Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
EX-21.1 - EXHIBIT 21.1 - Maiden Holdings, Ltd. | a10k2015exhibit-211.htm |
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - Maiden Holdings, Ltd. | a10k2015exhibit-312.htm |
EX-23.1 - EXHIBIT 23.1 - Maiden Holdings, Ltd. | a10k2015exhibit-231.htm |
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - Maiden Holdings, Ltd. | a10k2015exhibit-311.htm |
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - Maiden Holdings, Ltd. | a10k2015exhibit-321.htm |
EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - Maiden Holdings, Ltd. | a10k2015exhibit-322.htm |
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015
OR
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Transition Period from to
Commission File Number: 001-34042
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified in Its Charter)
Bermuda | 98-0570192 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
131 Front Street
Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda
Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
(441) 298-4900
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | |
Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share | NASDAQ Global Select Market | |
Series A Preference Shares, par value $0.01 per share | New York Stock Exchange, Inc. | |
Series B Mandatory Convertible Preference Shares, par value $0.01 per share | NASDAQ Global Select Market | |
Series C Preference Shares, par value $0.01 per share | New York Stock Exchange, Inc |
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 x
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 x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x 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 the registrant’s knowledge, in the definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
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 x | Accelerated Filer o | 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 x
The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2015 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $931.1 million based on the closing sale price of the registrant’s common shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on that date. As of February 19, 2016, 73,862,441 common shares were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A with respect to the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the registrant scheduled to be held on May 4, 2016 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
MAIDEN HOLDINGS, LTD.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
PART I | ||
PART II | ||
PART III | ||
PART IV | ||
Ex-21.1 | Subsidiaries of the Registrant | |
Ex-23.1 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP | |
Ex-31.1 | Section 302 Certification of CEO | |
Ex-31.2 | Section 302 Certification of CFO | |
Ex-32.1 | Section 906 Certification of CEO | |
Ex-32.2 | Section 906 Certification of CFO |
i
PART I
Special Note About Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results and the assumptions upon which those statements are based are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include general statements both with respect to us and the insurance industry and generally are identified with the words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "predict", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "project", "seek", "potential", "possible", "could", "might", "may", "should", "will", "would", "will be", "will continue", "will likely result" and similar expressions. In light of the risks and uncertainties inherent in all forward-looking statements, the inclusion of such statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should not be considered as a representation by us or any other person that our objectives or plans or other matters described in any forward-looking statement will be achieved. These statements are based on current plans, estimates, assumptions and expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements and therefore, you should not place undue reliance on them. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements are set forth in Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We caution that the list of important risk factors is not intended to be and is not exhaustive. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law, and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or individuals acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. If one or more risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from what we projected. Any forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflect our current view with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth, strategy and liquidity. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements which speak only as of the dates of the documents in which such statements were made.
References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the terms "we","us","our","the Company" or other similar terms mean the consolidated operations of Maiden Holdings, Ltd. and our consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the term "Maiden Holdings" or "Maiden" means Maiden Holdings, Ltd. only. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to $ are to the lawful currency of the United States, unless otherwise indicated. Any discrepancies in the tables included herein between the amounts listed and the totals thereof are due to rounding.
1
Item 1. Business.
General Overview
We are a Bermuda-based holding company, primarily focused on serving the needs of regional and specialty insurers in the United States, Europe and select other global markets by providing innovative reinsurance solutions designed to support their capital needs. We specialize in reinsurance solutions that optimize financing and risk management by providing coverage within the more predictable and actuarially credible lower layers of coverage and/or reinsuring risks that are believed to be lower hazard, more predictable and generally not susceptible to catastrophe claims. Our tailored solutions include a variety of value added services focused on helping our clients grow and prosper. Our principal operating subsidiaries are rated "A-" (Excellent) with a positive outlook by A.M. Best Company ("A.M. Best"), which rating is the fourth highest of sixteen rating levels, and "BBB+" (Good) with a stable outlook by Standard & Poor's ("S&P"), which is the eighth highest of twenty-two rating levels. Our common shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market ("NASDAQ") under the symbol "MHLD".
We provide reinsurance through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Maiden Reinsurance Ltd. ("Maiden Bermuda") and Maiden Reinsurance North America, Inc. ("Maiden US"). Internationally, we provide insurance sales and distribution services through Maiden Global Holdings, Ltd. ("Maiden Global") and its subsidiaries. Maiden Global primarily focuses on providing branded auto and credit life insurance products through insurer partners to retail clients in the European Union ("EU") and other global markets. These products also produce reinsurance programs which are underwritten by Maiden Bermuda. Certain international credit life business is written on a primary basis by Maiden Life Försäkrings AB ("Maiden LF").
Since our founding in 2007, we have entered into a series of strategic transactions that have significantly transformed the scope and scale of our business while maintaining our our low volatility, non-catastrophe oriented risk profile. These transactions have increased our gross premiums written to an amount in excess of $2.6 billion. These strategic transactions include the following:
• | Entering into a quota share reinsurance agreement (the "Reinsurance Agreement" or "AmTrust Quota Share") with a Bermuda subsidiary of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. ("AmTrust"), AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. ("AII"), in 2007 and a quota share reinsurance agreement (the "European Hospital Liability Quota Share") with AmTrust Europe Limited ("AEL") and AmTrust International Underwriters Limited ("AIUL") in 2011; |
• | Acquiring the reinsurance operations of GMAC Insurance (the "GMAC Acquisition") in 2008 and the GMAC International Insurance Services (the "IIS Acquisition") in 2010; |
• | Entering into a quota share reinsurance agreement with a subsidiary of National General Holdings Corporation ("NGHC") in 2010 (the "NGHC Quota Share"). This agreement was terminated on a run-off basis effective August 1, 2013; |
• | Substantially reducing our net exposure to natural hazard events by selling, on May 1, 2013, the primary insurance business written on a surplus lines basis by Maiden Specialty Insurance Company ("Maiden Specialty"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Maiden US, to Brit Insurance. Maiden Specialty provided non-catastrophe inland marine and property coverages. On November 4, 2015, Maiden US finalized the sale of Maiden Specialty to Clear Blue Financial Holdings, LLC ("Clear Blue"); and |
• | During 2015, we acquired Regulatory Capital Limited, trading as Insurance Regulatory Capital ("IRC"), a licensed asset manager in Ireland. IRC offers solutions designed to meet the capital and risk management needs of mid-sized insurance companies. |
We have also entered into a series of capital transactions that have enabled us to support our growing reinsurance operations while significantly enhancing our capital position to over $1.7 billion at December 31, 2015 and lowering our cost of capital. These capital transactions include:
• | Private placement of Trust Preferred Securities (the "TRUPS Offering"), the proceeds from which were used to finance the issuance of subordinated debenture (the "Junior Subordinated Debt") resulting in gross proceeds of $260.1 million in January 2009. The net proceeds of this transaction were used as working capital for Maiden US and Maiden Specialty in conjunction with the GMAC Acquisition. The outstanding Junior Subordinated Debt was fully repurchased on January 15, 2014; |
• | Public debt offering of $107.5 million in June 2011 ("2011 Senior Notes") and repurchasing a like amount of our Junior Subordinated Debt in July 2011. The 2011 Senior Notes trade on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "MHNA"; |
• | Public debt offering of $100.0 million in March 2012 ("2012 Senior Notes"). The 2012 Senior Notes trade on NYSE under the symbol "MHNB". The net proceeds of $96.6 million were used for working capital and general corporate purposes; |
• | Public offering of $150.0 million Preference Shares - Series A ("Preference Shares - Series A") in August 2012. We received net proceeds of $145.0 million from the offering. The Preference Shares - Series A trade on NYSE under the |
2
symbol "MHPRA". The net proceeds from the offering were used for continued support and development of our reinsurance business and for other general corporate purposes;
• | Public offering of $165.0 million Mandatory Convertible Preference Shares - Series B ("Preference Shares - Series B") in October 2013. The Preference Shares - Series B trade on NASDAQ under the symbol "MHLDO". We received net proceeds of $159.7 million from the offering. The net proceeds from the offering were used for general corporate purposes, primarily to support the continuing growth of our reinsurance operations; |
• | Public debt offering of $152.5 million in November 2013 ("2013 Senior Notes"). The 2013 Senior Notes trade on NYSE under the symbol "MHNC". The net proceeds of $147.4 million, as well as cash on hand, were used to repurchase all of the remaining portion of our outstanding Junior Subordinated Debt, with a face value of $152.5 million, on January 15, 2014, which substantially lowered our cost of capital; and |
• | Public offering of $165.0 million Preference Shares - Series C ("Preference Shares - Series C") in November 2015. The Preference Shares - Series C trade on NYSE under the symbol "MHPRC". We received net proceeds of $159.6 million from the offering. We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering for continued support and development of our reinsurance business and for other general corporate purposes. |
The 2011 Senior Notes, 2012 Senior Notes and 2013 Senior Notes may also collectively be referred to as the "Senior Note Offerings". These transactions, along with other unusual or non-recurring events, should be considered when evaluating year-to-year comparability or when comparing our performance with other companies considered our peers and with whom we compete on a regular basis.
