exposure.
 
California Mudslides and Flooding
 
In January 2010, the southern California coast was battered by multiple heavy rainstorms that caused mudslides and flooding which resulted in significant property losses. We do not expect much, if any, catastrophe loss exposure since we expect losses to be within the retention limits of our property catastrophe reinsurance coverage.
 
Chile Earthquake
 
In February 2010, a massive earthquake struck the Republic of Chile that resulted in widespread damage. We do not anticipate any catastrophe loss exposure as our current exposures do not include Chilean risks. Any exposure that may develop would be as a result of tsunami activity that affected the Australian, Asian, or Pacific island regions where we have exposure. At this time, however, we do not expect any significant exposure.
 
Europe Winter Storm
 
In February 2010, a late winter storm with fierce rain and hurricane strength winds hit western Europe. At this time, we do not know the extent of our catastrophe loss exposure, if any.


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Appointment of Thomas M. McGeehan
 
On December 8, 2009, we announced the appointment of Thomas M. McGeehan as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective as of that day. Mr. McGeehan had been serving as Interim Chief Financial Officer since May 2008.
 
Overview
 
Our Insurance Operations distribute property and casualty insurance products through a group of approximately 110 professional general agencies that have limited quoting and binding authority, as well as a number of wholesale insurance brokers who in turn sell our insurance products to insureds through retail insurance brokers. We operate predominantly in the excess and surplus lines marketplace. To manage our operations, we differentiate them by product classification. These product classifications are: 1) Penn-America, which includes property and general liability products for small commercial businesses distributed through a select network of wholesale general agents with specific binding authority; 2) United National, which includes property, general liability, and professional lines products distributed through program administrators with specific binding authority; and 3) Diamond State, which includes property, casualty, and professional lines products distributed through wholesale brokers and program administrators with specific binding authority.
 
Our Reinsurance Operations are comprised of the operations of Wind River Reinsurance, a Bermuda based treaty and facultative reinsurer of excess and surplus lines and specialty property and casualty insurance.
 
We derive our revenues primarily from premiums paid on insurance policies that we write and from income generated by our investment portfolio, net of fees paid for investment management services. The amount of insurance premiums that we receive is a function of the amount and type of policies we write, as well as of prevailing market prices.
 
Our expenses include losses and loss adjustment expenses, acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses, corporate and other operating expenses, interest, other investment expenses, and income taxes. Losses and loss adjustment expenses are estimated by management and reflect our best estimate of ultimate losses and costs arising during the reporting period and revisions of prior period estimates. We record losses and loss adjustment expenses based on an actuarial analysis of the estimated losses we expect to incur on the insurance policies we write. The ultimate losses and loss adjustment expenses will depend on the actual costs to resolve claims. Acquisition costs consist principally of commissions that are typically a percentage of the premiums on the insurance policies we write, net of ceding commissions earned from reinsurers and allocated internal costs. Other underwriting expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses and general operating expenses. Corporate and other operating expenses are comprised primarily of outside legal fees, other professional fees, including accounting fees, directors’ fees, management fees, salaries and benefits for company personnel whose services relate to the support of corporate activities, and taxes incurred. Interest expense consists primarily of interest on senior notes payable, junior subordinated debentures, and funds held on behalf of others.
 
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
 
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. (See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8 of Part II of this report.) Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of judgment and estimation.
 
Liability For Unpaid Losses And Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
Although variability is inherent in estimates, we believe that the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses reflects our best estimate for future amounts needed to pay losses and related loss adjustment expenses and the impact of our reinsurance coverages with respect to insured events.


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In developing loss and loss adjustment expense (“loss” or “losses”) reserve estimates, our actuaries perform detailed reserve analyses each quarter. To perform the analysis, the data is organized at a “reserve category” level. A reserve category can be a line of business such as commercial automobile liability, or it can be a particular type of claim such as construction defect. The reserves within a reserve category level are characterized as either short-tail or long-tail. Most of our business can be characterized as medium to long-tail. For long-tail business, it will generally be several years between the time the business is written and the time when all claims are settled. Our long-tail exposures include general liability, professional liability, products liability, commercial automobile liability, and excess and umbrella. Short-tail exposures include property, commercial automobile physical damage, and equine mortality. To manage our insurance operations, we differentiate them by product classifications, which are Penn-America, United National, and Diamond State. For further discussion about our product classifications, see “General — Our Insurance Operations” in Item 1 of Part I of this report. Each of our product classifications contain both long-tail and short-tail exposures. Every reserve category is analyzed by our actuaries each quarter. The analyses generally include reviews of losses gross of reinsurance and net of reinsurance.
 
In 2009, the internal workpapers supporting our reserves were reviewed by independent actuaries for the third quarter of 2009, and our reserves were reviewed in detail by independent actuaries for the second and fourth quarters of 2009. We do not rely upon the review by the independent actuaries to develop our reserves; however, the data is used to corroborate the analysis performed by the in-house actuarial staff.
 
The methods that we use to project ultimate losses for both long-tail and short-tail exposures include, but are not limited to, the following:
 
  •  Paid Development method;
 
  •  Incurred Development method;
 
  •  Expected Loss Ratio method;
 
  •  Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and paid loss;
 
  •  Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and incurred loss; and
 
  •  Average Loss method.
 
The Paid Development method estimates ultimate losses by reviewing paid loss patterns and applying them to accident years with further expected changes in paid loss. Selection of the paid loss pattern requires analysis of several factors including the impact of inflation on claims costs, the rate at which claims professionals make claim payments and close claims, the impact of judicial decisions, the impact of underwriting changes, the impact of large claim payments and other factors. Claim cost inflation itself requires evaluation of changes in the cost of repairing or replacing property, changes in the cost of medical care, changes in the cost of wage replacement, judicial decisions, legislative changes and other factors. Because this method assumes that losses are paid at a consistent rate, changes in any of these factors can impact the results. Since the method does not rely on case reserves, it is not directly influenced by changes in the adequacy of case reserves.
 
For many reserve categories, paid loss data for recent periods may be too immature or erratic for accurate predictions. This situation often exists for long-tail exposures. In addition, changes in the factors described above may result in inconsistent payment patterns. Finally, estimating the paid loss pattern subsequent to the most mature point available in the data analyzed often involves considerable uncertainty for long-tail reserve categories.
 
The Incurred Development method is similar to the Paid Development method, but it uses case incurred losses instead of paid losses. Since this method uses more data (case reserves in addition to paid losses) than the Paid Development method, the incurred development patterns may be less variable than paid development patterns. However, selection of the incurred loss pattern requires analysis of all of the factors listed in the description of the Paid Development method. In addition, the inclusion of case reserves can lead to distortions if changes in case reserving practices have taken place and the use of case incurred losses may not eliminate the issues associated with estimating the incurred loss pattern subsequent to the most mature point available.
 
The Expected Loss Ratio method multiplies premiums by an expected loss ratio to produce ultimate loss estimates for each accident year. This method may be useful if loss development patterns are inconsistent, losses


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emerge very slowly, or there is relatively little loss history from which to estimate future losses. The selection of the expected loss ratio requires analysis of loss ratios from earlier accident years or pricing studies and analysis of inflationary trends, frequency trends, rate changes, underwriting changes, and other applicable factors.
 
The Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and paid losses is a combination of the Paid Development method and the Expected Loss Ratio method. This method normally determines expected loss ratios similar to the method used for the Expected Loss Ratio method and requires analysis of the same factors described above. The method assumes that only future losses will develop at the expected loss ratio level. The percent of paid loss to ultimate loss implied from the Paid Development method is used to determine what percentage of ultimate loss is yet to be paid. The use of the pattern from the Paid Development method requires consideration of all factors listed in the description of the Paid Development method. The estimate of losses yet to be paid is added to current paid losses to estimate the ultimate loss for each year. This method will react very slowly if actual ultimate loss ratios are different from expectations due to changes not accounted for by the expected loss ratio calculation.
 
The Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and incurred losses is similar to the Bornhuetter-Ferguson method using premiums and paid losses except that it uses case incurred losses. The use of case incurred losses instead of paid losses can result in development patterns that are less variable than paid development patterns. However, the inclusion of case reserves can lead to distortions if changes in case reserving practices have taken place, and the method requires analysis of all the factors that need to be reviewed for the Expected Loss Ratio and Incurred Development methods.
 
The Average Loss method multiplies a projected number of ultimate claims by an estimated ultimate average loss for each accident year to produce ultimate loss estimates. Since projections of the ultimate number of claims are often less variable than projections of ultimate loss, this method can provide more reliable results for reserve categories where loss development patterns are inconsistent or too variable to be relied on exclusively. In addition, this method can more directly account for changes in coverage that impact the number and size of claims. However, this method can be difficult to apply to situations where very large claims or a substantial number of unusual claims result in volatile average claim sizes. Projecting the ultimate number of claims requires analysis of several factors including the rate at which policyholders report claims to us, the impact of judicial decisions, the impact of underwriting changes and other factors. Estimating the ultimate average loss requires analysis of the impact of large losses and claim cost trends based on changes in the cost of repairing or replacing property, changes in the cost of medical care, changes in the cost of wage replacement, judicial decisions, legislative changes and other factors.
 
For many exposures, especially those that can be considered long-tail, a particular accident year may not have a sufficient volume of paid losses to produce a statistically reliable estimate of ultimate losses. In such a case, our actuaries typically assign more weight to the Incurred Development method than to the Paid Development method. As claims continue to settle and the volume of paid losses increases, the actuaries may assign additional weight to the Paid Development method. For most of our reserve categories, even the incurred losses for accident years that are early in the claim settlement process will not be of sufficient volume to produce a reliable estimate of ultimate losses. In these cases, we will not assign any weight to the Paid and Incurred Development methods and will use the Bornhuetter-Ferguson and Expected Loss Ratio methods. For short-tail exposures, the Paid and Incurred Development methods can often be relied on sooner primarily because our history includes a sufficient number of years to cover the entire period over which paid and incurred losses are expected to change. However, we may also use the Expected Loss Ratio, Bornhuetter-Ferguson and Average Loss methods for short-tail exposures.
 
Generally, reserves for long-tail lines use the Expected Loss Ratio method for the most recent accident year, shift to the Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods for the next two years, and then shift to the Incurred and/or Paid Development method. Claims related to umbrella business are usually reported later than claims for other long-tail lines. For umbrella business, the Expected Loss Ratio and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods are used for as many as six years before shifting to the Incurred Development method. Reserves for short-tail lines use the Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods for the most recent accident year and shift to the Incurred and/or Paid Development method in subsequent years.
 
For other more complex reserve categories where the above methods may not produce reliable indications, we use additional methods tailored to the characteristics of the specific situation. Such reserve categories include losses from construction defects and A&E.


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For construction defect losses, our actuaries organize losses by the year in which they were reported. To estimate losses from claims that have not been reported, various extrapolation techniques are applied to the pattern of claims that have been reported to estimate the number of claims yet to be reported. This process requires analysis of several factors including the rate at which policyholders report claims to us, the impact of judicial decisions, the impact of underwriting changes and other factors. An average claim size is determined from past experience and applied to the number of unreported claims to estimate reserves for these claims.
 
Establishing reserves for A&E and other mass tort claims involves considerably more judgment than other types of claims due to, among other things, inconsistent court decisions, an increase in bankruptcy filings as a result of asbestos-related liabilities, and judicial interpretations that often expand theories of recovery and broaden the scope of coverage. The insurance industry continues to receive a substantial number of asbestos-related bodily injury claims, with an increasing focus being directed toward other parties, including installers of products containing asbestos rather than against asbestos manufacturers. This shift has resulted in significant insurance coverage litigation implicating applicable coverage defenses or determinations, if any, including but not limited to, determinations as to whether or not an asbestos related bodily injury claim is subject to aggregate limits of liability found in most comprehensive general liability policies. In response to these continuing developments, management increased gross and net A&E reserves during the second quarter of 2008 to reflect its best estimate of A&E exposures. In 2009, one of our insurance companies was dismissed from a lawsuit seeking coverage from it and other unrelated insurance companies. The suit involved issues related to approximately 3,900 existing asbestos related bodily injury claims and future claims. The dismissal was the result of a settlement of a disputed claim related to accident year 1984. The settlement is conditioned upon certain legal events occurring which will trigger financial obligations by the insurance company. Management will continue to monitor the developments of the litigation to determine if any additional financial exposure is present.
 
Reserve analyses performed by our actuaries result in actuarial point estimates. The results of the detailed reserve reviews were summarized and discussed with our senior management to determine the best estimate of reserves. This group considered many factors in making this decision. The factors included, but were not limited to, the historical pattern and volatility of the actuarial indications, the sensitivity of the actuarial indications to changes in paid and incurred loss patterns, the consistency of claims handling processes, the consistency of case reserving practices, changes in our pricing and underwriting, and overall pricing and underwriting trends in the insurance market.
 
Management’s best estimate at December 31, 2009 was recorded as the loss reserve. Management’s best estimate is as of a particular point in time and is based upon known facts, our actuarial analyses, current law, and our judgment. This resulted in carried gross and net reserves of $1,257.7 million and $730.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2009. A breakout of our gross and net reserves, excluding the effects of our intercompany pooling arrangements and intercompany quota share reinsurance agreement, as of December 31, 2009 is as follows:
 
                         
    Gross Reserves  
    Case     IBNR(1)     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Insurance Operations
  $ 412,395     $ 809,121     $ 1,221,516  
Reinsurance Operations
    8,633       27,592       36,225  
                         
Total
  $ 421,028     $ 836,713     $ 1,257,741  
                         
 
                         
    Net Reserves(2)  
    Case     IBNR(1)     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Insurance Operations
  $ 240,242     $ 454,718     $ 694,960  
Reinsurance Operations
    8,228       27,140       35,368  
                         
Total
  $ 248,470     $ 481,858     $ 730,328  
                         
 
 
(1) Losses incurred but not reported, including the expected future emergence of case reserves.
 
(2) Does not include reinsurance receivable on paid losses or reserve for uncollectible reinsurance.


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We continually review these estimates and, based on new developments and information, we include adjustments of the estimated ultimate liability in the operating results for the periods in which the adjustments are made. The establishment of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves makes no provision for the possible broadening of coverage by legislative action or judicial interpretation, or the emergence of new types of losses not sufficiently represented in our historical experience or that cannot yet be quantified or estimated. We regularly analyze our reserves and review pricing and reserving methodologies so that future adjustments to prior year reserves can be minimized. However, given the complexity of this process, reserves require continual updates and the ultimate liability may be higher or lower than previously indicated. Changes in estimates for loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are recorded in the period that the change in these estimates is made. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report for details concerning the changes in the estimate for incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses related to prior accident years.
 
The detailed reserve analyses that our actuaries complete use a variety of generally accepted actuarial methods and techniques to produce a number of estimates of ultimate loss. We determine our best estimate of ultimate loss by reviewing the various estimates and assigning weight to each estimate given the characteristics of the reserve category being reviewed. The reserve estimate is the difference between the estimated ultimate loss and the losses paid to date. The difference between the estimated ultimate loss and the case incurred loss (paid loss plus case reserve) is considered to be IBNR. IBNR calculated as such includes a provision for development on known cases (supplemental development) as well as a provision for claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported (pure IBNR).
 
In light of the many uncertainties associated with establishing the estimates and making the assumptions necessary to establish reserve levels, we review our reserve estimates on a regular basis and make adjustments in the period that the need for such adjustments is determined. The anticipated future loss emergence continues to be reflective of historical patterns, and the selected development patterns have not changed significantly from those underlying our most recent analyses.
 
The key assumptions fundamental to the reserving process are often different for various reserve categories and accident years. Some of these assumptions are explicit assumptions that are required of a particular method, but most of the assumptions are implicit and cannot be precisely quantified. An example of an explicit assumption is the pattern employed in the Paid Development method. However, the assumed pattern is itself based on several implicit assumptions such as the impact of inflation on medical costs and the rate at which claim professionals close claims. Loss frequency is a measure of the number of claims per unit of insured exposure, and loss severity is a measure of the average size of claims. Each reserve segment has an implicit frequency and severity for each accident year as a result of the various assumptions made.
 
Previous reserve analyses have resulted in our identification of information and trends that have caused us to increase or decrease our frequency and severity assumptions in prior periods and could lead to the identification of a need for additional material changes in loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, which could materially affect our results of operations, equity, business and insurer financial strength and debt ratings. Factors affecting loss frequency include, among other things, the effectiveness of loss controls and safety programs and changes in economic activity or weather patterns. Factors affecting loss severity include, among other things, changes in policy limits and deductibles, rate of inflation and judicial interpretations. Another factor affecting estimates of loss frequency and severity is the loss reporting lag, which is the period of time between the occurrence of a loss and the date the loss is reported to us. The length of the loss reporting lag affects our ability to accurately predict loss frequency (loss frequencies are more predictable for short-tail lines) as well as the amount of reserves needed for IBNR.
 
If the actual levels of loss frequency and severity are higher or lower than expected, the ultimate losses will be different than management’s best estimate. For most of our reserving classes, we believe that frequency can be predicted with greater accuracy than severity. Therefore, we believe management’s best estimate is more sensitive to changes in severity than frequency. The following table, which we believe reflects a reasonable range of variability around our best estimate based on our historical loss experience and management’s judgment, reflects


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the impact of changes (which could be favorable or unfavorable) in frequency and severity on our current accident year gross loss estimate of $178.5 million for claims occurring during the nine months ended December 31, 2009:
 
                                                 
        Severity Change
        −10%   −5%   0%   5%   10%
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Frequency Change
    −5 %   $ (25,881 )   $ (17,403 )   $ (8,925 )   $ (446 )   $ 8,032  
      −3 %     (22,668 )     (14,012 )     (5,355 )     3,302       11,959  
      −2 %     (21,062 )     (12,316 )     (3,570 )     5,176       13,922  
      −1 %     (19,456 )     (10,620 )     (1,785 )     7,050       15,886  
      0 %     (17,849 )     (8,925 )           8,925       17,849  
      1 %     (16,243 )     (7,229 )     1,785       10,799       19,813  
      2 %     (14,636 )     (5,533 )     3,570       12,673       21,776  
      3 %     (13,030 )     (3,838 )     5,355       14,547       23,739  
      5 %     (9,817 )     (446 )     8,925       18,295       27,666  
 
Our net reserves for losses and loss expenses of $725.3 million as of December 31, 2009 relate to multiple accident years. Therefore, the impact of changes in frequency and severity for more than one accident year could be higher or lower than the amounts reflected above.
 
Recoverability of Reinsurance Receivables
 
We regularly review the collectibility of our reinsurance receivables, and we include adjustments resulting from this review in earnings in the period in which the adjustment arises. A.M. Best ratings, financial history, available collateral, and payment history with the reinsurers are several of the factors that we consider when judging collectibility. Changes in loss reserves can also affect the valuation of reinsurance receivables if the change is related to loss reserves that are ceded to reinsurers. Certain amounts may be uncollectible if our reinsurers dispute a loss or if the reinsurer is unable to pay. If our reinsurers do not pay, we are still legally obligated to pay the loss. At December 31, 2009, our reinsurance receivables were $543.4 million, net of an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables of $12.9 million. For a listing of the ten reinsurers for which we have the largest reinsurance asset amounts as of December 31, 2009, see “Reinsurance of Underwriting Risk” in Item 1 of Part I of this report. See Note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for more details concerning the collectibility of our reinsurance receivables.
 
Investments
 
The carrying amount of our investments approximates their estimated fair value. We regularly perform various analytical valuation procedures with respect to investments, including reviewing each fixed maturity security in an unrealized loss position to determine the amount of unrealized loss related to credit loss and the amount related to all other factors, such as changes in interest rates. The credit loss represents the portion of the amortized book value in excess of the net present value of the projected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. The credit loss component of the other than temporary impairment is recorded through earnings, whereas the amount relating to factors other than credit losses are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of taxes. During our review, we consider credit rating, market price, and issuer specific financial information, among other factors, to assess the likelihood of collection of all principal and interest as contractually due. Securities for which we determine that a credit loss is likely are subjected to further analysis to estimate the credit loss to be recognized in earnings, if any. See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the specific methodologies and significant assumptions used by asset class. Upon identification of such securities and periodically thereafter, a detailed review is performed to determine whether the decline is considered other than temporary. This review includes an analysis of several factors, including but not limited to, the credit ratings and cash flows of the securities, and the magnitude and length of time that the fair value of such securities is below cost.
 
For an analysis of our securities with gross unrealized losses as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and for other than temporary losses that we recorded for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, please see Note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report.


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Fair Value Measurements
 
We categorize our assets that are accounted for at fair value in the consolidated statements into a fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy is directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs utilized to determine the fair value of these assets. See Note 4 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for further information about the fair value hierarchy and our assets that are accounted for at fair value.
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
In 2008, we impaired all of the goodwill and $12.2 million of intangible assets associated with our merger with Penn-America Group, Inc. This resulted in an after-tax loss of $92.2 million. See Note 5 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning this impairment and a discussion of the results of our 2008 impairment testing of goodwill and other definite and indefinite lived assets. As of December 31, 2009, we had $9.2 million of remaining intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization.
 
We use several techniques to value the recoverability of our goodwill and intangible assets. Market capitalization and discounted cash flow were used to value goodwill. Undiscounted cash flow was used to value agency relationships. State licenses were valued by comparing our licenses to comparable companies. Software was evaluated based on the cost to build and the cost to replace existing software.
 
Our intangible assets that are deemed to have an indefinite useful life, which includes trade names and state insurance licenses, are not amortized. Our intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite useful life, which includes software technology, are amortized over their useful lives. Due to the results of our 2008 impairment testing, we determined that our remaining intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite useful life would be fully amortized by 2010. As a result, we anticipate that amortization expense will be $0.04 million in 2010. This amount is subject to change, however, based upon subsequent reviews of recoverability and useful lives that are performed at least annually.
 
Taxation
 
We provide for income taxes in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. Our deferred tax assets and liabilities primarily result from temporary differences between the amounts recorded in our consolidated financial statements and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities.
 
At each balance sheet date, management assesses the need to establish a valuation allowance that reduces deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that all, or some portion, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance would be based on all available information including our assessment of uncertain tax positions and projections of future taxable income from each tax-paying component in each jurisdiction, principally derived from business plans and available tax planning strategies. There are no valuation allowances as of December 31, 2009. The deferred tax asset balance is analyzed regularly by management. Based on these analyses, we have determined that our deferred tax asset is recoverable. Projections of future taxable income incorporate several assumptions of future business and operations that are apt to differ from actual experience. If, in the future, our assumptions and estimates that resulted in our forecast of future taxable income for each tax-paying component prove to be incorrect, a valuation allowance may be required. This could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity.
 
In 2009, we recognized $8.6 million of investment income related to the liquidation of investments in two limited partnerships. Our 2009 tax provision includes federal income tax expense of $3.0 million related to this investment income.
 
We apply a more likely than not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties, only allowing the recognition of those tax benefits that have a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities. Please see Note 7 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a discussion of our tax uncertainties.


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Our Business Segments
 
We manage our business through two business segments: Insurance Operations, which includes the operations of the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies, and Reinsurance Operations, which are the operations of Wind River Reinsurance.
 
We evaluate the performance of our Insurance Operations and Reinsurance Operations segments based on gross and net premiums written, revenues in the form of net premiums earned, and expenses in the form of (1) net losses and loss adjustment expenses, (2) acquisition costs, and (3) other underwriting expenses.
 
See “Business Segments” in Item 1 of Part I of this report for a description of our segments.
 
The following table sets forth an analysis of financial data for our segments during the periods indicated:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Insurance Operations premiums written:
                       
Gross premiums written
  $ 267,992     $ 353,130     $ 536,835  
Ceded premiums written
    49,728       47,651       58,561  
                         
Net premiums written
  $ 218,264     $ 305,479     $ 478,274  
                         
Reinsurance Operations premiums written:
                       
Gross premiums written
  $ 73,007     $ 25,570     $ 26,277  
Ceded premiums written
    276       21,969       14,016  
                         
Net premiums written
  $ 72,731     $ 3,601     $ 12,261  
                         
Revenues:(1)
                       
Insurance Operations
  $ 250,409     $ 374,174     $ 530,516  
Reinsurance Operations
    51,265       8,334       5,807  
                         
Total revenues
  $ 301,674     $ 382,508     $ 536,323  
                         
Expenses:(2)
                       
Insurance Operations
  $ 252,494 (3)   $ 431,114 (3)   $ 466,235 (3)
Reinsurance Operations
    36,817       16,827       7,730  
                         
Subtotal
    289,311       447,941       473,965  
Intercompany eliminations
                (543 )
                         
Net expenses
  $ 289,311     $ 447,941     $ 473,422  
                         
Income (loss) from segments:
                       
Insurance Operations
  $ (2,085 )   $ (56,940 )   $ 64,281  
Reinsurance Operations
    14,448       (8,493 )     (1,923 )
                         
Subtotal
    12,363       (65,433 )     62,358  
Intercompany eliminations
                543  
                         
Total income (loss) from segments
  $ 12,363     $ (65,433 )   $ 62,901  
                         
Insurance combined ratio analysis:(4)
                       
Insurance Operations
                       
Loss ratio
    58.4       78.5       55.7  
Expense ratio
    42.4       36.7       32.2  
                         
Combined ratio
    100.8       115.2       87.9  
                         
Reinsurance Operations
                       
Loss ratio
    45.2       136.2       62.3  
Expense ratio
    26.6       65.7       70.8  
                         
Combined ratio
    71.8       201.9       133.1  
                         
Consolidated
                       
Loss ratio
    56.2       79.8       55.8  
Expense ratio
    39.8       37.3       32.5 (5)
                         
Combined ratio
    96.0       117.1       88.3 (5)
                         


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(1) Excludes net investment income and net realized investment gains (losses), which are not allocated to our segments
 
(2) Excludes corporate and other operating expenses and interest expense, which are not allocated to our segments.
 
(3) Includes excise tax of $1,342, $1,871, and $2,390 related to cessions from our U.S. Insurance Companies to Wind River Reinsurance for 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
 
(4) Our insurance combined ratios are non-GAAP financial measures that are generally viewed in the insurance industry as indicators of underwriting profitability. The loss ratio is the ratio of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net premiums earned. The expense ratio is the ratio of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to net premiums earned. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss and expense ratios.
 
(5) Includes intercompany eliminations of $(543).
 
Results of Operations
 
All percentage changes included in the text below have been calculated using the corresponding amounts from the applicable tables.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
Insurance Operations
 
The components of income (loss) from underwriting and underwriting ratios of our Insurance Operations segment, with premium by product classification, are as follows:
 
                                 
                Increase/(Decrease)  
    2009     2008     $     %  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Gross premiums written:
                               
Penn-America
  $ 124,914     $ 172,869     $ (47,955 )     (27.7 )%
United National
    62,059       88,884       (26,825 )     (30.2 )%
Diamond State
    81,019       91,377       (10,358 )     (11.3 )%
                                 
Total
  $ 267,992     $ 353,130     $ (85,138 )     (24.1 )%
                                 
Net premiums written:
                               
Penn-America
  $ 101,320     $ 158,136     $ (56,816 )     (35.9 )%
United National
    50,036       74,964       (24,928 )     (33.3 )%
Diamond State
    66,908       72,379       (5,471 )     (7.6 )%
                                 
Total
  $ 218,264     $ 305,479     $ (87,215 )     (28.6 )%
                                 
Net premiums earned:
                               
Penn-America
  $ 125,342     $ 200,991     $ (75,649 )     (37.6 )%
United National
    57,344       92,449       (35,105 )     (38.0 )%
Diamond State
    67,723       80,734       (13,011 )     (16.1 )%
                                 
Total
    250,409       374,174       (123,765 )     (33.1 )%
Losses and expenses:
                               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    146,197       293,820       (147,623 )     (50.2 )%
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses(1)
    106,297       137,294       (30,997 )     (22.6 )%
                                 
Income (loss) from underwriting
  $ (2,085 )   $ (56,940 )   $ 54,855       (96.3 )%
                                 
Underwriting Ratios:
                               
Loss ratio:
                               
Current accident year
    62.0       69.7       (7.7 )        
Prior accident year
    (3.6 )     8.8       (12.4 )        
                                 
Calendar year
    58.4       78.5       (20.1 )        
Expense ratio
    42.4       36.7       5.7          
                                 
Combined ratio
    100.8       115.2       (14.4 )        
                                 


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(1) Includes excise tax of $1,342 and $1,871 related to cessions from our U.S. Insurance Companies to Wind River Reinsurance for 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Premiums
 
Gross premiums written, which represent the amount received or to be received for insurance policies written without reduction for reinsurance costs or other deductions, were $268.0 million for 2009, compared with $353.1 million for 2008, a decrease of $85.1 million or 24.1%.
 
  •  Penn-America gross premiums written were $124.9 million for 2009, compared with $172.9 million for 2008, a decrease of $48.0 million, or 27.7%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $11.0 million due to terminated programs and agents and a reduction of $37.0 million from price decreases in the aggregate of approximately 2.9% and other market factors.
 
  •  United National gross premiums written were $62.1 million for 2009, compared with $88.9 million for 2008, a decrease of $26.8 million, or 30.2%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $19.7 million due to terminated programs and agents and a reduction of $7.1 million from price decreases in the aggregate of approximately 3.8% and from other market factors.
 
  •  Diamond State gross premiums written were $81.0 million for 2009, compared with $91.4 million for 2008, a decrease of $10.4 million, or 11.3%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $4.5 million due to terminated programs and agents and a reduction of $5.9 million from price decreases in the aggregate of approximately 0.7% and other market factors.
 
Net premiums written, which equal gross premiums written less ceded premiums written, was $218.3 million for 2009, compared with $305.5 million for 2008, a decrease of $87.2 million or 28.6%. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction of gross premiums written noted above.
 
The ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written was 81.4% for 2009 and 86.5% for 2008, a decline of 5.1 points, which was primarily due to $11.5 million of ceded premiums written to a new quota share treaty that we executed on Penn-America’s property lines of business effective January 1, 2009 and changes in our mix of business.
 
Net premiums earned were $250.4 million for 2009, compared with $374.2 million for 2008, a decrease of $123.8 million or 33.1%. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction of net premiums written noted above. Property net premiums earned for 2009 and 2008 were $103.5 million and $137.9 million, respectively. Casualty net premiums earned for 2009 and 2008 were $146.9 million and $236.3 million, respectively.
 
Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
The loss ratio for our Insurance Operations was 58.4% for 2009 compared with 78.5% for 2008. The loss ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is generally viewed in the insurance industry as an indicator of underwriting profitability and is calculated by dividing net losses and loss adjustment expenses by net premiums earned.
 
The impact of changes to prior accident years is 12.4 points resulting from a decrease of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years of $9.1 million in 2009 compared to an increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years of $33.0 million in 2008. When analyzing loss reserves and prior year development, we consider many factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, loss credit trends, case reserve settlements that may have resulted in significant development, and any other additional or pertinent factors that may impact reserve estimates.
 
  •  In 2009, we reduced our prior accident year loss reserves by $8.4 million and reduced our allowance for uncollectible reinsurance by $0.7 million. The reduction of our prior accident year loss reserves primarily consisted of a $5.5 million reduction in our property lines, a $2.9 million reduction in our general liability


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  lines, and a $4.7 million reduction in our umbrella lines, offset by a $4.7 million increase in our professional liability lines:
 
  1.  The reduction in the property lines primarily consisted of reductions related to accident year 2006 through 2008 due to better than expected loss emergence in brokerage.
 
  2.  The reduction in the general liability lines primarily consisted of net reductions of $13.5 million related to accident years 2006 and prior due to loss emergence that had been consistently lower than expected during the year, partially offset by increases of $10.6 million to accident years 2007 and 2008 that were driven by a large claim and an increase in our construction defect provisions for Penn America.
 
