10-Q 1 alte-20120630x10q.htm FORM 10-Q ALTE-2012.06.30-10Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 ________________________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
________________________________________________________________________________
 (Mark One)
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012
OR 
¨
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 000-33047
________________________________________________________________________________
ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________________________________________________________________________
Bermuda
 
98-0584464
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
Alterra House
2 Front Street
Hamilton, HM 11
Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(441) 295-8800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 
(Former name, former address or former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 ________________________________________________________________________________
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  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ý    No  ¨
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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “small reporting company,” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 
Large accelerated filer
 
x
  
Accelerated filer
 
¨
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.):    Yes  ¨    No  ý
The number of the registrant’s common shares (par value $1.00 per share) outstanding as of August 6, 2012 was 96,043,027.



ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
INDEX 
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
ITEM 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 2.
 
 
 
ITEM 3.
 
 
 
ITEM 4.
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 1.
 
 
 
ITEM 1A.
 
 
 
ITEM 2.
 
 
 
ITEM 3.
 
 
 
ITEM 4.
 
 
 
ITEM 5.
 
 
 
ITEM 6.
 
 

2


PART I —FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements
ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except share amounts)
 
 
 
June 30,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
763,957

 
$
922,844

Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value (amortized cost: 2012—$207,423; 2011—$226,716)
 
211,796

 
229,206

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2012—$5,452,922; 2011—$5,290,124)
 
5,709,850

 
5,501,925

Fixed maturities, held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: 2012—$991,538; 2011—$1,011,493)
 
833,990

 
874,259

Other investments, at fair value
 
366,404

 
286,515

Accrued interest income
 
65,252

 
71,322

Premiums receivable
 
991,927

 
715,154

Losses and benefits recoverable from reinsurers
 
1,083,840

 
1,068,119

Deferred acquisition costs
 
170,904

 
145,850

Prepaid reinsurance premiums
 
326,014

 
212,238

Trades pending settlement
 
31,925

 
22,887

Goodwill and intangible assets
 
55,431

 
56,111

Other assets
 
85,296

 
79,417

Total assets
 
$
10,696,586

 
$
10,185,847

LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Property and casualty losses
 
$
4,308,316

 
$
4,216,538

Life and annuity benefits
 
1,148,304

 
1,190,697

Deposit liabilities
 
158,412

 
151,035

Funds withheld from reinsurers
 
93,510

 
112,469

Unearned property and casualty premiums
 
1,281,406

 
1,020,639

Reinsurance balances payable
 
260,351

 
134,354

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
116,575

 
110,380

Trades pending settlement
 
37,455

 

Senior notes
 
440,521

 
440,500

Total liabilities
 
7,844,850

 
7,376,612

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Common shares (par value $1.00 per share);
96,853,334 (2011—102,101,950) shares issued and outstanding
 
96,853

 
102,102

Additional paid-in capital
 
1,729,311

 
1,847,034

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
202,229

 
166,957

Retained earnings
 
823,343

 
693,142

Total shareholders’ equity
 
2,851,736

 
2,809,235

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
$
10,696,586

 
$
10,185,847

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

3


ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except share and per share amounts) 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
REVENUES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross premiums written
 
$
566,857

 
$
563,907

 
$
1,228,187

 
$
1,191,755

Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(189,879
)
 
(136,626
)
 
(414,341
)
 
(273,983
)
Net premiums written
 
$
376,978

 
$
427,281

 
$
813,846

 
$
917,772

Earned premiums
 
$
496,839

 
$
443,008

 
$
974,706

 
$
932,270

Earned premiums ceded
 
(146,061
)
 
(94,067
)
 
(285,753
)
 
(203,442
)
Net premiums earned
 
350,778

 
348,941

 
688,953

 
728,828

Net investment income
 
54,729

 
59,665

 
113,407

 
117,431

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
13,481

 
(5,774
)
 
38,974

 
(24,592
)
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
(420
)
 
(187
)
 
(5,887
)
 
(1,311
)
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes
 
(150
)
 
(166
)
 
(52
)
 
(71
)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
(570
)
 
(353
)
 
(5,939
)
 
(1,382
)
Other income
 
1,928

 
591

 
7,290

 
1,906

Total revenues
 
420,346

 
403,070

 
842,685

 
822,191

LOSSES AND EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net losses and loss expenses
 
196,764

 
211,133

 
402,793

 
515,539

Claims and policy benefits
 
13,272

 
15,570

 
26,738

 
30,280

Acquisition costs
 
62,171

 
64,680

 
121,895

 
135,288

Interest expense
 
9,635

 
10,630

 
18,263

 
19,089

Net foreign exchange losses (gains)
 
25

 
3,090

 
(7
)
 
2,212

General and administrative expenses
 
58,777

 
69,659

 
118,859

 
140,862

Total losses and expenses
 
340,644

 
374,762

 
688,541

 
843,270

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
 
79,702

 
28,308

 
154,144

 
(21,079
)
Income tax expense (benefit)
 
762

 
(4,327
)
 
(3,820
)
 
(7,027
)
NET INCOME (LOSS)
 
78,940

 
32,635

 
157,964

 
(14,052
)
Other comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Holding gains on available for sale securities arising in period, net of tax
 
35,262

 
43,274

 
59,937

 
31,281

Net realized gains on available for sale securities included in net income, net of tax
 
(11,968
)
 
(620
)
 
(19,726
)
 
(3,118
)
Portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
150

 
166

 
52

 
71

Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
(6,361
)
 
165

 
(4,991
)
 
5,038

Other comprehensive income
 
17,083

 
42,985

 
35,272

 
33,272

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
$
96,023

 
$
75,620

 
$
193,236

 
$
19,220

Net income (loss) per share
 
$
0.79

 
$
0.31

 
$
1.58

 
$
(0.13
)
Net income (loss) per diluted share
 
$
0.77

 
$
0.30

 
$
1.54

 
$
(0.13
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
 
99,563,474

 
105,604,786

 
100,283,266

 
106,385,007

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted
 
101,957,882

 
107,111,909

 
102,556,070

 
106,385,007


See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

4


ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars) 
 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
2012
 
2011
Common shares
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
102,102

 
$
110,963

Issuance of common shares, net
 
694

 
1,406

Repurchase of shares
 
(5,943
)
 
(6,574
)
Balance, end of period
 
96,853

 
105,795

Additional paid-in capital
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
1,847,034

 
2,026,045

Issuance of common shares, net
 
464

 
610

Stock based compensation expense
 
12,814

 
22,587

Repurchase of shares
 
(131,001
)
 
(137,263
)
Balance, end of period
 
1,729,311

 
1,911,979

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
Unrealized holdings gains:
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
204,301

 
118,197

Holding gains on available for sale fixed maturities arising in period, net of tax
 
59,937

 
31,281

Net realized gains on available for sale securities included in net income, net of tax
 
(19,726
)
 
(3,118
)
Portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
52

 
71

Balance, end of period
 
244,564

 
146,431

Cumulative foreign translation adjustment:
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
(37,344
)
 
(19,251
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
(4,991
)
 
5,038

Balance, end of period
 
(42,335
)
 
(14,213
)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income, end of period
 
202,229

 
132,218

Retained earnings
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
693,142

 
682,316

Net income (loss)
 
157,964

 
(14,052
)
Dividends
 
(27,763
)
 
(25,175
)
Balance, end of period
 
823,343

 
643,089

Total shareholders’ equity
 
$
2,851,736

 
$
2,793,081

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

5


ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
2012
 
2011
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
157,964

 
$
(14,052
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Stock based compensation
 
12,814

 
22,587

Amortization of premium on fixed maturities
 
13,088

 
9,801

Accretion of deposit liabilities
 
2,197

 
3,176

Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on investments
 
(38,974
)
 
24,592

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
5,939

 
1,382

Changes in:
 
 
 
 
Accrued interest income
 
6,098

 
4,724

Premiums receivable
 
(266,262
)
 
(278,695
)
Losses and benefits recoverable from reinsurers
 
(16,937
)
 
(99,028
)
Deferred acquisition costs
 
(24,445
)
 
(58,894
)
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
 
(113,344
)
 
(65,487
)
Other assets
 
(9,935
)
 
(8,544
)
Property and casualty losses
 
90,385

 
304,109

Life and annuity benefits
 
(23,132
)
 