Business Strategy
Our goal is to leverage the competitive strengths of our organization and capital structure to generate stable long term operating returns on common equity in excess of 15%. We seek to accomplish this by becoming a premier global preferred provider of customized reinsurance and capital products and services to regional and specialty insurance companies. To achieve this goal, we have adopted the following strategies:
• | Dedication to Predictable and Stable Results — we execute this strategy in two ways: (1) focusing on traditional, lower volatility lines of business that are more predictable and thus, produce more stable long-term operating results and require less capital to achieve those results; and (2) placing emphasis on working layer and pro rata reinsurance participations where data is more abundant and results are more predictable; |
• | Targeted Customer Focus — we execute this strategy by developing significant and long term reinsurance relationships with targeted regional and specialty insurance companies for which reinsurance plays a critical element of their capital structure and supporting the long term needs of these companies by providing differentiated products as well as an array of support services; and |
• | Efficient Operating Platform — recognizing the mature nature of the reinsurance market, we are focused on maintaining operating expense ratios within the top quartile of the industry. Efficiency is a critical component of maintaining a disciplined underwriting approach. |
To date, despite achieving operating returns on common equity generally in excess of our industry peers, we have not yet attained our targeted returns. We believe our efficient balance sheet and low volatility business are the primary reasons our returns have generally exceeded industry averages, despite a declining investment yield environment since our founding. Our ability to achieve our targeted returns were initially impacted by a significantly higher cost of capital. Our capital management strategy in recent years has appreciably lowered our cost of capital and improved our returns on common equity. More recently, higher than targeted combined ratios have affected our underwriting profitability and limited our progress toward our objective. We believe however, that the underwriting initiatives we have implemented will enable us to make progress toward our long term operating return on common equity target during the next 12 to 24 months.
Our future results, and our ability to generate our targeted return on capital, may be additionally impacted by risks and trends set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors", and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our Principal Operating Subsidiaries
Maiden Bermuda, a wholly owned subsidiary of Maiden Holdings, is a registered Class 3B Bermuda reinsurance company that began operations in June 2007. Senior management and all of the staff of Maiden Bermuda operate from and are based in our Bermuda headquarters.
Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. ("Maiden NA") is our wholly owned U.S. holding company and is domiciled in the state of Delaware. Maiden US, a wholly owned subsidiary of Maiden NA, is a licensed property and casualty insurance company domiciled in the state of Missouri. Maiden Re Insurance Services, LLC ("Maiden Re"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Maiden NA, is a limited liability company organized in the state of Delaware in January 2008. Maiden Re operates as a managing general agent and underwriter for Maiden US.
3
Maiden Global, a wholly owned subsidiary of Maiden Holdings, operates as a reinsurance services and holding company. Maiden Global is organized under the laws of England and Wales. Opel Händler VersicherungsService GmbH ("OVS"), organized under the laws of Germany, operates as an insurance producer in Germany and is a 90% owned indirect subsidiary of Maiden Global.
Maiden LF, a wholly owned subsidiary of Maiden Holdings, is a life insurer organized under the laws of Sweden and writes credit life insurance on a primary basis in support of Maiden Global’s business development efforts.
IRC, a 66.7% owned subsidiary of Maiden Holdings, is a licensed asset manager offering solutions designed to meet the capital and risk management needs of mid-sized insurance companies.
Our Reportable Segments
Our business consists of two reportable segments: Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance. Our Diversified Reinsurance segment consists of a portfolio of predominantly property and casualty reinsurance business focusing on regional and specialty property and casualty insurance companies located, primarily in the U.S. and Europe. Our AmTrust Reinsurance segment includes all business ceded by AmTrust to Maiden Bermuda, primarily the AmTrust Quota Share and the European Hospital Liability Quota Share.
In addition to our reportable segments, the results of operations of the former NGHC Quota Share segment and the remnants of the U.S. excess and surplus ("E&S") business have been separated and included in a category captioned "Other". Financial data relating to our two segments is included in Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Note 3. Segment Information" included under Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.
The tables below compare net premiums written and earned, by reportable segment, reconciled to the total net premiums written and earned, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Premiums Written | % of Total | Net Premiums Written | % of Total | Net Premiums Written | % of Total | ||||||||||||||||
($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Diversified Reinsurance | $ | 734.8 | 29.2 | % | $ | 850.0 | 34.6 | % | $ | 763.4 | 36.4 | % | |||||||||
AmTrust Reinsurance | 1,779.3 | 70.8 | % | 1,610.5 | 65.5 | % | 1,169.9 | 55.8 | % | ||||||||||||
Total - reportable segments | 2,514.1 | 100.0 | % | 2,460.5 | 100.1 | % | 1,933.3 | 92.2 | % | ||||||||||||
Other | — | — | % | (2.4 | ) | (0.1 | )% | 163.0 | 7.8 | % | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,514.1 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,458.1 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,096.3 | 100.0 | % |
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Premiums Earned | % of Total | Net Premiums Earned | % of Total | Net Premiums Earned | % of Total | ||||||||||||||||
($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Diversified Reinsurance | $ | 744.9 | 30.7 | % | $ | 854.0 | 37.9 | % | $ | 753.2 | 37.6 | % | |||||||||
AmTrust Reinsurance | 1,684.2 | 69.3 | % | 1,378.3 | 61.2 | % | 988.9 | 49.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Total - reportable segments | 2,429.1 | 100.0 | % | 2,232.3 | 99.1 | % | 1,742.1 | 87.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Other | — | — | % | 19.4 | 0.9 | % | 258.8 | 13.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,429.1 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,251.7 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,000.9 | 100.0 | % |
The majority of our gross premiums written is generated by quota share reinsurance contracts. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, 91.0%, 88.2% and 83.1% respectively, of our consolidated gross premiums written was derived from quota share reinsurance contracts. This significant concentration of quota share reinsurance, combined with our focus on lines of business which are inherently less volatile, results in a less capital intensive business which enables the Company to target higher returns on equity for its shareholders.
Financial data relating to the geographical areas in which we operate and relating to our principal products may be found in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Note 3. Segment Information" included under Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.
4
In a quota share reinsurance arrangement (also known as pro-rata reinsurance, proportional reinsurance or participating reinsurance), the reinsurer shares a proportional part of the original premiums of the reinsured. In return, the reinsurer assumes a proportional share of the losses incurred by the cedant. The reinsurer pays the company a ceding commission, which is generally based on the ceding company’s cost of acquiring the business being reinsured (including broker commissions, premium taxes, assessments and miscellaneous administrative expenses) and may also include a profit sharing arrangement. Under quota share arrangements, ceding commission can be adjustable based upon loss experience which potentially reduces earnings volatility under such arrangements.
Excess of loss (or non-proportional) reinsurance indemnifies the reinsured against all or a specified portion of losses on underlying insurance policies in excess of a specified amount, which is called a level, retention or attachment point. Excess of loss business is written in layers and a reinsurer or group of reinsurers accepts a band of coverage up to a specified amount. The total coverage purchased by the cedant is referred to as a program.
Facultative reinsurance (proportional or non-proportional) is the reinsurance of individual risks. The reinsurer separately rates and underwrites each risk rather than assuming all or a portion of a class of risks as in the case of treaty reinsurance.
Diversified Reinsurance
General
Maiden US writes treaties, on a quota share or excess of loss basis, and facultative risks, marketed through third-party intermediaries and on a direct basis. Maiden Bermuda also provides quota share reinsurance support to Maiden US and Maiden LF through intercompany reinsurance arrangements. The net premiums written under the Diversified Reinsurance segment by our operating subsidiaries, after intercompany reinsurance, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Premiums Written | % of Total | Net Premiums Written | % of Total | Net Premiums Written | % of Total | ||||||||||||||||
($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Maiden US | $ | 416.4 | 56.7 | % | $ | 438.7 | 51.6 | % | $ | 387.9 | 50.8 | % | |||||||||
Maiden Bermuda | 312.4 | 42.5 | % | 403.9 | 47.6 | % | 365.7 | 47.9 | % | ||||||||||||
Maiden LF | 6.0 | 0.8 | % | 8.0 | 0.9 | % | 8.1 | 1.1 | % | ||||||||||||
Maiden Specialty | — | — | % | (0.6 | ) | (0.1 | )% | 1.7 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 734.8 | 100.0 | % | $ | 850.0 | 100.0 | % | $ | 763.4 | 100.0 | % |
The net premiums written were impacted by the Company entering into a retrocessional quota share agreement with a highly rated global insurer entered into effective January 1, 2015. There was no such retrocessional quota share agreement in force during 2014.
A combination of general market and competitive conditions, along with their underlying financial performance and capital levels including those considered by rating agencies and regulators, often influence reinsurance purchasing decisions of individual ceding companies. Historically, Maiden US has written greater amounts of quota share business than excess of loss business reflecting the needs of its clients. Please refer to Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for a discussion on the performance of our Diversified Reinsurance segment, of which Maiden US is the most significant component, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Maiden US began operating in 1983 through Maiden Re and since its inception, the business has focused on developing a portfolio of assumed reinsurance with an emphasis on relatively predictable reinsurance with low limits of participation on both a treaty and facultative basis. By design, the underwriting portfolio was developed to mitigate volatility and generate stable operating performance. Our underwriting strategy has de-emphasized property catastrophe reinsurance and participations in more volatile U.S. casualty lines such as Directors and Officers ("D&O") and Professional Liability.
Regional and specialty oriented property and casualty treaty reinsurance business represents the bulk of the portfolio, but accident and health and facultative are also important product offerings. In recent years we have added enhanced automation to the facultative platform and have added a turn-key Umbrella Liability product offering for our core regional customers.
We employ sophisticated risk management, disciplined actuarially-based pricing and strong technical underwriting in developing and maintaining these portfolios. We use both proprietary and vendor developed technology systems to administer and manage the portfolio. The business has been carefully developed under the active management of multi-functional underwriting teams with performance accountability.
5
For most U.S. clients, we provide enhanced security in the form of an internally developed dedicated trust agreement for the reinsurance balances payable to that client. We believe this reinsurance security provides us with a sustainable competitive advantage that is both attractive to new clients and improves retention of existing ones. The trust accounts are funded on an individual client basis with cash and other fixed maturity securities. We can actively manage the cash and investments in the trust accounts and the interest earned is ours. The balances are adjusted regularly to correspond to the liabilities owed to the client, including individually computed Incurred But Not Reported ("IBNR") reserves. Our clients can withdraw assets from the trusts under contractually limited circumstances. At December 31, 2015, we had cash and fixed maturity securities totaling $980.0 million in these trusts, which is part of the $3.7 billion restricted assets disclosed in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Note 4. Investments" included under Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.