  3.  The reduction in the umbrella lines primarily consisted of net reductions of $5.1 million related to accident years 2007 and prior that were driven by loss emergence throughout the year that was consistently better than expected, partially offset by increases of $0.4 million related to accident year 2008.
 
  4.  The increase to the professional liability lines primarily consisted of increases of $10.1 million related to accident years 2007 and 2008 due to an increase in severity, partially offset by net reductions of $5.4 million primarily related to accident years 2006 and prior.
 
The reduction in our allowance for uncollectible reinsurance is primarily due to the decrease in the amount of our carried reinsurance receivables.
 
  •  In 2008, we increased our prior accident year loss reserves by $29.9 million and increased our allowance for uncollectible reinsurance by $3.1 million. The loss reserves increase of $29.9 million consisted of increases of $15.9 million in our general liability lines and $15.7 million in our professional liability lines, offset by reductions of $1.2 million in our property lines and $0.5 million in our umbrella lines.
 
  1.  The increase to the general liability lines consisted of increases of $20.5 million related to accident years 2006, 2007, and 2001 and prior, offset by reductions of $4.6 million related to accident years 2002 through 2005. The increases in 2006 and 2007 are primarily related to greater severity.
 
  2.  The increase to the professional liability lines consisted of increases of $17.7 million related to accident years 2006 and 2007, offset by reductions of $2.0 million related to accident years 2005 and prior. The increases in 2006 and 2007 are primarily related to greater severity.
 
  3.  The reduction in property lines consisted of reductions of $2.6 million related to accident years 2008 and 2003 and prior, offset by increases of $1.4 million primarily related to accident years 2004 through 2006.
 
  4.  The reduction in umbrella lines was primarily related to accident years 2004 and prior. The increases in 2006 and 2007 in our professional and general liability lines are primarily related to greater severity.
 
The current accident year loss ratio decreased 7.7 points in 2009 primarily due to a decrease in both the property and casualty loss ratios:
 
  •  The current accident year property loss ratio decreased 13.9 points from 69.2% in 2008 to 55.3% in 2009, which consists of an 11.4 point decrease in the catastrophe loss ratio from 15.3% in 2008 to 3.9% in 2009 and a 2.5 point decrease in the non-catastrophe loss ratio from 53.9% in 2008 to 51.4% in 2009. Catastrophe losses were $4.0 million and $21.1 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively. Catastrophe losses in 2008 included net loss and loss adjustment expenses related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, which occurred in September 2008, and storms in the Midwest that occurred in the first half of 2008. Property net premiums earned for 2009 and 2008 were $103.5 million and $137.9 million, respectively.
 
  •  The current accident year casualty loss ratio decreased 3.2 points from 70.0% in 2008 to 66.8% in 2009 primarily due to changes in our mix of business. Casualty net premiums earned for 2009 and 2008 were $146.9 million and $236.3 million, respectively.


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Net losses and loss adjustment expenses were $146.2 million for 2009, compared with $293.8 million for 2008, a decrease of $147.6 million or 50.2%. Excluding the $9.1 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2009 and the $33.0 million increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2008, the current accident year net losses and loss adjustment expenses were $155.3 million and $260.8 million for 2009 and 2008, respectively. This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in net premiums earned and the decline in the loss ratio as described above.
 
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses
 
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses were $106.3 million for 2009, compared with $137.3 million for 2008, a decrease of $31.0 million or 22.6%. The decrease is due to a $32.5 million decrease in acquisition costs, offset by a $1.5 million increase in other underwriting expenses.
 
  •  The decrease in acquisition costs is primarily due to a decrease in commissions resulting from a decrease in net premiums earned.
 
  •  The increase in other underwriting expenses is primarily due to the incurrence of infrastructure costs related to new product development, information technology upgrades, and additional office locations.
 
Expense and Combined Ratios
 
The expense ratio for our Insurance Operations was 42.4% for 2009, compared with 36.7% for 2008. The expense ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated by dividing the sum of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses by net premiums earned. The increase in the expense ratio is primarily due to the decrease in net premiums earned noted above.
 
The combined ratio for our Insurance Operations was 100.8% for 2009, compared with 115.2% for 2008. The combined ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure and is the sum of our loss and expense ratios. Excluding the impact of a $9.1 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves in 2009 and a $33.0 million increase of prior accident year loss reserves in 2008, the combined ratio decreased from 106.4% for 2008 to 104.4% for 2009. See discussion of loss ratio included in “Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” above and discussion of expense ratio in preceding paragraph above for an explanation of this increase.
 
Income (loss) from underwriting
 
The factors described above resulted in a loss from underwriting for our Insurance Operations of $2.1 million for 2009, compared with a loss from underwriting of $56.9 million for 2008, a decrease in the loss of $54.8 million.


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Reinsurance Operations
 
The components of income (loss) from underwriting and underwriting ratios of our Reinsurance Operations segment are as follows:
 
                                 
                Increase/(Decrease)  
    2009     2008     $     %  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Gross premiums written
  $ 73,007     $ 25,570     $ 47,437       185.5 %
                                 
Net premiums written
  $ 72,731     $ 3,601     $ 69,130       1,919.7 %
                                 
Net premiums earned
  $ 51,265     $ 8,334     $ 42,931       515.1 %
Losses and expenses:
                               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    23,185       11,354       11,831       104.2 %
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    13,632       5,473       8,159       149.1 %
                                 
Income (loss) from underwriting
  $ 14,448     $ (8,493 )   $ 22,941       NM  
                                 
Underwriting Ratios:
                               
Loss ratio:
                               
Current accident year
    45.2       112.8       (67.6 )        
Prior accident year
          23.4       (23.4 )        
                                 
Calendar year loss ratio
    45.2       136.2       (91.0 )        
Expense ratio
    26.6       65.7       (39.1 )        
                                 
Combined ratio
    71.8       201.9       (130.1 )        
                                 
 
NM — Not meaningful.
 
Premiums
 
Gross premiums written, which represent the amount received or to be received for reinsurance agreements written without reduction for reinsurance costs or other deductions, were $73.0 million for 2009, compared with $25.6 million for 2008, an increase of $47.4 million or 185.5%. The increase was primarily due to several new reinsurance treaties that commenced during the first quarter of 2009. One of the treaties we entered into during the first quarter was a catastrophe book of business.
 
Net premiums written, which equal gross premiums written less ceded premiums written, was $72.7 million for 2009, compared with $3.6 million for 2008, an increase of $69.1 million or 1,919.7%. The increase was primarily due to several new reinsurance treaties that commenced during the first quarter of 2009 and an increase in the amount of gross premiums retroceded to our reinsurers in 2008.
 
The ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written was 99.6% for 2009 and 14.1% for 2008, an increase of 85.5 points, which was primarily due to changes in our mix of business. In 2008, one of the largest treaties was 95% retroceded.
 
Net premiums earned were $51.3 million for 2009, compared with $8.3 million for 2008, an increase of $43.0 million or 515.1%. The increase was primarily due to several new reinsurance treaties that commenced during the first quarter of 2009 and an increase in the amount of gross premiums retroceded to our reinsurers in 2008. Property net premiums earned for 2009 and 2008 were $23.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively. Casualty net premiums earned for 2009 and 2008 were $27.8 million and $7.7 million, respectively.
 
Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
The loss ratio for our Reinsurance Operations was 45.2% for 2009 compared with 136.2% for 2008. The loss ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is generally viewed in the insurance industry as an indicator of underwriting profitability and is calculated by dividing net losses and loss adjustment expenses by net premiums earned.


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The impact of changes to prior accident years is a reduction of 23.4 points resulting from an increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years of $0.03 million in 2009 and an increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years of $1.9 million in 2008. When analyzing loss reserves and prior year development, we consider many factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, loss credit trends, case reserve settlements that may have resulted in significant development, and any other additional or pertinent factors that may impact reserve estimates.
 
  •  In 2009, we increased our prior accident year loss reserves by $0.03 million, which primarily consisted of increases in our general liability lines. The increase to the general liability lines were related to accident years 2007 and 2008.
 
  •  In 2008, we increased our prior accident year loss reserves by $1.9 million, which primarily consisted of an increase of $2.6 million in our professional liability lines, offset by reductions of $0.6 million in our general liability lines and $0.1 million in our property lines. The increase to the professional liability lines was related to accident year 2008. The reduction to the general liability lines was related to accident years 2004 through 2006. The reduction in the property lines was related to accident year 2007.
 
In 2009, the current accident year loss ratio decreased 67.6 points from 112.8% in 2008 to 45.2% in 2009. In 2008, our book was primarily comprised of casualty business that included a treaty that was not performing profitably and that has since been terminated. In 2009, our book is primarily comprised of approximately 50% casualty and 50% property business, based on net earned premiums.
 
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses were $23.2 million for 2009, compared with $11.3 million for 2008, an increase of $11.9 million or 104.2%. Excluding the $0.03 million increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2009 and the $1.9 million increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2008, the current accident year net losses and loss adjustment expenses were $23.2 million and $9.4 million for 2009 and 2008, respectively. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in net premiums earned, which increased from $8.3 million in 2008 to $51.3 million in 2009, offset partially by an improved loss ratio in 2009 compared with 2008 as described below.
 
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses
 
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses were $13.6 million for 2009, compared with $5.5 million for 2008, an increase of $8.1 million or 149.1%. The increase is due to a $7.8 million increase in acquisition costs and a $0.3 million increase in other underwriting expenses.
 
  •  The increase in acquisition costs is primarily due to an increase in commissions resulting from an increase in net premiums earned.
 
  •  The increase in other underwriting expenses is primarily due to an increase in property and office costs, legal fees, and professional services, partially offset by reductions in total compensation expenses.
 
Expense and Combined Ratios
 
The expense ratio for our Reinsurance Operations was 26.6% for 2009, compared with 65.7% for 2008. The expense ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated by dividing the sum of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses by net premiums earned. The decrease in the expense ratio is primarily due to the increase in net premiums earned noted above.
 
The combined ratio for our Reinsurance Operations was 71.8% for 2009, compared with 201.9% for 2008. The combined ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure and is the sum of our loss and expense ratios. Excluding the impact of a $0.03 million increase of prior accident year loss reserves in 2009 and a $1.9 million increase of prior accident year loss reserves in 2008, the combined ratio increased from 178.5% for 2008 to 71.8% for 2009. See discussion of loss ratio included in “Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” above and discussion of expense ratio in preceding paragraph above for an explanation of this increase.


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Income (Loss) from underwriting
 
The factors described above resulted in income from underwriting for our Reinsurance Operations of $14.4 million for 2009, compared with a loss from underwriting of $8.5 million for 2008, an increase in income of $22.9 million.
 
Unallocated Corporate Items
 
The following items are not allocated to our Insurance Operations or Reinsurance Operations segments:
 
                                 
                Increase/(Decrease)  
    2009     2008     $     %  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Net investment income
  $ 70,214     $ 67,830     $ 2,384       3.5 %
Net realized investment gains (losses)
    15,862       (50,259 )     66,121       NM  
Corporate and other operating expenses
    (16,752 )     (13,918 )     (2,834 )     20.4 %
Interest expense
    (7,216 )     (8,657 )     1,441       (16.6 )%
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets
          (96,449 )     96,449       100.0 %
Income tax benefit (expense)
    (4,310 )     29,216       (33,526 )     NM  
Equity in net loss of partnership, net of tax
    5,276       (3,890 )     9,166       NM  
 
NM — Not meaningful.
 
Net Investment Income
 
Net investment income, which is gross investment income less investment expenses, was $70.2 million for 2009, compared with $67.8 million for 2008, an increase of $2.4 million or 3.5%.
 
  •  Gross investment income, excluding realized gains and losses, was $74.9 million for 2009, compared with $72.8 million for 2008, an increase of $2.1 million or 2.8%. The increase was primarily due to gross investment income of $8.6 million generated from liquidating some of our limited partnership investments offset by reductions due to decreases in interest rates. There was no investment income generated by our limited partnership investments for 2008. Excluding distributions from our limited partnership investments, gross investment income for 2009 decreased 9.0% compared to 2008. This decrease is due to reductions in interest rates. Cash and invested assets, net of payable for securities purchased of $37.3 million, increased to $1,694.1 million as of December 31, 2009 from $1,598.8 million as of December 31, 2008, an increase of $95.3 million or 6.0%. This increase was primarily due to proceeds from the Rights Offering. A portion of these proceeds was invested in a limited partnership which resulted in $1.7 million of equity in net income of partnerships in the consolidated statement of operations. This ownership was redeemed in December 2009. The remaining portion of the proceeds were invested short-term until later in the year at which time they were invested in assets which are expected to produce higher yields in 2010.
 
  •  Investment expenses were $4.7 million for 2009, compared with $5.0 million for 2008, a decrease of $0.3 million or 6.3%. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in trust fees and a change in fee structure resulting from a change in investment managers.
 
The average duration of our fixed maturities portfolios was 2.8 years as of December 31, 2009, compared with 3.1 years as of December 31, 2008. Including cash and short-term investments, the average duration of our investments as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 was 2.5 years. At December 31, 2009, our book yield on our fixed maturities, not including cash, was 4.34% compared with 4.95% at December 31, 2008. The book yield on the $194.0 million of municipal bonds in our portfolio was 3.88% at December 31, 2009.
 
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
 
Net realized investment gains were $15.9 million for 2009, compared with net realized investment losses of $50.3 million for 2008. The net realized investment gains for 2009 consist primarily of net gains of $5.4 million relative to market value changes in our convertible portfolio and net gains of $16.1 million relative to our fixed


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maturities and equity portfolios, offset by other than temporary impairment losses of $5.6 million. The net realized investment losses for 2008 consist primarily of net losses of $5.2 million relative to market value declines in our convertible portfolios, other than temporary impairment losses of $32.1 million, net losses of $5.9 million from the sale of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stock, and net losses of $6.8 million from the sale of Lehman Brothers corporate bonds.
 
See Note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for an analysis of total investment return on an after-tax basis for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.
 
Corporate and Other Operating Expenses
 
Corporate and other operating expenses consist of outside legal fees, other professional fees, directors’ fees, management fees, salaries and benefits for holding company personnel, and taxes incurred which are not directly related to operations. Corporate and other operating expenses were $16.8 million for 2009, compared with $13.9 million for 2008, an increase of $2.8 million or 20.4%. This increase is primarily due to professional fees related to domestication and other corporate initiatives.
 
Interest Expense
 
Interest expense was $7.2 million and $8.7 million for 2009 and 2008, respectively. The reduction is due to retiring $15.5 million of trust preferred debt in May 2008, as well as a reduction in LIBOR rates during 2009, which is the basis for interest paid on the trust preferred debt. See Note 9 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details on our debt.
 
Impairments of Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets were $96.4 million for 2008. There were no impairments in 2009. See Note 5 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details on our impairments.
 
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
Income tax expense was $4.3 million for 2009, compared with income tax benefit of $29.3 million for 2008. See Note 7 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a comparison of income tax expense between periods.
 
Equity in Net Earnings (Loss) of Partnerships
 
Equity in net earnings of partnerships, net of tax was $5.3 million for 2009, compared with equity in net loss of partnerships, net of tax of $3.9 million for 2008, an increase in income of $9.2 million. The change from a loss in 2008 to income in 2009 was due to the performances of limited partnership investments which invest mainly in high yield bonds and corporate loans. The value of these investments was $1.1 million as of December 31, 2009, so this performance is not likely to repeat in future years.
 
Net Income (Loss)
 
The factors described above resulted in net income of $75.4 million for 2009, compared with net loss of $141.6 million for 2008, an increase in income of $217.0 million.


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Year Ended December 31, 2008 Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2007
 
Insurance Operations
 
The components of income (loss) from underwriting and underwriting ratios of our Insurance Operations segment, with premium by product classification, are as follows:
 
                                 
                Increase/(Decrease)  
    2008     2007     $     %  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Gross premiums written:
                               
Penn-America
  $ 172,869     $ 286,439     $ (113,570 )     (39.6 )%
United National
    88,884       132,311       (43,427 )     (32.8 )%
Diamond State
    91,377       118,085       (26,708 )     (22.6 )%
                                 
Total
  $ 353,130     $ 536,835     $ (183,705 )     (34.2 )%
                                 
Net premiums written:
                               
Penn-America
  $ 158,136     $ 266,874     $ (108,738 )     (40.7 )%
United National
    74,964       110,649       (35,685 )     (32.3 )%
Diamond State
    72,379       100,751       (28,372 )     (28.2 )%
                                 
Total
  $ 305,479     $ 478,274     $ (172,795 )     (36.1 )%
                                 
Net premiums earned:
                               
Penn-America
  $ 200,991     $ 317,826     $ (116,835 )     (36.8 )%
United National
    92,449       115,118       (22,669 )     (19.7 )%
Diamond State
    80,734       97,572       (16,838 )     (17.3 )%
                                 
Total
    374,174       530,516       (156,342 )     (29.5 )%
Losses and expenses:
                               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    293,820       295,624       (1,804 )     (0.6 )%
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses(1)
    137,294       170,611       (33,317 )     (19.5 )%
                                 
Income (loss) from underwriting
  $ (56,940 )   $ 64,281     $ (121,221 )     (188.6 )%
                                 
Underwriting Ratios:
                               
Loss ratio:
                               
Current accident year
    69.7       61.2       8.5          
Prior accident year
    8.8       (5.5 )     14.3          
                                 
Calendar year
    78.5       55.7       22.8          
Expense ratio
    36.7       32.2       4.5          
                                 
Combined ratio
    115.2       87.9       27.3          
                                 
 
 
(2) Includes excise tax of $1,871 and $2,390 related to cessions from our U.S. Insurance Companies to Wind River Reinsurance for 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Premiums
 
Gross premiums written, which represent the amount received or to be received for insurance policies written without reduction for reinsurance costs or other deductions, were $353.1 million for 2008, compared with $536.8 million for 2007, a decrease of $183.7 million or 34.2%.
 
  •  Penn-America gross premiums written were $172.9 million for 2008, compared with $286.4 million for 2007, a decrease of $113.5 million, or 39.6%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $41.6 million due to terminations of business that did not meet our profitability requirements, a reduction of $39.3 million from agents that write business in coastal catastrophe prone areas, and a reduction of $32.6 million from price decreases in the aggregate of approximately 4.4% and other market factors.
 
  •  United National gross premiums written were $88.9 million for 2008, compared with $132.3 million for 2007, a decrease of $43.4 million, or 32.8%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $24.9 million


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  due to terminations of business that did not meet our profitability requirements and a reduction of $18.5 million from price decreases in the aggregate of approximately 4.2% and other market factors.
 
  •  Diamond State gross premiums written were $91.4 million for 2008, compared with $118.1 million for 2007, a decrease of $26.7 million, or 22.6%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $5.6 million due to terminations of business that did not meet our profitability requirements and a reduction of $21.1 million from price decreases in the aggregate of approximately 2.1% and other market factors.
 
Net premiums written, which equal gross premiums written less ceded premiums written, were $305.5 million for 2008, compared with $478.3 million for 2007, a decrease of $172.8 million or 36.1%. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction of gross premiums written noted above.
 
The ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written was 86.5% for 2008 and 89.1% for 2007, a decline of 2.6 points, which was primarily due to changes in our mix of business, and an additional $3.0 million of ceded written premiums under our catastrophe reinsurance treaty resulting from the reinstatement of limits related to losses from Hurricane Ike.
 
Net premiums earned were $374.2 million for 2008, compared with $530.5 million for 2007, a decrease of $156.3 million or 29.5%. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction of gross premiums written noted above.
 
Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
The loss ratio for our Insurance Operations was 78.5% for 2008 compared with 55.7% for 2007. The loss ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is generally viewed in the insurance industry as an indicator of underwriting profitability and is calculated by dividing net losses and loss adjustment expenses by net premiums earned.
 
The impact of changes to prior accident years is 14.3 points resulting from an increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years of $33.0 million in 2008 compared to a $29.0 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2007. When analyzing loss reserves and prior year development, we consider many factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, loss credit trends, case reserve settlements that may have resulted in significant development, and any other additional or pertinent factors that may impact reserve estimates.
 
  •  In 2008, we increased our prior accident year loss reserves by $29.9 million and increased our allowance for uncollectible reinsurance by $3.1 million. The loss reserves increase of $29.9 million consisted of increases of $15.9 million in our general liability lines and $15.7 million in our professional liability lines, offset by reductions of $1.2 million in our property lines and $0.5 million in our umbrella lines.
 
  1.  The increase to the general liability lines consisted of increases of $20.5 million related to accident years 2006, 2007, and 2001 and prior, offset by reductions of $4.6 million related to accident years 2002 through 2005. The increases in 2006 and 2007 are primarily related to greater severity.
 
  2.  The increase to the professional liability lines consisted of increases of $17.7 million related to accident years 2006 and 2007, offset by reductions of $2.0 million related to accident years 2005 and prior. The increases in 2006 and 2007 in are primarily related to greater severity.
 
  3.  The reduction in property lines consisted of reductions of $2.6 million related to accident years 2007 and 2003 and prior, offset by increases of $1.4 million primarily related to accident years 2004 through 2006.
 
  4.  The reduction in umbrella lines was primarily related to accident years 2004 and prior. The increases in 2006 and 2007 in our professional and general liability lines are primarily related to greater severity.
 
  •  In 2007, we reduced our prior accident year loss reserves by $24.6 million and reduced our allowance for uncollectible reinsurance by $4.4 million. The loss reserves reduction of $24.6 million consisted of a net reduction of $42.5 million for primary liability, umbrella and excess, construction defect, and lines in run- off due to both lower than expected frequency and severity emergence, offset by a $17.8 million increase in net reserves for unallocated loss adjustment expenses (“ULAE”) and A&E.


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The current accident year loss ratio increased 8.5 points in 2008 primarily due to an increase in both the current property and casualty loss ratios:
 
  •  The current accident year property loss ratio increased 19.7 points from 49.4% in 2007 to 69.1% in 2008, which consists of a 14.3 point increase in the catastrophe loss ratio from 1.0% in 2007 to 15.3% in 2008 and a 5.3 point increase in the non-catastrophe loss ratio from 46.0% in 2007 to 51.3% in 2008. The increase in the catastrophe loss ratio is due to $21.1 million of net loss and loss adjustment expenses primarily related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, which occurred in September 2008, and storms in the Midwest that occurred in the first half of 2008, compared to $2.0 million of catastrophe losses in 2007. Loss and loss adjustments related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav was $14.0 million in 2008. The increase in the non-catastrophe loss ratio is primarily due to higher frequency related to weather-related losses early in 2008.
 
  •  The current accident year casualty loss ratio increased 2.5 points from 67.5% in 2007 to 70.0% in 2008 primarily due to increased loss trends, higher severity on product lines that we are exiting, and the impact of lower pricing.
 
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses were $293.8 million for 2008, compared with $295.6 million for 2007, a decrease of $1.8 million or 0.6%. Excluding the $33.0 million increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2008 and the $29.0 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2007, the current accident year net losses and loss adjustment expenses were $260.8 million and $324.6 million for 2008 and 2007, respectively. This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in net premiums earned, partially offset by an increase in property losses due to the factors noted above and casualty loss cost inflation. Property net premiums earned for 2008 and 2007 were $137.8 million and $186.7 million, respectively. Casualty net premiums earned for 2008 and 2007 were $236.3 million and $343.8 million, respectively.
 
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses
 
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses, excluding intercompany eliminations, were $137.3 million for 2008, compared with $170.6 million for 2007, a decrease of $33.3 million or 19.5%. The decrease is due to a $37.0 million decrease in acquisition costs, offset by a $3.7 million increase in other underwriting expenses.
 
  •  The decrease in acquisition costs is primarily due to a decrease in commissions resulting from a decrease in net premiums earned.
 
  •  The increase in other underwriting expenses is primarily due to an increase in total compensation expenses and property and office costs.
 
Expense and Combined Ratios
 
The expense ratio for our Insurance Operations was 36.7% for 2008, compared with 32.2% for 2007. The expense ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated by dividing the sum of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses by net premiums earned. The increase in the expense ratio is primarily due to the decrease in net premiums earned noted above.
 
The combined ratio for our Insurance Operations was 115.2% for 2008, compared with 87.9% for 2007. The combined ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure and is the sum of our loss and expense ratios. Excluding the impact of a $33.0 million increase of prior accident year loss reserves in 2008 and a $29.0 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves in 2007, the combined ratio increased from 93.4% for 2007 to 106.4% for 2008. See discussion of loss ratio included in “Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” above and discussion of expense ratio in preceding paragraph above for an explanation of this increase.
 
Income (Loss) from underwriting
 
The factors described above resulted in loss from underwriting for our Insurance Operations of $56.9 million for 2008, compared with income from underwriting of $64.3 million for 2007, a decrease of $121.2 million.


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Reinsurance Operations
 
The components of income (loss) from underwriting and underwriting ratios of our Reinsurance Operations segment are as follows:
 
                                 
                Increase/(Decrease)  
    2008     2007     $     %  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Gross premiums written
  $ 25,570     $ 26,277     $ (707 )     (2.7 )%
                                 
Net premiums written
  $ 3,601     $ 12,261     $ (8,660 )     (70.6 )%
                                 
Net premiums earned
  $ 8,334     $ 5,807     $ 2,527       43.5 %
Losses and expenses:
                               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    11,354       3,617       7,737       213.9 %
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    5,473       4,113       1,360       33.1 %
                                 
Income (loss) from underwriting
  $ (8,493 )   $ (1,923 )   $ (6,570 )     341.7 %
                                 
Underwriting Ratios:
                               
Loss ratio:
                               
Current accident year
    112.8       64.5       48.3          
Prior accident year
    23.4       (2.2 )     25.6          
                                 
Calendar year loss ratio
    136.2       62.3       73.9          
Expense ratio
    65.7       70.8       (5.1 )        
                                 
Combined ratio
    201.9       133.1       68.8          
                                 
 
Premiums
 
Gross premiums written, which represent the amount received or to be received for reinsurance agreements written without reduction for reinsurance costs or other deductions, were $25.6 million for 2008, compared with $26.3 million for 2007, a decrease of $0.7 million or 2.7%. The decrease was primarily due to the non-renewal in 2008 of a treaty we had written in 2007 that no longer met our profitability requirements.
 
Net premiums written, which equal gross premiums written less ceded premiums written, were $3.6 million for 2008, compared with $12.3 million for 2007, a decrease of $8.7 million or 70.6%. The decrease was due to an increase in the amount of gross premiums retroceded to our reinsurers. With respect to the non-renewed treaty referred to above, in 2007, we retroceded a smaller percentage of gross written premiums under that treaty compared to other treaties we wrote. Therefore, in 2008, the non-renewal of that treaty had a disproportionate impact on net written premiums when compared to gross written premiums.
 
The ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written was 14.1% for 2008 and 46.7% for 2007, a decline of 32.6 points, which was primarily due to changes in our mix of business.
 
Net premiums earned were $8.3 million for 2008, compared with $5.8 million for 2007, an increase of $2.5 million or 43.5%. The increase was primarily due to business written in the latter part of 2007.
 
Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
The loss ratio for our Reinsurance Operations was 136.2% for 2008 compared with 62.3% for 2007. The loss ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is generally viewed in the insurance industry as an indicator of underwriting profitability and is calculated by dividing net losses and loss adjustment expenses by net premiums earned.
 
The impact of changes to prior accident years is 25.6 points resulting from an increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years of $1.9 million in 2008 compared to a $0.1 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2007. When analyzing loss reserves and prior year


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development, we consider many factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, loss credit trends, case reserve settlements that may have resulted in significant development, and any other additional or pertinent factors that may impact reserve estimates.
 
  •  In 2008, we increased our prior accident year loss reserves by $1.9 million, which primarily consisted of an increase of $2.6 million in our professional liability lines, offset by reductions of $0.6 million in our general liability lines and $0.1 million in our property lines. The increase to the professional liability lines was related to accident year 2007. The reduction to the general liability lines was related to accident years 2004 through 2006. The reduction in the property lines was related to accident year 2007.
 
  •  In 2007, we reduced our prior accident year loss reserves by $0.1 million which consisted of a reduction in our general liability lines for accident year 2005.
 
The current accident year loss ratio increased 48.3 points in 2008 primarily due to an increase in the current accident year property loss and current accident year casualty loss ratios. The current accident year property loss ratio increased 35.8 points from 35.6% in 2007 to 71.4% in 2008. The increase is due to $0.4 million of net loss and loss adjustment expenses primarily related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, which occurred in September 2008. The current accident year casualty loss ratio increased 49.9 points from 66.0% in 2007 to 115.9% in 2008 primarily due to increased loss trends.
 
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses were $11.3 million for 2008, compared with $3.6 million for 2007, an increase of $7.7 million or 213.9%. Excluding the $1.9 million increase of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2008 and the $0.1 million reduction of net losses and loss adjustment expenses for prior accident years in 2007, the current accident year net losses and loss adjustment expenses were $9.4 million and $3.7 million for 2008 and 2007, respectively. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in net premiums earned and casualty loss cost inflation. Property net premiums earned for 2008 and 2007 were $0.6 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Casualty net premiums earned for 2008 and 2007 were $7.8 million and $5.5 million, respectively.
 
Acquisition Costs and Other Underwriting Expenses
 
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses were $5.5 million for 2008, compared with $4.1 million for 2007, an increase of $1.4 million or 33.1%. The increase is due to a $2.0 million increase in acquisition costs, offset by a $0.6 million decrease in other underwriting expenses.
 
  •  The increase in acquisition costs is primarily due to an increase in commissions resulting from an increase in net premiums earned.
 
  •  The decrease in other underwriting expenses is primarily due to a decrease in total compensation expenses, legal fees, and consulting costs.
 
Expense and Combined Ratios
 
The expense ratio for our Reinsurance Operations was 65.7% for 2008, compared with 70.8% for 2007. The expense ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated by dividing the sum of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses by net premiums earned. The decrease in the expense ratio is primarily due to the increase in net premiums earned noted above.
 
The combined ratio for our Reinsurance Operations was 201.9% for 2008, compared with 133.1% for 2007. The combined ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure and is the sum of our loss and expense ratios. Excluding the impact of a $1.9 million increase of prior accident year loss reserves in 2008 and a $0.1 million reduction of prior accident year loss reserves in 2007, the combined ratio increased from 135.3% for 2007 to 178.5% for 2008. See discussion of loss ratio included in “Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” above and discussion of expense ratio in preceding paragraph above for an explanation of this increase.


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Loss from underwriting
 
The factors described above resulted in a loss from underwriting for our Reinsurance Operations of $8.5 million for 2008, compared with a loss from underwriting of $1.9 million for 2007, an increase of $6.6 million or 341.7%.
 
Unallocated Corporate Items
 
The following items are not allocated to our Insurance Operations or Reinsurance Operations segments:
 
                                 
                Increase/(Decrease)  
    2008     2007     $     %  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Net investment income
  $ 67,830     $ 77,341     $ (9,511 )     (12.3 )%
Net realized investment gains (losses)
    (50,259 )     968       (51,227 )     NM  
Corporate and other operating expenses
    (13,918 )     (11,643 )     2,275       19.5 %
Interest expense
    (8,657 )     (11,372 )     (2,715 )     (23.9 )%
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets
    (96,449 )           (96,449 )      
Income tax benefit (expense)
    29,216       (18,697 )     (47,913 )     NM  
Equity in net loss of partnership, net of tax
    (3,890 )     (581 )     (3,309 )     (569.5 )%
 
NM — Not meaningful.
 
Net Investment Income
 
Net investment income, which is gross investment income less investment expenses, was $67.8 million for 2008, compared with $77.3 million for 2007, a decrease of $9.5 million or 12.3%.
 