(31,203
)
Funds withheld from reinsurers
 
(18,959
)
 
1,598

Unearned property and casualty premiums
 
257,868

 
293,029

Reinsurance balances payable
 
125,378

 
34,849

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
5,634

 
4,761

Cash provided by operating activities
 
165,377

 
148,705

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
Purchases of available for sale securities
 
(1,216,292
)
 
(1,165,503
)
Sales of available for sale securities
 
551,740

 
709,314

Redemptions/maturities of available for sale securities
 
538,261

 
485,128

Purchases of trading securities
 
(77,881
)
 
(28,065
)
Sales of trading securities
 
72,756

 
24,563

Redemptions/maturities of trading securities
 
24,922

 
35,969

Purchases of held to maturity securities
 

 
(2,580
)
Redemptions/maturities of held to maturity securities
 
21,679

 
18,251

Net (purchases) sales of other investments
 
(70,397
)
 
17,365

Cash (used in) provided by investing activities
 
(155,212
)
 
94,442

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares
 
1,158

 
2,016

Repurchase of common shares
 
(136,944
)
 
(143,837
)
Dividends paid
 
(27,406
)
 
(25,175
)
Additions to deposit liabilities
 
482

 
583

Payments of deposit liabilities
 
(2,927
)
 
(3,643
)
Cash used in financing activities
 
(165,637
)
 
(170,056
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash and cash equivalents
 
(3,415
)
 
8,360

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
(158,887
)
 
81,451

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
922,844

 
905,606

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
 
$
763,957

 
$
987,057

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Interest paid totaled $14,532 and $14,382 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Income taxes paid totaled $4,868 and $165 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

6

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)


1. GENERAL
Alterra Capital Holdings Limited (“Alterra” and, collectively with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is a Bermuda headquartered global enterprise dedicated to providing diversified specialty insurance and reinsurance products to corporations, public entities and property and casualty insurers. Alterra was incorporated on July 8, 1999 under the laws of Bermuda.
Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in these consolidated financial statements to entity names are as set forth in the following table: 
 
 
 
Reference
  
Entity’s legal name
Alterra
  
Alterra Capital Holdings Limited
Alterra Agency
  
Alterra Agency Limited
Alterra America
  
Alterra America Insurance Company
Alterra at Lloyd’s
  
Alterra at Lloyd’s Limited
Alterra Bermuda
  
Alterra Bermuda Limited
Alterra Brazil
  
Alterra Resseguradora do Brasil S.A.
Alterra Capital UK
  
Alterra Capital UK Limited
Alterra E&S
  
Alterra Excess & Surplus Insurance Company
Alterra Europe
  
Alterra Europe plc
Alterra Finance
  
Alterra Finance LLC
Alterra Holdings
  
Alterra Holdings Limited
Alterra Insurance USA
  
Alterra Insurance USA Inc.
Alterra Managers
  
Alterra Managers Limited
Alterra Re Europe
  
Alterra Reinsurance Europe plc
Alterra Re USA
  
Alterra Reinsurance USA Inc.
Alterra USA
  
Alterra USA Holdings Limited
New Point IV
  
New Point IV Limited
New Point Re IV
  
New Point Re IV Limited
The Company’s Bermuda insurance and reinsurance operations are conducted through Alterra Bermuda, which is registered as both a Class 4 commercial and Class C long-term insurer under the insurance laws of Bermuda.
The Company’s U.S. reinsurance operations are conducted through Alterra Re USA, a Connecticut-domiciled reinsurance company. The Company’s U.S. insurance operations are conducted through Alterra E&S, a Delaware-domiciled excess and surplus insurance company, and Alterra America, a Delaware-domiciled insurance company. Through Alterra E&S and Alterra America, the Company writes both admitted and non-admitted business throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
The Company’s non-Lloyd’s European insurance and reinsurance operations are based primarily in Dublin and are conducted through Alterra Europe and its branches in London and Zurich. Effective November 1, 2011, Alterra Europe merged with Alterra Re Europe, with Alterra Europe as the surviving entity.
The Company’s Lloyd’s operations are conducted by Alterra at Lloyd’s through Lloyd’s Syndicates 1400, 2525 and 2526 (collectively, the “Syndicates”), which underwrite a diverse portfolio of specialty risks in Europe, the United States and Latin America. Alterra at Lloyd’s operations are based primarily in London. The Company’s proportionate share of Syndicates 1400, 2525 and 2526 are 100%, approximately 2% and approximately 20%, respectively.
The Company’s Latin America operations are conducted through Alterra at Lloyd’s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using Lloyd’s admitted status, through Alterra Europe using a representative office in Bogotá, Colombia and a service company in Buenos Aires, Argentina and through Alterra Brazil, a local reinsurance company in Rio de Janeiro.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in conformity with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations as at the end of and for the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated from these statements.


2. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
ASU 2010-26, Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts
ASU 2010-26 specifies how insurance companies should recognize costs that meet the definition of acquisition costs as defined in FASB guidance. ASU 2010-26 modifies the existing guidance to require that only costs that are associated with the successful acquisition of a new or renewal insurance contract should be capitalized as deferred acquisition costs. Costs that fall outside the proposed definition, such as indirect costs or salaries related to unsuccessful efforts, should be expensed as incurred. ASU 2010-26 was effective for fiscal periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 with prospective or retrospective application permitted. This standard did not have any impact on the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (820)—Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS.
ASU 2011-04 principally clarifies existing guidance relating to fair value measurement and disclosures. ASU 2011-04 also includes changes to certain fair value principles that affect both measurement and disclosure requirements. These changes include requiring additional disclosures relating to transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, quantitative information and discussion about significant unobservable inputs and the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in unobservable inputs, and categorization by level of the fair value hierarchy for items that are not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is required to be disclosed. ASU 2011-04 was effective for fiscal periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 with prospective application. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (220)—Presentation of Comprehensive Income
ASU 2011-05 increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. ASU 2011-05 requires that all nonowner changes in shareholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 was effective for fiscal periods on or after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The requirement to present reclassification adjustments on the face of the financial statements has been deferred and no effective date has been determined. The Company has reflected the disclosure requirements effective for the current period in its interim consolidated financial statements and they did not have a material impact on the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (350)—Testing Goodwill for Impairment
ASU 2011-08 permits an entity to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the two-step goodwill impairment test. If an entity concludes it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it need not perform the two-step impairment test. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements.

3. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company monitors the performance of its underwriting operations in six segments: global insurance, U.S. insurance, reinsurance, Alterra at Lloyd’s, Latin America and life and annuity reinsurance. 
Effective January 1, 2012, the Company redefined its operating and reporting segments. Reinsurance business written within Latin America, which was previously reported within the reinsurance or Alterra at Lloyd’s segments, has been reclassified to a new Latin America segment. In addition, business written by the Company’s recently incorporated Brazilian reinsurance company, Alterra Brazil, is included in the Latin America segment. Insurance business written by Alterra Insurance USA, which was previously reported within the global insurance segment (formerly the insurance segment), has been reclassified to the U.S. insurance segment (formerly the U.S. specialty segment). Alterra Insurance USA is a managing general underwriter for Alterra E&S and Alterra America, as well as various third party insurance companies, and is the Company’s principal insurance

7

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

underwriting platform for retail distribution in the United States. Segment disclosures for comparative periods have been revised to reflect these reclassifications.

Global Insurance Segment
The Company’s global insurance segment (formerly the insurance segment) offers property and casualty excess of loss insurance from its offices in Bermuda, Dublin and London primarily to U.S. and international Fortune 1000 companies. Insurance offered from the Company’s U.S. offices is included within the U.S. insurance segment. Principal lines of business for this segment include aviation, excess liability, professional liability and property.

U.S. Insurance Segment
The Company’s U.S. insurance segment (formerly the U.S. specialty segment) offers property and casualty insurance coverage from its offices in the United States primarily to Fortune 3000 companies. Principal lines of business for this segment include general/excess liability, marine, professional liability and property.

Reinsurance Segment
The Company’s reinsurance segment offers property and casualty quota share and excess of loss reinsurance from its offices in Bermuda, Dublin, London and the United States to insurance and reinsurance companies worldwide. Principal lines of business for this segment include agriculture, auto, aviation, credit/surety, general casualty, marine & energy, medical malpractice, professional liability, property, whole account and workers’ compensation.