The business associated with the IIS Acquisition ("IIS business") consists of quota share contracts, which are underwritten and reinsured by Maiden Bermuda, with the exception of business written through Maiden LF, which is underwritten on a primary basis. This business is marketed primarily through Maiden Global’s business development teams who partner with automobile manufacturers and local primary insurers to design and implement point of sale insurance programs which generate revenue for the auto manufacturer and insurance premiums for the primary insurer. Typically the primary insurer agrees to reinsure an agreed upon percentage of the underlying business to Maiden Bermuda as part of the overall arrangement. Maiden Bermuda is generally not obligated to underwrite the original equipment automobile manufacturers' (the "OEM's") programs that Maiden Global designs. Traditionally, security is provided to clients in the form of letters of credit for IIS business, however, for new international clients, Maiden Bermuda provides enhanced security in the form of an internally developed dedicated trust agreement for the reinsurance balances payable to that client. At December 31, 2015, we had cash and fixed maturity securities totaling $29.7 million in these trusts, which is part of the $3.7 billion restricted assets disclosed in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Note 4. Investments" included under Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.
Net premiums written for the IIS business were written in the following countries:
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Premiums Written | % of Total | Net Premiums Written | % of Total | Net Premiums Written | % of Total | ||||||||||||||||
($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Germany | $ | 35.0 | 47.2 | % | $ | 46.4 | 40.2 | % | $ | 47.0 | 43.2 | % | |||||||||
United Kingdom | 12.5 | 16.9 | % | 19.7 | 17.1 | % | 15.0 | 13.7 | % | ||||||||||||
Australia | 10.3 | 13.8 | % | 7.6 | 6.6 | % | 7.0 | 6.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Canada | 5.6 | 7.6 | % | 6.4 | 5.6 | % | 5.9 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Sweden | 3.4 | 4.5 | % | 5.6 | 4.8 | % | 5.5 | 5.0 | % | ||||||||||||
All other | 7.3 | 10.0 | % | 29.7 | 25.7 | % | 28.6 | 26.3 | % | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 74.1 | 100.0 | % | $ | 115.4 | 100.0 | % | $ | 109.0 | 100.0 | % |
The breakdown of IIS business by line of business was as follows:
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Premiums Written | % of Total | Net Premiums Written | % of Total | Net Premiums Written | % of Total | ||||||||||||||||
($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Personal Auto | $ | 61.6 | 83.1 | % | $ | 81.4 | 70.6 | % | $ | 71.8 | 65.9 | % | |||||||||
Credit Life | 12.5 | 16.9 | % | 34.0 | 29.4 | % | 37.2 | 34.1 | % | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 74.1 | 100.0 | % | $ | 115.4 | 100.0 | % | $ | 109.0 | 100.0 | % |
We also generate fee income when Maiden Global participates in transactions and collects a fee for designing and facilitating the sale of insurance programs. Our fee income is primarily generated by OVS in Germany and Austria through its point of sale producers in select OEM's dealerships. We seek to expand these fee generating arrangements through the Maiden Global business development teams' contacts with automobile manufacturers globally. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the fee income was earned in the following locations:
6
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Fee Income | % of Total | Fee Income | % of Total | Fee Income | % of Total | ||||||||||||||||
($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | ($ in Millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Germany | $ | 8.9 | 77.1 | % | $ | 8.8 | 66.0 | % | $ | 9.1 | 64.3 | % | |||||||||
Australia | 0.8 | 7.3 | % | 0.9 | 7.0 | % | 0.1 | 0.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Russia | 0.7 | 5.8 | % | 1.9 | 14.2 | % | 2.8 | 19.9 | % | ||||||||||||
Other | 1.1 | 9.8 | % | 1.8 | 12.8 | % | 2.2 | 15.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 11.5 | 100.0 | % | $ | 13.4 | 100.0 | % | $ | 14.2 | 100.0 | % |
Strategy
Maiden Bermuda and Maiden US are specialty reinsurers with an efficient operating platform that target lines of business and types of contracts that are more predictable than the market as a whole, allowing stability of earnings over time. Most business is written as reinsurance which is insurance of other insurance companies. We offer reinsurance on both a quota share and excess of loss basis. Our primary focus is regional and specialty clients who rely on reinsurance for capital support and/or to reduce their risk. The majority of our clients are regional or super-regional insurance companies or specialty insurers. With these customers, we believe it is possible to develop long term relationships which not only survive insurance market cycles, but provide benefits to both reinsurer and customer during turbulent times. We also utilize a partnership concept developed over Maiden Re's thirty two year operating history to develop long-term customer relationships. This concept entails the offer to our clients of our expertise in underwriting, claims, actuarial, marketing and accounting, through tailored services which support their businesses and goals.
In our Diversified Reinsurance segment, we reinsure property and casualty lines of business, but de-emphasize lines of business such as professional liability, which we consider more volatile, and we do not offer traditional catastrophe reinsurance on a stand-alone basis. We occasionally provide limited catastrophe coverage to clients that purchase other reinsurance from us.
We are primarily a lead reinsurer, meaning that we develop our own terms rather than accepting a small share of another reinsurer’s program in a subscription market. We prefer to be the primary, if not sole, reinsurer for our clients. Our pricing and underwriting of this business considers the economics of the individual customer and therefore is less susceptible to large increases and decreases following market cycles. We are able to attract preferred clients because we offer a secure product and an emphasis on client service. By maintaining significant relationships with clients, we are able to develop strong economies of scale and maintain highly competitive operating efficiencies, a critical element of our business strategy.
We believe that our policy of providing our clients security for our reinsurance obligations through collateral trusts gives us a competitive advantage. In the current economic climate, we also believe that reinsurance brokers and insurers, as well as rating agencies, are scrutinizing the credit-worthiness of reinsurers more closely than in the recent past and recognize that our collateral trust product offers a high level of security.
AmTrust Reinsurance
General
AmTrust is our largest client and is a multinational specialty property and casualty insurance holding company with operations in the U.S., Europe and Bermuda. AmTrust’s principal operating subsidiaries are rated "A" (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best, which rating is the third highest of 16 rating levels.
Michael Karfunkel, George Karfunkel and Barry Zyskind are our Founding Shareholders. Michael Karfunkel is the non-executive chairman of the board of AmTrust, George Karfunkel is a director of AmTrust, and Barry Zyskind is the president, chief executive officer and director of AmTrust. The Founding Shareholders, including Leah Karfunkel (wife of Michael Karfunkel), own or control approximately 47.9% of the outstanding voting shares of AmTrust.
Through our reinsurance agreements with AmTrust, we reinsure specific lines of business within the following AmTrust business segments:
• | Small commercial business insurance, which includes U.S. workers’ compensation, commercial package and other property and casualty insurance products; |
• | Specialty risk and extended warranty coverage for consumer and commercial goods and custom designed coverages, such as accidental damage plans and payment protection plans offered in connection with the sale of consumer and commercial goods, in the U.S., United Kingdom ("U.K.") and certain other European countries, European Hospital Liability; and |
• | Specialty program which includes package products, general liability, commercial auto liability, excess and surplus lines programs and other specialty commercial property and casualty insurance to a narrowly defined, homogeneous group of small and middle market companies. |
7
Reinsurance Agreement
Under our Reinsurance Agreement with AmTrust’s Bermuda reinsurance subsidiary, AII, effective July 1, 2007, we reinsure 40% of AmTrust’s written premium, net of commissions, in the case of AmTrust’s U.K. subsidiary, and net of reinsurance with unaffiliated reinsurers, relating to all lines of business that existed on the effective date. We also have the option to reinsure additional programs, in addition to the original lines of business entered into by AmTrust since the effective date of the Reinsurance Agreement. As AmTrust has expanded into new lines of business, pursuant to the terms of the Reinsurance Agreement, we have selectively added some of those lines and opted not to participate in others. Consequently our share of AmTrust's overall gross premiums written has declined below 40% over time.
Maiden and AII entered into an agreement to commute certain lines of business as of December 31, 2015. The commuted reserve value of $107 million represents full and final settlement of all liabilities related to this business and as a result of this agreement, this business will be excluded prospectively.
European Hospital Liability Quota Share
On April 1, 2011, as amended on January 1, 2012, Maiden Bermuda entered into the European Hospital Liability Quota Share with AEL and AIUL, respectively, to cover those entities' medical liability business in Europe, in particular, Italy and France. Maiden Bermuda pays a ceding commission of 5.0%. The European Hospital Liability Quota Share has a term of one year and automatically renews for further one year terms thereafter, unless either party notifies the other of its election in writing not to renew not less than four months prior to the end of any such term. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company's maximum limit of liability is 40% of €10 million, previously 40% of €5 million, per original claim for any one original policy.
Risk Management
General
Central to the reinsurance business is the assumption and management of risk. Our risk management discipline therefore focuses on both quantitative and qualitative elements as the means to reduce volatility of shareholder returns through a balanced analysis and assessment of these elements. The quantitative aspect of our risk management practice focuses on understanding and controlling a broad array of risk parameters in order to achieve desired returns. Our business model further mitigates the risk inherent in our business by focusing on lines of business which are less volatile and thus, require less capital to support the exposures generated by those lines of business. The qualitative aspect of our risk management practice focuses on identifying and assessing risks, and taking the necessary steps to reduce or mitigate risks that could threaten the achievement of our business objectives.
We believe that we have developed a strong risk management culture within Maiden through the establishment of various processes and controls which focus on our risk exposures. We are continually reviewing and enhancing these processes and developing additional processes that may be necessary to achieve our business strategies and objectives within our risk management practice.
Our Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) Committee monitors and oversees the risk environment and provides direction to mitigate, to an acceptable level, the most significant and material risks that may adversely affect the Company’s ability to achieve its goals. The Committee facilitates a culture of continuous improvement of the Company’s capabilities around managing its strategic risks. The ERM Committee establishes appropriate risk parameters and tolerances, performs risk assessments, continually reviews factors that may impact our organizational risk and develops and implements strategies and action plans to mitigate key risks.