  •  Gross investment income, excluding realized gains and losses, was $72.8 million for 2008, compared with $83.4 million for 2007, a decrease of $10.6 million or 12.7%. The decrease was primarily due to reductions in short-term interest rates and a reduction of our cash and invested assets. Cash and invested assets decreased to $1,599.5 million as of December 31, 2008, from $1,765.1 million as of December 31, 2007, a decrease of $165.6 million or 9.4%. This decrease was due to negative operating cash flow of $18.2 million, realized and unrealized losses in our investment portfolio of $78.6 million, and the remaining $68.8 million is mainly due to share repurchases and debt repayments that occurred earlier in the year. Our limited partnership investments did not generate gross investment income in 2008; they generated gross investment income of $0.4 million for 2007. Excluding limited partnership distributions, gross investment income for 2008 decreased 12.3% compared to 2007.
 
  •  Investment expenses were $5.0 million for 2008, compared with $6.1 million for 2007, a decrease of $1.1 million or 17.7%. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the average fair value of our invested assets and a decrease in trust fees.
 
The average duration of our bonds was 3.1 years as of December 31, 2008, compared with 3.7 years as of December 31, 2007. Including cash and short-term investments, the average duration of our investments as of December 31, 2008 and 2008 was 2.5 and 3.1 years, respectively. At December 31, 2008, our book yield on our bonds, not including cash, was 4.95% compared with 5.02% at December 31, 2007. The book yield on the $234.6 million of municipal bonds in our portfolio was 3.87% at December 31, 2008.
 
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
 
Net realized investment losses were $50.3 million for 2008, compared with net realized investment gains of $1.0 million for 2007. The net realized investment losses for 2008 consist primarily of net losses of $5.2 million relative to market value declines in our convertible portfolios, other than temporary impairment losses of $32.1 million, net losses of $5.9 million from the sale of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stock, and net losses of $6.8 million from the sale of Lehman Brothers corporate bonds. The net realized investment gains for 2007 consist primarily of net gains of $1.7 million relative to our bond portfolios, net of other than temporary


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impairments of $0.7 million, net gains of $2.1 million relative to our equity portfolio, net losses of $2.6 million relative to our convertible portfolios, and net losses of $0.2 million relative to our limited partnership portfolios.
 
See Note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for an analysis of total investment return on an after-tax basis for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
 
Corporate and Other Operating Expenses
 
Corporate and other operating expenses consist of outside legal fees, other professional fees, directors’ fees, management fees, salaries and benefits for holding company personnel, and taxes incurred which are not directly related to operations. Corporate and other operating expenses were $13.9 million for 2008, compared with $11.6 million for 2007, an increase of $2.3 million or 19.5%. This increase is primarily due to an increase in travel expenses, legal fees, accounting and audit fees, and other miscellaneous expenses.
 
Interest Expense
 
Interest expense was $8.7 million and $11.4 million for 2008 and 2007, respectively. The reduction is primarily due to retiring $15.5 million of trust preferred debt in December 2007, and $15.5 million in May 2008. See Note 9 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details on our debt.
 
Impairments of Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets were $96.4 million for 2008. See Note 5 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details on our impairments.
 
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
Income tax benefit relating to continuing operations was $29.2 million for 2008, compared with income tax expense of $18.7 million for 2007. See Note 7 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a comparison of income tax expense between periods.
 
Our alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credit carryforward as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $0.8 million and $0.0 million, respectively. In 2008, there were $29.0 million of other than temporary impairment losses on invested assets held by our U.S. Subsidiaries. If these invested assets are sold and the impairment losses are realized in 2008, the AMT credit carryforward could increase by $4.4 million to $5.2 million.
 
Equity in Net Loss of Partnerships
 
Equity in net loss of partnerships, net of tax was $3.9 million for 2008, compared with $0.6 million for 2007, an increase of $3.3 million. The increase in the loss was due to the performance of a limited partnership investment which invests mainly in high yield bonds.
 
Net Income (Loss)
 
The factors described above resulted in net loss of $141.6 million for 2008, compared with net income of $98.9 million for 2007, a decrease of $240.5 million or 243.1%.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Sources and Uses of Funds
 
United America Indemnity is a holding company. Its principal asset is its ownership of the shares of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including United National Insurance Company, Diamond State Insurance Company, United National Specialty Insurance Company, United National Casualty Insurance Company, Wind River Reinsurance, Penn-America Insurance Company, Penn-Star Insurance Company, and Penn-Patriot Insurance Company.


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The principal source of cash that United America Indemnity, United America Indemnity Group, Inc. (“United America Indemnity Group”), and AIS need to meet their short term and long term liquidity needs, including corporate expenses, includes dividends, other permitted disbursements from their direct and indirect subsidiaries, and reimbursement to United America Indemnity from its subsidiaries for equity awards granted to employees. The principal sources of funds at these direct and indirect subsidiaries include underwriting operations, commissions, investment income, and proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments. Funds are used principally to pay claims and operating expenses, to make debt payments, to purchase investments, and to make dividend payments. The future liquidity of United America Indemnity, United America Indemnity Group, and AIS is dependent on the ability of their subsidiaries to pay dividends. United America Indemnity, United America Indemnity Group, and AIS currently have no planned capital expenditures that could have a material impact on its long-term liquidity needs.
 
In May 2009, United America Indemnity received gross proceeds of $100.1 million from the issuance of 17.2 million and 11.4 million of its Class A and Class B common shares, respectively, in conjunction with the Rights Offering that was announced in March 2009. The net proceeds of $91.8 million were used to support strategic initiatives, enhance liquidity and financial flexibility, and for other general corporate purposes. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
United America Indemnity Group owes $90.0 million to unrelated third parties in guaranteed senior notes. On July 20, 2011 and on each anniversary thereafter to and including July 20, 2014, United America Indemnity Group is required to prepay $18.0 million of the principal amount. On July 20, 2015, United America Indemnity Group is required to pay any remaining outstanding principal amount on the notes. The notes are guaranteed by United America Indemnity, Ltd. In the event that debt service obligations were not satisfied, United America Indemnity Group would be precluded from paying dividends to U.A.I. (Luxembourg) Investment S.à r.l., its parent company.
 
AIS owes $30.9 million to affiliated parties in junior subordinated debentures, which are due in 2033. Interest is payable quarterly. See Note 9 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the terms of these notes. In the event that debt service obligations were not satisfied, AIS would be precluded from paying dividends to United America Indemnity Group, its parent company.
 
In July 2008, United America Indemnity completed its purchase of $100.0 million of its Class A common shares as part of two $50.0 million share buyback programs that were initiated in November 2007 and February 2008, respectively. Wind River Reinsurance loaned United America Indemnity funds to enable it to execute the buybacks. The loan currently bears interest at 3.75% per year. In June 2008, Wind River Reinsurance declared and paid a dividend of $50.0 million to United America Indemnity. United America Indemnity used proceeds from the dividend to repay a portion of the loan.
 
At December 31, 2009, United America Indemnity owed $48.7 million in principal to Wind River Reinsurance, $6.0 million in principal to U.A.I. (Luxembourg) Investment S.à r.l. (“UAI Luxembourg Investment”), and $4.0 million in related accrued interest.
 
The United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies are restricted by statute as to the amount of dividends that they may pay without the prior approval of regulatory authorities. The United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies may pay dividends without advance regulatory approval only out of unassigned surplus. See Note 16 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for the dividends declared and paid by the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies in 2009 and the maximum amount of distributions that they could pay as dividends in 2010.
 
For 2010, we believe that Wind River Reinsurance should have sufficient liquidity and solvency to pay dividends. Wind River Reinsurance is prohibited, without the approval of the BMA, from reducing by 15% or more its total statutory capital as set out in its previous year’s statutory financial statements, and any application for such approval must include such information as the BMA may require. Based upon the total statutory capital plus the statutory surplus as set out in its 2009 statutory financial statements that will be filed in 2010, Wind River Reinsurance could pay a dividend of up to $175.8 million without requesting BMA approval.


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Surplus Levels
 
Each company in our Insurance Operations is required by law to maintain a certain minimum level of policyholders’ surplus on a statutory basis. Policyholders’ surplus is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets. The NAIC adopted risk-based capital standards that are designed to identify property and casualty insurers that may be inadequately capitalized based on the inherent risks of each insurer’s assets and liabilities and mix of net premiums written. Insurers falling below a calculated threshold may be subject to varying degrees of regulatory action. Based on the standards currently adopted, the policyholders’ surplus of each company in our Insurance Operations is in excess of the prescribed minimum company action level risk-based capital requirements.
 
Cash Flows
 
Sources of operating funds consist primarily of net premiums written and investment income. Funds are used primarily to pay claims and operating expenses and to purchase investments.
 
Our reconciliation of net income to cash provided from operations is generally influenced by the following:
 
  •  the fact that we collect premiums, net of commission, in advance of losses paid;
 
  •  the timing of our settlements with our reinsurers; and
 
  •  the timing of our loss payments.
 
Net cash was provided by (used for) operating activities in 2009, 2008, and 2007 of $(52.6) million, $(18.2) million and $148.0 million, respectively.
 
In 2009, the decrease in operating cash flows of approximately $35.4 million from the prior year was primarily a net result of the following items:
 
                         
    2009     2008     Change  
 
Net premiums collected
  $ 270,512     $ 324,785     $ (54,273 )
Net losses paid
    (282,144 )(1)     (261,553 )     (20,591 )
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    (128,725 )     (145,810 )     17,085  
Net investment income
    76,791       76,827       (36 )
Net federal income taxes recovered (paid)
    18,311       (5,670 )     23,981  
Interest paid
    (7,292 )     (9,016 )     1,724  
Other
    (96 )     2,206       (2,302 )
                         
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
  $ (52,643 )   $ (18,231 )   $ (34,412 )
                         
 
 
(1) Includes out-of-period adjustment of $(18.6) million. See Note 2 in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning this adjustment.
 
In 2008, the decrease in operating cash flows of approximately $166.3 million from the prior year was primarily a net result of the following items:
 
                         
    2008     2007     Change  
 
Net premiums collected
  $ 324,785     $ 504,643     $ (179,858 )
Net losses paid
    (261,553 )     (235,218 )     (26,335 )
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    (145,810 )     (182,088 )     36,278  
Net investment income
    76,827       85,406       (8,579 )
Net federal income taxes recovered (paid)
    (5,670 )     (17,182 )     11,512  
Interest paid
    (9,016 )     (11,180 )     2,164  
Other
    2,206       3,638       (1,432 )
                         
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
  $ (18,231 )   $ 148,019     $ (166,250 )
                         


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See the consolidated statement of cash flows in the financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning our investing and financing activities.
 
Liquidity
 
Each company in our Insurance Operations and our Reinsurance Operations maintains sufficient liquidity to pay claims through cash generated by operations and investments in liquid investments. At December 31, 2009, United America Indemnity had cash and cash equivalents of $186.1 million.
 
In May 2009, United America Indemnity received gross proceeds of $100.1 million from the issuance of 17.2 million and 11.4 million of its Class A and Class B common shares, respectively, in conjunction with the Rights Offering that was announced in March 2009. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
Previous Intercompany Pooling Arrangements
 
The United National Insurance Companies participated in an intercompany pooling arrangement whereby premiums, losses, and expenses were shared pro rata among the members of the group. United National Insurance Company is not an authorized reinsurer in all states. As a result, any losses and unearned premium that were ceded to United National Insurance Company by the other companies in the group had to be collateralized. To satisfy this requirement, United National Insurance Company set up custodial trust accounts on behalf of the other group members. The state insurance departments that regulate the parties to the intercompany pooling agreements also required United National Insurance Company to place assets on deposit subject to trust agreements for the protection of other group members.
 
There were two intercompany pooling arrangements in place for the United National Insurance Companies. The first pooling agreement governed policies that were written prior to July 1, 2002. The second pooling agreement governed policies that were written on or after July 1, 2002. The method by which intercompany reinsurance is ceded was different for each pool. In the first pool, the United National Insurance Companies ceded all business to United National Insurance Company. United National Insurance Company ceded in turn to external reinsurers. The remaining net premiums retained were allocated to the companies in the group according to their respective pool participation percentages. In the second pool, each company in the group first ceded to external reinsurers. The remaining net was ceded to United National Insurance Company where the net premiums written of the group were pooled and reallocated to the group based on their respective participation percentages. The second pool required less collateral by United National Insurance Company as a result of it assuming less business from the other group members. United National Insurance Company only had to fund the portion that was ceded to it after cessions had occurred with external reinsurers. United National Insurance Company retained 80.0% of the risk associated with each pool.
 
The Penn-America Insurance Companies participated in an intercompany pooling arrangement whereby premiums, losses, and expenses were shared pro rata among the members of the group. These parties were not authorized reinsurers in all states. As a result, any losses and unearned premium that were ceded to Penn-Star Insurance Company by the other group members had to be collateralized. The state insurance departments that regulate the parties to the intercompany pooling agreements required Penn-Star Insurance Company to place assets on deposit subject to trust agreements for the protection of other group members.
 
Current Intercompany Pooling Arrangement and Stop Loss Agreement
 
Effective January 1, 2009, all of the U.S. Insurance Companies participate in a single pool. The U.S. Insurance Companies and Wind River Reinsurance also negotiated a new stop loss agreement that provides protection to the U.S. Insurance Companies in a loss corridor from 70% to 90%. Regulatory approval for these agreements was obtained.


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Quota Share Arrangements
 
Our Non-U.S. Insurance Operations commenced offering reinsurance to the United National Insurance Companies in January 2004 through quota share arrangements. These reinsurance arrangements resulted in 60% of the United National Insurance Companies’ net retained insurance liability on new or renewal business being ceded to Wind River Reinsurance or its predecessors through December 31, 2006.
 
On February 1, 2005, the Non-U.S. Insurance Operations commenced providing reinsurance to the Penn-America Insurance Companies through a quota share arrangement. This reinsurance arrangement resulted in 30% of Penn-America Insurance Companies’ net retained insurance liability on new and renewal business bound after February 1, 2005 being ceded to Wind River Bermuda. The agreement also stipulated that 30% of Penn-America Insurance Companies’ February 1, 2005 net unearned premium be ceded to Wind River Bermuda.
 
As part of the amalgamation of our Non-U.S. Insurance Operations, each of the aforementioned quota share agreements was assumed by Wind River Reinsurance.
 
Effective January 1, 2007, each of the quota share agreements was terminated and consolidated into a single quota share reinsurance agreement. Under this new agreement, our U.S. Insurance Companies have agreed to cede 50% of their net unearned premiums as of December 31, 2006, plus 50% of the net retained insurance liability of all new and renewal business bound on or after January 1, 2007 to Wind River Reinsurance. Wind River Reinsurance is an unauthorized reinsurer. As a result, any losses and unearned premium that are ceded to Wind River Reinsurance by the U.S. Insurance Companies must be collateralized. To satisfy this requirement, Wind River Reinsurance has set up custodial trust accounts on behalf of the U.S. Insurance Companies.
 
Wind River Reinsurance has established independent reinsurance trust accounts for the benefit of each of the U.S. Insurance Companies. We invest the funds in securities that have durations that closely match the expected duration of the liabilities assumed. We believe that Wind River Reinsurance will have sufficient liquidity to pay claims prospectively.
 
All trusts that we are required to maintain as a result of the above mentioned pooling agreements and quota share arrangements are adequately funded.
 
In 2010, we expect that, in the aggregate, our Insurance Operations and our Reinsurance Operations will have sufficient liquidity to pay claims. We monitor our portfolios to assure liability and investment durations are closely matched.
 
Prospectively, as fixed income investments mature and new cash is obtained, the cash available to invest will be invested in accordance with our investment policy. Our investment policy allows us to invest in taxable and tax-exempt fixed income investments as well as publicly traded and private equity investments. With respect to bonds, our credit exposure limit for each issuer varies with the issuer’s credit quality. The allocation between taxable and tax-exempt bonds is determined based on market conditions and tax considerations.
 
We have access to various capital sources including dividends from insurance subsidiaries, invested assets in our Non-U.S. Subsidiaries, and access to the debt and equity capital markets. We believe we have sufficient liquidity to meet our capital needs. See Note 16 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for a discussion of our dividend capacity.
 
Capital Resources
 
In May 2009, United America Indemnity received gross proceeds of $100.1 million from the issuance of 17.2 million and 11.4 million of its Class A and Class B common shares, respectively, in conjunction with the Rights Offering that was announced in March 2009. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this report for details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
In July 2005, United America Indemnity Group sold $90.0 million of guaranteed senior notes, due July 20, 2015. These senior notes have an interest rate of 6.22%, payable semi-annually. On July 20, 2011 and on each anniversary thereafter to and including July 20, 2014, United America Indemnity Group is required to repay $18.0 million of the principal amount. On July 20, 2015, United America Indemnity Group is required to pay any


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remaining outstanding principal amount on the notes. United America Indemnity Group is dependent on dividends received from its U.S. Insurance Operations to fund this debt service. The notes are guaranteed by United America Indemnity, Ltd.
 
U.A.I. (Luxembourg) Investment S.à r.l. holds promissory notes of $175.0 million and $110.0 million from United America Indemnity Group which have interest rates of 6.64% and 6.20%, respectively, and mature in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Interest on these notes is paid annually.
 
On January 18, 2006, U.A.I. Luxembourg Investment loaned $6.0 million to United America Indemnity, Ltd. The loan has been used to pay operating expenses that arise in the normal course of business. The loan is a demand loan and bears interest at 4.38%. At December 31, 2009, there was $1.0 million of accrued interest on the loan. United America Indemnity, Ltd. is dependent on its subsidiaries to pay it dividends and its operating expenses.
 
On November 12, 2007, Wind River Reinsurance issued a $50.0 million demand line of credit to United America Indemnity, Ltd. that bears interest at 5.25%. The proceeds of the line were used to fund the purchases of our Class A common shares. See Item 5 in Part II of this report for details concerning these purchases.
 
On February 13, 2008, the demand line of credit was amended. The interest rate was decreased to 3.75% per annum, and the loan amount was increased to $100.0 million. The increase was used to fund the repurchase of an additional $50.0 million of our Class A common shares. See Item 5 in Part II of this report for details concerning these purchases.
 
In June 2008, Wind River Reinsurance declared and paid a dividend of $50.0 million to United America Indemnity. United America Indemnity used proceeds from the dividend to repay a portion of the loan. As of December 31, 2009, there was $48.7 million outstanding on the line of credit plus accrued interest of $4.0 million.
 
United America Indemnity Group has no income producing operations. The ability of United America Indemnity Group to generate cash to repay the notes is dependent on dividends that it receives from its subsidiaries.
 
On May 15, 2008, we redeemed all of the $15.0 million issued and outstanding notes of Penn Trust II. In conjunction with this redemption, the $15.5 million of junior subordinated debentures of PAGI, which are the sole assets of Penn Trust II, were also redeemed. The registration of Penn Trust II was cancelled effective February 2, 2009.
 
Our business trust subsidiaries have issued floating rate capital and floating rate common securities. A summary of the terms related to these securities is as follows:
 
                 
Issuer
 
Amount
 
Maturity
 
Interest Rate
 
Call Provisions
 
AIS through its wholly owned subsidiary United National Group Capital Trust I (“UNG Trust I”)
  $10.0 million issued
September 30, 2003
  September 30, 2033   Payable quarterly at the
three month London
Interbank Offered Rate
(“LIBOR) plus 4.05%
  At par after
September 30, 2008
AIS through its wholly owned subsidiary United National Group Capital Statutory Trust II (“UNG Trust II”)
  $20.0 million issued
October 29, 2003
  October 29, 2033   Payable quarterly at the
three month LIBOR plus 3.85%
  At par after
October 29, 2008
 
We have the ability to call these floating rate capital and floating rate common securities on a quarterly basis at anytime between now and maturity.
 
The proceeds from the above offerings were used to purchase junior subordinated interest notes and were used to support the business growth in the insurance subsidiaries and general business needs.
 
Distributions on the above securities can be deferred up to five years, but in the event of such deferral, we may not declare or pay cash dividends on the common stock of the applicable subsidiary.
 
Our wholly owned business trust subsidiaries, UNG Trust I and UNG Trust II, are not consolidated pursuant to applicable accounting guidance. Our business trust subsidiaries have issued $30.0 million in floating rate capital securities and $0.9 million of floating rate common securities. The sole assets of the business trust subsidiaries are $30.9 million of our junior subordinated debentures, which have the same terms with respect to maturity, payments, and distributions as the floating rate capital securities and the floating rate common securities.


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We are party to a management agreement with Fox Paine & Company, whereby in connection with certain management services provided to us by Fox Paine & Company, we agreed to pay an annual management fee of $1.5 million to Fox Paine & Company. The last annual management fee of $1.5 million was paid to Fox Paine & Company on September 25, 2009. The next annual management fee payment of $1.5 million is payable on November 1, 2010.
 
Contractual Obligations
 
We have commitments in the form of operating leases, a revolving line of credit, senior notes payable, junior subordinated debentures and unpaid losses and loss expense obligations. As of December 31, 2009, contractual obligations related to United America Indemnity’s commitments, including any principal and interest payments, were as follows:
 
                                         
          Payment Due by Period  
          1 Year
    2 to 3 Years
    4 to 5 Years
    6 Years
 
    Total     1/1/10-12/31/10     1/1/11-12/31/12     1/1/13-12/31/14     and Later  
(Dollars in thousands)                              
 
Operating leases(1)
  $ 14,437     $ 3,499     $ 6,877     $ 3,884     $ 177  
Commitments to fund limited partnerships
    2,501       2,501                    
Senior notes(2)
    112,392       5,598       46,076       41,598       19,120  
Junior subordinated debentures(3)
    78,663       1,996       3,992       3,992       68,683  
Term Loans
    641       285       356              
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses obligations(4)
    1,257,741       421,997       477,148       203,864       154,732  
                                         
Total
  $ 1,466,375     $ 435,876     $ 534,449     $ 253,338     $ 242,712  
                                         
 
 
(1) We lease office space and equipment as part of our normal operations. The amounts shown above represent future commitments under such operating leases.
 
(2) On July 20, 2005, United America Indemnity Group sold $90.0 million of guaranteed senior notes, due July 20, 2015. These notes have an interest rate of 6.22%, payable semi-annually. On July 20, 2011 and on each anniversary thereafter to and including July 20, 2014, United America Indemnity Group is required to prepay $18.0 million of the principal amount. On July 20, 2015, United America Indemnity Group, Inc is required to pay any remaining outstanding principal amount on the notes. The notes are guaranteed by United America Indemnity, Ltd. Proceeds from the notes were used to prepay $72.8 million in principal together with related interest due as of July 20, 2005 under senior notes issued by Wind River to the Ball family trusts in September 2003. The terms of the prepayment agreement required the Ball family trusts to reimburse Wind River for $0.3 million of the issuance costs of the new senior notes plus $1.0 million of the incremental interest costs that United America Indemnity Group is estimated to incur under the new senior notes. The total amount of these reimbursements of $1.3 million was recorded as a gain on the early extinguishment of debt.
 
(3) See discussion in “Capital Resources.”
 
(4) These amounts represent the gross future amounts needed to pay losses and related loss adjustment expenses and do not reflect amounts that are expected to be recovered from our reinsurers. See discussion in “Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” for more details.
 
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We have no off balance sheet arrangements other than the Trust Preferred Securities and floating rate common securities discussed in the “Capital Resources” section of “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”


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Inflation
 
Property and casualty insurance premiums are established before we know the amount of losses and loss adjustment expenses or the extent to which inflation may affect such amounts. We attempt to anticipate the potential impact of inflation in establishing our reserves.
 
Substantial future increases in inflation could result in future increases in interest rates, which in turn are likely to result in a decline in the market value of the investment portfolio and resulting unrealized losses or reductions in shareholders’ equity.
 
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
Some of the statements under “Business,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in this report may include forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “project,” “plan,” “seek,” “intend,” or “anticipate” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and include discussions of strategy, financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, expectations or consequences of identified transactions, and statements about the future performance, operations, products and services of the companies.
 
Our business and operations are and will be subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Consequently, actual results and experience may materially differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the ineffectiveness of our business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; (2) the effects of competitors’ pricing policies, and of changes in laws and regulations on competition, including industry consolidation and development of competing financial products; (3) greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity than our underwriting, reserving or investment practices have anticipated; (4) decreased level of demand for our insurance products or increased competition due to an increase in capacity of property and casualty insurers; (5) risks inherent in establishing loss and loss adjustment expense reserves; (6) uncertainties relating to the financial ratings of our insurance subsidiaries; (7) uncertainties arising from the cyclical nature of our business; (8) changes in our relationships with, and the capacity of, our general agents; (9) the risk that our reinsurers may not be able to fulfill obligations; (10) investment performance and credit risk; (11) risks associated with our proposed re-domestication to Ireland; (12) new tax legislation or interpretations that could lead to an increase in our tax burden; and (13) uncertainties relating to governmental and regulatory policies.
 
The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are set forth in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
 
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Market Risk
 
Market risk is the risk of economic losses due to adverse changes in the estimated fair value of a financial instrument as the result of changes in interest rates, equity prices, credit risk, illiquidity, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices. Our consolidated balance sheet includes the estimated fair values of assets that are subject to market risk. Our primary market risks are interest rate risk and credit risks associated with investments in fixed maturities, equity price risk associated with investments in equity securities, and foreign exchange risk associated with premium received that is denominated in foreign currencies. Each of these risks is discussed in more detail below. We have no commodity risk.


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Interest Rate Risk
 
Our primary market risk exposure is to changes in interest rates. Our fixed income investments are exposed to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these securities. As interest rates rise, the market value of our fixed income investments fall, and the converse is also true. We expect to manage interest rate risk through an active portfolio management strategy that involves the selection, by our managers, of investments with appropriate characteristics, such as duration, yield, currency, and liquidity that are tailored to the anticipated cash outflow characteristics of our liabilities. Our strategy for managing interest rate risk also includes maintaining a high quality bond portfolio with a relatively short duration to reduce the effect of interest rate changes on book value. A significant portion of our investment portfolio matures each year, allowing for reinvestment at current market rates.
 
As of December 31, 2009, assuming identical shifts in interest rates for securities of all maturities, the table below illustrates the sensitivity of market value in United America Indemnity’s bonds to selected hypothetical changes in basis point increases and decreases:
 
                         
        Change in
        Market Value
Basis Point Change
  Market Value   $   %
 
(200)
  $ 1,523,077     $ 51,505       3.5 %
(100)
    1,503,358       31,786       2.2 %
No change
    1,471,572             0.0 %
100
    1,428,602       (42,970 )     (2.9 )%
200
    1,383,131       (88,441 )     (6.0 %)
 
Credit Risk
 
We have exposure to credit risk primarily as a holder of fixed income investments as well as corporate loans. With the exception of corporate loans, our investment policy requires that we invest in debt instruments of high credit quality issuers and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer based upon the rating of the security.
 
Our corporate loan portfolio is subject to default risk since these investments are typically below investment grade. To mitigate this risk, our investment managers perform an in-depth structural analysis. As part of this analysis, they focus on the strength of any security granted to the lenders, the position of the loan in the company’s capital structure and the appropriate covenant protection. In addition, as part of our risk control, our investment managers maintain appropriate portfolio diversification by limiting issuer and industry exposure.
 
As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately $2.5 million worth of investment exposure to subprime and Alt-A investments. As of December 31, 2009, approximately $0.8 million of those investments have been rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s, $1.6 million were rated BBB- to AA, and $0.1 million were rated CCC. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had approximately $3.5 million worth of investment exposure to subprime and Alt-A investments. Of that amount, approximately $1.2 million have been rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s, $1.8 million were rated BBB- to AA, and the remaining $0.5 million were rated BB+. Impairments on these investments were $0.9 million and $0.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
In addition, we have credit risk exposure to our general agencies and reinsurers. We seek to mitigate and control our risks to producers by typically requiring our general agencies to render payments within no more than 45 days after the month in which a policy is effective and including provisions within our general agency contracts that allow us to terminate a general agency’s authority in the event of non-payment.
 
With respect to our credit exposure to reinsurers, we seek to mitigate and control our risk by ceding business to only those reinsurers having adequate financial strength and sufficient capital to fund their obligation. In addition, we seek to mitigate credit risk to reinsurers through the use of trusts and letters of credit for collateral. As of December 31, 2009, $378.1 million of collateral and $62.1 million of letters of credit were held in trust to support the reinsurance receivables.


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Equity Price Risk
 
In 2009, the strategy for our equity portfolio follows a large cap value approach. This investment style will place primary emphasis on selecting the best relative values from those issues having a projected normalized price-earnings ratio at a discount to the market multiple.
 
We compare the results of our equity portfolio to a custom benchmark index. To protect against equity price risk, the sector exposures within our equity portfolio closely correlate to the sector exposures custom benchmark index. In 2009, our common stock portfolio had a return of 48.6%, not including investment advisor fees, compared to the benchmark return of 37.9%.
 
The carrying values of investments subject to equity price risk are based on quoted market prices as of the balance sheet dates. Market prices are subject to fluctuation and thus the amount realized in the subsequent sale of an investment may differ from the reported market value. Fluctuation in the market price of an equity security results from perceived changes in the underlying economic makeup of a stock, the price of alternative investments and overall market conditions.
 
We attempt to mitigate our unsystematic risk, which is the risk that is associated with holding a particular security, by holding a large number of securities in that market. At year end, no security represented more than 4.5% of the market value of the equity portfolio. We continue to have systematic risk, which is the risk inherent in the general market due to broad macroeconomic factors that affect all companies in the market.
 
As of December 31, 2009, the table below summarizes our equity price risk and reflects the effect of a hypothetical 10% and 20% increase or decrease in market prices. The selected hypothetical changes do not indicate what could be the potential best or worst scenarios.
 
                 
        Hypothetical
    Estimated Fair Value
  Percentage Increase
(Dollars in thousands)
  after Hypothetical
  (Decrease) in
Hypothetical Price Change
  Change in Prices   Shareholders’ Equity
 
(20)%
  $ 52,525       (1.0 )%
(10)%
    59,090       (0.5 )%
No change
    65,656        
10%
    72,222       0.5 %
20%
    78,787       1.0 %
 
Foreign Exchange Risk
 
In 2009, we had foreign exchange risk associated with a small portion of the premium of Wind River Reinsurance. We generally keep premiums received in non-U.S. currencies in their respective original currencies, until there is greater certainty of net profits under individual reinsurance contracts, at which time we intend to sell some of those original currencies into U.S. dollars. At year-end, we revalue those non-U.S. currency assets to current U.S. dollar rates. Corresponding liabilities, if any, are adjusted within the reserving process. If losses exceed premiums, we intend to purchase the relevant non-U.S. currencies at the prevailing rates. At December 31, 2009, there was an unrealized loss of $0.04 million resulting from our foreign currency asset revaluations, which is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. We are converting to U.S. dollars in 2010.