Alterra at Lloyd’s Segment
The Company’s Alterra at Lloyd’s segment offers property and casualty quota share and excess of loss insurance and reinsurance from its offices in London, Dublin and Zurich, primarily to medium-to large-sized international clients. This segment comprises the Company’s proportionate share of the underwriting results of the Syndicates, and the results of Alterra at Lloyd’s, the managing agent for Syndicate 1400. The Syndicates underwrite a diverse portfolio of specialty risks, including accident & health, agriculture, aviation, financial institutions, international casualty, marine, professional liability and property.

Latin America Segment
The Company’s Latin America segment offers property and casualty quota share and excess of loss reinsurance from its offices in Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá and Buenos Aires. Principal lines of business for this segment include aviation, general liability, marine, property and surety.

Life and Annuity Reinsurance Segment
The Company’s life and annuity reinsurance segment previously offered reinsurance products that focused on blocks of life and annuity business, which took the form of co-insurance transactions whereby the risks are reinsured on the same basis as the original policies. The Company has determined not to write any new life and annuity contracts in the foreseeable future.

Corporate
The Company also has a corporate function that includes the Company’s investment and financing activities.
Invested assets are managed on an aggregated basis, and investment income and realized and unrealized gains on investments are not allocated to the property and casualty segments. Because of the longer duration of liabilities on life and annuity reinsurance business, and the accretion of the discounted carrying value of life and annuity benefits, investment returns are important in evaluating the profitability of this segment. Consequently, the Company allocates investment returns from the consolidated portfolio to the life and annuity reinsurance segment. The allocation is based on a notional allocation of invested assets from the consolidated portfolio using durations that are determined based on estimated cash flows for the life and annuity reinsurance segment. The balance of investment returns from this consolidated portfolio is allocated to the corporate function for the purposes of segment reporting. 

Operations by Segment
Management monitors the performance of all of its segments, other than life and annuity reinsurance, on the basis of underwriting income, loss ratio, acquisition cost ratio, general and administrative expense ratio and combined ratio, along with

8

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

other metrics. Management monitors the performance of its life and annuity reinsurance business on the basis of income before taxes for the segment, which includes revenue from net premiums earned and allocated net investment income, and expenses from claims and policy benefits, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses.

A summary of operations by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 follows:
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars) 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
 
Property & Casualty
Life &
Annuity
Reinsurance
(a)
Corporate
Consolidated
 
 
Global
Insurance
U.S.
Insurance
Reinsurance
Alterra at
Lloyd’s
Latin
America
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
125,276

$
112,186

$
246,838

$
72,008

$
9,495

$
565,803

$
1,054

$

$
566,857

Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(53,224
)
(51,524
)
(53,185
)
(27,068
)
(4,723
)
(189,724
)
(155
)

(189,879
)
Net premiums written
 
$
72,052

$
60,662

$
193,653

$
44,940

$
4,772

$
376,079

$
899

$

$
376,978

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earned premiums
 
$
92,803

$
100,300

$
210,413

$
69,330

$
22,939

$
495,785

$
1,054

$

$
496,839

Earned premiums ceded
 
(45,367
)
(44,490
)
(29,097
)
(23,108
)
(3,844
)
(145,906
)
(155
)

(146,061
)
Net premiums earned
 
47,436

55,810

181,316

46,222

19,095

349,879

899


350,778

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net losses and loss expenses
 
(22,745
)
(37,333
)
(89,607
)
(33,030
)
(14,049
)
(196,764
)


(196,764
)
Claims and policy benefits
 






(13,272
)

(13,272
)
Acquisition costs
 
(239
)
(6,169
)
(42,708
)
(7,443
)
(5,456
)
(62,015
)
(156
)

(62,171
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(6,913
)
(12,215
)
(14,339
)
(7,856
)
(2,722
)
(44,045
)
(119
)

(44,164
)
Other income
 
1


1,895

7


1,903



1,903

Underwriting income (loss)
 
$
17,540

$
93

$
36,557

$
(2,100
)
$
(3,132
)
$
48,958

n/a


n/a

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13,466

41,263

54,729

Net realized and unrealized gains on investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


13,481

13,481

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(570
)
(570
)
Corporate other income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25

25

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(9,635
)
(9,635
)
Net foreign exchange losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(25
)
(25
)
Corporate general and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(14,613
)
(14,613
)
Income before taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
818

$
29,926

$
79,702

Loss ratio (b)
 
47.9
%
66.9
%
49.4
%
71.5
%
73.6
%
56.2
%
 
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (c)
 
0.5
%
11.1
%
23.6
%
16.1
%
28.6
%
17.7
%
 
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (d)
 
14.6
%
21.9
%
7.9
%
17.0
%
14.3
%
12.6
%
 
 
 
Combined ratio (e)
 
63.0
%
99.8
%
80.9
%
104.6
%
116.4
%
86.6
%
 
 
 
 
(a)Loss ratio and combined ratio are not provided for the life and annuity reinsurance segment as the Company believes these ratios are not appropriate measures for evaluating the profitability of life and annuity underwriting.
(b)Loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(c)Acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(d)General and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(e)Combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.



9

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)




 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
 
Property & Casualty
Life &
Annuity
Reinsurance
(a)
Corporate
Consolidated
 
 
Global
Insurance
U.S.
Insurance
Reinsurance
Alterra at
Lloyd’s
Latin
America
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
192,047

$
216,468

$
565,192

$
218,151

$
34,835

$
1,226,693

$
1,494

$

$
1,228,187

Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(96,475
)
(122,018
)
(112,678
)
(65,658
)
(17,339
)
(414,168
)
(173
)

(414,341
)
Net premiums written
 
$
95,572

$
94,450

$
452,514

$
152,493

$
17,496

$
812,525

$
1,321

$

$
813,846

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earned premiums
 
$
186,906

$
196,541

$
405,074

$
142,229

$
42,462

$
973,212

$
1,494

$

$
974,706

Earned premiums ceded
 
(92,500
)
(84,946
)
(55,850
)
(43,157
)
(9,127
)
(285,580
)
(173
)

(285,753
)
Net premiums earned
 
94,406

111,595

349,224

99,072

33,335

687,632

1,321


688,953

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net losses and loss expenses
 
(40,806
)
(74,897
)
(190,802
)
(71,705
)
(24,583
)
(402,793
)


(402,793
)
Claims and policy benefits
 






(26,738
)

(26,738
)
Acquisition costs
 
(298
)
(13,865
)
(81,369
)
(16,877
)
(9,211
)
(121,620
)
(275
)

(121,895
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(13,394
)
(24,472
)
(31,391
)
(16,951
)
(4,981
)
(91,189
)
(153
)

(91,342
)
Other income
 
816

81

6,336

7


7,240



7,240

Underwriting income (loss)
 
$
40,724

$
(1,558
)
$
51,998

$
(6,454
)
$
(5,440
)
$
79,270

n/a


n/a

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28,242

85,165

113,407

Net realized and unrealized gains on investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

38,974

38,974

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(5,939
)
(5,939
)
Corporate other income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
50

50

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(18,263
)
(18,263
)
Net foreign exchange gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7

7

Corporate general and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(27,517
)
(27,517
)
Income before taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
2,397

$
72,477

$
154,144

Loss ratio (b)
 
43.2
%
67.1
%
54.6
%
72.4
%
73.7
%
58.6
%
 
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (c)
 
0.3
%
12.4
%
23.3
%
17.0
%
27.6
%
17.7
%
 
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (d)
 
14.2
%
21.9
%
9.0
%
17.1
%
14.9
%
13.3
%
 
 
 
Combined ratio (e)
 
57.7
%
101.5
%
86.9
%
106.5
%
116.3
%
89.5
%
 
 
 
(a)Loss ratio and combined ratio are not provided for the life and annuity reinsurance segment as the Company believes these ratios are not appropriate measures for evaluating the profitability of life and annuity underwriting.
(b)Loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(c)Acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(d)General and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(e)Combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.