Maiden’s ERM program is designed to achieve the following:
•Establish a process to assess strategies and business decisions on a risk/reward basis;
•Establish a risk governance structure with clearly defined roles and responsibilities;
•Identify and assess all material risks from internal and external sources;
•Manage risks within Maiden’s risk appetite; and
•Effective review and reporting of major loss events.
Specific risk management practices that have been or are being developed to meet our risk management goals include:
•Scenario/stress testing to assess the level of a specific risk and mitigation effects;
•Setting risk tolerances that we use to monitor and limit risk;
•Tracking expected portfolio volatility over time;
8
•Identifying risk mitigation opportunities and implementing them as appropriate;
•Understanding the capital required to support the underwriting portfolio and individual contracts;
•Monitoring and managing exposure by line of business and geographic concentration;
•Monitoring and limiting catastrophe aggregates and concentrations;
•Monitoring and limiting terrorism aggregates and concentrations;
•Monitoring and managing operational risks across the organization;
•Monitoring and managing the Company's exposure to cyber threats; and
•Identifying, monitoring and managing emerging risks as they develop.
Maiden’s ERM framework reflects the ‘three lines of defense’ approach to risk management, which involves risk owners having responsibility for identifying and managing risks, the ERM Committee providing global tools and policies, and internal audit performing independent reviews. The Maiden Board of Directors has overall responsibility for oversight of the ERM program.
Maiden has a strong risk management culture set by the tone at the top, the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), which is then established entity wide through various processes and controls which focus on our risk exposures. Maiden continually develops, reviews, and enhances these processes which we believe to be necessary to achieve our business strategies and objectives within our risk management practice.
There is involvement from all Maiden employees and risk owners are required to assist with the identification of risks, creation of appropriate responses to risks, and maintain them within the risk appetite and tolerances that the ERM Committee believes are necessary to achieve our business strategies and objectives.
The ERM Committee focuses primarily on identifying interactions among our primary categories of risk, developing metrics to assess our overall risk appetite, establishing appropriate risk parameters and tolerances, monitoring those tolerances, establishing and determining actions, if deemed necessary, in the event of a tolerance breach, performing ongoing risk assessment and continually reviewing factors that may impact our organizational risk. Maiden’s internal audit department assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of our risk management framework and mitigating controls and coordinates risk-based audits to evaluate and address risk within targeted areas of our business.
This risk governance structure is complemented by our internal audit department. The core functions of this department are 1) assess the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal control systems; 2)coordinates risk-based audits and compliance reviews; and 3) carry out other initiatives to evaluate and address risk within targeted areas of our business. Our ERM is dynamic and constantly evolving to reflect changes to our organizational processes, global economic environment as well as implementing the latest industry standards.
Our management’s internal ERM efforts are overseen by the Company's Audit Committee. This Committee, comprised solely of independent directors, assesses whether management is addressing risk issues in a timely and appropriate manner. Internal controls and ERM can provide a reasonable but not absolute assurance that our control objectives will be met. The possibility of material financial loss remains in spite of our ERM efforts.
Underwriting Risk Management
Internal underwriting controls are established by our underwriting executives who are the Chief Underwriting Officer of Maiden Bermuda, and the President of Maiden US, working in close coordination with our CEO, our Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") and the President of Maiden Bermuda. Underwriting authority is delegated to the managers in each business segment and to underwrite in accordance with prudent practice and an understanding of each underwriter’s capabilities. In accordance with our underwriting guidelines, underwriting authorities are delegated to underwriting teams as well as individual underwriters. Our targeted performance goals and guidelines are regularly reviewed by management to reflect changes in market conditions, interest rates, capital requirements and market-expected returns.
We have a disciplined approach to underwriting and risk management that relies heavily upon the collective underwriting expertise of our management and staff. This expertise is in turn guided by the following underwriting principles:
• | we will underwrite and accept only those risks we know and understand; |
• | we will perform our own independent pricing and risk review on all risks we accept; and |
• | we will accept only those risks that are expected to earn an appropriate risk-adjusted return on capital. |
Before developing a reinsurance proposal, we consider the appropriateness of the client, including the quality of its management, its financial stability and its risk management strategy. In addition, we require each program to include significant information on
9
the nature of the perils to be included and detailed exposure and loss information, including rate changes and changes in underwriting and claims handling guidelines over time. Whenever possible, we conduct an on-site audit of the client’s operations prior to quoting. If the customer and business meets our underwriting criteria, we then develop a proposal which contemplates the prospective client’s needs, that account’s risk/reward profile, as well as our corporate risk objectives. We have fully integrated our internal claims, underwriting and actuarial pricing staff into the underwriting and decision making process. We use in-depth actuarial, claims and exposure analyses to evaluate contracts prior to quoting. We underwrite and accept property and casualty reinsurance business, accident and health reinsurance business and credit life insurance business. In general, we underwrite reinsurance business that historically is lower in volatility and more predictable than other classes of reinsurance business such as catastrophe reinsurance, which we generally avoid. As part of our risk management process, we track exposures that we believe are most likely to deliver excessive accumulations to a particular type of event.
In addition to the above technical and analytical practices, our underwriters use a variety of means, including specific contract terms, to manage our exposure to loss. Specific terms include occurrence limits, adjustable ceding commissions and premiums, aggregate limits, reinstatement provisions and other loss sensitive features. Additionally, our underwriters use appropriate exclusions, terms and conditions to further eliminate or reduce particular risks or exposures that our underwriting teams deem to be outside of the intent of the coverage we are willing to offer.
In limited cases, the risks assumed by us are partially reinsured with other third party reinsurers. Reinsurance ceded varies by segment and line of business based on a number of factors, including market conditions. The benefits of ceding risks include reducing exposure on individual risks and/or enhancing our capital position. Reinsurance ceded does not relieve the Company of its obligations to the policyholders. We remain liable to the extent that any reinsurance company fails to meet its obligations. In the event that one or more of the reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations under these reinsurance agreements, the Company would not realize the full value of the reinsurance recoverable balances.
Maiden’s risk appetite and tolerances have been formally approved by our Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee also reviews the Group Solvency Self-Assessment ("GSSA") which is required to be filed with the Bermuda Monetary Authority ("BMA") and used to understand current and prospective risks and the associated capital requirements. The GSSA is an integral part of our risk management framework and reflects our risk tolerance and overall business strategy. The GSSA documents our internal self-assessment of capital which is determined using our internal model. Our internal model quantifies the level of capital needed to meet our liabilities within our specified confidence level. The major risks are insurance related - both premium risk and reserve risk, reflecting the possibility that our pricing may be too low and/or our reserving levels may not be sufficient.
Catastrophe Risk Management
While we generally avoid catastrophe exposed reinsurance risks, certain risks we reinsure are exposed to catastrophic loss events. Our tolerance is that our modeled one-in-250 year catastrophe occurrence loss must be less than 50% of our operating income and our aggregate loss must be less than 75% of our operating income. At December 31, 2015, our one-in-250 year catastrophe exposure on a per occurrence and aggregate basis is $36.4 million and $77.8 million, respectively, within these stated tolerances.
To achieve our catastrophe risk management objectives, we utilize commercially available modeling tools to quantify and monitor the various risks we accept. We have licensed catastrophe modeling software from one of the principal modeling firms, Applied Insurance Research ("AIR"). These software tools use exposure data provided by our ceding company clients to simulate catastrophic losses. We take an active role in the evaluation of these commercial catastrophe models, providing feedback to AIR to improve the efficiencies and accuracy of their models. We use modeling not only for the underwriting of individual transactions but also to optimize the total return and risk of our underwriting portfolio. We have high standards for the quality and levels of detailed exposure data provided by our clients and have an expressed preference for the most detailed location information available, including data at the zip code or postal code level or finer. Data output from the software described above is incorporated into our proprietary pricing models. Our proprietary systems include those for modeling risks associated with property catastrophe, property and U.S. workers’ compensation business, various casualty and specialty pricing models. These systems allow us to monitor our pricing and risk on a contract by contract basis in each of our segments and business lines.
Retrocessions
We use retrocessional agreements to mitigate volatility and to reduce our exposure on certain specialty reinsurance risks and to provide capital support. We remain liable to our cedants to the extent that the retrocessionaires do not meet their obligations under retrocessional agreements, so we retain credit risk in all cases and to aggregate loss limits in certain cases. We maintain a credit risk review process that identifies authorized acceptable reinsurers and retrocessionaires and have no impaired balances. At December 31, 2015, we had approximately $71.2 million of reinsurance recoverable under such agreements, of which $35.0 million or 49.2% relates to reinsurance claims from Superstorm Sandy.
Competition
The reinsurance industry is mature and highly competitive. Reinsurance companies compete on the basis of many factors, including premium rates, company and underwriter relationships, general reputation and perceived financial strength, the terms and conditions of the products offered, ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, speed of claims payments, reputation and experience in risks underwritten, capacity and coverages offered and various other factors. These factors operate at the individual market participant level and generally in the aggregate across the reinsurance industry. In addition, underlying economic conditions
10
and variations in the reinsurance buying practices of ceding companies, by participant and in the aggregate, contribute to cyclical movements in rates, terms and conditions and may impact industry aggregate results and subsequently the level of completion in the reinsurance industry.
Both Maiden US and Maiden Bermuda compete with a wide variety of major reinsurers including those based in Bermuda. In our Diversified Reinsurance segment, we compete with reinsurers that provide property and casualty-based lines of reinsurance such as: General Reinsurance Corporation, Hannover Re Group, Munich Reinsurance America, Inc., PartnerRe Ltd., Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd., and Transatlantic Reinsurance Company.
Many of these entities have significantly more capital, higher ratings from rating agencies and more employees than we do; in addition, these entities have established long-term and continuing business relationships throughout the industry, which can be significant competitive advantages. However, we believe the enhanced security that we offer our clients through collateral trusts, our niche specialist orientation, our operating efficiency and our careful relationship management capabilities help offset these advantages and allow us to effectively compete for profitable business.