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Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
Index to Financial Statements
 
         
    87  
    88  
    89  
    90  
    91  
    92  
    93  
 
 
Index to Financial Statement Schedules
 
                 
      Summary of Investments — Other Than Investments in Related Parties     S-1  
      Condensed Financial Information of Registrant     S-2  
      Supplementary Insurance Information     S-5  
      Reinsurance Earned Premiums     S-6  
      Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves     S-7  
      Supplementary Information for Property Casualty Underwriters     S-8  


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Board of Directors and
Shareholders of United America Indemnity, Ltd.:
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of United America Indemnity, Ltd. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedules listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedules, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedules, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 16, 2010


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
 
                 
    December 31,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
(In thousands, except share amounts)        
 
ASSETS
Fixed maturities:
               
Available for sale, at fair value
(amortized cost: $1,423,052 and $1,192,385)
  $ 1,471,572     $ 1,204,974  
Equity securities:
               
Preferred stocks:
               
Available for sale, at fair value
(cost: $1,509 and $4,665)
    2,599       4,665  
Common stocks:
               
Available for sale, at fair value
(cost: $50,709 and $46,316)
    63,057       50,613  
Other invested assets:
               
Available for sale, at fair value
(cost: $4,323 and $19,689)
    6,854       39,219  
Securities classified as trading, at fair value
(cost: $1,145 and $7,453)
    1,145       7,453  
                 
Total investments
    1,545,227       1,306,924  
Cash and cash equivalents
    186,087       292,604  
Accounts receivable, net
    69,711       57,117  
Reinsurance receivables
    543,351       679,277  
Federal income taxes receivable
    3,521       16,487  
Deferred federal income taxes
    13,819       32,532  
Deferred acquisition costs
    33,184       34,734  
Intangible assets
    9,236       9,309  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
    16,546       23,960  
Other assets
    25,098       24,115  
                 
Total assets
  $ 2,445,780     $ 2,477,059  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
               
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
  $ 1,257,741     $ 1,506,429  
Unearned premiums
    131,582       149,677  
Ceded balances payable
    16,009       25,165  
Contingent commissions
    11,169       6,695  
Payable for securities purchased
    37,258       710  
Notes and debentures payable
    121,569       121,845  
Other liabilities
    38,476       34,545  
                 
Total liabilities
    1,613,804       1,845,066  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
           
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Common shares, $0.0001 par value, 900,000,000 common shares authorized; Class A common shares issued: 42,486,690 and 25,032,618, respectively; Class A common shares outstanding: 36,430,477 and 19,013,462, respectively; Class B common shares issued and outstanding: 24,122,744 and 12,687,500, respectively
    7       4  
Additional paid-in capital
    619,469       524,345  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes
    48,481       25,108  
Retained earnings
    264,739       182,982  
Class A common shares in treasury, at cost:
               
6,056,213 and 6,019,156 shares, respectively
    (100,720 )     (100,446 )
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    831,976       631,993  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 2,445,780     $ 2,477,059  
                 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.

Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(In thousands, except shares and per share data)              
 
Revenues:
                       
Gross premiums written
  $ 340,999     $ 378,700     $ 563,112  
                         
Net premiums written
  $ 290,995     $ 309,080     $ 490,535  
                         
Net premiums earned
  $ 301,674     $ 382,508     $ 536,323  
Net investment income
    70,214       67,830       77,341  
Net realized investment gains (losses) :
                       
Other than temporary impairment losses on investments
    (5,689 )     (32,141 )     (651 )
Other than temporary impairment losses on investments recognized in other comprehensive income
    115              
Other net realized investment gains (losses)
    21,436       (18,118 )     1,619  
                         
Total net realized investment gains (losses)
    15,862       (50,259 )     968  
                         
Total revenues
    387,750       400,079       614,632  
Losses and Expenses:
                       
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    169,382       305,174       299,241  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    119,929       142,767       174,181  
Corporate and other operating expenses
    16,752       13,918       11,643  
Interest expense
    7,216       8,657       11,372  
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets
          96,449        
                         
Income (loss) before income taxes
    74,471       (166,886 )     118,195  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    4,310       (29,216 )     18,697  
                         
Income (loss) before equity in net income (loss) of partnerships
    70,161       (137,670 )     99,498  
Equity in net income (loss) of partnerships, net of taxes
    5,276       (3,890 )     (581 )
                         
Net income (loss)
  $ 75,437     $ (141,560 )   $ 98,917  
                         
Per share data(1):
                       
Net income (loss)
                       
Basic
  $ 1.46     $ (3.87 )   $ 2.40  
                         
Diluted
  $ 1.46     $ (3.87 )   $ 2.38  
                         
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding(2)
                       
Basic
    51,712,098       36,556,189       41,258,027  
                         
Diluted
    51,762,764       36,556,189       41,570,239  
                         
 
 
(1) In 2008, “Diluted” loss per share is the same as “Basic” loss per share since there was a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
(2) In May 2009, the Company issued 17.2 million Class A common shares and 11.4 million Class B common shares in conjunction with the Rights Offering. In computing the basic and diluted weighted share counts, the number of shares outstanding prior to May 5, 2009 (the date that the common shares were issued in conjunction with the Rights Offering) was adjusted by a factor of 1.114 to reflect the impact of a bonus element associated with the Rights Offering in accordance with appropriate accounting guidance. As a result, share counts for 2008 and 2007 have been restated.
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(In thousands)                  
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 75,437     $ (141,560 )   $ 98,917  
                         
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
                       
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
    40,532       (49,111 )     18,509  
Portion of other than temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
    150              
Recognition of previously unrealized holding (gains) losses
    (11,129 )     34,144       (621 )
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)
    140       (97 )      
                         
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    29,693       (15,064 )     17,888  
                         
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
  $ 105,130     $ (156,624 )   $ 116,805  
                         
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(In thousands, except share amounts)                  
 
Number of Class A common shares issued:
                       
Number at beginning of period
    25,032,618       24,770,507       24,507,919  
Common shares issued under share incentive plan
    72,127       252,248       243,253  
Common shares issued to directors
    203,524       9,863       19,335  
Common shares issued under Rights Offering
    17,178,421              
                         
Number at end of period
    42,486,690       25,032,618       24,770,507  
                         
Number of Class B common shares issued:
                       
Number at beginning of period
    12,687,500       12,687,500       12,687,500  
Common shares issued under Rights Offering
    11,435,244              
                         
Number at end of period
    24,122,744       12,687,500       12,687,500  
                         
Par value of Class A common shares:
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 3     $ 3     $ 3  
Common shares issued under Rights Offering
    1              
                         
Balance at end of period
  $ 4     $ 3     $ 3  
                         
Par value Class B common shares:
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 1     $ 1     $ 1  
Common shares issued under Rights Offering
    2              
                         
Balance at end of period
  $ 3     $ 1     $ 1  
                         
Additional paid-in capital:
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 524,345     $ 519,980     $ 515,357  
Contributed capital from Class A common shares
                1,002  
Share compensation plans
    3,294       4,365       3,621  
Common shares issued under Rights Offering
    91,830              
                         
Balance at end of period
  $ 619,469     $ 524,345     $ 519,980  
                         
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred income tax:
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 25,108     $ 40,172     $ 22,580  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                       
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
    29,554       (14,967 )     17,888  
Unrealized foreign currency translation losses
    140       (97 )      
                         
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    29,694       (15,064 )     17,888  
Change in other than temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of taxes
    (1 )            
Cumulative effect adjustment per new impairment accounting guidance
    (6,320 )            
Reclass of change in convertible securities per new accounting guidance
                (296 )
                         
Balance at end of period
  $ 48,481     $ 25,108     $ 40,172  
                         
Retained earnings:
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 182,982     $ 324,542     $ 225,329  
Reclass of change in convertible securities per new accounting guidance
                296  
Net income (loss)
    75,437       (141,560 )     98,917  
Cumulative effect adjustment per new impairment accounting guidance
    6,320              
                         
Balance at end of period
  $ 264,739     $ 182,982     $ 324,542  
                         
Number of Treasury Shares:
                       
Number at beginning of period
    6,019,156       2,454,087        
Class A common shares purchased
    37,057       3,565,069       2,454,087  
                         
Number at end of period
    6,056,213       6,019,156       2,454,087  
                         
Treasury Shares, at cost:
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ (100,446 )   $ (48,422 )   $  
Class A common shares purchased, at cost
    (274 )     (52,024 )     (48,422 )
                         
Balance at end of period
  $ (100,720 )   $ (100,446 )   $ (48,422 )
                         
Total shareholders’ equity
  $ 831,976     $ 631,993     $ 836,276  
                         
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(In thousands)                  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 75,437     $ (141,560 )   $ 98,917  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
                       
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    83       173       278  
Amortization and depreciation
    73       1,008       1,010  
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets
          96,449        
Restricted stock and stock option expense
    4,588       3,415       2,698  
Deferred federal income taxes
    9,655       (14,944 )     (1,561 )
Amortization of bond premium and discount, net
    1,995       2,638       1,513  
Net realized investment losses (gains)
    (15,862 )     50,259       (968 )
Equity in loss (income) of partnerships
    (5,276 )     3,890       581  
Changes in:
                       
Accounts receivable
    (12,594 )     11,460       21,690  
Reinsurance receivable
    135,926       40,429       262,796  
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    (248,688 )     3,192       (198,773 )
Unearned premiums
    (18,095 )     (78,686 )     (54,902 )
Ceded balances payable
    (9,156 )     9,427       (477 )
Other assets and liabilities, net
    2,867       (5,543 )     (5,528 )
Contingent commissions
    4,474       (2,925 )     971  
Federal income tax (receivable) payable
    12,966       (19,942 )     3,076  
Deferred acquisition costs, net
    1,550       17,771       7,581  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
    7,414       5,258       9,117  
                         
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
    (52,643 )     (18,231 )     148,019  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities
    499,857       222,345       217,367  
Proceeds from sale of equity securities
    86,376       24,611       34,854  
Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturities
    49,260       94,060       68,144  
Proceeds from sale of other invested assets
    60,191              
Purchase of fixed maturities
    (728,075 )     (177,732 )     (390,365 )
Purchase of equity securities
    (80,778 )     (29,565 )     (44,853 )
Purchase of other invested assets
    (31,334 )     (277 )      
                         
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
    (144,503 )     133,442       (114,853 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares
    91,833             1,002  
Borrowings under credit facility
                22,906  
Repayments of credit facility
                (24,441 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
          1,041       1,902  
Excess tax benefit (expense) from share-based compensation plan
    (794 )     (91 )     406  
Purchase of Class A common shares
    (274 )     (52,024 )     (48,422 )
Retirement of junior subordinated debentures
          (15,464 )     (15,464 )
Principal payments of term debt
    (276 )     (293 )     (479 )
                         
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
    90,489       (66,831 )     (62,590 )
                         
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
    140       (97 )      
                         
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (106,517 )     48,283       (29,424 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    292,604       244,321       273,745  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 186,087     $ 292,604     $ 244,321  
                         
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.   Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
 
United America Indemnity, Ltd. (“United America Indemnity” or the “Company”), was incorporated on August 26, 2003, and is domiciled in the Cayman Islands. On January 24, 2005, the Company changed its name from United National Group, Ltd. to United America Indemnity, Ltd. The Company’s Class A common stock is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Market. On March 14, 2005, the Company changed its trading symbol on the NASDAQ Global Market from “UNGL” to “INDM.”
 
The Company offers property and casualty insurance products in the excess and surplus lines marketplace through its Insurance Operations and provides third party facultative reinsurance for writers of excess and surplus and specialty lines of property and casualty insurance through its Reinsurance Operations. The Company manages its Insurance Operations by differentiating them into three product classifications: Penn-America, which markets to small commercial businesses through a select network of wholesale general agents with specific binding authority; United National, which markets insurance products for targeted insured segments, including specialty products, such as property, general liability, and professional lines through program administrators with specific binding authority; and Diamond State, which markets property, casualty, and professional lines products, which are developed by the Company’s underwriting department by individuals with expertise in those lines of business, through wholesale brokers and also markets through program administrators having specific binding authority. Collectively, the Company’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Company’s Reinsurance Operations consist solely of the operations of its Bermuda-based wholly-owned subsidiary, Wind River Reinsurance.
 
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which differ in certain respects from those followed in reports to insurance regulatory authorities. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of United America Indemnity and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
The Company’s wholly-owned business trust subsidiaries, United National Group Capital Trust I (“UNG Trust I”), United National Group Capital Statutory Trust II (“UNG Trust II”), are not consolidated pursuant to applicable accounting guidance. The Company’s business trust subsidiaries have issued $30.0 million in floating rate capital securities (“Trust Preferred Securities”) and $0.9 million of floating rate common securities. The sole assets of the Company’s business trust subsidiaries are $30.9 million of junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company, which have the same terms with respect to maturity, payments, and distributions as the Trust Preferred Securities and the floating rate common securities. The registration of the Company’s wholly owned business trust subsidiary, Penn-America Statutory Trust II (“Penn Trust II”), was cancelled effective February 2, 2009 as a result of the redemption of its $15.0 million issued and outstanding notes on May 15, 2008.
 
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
 
2.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Investments
 
The Company’s investments in fixed maturities, preferred stock, and common stock are classified as available for sale and are carried at their fair value. 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 at the measurement date. The fair values of the Company’s available for sale portfolio, excluding the limited partnership interest, are determined on the basis of quoted market prices where available. If quoted market prices are not available, the Company uses third


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
party pricing services to assist in determining fair value. In many instances, these services examine the pricing of similar instruments to estimate fair value. The Company purchases bonds with the expectation of holding them to their maturity; however, changes to the portfolio are sometimes required to assure it is appropriately matched to liabilities. In addition, changes in financial market conditions and tax considerations may cause the Company to sell an investment before it matures. Corporate loans have stated maturities; however, they generally do not reach their final maturity due to borrowers refinancing. The difference between amortized cost and fair value of the Company’s available for sale investments, excluding the Company’s convertible bond and convertible preferred stock portfolios, net of the effect of deferred income taxes, is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity and, accordingly, has no effect on net income other than for the credit loss component of impairments deemed to be other than temporary. The difference between amortized cost and fair value of the convertible bonds and convertible preferred stocks is included in income.
 
At December 31, 2009, the Company held $0.6 million of convertible preferred stock. As of December 31, 2008, the Company held $16.0 million of convertible bonds and $3.1 million of convertible preferred stock. The change in the difference between the amortized cost and the market value of the convertible portfolio is included in income as a component of net realized investments gains (losses). The Company realized a $5.4 million gain, a $5.2 million loss, and a $2.6 million loss for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively, due to market value changes related to convertible securities.
 
At December 31, 2009, the Company held $138.9 million in corporate loans. Corporate loans are primarily investments in senior secured floating rate loans that banks have made to corporations. The loans are generally priced at an interest rate spread over LIBOR which resets every 60 to 90 days. The Company’s investments in corporate loans are purchased in secondary markets for the purpose of being as held as investments. They are carried at fair value with any change in the difference between amortized cost and fair value, net of the effect of deferred income taxes, reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. These investments are typically below investment grade.
 
The Company’s investments in other invested assets are comprised primarily of limited liability partnership interests. Partnership interests of 3% ownership or greater are carried at their fair value. The change in the difference between amortized cost and fair value of partnership interests of 3% ownership or greater, net of the effect of deferred income taxes, is reflected in income. Partnership interests of less than 3% ownership are carried at their fair value. The change in the difference between amortized cost and the fair value of partnership interests of less than 3% ownership, net of the effect of deferred income taxes, is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity and, accordingly, has no effect on net income other than for impairments deemed to be other than temporary.
 
The Company’s investments in other invested assets, including investments in several limited partnerships, were valued at $8.0 million and $46.7 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Of these amounts, $6.9 million and $13.9 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were comprised of securities for which there is no readily available independent market price. The remaining $1.1 million and $32.8 million were related to limited partnerships that invest primarily in securities that are publicly traded. Material assumptions and factors utilized in pricing these securities include future cash flows, constant default rates, recovery rates, and any market clearing activity that may have occurred since the prior month-end pricing period. Securities that are held by these partnerships are valued by obtaining values from Bloomberg, other external pricing sources, and managers that make markets for these securities. The Company obtains the value of the partnerships at the end of each reporting period; however, the Company is not provided with a detailed listing of the investments held by these partnerships. The Company receives annual audited financial statements from each of the partnerships it owns.
 
Net realized gains and losses on investments are determined based on the specific identification method.
 
The Company regularly performs various analytical valuation procedures with respect to its investments, including reviewing each fixed maturity security in an unrealized loss position to assess whether the security is a


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
candidate for credit loss. Specifically, the Company considers credit rating, market price, and issuer specific financial information, among other factors, to assess the likelihood of collection of all principal and interest as contractually due. Securities for which the Company determines that a credit loss is likely are subjected to further analysis through discounted cash flow testing to estimate the credit loss to be recognized in earnings, if any. The specific methodologies and significant assumptions used by asset class are discussed below. Upon identification of such securities and periodically thereafter, a detailed review is performed to determine whether the decline is considered other than temporary. This review includes an analysis of several factors, including but not limited to, the credit ratings and cash flows of the securities, and the magnitude and length of time that the fair value of such securities is below cost.
 
For fixed maturities, the factors considered in reaching the conclusion that a decline below cost is other than temporary include, among others, whether:
 
(1) the issuer is in financial distress;
 
(2) the investment is secured;
 
(3) a significant credit rating action occurred;
 
(4) scheduled interest payments were delayed or missed;
 
(5) changes in laws or regulations have affected an issuer or industry;
 
(6) the investment has an unrealized loss and was identified by the Company’s Investment Manager as an investment to be sold before recovery or maturity; and
 
(7) the investment failed cash flow projection testing to determine if anticipated principal and interest payments will be realized.
 
For equity securities, management carefully reviews all securities with unrealized losses and further focuses on securities that have either:
 
(1) persisted for more than twelve consecutive months or
 
(2) the value of the investment has been 20% or more below cost for six continuous months or more to determine if the security should be impaired.
 
The amount of any write-down, including those that are deemed to be other than temporary, is included in earnings as a realized loss in the period in which the impairment arose.
 
According to the most recent accounting guidance, for debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company is required to assess whether the Company has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before the anticipated recovery. If either of these conditions is met, the Company must recognize an other than temporary impairment with the entire unrealized loss being recorded through earnings. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position not meeting these conditions, the Company assesses whether the impairment of a security is other-than-temporary. If the impairment is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the Company must separate the other than temporary impairment into two components: the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors, such as changes in interest rates. The credit loss represents the portion of the amortized book value in excess of the net present value of the projected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. The credit loss component of the other than temporary impairment is recorded through earnings, whereas the amount relating to factors other than credit losses are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of taxes.
 
For an analysis of other than temporary losses that were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, please see Note 3 below.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
For the purpose of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company has a cash management program that provides for the investment of excess cash balances primarily in short-term money market instruments. Generally, bank balances exceed federally insured limits. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.
 
At December 31, 2009, the Company had approximately $144.7 million of cash and cash equivalents that was invested in a diversified portfolio of high quality short-term debt securities.
 
Valuation of Accounts Receivable
 
The Company evaluates the collectibility of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances in which the Company is aware of a specific circumstance where a party’s inability to meet its financial obligations to the Company, a specific allowance for bad debts against amounts due is recorded to reduce the net receivable to the amount reasonably believed by the Company’s management to be collectible. For all remaining balances, allowances are recognized for bad debts based on the length of time the receivables are past due. The allowance for bad debts was $2.2 million and $3.6 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. There were no bad debts written off in 2009 or 2008.
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, intangible assets were $9.2 million and $9.3 million, respectively. All of our goodwill was completely written off in 2008.
 
The carrying amount of intangible assets that are deemed to have an indefinite useful life, which includes trade names and state insurance licenses, and the carrying amount of intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite useful life, which includes software technology, are regularly reviewed for indicators of impairments in value in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance. The Company’s annual impairment review of intangible assets is performed at December 31. Impairment is recognized only if the carrying amount of the intangible asset is considered not to be recoverable from its undiscounted cash flows and is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the asset. See Note 5 for details concerning the results of the Company’s 2009 impairment testing.
 
Reinsurance
 
In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce the loss that may arise from events that cause unfavorable underwriting results by reinsuring certain levels of risk in various areas of exposure with reinsurers. Amounts receivable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the reinsured policy.
 
During 2009, the Company decreased its uncollectible reinsurance reserve by $0.7 million due to a decrease in the amount of carried reinsurance receivables. During 2008, the Company increased its uncollectible reinsurance reserve by $3.1 million due to an increase in the Company’s assessment of its risk of collecting from several individual reinsurers.
 
The applicable accounting guidance requires that the reinsurer must assume significant insurance risk under the reinsured portions of the underlying insurance contracts and that there must be a reasonably possible chance that the reinsurer may realize a significant loss from the transaction. The Company has evaluated its reinsurance contracts and concluded that each contract qualifies for reinsurance accounting treatment pursuant to this guidance.
 
The Company analyzes its reinsurance contracts to ensure they meet the risk transfer requirements of the applicable accounting guidance and regularly reviews the collectibility of reinsurance receivables. Any changes in the allowances resulting from this review are included in income during the period in which the determination is made.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Income Taxes
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
 
A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the remaining deferred income tax assets, and accordingly, the Company has not established any valuation allowances.
 
Deferred Acquisition Costs
 
The costs of acquiring new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts include commissions, premium taxes and certain other costs that vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts. The excess of the Company’s costs of acquiring new and renewal insurance and reinsurance contracts over the related ceding commissions earned from reinsurers is capitalized as deferred acquisition costs and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. In accordance with accounting guidance for insurance enterprises,” the method followed in computing such amounts limits them to their estimated realizable value that gives effect to the premium to be earned, related investment income, losses and loss adjustment expenses, and certain other costs expected to be incurred as the premium is earned. The amortization of deferred acquisition costs for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 was $84.1 million, $108.9 million, and $142.2 million, respectively. The Company determined that its acquisition costs of $33.2 million as of December 31, 2009 were deemed to be recoverable.
 
Notes and Debentures Payable
 
The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet represent the outstanding balances.
 
In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance that establishes standards for classifying and measuring certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity, the Company’s junior subordinated debentures are classified as a liability on the balance sheets and the related distributions are recorded as interest expense in the Statements of Operations.
 
The Company does not consolidate its business trust subsidiaries, which in the aggregate issued $30.0 million of Trust Preferred Securities and $0.9 million of floating rate common securities. The sole assets of the Company’s business trust subsidiaries are $30.9 million of junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company, which have the same terms with respect to maturity, payments, and distributions as the Trust Preferred Securities and the floating rate common securities. Therefore, the Company’s junior subordinated debentures are presented as a liability in the balance sheet at December 31, 2009 and 2008.
 
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
The liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses represents the Company’s best estimate of future amounts needed to pay losses and related settlement expenses with respect to events insured by the Company. This liability is based upon the accumulation of individual case estimates for losses reported prior to the close of the accounting period with respect to direct business, estimates received from ceding companies with respect to assumed reinsurance, and estimates of unreported losses.
 
The process of establishing the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses of a property and casualty insurance company is complex, requiring the use of informed actuarially based estimates and judgments. In


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
some cases, significant periods of time, up to several years or more, may elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss and the reporting of that loss to the Company. To establish this liability, the Company regularly reviews and updates the methods of making such estimates and establishing the resulting liabilities. Any resulting adjustments are recorded in income during the period in which the determination is made.
 
Premiums
 
Premiums are recognized as revenue ratably over the term of the respective policies and treaties. Unearned premiums are computed on a pro rata basis to the day of expiration.
 
Contingent Commissions
 
Certain professional general agencies of the Insurance Operations are paid special incentives, referred to as commissions, when loss results of business produced by these agencies are more favorable than predetermined thresholds. Similarly, in some circumstances, insurance companies that cede business to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations are paid ceding or profit commissions based on the profitability of the ceded portfolio. These commissions are charged to other underwriting expenses when incurred. The liability for the unpaid portion of these commissions, which is stated separately on the face of the consolidated balance sheet as contingent commissions, was $11.2 million and $6.7 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The increase is primarily due to several reinsurance treaties that were entered into by the Company’s Reinsurance Operations during the first quarter of 2009 that have generated profitable business and therefore resulted in increased commissions.
 
Share-Based Compensation
 
The Company accounts for stock options and other equity based compensation using the modified prospective application of the fair value-based method permitted by the appropriate accounting guidance. See Note 13 for details.
 
Earnings Per Share
 
Basic earnings per share has been calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share has been calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the sum of the weighted-average common shares outstanding and the weighted-average common share equivalents outstanding, which include options, warrants, and other equity awards. Basic and diluted per common share and related weighted average number of common share amounts are the same for 2008 since potential common shares were anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation due to the Company’s net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008. See Note 15 for details.
 
Out-of-Period Adjustments
 
During the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company identified an error in the consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 related to the recognition of outstanding claim payment checks and ACH wires occurring after the early closing of the paid-loss sub-ledger at the end of the reporting periods. The Company typically closes the general ledger for operations during the third week of a quarter- or year-end close in order to improve the timeliness of financial reporting. Cash accounts in the general ledger remain open through the last day of the reporting period, which would typically remedy system cut-off issues, since post-system close cash is applied through the financial statement date. However, although post-system close claim payments are recorded in the general ledger, they are not recorded to the paid claims accounts that are mapped to the “Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses” line item on the balance sheet; they are instead recorded to a clearing account that is mapped to the “Cash and cash equivalents” line item. The net effect is that claim payments that are made after the system close, but before the financial statement date, are actually not reflected in the consolidated financial statements


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
since neither cash nor unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are reduced for the amount of the claim payments. The only other balances that are impacted as a result of this process are operating cash flows on the consolidated statement of cash flows. There is no impact to the Company’s net income.
 
The Company has corrected this error in its consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009 by decreasing the “Cash and cash equivalents” and the “Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses” line items on the consolidated balance sheet and the “Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses” line item on the consolidated statement of cash flows by $18.6 million, the cumulative net effect of the error. The Company does not believe that that these adjustments are material to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 or to any prior years’ consolidated financial statements. As a result, the Company has not restated any prior period amounts.
 
3.   Investments
 
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments were as follows as of December 31, 2009 and 2008:
 
                                         
                            Other Than
 
          Gross
    Gross
          Temporary
 
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
    Estimated
    Impairments
 
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value     Recognized in AOCI(1)  
(Dollars in thousands)                          
 
As of December 31, 2009
                                       
Fixed maturities:
                                       
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
  $ 228,386     $ 7,936     $ (234 )   $ 236,088     $  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    217,713       8,255       (370 )     225,598        
Mortgage-backed securities
    349,287       15,219       (506 )     364,000       (72 )
Asset-backed securities
    112,287       2,322       (446 )     114,163       (10 )
Corporate notes and loans
    446,570       15,419       (1,259 )     460,730        
Foreign corporate bonds
    68,809       2,354       (170 )     70,993       (698 )
                                         
Total fixed maturities
    1,423,052       51,505       (2,985 )     1,471,572       (780 )
Common stock
    50,709       12,473       (125 )     63,057        
Preferred stock
    1,509       1,090             2,599        
Other invested assets
    5,468       2,531             7,999        
                                         
Total
  $ 1,480,738       67,599     $ (3,110 )   $ 1,545,227     $ (780 )
                                         
 
 
(1) Represents the amount of other than temporary impairment losses due to other factors which are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). Per the accounting guidance, these items were not included in earnings as of December 31, 2009.
 


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
                                 
          Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
    Estimated
 
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
(Dollars in thousands)                    
 
As of December 31, 2008
                               
Fixed maturities:
                               
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
  $ 135,457     $ 17,320     $     $ 152,777  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    241,457       5,712       (4,139 )     243,030  
Mortgage-backed securities
    372,569       12,180       (680 )     384,069  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    156,402             (11,945 )     144,457  
Asset-backed securities
    19,801             (3,248 )     16,553  
Corporate notes and loans
    215,931       2,175       (4,451 )     213,655  
Foreign corporate bonds
    29,485       136       (471 )     29,150  
Other bonds
    21,283                   21,283  
                                 
Total fixed maturities
    1,192,385       37,523       (24,934 )     1,204,974  
Common stock
    46,316       4,482       (185 )     50,613  
Preferred stock
    4,665                   4,665  
Other invested assets
    27,142       19,530             46,672  
                                 
Total
  $ 1,270,508     $ 61,535     $ (25,119 )   $ 1,306,924  
                                 
 
 
NOTE:   Other than temporary impairments recognized in AOCI is not shown as of December 31, 2008 since the applicable new accounting guidance on other than temporary impairments is not applied retrospectively.
 
Excluding U.S. treasury and securities guaranteed by the U.S. Government, the Company did not hold any debt or equity investments in a single issuer that was in excess of 2.0% or 5.0% of shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2009 or 2008, respectively.
 
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio classified as available for sale at December 31, 2009, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
                 
    Amortized
    Estimated
 
    Cost     Fair Value  
(Dollars in thousands)        
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 58,635     $ 59,587  
Due after one year through five years
    695,807       718,081  
Due after five years through ten years
    143,407       149,785  
Due after ten years through fifteen years
    25,446       26,679  
Due after fifteen years
    38,183       39,277  
Mortgaged-backed securities
    349,287       364,000  
Asset-backed securities
    112,287       114,163  
                 
    $ 1,423,052     $ 1,471,572  
                 

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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following table contains an analysis of the Company’s securities with gross unrealized losses, categorized by the period that the securities were in a continuous loss position as of December 31, 2009:
 
                                                 
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer(1)     Total  
          Gross
          Gross
          Gross
 
          Unrealized
          Unrealized
          Unrealized
 
    Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses  
(Dollars in thousands)                                
 
Fixed maturities:
                                               
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
  $ 56,445     $ (234 )   $     $     $ 56,445     $ (234 )
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    26,488       (239 )     6,403       (131 )     32,891       (370 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    23,612       (217 )     5,020       (289 )     28,632       (506 )
Asset-backed securities
    31,255       (246 )     1,625       (200 )     32,880       (446 )
Corporate notes and loans
    87,286       (1,166 )     3,556       (93 )     90,842       (1,259 )
Foreign corporate bonds
    11,835       (170 )                 11,835       (170 )
                                                 
Total fixed maturities
    236,921       (2,272 )     16,604       (713 )     253,525       (2,985 )
Common stock
    3,184       (73 )     1,107       (52 )     4,291       (125 )
                                                 
Total
  $ 240,105     $ (2,345 )   $ 17,711     $ (765 )   $ 257,816     $ (3,110 )
                                                 
 
 
(1) Fixed maturities in a gross unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer is primarily comprised of non-credit losses on investment grade securities where management does not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be forced to sell the security before recovery. The Company has analyzed these securities and has determined that they are not impaired.
 
The following table contains an analysis of the Company’s securities with gross unrealized losses, categorized by the period that the securities were in a continuous loss position as of December 31, 2008:
 
                                                 
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer(1)     Total  
          Gross
          Gross
          Gross
 
          Unrealized
          Unrealized
          Unrealized
 
    Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses  
(Dollars in thousands)                                
 
Fixed maturities:
                                               
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
  $     $     $     $     $     $  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    59,175       (3,253 )     7,181       (886 )     66,356       (4,139 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    7,561       (282 )     4,533       (398 )     12,094       (680 )
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    55,904       (4,514 )     45,380       (7,431 )     101,284       (11,945 )
Asset-backed securities
    12,624       (2,976 )     1,476       (272 )     14,100       (3,248 )
Corporate notes and loans
    112,886       (2,555 )     20,614       (1,896 )     133,500       (4,451 )
Foreign corporate bonds
    21,171       (471 )                 21,171       (471 )
                                                 
Total fixed maturities
    269,321       (14,051 )     79,184       (10,883 )     348,505       (24,934 )
Common stock
    1,143       (185 )                 1,143       (185 )
                                                 
Total
  $ 270,464     $ (14,236 )   $ 79,184     $ (10,883 )   $ 349,648     $ (25,119 )
                                                 
 
 
(1) At December 31, 2008, the Company had 52 bonds that were in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer. The estimated fair value and amortized cost of these securities was $79.2 million and $90.1 million,


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
respectively. The Company has analyzed these securities and has determined that they are not impaired. The Company has the ability to hold these investments until maturity or until recovery. 99.9% of these securities are investment grade.
 
Subject to the risks and uncertainties in evaluating the potential impairment of a security’s value, the impairment evaluation conducted by the Company as of December 31, 2009, concluded the unrealized losses discussed above are not other than temporary impairments. The impairment evaluation process is discussed in the “Investment” section of Note 2 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”).
 
The following is a description, by asset type, of the methodology and significant inputs that the Company used to measure the amount of credit loss recognized in earnings, if any:
 
U.S. treasury and agency obligations — As of December 31, 2009, gross unrealized losses related to U.S. treasury and agency obligations were $0.2 million. All unrealized losses have been in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months. Of these securities, 90% are rated AAA with the remaining securities being rated AA+. The Company’s investment manager’s analysis for this sector includes on-site visits and meetings with officials in addition to the standard rigorous analysis that determines the financial condition of the issuer.
 