10

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
 
Property & Casualty
Life  &
Annuity
Reinsurance
(a)
Corporate
Consolidated
 
 
Global
Insurance
U.S.
Insurance
Reinsurance
Alterra at
Lloyd’s
Latin
America
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
130,909

$109,794
$
244,899

$
72,428

$
4,947

$
562,977

$
930

$

$
563,907

Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(55,133
)
(28,227
)
(27,675
)
(24,918
)
(572
)
(136,525
)
(101
)

(136,626
)
Net premiums written
 
$
75,776

$
81,567

$
217,224

$
47,510

$
4,375

$
426,452

$
829

$

$
427,281

Earned premiums
 
$
88,892

$
82,244

$
203,470

$
58,117

$
9,355

$
442,078

$
930

$

$
443,008

Earned premiums ceded
 
(43,286
)
(23,835
)
(11,815
)
(14,540
)
(490
)
(93,966
)
(101
)

(94,067
)
Net premiums earned
 
45,606

58,409

191,655

43,577

8,865

348,112

829


348,941

Net losses and loss expenses
 
(23,689
)
(38,012
)
(122,576
)
(21,072
)
(5,784
)
(211,133
)


(211,133
)
Claims and policy benefits
 






(15,570
)

(15,570
)
Acquisition costs
 
1,117

(10,400
)
(42,947
)
(9,946
)
(2,382
)
(64,558
)
(122
)

(64,680
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(6,774
)
(11,374
)
(21,647
)
(7,773
)
(3,053
)
(50,621
)
(259
)

(50,880
)
Other income
 
85

54

548

165


852

(23
)

829

Underwriting income (loss)
 
$
16,345

$
(1,323
)
$
5,033

$
4,951

$
(2,354
)
$
22,652

n/a


n/a

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12,545

47,120

59,665

Net realized and unrealized losses on investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,299
)
(4,475
)
(5,774
)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(353
)
(353
)
Corporate other income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(238
)
(238
)
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(10,630
)
(10,630
)
Net foreign exchange losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3,090
)
(3,090
)
Corporate general and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(18,779
)
(18,779
)
(Loss) income before taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(3,899
)
$
9,555

$
28,308

Loss ratio (b)
 
51.9
 %
65.1
%
64.0
%
48.4
%
65.2
%
60.7
%
 
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (c)
 
(2.4
)%
17.8
%
22.4
%
22.8
%
26.9
%
18.5
%
 
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (d)
 
14.9
 %
19.5
%
11.3
%
17.8
%
34.4
%
14.5
%
 
 
 
Combined ratio (e)
 
64.3
 %
102.4
%
97.7
%
89.0
%
126.6
%
93.7
%
 
 
 
 
(a)Loss ratio and combined ratio are not provided for the life and annuity reinsurance segment as the Company believes these ratios are not appropriate measures for evaluating the profitability of life and annuity underwriting.
(b)Loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(c)Acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(d)General and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(e)Combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.











11

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
 
Property & Casualty
Life &
Annuity
Reinsurance
(a)
Corporate
Consolidated
 
 
Global
Insurance
U.S.
Insurance
Reinsurance
Alterra at
Lloyd’s
Latin
America
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
194,804

$
187,559

$
605,626

$
180,318

$
22,083

$
1,190,390

$
1,365

$

$
1,191,755

Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(93,657
)
(66,544
)
(62,927
)
(48,097
)
(2,637
)
(273,862
)
(121
)

(273,983
)
Net premiums written
 
$
101,147

$
121,015

$
542,699

$132,221
$
19,446

$
916,528

$
1,244

$

$
917,772

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earned premiums
 
$
179,543

$163,714
$
447,810

$
121,281

$
18,557

$
930,905

$
1,365

$

$
932,270

Earned premiums ceded
 
(84,065
)
(51,636
)
(31,716
)
(35,120
)
(784
)
(203,321
)
(121
)

(203,442
)
Net premiums earned
 
95,478

112,078

416,094

86,161

17,773

727,584

1,244


728,828

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net losses and loss expenses
 
(55,313
)
(72,427
)
(306,484
)
(69,515
)
(11,800
)
(515,539
)


(515,539
)
Claims and policy benefits
 






(30,280
)

(30,280
)
Acquisition costs
 
853

(18,386
)
(90,707
)
(22,598
)
(4,169
)
(135,007
)
(281
)

(135,288
)
General and administrative expenses
 
(14,726
)
(22,644
)
(43,919
)
(16,026
)
(5,509
)
(102,824
)
(436
)

(103,260
)
Other income
 
814

137

548

380


1,879

(23
)

1,856

Underwriting income (loss)
 
$
27,106

$
(1,242
)
$
(24,468
)
$
(21,598
)
$
(3,705
)
$
(23,907
)
n/a


n/a

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24,888

92,543

117,431

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,508

(26,100
)
(24,592
)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,382
)
(1,382
)
Corporate other income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
50

50

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(19,089
)
(19,089
)
Net foreign exchange losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2,212
)
(2,212
)
Corporate general and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(37,602
)
(37,602
)
(Loss) income before taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(3,380
)
$
6,208

$
(21,079
)
Loss ratio (b)
 
57.9
 %
64.6
%
73.7
%
80.7
%
66.4
%
70.9
%
 
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (c)
 
(0.9
)%
16.4
%
21.8
%
26.2
%
23.5
%
18.6
%
 
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (d)
 
15.4
 %
20.2
%
10.6
%
18.6
%
31.0
%
14.1
%
 
 
 
Combined ratio (e)
 
72.5
 %
101.2
%
106.0
%
125.5
%
120.8
%
103.5
%
 
 
 
(a)Loss ratio and combined ratio are not provided for the life and annuity reinsurance segment as the Company believes these ratios are not appropriate measures for evaluating the profitability of life and annuity underwriting.
(b)Loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(c)Acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(d)General and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(e)Combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.









12

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

The Company’s clients are located in three geographic regions: North America, Europe and the rest of the world. Property and casualty gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded by geographic region for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were: 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S dollars)
 
North America
 
Europe
 
Rest of the world
 
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
904,033

 
$
220,287

 
$
102,373

 
$
1,226,693

Reinsurance ceded
 
(270,132
)
 
(92,211
)
 
(51,825
)
 
(414,168
)
 
 
$
633,901

 
$
128,076

 
$
50,548

 
$
812,525

Property and casualty gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded by geographic region for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were: 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S dollars)
 
North America
 
Europe
 
Rest of the world
 
Total
Gross premiums written
 
$
845,222

 
$
221,795

 
$
123,373

 
$
1,190,390

Reinsurance ceded
 
(198,267
)
 
(61,297
)
 
(14,298
)
 
(273,862
)
 
 
$
646,955

 
$
160,498

 
$
109,075

 
$
916,528

The largest client in each of the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 accounted for 3.7% and 5.5% of the Company’s property and casualty gross premiums written, respectively.
All of the life and annuity gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded, by geographic region, for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were from North America. There were no new life and annuity transactions written in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

4. BUSINESS COMBINATION
On May 12, 2010, Harbor Point Limited (“Harbor Point”) amalgamated with Alterra Holdings, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Alterra (the “Amalgamation”). The Amalgamation was accounted for as a business combination, with Alterra the accounting acquirer. The Company recorded the acquired assets and liabilities of Harbor Point at their fair values.
The net loss reserves acquired included an increase of $91.0 million to adjust net loss reserves to fair value. This fair value adjustment is included within property and casualty losses on the consolidated balance sheet. This amount is being amortized to net losses and loss expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income over a weighted average period of 4.0 years, based on the estimated settlement of underlying losses. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 , $5.5 million and $11.6 million, respectively, was amortized. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, $6.2 million and $12.3 million, respectively, was amortized. As of June 30, 2012, the unamortized balance of this fair value adjustment was $40.4 million.
The net unearned premiums acquired included a decrease of $127.2 million to adjust net unearned premiums to fair value. This fair value adjustment is included within unearned property and casualty premiums on the consolidated balance sheet. This amount is being amortized to acquisition costs in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income over two years. The amortization approximates the amount of Harbor Point’s deferred acquisition costs that would have been recorded as acquisition costs had they not been fair valued under acquisition accounting. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, $3.9 million and $8.4 million, respectively, was amortized. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, $13.1 million and $28.1 million, respectively, was amortized. As of June 30, 2012, the unamortized balance of this fair value adjustment was $7.6 million. 