In addition, in recent years, significant increases in the use of risk-linked securities and derivative and other non-traditional risk transfer mechanisms and vehicles are being developed and offered by other parties, including entities other than insurance and reinsurance companies. The availability of both these non-traditional products and sources of capital could reduce the demand for traditional insurance and reinsurance.
A number of new, proposed or potential industry or legislative developments could also further increase competition in our industry. New competition from these developments may result in fewer contracts written, lower premium rates, increased expenses for customer acquisition and retention and less favorable policy terms and conditions, which could have a material adverse impact on our growth and profitability.
More recently, January 1, 2016 reinsurance renewals show competitive pricing conditions. While these conditions have been most pronounced in severity related placements, particularly in property catastrophe contracts which are more acutely feeling the impact of capital inflows, we also see an elevated level of competition in our higher frequency/lower severity business as well. While the business we write as part of our business model is somewhat more insulated from these competitive conditions, we are experiencing some pricing pressures as a result of broader industry conditions.
As market conditions continue to develop, we continue to maintain our adherence to disciplined underwriting by declining business when pricing terms and conditions do not meet our underwriting standards. We believe that we are well positioned to take advantage of market conditions should the pricing environment become more favorable.
Our Financial Strength Ratings
Ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance and reinsurance companies and are important to our ability to market and sell our products. We believe that the primary users of such ratings include brokers, ceding companies and investors. Periodically, rating agencies evaluate us to confirm that we continue to meet their criteria for the ratings assigned to us by them.
A.M. Best and S&P have each developed a rating system to provide an opinion of an insurer’s or reinsurer’s financial strength and ability to meet ongoing obligations to its policyholders. Each rating reflects that rating agency’s independent opinion of the capitalization, management and sponsorship of the entity to which it relates, and is neither an evaluation directed to investors in our common shares nor a recommendation to buy, sell or hold our common shares. A.M. Best maintains a letter scale rating system ranging from "A++" (Superior) to "F" (In Liquidation). S&P maintains a letter scale rating system ranging from "AAA" (Extremely Strong) to "R" (Under Regulatory Supervision).
Our subsidiaries, Maiden Bermuda and Maiden US, each currently has a financial strength rating of "A-" (Excellent, the fourth highest out of sixteen rating levels) with a positive outlook from A.M. Best, and "BBB+" (Good, the eighth highest out of twenty-two rating levels) with a stable outlook from S&P.
Distribution of Our Reinsurance Products
We market our Diversified Reinsurance segment through third party intermediaries, as well as directly through our own marketing efforts. Our direct marketing activities are generally focused on insurers with a demonstrated preference and propensity to utilize direct distribution reinsurers. We believe this combination affords us flexibility and efficiency.
In the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the sources of gross premiums written in our Diversified Reinsurance segment were as follows:
11
% of Gross Premiums Written for the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Brokers | 54.6 | % | 57.1 | % | 57.7 | % | |||
Direct | 45.4 | % | 42.9 | % | 42.3 | % | |||
Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
In the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, our top three brokers represented approximately 36.9%, 31.6% and 29.9%, respectively, of gross premiums written in our Diversified Reinsurance segment. A further breakdown of the gross premiums written by our Diversified Reinsurance segment by broker for December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
% of Gross Premiums Written for the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Broker | |||||||||
Aon Benfield Inc. | 17.3 | % | 15.8 | % | 11.9 | % | |||
Marsh & McLennan Companies (including Guy Carpenter) | 12.2 | % | 12.0 | % | 12.6 | % | |||
U.S. RE Corporation | 7.4 | % | 1.4 | % | 1.0 | % | |||
Risk & Insurance Services Consulting, LLC | 4.6 | % | 2.7 | % | 3.2 | % | |||
All Other Brokers | 13.1 | % | 25.2 | % | 29.0 | % | |||
Total Broker | 54.6 | % | 57.1 | % | 57.7 | % | |||
Direct | 45.4 | % | 42.9 | % | 42.3 | % | |||
Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
Reserve for Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses
General
We are required by applicable insurance laws and regulations in Bermuda, the U.S., Sweden and by U.S. GAAP to establish loss reserves to cover our estimated liability for the payment of all loss and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") incurred with respect to premiums earned on the policies and treaties that we write. These reserves are balance sheet liabilities representing estimates of loss and LAE which we are ultimately required to pay for insured or reinsured claims that have occurred as of or before the balance sheet date. It is our policy to establish these losses and LAE reserves using prudent actuarial methods after reviewing all information known to us at the date they are recorded.
These amounts include case reserves and provisions for IBNR reserves. Case reserves are established for losses that have been reported to us, and not yet paid. IBNR reserves represent the estimated cost of losses that have occurred but have not been reported to us and include a provision for additional development on case reserves. We establish case reserves based on information from the ceding company, reinsurance intermediaries, and when appropriate, consultations with independent legal counsel. The IBNR reserves are established by management based on reported losses and LAE and actuarially determined estimates of ultimate loss and LAE.
A variety of standard actuarial methods are calculated to estimate ultimate loss and LAE. The majority of our business is reserved individually by cedant and line of business, with the remainder reserved in homogeneous groupings. Ultimate loss selections are accumulated across the reserve segments, and appropriate actuarial judgment is applied to determine the final selection of estimated ultimate losses. Ultimate losses are converted to IBNR reserves by subtracting inception to date paid losses and case reserves from those amounts. The combined total of case and IBNR results in indicated reserves which are the basis for the carried reserves for financial statements. Ultimate losses are also used to estimate premium and commission accruals for accounts with adjustable features.
Loss reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability; rather, loss reserves are estimates of what we expect the ultimate resolution and administration of claims will cost. These estimates are based on actuarial and statistical projections and on our assessment of currently available data, as well as estimates of trends in claims severity and frequency, judicial theories of liability and other factors. Loss reserve estimates are refined as experience develops and as claims are reported and resolved. Establishing an appropriate level of loss reserves is an inherently uncertain process. In addition, the relatively long reporting periods between when a loss occurs and when it may be reported to our claims department for our casualty lines of business also increase the uncertainties of our reserve estimates in such lines. To assist us in establishing appropriate reserves for loss and LAE, we analyze a significant amount of internal data and external insurance industry information with respect to the pricing environment and loss settlement patterns. In combination with our individual account pricing analyses and our internal loss settlement patterns, this industry information is used to guide our loss and LAE estimates. These estimates are reviewed quarterly, at a high level of detail, and any adjustments are reflected in earnings in the periods in which they are determined.
12
Analysis of Consolidated Loss Reserves Development
The following table shows the development of gross and net reserves for unpaid loss and LAE for our business for calendar years 2013 through 2015. The table does not present accident or policy year development data. The table begins by showing the initial reported year-end gross and net reserves, including IBNR reserves, recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the three years presented.
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
($ in Millions) | ||||||||||||
Gross unpaid loss and LAE reserves - January 1 | $ | 2,271.3 | $ | 1,957.8 | $ | 1,740.3 | ||||||
Less: reinsurance recoverable - January 1 | 75.9 | 84.0 | 110.9 | |||||||||
Net loss and LAE reserves - January 1 | 2,195.4 | 1,873.8 | 1,629.4 | |||||||||
Net incurred losses related to: | ||||||||||||
Current year | 1,558.7 | 1,479.4 | 1,351.0 | |||||||||
Prior years | 74.9 | 18.8 | (1.4 | ) | ||||||||
1,633.6 | 1,498.2 | 1,349.6 | ||||||||||
Net paid losses related to: | ||||||||||||
Current year | (457.5 | ) | (430.4 | ) | (517.6 | ) | ||||||
Prior years | (892.9 | ) | (705.4 | ) | (598.5 | ) | ||||||
(1,350.4 | ) | (1,135.8 | ) | (1,116.1 | ) | |||||||
Effect of foreign exchange movement | (39.7 | ) | (40.8 | ) | 10.9 | |||||||
Net loss and LAE reserves - December 31 | 2,438.9 | 2,195.4 | 1,873.8 | |||||||||
Reinsurance recoverable - December 31 | 71.2 | 75.9 | 84.0 | |||||||||
Gross unpaid loss and LAE reserves - December 31 | $ | 2,510.1 | $ | 2,271.3 | $ | 1,957.8 |
During 2015, the Company recorded estimated net adverse development, primarily from U.S. commercial auto business, on prior year loss reserves of $74.9 million or 3.3% of prior year net loss and LAE reserves compared to net unfavorable development $18.8 million or 1.0% in 2014 and net favorable development of $1.4 million or 0.1% in 2013.
Due to loss sensitive features of certain contracts, favorable (or unfavorable) loss reserve development does not necessarily result in a commensurate amount of additional (or reduced) underwriting income as ceding commission may be adjusted proportionally to the amount of loss development, pursuant to the terms of the individual contracts.
Analysis of Gross and Net Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses and Net Re-estimated Liability
The tables below show the re-estimated amount of the initial reported gross and net reserves for up to seven subsequent years, based on experience at the end of each subsequent year. The re-estimated gross and net liabilities reflect additional information, received from cedants or obtained through reviews of industry trends, regarding claims incurred prior to the end of the preceding financial year. A (redundancy) or deficiency arises when the re-estimation of reserves is (lower) or greater than its estimation at the preceding year-end. The cumulative redundancies (or deficiencies) reflect cumulative differences between the initial reported net reserves and the currently re-estimated net reserves. Annual changes in the estimates are reflected in the income statement for each year as the liabilities are re-estimated.
The lower section of the tables shows the portion of the initial year-end net reserves that was paid as of the end of subsequent years. This section of the tables provides an indication of the portion of the re-estimated gross and net liability that is settled and is unlikely to develop in the future.