Obligations of states and political subdivisions — As of December 31, 2009, gross unrealized losses related to obligations of states and political subdivisions were $0.4 million. Of this amount, $0.1 million has been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater. These securities are rated investment grade. The Company’s investment manager’s analysis for this sector includes on-site visits and meetings with officials in addition to the standard rigorous analysis that determines the financial condition of the issuer.
 
Mortgage-backed securities — non-agency — As of December 31, 2009, gross unrealized losses related to mortgage-backed securities — non-agency were $0.5 million. Of this amount, $0.3 million has been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater. Of these securities, 95% are rated AAA with the remaining securities being rated between AA and investment grade. The Company’s investment manager models each residential mortgage-backed security to project principal losses under downside, base, and upside scenarios for the economy and home prices. The primary assumption that drives the security and loan level modeling is the Home Price Index (“HPI”) projection. The Company’s investment manager first projects HPI at the national level, then at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (“MSA”) level based on the historical relationship between the individual MSA HPI and the national HPI, using inputs from its macroeconomic team, mortgage portfolio management team, and structured analyst team. The model utilizes loan level data and borrower characteristics including FICO score, geographic location, original and content loan size, loan age, mortgage rate and type (fixed rate / interest-only / adjustable rate mortgage), issuer / originator, residential type (owner occupied / investor property), dwelling type (single family / multi-family), loan purpose, level of documentation, and delinquency status as inputs.
 
Asset backed securities (“ABS”) — As of December 31, 2009, gross unrealized losses related to asset backed securities were $0.4 million. Of this amount, $0.2 million has been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater. These securities are rated investment grade. The weighted average credit enhancement for the Company’s asset backed portfolio is 20.8. The Company’s investment manager analyzes every ABS transaction on a stand-alone basis. This analysis involves a thorough review of the collateral, prepayment, and structural risk in each transaction. Additionally, their analysis includes an in-depth credit analysis of the originator and servicer of the collateral. The Company’s investment manager projects an expected loss for a deal given a set of assumptions specific to the asset type. These assumptions are used to calculate at what level of losses that the deal will incur a dollar of loss. The major assumptions used to calculate this ratio are loss severities, recovery lags, and no advances on principal and interest.
 
Corporate notes — As of December 31, 2009, gross unrealized losses related to corporate bonds were $0.4 million. Of this amount, $0.1 million has been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or greater. These securities are rated investment grade. The Company’s investment manager maintains financial models for the Company’s corporate bond issuers. These models include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
including prospective debt servicing capabilities and capital structure composition. The analysis incorporates macroeconomics environment, industry conditions in which the issuer operates, issuer’s current competitive position, vulnerability to changes in the competitive environment, regulatory environment, issuer liquidity, issuer commitment to bondholders, issuer creditworthiness, and asset protection.
 
Foreign bonds — As of December 31, 2009, gross unrealized losses related to foreign bonds were $0.2 million. All unrealized losses have been in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months. These securities are rated investment grade. The Company’s investment manager maintains financial models for the Company’s bond issuers. These models include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance including prospective debt servicing capabilities and capital structure composition. The analysis incorporates macroeconomics environment, industry conditions in which the issuer operates, issuer’s current competitive position, vulnerability to changes in the competitive environment, regulatory environment, issuer liquidity, issuer commitment to bondholders, issuer creditworthiness, and asset protection.
 
Corporate loans — As of December 31, 2009, gross unrealized losses related to corporate loans were $0.8 million. Of this amount, all unrealized losses have been in an unrealized loss position for less than three months. The Company’s investment managers’ analysis for this sector includes maintaining detailed financial models that include a projection of each issuer’s future financial performance, including prospective debt servicing capabilities, capital structure composition, and the value of the collateral. Part of the process is running downside scenarios to evaluate the expected likelihood of default as well as potential losses in the event of default. On an ongoing basis, the Company’s investment managers also contact the senior management of each issuer to discuss financial developments and industry trends.
 
The Company recorded the following other than temporary impairments on its investment portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)              
 
Fixed maturities:
                       
OTTI losses, gross
  $ 4,449     $ 13,811     $ 432  
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (pre-tax)
    (115 )            
                         
Net bonds impairment losses recognized in earnings
    4,334       13,811       432  
Preferred stock
    647       2,130        
Common stock
    593       16,200       69  
Other invested assets
                150  
                         
Total
  $ 5,574     $ 32,141     $ 651  
                         
 
In the second quarter of 2009, the Company reclassed $6.3 million of OTTI losses, net of tax, that were previously recorded through earnings to other comprehensive income with an offset to retained earnings as a cumulative-effect adjustment. This one-time adjustment that resulted from the implementation of new impairment accounting guidance represented the non-credit portion of previously recognized OTTI on debt securities which were still held as investments as of April 1, 2009.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following table is an analysis of the credit losses recognized in earnings on debt securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2009 for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)      
 
Balance of credit losses related to securities still being held as of April 1, 2009, date of adoption
  $  
Additions where no OTTI was previously recorded
    50  
Additions where an OTTI was previously recorded
     
Reductions for securities for which the company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery
     
Reductions reflecting increases in expected cash flows to be collected
     
Reductions for securities sold during the period
     
         
Balance of credit losses related to securities still being held as of December 31, 2009
  $ 50  
         
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 was as follows:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2009     2008  
(Dollars in thousands)        
 
Net unrealized gains from:
               
Fixed maturities
  $ 48,521     $ 12,589  
Preferred stocks
    1,090        
Common stocks
    12,348       4,297  
Partnerships < 3% owned
    2,531       19,530  
Foreign currency fluctuations
    44       (97 )
Deferred taxes
    (16,053 )     (11,211 )
                 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ 48,481     $ 25,108  
                 


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
 
The components of net realized investment gains (losses) on the sale of investments for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)              
 
Fixed maturities:
                       
Gross realized gains
  $ 21,777     $ 2,553     $ 2,573  
Gross realized losses
    (12,751 )     (26,003 )     (2,573 )
                         
Net realized gains (losses)
    9,026       (23,450 )      
                         
Common stock:
                       
Gross realized gains
    11,753       1,972       3,417  
Gross realized losses
    (6,118 )     (18,513 )     (1,645 )
                         
Net realized gains (losses)
    5,635       (16,541 )     1,772  
                         
Preferred stock:
                       
Gross realized gains
    2,490             431  
Gross realized losses
    (1,289 )     (10,268 )     (1,085 )
                         
Net realized gains (losses)
    1,201       (10,268 )     (654 )
                         
Other invested assets:
                       
Gross realized gains
                 
Gross realized losses
                (150 )
                         
Net realized gains (losses)
                (150 )
                         
Total net realized investment gains (losses)
  $ 15,862     $ (50,259 )   $ 968  
                         
 
The proceeds from sales of available for sale securities resulting in net realized investment gains (losses) for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2007
(Dollars in thousands)        
 
Fixed maturities
  $ 499,857     $ 222,345     $ 217,367  
Equity securities
    86,376       24,611       34,854  
 
Net Investment Income
 
The sources of net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)              
 
Fixed maturities
  $ 62,099     $ 63,223     $ 65,778  
Preferred and common stocks
    1,752       3,059       2,365  
Cash and cash equivalents
    2,382       6,529       14,855  
Other invested assets
    8,647             395  
                         
Total investment income
    74,880       72,811       83,393  
Investment expense
    (4,666 )     (4,981 )     (6,052 )
                         
Net investment income
  $ 70,214     $ 67,830     $ 77,341  
                         


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Company’s total investment return on an after-tax basis for the 2009, 2008, and 2007 were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)              
 
Net investment income
  $ 56,745     $ 55,689     $ 62,250  
                         
Net realized investment gains (losses)
    11,129       (34,142 )     621  
Net equity in net income (loss) of partnerships
    5,276       (3,890 )     (581 )
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)
    29,553       (14,969 )     17,592  
                         
Net investment gains (losses)
    45,958       (53,001 )     17,632  
                         
Total investment return
  $ 102,703     $ 2,688     $ 79,882  
                         
Total investment return %
    6.2 %     0.2 %     4.7 %
                         
Average investment portfolio(1)
  $ 1,646,437     $ 1,682,316     $ 1,710,658  
                         
 
 
(1) Average of total cash and invested assets, net of payable for securities purchased, as of the beginning and ending of the period.
 
Subprime and Alt-A Investments
 
The Company had approximately $2.5 million and $3.5 million worth of investment exposure through subprime and Alt-A investments as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. An Alt-A investment is one which is backed by a loan that contains less documentation than required to obtain a mortgage in the primary market. As of December 31, 2009, approximately $0.8 million of those investments were rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s, $1.6 million were rated BBB- to AA, and $0.1 million were rated CCC. As of December 31, 2008, approximately $1.2 million of those investments were rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s, $1.8 million were rated BBB- to AA, and the remaining $0.5 million were rated BB+.
 
Insurance Enhanced Municipal Bonds
 
As of December 31, 2009, the Company held insurance enhanced municipal bonds of approximately $155.4 million, which represented approximately 9.0% of the Company’s total cash and invested assets. These securities had an average rating of “AA.” Approximately $70.3 million of these bonds are pre-refunded with U.S. treasury securities, of which $52.9 million are backed by financial guarantors, meaning that funds have been set aside in escrow to satisfy the future interest and principal obligations of the bond. (See table below.) Of the remaining $85.1 million of insurance enhanced municipal bonds, $23.1 million would have carried a lower credit rating had they not been insured. The following table provides a breakdown of the ratings for these municipal bonds with and without insurance.
 
                 
    Ratings
    Ratings
 
(Dollars in thousands)   with
    without
 
Rating
  Insurance     Insurance  
 
AAA
  $ 1,463     $  
AA
    20,707       148  
A
    958       15,828  
BBB
          1,005  
Not rated
          6,147  
                 
Total
  $ 23,128     $ 23,128  
                 


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
A summary of the Company’s insurance enhanced municipal bonds that are backed by financial guarantors, including the pre-refunded bonds that are escrowed in U.S. government obligations, is as follows:
 
                                 
                      Exposure Net of
 
                      Pre-refunded
 
                Government
    &Government
 
(Dollars in thousands)         Pre-refunded
    Guaranteed
    Guaranteed
 
Financial Guarantor
  Total     Securities     Securities     Securities  
 
Ambac Financial Group
  $ 19,826     $ 9,144     $     $ 10,682  
Assured Guaranty Corporation
    405                   405  
Financial Guaranty Insurance Company
    6,552       5,325             1,227  
Financial Security Assurance, Inc. 
    42,653       16,944             25,709  
Municipal Bond Insurance Association
    60,723       18,691             42,032  
Federal Housing Association
    2,388             2,388        
Federal National Housing Association
    780             780        
Govt National Housing Association
    1,296       1,116       180        
Permanent School Fund Guaranty
    3,359       1,690       1,669        
                                 
Total backed by financial guarantors
    137,982       52,910       5,017       80,055  
Other credit enhanced municipal bonds
    17,432       17,432              
                                 
Total
  $ 155,414     $ 70,342     $ 5,017     $ 80,055  
                                 
 
In addition to the $155.4 million of insurance enhanced municipal bonds, the Company also held unrated insurance enhanced asset-backed and credit securities with a market value of approximately $29.1 million, which represented approximately 1.7% of the Company’s total invested assets. The financial guarantors of the Company’s $29.1 million of insurance enhanced asset-backed and credit securities include Financial Guaranty Insurance Company ($1.1 million), Municipal Bond Insurance Association ($7.5 million), Ambac ($3.8 million), Financial Security Assurance, Inc ($6.2 million) and National Public Finance Guarantee (10.5 million).
 
The Company had no direct investments in the entities that have provided financial guarantees or other credit support to any security held by the Company at December 31, 2009.
 
Bonds Held on Deposit
 
Certain cash balances, cash equivalents, and bonds available for sale were deposited with various governmental authorities in accordance with statutory requirements or were held in trust pursuant to intercompany reinsurance agreements. The estimated fair values of bonds available for sale and on deposit or held in trust were as follows as of December 31, 2009 and 2008:
 
                 
    Estimated Fair Value  
    December 31,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
(Dollars in thousands)        
 
On deposit with governmental authorities
  $ 50,080     $ 44,268  
Intercompany trusts held for the benefit of U.S. policyholders
    683,384       631,236  
Held in trust pursuant to U.S. regulatory requirements for the benefit of U.S. policyholders
    6,169       5,915  
                 
Total
  $ 739,633     $ 681,419  
                 


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
4.   Fair Value Measurements
 
The Company elected to apply the fair value option within its limited partnership investment portfolio to those investments where the Company owns more than a 3% interest. The fair value of this investment was $1.1 million and $7.5 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Effective December 31, 2009, the Company redeemed the majority of its ownership interest in this limited partnership, resulting in its ownership interest falling below 3%. This limited partnership invested primarily in securities that were publicly traded during the time that the Company held this investment. As of December 31, 2009, the fair value of the Company’s remaining interest in this limited partnership was $1.1 million and was comprised of convertible preferred securities of a privately held company. Securities that are held by this partnership are valued by obtaining values from Bloomberg, other external pricing sources, and managers that make markets for these securities. The Company obtains the value of this partnership at the end of each reporting period; however, the Company is only periodically provided with a detailed listing of the investments held by the partnership. Accordingly, this investment is classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
 
During 2009, the Company contributed $30.0 million to a limited partnership which invests in corporate loans. This partnership interest was redeemed as of December 31, 2009. The activity associated with this investment is classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. The Company obtained the value of this partnership at the end of each reporting period; however, the Company was not provided with a detailed listing of the investments held by the partnership. Accordingly, this investment was classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
 
During 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized gains (losses), net of taxes, of $5.3 million and $(3.9) million, respectively, due to changes in the value of these investments. These gains (losses) are reflected on the consolidated statement of operations as equity in net income (loss) of partnerships, net of taxes.
 
The fair value option was not elected for the Company’s investments in limited partnerships with less than a 3% ownership interest.
 
The accounting standards related to fair value measurements define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value, outline a fair value hierarchy based on inputs used to measure fair value, and enhance disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. These standards do not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. The Company has determined that its fair value measurements are in accordance with the requirements of these accounting standards.
 
The Company’s invested assets are carried at their fair value and are categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy:
 
  •  Level 1 — inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
 
  •  Level 2 — inputs utilize other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the similar assets, either directly or indirectly.
 
  •  Level 3 — inputs are unobservable for the asset, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset.
 
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset.
 
Both observable and unobservable inputs may be used to determine the fair value of positions that the Company has classified within the Level 3 category. As a result, the unrealized gains and losses for invested assets within the Level 3 category presented in the tables below may include changes in fair value that are attributed to


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
both observable (e.g., changes in market interest rates) and unobservable (e.g., changes in unobservable long-dated volatilities) inputs.
 
The following table presents information about the Company’s invested assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value.
 
                                 
As of December 31, 2009   Fair Value Measurements  
(Dollars in thousands)
  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
 
Fixed maturities:
                               
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
  $ 82,021     $ 154,067     $     $ 236,088  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
          225,598             225,598  
Mortgage-backed securities
          364,000             364,000  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
                       
Asset-backed securities
          114,163             114,163  
Corporate notes and loans
          460,730             460,730  
Foreign corporate bonds
          70,993             70,993  
Other bonds
                       
                                 
Total fixed maturities
    82,021       1,389,551             1,471,572  
Preferred shares
    579       2,020             2,599  
Common shares
    63,057                   63,057  
Other invested assets
                7,999       7,999  
                                 
Total invested assets
  $ 145,657     $ 1,391,571     $ 7,999     $ 1,545,227  
                                 
 
                                 
As of December 31, 2008   Fair Value Measurements  
(Dollars in thousands)
  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
 
Fixed maturities:
                               
U.S. treasury and agency obligations
  $ 75,460     $ 77,317     $     $ 152,777  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
          243,030             243,030  
Mortgage-backed securities
          384,069             384,069  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
          144,457             144,457  
Asset-backed securities
          16,553             16,553  
Corporate notes and loans
          213,655             213,655  
Foreign corporate bonds
          29,150             29,150  
Other bonds
          21,283             21,283  
                                 
Total fixed maturities
    75,460       1,129,514             1,204,974  
Preferred shares
    1,813       2,852             4,665  
Common shares
    50,613                   50,613  
Other invested assets
                46,672       46,672  
                                 
Total invested assets
  $ 127,886     $ 1,132,366     $ 46,672     $ 1,306,924  
                                 
 
The securities classified as Level 1 in the above table consist of U.S. Treasuries and equity securities actively traded on an exchange.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The securities classified as Level 2 in the above table consist primarily of fixed maturity securities. Based on the typical trading volumes and the lack of quoted market prices for fixed maturities, security prices are derived through recent reported trades for identical or similar securities making adjustments through the reporting date based upon available market observable information. If there are no recent reported trades, matrix or model processes are used to develop a security price where future cash flow expectations are developed based upon collateral performance and discounted at an estimated market rate. Included in the pricing of asset-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and mortgage-backed securities are estimates of the rate of future prepayments of principal over the remaining life of the securities. Such estimates are derived based on the characteristics of the underlying structure and prepayment speeds previously experienced at the interest rate levels projected for the underlying collateral. For corporate loans, price quotes from multiple dealers along with recent reported trades for identical or similar securities are used to develop prices.
 
The following table presents changes in Level 3 investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis for 2009:
 
         
    Fair Value
 
    Measurements
 
    Using Level 3 Inputs  
    Other
 
    Invested Assets  
(Dollars in thousands)      
 
Beginning balance at January 1, 2008
  $ 46,672  
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
       
Included in equity in net income of partnership
    7,184  
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (8,336 )
Purchases
    31,334  
Sales
    (68,855 )
         
Ending balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 7,999  
         
Losses for 2009 included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains relating to assets still held at December 31, 2009
  $ 181  
         
 
The securities classified as Level 3 in the above table consist of $8.0 million related to investments in limited partnerships. Of the investments in limited partnerships, $6.9 million was comprised of securities for which there is no readily available independent market price, and the remaining $1.1 million was related to a limited partnership which holds convertible preferred securities of a privately held company. These securities are subject to an appraisal action in Delaware State Court. Until the appraisal action is resolved, the Company’s ownership interest in this limited partnership is wholly illiquid. The estimated fair value of these limited partnerships is determined by the general partner of each limited partnership based on comparisons to transactions involving similar investments. Material assumptions and factors utilized in pricing these securities include future cash flows, constant default rates, recovery rates, and any market clearing activity that may have occurred since the prior month-end pricing period. However, since the Company does not have the ability to see the invested asset composition of this limited partnership on a daily basis, it has classified this investment within the Level 3 category.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following table presents changes in Level 3 investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis for 2008:
 
                         
    Fair Value Measurements
 
    Using Level 3 Inputs  
          Other
       
    Fixed
    Invested
       
    Maturities     Assets     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)              
 
2008
                       
Beginning balance at January 1, 2007
  $ 2,376     $ 64,539     $ 66,915  
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
                       
Included in equity in net loss of partnership
          (5,984 )     (5,984 )
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (55 )     (12,160 )     (12,215 )
Purchases
          277       277  
Sales
    (554 )           (554 )
Transfers out of Level 3
    (1,767 )           (1,767 )
                         
Ending balance at December 31, 2008
  $     $ 46,672     $ 46,672  
                         
Losses for 2008 included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized losses relating to assets still held at December 31, 2008
  $     $ (5,984 )   $ (5,984 )
                         
 
The securities classified as Level 3 in the above table consist of $46.7 million related to investments in limited partnerships. Of this amount, $13.9 million was comprised of securities for which there is no readily available independent market price. Material assumptions and factors utilized in pricing these securities include future cash flows, constant default rates, recovery rates, and any market clearing activity that may have occurred since the prior month-end pricing period. The remaining $32.8 million was related to limited partnerships that invest mainly in securities that are publicly traded. However, since the Company does not have the ability to see the invested asset composition of these limited partnerships on a daily basis, it has classified these investments within the Level 3 category.
 
Effective January 1, 2009, the Company changed its primary investment manager and investment accountants. The former investment manager provided the Company with one non-binding price for each of its fixed maturity and equity securities valued as Level 1 or Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The new investment manager does not provide any pricing to the Company’s investment accountants. As a result, the Company entered into third party agreements with pricing vendors to obtain single non-binding prices for its securities. The third party pricing vendors, and the respective securities they price, were selected based on the requisite experience of each asset manager by asset class. The investment manager provided advice as to which pricing source would provide the best estimate of fair value for each asset class.
 
The Company’s pricing vendors provide prices for all investment categories except for investments in limited partnerships. One vendor provides prices for equity securities and select fixed maturity categories including: corporate loans, commercial mortgage backed securities, high yield, investment grade, short term securities, and international fixed income securities, if any. A second vendor provides prices for other fixed maturity categories including: asset backed securities (“ABS”), collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMO”), and municipals. A third vendor provides prices for the remaining fixed maturity categories including mortgage backed securities (“MBS”) and treasuries.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company’s pricing vendors for investment securities carried at fair value:
 
  •  Equity prices are received from all primary and secondary exchanges.
 
  •  Corporate notes are individually evaluated on a nominal spread or an option adjusted spread basis depending on how the market trades a security or sector. Spreads are updated each day and compared with those from the broker/dealer community and contributing firms. Issues are generally benchmarked off of the U.S. treasuries or LIBOR.
 
  •  For CMOs, which are categorized with mortgage-backed securities in the tables listed above, a volatility-driven, multi-dimensional single cash flow stream model or option-adjusted spread model is used. For ABSs, a single expected cash flow stream model is utilized. For both asset classes, evaluations utilize standard inputs plus new issue data, monthly payment information, and collateral performance. The evaluated pricing models incorporate security set-up, prepayment speeds, cash flows, treasury, swap curves and spread adjustments.
 
  •  For municipals, a series of matrices are used to evaluate securities within this asset class. The evaluated pricing models for this asset class incorporate security set-up, sector curves, yield to worst, ratings updates, and adjustments for material events notices.
 
  •  U.S. Treasuries are priced on the bid side by a market maker.
 
  •  For MBSs, the pricing vendor utilizes a matrix model correlation to TBA (a forward MBS trade) or benchmarking to value a security.
 
  •  Corporate loans are priced using averages of bids and offers obtained from the broker/dealer community involved in trading such loans.
 
The Company performs certain procedures to validate whether the pricing information received from the pricing vendors is reasonable, to ensure that the fair value determination is consistent with the most recent accounting guidance, and to ensure that its assets are properly classified in the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s procedures include, but are not limited to:
 
  •  Examining market value changes on an overall portfolio basis to determine if the market value reported by the pricing vendors appears reasonable. Duration of the portfolio and changes to benchmark yields are compared to the market value change reported by the Investment Manager to make this determination. The fair values reported are reviewed by management.
 
  •  Reviewing periodic reports provided by the Investment Manager that provides information regarding rating changes and securities placed on watch. This procedure allows the Company to understand why a particular security’s market value may have changed.
 
  •  Understanding and periodically evaluating the various pricing methods and procedures used by the Company’s pricing vendors to ensure that investments are properly classified within the fair value hierarchy.
 
During 2009, the Company has not needed to adjust quotes or prices obtained from the pricing vendors.
 
Fair Value of Alternative Investments
 
Included in “Other invested assets” in the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2009 are limited liability partnerships measured at fair value using net asset value as a practical expedient as provided by the provisions of


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
applicable accounting guidance. The following table provides the fair value and future funding commitments related to these investments at December 31, 2009.
 
                 
          Future
 
          Funding
 
    Fair Value     Commitments  
(Dollars in thousands)            
 
Equity Fund, LP(1)
  $ 5,625     $ 2,500  
Real Estate Fund, LP(2)
    1,229        
High Yield Convertible Securities Fund, LP(3)
    1,145        
                 
Total
  $ 7,999     $ 2,500  
                 
 
 
(1) This limited partnership invests in companies, from various business sectors, whereby the partnership has acquired control of the operating business as a lead or organizing investor. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner.
 
(2) This limited partnership invests in real estate assets through a combination of direct or indirect investments in partnerships, limited liability companies, mortgage loans, and lines of credit. The Company does not have the contractual option to redeem its limited partnership interest but receives distributions based on the liquidation of the underlying assets. The Company does not have the ability to sell or transfer its limited partnership interest without consent from the general partner.
 
(3) This limited partnership is a registered mutual fund which invests in a portfolio of high yield convertible securities issued by companies with small to medium market capitalizations and lower credit ratings (generally below investment grade). In accordance with the partnership agreement, the Company has exercised its right to submit a capital withdrawal request effective December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, the $11.8 million distribution is classified as a receivable and netted with “payable for securities purchased” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2009, the Company was unable to redeem a portion of its ownership interest in this limited partnership with a fair market value of $1.1 million. This is related to convertible preferred securities of one company which are subject to an Appraisal Action in Delaware Court. The partnership decided to participate in the Appraisal Action to maximize the value of its preferred share. Until the appraisal action is resolved, the claim relating to the preferred share is wholly illiquid.
 
5.   Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
During 2008, the gross written premium of the Penn-America Group declined, and the Company’s and certain of its competitors’ market values declined, indicating that goodwill and other indefinite lived assets might be impaired. After testing, the Company concluded that impairment of goodwill and partial impairment of the intangible assets related to the merger with Penn-America Group, Inc. was necessary. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $92.2 million, net of tax, in the fourth quarter of 2008 related to the Company’s 2005 merger with the Penn-America Group. The impairment charge of $92.2 million is comprised of a goodwill impairment of $84.3 million, an impairment of intangible assets with an indefinite life of $0.8 million pre-tax, $0.5 million after tax, and an impairment of intangible assets with a definite life of $11.4 million pre-tax, $7.4 million after-tax. An overview of the testing conducted during the fourth quarter of 2008 is as follows:
 
Goodwill
 
In 2008, Goodwill was tested for impairment using a two-step process. The first step was to determine if there was an impairment based on the estimated fair value of the reporting unit compared to the carrying value of the business unit, and the second step, which is only required if step one yields a business unit carrying value that is


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
greater than the fair value of the business unit, was to determine the amount of the impairment loss, which was equal to the excess carrying value over the implied fair value of the goodwill of the reporting unit giving rise to the goodwill.
 
In performing step one of the goodwill impairment test during the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company used two approaches to estimate the fair value of the Penn-America business unit: 1) a market capitalization approach that allocated a portion of the Company’s total market capitalization to each of its business units; and 2) a discounted cash flow approach that estimated fair value as the present value of estimated future cash flows. Under each approach, the carrying value of the Penn-America business unit exceeded the estimated fair value, indicating that step two of the goodwill impairment test was required.
 
In the market capitalization approach, the Company allocated its market capital value as of December 31, 2008 based on a return on equity approach.
 
In the discounted cash flow approach, the Company projected the financial results of the Penn-America reporting unit and discounted the projection using a discount factor of 16.0%. The discount factor was based on the weighted average cost of capital for the insurance industry of 15.9% as calculated from empirical data for market participants and other relevant sources as prepared by an independent valuation firm. The discounted cash flow approach also assumed a 5.0% annual increase in net premiums written, a loss ratio declining from 62.2 to 57.7 over the next six years, an equity to net premium written ratio of 1:1, and that an investment income return of 5.25% would be attainable in future periods.
 
Step two of the goodwill impairment test, which determines the amount of the impairment loss, required the Company to determine the fair value of each asset and liability and to compare those values to the implied fair value of the reporting unit to determine the amount of goodwill. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities was the implied fair value of goodwill. Step two of the goodwill impairment test indicated the fair value of the Penn-America reporting unit was less than the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, demonstrating that the entire amount of the Penn-America goodwill was impaired. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $84.3 million, which reduced the balance of goodwill at December 31, 2008 to $0.
 
A rollforward of goodwill is as follows:
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)      
 
Balance at December 31, 2005(1)
  $ 101,854  
Sale of Agency Operations’ assets
    (17,006 )
Adjustment to transaction costs related to merger with Penn-America Group, Inc. 
    (602 )
         
Balance at December 31, 2006 and 2007
    84,246  
Impairment
    (84,246 )
         
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $  
         
 
 
(1) — Goodwill of $84,848 related to merger with Penn-America Group, Inc. and $17,006 related to the purchase of Penn Independent Corporation.
 
There were no changes to goodwill during 2007.
 
Intangible assets with indefinite lives
 
As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, intangible assets with indefinite lives, which are comprised of trade names and state insurance licenses, were $9.2 million. Impairment testing performed in 2009 indicated that there was no impairment.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
For intangible assets with indefinite lives, the impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of an intangible asset to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The Company’s intangible assets with indefinite lives are the Penn-America state insurance licenses and trade name, each having a pre-impairment carrying value of $5.0 million.
 
The Company worked with an independent valuation firm to determine the fair value of the intangible assets with indefinite lives. The valuation firm relied on the market approach to value the state licenses, which considers transactions for similar assets to determine value. The valuation firm appraised the state insurance licenses at a value higher than the carrying value of $5.0 million, which demonstrated there was no impairment. The valuation firm used the relief from royalty method to determine the fair value of the Penn-America trade name. The relief from royalty method calculates the present value of savings resulting from the right to manufacture or sell products that incorporate the intangible asset(s) without having to pay a license fee for its use. This method is commonly used to value trademarks, patents, developed technology, and base (core) technology. The assumed royalty rate under this approach was 0.5%, which yielded an estimated value of the trade name in the amount of $4.2 million, indicating that there was an impairment of $0.8 million pre-tax and $0.5 million after tax.
 
Intangible assets with definite lives
 
As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, intangible assets with definite lives, which are comprised of software technology, were $0.04 million and $0.1 million, respectively. Applicable accounting guidance requires that intangible assets with definite lives are to be tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount exceeds fair value and the carrying amount is not be recoverable. Impairment testing performed in 2009 indicated that there was no impairment. Other than the aforementioned software technology, all intangible assets with definite lives were written off in 2008. (See table below.)
 
Impairment of indefinite lived intangible asset is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of an intangible asset with an indefinite life exceeds its fair value and is not recoverable. The carrying value of an intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and disposition of the asset.
 
The Company’s intangible assets with definite lives pertain to the Penn-America Group agency relationships that were in force at the time of the merger and internally developed software. The Company determined that the forecasted undiscounted cash flows related to the agency relationships, net of a capital charge equal to 16.0% of required capital, were negative, and therefore there was no value to the agency relationships. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $11.4 million pre-tax and $7.4 million after-tax, which reduced the balance of the agency relationships at December 31, 2008 to $0. The internally developed software related to the Penn-America Group does not directly generate cash flows; therefore, the Company worked with the independent valuation firm to determine the fair value of the software. The valuation firm used the cost approach, which estimates the cost to replicate the software, to determine the fair value of the internally developed software. The software was valued at $0.3 million, which is greater than the carrying value of $0.1 million, indicating there was no impairment.
 
The following tables present details of the Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2009:
 
                                 
(Dollars in thousands)               Accumulated
       
Description
  Useful Life     Cost     Amortization     Net Value  
 
Trade names
    Indefinite     $ 4,200     $     $ 4,200  
State insurance licenses
    Indefinite       5,000             5,000  
Software technology
    5 years       400       364       36  
                                 
            $ 9,600     $ 364     $ 9,236  
                                 


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following tables present details of the Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2008:
 
                                     
(Dollars in thousands)             Accumulated
    Impairment
       
Description
  Useful Life   Cost     Amortization     Charge     Net Value  
 
Agency relationships
  16 years   $ 15,012     $ 3,609     $ 11,403     $  
Trade names
  Indefinite     5,000             800       4,200  
State insurance licenses
  Indefinite     5,000                   5,000  
Software technology
  5 years     400       291             109  
                                     
        $ 25,412     $ 3,900     $ 12,203     $ 9,309  
                                     
 
Amortization expense related to the Penn-America Group, Inc. merger was $0.07 million, $1.0 million, and $1.0 million for 2009, 2008, and 2007.
 