13

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)


5. INVESTMENTS
Fixed Maturities—Available for Sale
The fair values and amortized cost of available for sale fixed maturities as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were: 
 
 
 
 
Included in Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
 
June 30, 2012 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Non-OTTI
Unrealized
Loss
 
OTTI
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair Value
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
735,619

 
$
31,692

 
$
(665
)
 
$

 
$
766,646

Non-U.S. governments
 
162,052

 
9,935

 
(121
)
 

 
171,866

Corporate securities
 
2,332,120

 
116,743

 
(7,081
)
 
(359
)
 
2,441,423

Municipal securities
 
252,794

 
29,719

 
(629
)
 

 
281,884

Asset-backed securities
 
351,355

 
2,311

 
(8,987
)
 
(447
)
 
344,232

Residential mortgage-backed securities (1)
 
1,257,359

 
53,567

 
(1,597
)
 
(483
)
 
1,308,846

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
361,623

 
35,021

 
(1,691
)
 

 
394,953

 
 
$
5,452,922

 
$
278,988

 
$
(20,771
)
 
$
(1,289
)
 
$
5,709,850

 
 
 
 
 
Included in Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Non-OTTI
Unrealized
Loss
 
OTTI
Unrealized
Loss
 
 
December 31, 2011 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
686,818

 
$
39,709

 
$
(188
)
 
$

 
$
726,339

Non-U.S. governments
 
121,769

 
8,087

 
(486
)
 

 
129,370

Corporate securities
 
2,418,673

 
104,241

 
(20,259
)
 
(1,040
)
 
2,501,615

Municipal securities
 
241,303

 
22,464

 
(760
)
 

 
263,007

Asset-backed securities
 
250,070

 
1,325

 
(11,635
)
 

 
239,760

Residential mortgage-backed securities (1)
 
1,244,274

 
45,027

 
(2,440
)
 
(1,230
)
 
1,285,631

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
327,217

 
30,617

 
(1,631
)
 

 
356,203

 
 
$
5,290,124

 
$
251,470

 
$
(37,399
)
 
$
(2,270
)
 
$
5,501,925

 
(1)
Included within residential mortgage-backed securities are securities issued by U.S. agencies with a fair value of $1,234,114 (December 31, 2011$1,114,064).











14

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the investment ratings (provided by major rating agencies) of the Company’s available for sale fixed maturities as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Fair Value
 
%
 
Fair Value
 
%
U.S. government and agencies (1)
 
$
2,000,760

 
35.0
 
$
1,840,403

 
33.5
AAA
 
1,088,255

 
19.1
 
850,379

 
15.5
AA
 
713,100

 
12.5
 
840,397

 
15.3
A
 
1,318,903

 
23.1
 
1,322,267

 
24.0
BBB
 
346,843

 
6.1
 
280,159

 
5.1
BB
 
57,532

 
1.0
 
84,385

 
1.5
B
 
139,370

 
2.4
 
131,159

 
2.4
CCC or lower
 
35,026

 
0.6
 
53,157

 
1.0
Not rated
 
10,061

 
0.2
 
99,619

 
1.7
 
 
$
5,709,850

 
100.0
 
$
5,501,925

 
100.0
 
(1)
Included within U.S. government and agencies are residential mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. agencies with a fair value of $1,234,114 (December 31, 2011$1,114,064). 

The maturity distribution for available for sale fixed maturities held as of June 30, 2012 was: 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Within one year
 
$
668,520

 
$
673,639

After one year through five years
 
1,692,557

 
1,740,190

After five years through ten years
 
691,689

 
745,704

More than ten years
 
429,819

 
502,286

 
 
3,482,585

 
3,661,819

Asset-backed securities
 
351,355

 
344,232

Mortgage-backed securities
 
1,618,982

 
1,703,799

 
 
$
5,452,922

 
$
5,709,850

Actual maturities could differ from expected contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Fixed Maturities—Held to Maturity
The fair values and amortized cost of held to maturity fixed maturities as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were: 
June 30, 2012 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Gross
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair Value
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
27,616

 
$
4,081

 
$

 
$
31,697

Non-U.S. governments
 
509,819

 
108,203

 

 
618,022

Corporate securities
 
295,639

 
45,261

 

 
340,900

Asset-backed securities
 
916

 
3

 

 
919

 
 
$
833,990

 
$
157,548

 
$

 
$
991,538



15

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2011 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Gross
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair Value
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
29,201

 
$
3,705

 
$

 
$
32,906

Non-U.S. governments
 
524,449

 
98,631

 

 
623,080

Corporate securities
 
319,609

 
34,895

 

 
354,504

Asset-backed securities
 
1,000

 
3

 

 
1,003

 
 
$
874,259

 
$
137,234

 
$

 
$
1,011,493


The following table sets forth certain information regarding the investment ratings (provided by major rating agencies) of the Company’s held to maturity fixed maturities as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011
June 30, 2012 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
%
 
Fair
Value
 
%
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
27,616

 
3.3
 
$
31,697

 
3.2
AAA
 
575,679

 
69.1
 
697,991

 
70.4
AA
 
92,778

 
11.1
 
102,914

 
10.4
A
 
108,610

 
13.0
 
126,183

 
12.7
BBB
 
26,962

 
3.2
 
30,634

 
3.1
BB
 
2,345

 
0.3
 
2,119

 
0.2
 
 
$
833,990

 
100.0
 
$
991,538

 
100.0
 
December 31, 2011 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
%
 
Fair
Value
 
%
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
29,201

 
3.3
 
$
32,906

 
3.3
AAA
 
619,832

 
70.9
 
733,632

 
72.5
AA
 
82,511

 
9.4
 
88,631

 
8.8
A
 
117,600

 
13.5
 
129,791

 
12.8
BBB
 
24,117

 
2.8
 
25,705

 
2.5
Not rated
 
998

 
0.1
 
828

 
0.1
 
 
$
874,259

 
100.0
 
$
1,011,493

 
100.0

The maturity distribution for held to maturity fixed maturities held as of June 30, 2012 was: 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Within one year
 
$
43,218

 
$
43,945

After one year through five years
 
85,755

 
91,590

After five years through ten years
 
120,816

 
136,961

More than ten years
 
583,285

 
718,123

 
 
833,074

 
990,619

Asset-backed securities
 
916

 
919

 
 
$
833,990

 
$
991,538

Actual maturities could differ from expected contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without call or prepayment penalties.

16

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)


Investment Income
Investment income earned for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was: 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Interest earned on investments and cash and cash equivalents
 
$
64,354

 
$
66,216

 
$
130,624

 
$
131,372

Amortization of premium on fixed maturities
 
(7,472
)
 
(4,535
)
 
(13,088
)
 
(9,801
)
Investment expenses
 
(2,153
)
 
(2,016
)
 
(4,129
)
 
(4,140
)
 
 
$
54,729

 
$
59,665

 
$
113,407

 
$
117,431


Net Realized and Unrealized Gains and Losses
The net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were: 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Gross realized gains on available for sale securities
 
$
12,405

 
$
4,044

 
$
23,856

 
$
8,306

Gross realized losses on available for sale securities
 
(415
)
 
(3,990
)
 
(4,107
)
 
(4,883
)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities
 
587

 
1,432

 
1,653

 
(395
)
(Decrease) increase in fair value of hedge funds
 
(2,894
)
 
(1,879
)
 
785

 
1,288

Decrease in fair value of catastrophe bonds
 

 
(251
)
 

 
(25,641
)
(Decrease) increase in fair value of structured deposit
 
(655
)
 
(1,284
)
 
(290
)
 
50

Income (loss) from equity method investments
 
5,583

 
(12
)
 
10,510

 
(157
)
(Decrease) increase in fair value of derivatives
 
(1,130
)
 
(3,834
)
 
6,567

 
(3,160
)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
$
13,481

 
$
(5,774
)
 
$
38,974

 
$
(24,592
)
Net other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
$
(570
)
 
$
(353
)
 
$
(5,939
)
 
$
(1,382
)
Increase in net unrealized gains on available for sale fixed maturities, before tax
 
$
26,946

 
$
45,711

 
$
45,127

 
$
30,535


Included in net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities were $nil and $0.1 million of net realized losses recognized on trading securities sold during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $0.3 million and $0.7 million of net realized losses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. 