13
Development of Reserve for Loss and LAE - Gross
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2007 | 2008(1) | 2009 | 2010(1) | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross | ($ in Millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As originally estimated | $ | 38.5 | $ | 897.7 | $ | 1,002.7 | $ | 1,226.8 | $ | 1,398.4 | $ | 1,740.3 | $ | 1,957.8 | $ | 2,271.3 | $ | 2,510.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Liability re-estimated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year later | $ | 36.7 | $ | 886.3 | $ | 963.1 | $ | 1,238.9 | $ | 1,426.5 | $ | 1,750.0 | $ | 1,944.6 | $ | 2,326.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Years later | 37.3 | 869.8 | 972.1 | 1,247.3 | 1,424.9 | 1,812.2 | 2,001.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Years later | 37.9 | 852.9 | 975.9 | 1,242.0 | 1,454.3 | 1,846.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years later | 41.3 | 842.6 | 975.1 | 1,255.5 | 1,479.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Years later | 40.5 | 838.5 | 985.0 | 1,272.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Years later | 40.5 | 842.7 | 992.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Years later | 44.0 | 847.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eight Years later | 45.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative deficiency (redundancy) | $ | 6.8 | $ | (50.6 | ) | $ | (10.3 | ) | $ | 46.1 | $ | 81.3 | $ | 105.7 | $ | 44.0 | $ | 54.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Less: Cumulative deficiency (redundancy) due to foreign exchange | — | — | — | (7.3 | ) | (5.4 | ) | (14.8 | ) | (45.5 | ) | (25.4 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative deficiency (redundancy) excluding the impact of foreign exchange | $ | 6.8 | $ | (50.6 | ) | $ | (10.3 | ) | $ | 53.4 | $ | 86.7 | $ | 120.5 | $ | 89.5 | $ | 80.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative claims paid: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year later | $ | 16.6 | $ | 303.2 | $ | 266.0 | $ | 452.7 | $ | 592.8 | $ | 672.8 | $ | 712.9 | $ | 883.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Years later | 33.7 | 402.4 | 457.8 | 746.1 | 914.7 | 1,127.2 | 1,074.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Years later | 34.1 | 542.2 | 607.0 | 940.7 | 1,146.7 | 1,325.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years later | 37.6 | 665.0 | 703.4 | 1,066.3 | 1,272.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Years later | 38.0 | 725.2 | 753.6 | 1,152.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Years later | 40.2 | 764.9 | 805.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Years later | 42.8 | 797.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eight Years later | 45.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liability re-estimated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year later | 95.4 | % | 98.7 | % | 96.0 | % | 101.0 | % | 102.0 | % | 100.6 | % | 99.3 | % | 102.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Years later | 96.8 | % | 96.9 | % | 96.9 | % | 101.7 | % | 101.9 | % | 104.1 | % | 102.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Years later | 98.5 | % | 95.0 | % | 97.3 | % | 101.2 | % | 104.0 | % | 106.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years later | 107.2 | % | 93.9 | % | 97.2 | % | 102.3 | % | 105.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Years later | 105.3 | % | 93.4 | % | 98.2 | % | 103.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Years later | 105.2 | % | 93.9 | % | 99.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Years later | 114.3 | % | 94.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eight Years later | 117.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative deficiency (redundancy) | 17.7 | % | (5.6 | )% | (1.0 | )% | 3.8 | % | 5.8 | % | 6.1 | % | 2.2 | % | 2.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Cumulative deficiency (redundancy) due to foreign exchange | — | % | — | % | — | % | (0.6 | )% | (0.4 | )% | (0.9 | )% | (2.3 | )% | (1.1 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative deficiency (redundancy) excluding the impact of foreign exchange | 17.7 | % | (5.6 | )% | (1.0 | )% | 4.4 | % | 6.2 | % | 7.0 | % | 4.5 | % | 3.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross loss and LAE cumulative paid as a percentage of originally estimated liability | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year later | 43.1 | % | 33.8 | % | 26.5 | % | 36.9 | % | 42.4 | % | 38.7 | % | 36.4 | % | 38.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Years later | 87.6 | % | 44.8 | % | 45.7 | % | 60.8 | % | 65.4 | % | 64.8 | % | 54.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Years later | 88.6 | % | 60.4 | % | 60.5 | % | 76.7 | % | 82.0 | % | 76.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years later | 97.7 | % | 74.1 | % | 70.2 | % | 86.9 | % | 91.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Years later | 98.8 | % | 80.8 | % | 75.2 | % | 94.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Years later | 104.4 | % | 85.2 | % | 80.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Years later | 111.2 | % | 88.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eight Years later | 117.4 | % |
14
Development of Reserve for Loss and LAE - Net
For the Year Ended December 31, | 2007 | 2008(1) | 2009 | 2010(1) | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net of reinsurance | ($ in Millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As Originally Estimated | $ | 38.5 | $ | 897.7 | $ | 994.3 | $ | 1,220.1 | $ | 1,378.1 | $ | 1,629.4 | $ | 1,873.8 | $ | 2,195.4 | $ | 2,438.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
Liability Re-estimated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year later | $ | 36.7 | $ | 886.3 | $ | 961.4 | $ | 1,233.3 | $ | 1,403.1 | $ | 1,635.0 | $ | 1,862.8 | $ | 2,245.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Years later | 37.3 | 869.8 | 969.5 | 1,230.6 | 1,383.7 | 1,697.9 | 1,909.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Years later | 37.9 | 852.9 | 967.8 | 1,220.9 | 1,424.9 | 1,733.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years later | 41.3 | 842.6 | 965.3 | 1,234.2 | 1,442.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Years later | 40.7 | 838.5 | 975.0 | 1,246.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Years later | 40.5 | 842.7 | 982.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Years later | 44.0 | 847.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eight Years later | 45.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative net deficiency (redundancy) | $ | 6.8 | $ | (50.6 | ) | $ | (11.9 | ) | $ | 26.6 | $ | 64.6 | $ | 104.2 | $ | 35.3 | $ | 49.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Less: Cumulative net deficiency (redundancy) due to foreign exchange | — | — | — | (7.0 | ) | (5.4 | ) | (14.9 | ) | (44.8 | ) | (25.2 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative net deficiency (redundancy) excluding the impact of foreign exchange | $ | 6.8 | $ | (50.6 | ) | $ | (11.9 | ) | $ | 33.6 | $ | 70.0 | $ | 119.1 | $ | 80.1 | $ | 74.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative claims paid: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year later | $ | 16.6 | $ | 303.2 | $ | 266.0 | $ | 423.9 | $ | 530.3 | $ | 598.5 | $ | 669.1 | $ | 865.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Years later | 33.7 | 402.4 | 444.3 | 682.9 | 827.1 | 1,020.7 | 1,004.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Years later | 34.1 | 542.2 | 575.1 | 901.8 | 1,072.5 | 1,213.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years later | 37.6 | 665.0 | 662.5 | 978.0 | 1,165.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Years later | 38.0 | 725.2 | 710.9 | 1,062.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Years later | 40.2 | 764.9 | 761.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Years later | 42.8 | 797.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eight Years later | 45.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liability Re-estimated: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year later | 95.4 | % | 98.7 | % | 96.7 | % | 101.1 | % | 101.8 | % | 100.3 | % | 99.4 | % | 102.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Years later | 96.8 | % | 96.9 | % | 97.5 | % | 100.9 | % | 100.4 | % | 104.2 | % | 101.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Years later | 98.5 | % | 95.0 | % | 97.3 | % | 100.1 | % | 103.4 | % | 106.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years later | 107.2 | % | 93.9 | % | 97.1 | % | 101.2 | % | 104.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Years later | 105.8 | % | 93.4 | % | 98.1 | % | 102.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Years later | 105.2 | % | 93.9 | % | 98.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Years later | 114.3 | % | 94.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eight Years later | 117.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative net deficiency (redundancy) | 17.7 | % | (5.6 | )% | (1.2 | )% | 2.2 | % | 4.7 | % | 6.4 | % | 1.9 | % | 2.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Cumulative net deficiency (redundancy) due to foreign exchange | — | % | — | % | — | % | (0.6 | )% | (0.4 | )% | (0.9 | )% | (2.4 | )% | (1.1 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative net deficiency (redundancy) excluding the impact of foreign exchange | 17.7 | % | (5.6 | )% | (1.2 | )% | 2.8 | % | 5.1 | % | 7.3 | % | 4.3 | % | 3.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss and LAE cumulative paid as a percentage of originally estimated liability | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year later | 43.1 | % | 33.8 | % | 26.7 | % | 34.7 | % | 38.5 | % | 36.7 | % | 35.7 | % | 39.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Years later | 87.6 | % | 44.8 | % | 44.7 | % | 56.0 | % | 60.0 | % | 62.6 | % | 53.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Years later | 88.6 | % | 60.4 | % | 57.8 | % | 73.9 | % | 77.8 | % | 74.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years later | 97.7 | % | 74.1 | % | 66.6 | % | 80.2 | % | 84.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Five Years later | 98.8 | % | 80.8 | % | 71.5 | % | 87.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Years later | 104.4 | % | 85.2 | % | 76.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Years later | 111.2 | % | 88.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eight Years later | 117.4 | % |
15
(1) | Reserve for loss and LAE include the reserves for loss and LAE of $755.6 million, from the GMAC Acquisition, which were acquired in October 2008 and $98.8 million from the IIS Acquisition, which were acquired in November 2010. |
For additional information concerning our reserves, see Item 7,"Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies — Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense" for further information regarding the specific actuarial models we utilize and the uncertainties in establishing the reserve for loss and LAE.
Our Employees
As of December 31, 2015, we had a total of 204 full-time employees who are located in Bermuda, the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Austria, Russia, Netherlands, Ireland and Australia. We may increase our staff over time commensurate with the expansion of operations. We believe that our employee relations are good. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements.
Regulatory Matters
General
The insurance and reinsurance industry are subject to regulatory and legislative oversight and regulation in various markets we operate in.
Bermuda Insurance Regulation
Maiden Bermuda is regulated as a registered Class 3B general business insurer under the Insurance Act 1978 of Bermuda, as amended, and related regulations (together, the "Insurance Act"), which regulates the insurance business of Bermuda registered insurers and provides that no person shall carry on any insurance business in or from within Bermuda unless that person has been registered under the Insurance Act by the BMA. The BMA is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of insurers and insurance groups in respect of which it is the group supervisor. Under the Insurance Act, insurance business includes reinsurance business. The registration of an applicant as an insurer is subject to its complying with the terms of its registration and such other conditions as the BMA may impose from time to time.