Remaining amortization of the intangible assets is expected to be $0.04 million in 2010.
 
6.   Reinsurance
 
The Company cedes insurance to unrelated insurers on a pro rata (“quota share”) and excess of loss basis in the ordinary course of business to limit its net loss exposure on insurance contracts. Reinsurance ceded arrangements do not discharge the Company of primary liability as the originating insurer. Moreover, reinsurers may fail to pay the Company due to a lack of reinsurer liquidity, perceived improper underwriting, losses for risks that are excluded from reinsurance coverage, and other similar factors, all of which could adversely affect the Company’s financial results.
 
At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company carried reinsurance receivables of $543.4 million and $679.3 million, respectively. These amounts are net of a purchase accounting adjustment and an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables. The purchase accounting adjustment is related to discounting the loss reserves to their present value and applying a risk margin to the discounted reserves. This adjustment was $17.5 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The allowance for uncollectible reinsurance receivables was $12.9 million and $13.6 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The change is primarily due to the decrease in the amount of carried reinsurance receivables.
 
At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company held collateral securing its reinsurance receivables of $378.1 million and $477.1 million, respectively. Prepaid reinsurance premiums were $16.5 million and $24.0 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Reinsurance receivables, net of collateral held, were $165.3 million and $202.2 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
The Company regularly evaluates retention levels to ensure that the ultimate reinsurance cessions are aligned with corporate risk tolerance and capital levels, as follows:
 
Property Catastrophe Excess of Loss — The Company’s current property writings create exposure to catastrophic events. To protect against these exposures, the Company purchases a property catastrophe treaty. Effective June 1, 2009, the Company renewed its property catastrophe excess of loss treaty which provides occurrence coverage for losses of $75.0 million in excess of $15.0 million. This treaty provides for one full reinstatement of coverage at 100% additional premium as to time and pro rata as to amount of limit reinstated. This replaces the treaty that expired on May 31, 2009, which provided occurrence coverage for losses of $70.0 million in excess of $10.0 million, also with one full reinstatement. The additional limit purchased is a result of an increase in aggregate loss exposure to catastrophic events.
 
Property Per Risk Excess of Loss — Effective January 1, 2010, the Company renewed its property per risk excess of loss treaty which provides coverage of $14.0 million per risk in excess of $1.0 million per risk. This replaces the treaty that expired December 31, 2009, which also covered $14.0 million per risk in excess of $1.0 million per risk. This treaty provides coverage in two layers: $4.0 million per risk in excess of $1.0 million per


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
risk, and $10.0 million per risk in excess of $5.0 million per risk. Similar to expiring terms, the first layer is subject to a $4.0 million limit of liability for all risks involved in one loss occurrence, and the second layer is subject to a $10.0 million limit for all risks involved in one loss occurrence.
 
Professional Liability Excess of Loss — Effective January 1, 2010, the Company renewed its professional liability excess of loss treaty which provides coverage of $4.0 million per policy / occurrence in excess of $1.0 million per policy / occurrence. This replaces the treaty that expired December 31, 2009, which provided identical limits of coverage.
 
Casualty Excess of Loss — Effective May 1, 2009, the Company renewed its casualty excess of loss treaty which provides coverage for $2.25 million in excess of $0.75 million per occurrence for general liability and auto liability. Allocated loss adjustment expenses are shared in proportion to losses retained and ceded. This replaces the treaty that expired April 30, 2009, which provided identical limits of coverage for general liability only.
 
Casualty Clash Excess of Loss — Effective January 1, 2010, the Company renewed its casualty clash excess of loss treaty which provides coverage of $10.0 million per occurrence in excess of $3.0 million per occurrence, subject to a $20.0 million limit for all loss occurrences. This replaces the treaty that expired December 31, 2009, which provided identical coverage.
 
Property Quota Share — Effective January 1, 2010, the Company renewed its quota share treaty related to the Penn-America property line of business. The expiring quota share program was terminated on a cut-off basis. The renewal quota share program covers premiums earned in 2010 on policies written in 2009 and 2010. The quota share percentage was increased from 30% to 40%. During 2009, the Company ceded $6.3 million of earned premium.
 
There were no other significant changes to any of the Company’s other reinsurance treaties during 2009.
 
To the extent that there may be an increase or decrease in catastrophe or casualty clash exposure in the future, the Company may increase or decrease its reinsurance protection for these exposures commensurately.
 
As of December 31, 2009, the Company had aggregate unsecured reinsurance receivables that exceeded 3% of shareholders’ equity from the following groups of reinsurers. Unsecured reinsurance receivables include amounts receivable for paid and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and prepaid reinsurance premiums, less amounts secured by collateral.
 
                 
    Reinsurance
    A.M. Best Ratings
 
    Receivables     (As of December 31, 2009)  
(Dollars in millions)        
 
Munich Group
  $ 49.9       A+  
Gen Re Group
    26.3       A++  
                 
    $ 76.2          
                 


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned is as follows:
 
                 
    Written     Earned  
(Dollars in thousands)        
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009:
               
Direct business
  $ 267,981     $ 298,427  
Reinsurance assumed
    73,018       60,667  
Reinsurance ceded
    (50,004 )     (57,420 )
                 
Net premiums
  $ 290,995     $ 301,674  
                 
For the year ended December 31, 2008:
               
Direct business
  $ 353,168     $ 429,164  
Reinsurance assumed
    25,532       28,221  
Reinsurance ceded
    (69,620 )     (74,877 )
                 
Net premiums
  $ 309,080     $ 382,508  
                 
For the year ended December 31, 2007:
               
Direct business
  $ 536,868     $ 605,316  
Reinsurance assumed
    26,244       12,698  
Reinsurance ceded
    (72,577 )     (81,691 )
                 
Net premiums
  $ 490,535     $ 536,323  
                 
 
7.   Income Taxes
 
The statutory income tax rates of the countries where the Company does business are 35.0% in the United States, 0.0% in Bermuda, 0.0% in the Cayman Islands, 28.59% in the Duchy of Luxembourg, and 25.0% on non-trading income and 12.5% on trading income in the Republic of Ireland. The statutory income tax rate of each country is applied against the annual taxable income of each country to calculate the annual income tax expense.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Company’s income before income taxes from the Non-U.S. Subsidiaries and U.S. Subsidiaries, including the results of the quota share agreement between Wind River Reinsurance and the Insurance Operations, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 were as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31, 2009:
 
                                 
    Non-U.S.
    U.S.
             
    Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Revenues:
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 191,138     $ 267,993     $ (118,132 )   $ 340,999  
                                 
Net premiums written
  $ 190,862     $ 100,133     $     $ 290,995  
                                 
Net premiums earned
  $ 185,471     $ 116,203     $     $ 301,674  
Net investment income
    41,764       46,890       (18,440 )     70,214  
Net realized investment gains
    2,338       13,524             15,862  
                                 
Total revenues
    229,573       176,617       (18,440 )     387,750  
Losses and Expenses:
                               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    95,730       73,652             169,382  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    75,185       44,744             119,929  
Corporate and other operating expenses
    10,014       6,738             16,752  
Interest expense
          25,656       (18,440 )     7,216  
                                 
Income before income taxes
  $ 48,644     $ 25,827     $     $ 74,471  
                                 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2008:
 
                                 
    Non-U.S.
    U.S.
             
    Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Revenues:
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 178,310     $ 353,130     $ (152,740 )   $ 378,700  
                                 
Net premiums written
  $ 156,341     $ 152,739     $     $ 309,080  
                                 
Net premiums earned
  $ 195,421     $ 187,087     $     $ 382,508  
Net investment income
    41,157       45,113       (18,440 )     67,830  
Net realized investment losses
    (4,215 )     (46,044 )           (50,259 )
                                 
Total revenues
    232,363       186,156       (18,440 )     400,079  
Losses and Expenses:
                               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    151,643       153,531             305,174  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    83,540       59,227             142,767  
Corporate and other operating expenses
    9,168       4,750             13,918  
Interest expense
          27,097       (18,440 )     8,657  
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets
          96,449             96,449  
                                 
Loss before income taxes
  $ (11,988 )   $ (154,898 )   $     $ (166,886 )
                                 


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Year Ended December 31, 2007:
 
                                 
    Non-U.S.
    U.S.
             
    Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Revenues:
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 271,120     $ 536,835     $ (244,843 )   $ 563,112  
                                 
Net premiums written
  $ 257,105     $ 233,430     $     $ 490,535  
                                 
Net premiums earned
  $ 271,065     $ 265,258     $     $ 536,323  
Net investment income
    44,305       51,513       (18,477 )     77,341  
Net realized investment gains (losses)
    (23 )     991             968  
                                 
Total revenues
    315,347       317,762       (18,477 )     614,632  
Losses and Expenses:
                               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    149,803       149,438             299,241  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    102,223       71,958             174,181  
Corporate and other operating expenses
    9,044       2,599             11,643  
Interest expense
          29,849       (18,477 )     11,372  
                                 
Income before income taxes
  $ 54,277     $ 63,918     $     $ 118,195  
                                 
 
The weighted average expected tax provision has been calculated using income (loss) before income taxes in each jurisdiction multiplied by that jurisdiction’s applicable statutory tax rate.
 
The following table summarizes the differences between the tax provision for financial statement purposes and the expected tax provision at the weighted average tax rate:
 
                                                 
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
          % of Pre-
          % of Pre-
          % of Pre-
 
    Amount     Tax Income     Amount     Tax Income     Amount     Tax Income  
(Dollars in thousands)                                
 
Expected tax provision at weighted average
  $ 9,110       12.2 %   $ (54,182 )     (32.4 )%   $ 22,434       19.0 %
Adjustments:
                                               
Tax exempt interest
    (2,571 )     (3.5 )     (2,994 )     (1.8 )     (2,462 )     (2.1 )
Dividend exclusion
    (375 )     (0.5 )     (653 )     (0.4 )     (476 )     (0.4 )
Impairment of goodwill
                29,486       17.7              
Other
    (1,854 )     (2.4 )     (920 )     (0.6 )     (816 )     (0.7 )
                                                 
Actual taxes (benefits) on continuing operations
  $ 4,310       5.8 %   $ (29,263 )     (17.5 )%   $ 18,680       15.8 %
                                                 
 
The effective income tax rate for 2009 was 5.8%, compared with an effective income tax benefit rate of 17.5% for 2008 and an effective income tax rate of 15.8% for 2007. The effective rate differed from the weighted average expected income tax expense rate of 12.2% for 2009 primarily due to investments in tax-exempt securities and the decrease in prior years tax contingencies due to lapses on the statute of limitations. The effective rate differed from the weighted average expected income tax benefit rate of 32.4% for 2008 primarily due to investments in tax-exempt securities and the impairments of goodwill and intangible assets. The effective rate differed from the


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
weighted average expected income tax expense rate of 19.0% for 2007 primarily due to investments in tax-exempt securities.
 
The following table summarizes the components of income tax expense:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Current income tax expense:
                       
Foreign and U.S. Federal
  $ (5,345 )   $ (14,319 )   $ 20,241  
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
                       
U.S. Federal
    9,655       (14,944 )     (1,561 )
                         
Total income tax expense
  $ 4,310     $ (29,263 )   $ 18,680  
                         
 
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are presented below:
 
                 
    2009     2008  
(Dollars in thousands)            
 
Deferred tax assets:
               
Discounted unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
  $ 17,316     $ 21,520  
Unearned premiums
    3,215       4,340  
Alternative minimum tax credit carryover
    3,240       796  
Partnership K1 basis differences
    3,435       8,549  
Investment impairments
    4,362       11,707  
Stock options
    1,977       2,021  
Losses on securities
    1       1,905  
Other
    4,661       2,536  
                 
Total deferred tax assets
    38,207       53,374  
                 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Intangible assets
    3,233       3,259  
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale and less than 3% owned investments in partnerships included in accumulated other comprehensive income
    16,053       11,210  
Gain on partnerships greater than 20% owned
    2,714       806  
Investment basis differences
    (417 )     1,771  
Deferred acquisition costs
    1,875       2,304  
Depreciation and amortization
    193       233  
Other
    737       1,259  
                 
Total deferred tax liabilities
    24,388       20,842  
                 
Total net deferred tax assets
  $ 13,819     $ 32,532  
                 
 
Management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be completely utilized in future years. As a result, there is no valuation allowance at December 31, 2009 and 2008.
 
The Company had an alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credit carryforward of $3.2 million and $0.8 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which can be carried forward indefinitely. As a result of the 2008


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
and 2009 capital loss carrybacks and 2009 net operating loss carryback, the alternative minimum tax was triggered in the carryback years. In 2008, there were $29.0 million of other than temporary impairment losses on invested assets held by the Company’s U.S. Subsidiaries. Of that amount, $18.3 million was realized in 2009, net of capital gains of $11.1 million. In 2009, there was a net operating loss of $15.6 million. As a result, the AMT credit carryforward increased by $2.4 million.
 
The Company and some of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal tax examinations by tax authorities for tax years before 2006.
 
The Company applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties whereby it only recognizes those tax benefits that have a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities. The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits were $1.1 million and $3.1 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)      
 
Balance as of January 1, 2007 and 2008
  $ 3,646  
Lapses on statutes of limitations
    (554 )
         
Balance as of December 31, 2008
    3,092  
Lapses on statutes of limitations
    (1,986 )
         
Balance as of December 31, 2009
  $ 1,106  
         
 
If recognized, the gross unrecognized tax benefits could lower the effective income tax rate in any future period. The provision for gross unrecognized tax benefits decreased $2.0 million during 2009 due to the expiration of the IRS statute of limitations on the Company’s 2005 federal income tax return. As a result, the effective income tax rate was reduced by 2.7% during 2009.
 
The Company classifies all interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense. As of December 31, 2009, the Company has recorded $0.1 million in liabilities for tax-related interest and penalties on its consolidated balance sheet.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
8.   Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
 
Activity in the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is summarized as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses at beginning of period
  $ 1,506,429     $ 1,503,237     $ 1,702,010  
Less: Gross reinsurance receivables on unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    670,591       702,353       966,668  
                         
Net balance at beginning of period
    835,838       800,884       735,342  
Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses related to:
                       
Current year
    178,492       270,242       328,346  
Prior years(1)
    (9,110 )(2)     34,932 (3)     (29,105 )(4)
                         
Total incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses
    169,382       305,174       299,241  
                         
Paid losses and loss adjustment expenses related to:
                       
Current year
    44,100       58,435       73,923  
Prior years
    230,328       211,785       159,776  
                         
Total paid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    274,892       270,220       233,699  
                         
Net balance at end of period
    730,328       835,838       800,884  
Plus: Gross reinsurance receivables on unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    527,413       670,591       702,353  
                         
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses at end of period
  $ 1,257,741     $ 1,506,429     $ 1,503,237  
                         
 
 
(1) When analyzing loss reserves and prior year development, the Company considers many factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, loss credit trends, case reserve settlements that may have resulted in significant development, and any other additional or pertinent factors that may impact reserve estimates.
 
(2) In 2009, the Company reduced its prior accident year loss reserves by $8.4 million and reduced its allowance for uncollectible reinsurance by $0.7 million. The reduction of the prior accident year loss reserves primarily consisted of a $5.5 million reduction in property lines, a $2.9 million reduction in general liability lines, and a $4.7 million reduction in umbrella lines, partially offset by a $4.7 million increase in professional liability lines. The reduction in the property lines primarily consisted of reductions related to accident year 2006 through 2008 due to better than expected loss emergence in brokerage. The reduction in the general liability lines primarily consisted of reductions of $13.5 million related to accident years 2006 and prior due to loss emergence that had been consistently lower than expected during the year, partially offset by increases of $10.6 million to accident years 2007 and 2008 that were driven by a large claim and an increase in our construction defect provisions for Penn America. The reduction in the umbrella lines primarily consisted of net reductions of $5.1 million related to accident years 2007 and prior that were driven by loss emergence throughout the year that was consistently better than expected, partially offset by increases of $0.4 million related to accident year 2008. The increase to the professional liability lines primarily consisted of increases of $10.1 million related to accident years 2007 and 2008 due to an increase in severity, partially offset by net reductions of $5.4 million primarily related to accident years 2006 and prior. The reduction in the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance is due to a decrease in the amount of the Company’s carried reinsurance receivables.
 
(3) In 2008, the Company increased its prior accident year loss reserves by $31.8 million and increased its allowance for uncollectible reinsurance by $3.1 million. The loss reserves increase of $31.8 million consisted of


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
increases of $15.3 million in general liability lines and $18.3 million in professional liability lines, offset by reductions of $1.2 million in property lines and $0.6 million in umbrella lines. The increase to the general liability lines consisted of increases of $20.4 million related to accident years 2006, 2007, and 2001 and prior, offset by reductions of $5.1 million related to accident years 2002 through 2005. The increase to the professional liability lines consisted of increases of $20.3 million related to accident years 2006 and 2007, offset by reductions of $2.0 million related to accident years 2005 and prior. The reduction in property lines consisted of reductions of $2.6 million related to accident years 2007 and 2003 and prior, offset by increases of $1.4 million related to accident years 2004 through 2006. The reduction in umbrella lines was primarily related to accident years 2004 and prior.
 
(4) In 2007, the Company reduced its prior accident year loss reserves by $24.7 million and reduced its allowance for uncollectible reinsurance by $4.4 million. The loss reserves reduction of $24.7 million consisted of a net reduction of $42.5 million for primary liability, umbrella and excess, construction defect, and lines in run-off due to both lower than expected frequency and severity emergence, offset by a $17.8 million increase in net reserves for unallocated loss adjustment expenses and asbestos and environmental.
 
Prior to 2001, the Company underwrote multi-peril business insuring general contractors, developers, and sub-contractors primarily involved in residential construction that has resulted in significant exposure to construction defect (“CD”) claims. Management believes its reserves for CD claims ($55.0 million and $58.1 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, net of reinsurance, respectively) are appropriately established based upon known facts, existing case law and generally accepted actuarial methodologies. However, due to the inherent uncertainty concerning this type of business, the ultimate exposure for these claims may vary significantly from the amounts currently recorded.
 
The Company has exposure to asbestos & environmental (“A&E”) claims. The asbestos exposure primarily arises from the sale of product liability insurance, and the environmental exposure arises from the sale of general liability and commercial multi-peril insurance. In establishing the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses related to A&E exposures, management considers facts currently known and the current state of the law and coverage litigation. Liabilities are recognized for known claims (including the cost of related litigation) when sufficient information has been developed to indicate the involvement of a specific insurance policy, and management can reasonably estimate its liability. In addition, liabilities have been established to cover additional exposures on both known and unasserted claims. Estimates of the liabilities are reviewed and updated regularly. Case law continues to evolve for such claims, and significant uncertainty exists about the outcome of coverage litigation and whether past claim experience will be representative of future claim experience. Included in net unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses as of December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 were IBNR reserves of $21.6 million, $31.8 million, and $21.5 million, respectively, and case reserves of approximately $10.1 million, $5.2 million, and $8.7 million, respectively, for known A&E-related claims.
 
The following table shows the Company’s gross reserves for A&E losses:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Gross reserve for A&E losses and loss adjustment expenses — beginning of period
  $ 60,601     $ 65,116     $ 48,274  
Plus: Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses — case reserves
    9,212       6,592       11,519  
Plus: Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses — IBNR
    (5,716 )     1,469       9,719  
Less: Payments
    12,927       12,576       4,396  
                         
Gross reserves for A&E losses and loss adjustment expenses — end of period
  $ 51,170     $ 60,601     $ 65,116  
                         


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following table shows the Company’s net reserves for A&E losses:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Net reserve for A&E losses and loss adjustment expenses — beginning of period
  $ 36,926     $ 30,144     $ 17,078  
Plus: Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses — case reserves
    9,989       4,150       4,242  
Plus: Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses — IBNR
    (5,564 )     7,988       10,562  
Less: Payments
    9,674       5,356       1,738  
                         
Net reserves for A&E losses and loss adjustment expenses — end of period
  $ 31,677     $ 36,926     $ 30,144  
                         
 
Establishing reserves for A&E and other mass tort claims involves more judgment than other types of claims due to, among other things, inconsistent court decisions, an increase in bankruptcy filings as a result of asbestos-related liabilities, and judicial interpretations that often expand theories of recovery and broaden the scope of coverage. The insurance industry continues to receive a substantial number of asbestos-related bodily injury claims, with an increasing focus being directed toward other parties, including installers of products containing asbestos rather than against asbestos manufacturers. This shift has resulted in significant insurance coverage litigation implicating applicable coverage defenses or determinations, if any, including but not limited to, determinations as to whether or not an asbestos related bodily injury claim is subject to aggregate limits of liability found in most comprehensive general liability policies. In response to these developments, management increased gross and net A&E reserves during the third quarter of 2007 to reflect its best estimate of A&E exposures. In 2009, one of the Company’s insurance companies was dismissed from a lawsuit seeking coverage from it and other unrelated insurance companies. The suit involved issues related to approximately 3,900 existing asbestos related bodily injury claims and future claims. The dismissal was the result of a settlement of a disputed claim related to accident year 1984. The settlement is conditioned upon certain legal events occurring which will trigger financial obligations by the insurance company. Management will continue to monitor the developments of the litigation to determine if any additional financial exposure is present.
 
As of December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, the survival ratio on a gross basis for the Company’s open A&E claims was 5.1 years, 9.2 years, and 8.2 years, respectively. As of December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, the survival ratio on a net basis for the Company’s open A&E claims was 5.7 years, 13.8 years, and 6.3 years, respectively. The survival ratio, which is the ratio of gross or net reserves to the 3-year average of annual paid claims, is a non-GAAP financial measure that indicates how long the current amount of gross or net reserves are expected to last based on the current rate of paid claims.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
9.   Debt
 
Debt consisted of the following as of December 31, 2009 and 2008:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2009     2008  
 
6.22% guaranteed senior notes of United America Indemnity Group due July 2015
  $ 90,000     $ 90,000  
Three-month LIBOR plus 4.05% junior subordinated debentures of AIS due September 2033
    10,310       10,310  
Three-month LIBOR plus 3.85% junior subordinated debentures of AIS due October 2033
    20,619       20,619  
Loans payable, due 2012 to 2013, stated interest up to 4.5%
    640       916  
                 
Total debt
  $ 121,569     $ 121,845  
                 
 
Guaranteed Senior Notes
 
On July 20, 2005, United America Indemnity Group sold $90.0 million of guaranteed senior notes, due July 20, 2015. These senior notes have an interest rate of 6.22%, payable semi-annually. On July 20, 2011 and on each anniversary thereafter to and including July 20, 2014, United America Indemnity Group is required to prepay $18.0 million of the principal amount. On July 20, 2015, United America Indemnity Group is required to pay any remaining outstanding principal amount on the notes. The notes are guaranteed by United America Indemnity, Ltd.
 
Junior Subordinated Debentures
 
In 2003, trusts formed and owned by the Company issued a total of $30.0 million of trust preferred securities. The funds were used to purchase junior subordinated interest notes and to support the business growth in the insurance subsidiaries and general business needs. A summary of the terms related to the trust preferred securities that are still currently outstanding is as follows:
 
                 
Issuer
 
Amount
 
Maturity
 
Interest Rate
 
Call Provisions
 
AIS through its wholly owned subsidiary UNG Trust I   $10.0 million issued September 30, 2003   September 30, 2033   Payable quarterly at the three month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 4.05%   At par after September 30, 2008
AIS through its wholly owned subsidiary UNG Trust II   $20.0 million issued October 29, 2003   October 29, 2033   Payable quarterly at the three month LIBOR plus 3.85%   At par after October 29, 2008
 
The proceeds from the above offerings were used to purchase junior subordinated interest notes and were used to support the business growth in the insurance subsidiaries and general business needs.
 
Distributions on the above securities can be deferred up to five years, but in the event of such deferral, the Company may not declare or pay cash dividends on the common stock of the applicable subsidiary.
 
The Company’s wholly owned business trust subsidiaries, UNG Trust I and UNG Trust II, are not consolidated pursuant to applicable accounting guidance. These business trust subsidiaries have issued $30.0 million in floating rate capital securities and $0.9 million of floating rate common securities. The sole assets of the business trust subsidiaries are $30.9 million of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures, which have the same terms with respect to maturity, payments, and distributions as the floating rate capital securities and the floating rate common securities.
 
On May 15, 2008, the Company redeemed all of the $15.0 million issued and outstanding notes of Penn Trust II. In conjunction with this redemption, the $15.5 million of junior subordinated debentures of PAGI, which


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
are the sole assets of Penn Trust II, were also redeemed. The registration of Penn Trust II was cancelled effective February 2, 2009.
 
Loans Payable
 
Loans payable of $0.6 million and $0.9 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 were comprised of a loan payable to a former minority shareholder. The current portion of these loans that will be payable in 2010 is $0.3 million. Interest expense related to loans payable was $0.03 million, $0.03 million, and $0.05 million for 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
 
10.   Shareholders’ Equity
 
Rights Offering
 
On February 17, 2009, the Company filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) covering up to $300.0 million of Class A common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants to purchase Class A common shares, preferred shares or debt securities, stock purchase contracts, and stock purchase units. The filing was made in order to provide the Company with future financial flexibility.
 
On March 10, 2009, the Company filed Amendment No. 1 to the Form S-3 filing with the SEC, which included a preliminary prospectus defining the terms of United America Indemnity’s intended non-transferable rights offering (the “Rights Offering”). On March 17, 2009, the Company filed a final Prospectus under SEC Rule 424(b)(2), denoting the amended terms of the prospectus.
 
The Rights Offering allowed holders of the Company’s Class A common shares to subscribe to a new offering of Class A common shares and the holders of the Company’s Class B common shares to subscribe to a new offering of Class B common shares. One non-transferable Class A Right for each Class A common share held, and one non-transferable Class B Right for each Class B common share held, was distributed to the respective Class A and B share holders for each share owned at 5:00 PM EST on March 16, 2009, the record date for the Rights Offering. Each Right entitled the holder to purchase either 0.9013 Class A shares or 0.9013 Class B shares, depending on the class of shares owned on the record date of the offering, at the subscription price of $3.50 per share. The Rights Offering expired April 6, 2009.
 
The Rights Offering included an agreement with Fox Paine & Company and an investment entity referred to as the “Backstop Purchaser,” which is controlled by Fox Paine & Company. The Backstop Purchaser agreed, subject to certain conditions, to purchase all of the Class A and Class B common shares offered in the Rights Offering and not subscribed for pursuant to the Rights Offering. The Company entered into the agreement to ensure that, subject to the conditions of the agreement, all Class A common shares and Class B common shares offered in the Rights Offering were either distributed in the Rights Offering or purchased subsequent to the Rights Offering at the same purchase price at which the rights were exercisable. Through this arrangement, the Company had a high degree of certainty that it would raise gross proceeds of $100.0 million through the Rights Offering. In the agreement and subject to the successful completion of the Rights Offering, the Company agreed to pay Fox Paine & Company an arrangement fee of $2.0 million and a backstop fee equal to 5% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in the Rights Offering, or $5.0 million, for total payments of $7.0 million. Payment of these fees was subject to the prior approval by the Company’s shareholders, which was obtained at the Annual General Shareholders’ meeting that was held on October 27, 2009. The fees were paid on October 27, 2009.
 
As a result of the Rights Offering, 17.2 million Class A common shares and 11.4 million Class B common shares were purchased, resulting in gross proceeds of $100.1 million. After deducting expenses associated with the Rights Offering, the Company’s equity increased $91.8 million. Approximately 66% of the Class A common shareholders had exercised their subscription right. Excluding those Class A common shares that are owned by Fox Paine & Company and affiliated entities, approximately 72% of the Class A common shareholders had exercised


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
their subscription right. Fox Paine & Company and affiliated entities purchased 5.9 million Class A common shares and all Class B common shares for $60.7 million. Post the Rights Offering, Fox Paine & Company and affiliated entities own 7.5 million of the total 36.4 million outstanding Class A common shares and all 24.1 million of the outstanding Class B common shares. In total, Fox Paine & Company and affiliated entities now own 52.3% of all outstanding shares and beneficially own shares having approximately 89.6% of the Company’s total outstanding voting power.
 
See the specific filings with the SEC for the details regarding the shelf registration and the Rights Offering.
 
Repurchases of the Company’s Class A Common Shares
 
The Company allows employees to surrender the Company’s Class A common shares as payment for the tax liability incurred upon the vesting of restricted stock that was issued under the Company’s Share Incentive Plan. During 2009, the Company purchased an aggregate of 27,057 of surrendered Class A common shares from its employees for $0.2 million. During 2008, the Company purchased an aggregate of 17,948 of surrendered Class A common shares from its employees for $0.3 million. All Class A common shares purchased from employees by the Company are held as treasury stock and recorded at cost.
 
As part of the Rights Offering, the Company purchased 10,000 Class A common shares for $0.04 million that had been purchased by a former employee with the non-transferable Class A Rights that were distributed to that former employee for Class A common shares held of non-vested restricted stock. Since the restricted stock was not vested, the former employee, upon leaving the Company, had to forfeit those Class A common shares that had been purchased with the non-transferable Class A Rights that were distributed on that unvested restricted stock. See above for more details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
On October 24, 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized it to repurchase up to $50.0 million of the Company’s Class A common shares through a share repurchase program over the subsequent twelve months. This repurchase was completed in January 2008. All shares repurchased under this program are held as treasury stock and recorded at cost.
 
On February 11, 2008, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to an additional $50.0 million of its Class A common shares. This repurchase was completed in July 2008. All shares repurchased under this program are held as treasury stock and recorded at cost.
 
The following table provides information with respect to the Class A common shares that were surrendered or repurchased in 2009:
 
                                 
                      Approximate
 
                Total Number of
    Dollar Value
 
                Shares Purchased
    of Shares That
 
    Total Number
    Average
    as Part of Publicly
    May Yet Be
 
    of Shares
    Price Paid
    Announced Plan
    Purchased Under the
 
Period(1)
  Purchased     Per Share     or Program     Plan or Program(2)  
 
January 1-31, 2009
    9,246 (3)   $ 12.13           $  
February 1-28, 2009
    4,326 (3)   $ 10.50           $  
May 1-31, 2009
    2,398 (3)   $ 4.89           $  
July 1-31, 2009
    17,302 (4)   $ 4.51           $  
October 1-31, 2009
    1,594 (3)   $ 7.46           $  
November 1-30, 2009
    2,191 (3)   $ 6.95           $  
                                 
Total
    37,057     $ 7.40             N/A  
                                 
 
 
(1) Based on settlement date.
 
(2) Approximate dollar value of shares is as of the last date of the applicable month.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
(3) Surrendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the vesting of restricted stock.
 
(4) Includes 7,302 shares surrendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the vesting of restricted stock and 10,000 shares repurchased as part of the Rights Offering.
 
The following table provides information with respect to the Class A common shares that were surrendered or repurchased in 2008:
 
                                 
                      Approximate
 
                Total Number of
    Dollar Value
 
                Shares Purchased
    of Shares That
 
    Total Number
    Average
    as Part of Publicly
    May Yet Be
 
    of Shares
    Price Paid
    Announced Plan
    Purchased Under the
 
Period(1)
  Purchased     Per Share     or Program     Plan or Program(2)  
 
January 1-31, 2008
    93,054 (3)   $ 19.70       88,362 (4)   $ 434  
February 1-29, 2008
    71,242 (5)   $ 19.23       68,659 (6)   $ 49,680,261  
March 1-31, 2008
    154,200     $ 19.03       154,200 (6)   $ 45,746,974  
May 1-31, 2008
    995,674     $ 14.06       995,674 (6)   $ 31,749,232  
June 1-30, 2008
    1,606,850     $ 14.25       1,606,850 (6)   $ 8,847,487  
July 1-31, 2008
    636,545 (7)   $ 13.97       633,376 (6)   $  
September 1-30, 2008
    2,173 (8)   $ 14.69           $  
October 1-31, 2008
    1,931 (8)   $ 11.21           $  
November 1-30, 2008
    3,226 (8)   $ 12.35           $  
December 1-31, 2008
    174 (8)   $ 11.45           $  
                                 
Total
    3,565,069     $ 14.59       3,547,121       N/A  
                                 
 
 
(1) Based on settlement date.
 