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment
The Company attempts to match the maturities of its fixed maturities portfolio to the expected timing of its loss and benefit payments. Due to fluctuations in interest rates, it is likely that over the period a security is held there will be periods, perhaps greater than twelve months, when the security’s fair value is less than its cost, resulting in unrealized losses.
Any other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) related to a credit loss is recognized in earnings, and the amount of the OTTI related to other factors (e.g. interest rates, market conditions, etc.) is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. If no credit loss exists but either: (i) the Company has the intent to sell the debt security; or (ii) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery, the entire unrealized loss is recognized in earnings. In periods after the recognition of an OTTI on debt securities, the Company accounts for such securities as if they had been purchased on the measurement date of the OTTI at an amortized cost basis equal to the previous amortized cost basis less the OTTI recognized in earnings.
The Company has reviewed all debt securities in an unrealized loss position at the end of the period to identify any securities for which there is an intention to sell after the period end. For those securities where there is such an intention, the OTTI charge (being the difference between the amortized cost and the fair value of the security) was recognized in net income. The Company has reviewed debt securities in an unrealized loss position to determine whether it is more likely than not that it

17

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

will be required to sell those securities. The Company has considered its liquidity and working capital needs and determined that it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell any of the securities in an unrealized loss position. The Company has also performed a review of debt securities, which considers various indicators of potential credit losses. These indicators include the length of time and extent of the unrealized loss, any specific adverse conditions, historic and implied volatility of the security, failure of the issuer of the security to make scheduled interest payments, expected cash flow analysis, significant rating changes and recoveries or additional declines in fair value subsequent to the balance sheet date. The consideration of these indicators and the estimation of credit losses involve significant management judgment.
The Company recorded $0.6 million of OTTI in earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2012, of which $0.2 million related to estimated credit losses and $0.4 million was recorded due to the decision to sell certain securities prior to their recovery in value ($0.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011, all of which related to estimated credit losses).
The Company recorded $5.9 million of OTTI in earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2012, of which $0.3 million related to estimated credit losses and $5.6 million was recorded due to the decision to sell certain securities prior to their recovery in value ($1.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, all of which related to estimated credit losses).
The following methodology and significant inputs were used to determine the estimated credit losses during the six months ended June 30, 2012:
Corporate securities ($nil and $0.1 million credit loss recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively)—the Company reviewed the business prospects, credit ratings and information received from investment managers and rating agencies for each security;
Residential mortgage-backed securities ($0.1 million and $0.1 million credit loss recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively)—the Company utilized underlying data for each security provided by its investment managers in order to determine an expected recovery value for each security. The analysis includes expected cash flow projections under base case and stress case scenarios, which modify expected default expectations, loss severities and prepayment assumptions. The significant inputs in the models include expected default rates, delinquency rates and foreclosure costs. The Company reviews the process used by each investment manager in developing its analysis, reviews the results of the analysis and then determines what the expected recovery values are for each security, which incorporates both base case and stress case scenarios; and
Asset-backed securities ($0.1 million and $0.1 million credit loss recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively)—the Company utilized underlying data for each security provided by its investment managers in order to determine an expected recovery value for each security. The analysis includes expected cash flow projections under base case and stress case scenarios, which modify expected default expectations, loss severities and prepayment assumptions. The significant inputs in the models include expected default rates, delinquency rates and foreclosure costs. The Company reviews the process used by each investment manager in developing its analysis, reviews the results of the analysis and then determines what the expected recovery values are for each security, which incorporates both base case and stress case scenarios.
Available for sale fixed maturities with unrealized losses, and the duration of such conditions as of June 30, 2012 and as of December 31, 2011, were: 
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
June 30, 2012 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
69,539

 
$
658

 
$
6,407

 
$
7

 
$
75,946

 
$
665

Non-U.S. governments
 
7,895

 
120

 
727

 
1

 
8,622

 
121

Corporate securities
 
184,203

 
7,423

 
994

 
17

 
185,197

 
7,440

Municipal securities
 
26,557

 
629

 

 

 
26,557

 
629

Asset-backed securities
 
107,683

 
9,211

 
375

 
223

 
108,058

 
9,434

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
68,111

 
2,080

 

 

 
68,111

 
2,080

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
58,875

 
1,691

 

 

 
58,875

 
1,691

 
 
$
522,863

 
$
21,812

 
$
8,503

 
$
248

 
$
531,366

 
$
22,060



18

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
December 31, 2011 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
19,185

 
$
188

 
$

 
$

 
$
19,185

 
$
188

Non-U.S. governments
 
19,265

 
486

 

 

 
19,265

 
486

Corporate securities
 
405,924

 
21,288

 
1,680

 
11

 
407,604

 
21,299

Municipal securities
 
26,968

 
760

 

 

 
26,968

 
760

Asset-backed securities
 
144,323

 
11,326

 
545

 
309

 
144,868

 
11,635

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
161,651

 
3,670

 

 

 
161,651

 
3,670

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
74,782

 
1,631

 

 

 
74,782

 
1,631

 
 
$
852,098

 
$
39,349

 
$
2,225

 
$
320

 
$
854,323

 
$
39,669

Of the total holdings of 3,098 (as of December 31, 20113,093) available for sale securities, 332 (as of December 31, 2011524) had unrealized losses as of June 30, 2012.
The following table provides a roll-forward of the amount related to credit losses recognized in earnings for which a portion of an OTTI was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income: 

 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
2012
 
2011
Beginning balance at April 1
 
$
4,971

 
$
4,320

Addition for credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired
 
61

 

Addition for credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired
 
125

 
353

Reduction for securities sold during the period
 

 

Ending balance at June 30
 
$
5,157

 
$
4,673


 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
2012
 
2011
Beginning balance at January 1
 
$
5,283

 
$
3,768

Addition for credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired
 
151

 
424

Addition for credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired
 
191

 
958

Reduction for securities sold during the period
 
(468
)
 
(477
)
Ending balance at June 30
 
$
5,157

 
$
4,673


Other Investments
The following is a summary of other investments as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011: 
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
 
 
Allocation %
 
 
 
Allocation %
Hedge funds
 
$
252,159

 
68.8

 
$
249,971

 
87.2

Equity method investments
 
90,323

 
24.7

 
13,670

 
4.8

Structured deposits
 
24,250

 
6.6

 
24,540

 
8.6

Derivatives
 
(328
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(1,666
)
 
(0.6
)
 
 
$
366,404

 
100.0

 
$
286,515

 
100.0



19

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Hedge Funds
The Company has investments in hedge funds across various investment strategies, together, the “hedge fund portfolio.” The distribution of the hedge fund portfolio by investment strategy as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was: 
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Fair Value
 
Allocation %
 
Fair Value
 
Allocation %
Distressed securities
 
$
24,659

 
9.8
 
$
24,987

 
9.9
Diversified arbitrage
 
14,004

 
5.6
 
17,368

 
6.9
Emerging markets
 
3,557

 
1.4
 
4,929

 
2.0
Event-driven arbitrage
 
7,952

 
3.2
 
21,130

 
8.5
Fund of funds
 
28,616

 
11.3
 
31,691

 
12.7
Global macro
 
36,669

 
14.5
 
48,965

 
19.6
Long/short credit
 
848

 
0.3
 
4,414

 
1.8
Long/short equity
 
134,194

 
53.2
 
94,793

 
37.9
Opportunistic
 
1,660

 
0.7
 
1,694

 
0.7
Total hedge fund portfolio
 
$
252,159

 
100.0
 
$
249,971

 
100.0
Redemptions receivable of $31.9 million and $23.8 million related to the hedge fund portfolio are excluded from the above table and are presented within trades pending settlement on the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively.
As of June 30, 2012, the hedge fund portfolio was invested in nine strategies in 38 underlying funds. The Company is able to redeem the hedge funds on the same terms that the underlying funds can be redeemed. In general, the funds in which the Company is invested require at least 30 days notice of redemption, and may be redeemed on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual or longer basis, depending on the fund.
Certain funds have a lock-up period. A lock-up period refers to the initial amount of time an investor is contractually required to invest before having the ability to redeem. Funds that do provide for periodic redemptions may, depending on the funds’ governing documents, have the ability to deny or delay a redemption request, called a “gate.” The fund may implement this restriction because the aggregate amount of redemption requests as of a particular date exceeds a specified level, generally ranging from 15% to 25% of the fund’s net assets. The gate is a method for executing an orderly redemption process that allows for redemption requests to be executed in a timely manner to reduce the possibility of adversely affecting the remaining investors in the fund. Typically, the imposition of a gate delays a portion of the requested redemption, with the remaining portion settled in cash sometime after the redemption date.
Of the Company’s outstanding redemptions receivable of $31.9 million at June 30, 2012, none of which is gated, $26.6 million was received in cash prior to August 6, 2012. The fair value of the Company’s holdings in funds with gates imposed as of June 30, 2012 was $6.6 million (December 31, 2011$19.1 million).
Certain funds may be allowed to invest a portion of their assets in illiquid securities, such as private equity or convertible debt. In such cases, a common mechanism used is a side-pocket, whereby the illiquid security is assigned to a separate memorandum capital account or designated account. Typically, the investor loses its redemption rights in the designated account. Only when the illiquid security is sold, or otherwise deemed liquid by the fund, may investors redeem their interest in the side-pocket. As of June 30, 2012, the fair value of hedge funds held in side-pockets was $40.8 million (December 31, 2011$37.4 million).