The Insurance Act imposes solvency and liquidity standards as well as auditing and reporting requirements on Bermuda insurance companies and grants to the BMA powers to supervise, investigate and intervene in the affairs of insurance companies. The Insurance Act also imposes certain regulatory requirements on insurance groups where the BMA has determined that it should act as group supervisor. Certain significant aspects of the Bermuda insurance regulatory framework are set forth below.
• | Cancellation of Insurer's Registration: An insurer's registration may be canceled by the BMA on certain grounds specified in the Insurance Act, including failure of the insurer to comply with its obligations under the Insurance Act or if, in the opinion of the BMA, the insurer has not been carrying on business in accordance with sound insurance principles. We believe that we are in compliance with applicable regulations under the Insurance Act. |
• | Principal Office and Principal Representative: An insurer is required to maintain a principal office in Bermuda and to appoint and maintain a principal representative in Bermuda. It is the duty of the principal representative, upon reaching the view that there is a likelihood of the insurer for which the principal representative acts becoming insolvent, to the principal representative's knowledge, occurred or is believed to have occurred, to immediately notify the BMA and to make a report in writing to the BMA within 14 days of the prior notification setting out all the particulars of the case that are available to the principal representative. |
• | Annual Financial Statements, Annual Statutory Financial Return and Annual Capital and Solvency Return: Maiden Bermuda must prepare annual statutory financial statements as prescribed in the Insurance Act with respect to its general business. The statutory financial return for a Class 3B insurer includes, among other things, a report of the approved independent auditor on the statutory financial statement of such insurer, declaration of the statutory ratios, solvency certificates, the statutory financial statements for the general business, the opinion of the loss reserve specialist, a schedule of reinsurance ceded and a statutory declaration in the matter of the Insurance Code of Conduct as described below. Maiden Bermuda is also required to file audited U.S. GAAP annual financial statements, which must be available to the public. In addition, Maiden Bermuda is required to file a capital and solvency return, which shall include the company's Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement ("BSCR") model (described below), a commercial insurer's solvency self-assessment ("CISSA"), a catastrophe risk return and a schedule of loss triangles or reconciliation of net loss reserves and a schedule of eligible capital. |
• | Minimum Liquidity Ratio: The Insurance Act requires all general business insurers to maintain the value of its relevant assets at not less than 75% of the amount of its relevant liabilities. Relevant assets include cash and time deposits, quoted investments, unquoted bonds and debentures, first liens on real estate, investment income due and accrued, accounts and premiums receivable, reinsurance balances receivable and funds held by ceding reinsurers. There are certain categories of assets which, unless specifically permitted by the BMA, do not automatically qualify as relevant assets, such as unquoted equity securities, investments in and advances to affiliates and real estate and collateral loans. The relevant liabilities are total general business insurance reserves and total other liabilities less deferred income tax and sundry liabilities (by interpretation, those not specifically defined) and letters of credit and guarantees. |
16
• | Minimum Solvency Margin, Enhanced Capital Requirement and Restrictions on Dividends and Distributions: Under the Insurance Act, Maiden Bermuda must ensure that the value of its general business assets exceeds the amount of its general business liabilities by an amount greater than its prescribed minimum solvency margin ("MSM"). Maiden Bermuda is also required to maintain available statutory capital and surplus at least equal to its enhanced capital requirement ("ECR"). Maiden Bermuda is prohibited from declaring or paying dividends of more than 25% of its total statutory capital and surplus, as shown in its previous financial year statutory balance sheet, unless at least seven days before payment of the dividends it files with the BMA an affidavit that it will continue to meet its minimum capital requirements as described above. In addition, Maiden Bermuda must obtain the BMA’s prior approval before reducing its total statutory capital, as shown in its previous financial year statutory balance sheet, by 15% or more. |
• | Fit and Proper Controllers: The BMA maintains supervision over the controllers of all registered insurers in Bermuda. A controller includes (i) the managing director of the registered insurer or its parent company; (ii) the chief executive of the registered insurer or of its parent company; (iii) a shareholder controller; and (iv) any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the registered insurer or of its parent company are accustomed to act. |
• | Notification by Registered Person of Change of Controllers and Officers: All registered insurers are required to give written notice to the BMA of the fact that a person has become, or ceased to be, a controller or officer of the registered insurer within 45 days of becoming aware of such fact. An officer in relation to a registered insurer means a director, chief executive or senior executive performing duties of underwriting, actuarial, risk management, compliance, internal audit, finance or investment matters. |
• | Notification of Material Changes: All registered insurers are required to give 14 days’ notice to the BMA of certain matters that are likely to be of material significance (a “Material Change” within the meaning of the Insurance Act). |
• | Code of Conduct: Maiden Bermuda is required to comply with the Insurance Code of Conduct of the Authority ("Code") which prescribes the duties and standards which must be complied with to ensure it implements sound corporate governance, risk management and internal controls. Failure to comply with the requirements under the Code will be a factor taken into account by the BMA in determining whether an insurer is conducting its business in a sound and prudent manner as prescribed by the Insurance Act. Such failure to comply with the requirements of the Code could result in the BMA exercising its powers of intervention (see BMA's Powers of Intervention, Obtaining Information, Reports and Documents and Providing Information to other Regulatory Authorities below). We believe that we are in compliance with the Code. |
• | Group Supervision: The BMA acts as group supervisor of the Company and has designated Maiden Bermuda to be the designated insurer. As group supervisor, the BMA will perform a number of supervisory functions including (i) coordinating the gathering and dissemination of information which is of importance for the supervisory task of other competent authorities; (ii) carrying out a supervisory review and assessment of the insurance group; (iii) carrying out an assessment of the insurance group's compliance with the rules on solvency, risk concentration, intra-group transactions and good governance procedures; (iv) planning and coordinating, through regular meetings with other competent authorities, supervisory activities in respect of the insurance group, both as a going concern and in emergency situations; (v) coordinating any enforcement action that may need to be taken against the insurance group or any of its members; and (vi) planning and coordinating meetings of colleges of supervisors in order to facilitate the carrying out of the functions described above. In carrying out its group supervisory functions, the BMA may make rules for (i) assessing the financial situation and the solvency position of the insurance group and/or its members and (ii) regulating intra‑group transactions, risk concentration, governance procedures, risk management and regulatory reporting and disclosure. |
• | Group MSM and Group ECR: The Designated Insurer must ensure that the value of the insurance group's assets exceeds the amount of the group's liabilities by the aggregate minimum margin of solvency of each qualifying member of the group ("Group MSM"). A member is a qualifying member of the insurance group if it is subject to solvency requirements in the jurisdiction in which it is registered. Beginning on December 31, 2013, we are required to maintain available group capital and surplus at a level equal to or in excess of the Group Enhanced Capital Requirement ("Group ECR") which is established by reference to either the Group BSCR model or an approved group internal capital model. The Group ECR will be phased-in over 5 years; for the year ended December 31, 2015, it is set at 70% of the amount calculated using the Group BSCR model and thereafter it will increase in increments of 10% per year through year-end 2018. |
• | Designated Insurer Notification Obligations: The Designated Insurer must notify the BMA upon reaching a view that there is a likelihood of the insurance group or any member of the group becoming insolvent or that a reportable "event" has, to the Designated Insurer's knowledge, occurred or is believed to have occurred. Within 30 days of such notification to the BMA, the Designated Insurer must furnish the BMA with a written report setting out all the particulars of the case that are available to it and within 45 days it must furnish a group capital and solvency return that reflects the Group ECR that has been prepared using post-loss data and unaudited financial statements for such period as the BMA shall require together with a declaration of solvency in respect thereof. |
• | BMA's Powers of Intervention, Obtaining Information, Reports and Documents and Providing Information to other Regulatory Authorities: The BMA has certain powers of investigation and intervention relating to insurers and their holding companies, subsidiaries and other affiliates, which it may exercise in the interest of such insurer's policyholders or if there is any risk of insolvency or of a breach of the Insurance Act or the insurer's license conditions. The BMA’s prudential framework for (re)insurance and group supervision has been recognized by the European Commission’s Delegated Act as being fully equivalent to regulatory standards applied to European reinsurance companies and insurance groups in accordance |
17
with the requirements of the Solvency II Directive. The Delegated Act is subject to review, and once it comes into force, the equivalence decision will be applied retroactively to January 1, 2016. There are planned changes to Bermuda’s regulatory regime that have been communicated to the industry. Certain significant aspects of the planned changes are set forth below. The BMA is implementing an Economic Balance Sheet ("EBS") framework which will be used as the basis to determine the ECR of insurers and group. The new regulations come into operation on January 1, 2016 and apply to financial years beginning on or after January 1, 2016. The BMA is also implementing new public disclosure rules that require all insurers and insurance groups to prepare and publish a Financial Condition Report ("FCR"). The FCR is intended to provide additional information to the public in relation to the insurer’s and group’s business model, whereby they may make an informed assessment on whether the business is run in a prudent manner. The new rules come into operation on January 1, 2016 and apply to financial years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
Certain Bermuda Law Considerations
Maiden Holdings and Maiden Bermuda have been designated as non-resident for exchange control purposes by the BMA and are required to obtain the permission of the BMA for the issue and transfer of all of their shares. The BMA has given its consent for:
• | the issue and transfer of Maiden Holdings' common shares, up to the amount of its authorized capital from time to time, to and among persons that are non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes; and |
• | the issue and transfer of up to 20% of Maiden Holdings' common shares in issue from time to time to and among persons resident in Bermuda for exchange control purposes. |
Transfers and issues of Maiden Holdings' common shares to any resident in Bermuda for exchange control purposes may require specific prior approval under the Exchange Control Act 1972. Maiden Bermuda's common shares cannot be issued or transferred without the consent of the BMA. Because we are designated as non-resident for Bermuda exchange control purposes, we are allowed to engage in transactions, and to pay dividends to Bermuda non-residents who are holders of our common shares, in currencies other than the Bermuda Dollar.