(2) Approximate dollar value of shares is as of the last date of the applicable month.
 
(3) Includes 4,692 shares surrendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the vesting of restricted stock.
 
(4) Purchased as part of the repurchase authorization announced in December 2007.
 
(5) Includes 2,583 shares surrendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the vesting of restricted stock.
 
(6) Purchased as part of the repurchase authorization announced in February 2008.
 
(7) Includes 3,169 shares surrendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the vesting of restricted stock.
 
(8) Surrendered by employees as payment of taxes withheld on the vesting of restricted stock.
 
11.   Related Party Transactions
 
Fox Paine & Company
 
As of December 31, 2009, Fox Paine & Company beneficially owns shares having approximately 89.6% of the Company’s total outstanding voting power. Fox Paine & Company can nominate five of the directors of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company’s Chairman is a member of Fox Paine & Company. The Company relies on Fox Paine & Company to provide management services and other services related to the operations of the Company. The Company directly reimbursed Fox Paine & Company $0.5 million, $0.1 million, and $0.3 million during 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively, for expenses incurred in providing management services.
 
As mentioned in Note 10 above, as a result of the Rights Offering, the Company agreed to pay Fox Paine & Company an arrangement fee of $2.0 million and a backstop fee equal to 5% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in the Rights Offering, or $5.0 million, for total payments of $7.0 million. Since Fox Paine & Company is a related party, and all other shareholders were not offered these fees in the Rights Offering, the payment of the fees was


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
subject to the prior approval of the Company’s shareholders, which was obtained at the Annual General Shareholders’ meeting that was held on October 27, 2009. The fees were paid on October 27, 2009. See Note 10 above for more details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
At December 31, 2009 and 2008, Wind River Reinsurance was a limited partner in the Fox Paine Capital Fund, II, which is managed by Fox Paine & Company. This investment was originally made by United National Insurance Company in June 2000 and pre-dates the September 5, 2003 acquisition by Fox Paine & Company of Wind River Investment Corporation, the holding company for the Company’s Predecessor Insurance Operations. The Company’s investment in this limited partnership was valued at $5.6 million and $6.8 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. At December 31, 2009, the Company had an unfunded capital commitment of $2.5 million to the partnership.
 
In September 2009, management fees of $1.5 million in the aggregate were paid to Fox Paine & Company pursuant to the Management Agreement with Fox Paine & Company. The management fees cover the period from September 5, 2009 through September 4, 2010 and will be recognized ratably over that period. In November 2008, management fees of $1.5 million in the aggregate were paid to Fox Paine & Company. The management fees cover the period from September 5, 2008 through September 4, 2009 and were recognized ratably over that period. In November 2007, management fees of $1.5 million in the aggregate were paid to Fox Paine & Company. The management fees covered the period from September 5, 2007 through September 4, 2008 and were recognized ratably over that period. The Company relies on Fox Paine & Company to provide management services and other services related to the operations of the Company.
 
As part of the Company’s intended redomestication from the Cayman Islands to Ireland (see Note 20 for details), the Company has agreed to indemnify Fox Paine & Company against any Irish stamp duty that it may incur. See Item 1B in Part I of the report for details concerning the Irish stamp duty.
 
Cozen O’Connor
 
In 2009, 2008, and 2007, the Company incurred $0.09 million, $1.1 million, and $1.3 million, respectively, for legal services rendered by Cozen O’Connor. Stephen A. Cozen, the chairman of Cozen O’Connor, is a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.
 
Validus Reinsurance, Ltd.
 
Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Validus”) was a participant on the Company’s following catastrophe reinsurance treaties:
 
  •  $30.0 million in excess of $30.0 million, which expired on May 31, 2007;
 
  •  $25.0 million in excess of $5.0 million, which expired on May 31, 2007;
 
  •  $100.0 million in excess of $10.0 million, which expired on May 31, 2008; and
 
  •  $70.0 million in excess of $10.0 million, which expired on May 31, 2009.
 
The Company paid $0.2 million and $0.9 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively, in premium to Validus as a result these treaties. There was no premium paid to Validus in 2009.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Validus is also a participant in a quota share retrocession agreement with Wind River Reinsurance. The Company estimated that the following written premium and losses related to the quota share retrocession agreement have been assumed by Validus from Wind River Reinsurance:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2007
(Dollars in thousands)            
 
Ceded written premium
  $ 2,518     $ 10,634     $ 10,762  
Ceded losses
    2,314       8,075       1,893  
 
Edward J. Noonan, the chairman and chief executive officer of Validus, was a member of the Company’s Board of Directors until June 1, 2007, when he resigned from the Company’s Board. Validus remains a related party since the current quota share retrocession agreement between Validus and Wind River Reinsurance was put in place during the period when Mr. Noonan was a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.
 
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
 
In connection with the Rights Offering, the Company entered into an agreement with Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (“Citi”), wherein Citi agreed to be the Company’s exclusive capital markets structuring adviser to provide advisory and investment banking services. The Company paid Citi $1.0 million in connection with these services. Chad A. Leat, a managing director and chairman of Citigroup’s Global Alternative Asset Group, is a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.
 
12.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
Lease Commitments
 
Total rental expense under operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 were $3.5 million, $3.7 million, and $3.6 million, respectively. At December 31, 2009, future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows:
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)      
 
2010
  $ 3,499  
2011
    3,398  
2012
    3,480  
2013
    3,414  
2014 and thereafter
    646  
         
Total
  $ 14,437  
         
 
Legal Proceedings
 
The Company is, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. The Company purchases insurance and reinsurance policies covering such risks in amounts that it considers adequate.
 
However, there can be no assurance that the insurance and reinsurance coverage that the Company maintains is sufficient or will be available in adequate amounts or at a reasonable cost. The Company does not believe that the resolution of any currently pending legal proceedings, either individually or taken as a whole, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.
 
There is a greater potential for disputes with reinsurers who are in a runoff of their reinsurance operations. Some of the Company’s reinsurers’ reinsurance operations are in runoff, and therefore, the Company closely


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
monitors those relationships. The Company anticipates that, similar to the rest of the insurance and reinsurance industry, it will continue to be subject to litigation and arbitration proceedings in the ordinary course of business.
 
On December 4, 2008, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) returned a $24.0 million verdict in favor of United National Insurance Company (“United National”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, against AON Corp., an insurance and reinsurance broker. On July 24, 2009, a federal judge from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) upheld that jury verdict. In doing so, the U.S. District Judge increased the verdict to $32.2 million by adding more than $8.2 million in prejudgment interest. AON has filed its Notice of Appeal and a Bond in the amount of $33.0 million. A court ordered mediation took place on December 10, 2009, which did not result in a settlement. The Company has received a briefing schedule from the Appellate Court. Once all briefs have been filed and reviewed by the Court, the Court will likely order oral arguments. It is estimated that it will take another eight to ten months for a decision following oral arguments. United National does not intend to recognize the gain contingency until the matter has been resolved through the appellate process.
 
Other Commitments
 
As mentioned in Note 11 above, the Company has a remaining commitment of $2.5 million to the Fox Paine Capital Fund, II. The timing and funding of this remaining commitment has not been determined. As investment opportunities are identified by the partnerships, capital calls will be made.
 
The Company is party to a Management Agreement, as amended, with Fox Paine & Company, whereby in connection with certain management services provided to it by Fox Paine & Company, the Company agreed to pay an annual management fee of $1.5 million to Fox Paine & Company. The most recent annual management fee of $1.5 million was paid to Fox Paine & Company on September 25, 2009. The next annual management fee payment of $1.5 million is payable on November 1, 2010.
 
13.   Share-Based Compensation Plans
 
The fair value method of accounting recognizes share-based compensation in the statements of operations using the grant-date fair value of the stock options and other equity-based compensation expensed over the requisite service and vesting period.
 
The Company adopted accounting guidance that sets accounting requirements for share-based compensation to employees and non-employee directors, and requires companies to recognize in the statement of operations the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity based compensation. For the purpose of determining the fair value of stock option awards, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The estimation of forfeitures is required when recognizing compensation expense which is then adjusted over the requisite service period should actual forfeitures differ from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures are recognized through a cumulative adjustment to compensation in the period of change.
 
The prescribed accounting guidance also requires tax benefits relating to excess stock-based compensation deductions to be prospectively presented in the statement of cash flows as financing cash inflows. Tax expense (benefits) resulting from stock-based compensation deductions in excess of amounts reported for financial reporting purposes were $0.3 million, $0.1 million and $(0.4) million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
 
See the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2008 for plan activity prior to 2007.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
OPTIONS
 
Share Incentive Plan
 
The Company maintains the United America Indemnity, Ltd. Share Incentive Plan (as so amended, the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to give the Company a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining officers, employees, consultants and non-employee directors by offering stock options, restricted shares and other stock-based awards. As amended in May 2005, the Company may issue up to 5.0 million Class A common shares for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Plan. Award activity for stock options granted under the Plan and the weighted average exercise price per share are summarized as follows:
 
                                         
                            Weighted
 
                            Average
 
    Time-Based
    Performance-
    Tranche A
    Total
    Exercise Price
 
    Options     Based Options     Options     Options     Per Share  
 
Options outstanding at January 1, 2007
    1,132,139       202,429       56,074       1,390,642     $ 15.92  
Options issued
    217,473       197,473             414,946     $ 25.15  
Options forfeited
    (254,979 )     (202,429 )           (457,408 )   $ 23.90  
Options exercised
    (144,232 )                 (144,232 )   $ 13.19  
Options retired
    (90,300 )                 (90,300 )   $ 10.00  
Options purchased by Company
    (119,700 )                 (119,700 )   $ 10.00  
                                         
Options outstanding at December 31, 2007
    740,401       197,473       56,074       993,948     $ 17.75  
Options issued
    249,419       249,419             498,838     $ 20.05  
Options forfeited
    (54,206 )                 (54,206 )   $ 12.98  
Options exercised
    (98,743 )                 (98,743 )   $ 10.54  
Options retired
    (322 )                 (322 )   $ 8.49  
Options purchased by Company
    (197,473 )     (197,473 )           (394,946 )   $ 25.32  
                                         
Options outstanding at December 31, 2008
    639,076       249,419       56,074       944,569     $ 16.83  
Options issued
    249,419       249,419             498,838     $ 11.90  
Options forfeited
    (15,000 )                 (15,000 )   $ 21.87  
Options retired
    (205,455 )           (56,074 )     (261,529 )   $ 11.22  
Options purchased by Company
    (249,419 )     (249,419 )           (498,838 )   $ 12.83  
                                         
Options outstanding at December 31, 2009
    418,621       249,419             668,040     $ 13.92  
                                         
Options exercisable at December 31, 2009
    226,557       62,355             288,912     $ 15.68  
                                         
 
 
 
NOTE:   The above table excludes 55,000 warrants that were issued, at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, on September 5, 2003 and which expired on September 11, 2008. In addition, the Tranche A options were granted outside of the Plan.
 
There was no activity in the Option-A Tranche during 2007 or 2008. In 2009, 56,074 Option-A Tranche options expired on March 31, 2009.
 
During 2008, the Company granted 249,419 Time-Based Options and 249,419 Performance-Based Options under the Plan. The Company also cancelled 197,473 Time-Based Options and 197,473 Performance-Based Options under the plan as a result of the amendment and restatement of Larry A. Frakes’ employment agreement. The Time-Based Options vest in 25% increments over a four-year period, with any unvested options being forfeited upon termination of employment for any reason, and expire 10 years after the grant date. The Performance-Based


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Options vest in 25% increments and are conditional upon the Company achieving various operating targets and expire 10 years after the grant date.
 
During 2009, the Company granted 249,419 Time-Based Options and 249,419 Performance-Based Options under the Plan. The Company also cancelled 249,419 Time-Based Options and 249,419 Performance-Based Options under the plan as a result of the amendment and restatement of Larry A. Frakes’ employment agreement. The Time-Based Options vest in 25% increments on December 31, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012, with any unvested options being forfeited upon termination of employment for any reason, and expire 10 years after the grant date. The Performance-Based Options vest in 25% increments and are conditional upon the Company achieving various operating targets and expire 10 years after the grant date.
 
In 2009, the Company recorded $1.2 million of compensation expense for the 668,040 outstanding options granted under the Plan. In 2008, the Company recorded $1.2 million of compensation expense for the 944,569 outstanding options granted under the Plan. In 2007, the Company recorded $0.8 million of compensation expense for the 993,948 outstanding options granted under the Plan. The Company received $0.0 million, $1.0 million and $1.9 million of proceeds from the exercise of options during 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. Amortization expense related to options is anticipated to be $1.3 million in 2010, $1.3 million in 2011, and $0.1 million in 2012.
 
Option intrinsic values, which are the differences between the fair market value of $7.92 at December 31, 2009 and the strike price of the option, are as follows:
 
                         
          Weighted
       
    Number
    Average
       
    of Shares     Strike Price     Intrinsic Value  
 
Outstanding
    668,040     $ 12.83     $ 0.0 million  
Exercisable
    288,912       13.92       0.0 million  
Exercised
                0.0 million  
 
 
 
NOTE:   The intrinsic value of the Exercised Options is the difference between the fair market value at time of exercise and the strike price of the option.
 
The options exercisable at December 31, 2009 include the following:
 
         
    Number of Options
 
Option Price
  Exercisable  
 
$8.49
    415  
$10.00
    38,587  
$14.62
    10,000  
$17.00
    90,200  
$18.40
    5,000  
$18.85
    20,000  
$20.05
    124,710  
         
Options exercisable at December 31, 2009
    288,912  
         


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The weighted average fair value of options granted under the Plan was $2.28, $7.57, and $9.19 in 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively, using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:
 
             
    2009   2008   2007
 
Dividend yield
  0.0%   0.0%   0.0%
Expected volatility
  48.40%   31.4%   26.6%
Risk-free interest rate
  3.0%   3.1%   4.6%
Expected option life
  6.1 years   6.6 years   6.2 years
 
The following tables summarize the range of exercise prices of options outstanding at December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007:
 
                         
          Weighted Average
       
    Outstanding at
    Per Share
    Weighted Average
 
Ranges of Exercise Prices
  December 31, 2009     Exercise Price     Remaining Life  
 
$8.48- $9.99
    415     $ 8.49       2.0 years (1)
$10.00-$16.99
    547,425     $ 11.82       7.1 years (1)
$17.00-$19.99
    120,200     $ 17.44       4.0 years (1)
                         
Total
    688,040                  
                         
 
 
(1) Decrease in weighted average remaining life from the prior year is due to terminations of employees with exercisable options that expired in early 2009.
 
                         
          Weighted Average
       
    Outstanding at
    Per Share
    Weighted Average
 
Ranges of Exercise Prices
  December 31, 2008     Exercise Price     Remaining Life  
 
$6.50- $9.99
    56,489     $ 6.51       0.4 years (1)
$10.00-$16.99
    187,887     $ 10.25       2.3 years (1)
$17.00-$19.99
    181,355     $ 17.45       3.6 years (1)
$20.00-$21.87
    518,838     $ 20.12       8.4 years  
                         
Total
    944,569                  
                         
 
 
(1) Decrease in weighted average remaining life from the prior year is due to terminations of employees with exercisable options that expired in early 2009.
 
                         
          Weighted Average
       
    Outstanding at
    Per Share
    Weighted Average
 
Ranges of Exercise Prices
  December 31, 2007     Exercise Price     Remaining Life  
 
$6.50- $9.99
    58,812     $ 6.59       5.9 years  
$10.00-$16.99
    310,425     $ 10.15       6.0 years  
$17.00-$19.99
    209,765     $ 17.48       6.6 years  
$20.00-$25.32
    414,946     $ 25.15       9.4 years  
                         
Total
    993,948                  
                         
 
Restricted Shares
 
In addition to stock option awards, the Plan also provides for the issuance of Restricted Shares to employees and non-employee Directors. The Company recognized compensation expense for restricted stock of $1.8 million, $1.4 million and $1.4 million for 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. The total unrecognized compensation expense


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
for the non-vested restricted stock was $2.3 million at December 31, 2009, which will be recognized over a weighted average life of 2.2 years. The weighted average fair value of the 292,995 Class A common shares, subject to certain restrictions granted to key employees of the Company under the Plan (“Restricted Shares”) that vested during the year ended December 31, 2009 was $7.39 per share.
 
The following table summarizes the restricted stock awards since inception.
 
                         
    Restricted Stock Awards  
Year
  Employees     Directors     Total  
 
Inception through 2006(1)
    550,664       58,804       609,468  
2007
    83,984       19,335       103,319  
2008
    222,675       47,404       270,079  
2009
    131,138       203,524       334,662  
                         
      988,461       329,067       1,317,528  
                         
 
 
(1) Includes 245,208 shares that were purchased by key employees in 2003.
 
The following table summarizes the non-vested Restricted Shares activity for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008, and 2009:
 
                 
          Weighted
 
          Average
 
    Number of
    Price
 
    Shares     Per Share  
 
Non-vested Restricted Shares at January 1, 2007
    227,639     $ 20.56  
Shares issued
    103,319     $ 23.60  
Shares vested
    (54,886 )   $ 21.70  
Shares forfeited
    (31,531 )   $ 22.58  
Shares returned
    31,531     $ 22.58  
Shares purchased
    (35,000 )   $ 20.18  
                 
Non-vested Restricted Shares at December 31, 2007
    241,072     $ 24.59  
Shares issued
    160,863     $ 14.46  
Shares vested
    (109,453 )   $ 19.07  
Shares forfeited
    (38,882 )   $ 21.77  
Shares returned
    38,882     $ 21.77  
                 
Non-vested Restricted Shares at December 31, 2008
    292,482     $ 16.39  
Shares issued
    276,191     $ 8.03  
Shares vested
    (292,995 )   $ 10.39  
Shares forfeited
    (78,639 )   $ 13.92  
Shares returned
    78,639     $ 13.92  
                 
Non-vested Restricted Shares at December 31, 2009
    275,678     $ 11.67  
                 
 
Based on the terms of the Restricted Shares awards, all forfeited shares revert back to the Company.
 
During 2007, the Company granted an aggregate of 83,984 Restricted Shares to key employees of the Company and an aggregate of 19,332 fully vested Director Restricted Shares, at a weighted average fair value of $23.13 per share, to non-employee directors of the Company under the Plan. Included in the 83,984, the Company granted 2,500 Restricted Shares in exchange for a signed non-compete agreement. Of this award, 850 Restricted


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Shares vested immediately and the remainder vest 33% on October 24, 2008 and 2009. Also included, the Company granted 27,000 Restricted Shares to key executives of the Company in exchange for signed employment agreements. The shares vest 331/3% on each subsequent anniversary date of the award for a period of three years. Included in the 83,984 shares, the Company granted 54,484 Restricted Shares, as a result of the 2006 Board of Directors’ approval of the grant of Restricted Shares as described below.
 
During 2007, the Board of Directors authorized a grant of Restricted Shares to officers of the Company if the Company achieves a minimum 10% return on equity based on 2007’s operating results. 45,514 Restricted Shares were awarded during the first quarter of 2008, based on the December 31, 2007 market value of the Company’s common shares, and will vest 34% on January 1, 2009 and 33% on each January 1 of years 2010 and 2011. The Board of Directors also authorized an incentive award of Restricted Shares to these individuals if the Company earns no less than 85% of planned 2007 net income excluding after-tax net realized investment gains (losses), after-tax gain and one-time charges from discontinued operations, and after-tax extraordinary items that do not reflect overall operating trends. The results of calendar year 2007 will be examined in 2010 by an independent actuary. If net income excluding after-tax net realized investment gains (losses), after-tax gain and one-time charges from discontinued operations, and after-tax extraordinary items that do not reflect overall operating trends, adjusted to reflect the results of the actuarial study, is greater than or equal to net income excluding after-tax net realized investment gains (losses), after-tax gain and one-time charges from discontinued operations, and after-tax extraordinary items that do not reflect overall operating trends as originally reported, Restricted Shares may be awarded in 2011 based on the December 31, 2007 market value of the Company’s common shares. The awards are being expensed over the intrinsic service period, which includes the performance period and the employee service period. The employee must be continually employed through the vesting date to be eligible to receive the award. The Company recognized $0.4 million of expense in 2007 related to these awards.
 
During 2008, the Company granted an aggregate of 222,675 Restricted Shares to key employees of the Company and an aggregate of 47,404 fully vested Director Restricted Shares, at a weighted average fair value of $16.70 per share, to non-employee directors of the Company under the Plan. In 2008, the company granted 71,675 Restricted Shares to key employees and 37,541 fully vested Director Restricted Shares to non-employee directors of the Company out of shares held in treasury. Included in the 222,675 are 142,000 Restricted Shares granted by the Company to key executives of the Company in exchange for signed employment agreements. Included in the 142,000 are 12,000 shares that vest 331/3% on each subsequent anniversary date of the award for a period of three years, and 30,000 shares that vest 25% on each subsequent anniversary date of the award for a period of four years. Of the remaining 100,000 shares, 10% of the shares vested upon being granted and 22.5% vest on each subsequent anniversary date of the award for a period of four years. The Company also granted 16,161 shares to a key executive in 2008. The 16,161 Restricted Shares vest 25% on each subsequent anniversary date of the award for a period of four years.
 
During 2009, the Company granted an aggregate of 131,138 Restricted Shares to key employees of the Company and an aggregate of 203,524 fully vested Director Restricted Shares, at a weighted average fair value of $6.77 per share, to non-employee directors of the Company under the Plan. In 2009, the company granted 58,471 Restricted Shares to key employees and 0 fully vested Director Restricted Shares to non-employee directors of the Company out of shares held in treasury. Included in the 131,138 are 77,362 Restricted Shares granted by the Company to key executives of the Company in exchange for signed employment agreements. Included in the 77,362 are 52,362 shares that were forfeited in 2009 and 15,000 shares that vest 331/3% on each subsequent anniversary date of the award for a period of three years, and 10,000 shares that vest 25% on each subsequent anniversary date of the award for a period of four years.
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
Effective May 9, 2007, Larry A. Frakes was hired as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as Chief Executive Officer of all of the Company Affiliates. Mr. Frakes’ four-year employment agreement


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
includes several equity components including (a) the granting of $10.0 million of stock options, or 394,946 shares split evenly between time-based and performance-based options at the grant date market value of $25.32 per share; (b) an annual bonus program under which the first $0.5 million is paid in restricted stock based on the market value at December 31 of the subject Bonus Year; (c) the purchase of $1.0 million of the Company’s Class A common shares by Mr. Frakes; and (d) the requirement that, effective January 1, 2009, Mr. Frakes hold Class A common shares of the Company with a value of the lesser of two times his Annual Compensation or the sum of owned, granted, and vested Class A common shares. The time-based options vest at 25% on each December 31 of years 2008 through 2011. The performance-based options generally vest at the same rate based on the achievement of various Company financial performance goals. The restricted stock portion of the 2008, 2009, and 2010 bonuses vest at 25% per year each year after the bonus year, and awards for the 2010 bonus year and thereafter will vest at 33.3% per year each year after the bonus year.
 
On February 5, 2008, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Frakes, which amended and restated Mr. Frakes’ original employment agreement that was entered into on May 10, 2007. The amended and restated employment agreement changes and clarifies the terms of options granted under the original employment agreement. The amended and restated agreement grants Mr. Frakes $10.0 million of options with a strike price equal to the average price per share that was paid by Mr. Frakes upon his purchase of $1.0 million of the Company’s Class A common shares.
 
On September 14, 2009, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Frakes, which amended and restated Mr. Frakes’ amended employment agreement that was entered into on February 5, 2008. The amended and restated employment agreement changes and clarifies the terms of options granted under the original employment agreement. The Time Based Options vest at 25% on December 31, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012. The Performance Based Options have three vesting opportunities. Each Tranche which represents 25% of the total award can initially vest on December 31, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Subsequent vesting opportunities occur on April 30, 2011 and 2012 for each tranche.
 
14.   401(k) Plan
 
The Company maintains a 401(k) defined contribution plan that covers all eligible U.S employees. Under this plan, the Company matches 100% of the first 6% contributed by an employee. Vesting on contributions made by the Company for new employees with less than 3 years of service prior to January 1, 2009 occurs pro-rata over a three year period. Effective January 1, 2009, vesting on contributions made by the Company is immediate. Total expenses for the plan were $1.4 million, $1.3 million, and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
 
15.   Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
Earnings (loss) per share have been computed using the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the period. As detailed below, share counts for prior years have been restated as a result of the Rights Offering.
 
The Company issued non-transferable rights to stockholders of record on March 16, 2009. The rights entitled the holders to purchase 0.9013 shares of common stock for every right held. The Rights Offering expired on April 6, 2009. On May 5, 2009, the Company issued 17.2 million Class A common shares and 11.4 million Class B common shares at a subscription price of $3.50 per share in conjunction with the Rights Offering.
 
The market price of the Company’s Class A common shares was $4.89 per share on March 12, 2009, which was the ex-rights date related to the Rights Offering. Since the $3.50 per share subscription price of the shares issued under the Rights Offering was lower than the $4.89 per share market price on March 12, 2009, the Rights Offering contained a bonus element. In computing the basic and diluted weighted share counts, the number of shares outstanding prior to May 5, 2009 (the date that the common shares were issued in conjunction with the Rights


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Offering) was adjusted by a factor of 1.114 to reflect the impact of a bonus element associated with the Rights Offering. See Note 10 above for more details concerning the Rights Offering.
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share. In 2008, “Diluted” loss per share is the same as “Basic” loss per share since there was a net loss for that year.
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)                  
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 75,437     $ (141,560 )   $ 98,917  
                         
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic
    50,492,343       32,826,379       37,048,491  
Adjustment for bonus element of Rights Offering
    1,219,755       3,729,810       4,209,536  
                         
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding — basic
    51,712,098       36,556,189       41,258,027  
                         
Net income (loss)
  $ 1.46     $ (3.87 )   $ 2.40  
                         
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted
    50,543,009       32,826,379       37,360,703  
Adjustment for bonus element of Rights Offering
    1,219,755       3,729,810       4,209,536  
                         
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding — diluted
    51,762,764       36,556,189       41,570,239  
                         
Net income (loss)
  $ 1.46     $ (3.87 )   $ 2.38  
                         
 
A reconciliation of weighted average shares for basic earnings per share to weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 is as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
 
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share
    51,712,098       36,556,189       41,258,027  
Non-vested restricted stock
    5,922             60,549  
Options and warrants
    44,744             251,663  
                         
Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share
    51,762,764       36,556,189       41,570,239  
                         
 
If the Company had not incurred a loss in 2008, then 36,706,995 weighted average shares would have been used to compute the diluted loss per share calculation. In addition to the basic shares, weighted average shares for the diluted calculation would have included 50,551 shares of non-vested restricted stock and 100,255 share equivalents for options and warrants.
 
16.   Statutory Financial Information
 
GAAP differs in certain respects from Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”) as prescribed or permitted by the various U.S. State Insurance Departments. The principal differences between SAP and GAAP are as follows:
 
  •  Under SAP, investments in debt securities are primarily carried at amortized cost, while under GAAP the Company records its debt securities at estimated fair value.
 
  •  Under SAP, policy acquisition costs, such as commissions, premium taxes, fees and other costs of underwriting policies are charged to current operations as incurred, while under GAAP such costs are deferred and amortized on a pro rata basis over the period covered by the policy.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
  •  Under SAP, certain assets designated as “Non-admitted Assets” (such as prepaid expenses) are charged against surplus.
 
  •  Under SAP, net deferred income tax assets are admitted following the application of specified criteria, with the resulting admitted deferred tax amount being credited directly to surplus.
 
  •  Under SAP, certain premium receivables are non-admitted and are charged against surplus based upon aging criteria.
 
  •  Under SAP, the costs and related receivables for guaranty funds and other assessments are recorded based on management’s estimate of the ultimate liability and related receivable settlement, while under GAAP such costs are accrued when the liability is probable and reasonably estimable and the related receivable amount is based on future premium collections or policy surcharges from in-force policies.
 
  •  Under SAP, unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums are reported net of the effects of reinsurance transactions, whereas under GAAP, unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums are reported gross of reinsurance.
 
  •  Under SAP, a provision for reinsurance is charged to surplus based on the authorized status of reinsurers, available collateral, and certain aging criteria, whereas under GAAP, an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance is established based on management’s best estimate of the collectibility of reinsurance receivables.
 
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) issues model laws and regulations, many of which have been adopted by state insurance regulators, relating to: (a) risk-based capital (“RBC”) standards; (b) codification of insurance accounting principles; (c) investment restrictions; and (d) restrictions on the ability of insurance companies to pay dividends.
 
The Company’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries are required by law to maintain certain minimum surplus on a statutory basis, and are subject to regulations under which payment of a dividend from statutory surplus is restricted and may require prior approval of regulatory authorities. Applying the current regulatory restrictions as of December 31, 2009, the maximum amount of distributions that could be paid for 2010 by the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies as dividends under applicable laws and regulations without regulatory approval is approximately $50.3 million and $19.1 million, respectively. The Penn-America Insurance Companies limitation includes $6.3 million that would be distributed to United National Insurance Company or its subsidiary Penn Independent Corporation based on the December 31, 2009 ownership percentages. For 2009, United National Insurance Companies and Penn-America Insurance Companies declared and paid dividends of $31.3 million and $18.9 million, respectively.
 
The NAIC’s RBC model provides a tool for insurance regulators to determine the levels of statutory capital and surplus an insurer must maintain in relation to its insurance and investment risks, as well as its reinsurance exposures, to assess the potential need for regulatory attention. The model provides four levels of regulatory attention, varying with the ratio of an insurance company’s total adjusted capital to its authorized control level RBC (“ACLRBC”). If a company’s total adjusted capital is:
 
(a) less than or equal to 200%, but greater than 150% of its ACLRBC (the “Company Action Level”), the company must submit a comprehensive plan to the regulatory authority proposing corrective actions aimed at improving its capital position;
 
(b) less than or equal to 150%, but greater than 100% of its ACLRBC (the “Regulatory Action Level”), the regulatory authority will perform a special examination of the company and issue an order specifying the corrective actions that must be followed;


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
(c) less than or equal to 100%, but greater than 70% of its ACLRBC (the “Authorized Control Level”), the regulatory authority may take any action it deems necessary, including placing the company under regulatory control; and
 
(d) less than or equal to 70% of its ACLRBC (the “Mandatory Control Level”), the regulatory authority must place the company under its control.
 
Based on the standards currently adopted, the Company reported in its 2009 statutory filings that the capital and surplus of the U.S. Insurance Companies are above the prescribed Company Action Level RBC requirements.
 
The following is selected information for the Company’s U.S. Insurance Companies, net of intercompany eliminations, where applicable, as determined in accordance with SAP:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2007
(Dollars in thousands)            
 
Statutory capital and surplus, as of end of period
  $ 461,756     $ 440,157     $ 585,859  
Statutory net income (loss)
    55,811       (45,363 )     85,077  
 
The following is a reconciliation of statutory net income of the Company’s U.S. Insurance Companies for the year ended December 31, 2009 to GAAP net income per the consolidated statement of operations:
 
         
    Year Ended
 
    December 31, 2009(1)  
(Dollars in thousands)      
 
Statutory net income of U.S. Insurance Companies
  $ 55,811  
Adjustments to statutory net income:
       
Change in DAC
    (1,226 )
Deferred income taxes
    (11,737 )
Agents balance charged off
    424  
Realized investment gain/loss
    1,915  
Investment income
    (10,320 )
Reinsurance allowance
    2,144  
Excess offshore commission
    (321 )
Other UW expenses
    68  
Partnerships
    3,544  
         
Total adjustments
    (15,509 )
         
GAAP net income of U.S. Insurance Companies
    40,302  
GAAP net income of all other subsidiaries
    35,135  
         
Net income per the consolidated statement of operations
  $ 75,437  
         
 
 
(1) A reconciliation is not presented for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 since the U.S. Insurance Companies did not participate in a single intercompany pooling arrangement in those years.
 