20

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Details regarding the redemption of the hedge fund portfolio as of June 30, 2012 were as follows: 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Fair Value
 
Gated/Side
Pocket
Investments (1)
 
Investments
without Gates
or Side Pockets
 
Redemption
Frequency (2)
 
Redemption
Notice
Period (2)
Distressed securities
 
$
24,659

 
$
13,727

 
$
10,932

 
Annually
 
90 days
Diversified arbitrage
 
14,004

 
14,004

 

 
 
 
 
Emerging markets
 
3,557

 
3,557

 

 
 
 
 
Event-driven arbitrage
 
7,952

 
6,940

 
1,012

 
Quarterly
 
60 days
Fund of funds
 
28,616

 

 
28,616

 
Quarterly(3)
 
95-370 days
Global macro
 
36,669

 
2,184

 
34,485

 
Monthly - Quarterly
 
60-90 days
Long/short credit
 
848

 
848

 

 

 

Long/short equity
 
134,194

 
4,541

 
129,653

 
Monthly - Annually
 
30-92 days
Opportunistic
 
1,660

 
1,660

 

 
 
 
 
Total hedge funds
 
$
252,159

 
$
47,461

 
$
204,698

 
 
 
 
 
(1)
For those investments that are restricted by gates or that are invested in side pockets, the Company cannot reasonably estimate, as of June 30, 2012, when it will be able to redeem the investment.
(2)
The redemption frequency and notice periods apply to the investments that are not gated or invested in side pockets.
(3)
The fund of funds investments are subject to a redemption notice period of 95 days notice for 50% of the value of the investment and 370 days notice for the remaining 50% of the value of the investment.

As of June 30, 2012, the Company had one unfunded commitment of $7.3 million related to its hedge fund portfolio (December 31, 2011$7.8 million).
An increase in market volatility and an increase in volatility of hedge funds in general, as well as a decrease in market liquidity, could lead to a higher risk of a large decline in value of the hedge funds in any given time period.

Equity Method Investments
The Company owns 34.8% of the common shares of New Point IV. As of June 30, 2012, the carrying value of this investment was $86.6 million. The increase in this investment since December 31, 2011 was due principally to additional subscriptions for shares resulting from additional business being written by New Point Re IV in addition to net income generated in the period. The Company’s equity share of net income for this investment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 was $5.6 million and $10.5 million, respectively. The Company also owns 7.5% of the common shares of Grand Central Re Limited (“Grand Central Re”) and 13.8% of the common shares of Bay Point Holdings Limited (“Bay Point’). The Company’s equity share of net income for all equity method investments is included in net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

Structured Deposits
The Company holds an index-linked structured deposit with a guaranteed minimum redemption amount of $24.3 million. The deposit has a scheduled redemption date of December 18, 2013. The interest earned on the deposit is a function of the performance of the reference index over the term of the deposit. The Company elected to account for this structured deposit at fair value. As of June 30, 2012, the estimated fair value of the deposit was $24.3 million (December 31, 2011$24.5 million).
For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, $0.7 million and $1.3 million of losses, respectively, was recorded in net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, $0.3 million of losses and $0.1 million of gains, respectively, was recorded in net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

Derivatives
The Company holds convertible bond securities within its available for sale fixed maturity portfolio and uses various other derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps, swaptions, foreign currency forwards and money market futures, to

21

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

adjust the curve and/or duration positioning of the investment portfolio, to obtain risk neutral substitutes for physical securities and to manage the overall risk exposure of the investment portfolio. Refer to Note 7 for additional details of derivative holdings.

Catastrophe Bonds
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company disposed of all of its holdings in catastrophe bonds.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company recorded $0.8 million and $1.7 million of net investment income from catastrophe bonds, respectively.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company recorded a decrease in the estimated fair value of the catastrophe bonds of $0.3 million and $25.6 million, respectively, principally as a result of exposure to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The changes in estimated fair value are included in net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

Restricted Assets
The total restricted assets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows: 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
June 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
Restricted assets included in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
336,253

 
$
453,367

Restricted assets included in fixed maturities, at fair value
 
3,646,829

 
3,888,211

Restricted assets included in other investments
 
144,736

 
156,776

Total
 
$
4,127,818

 
$
4,498,354


As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $3,382.5 million and $3,662.9 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents and investments were on deposit with various state or government insurance departments or pledged in favor of ceding companies. The Company also has issued secured letters of credit collateralized against the Company’s investment portfolio. As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $745.3 million and $835.5 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents and investments were pledged as security in favor of letters of credit issued.

6. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The fair value hierarchy, which is based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value, gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.
Level 3—Model derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.
When the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the level within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. As a result, a Level 3 fair value measurement may include inputs that are observable (Level 1 and 2) and unobservable (Level 3).
The Company determines the existence of an active market based on its judgment as to whether transactions for the financial instrument occur in such market with sufficient frequency and volume to provide reliable pricing information.
At June 30, 2012, the Company determined that U.S. government securities are classified as Level 1. Securities classified as Level 2 include U.S. government-sponsored agency securities, non-U.S. government securities, corporate debt securities, municipal securities, asset-backed securities, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, derivative instruments, catastrophe bonds and structured deposits.
Fair value prices for all securities in the fixed maturities portfolio are independently provided by the investment custodian, investment accounting service provider and investment managers, each of which utilize internationally recognized independent pricing services. The Company records the unadjusted price provided by the investment custodian or the investment accounting service provider and validates this price through a process that includes, but is not limited to:

22

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

(i) comparison of prices between two independent sources, with significant differences requiring additional price sources; (ii) quantitative analysis (e.g., comparing the quarterly return for each managed portfolio to its target benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated); (iii) evaluation of methodologies used by external parties to calculate fair value, including a review of the inputs used for pricing; and (iv) comparing the price to the Company’s knowledge of the current investment market.
The independent pricing services used by the investment custodian, investment accounting service provider and investment managers obtain actual transaction prices for securities that have quoted prices in active markets. Each pricing service has its own proprietary method for determining the fair value of securities that are not actively traded. In general, these methods involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the independent pricing service uses observable market inputs including, but not limited to, reported trades, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, interest rates, prepayment speeds, default rates and such other inputs as are available from market sources to determine a reasonable fair value. In addition, pricing services use valuation models, such as an Option Adjusted Spread model, to develop prepayment and interest rate scenarios. The Option Adjusted Spread model is commonly used to estimate fair value for securities such as mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.
For all assets and liabilities classified as Level 2, the market approach is utilized. The significant inputs used to determine the fair value of those assets and liabilities classified as Level 2 are as follows:
U.S government agency securities consist of securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and other agencies. The fair values of these securities are determined using the spread above the risk-free yield curve and reported trades. These are considered to be observable market inputs and, therefore, the fair values of these securities are classified within Level 2.
Non-U.S. government securities consist of bonds issued by non-U.S. governments and agencies along with supranational organizations. The significant inputs include the spread above the risk-free yield curve, reported trades and broker/dealer quotes. These are considered to be observable market inputs and, therefore, the fair values of these securities are classified within Level 2.
Corporate securities consist primarily of investment-grade debt of a wide variety of corporate issuers and industries. The fair values of these securities are determined using the spread above the risk-free yield curve, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, benchmark yields and industry and market indicators. For syndicated bank loan securities held within the corporate category, broker/dealer quotes are the principal source fair value. The principal inputs for corporate securities are considered observable market inputs and, therefore, the fair value of these securities are classified within Level 2.
Municipal securities consist primarily of bonds issued by U.S. domiciled state and municipality entities. The fair values of these securities are determined using the spread above the risk-free yield curve, reported trades, broker/ dealer quotes and benchmark yields. These are considered observable market inputs and, therefore, the fair value of these securities are classified within Level 2.
Asset-backed securities consist primarily of investment-grade bonds backed by pools of loans with a variety of underlying collateral. The significant inputs used to determine the fair value of these securities includes the spread above the risk-free yield curve, reported trades, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, prepayment speeds and default rates. These are considered observable market inputs and, therefore, the fair value of these securities are classified within Level 2.
Residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities include both agency and non-agency originated securities. The significant inputs used to determine the fair value of these securities includes the spread above the risk-free yield curve, reported trades, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, prepayment speeds and default rates. These are considered observable market inputs and, therefore, the fair value of these securities are classified within Level 2.
Derivatives consist of convertible bond equity call options, interest rate linked derivative instruments and foreign exchange forward contracts, money market futures and credit derivatives. The fair value of the equity call options is determined using an option adjusted spread model, the significant inputs for which include equity prices, interest rates, volatility rates and benchmark yields. The other derivative instruments trade in the over-the-counter derivative market, or are priced based on broker/dealer quotes or quoted market prices for similar securities. These are considered observable market inputs and, therefore, the fair value of these securities are classified within Level 2.
Catastrophe bonds are recorded at fair value based on dealer quotes and trade prices. These inputs are observable and therefore the investments in catastrophe bonds are classified within Level 2.
Structured deposits are recorded at fair value based on quoted indexes that are observable, and, therefore, the investments in structured deposits are classified within Level 2.
Senior notes are not recorded at fair value but the fair value is disclosed. The fair value is obtained from an