United States
Maiden US, domiciled in Missouri, is an accredited reinsurer in six states and an authorized insurer in forty-five jurisdictions. Regulatory, supervisory and administrative authority is primarily delegated to the states with the exception of federal authority over boycott, coercion and intimidation, federal antitrust laws and where federal law is enacted specifically to regulate the business of insurance. Among other things, state insurance departments regulate insurer solvency standards, insurer and agent licensing, authorized investments, loss and expense reserves and provisions for unearned premiums, and deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders. Maiden US is required to file detailed financial statements and other reports with the departments of insurance in all states in which they are licensed to transact business. These financial statements are subject to the supervision, regulation and periodic examination by the Missouri department of insurance ("DOI").
State Insurance Department Examinations
Maiden US is subject to the financial supervision and regulation of the state in which it is domiciled. As part of their regulatory oversight process, state insurance departments conduct periodic detailed examinations of the financial reporting of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations may be carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC").
Statutory Accounting Principles
Statutory accounting principles ("SAP") are 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 to policyholders. Accordingly, statutory accounting focuses on valuing assets and liabilities of insurers at financial reporting dates in accordance with appropriate insurance law and regulatory provisions applicable in each insurer's domiciliary state.
U.S. GAAP is concerned with a company's solvency, but is also concerned with other financial measurements, principally income and cash flows. Accordingly, U.S. GAAP gives more consideration to appropriate matching of revenue and expenses and accounting for management's stewardship of assets than does SAP. As a direct result, different assets and liabilities and different amounts of assets and liabilities will be reflected in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP compared to SAP. Statutory accounting practices established by the NAIC and adopted in part by Missouri will determine, among other things, the amount of statutory surplus and statutory net income of Maiden US, and thus determine, in part, the amount of funds that are available to pay dividends to Maiden NA.
Holding Company Regulation
Maiden US is subject to the U.S. statutory holding company laws of its state of domicile. The insurance holding company laws and regulations apply directly to individual insurers, indirectly to non-insurance entities, and provide regulators the ability to look
18
at any entity within an insurance holding company system. State regulations generally provide that each insurance company in an insurance holding company system must register with the insurance department of its state of domicile. These laws vary from state to state, but each state has enacted legislation which requires licensed insurers that are subsidiaries of insurance holding companies to register and file with state regulatory authorities certain reports including information concerning their capital structure, ownership, financial condition and general business operations. All transactions involving the insurers in a holding company system and their affiliates must be fair and reasonable and, if material, require prior notice and approval or non-disapproval by the state insurance department of their domicile.
Further, state insurance holding company laws typically place limitations on the amounts of dividends or other distributions payable by insurers. Payment of ordinary dividends by Maiden US requires prior approval of the Director of the Missouri DOI unless dividends will be paid out of "earned surplus". Earned surplus is an amount equal to the unassigned funds of an insurer as set forth in the most recent annual statement of the insurer including all or part of the surplus arising from unrealized capital gains or revaluation of assets. Extraordinary dividends generally require 30 days prior notice to and non-disapproval of the Missouri DOI before being paid. An extraordinary dividend includes any dividend whose fair market value together with that of other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 months exceeds the greater of: (1) 10% of the insurer's surplus as regards policyholders as of December 31 of the prior year, or (2) the net income of the insurer, not including realized capital gains, for the 12 month period ending December 31 of the prior year, but does not include pro rata distributions of any class of the insurer's own securities.
State insurance holding company laws also require prior notice and state insurance department approval of changes in control of an insurer or its holding company. "Control" is generally defined as the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the company, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract (except a commercial contract for goods or non-management services) or otherwise. Maiden US is domiciled in Missouri where any beneficial owner of 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of an insurance company or its holding company is presumed to have acquired control, unless this presumption is rebutted. Therefore, an investor who intends to acquire beneficial ownership of 10% or more of our outstanding voting securities may need to comply with these laws and would be required to file notices and reports with the Missouri DOI and receive approval from the Missouri DOI or rebut the presumption of control before such acquisition.
Risk-Based Capital
U.S. insurers are also subject to risk-based capital ("RBC") guidelines that provide a method to measure the total adjusted capital (statutory capital and surplus plus other adjustments) of insurance companies taking into account the risk characteristics of a company's investments and products. The RBC formulas establish capital requirements for four categories of risk: asset risk, insurance risk, interest rate risk and business risk. For each category, the capital requirement is determined by applying factors to asset, premium and reserve items, with higher factors applied to items with greater underlying risk and lower factors for less risky items. Insurers that have less statutory capital than the RBC calculation required are considered to have inadequate capital and are subject to varying degrees of regulatory action depending upon the level of capital inadequacy. Maiden US has satisfied the RBC formula and has exceeded all recognized industry solvency standards. At December 31, 2015, Maiden US had adjusted capital in excess of amounts requiring company or regulatory action.
Reinsurance
The ability of an insurer to take credit for the reinsurance purchased from reinsurance companies is a significant component of reinsurance regulation. Typically, an insurer will only enter into a reinsurance agreement if it can obtain credit to its reserves on its statutory financial statements for the reinsurance ceded to the reinsurer. With respect to U.S. domiciled reinsurers that reinsure U.S. insurers, credit is usually granted when the reinsurer is licensed, certified or accredited in a state where the primary insurer is domiciled or, in some instances, in a state in which the primary insurer is licensed. States also generally permit primary insurers to take credit for reinsurance if the reinsurer is (i) domiciled in a state with a credit for reinsurance law that is substantially similar to the standards in the primary insurer's state of domicile, and (ii) meets certain financial requirements. Credit for reinsurance purchased from a reinsurer that does not meet the foregoing conditions is generally allowed to the extent that such reinsurer secures its obligations with qualified collateral. Maiden is able to take credit for all reinsurance purchased and all cedents are able to take credit for reinsurance they purchase from Maiden.
NAIC Ratios
The NAIC Insurance Regulatory Information System ("IRIS") was developed to help state regulators identify companies that may require special attention. IRIS is comprised of statistical and analytical phases consisting of key financial ratios whereby financial examiners review annual statutory basis statements and financial ratios. Each ratio has an established "usual range" of results and assists state insurance departments in executing their statutory mandate to oversee the financial condition of insurance companies. A ratio result falling outside the usual range of IRIS ratios is not considered a failing result; rather unusual values are viewed as part of the regulatory early monitoring system. Furthermore, in some years, it may not be unusual for financially sound companies to have several ratios with results outside the usual ranges. An insurance company may fall out of the usual range for one or more ratios because of specific transactions that are in themselves immaterial. Generally, an insurance company will become subject to regulatory scrutiny and may be subject to regulatory action if it falls outside the usual ranges of four or more of the ratios. At December 31, 2015, Maiden US did not have an IRIS ratio range warranting any regulatory action.
19
State Legislative and Regulatory Changes
From time to time, various regulatory and legislative changes are proposed in the insurance industry. Among the proposals that have in the past been or are at present being considered are proposals in various state legislatures (some of which proposals have been enacted) to conform portions of their insurance laws and regulations to various model acts adopted by the NAIC.
Regulatory changes within the NAIC model laws could affect Maiden US. The concept of “enterprise risk” within an insurance holding company is a proposal that Missouri adopted in 2015 as an amendment to the Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act and Regulation. The first enterprise risk report is due on May 1, 2016 and annually thereafter. Maiden maintains its own robust ERM framework and we believe that adoption of the NAIC model laws will not be onerous for the Company.
Under the 2011 revisions to the NAIC Credit for Reinsurance Model Law and Regulation, non-U.S. reinsurers from "qualified jurisdictions" can apply to become a "certified reinsurer". Certified reinsurers are eligible to post less than 100% collateral for reinsurance assumed from U.S. ceding companies. At this time, we are unable to determine whether any additional changes in the U.S. reinsurance regulatory framework will be implemented and what effect any changes would have on our operations or financial condition.
Our insurance subsidiaries are required to comply with a wide variety of laws and regulations applicable to insurance or reinsurance companies, both in the jurisdictions in which they are organized and where they sell their insurance and reinsurance products. The insurance and regulatory environment, in particular for offshore insurance and reinsurance companies, has become subject to increased scrutiny in many jurisdictions, including the U.S., various states within the U.S. and the EU. In the past, there have been Congressional and other initiatives in the U.S. regarding increased supervision and regulation of the insurance industry. It is not possible to predict the future impact of changes in laws and regulations on our operations. The cost of complying with any new legal requirements affecting our subsidiaries could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In addition, our subsidiaries may not always be able to obtain or maintain necessary licenses, permits, authorizations or accreditations. They also may not be able to fully comply with, or to obtain appropriate exemptions from, the laws and regulations applicable to them. Any failure to comply with applicable law or to obtain appropriate exemptions could result in restrictions on either the ability of the company in question, as well as potentially its affiliates, to do business in one or more of the jurisdictions in which they operate or on brokers on which we rely to produce business for us. In addition, any such failure to comply with applicable laws or to obtain appropriate exemptions could result in the imposition of fines or other sanctions. Any of these sanctions could have a material adverse effect on our business. To date, no material fine, penalty or restriction has been imposed on us for failure to comply with any insurance law or regulation.
International Standards
U.S. federal and state regulators have committed in principle to adopting international standards with respect to basic regulatory issues such as accounting, risk management and corporate governance. International regulatory considerations are increasingly being deliberated by the NAIC and could increase regulatory burdens for Maiden US and have the potential to negatively impact all U.S. insurers, regardless of size. Various trade associations and industry participants are aggressively working to impact the NAIC adoption of these standards. However, the final outcome of these deliberations is unknown at this time.
Federal
Although the regulation of the business of insurance and reinsurance is predominantly performed by the states, federal initiatives, such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Fr