17.   Segment Information
 
The Company manages its business through two business segments: Insurance Operations, which includes the operations of the United National Insurance Companies and the Penn-America Insurance Companies, and Reinsurance Operations, which includes the operations of Wind River Reinsurance.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Insurance Operations segment and the Reinsurance Operations segment follow the same accounting policies used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements. For further disclosure regarding the Company’s accounting policies, please see Note 2.
 
Gross premiums written by product classification are as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
(Dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     2007  
 
Insurance Operations
  $ 267,992     $ 353,130     $ 536,835  
Reinsurance Operations
    73,007       25,570       26,277  
                         
Total
  $ 340,999     $ 378,700     $ 563,112  
                         
 
Of the Company’s non-affiliated professional wholesale general agents and program administrators, the top five accounted for 34.1% of gross premiums written for the year ended December 31, 2009. No one agency accounted for more than 12.9% of gross premiums written.
 
Following is a tabulation of business segment information. Corporate information is included to reconcile segment data to the consolidated financial statements.
 
                         
    Insurance
    Reinsurance
       
2009:   Operations(1)     Operations(2)     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Revenues:
                       
Gross premiums written
  $ 267,992     $ 73,007     $ 340,999  
                         
Net premiums written
  $ 218,264     $ 72,731     $ 290,995  
                         
Net premiums earned
  $ 250,409     $ 51,265     $ 301,674  
Losses and Expenses:
                       
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    146,197       23,185       169,382  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    106,297 (3)     13,632       119,929  
                         
Income (loss) from segments
  $ (2,085 )   $ 14,448       12,363  
                         
Unallocated items:
                       
Net investment income
                    70,214  
Net realized investment gains
                    15,862  
Corporate and other operating expenses
                    (16,752 )
Interest expense
                    (7,216 )
                         
Income before income taxes
                    74,471  
Income tax expense
                    4,310  
                         
Income before equity in net income of partnerships
                    70,161  
Equity in net income of partnerships, net of tax
                    5,276  
                         
Net income
                  $ 75,437  
                         
Total assets
  $ 1,805,273     $ 640,507 (4)   $ 2,445,780  
                         
 
 
(1) Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations.
 
(2) External business only, excluding business assumed from affiliates.
 
(3) Includes excise tax of $1,342 related to cessions from U.S. Insurance Companies to Wind River Reinsurance.
 
(4) Comprised of Wind River Reinsurance’s total assets less its investment in subsidiaries.
 


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
                         
    Insurance
    Reinsurance
       
2008:   Operations(1)     Operations(2)     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Revenues:
                       
Gross premiums written
  $ 353,130     $ 25,570     $ 378,700  
                         
Net premiums written
  $ 305,479     $ 3,601     $ 309,080  
                         
Net premiums earned
  $ 374,174     $ 8,334     $ 382,508  
Losses and Expenses:
                       
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    293,820       11,354       305,174  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    137,294 (3)     5,473       142,767  
                         
Loss from segments
  $ (56,940 )   $ (8,493 )     (65,433 )
                         
Unallocated items:
                       
Net investment income
                    67,830  
Net realized investment losses
                    (50,259 )
Corporate and other operating expenses
                    (13,918 )
Interest expense
                    (8,657 )
Impairments of goodwill & intangible assets
                    (96,449 )
                         
Loss before income taxes
                    (166,886 )
Income tax benefit
                    (29,216 )
                         
Loss before equity in net loss of partnerships
                    (137,670 )
Equity in net loss of partnerships, net of tax
                    (3,890 )
                         
Net loss
                  $ (141,560 )
                         
Total assets
  $ 1,870,030     $ 607,029 (4)   $ 2,477,059  
                         
 
 
(1) Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations.
 
(2) External business only, excluding business assumed from affiliates.
 
(3) Includes excise tax of $1,871 related to cessions from U.S. Insurance Companies to Wind River Reinsurance.
 
(4) Comprised of Wind River Reinsurance’s total assets less its investment in subsidiaries.
 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
                                 
    Insurance
    Reinsurance
             
2007:   Operations(1)     Operations(2)     Eliminations     Total  
(Dollars in thousands)                        
 
Revenues:
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 536,835     $ 26,277     $     $ 563,112  
                                 
Net premiums written
  $ 478,274     $ 12,261     $     $ 490,535  
                                 
Net premiums earned
  $ 530,516     $ 5,807     $     $ 536,323  
Losses and Expenses:
                               
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    295,624       3,617             299,241  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    170,611 (3)     4,113       (543 )     174,181  
                                 
Income (loss) from segments
  $ 64,281     $ (1,923 )   $ 543       62,901  
                                 
Unallocated items:
                               
Net investment income
                            77,341  
Net realized investment gains
                            968  
Corporate and other operating expenses
                            (11,643 )
Interest expense
                            (11,372 )
                                 
Income before income taxes
                            118,195  
Income tax expense
                            18,697  
                                 
Income before equity in net loss of partnerships
                            99,498  
Equity in net loss of partnerships, net of tax
                            (581 )
                                 
Net income
                          $ 98,917  
                                 
Total assets
  $ 2,131,185     $ 643,987 (4)   $     $ 2,775,172  
                                 
 
 
(1) Includes business ceded to the Company’s Reinsurance Operations.
 
(2) External business only, excluding business assumed from affiliates.
 
(3) Includes excise tax of $2,390 related to cessions from U.S. Insurance Companies to Wind River Reinsurance.
 
(4) Comprised of Wind River Reinsurance’s total assets less its investment in subsidiaries.
 
18.   Supplemental Cash Flow Information
 
Taxes and Interest Paid
 
The Company paid the following net federal income taxes and cash interest for 2009, 2008, and 2007:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  
(Dollars in thousands)                  
 
Net federal income taxes paid
  $ 18,019     $ 5,763     $ 16,779  
Interest paid
    7,292       9,015       11,181  
 
19.   New Accounting Pronouncements
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance entitled “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles — a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162”, which identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles used

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in the preparation of financial statements of non-governmental entities that are presented in conformity with GAAP. This new guidance is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption of this guidance has changed how the Company references various elements of GAAP when preparing its financial statement disclosures, but did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
In January 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on other than temporary impairments with the intent of achieving more consistent determination of whether an other than temporary impairment has occurred. This guidance retains and emphasizes the other than temporary impairment assessment guidance and required disclosures from previous related disclosures. Under this new guidance, the holder of a beneficial interest should continue to update the estimate of cash flows over the life of the beneficial interest. If upon evaluation, it is probable that there is a favorable or an adverse change in estimated cash flows from previously projected cash flows, then the investor should recalculate the amount of accretable yield for the beneficial interest and apply this new yield prospectively as a change in estimate. An entity should then apply the impairment guidance from previous related disclosures. This new guidance became effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2008. The Company adopted this new guidance in its valuation review of applicable securities during the fourth quarter of 2008, and it did not result in a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on fair value measurements. The new guidance clarifies that the measurement objective in determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased, is the price that would be received to sell the asset in an orderly transaction between willing market participants under current market conditions at the date of the financial statements. The new guidance includes additional factors for determining whether there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability compared to normal activity for that asset or liability (or similar assets or liabilities) and provides additional guidance in estimating fair value in those instances. The new guidance further requires an entity to disclose any change in valuation techniques, the related inputs, and the effects resulting from the application of the new guidance. In addition, the adoption of the new guidance did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations because it did not result in a change in valuation techniques or related inputs. This new guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March, 15, 2009. The Company adopted this new guidance in the second quarter of 2009.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on other than temporary impairments. The new guidance is intended to bring greater consistency to the timing of impairment recognition and to provide greater clarity to investors about the credit and other factors (interest rates, market conditions, etc.) components of impaired debt securities that are not expected to be sold. It modifies the impairment model utilized for debt securities, the presentation of other than temporary impairment losses, and expands the required disclosures of other than temporary impairment for debt and equity securities. The new guidance provides that in order for an entity to conclude impairment is not other-than-temporary, it is required to assess whether it has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before the anticipated recovery. When the entity asserts it does not have the intent to sell the security and it is more likely than not it will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, only the credit related impairment losses are to be recorded in earnings; losses from other factors are to be recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Company adopted the new guidance on April 1, 2009. As a result, $6.3 million of other than temporary impairment losses, net of tax, that were previously recorded through earnings were reclassified to other comprehensive income (loss) with an offset to retained earnings as a cumulative-effect adjustment. This new guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March, 15, 2009. The Company adopted this new guidance in the second quarter of 2009.


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In April 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on interim disclosures of fair value measurements. This new guidance relates to fair value disclosures for any financial instruments that are not currently reflected on the balance sheet of companies at fair value. Prior to issuing this new guidance, fair values for these assets and liabilities were only disclosed once a year. The new guidance now requires these disclosures on a quarterly basis, providing qualitative and quantitative information about fair value estimates for all those financial instruments not measured on the balance sheet at fair value. This new guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March, 15, 2009. The Company adopted this new guidance in the second quarter of 2009.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on subsequent events. This new guidance establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. This new guidance sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements, and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. This new guidance is effective for interim or annual financial periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company adopted this new guidance during the second quarter of 2009, and it did not result in a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on accounting for transfers of financial assets. This new guidance eliminates the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity from previous guidance. This new guidance also introduces the concept of a “participating interest,” which will limit the circumstances where the transfer of a portion of a financial asset will qualify as a sale, assuming all other de-recognition criteria are met. Furthermore, it clarifies and amends the de-recognition criteria for determining whether a transfer qualifies for sale accounting. This new guidance is effective as of the beginning of the first annual reporting period and interim reporting periods that begin after November 15, 2009 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. In addition, this new accounting guidance eliminated the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. This new guidance amends certain previously issued guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity and adds an additional reconsideration event for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity when any changes in facts and circumstances occur such that the holders of the equity investment at risk, as a group, lose the power from voting rights or similar rights of those investments to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. Further, this new guidance requires enhanced disclosures that will provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprise’s involvement in a variable interest entity. This new guidance is effective as of the beginning of the first annual reporting period and interim reporting periods that begin after November 15, 2009, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that requires new disclosures related to fair value measurements and clarifies existing disclosure requirements about the level of disaggregation, inputs, and valuation techniques. Specifically, reporting entities now must disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition, in the reconciliation for Level 3 fair value measurements, a reporting entity should separately present information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. The guidance clarifies that a reporting entity needs to use judgment in determining the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities for disclosure of fair value measurement, considering the level of disaggregated information required by other applicable GAAP guidance and should also provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for each class of assets and liabilities. This guidance will be effective on January 1, 2010, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales,


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issuances, and settlements in the reconciliation for Level 3 fair value measurements, which will be effective on January 1, 2011. This guidance will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
20.   Subsequent Events
 
Redomestication to Ireland
 
On February 16, 2010, we announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan for the Company to re-domicile from the Cayman Islands to Ireland. The Company’s shareholders will be asked to vote in favor of completing the reorganization proposal at a special shareholders meeting. If the proposal is accepted, the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Indemnity plc, an Irish company.
 
If the move to Ireland is approved, the Company’s Class A common shares will be exchanged for Global Indemnity plc’s Class A ordinary shares on a two-for-one basis, which will trade on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GBLI.” Global Indemnity plc will be subject to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, the mandates of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq. Global Indemnity plc will continue to report the Company’s consolidated financial results in U.S. dollars and under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. If required by Irish law, audited consolidated annual financial statements prepared in accordance with Irish generally accepted accounting principles will also be made available to shareholders. In addition to shareholder approval, the move to Ireland is subject to an order from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands sanctioning the transaction.
 
Haiti Earthquake
 
On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the Republic of Haiti that devastated the capital city Port-au-Prince and resulted in widespread damage. The Company does not expect much, if any, catastrophe loss exposure as insurance penetration in Haiti has historically been low. Any exposure that may develop would be as a result of tsunami activity that affected neighboring islands where the Company has exposure. At this time, however, the Company does not expect any significant exposure.
 
California Mudslides and Flooding
 
In January 2010, the southern California coast was battered by multiple heavy rainstorms that caused mudslides and flooding which resulted in significant property losses. The Company does not expect much, if any, catastrophe loss exposure since it expects losses to be within the Company’s retention limits of its property catastrophe reinsurance coverage.
 
Chile Earthquake
 
In February 2010, a massive earthquake struck the Republic of Chile that resulted in widespread damage. The Company does not anticipate any catastrophe loss exposure as its current exposures do not include Chilean risks. Any exposure that may develop would be as a result of tsunami activity that affected the Australian, Asian, or Pacific island regions where the Company has exposure. At this time, however, the Company does not expect any significant exposure.
 
Europe Winter Storm
 
In February 2010, a late winter storm with fierce rain and hurricane strength winds hit western Europe. At this time, the Company does not know the extent of its catastrophe loss exposure, if any.
 
There were no subsequent events requiring adjustment to the financial statements or disclosure through March 16, 2010, the date that the Company’s financial statements were issued.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
21.   Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
 
An unaudited summary of the Company’s 2009 and 2008 quarterly performance is as follows:
 
                                 
    Year Ended December 31, 2009
    First
  Second
  Third
  Fourth
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
 
Net premiums earned
  $ 78,540     $ 74,732     $ 72,893     $ 75,509  
Net investment income
    22,177       16,605       15,267       16,165  
Net realized investment gains (losses)
    (8,596 )     5,398       6,613       12,447  
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    47,740       44,047       38,887       38,708  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    30,814       29,972       27,564       31,579  
Income before income taxes
    7,738       17,221       21,870       27,642  
Net income
    7,150       16,261       27,352       24,674  
Per share data — Diluted:
                               
Net income
  $ 0.23 (1)   $ 0.32     $ 0.45     $ 0.41  
 
                                 
    Year Ended December 31, 2008
    First
  Second
  Third
  Fourth
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
 
Net premiums earned
  $ 113,057     $ 100,673     $ 89,511     $ 79,267  
Net investment income
    17,786       17,072       16,627       16,345  
Net realized investment gains (losses)
    (1,070 )     (2,480 )     (20,510 )     (26,199 )
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses
    76,650       83,644       76,134       68,746  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses
    38,195       38,112       33,164       33,296  
Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets
                      96,499  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    8,444       (10,948 )     (28,822 )     (135,560 )
Net income (loss)
    7,440       (8,971 )     (19,598 )     (120,431 )
Per share data — Diluted:(2)
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.19 (1)   $ (0.24 )(1)   $ (0.56 )(1)   $ (3.44 )(1)
 
 
(1) In May 2009, the Company issued 17.2 million Class A common shares and 11.4 million Class B common shares in conjunction with the Rights Offering. In computing the basic and diluted weighted share counts, the number of shares outstanding prior to May 5, 2009 (the date that the common shares were issued in conjunction with the Rights Offering) was adjusted by a factor of 1.114 to reflect the impact of a bonus element associated with the Rights Offering in accordance with appropriate accounting guidance. As a result, share counts and per share data have been restated.
 
(2) “Diluted” loss per share is the same as “Basic” loss per share for the second, third, and fourth quarters since there was a net loss for those periods.


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Item 9.   Changes In And Disagreements With Accountants On Accounting And Financial Disclosure
 
None
 
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that as of December 31, 2009, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in that they are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and information that we are required to disclose in our Exchange Act reports is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2009, our internal control over financial reporting was effective based on these criteria. Our independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as stated in their report, which is included in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
We have added, deleted, or modified certain of our internal controls over financial reporting during 2009. However, there have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
 
Item 9B.   Other Information
 
None.
 
 
Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers of the Registrant, and Corporate Governance
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, our definitive proxy statement.
 
Item 11.   Executive Compensation
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, our definitive proxy statement.
 
Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management, and Related Stockholder Matters
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, our definitive proxy statement.


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Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, our definitive proxy statement.
 
Item 14.   Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to, and will be contained in, our definitive proxy statement.


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PART IV
 
Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
 
(1) The Financial Statements listed in the accompanying index on page 84 are filed as part of this report.
 
(2) The Financial Statement Schedules listed in the accompanying index on page 84 are filed as part of this report.
 
(3) The Exhibits listed below are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this report.
 
         
Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
  2 .1   Amended and Restated Investment Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2003, by and among U.N. Holdings (Cayman), Ltd., United National Group, Ltd., United America Indemnity Group, Inc., U.N. Holdings LLC, U.N. Holdings Inc., Wind River Investment Corporation and certain Trusts Listed on Schedule A thereof (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-108857) filed on October 28, 2003).
  2 .2   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 14, 2004, by and among Penn-America Group, Inc., United National Group, Ltd., United America Indemnity Group, Inc. and Cheltenham Acquisition Corp. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 15, 2004).
  2 .3   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2004, by and among United National Group, Ltd., United National Insurance Company, Penn Independent Corporation, the Shareholders named therein and the Shareholders’ representative (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 15, 2004).
  2 .4   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2004, by and among United National Group, Ltd., United National Insurance Company and Irvin Saltzman (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.3 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 15, 2004).
  2 .5   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2004, by and among United National Group, Ltd., United National Insurance Company, Jon S. Saltzman and Joanne Lynch Saltzman (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.4 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 15, 2004).
  3 .1   Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of United America Indemnity, Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 11, 2009).
  4 .1   Note and Guarantee Agreement dated July 20, 2005, among United America Indemnity Group, Inc., United America Indemnity, Ltd. and the Investors named therein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2005).
  4 .2   Form of 6.22% Guaranteed Senior Note due 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2005).
  4 .3   Form of Specimen Certificate for Registrant’s Class A Common Shares (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Amendment No. 4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-108857) filed on December 15, 2003).
  10 .1   Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement dated December 15, 2003, by and among United National Group, Ltd., U.N. Holdings (Cayman) Ltd. and those trusts signatory thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003).
  10 .2   Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2006, by and among United America Indemnity, Ltd., U.N. Holdings (Cayman) Ltd., those co-investment funds signatory thereto and those trust signatory thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 20, 2006).
  10 .3*   Management Shareholders Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2003, by and among United National Group, Ltd. and those management shareholders signatory thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-108857) filed on October 28, 2003).


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Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
  10 .4*   Amendment to Management Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2006, by and among United America Indemnity, Ltd. and those management shareholders signatory thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 12, 2006).
  10 .5*   Management Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2003, by and among United National Group, Ltd., Fox Paine & Company, LLC and The AMC Group, L.P., with related Indemnity Letter (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-108857) filed on October 28, 2003).
  10 .6*   Amendment No. 1 to the Management Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2006, by and among United America Indemnity, Ltd., Fox Paine & Company, LLC and Wind River Holdings, L.P., formerly The AMC Group, L.P. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 1, 2006).
  10 .7*   United National Group, Ltd. Share Incentive Plan and Amendment No. 1 thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Amendment No 2. to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-108857) filed on November 26, 2003).
  10 .8*   Amendment No. 2 to the United America Indemnity, Ltd. Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2005).
  10 .9*   Amendment No. 3 to the United America Indemnity, Ltd. Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 1, 2006).
  10 .10*   Amendment No. 4 to the United America Indemnity, Ltd. Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2007).
  10 .11*   Amendment No. 5 to the United America Indemnity, Ltd. Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2008).
  10 .12*   Amended and Restated United America Indemnity, Ltd. Annual Incentive Awards Program (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2005).
  10 .13*   Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated United America Indemnity, Ltd. Annual Incentive Awards Program (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 1, 2006).
  10 .14*   Employment Agreement for Larry A. Frakes, dated May 10, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2007).
  10 .15*   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement for Larry A. Frakes, dated February 5, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 8, 2008).
  10 .16*   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement for Larry A. Frakes, dated August 14, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 17, 2009).
  10 .17*   Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2006, between Wind River Insurance Company (Bermuda), Ltd. and David R. Whiting (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 17, 2006).
  10 .18*   Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 2005, between United National Insurance Company and Richard S. March (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 12, 2005).
  10 .19*   Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2006, between United National Insurance Company and Richard S. March (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2006).
  10 .20*   Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 2005, between United National Insurance Company and Kevin L. Tate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 12, 2005).
  10 .21*   Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2006, between United National Insurance Company and Kevin L. Tate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2006).

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Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
  10 .22*   Executive Employment Agreement, dated August 9, 2007, between Penn-America Insurance Company and Raymond H. McDowell (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 15, 2007).
  10 .23*   Executive Employment Agreement, dated July 28, 2008, between United National Insurance Company and J. Scott Reynolds (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008).
  10 .24*   Amendment No. 1 to Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2008, between United National Insurance Company and J. Scott Reynolds (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008).
  10 .25*+   Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2009, between Penn-America Insurance Company and Matthew B. Scott.
  10 .26*+   Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2009, between Wind River Reinsurance Company, Ltd. and Troy W. Santora.
  10 .27*+   Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2009, between United America Indemnity, Ltd. and Thomas M. McGeehan.
  10 .28   Subscription and Backstop Agreement, dated as of March 16, 2009, between United America Indemnity, Ltd., U.N. Holdings (Cayman) II, Ltd., and Fox Paine & Company, LLC.
  21 .1+   List of Subsidiaries.
  23 .1+   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
  31 .1+   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31 .2+   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32 .1+   Certification of Chief Executive Officer 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 Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
+ Filed herewith.
 
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
United America Indemnity, Ltd.
 
  By: 
/s/  Larry A. Frakes
Name:     Larry A. Frakes
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated below on March 16, 2010.
 
         
Signature
 
Title
 
     
/s/  Saul A. Fox

Saul A. Fox
  Chairman and Director
     
/s/  Larry A. Frakes

Larry A. Frakes
  President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
     
/s/  Thomas M. McGeehan

Thomas M. McGeehan
  Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
     
/s/  Stephen A. Cozen

Stephen A. Cozen
  Director
     
/s/  Seth J. Gersch

Seth J. Gersch
  Director
     
/s/  James R. Kroner

James R. Kroner
  Director
     
/s/  Chad A. Leat

Chad A. Leat
  Director
     
/s/  Michael J. Marchio

Michael J. Marchio
  Director


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
IN RELATED PARTIES
(In thousands)
 
                         
    As of December 31,
 
    2009  
                Amount
 
                Included in the
 
    Cost *     Value     Balance Sheet  
 
Type of Investment:
                       
Fixed maturities:
                       
United States Government and government agencies and authorities
  $ 228,386     $ 236,088     $ 236,088  
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions
    217,713       225,598       225,598  
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities
    461,574       478,163       478,163  
Public utilities
    42,569       44,828       44,828  
All other corporate bonds
    472,810       486,895       486,895  
Redeemable preferred stock
    1,509       2,599       2,599  
                         
Total fixed maturities
    1,424,561       1,474,171       1,474,171  
                         
Equity securities:
                       
Common stocks:
                       
Public utilities
    1,758       2,002       2,002  
Banks, trusts and insurance companies
    3,083       4,211       4,211  
Industrial and miscellaneous
    45,868       56,844       56,844  
                         
Total equity securities
    50,709       63,057       63,057  
                         
Other long-term investments
    5,468       7,999       7,999  
                         
Total investments
  $ 1,480,738     $ 1,545,227     $ 1,545,227  
                         
 
 
* Original cost of equity securities; original cost of fixed maturities adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. All amounts are shown net of impairment losses.


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    As of
    As of
 
    December 31,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
 
ASSETS
Fixed maturities:
               
Available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $68,755 and $0)
  $ 69,899     $  
Cash and cash equivalents
    32,553       203  
Equity in unconsolidated subsidiaries(1)
    804,550       691,006  
Due from affiliates
    1,152        
Other assets
    1,316       1,034  
                 
Total assets
  $ 909,470     $ 692,243  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
               
Note payable to affiliate(1)
  $ 54,747     $ 54,747  
Due to affiliates
          1,378  
Payable for securities purchased
    14,314        
Other liabilities
    8,433       4,125  
                 
Total liabilities
    77,494       60,250  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
           
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Common shares, $0.0001 par value, 900,000,000 common shares authorized; Class A common shares issued: 42,486,690 and 25,032,618, respectively; Class A common shares outstanding: 36,430,477 and 19,013,462, respectively; Class B common shares issued and outstanding: 24,122,744 and 12,687,500, respectively
    7       4  
Preferred shares, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
           
Additional paid-in capital
    619,469       524,345  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
    48,481       25,108  
Retained earnings
    264,739       182,982  
Class A common shares in treasury, at cost: 6,056,213 and 6,019,156 shares, respectively
    (100,720 )     (100,446 )
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    831,976       631,993  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 909,470     $ 692,243  
                 
 
 
(1) This item has been eliminated in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.

SCHEDULE II — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)
(Parent Only)
Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008  
 
Revenues:
               
Total revenues
  $ 877     $ 90  
Expenses:
               
Other expenses
    12,167       11,025  
                 
Loss before equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
    (11,290 )     (10,935 )
Equity in earnings (loss) of partnerships
    1,732        
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries(1)
    84,995       (130,625 )
                 
Net income (loss)
    75,437       (141,560 )
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
               
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period
    1,145        
Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries(1)
    28,548       (15,064 )
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    29,693       (15,064 )
                 
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
  $ 105,130     $ (156,624 )
                 
 
 
(1) This item has been eliminated in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.


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UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.

SCHEDULE II — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)
(Parent Only)
Statement of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008  
 
Net cash used for operating activities
  $ (5,889 )   $ (2,371 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities
    13,473        
Purchases of fixed maturities
    (55,999 )      
Purchases of other invested assets
    (10,000 )      
Dividends from subsidiaries(1)
          50,000  
                 
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
    (52,526 )     50,000  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Issuance of common shares
    91,833        
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
          1,041  
Excess tax benefit (expense) from share-based compensation plans
    (794 )     (91 )
Purchase of Class A common shares
    (274 )     (52,024 )
Payment of note to related party
          (1,253 )
                 
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
    90,765       (52,327 )
                 
Net change in cash and equivalents
    32,350       (4,698 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    203       4,901  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 32,553     $ 203  
                 
 
 
(1) This item has been eliminated in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.


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Table of Contents

UNITED AMERICA INDEMNITY, LTD.
 
 
                                 
        Future
       
        Policy Benefits,
       
    Deferred Policy
  Losses, Claims And
  Unearned
  Other Policy and
Segment
  Acquisition Costs   Loss Expenses   Premiums   Benefits Payable
 
At December 31, 2009:
                               
Insurance Operations
  $ 26,345     $ 1,221,516     $ 108,352     $  
Reinsurance Operations
    6,839       36,225       23,230        
At December 31, 2008:
                               
Insurance Operations
  $ 33,737     $ 1,481,793     $ 138,796     $  
Reinsurance Operations
    997       24,636       10,881        
At December 31, 2007:
                               
Insurance Operations
  $ 49,186     $ 1,496,344     $ 214,800        
      3,319       6,893       13,563        
 
                                 
          Benefits, Claims,
             
          Losses And
    Amortization of
       
    Premium
    Settlement
    Deferred Policy
    Net Written
 
Segment
  Revenue     Expenses     Acquisition Costs     Premium  
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009:
                               
Insurance Operations
  $ 250,409     $ 146,197     $ (73,437 )   $ 218,264  
Reinsurance Operations
    51,265       23,185       (10,659 )     72,731  
                                 
Total
  $ 301,674     $ 169,382     $ (84,096 )   $ 290,995  
                                 
For the year ended December 31, 2008:
                               
Insurance Operations
  $ 374,174     $ 293,820     $ (105,492 )   $ 305,479  
Reinsurance Operations
    8,334       11,354       (3,390 )     3,601  
                                 
Total
  $ 382,508     $ 305,174     $ (108,882 )   $ 309,080  
                                 
For the year ended December 31, 2007:
                               
Insurance Operations
  $ 530,516     $ 295,624     $ (139,503 )   $ 478,274  
Reinsurance Operations
    5,807       3,617       (2,653 )     12,261  
                                 
Total
  $ 536,323     $ 299,241     $ (142,156 )   $ 490,535  
                                 
 
                 
        Corporate
    Net
  and Other
    Investment
  Operating
Unallocated Corporate Items
  Income   Expenses
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009
  $ 70,214     $ 16,752  
For the year ended December 31, 2008
    67,830       13,918  
For the year ended December 31, 2007
    77,341       11,643  


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Table of Contents

 
                                         
                    Percentage
    Gross
  Ceded to Other
  Assumed from
      of Amount
    Amount(1)   Companies   Other Companies   Net Amount   Assumed to Net
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009:
                                       
Property & Liability Insurance
  $ 298,427     $ 57,420     $ 60,667     $ 301,674       20.1 %
For the year ended December 31, 2008:
                                       
Property & Liability Insurance
  $ 429,164     $ 74,877     $ 28,221     $ 382,508       7.4 %
For the year ended December 31, 2007:
                                       
Property & Liability Insurance
  $ 605,316     $ 81,691     $ 12,698     $ 536,323       2.4 %
 
 
(1) — Includes direct premiums written.


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Table of Contents

 
                                         
    Balance at
  Charged
           
    Beginning of
  (Credited) to Costs
  Charged (Credited)
  Other
  Balance at End
Description
  Period   and Expenses   to Other Accounts   Deductions   of Period
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009:
                                       
Investment asset valuation reserves:
                                       
Mortgage loans
  $     $     $     $     $  
Real estate
                             
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
                                       
Premiums, accounts and notes receivable
  $ 2,655     $ (434 )   $     $     $ 2,221  
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
                             
Reinsurance receivables
    13,661       (714 )                 12,947  
For the year ended December 31, 2008:
                                       
Investment asset valuation reserves:
                                       
Mortgage loans
  $     $     $     $     $  
Real estate
                             
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
                                       
Premiums, accounts and notes receivable
  $ 3,910     $ (1,255 )   $     $     $ 2,655  
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
                             
Reinsurance receivables
    10,542       3,119                   13,661  
For the year ended December 31, 2007:
                                       
Investment asset valuation reserves:
                                       
Mortgage loans
  $     $     $     $     $  
Real estate
                             
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
                                       
Premiums, accounts and notes receivable
  $ 3,987     $ (690 )   $ 613     $     $ 3,910  
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
                             
Reinsurance receivables
    20,667       (5,092 )     (5,033 )           10,542  


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Table of Contents

 
                                 
          Reserves for
             
    Deferred
    Unpaid Claims
             
    Policy
    and Claim
             
    Acquisition
    Adjustment
    Discount If
    Unearned
 
    Costs     Expenses     Any Deducted     Premiums  
 
Consolidated Property & Casualty Entities:
                               
As of December 31, 2009
  $ 33,184     $ 1,257,741     $ 17,500     $ 131,582  
As of December 31, 2008
    34,734       1,506,429       17,500       149,677  
As of December 31, 2007
    52,505       1,503,237       17,500       228,363  
 
                                                         
                Claims and Claim
          Paid Claims
       
          Net
    Adjustment Expense
    Amortization of
    and Claim
       
    Earned
    Investment
    Incurred Related to     Deferred Policy
    Adjustment
    Premiums
 
    Premiums     Income     Current Year     Prior Year     Acquisition Costs     Expenses     Written  
 
Consolidated Property & Casualty Entities:
                                                       
For the year ended December 31, 2009
  $ 301,674     $ 70,214     $ 178,492     $ (9,110 )   $ (84,096 )   $ 279,923     $ 290,995  
For the year ended December 31, 2008
    382,508       67,830       270,242       34,932       (108,882 )     270,220       309,080  
For the year ended December 31, 2007
    536,323       77,341       328,346       (29,105 )     (142,156 )     233,699       490,535  
 
Note:  All of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are 100% owned and consolidated.


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