23

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

independent pricing service, which determines fair value using the spread above the risk-free yield curve, reported trades, broker/ dealer quotes, benchmark yields and industry and market indicators. The principal inputs are considered observable market inputs and, therefore, the fair value is classified within Level 2.

The ability to obtain quoted market prices is reduced in periods of decreasing liquidity, which generally increases the use of matrix pricing methods and generally increases the uncertainty surrounding the fair value estimates. This could result in the reclassification of a security between levels of the fair value hierarchy.
Investments in hedge funds are carried at fair value. The change in fair value is included in net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and recognized in net income. The units of account that are valued by the Company are its interests in the funds and not the underlying holdings of such funds. Thus, the inputs used by the Company to value its investments in each of the funds may differ from the inputs used to value the underlying holdings of such funds. These funds are stated at fair value, which ordinarily will be the most recently reported net asset value as provided by the fund manager or administrator. The use of net asset value as an estimate of the fair value for investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value is a permitted practical expedient. Certain of the Company’s funds have either imposed a gate on redemptions, or have segregated a portion of the underlying assets into a side-pocket. The investments in these funds are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as the Company cannot reasonably estimate at June 30, 2012 the time period in which it will be able to redeem its investment. Certain hedge fund investments have a redemption notice period and frequency that is not considered to be in the near term; these investments are also classified as Level 3 in the hierarchy. As of June 30, 2012, the remaining hedge fund portfolio investments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company can reasonably estimate when it will be able to redeem its investments at the net asset value, and the redemption period is considered to be in the near term.
The Company has ongoing due diligence processes with respect to funds in which it invests and their managers. These processes are designed to assist the Company in assessing the quality of information provided by, or on behalf of, each fund and in determining whether such information continues to be reliable or whether further review is warranted. Certain funds do not provide full transparency of their underlying holdings; however, the Company obtains the audited financial statements for every fund annually, and regularly reviews and discusses the fund performance with the fund managers to corroborate the reasonableness of the reported net asset values. While reported net asset value is the primary input to the review, when the net asset value is deemed not to be indicative of fair value, the Company may incorporate adjustments to the reported net asset value and not use the permitted practical expedient on an investment by investment basis. These adjustments may involve significant management judgment.
Based on the review process applied by management, the permitted practical expedient has not been applied to one hedge fund investment and a reduction of $2.5 million was made to the net asset value reported by the fund manager as of June 30, 2012 (December 31, 2011$2.5 million) to adjust the carrying value of the fund to $nil, which is the Company’s best estimate of the fund’s fair value. 
A review of fair value hierarchy classifications is conducted on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification for certain financial assets and liabilities. Reclassifications between Level 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are reported as transfers in and/or out as of the beginning of the quarter in which the reclassifications occur.
















24

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:
June 30, 2012 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
Level 1
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
Level 2
 
Significant Other
Unobservable
Inputs
Level 3
 
Total
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
316,957

 
$
462,313

 
$

 
$
779,270

Non-U.S. governments
 

 
217,341

 

 
217,341

Corporate securities
 

 
2,571,697

 

 
2,571,697

Municipal securities
 

 
281,884

 

 
281,884

Asset-backed securities
 

 
349,715

 

 
349,715

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 

 
1,322,785

 

 
1,322,785

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 

 
398,954

 

 
398,954

Total fixed maturities
 
316,957

 
5,604,689

 

 
5,921,646

Hedge funds
 

 
181,245

 
70,914

 
252,159

Structured deposit
 

 
24,250

 

 
24,250

Derivative assets
 

 
(328
)
 

 
(328
)
Other investments
 

 
205,167

 
70,914

 
276,081

 
 
$
316,957

 
$
5,809,856

 
$
70,914

 
$
6,197,727

December 31, 2011 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
Level 1
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
Level 2
 
Significant Other
Unobservable
Inputs
Level 3
 
Total
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
332,287

 
$
419,519

 
$

 
$
751,806

Non-U.S. governments
 

 
164,621

 

 
164,621

Corporate securities
 

 
2,646,358

 

 
2,646,358

Municipal securities
 

 
263,007

 

 
263,007

Asset-backed securities
 

 
247,965

 

 
247,965

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 

 
1,296,277

 

 
1,296,277

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 

 
361,097

 

 
361,097

Total fixed maturities
 
332,287

 
5,398,844

 

 
5,731,131

Hedge funds
 

 
147,105

 
102,866

 
249,971

Structured deposit
 

 
24,540

 

 
24,540

Derivative assets
 

 
(1,666
)
 

 
(1,666
)
Other investments
 

 
169,979

 
102,866

 
272,845

 
 
$
332,287

 
$
5,568,823

 
$
102,866

 
$
6,003,976

The other investments above do not include investments accounted for using the equity method of $90.3 million and $13.7 million as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, in which the Company is deemed to have significant influence.
The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those assets not carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet but for which disclosure of the fair value is required as of June 30, 2012
June 30, 2012 (Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
Level 1
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
Level 2
 
Significant Other
Unobservable
Inputs
Level 3
 
Total
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
10,414

 
$
21,283

 
$

 
$
31,697

Non-U.S. governments
 

 
618,022

 

 
618,022

Corporate securities
 

 
340,900

 

 
340,900

Asset-backed securities
 

 
919

 

 
919

Total held to maturity fixed maturities
 
$
10,414

 
$
981,124

 
$

 
$
991,538


25

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)



The fair value of the Company’s senior notes was $478.1 million as of June 30, 2012 and is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Company has no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2012.
The following tables provide a summary of the changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets (and liabilities): 
 
 
Other Investments
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
2012
 
2011
Beginning balance at April 1
 
$
100,756

 
$
114,166

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized)
 
 
 
 
Included in net income
 
(1,045
)
 
161

Included in other comprehensive income
 

 

Purchases
 
10,875

 
3,244

Issuances
 

 

Settlements
 
(10,096
)
 
(16,109
)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
 
(29,576
)
 
(881
)
Ending balance at June 30
 
$
70,914

 
$
100,581

The amount of total (losses) gains for the three months ended June 30, included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at June 30
 
$
(1,284
)
 
$
186


 
 
Other Investments
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
2012
 
2011
Beginning balance at January 1
 
$
102,866

 
$
123,240

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized)
 
 
 
 
Included in net income
 
(2,425
)
 
556

Included in other comprehensive income
 

 

Purchases
 
11,378

 
4,154

Issuances
 

 

Settlements
 
(11,329
)
 
(26,488
)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
 
(29,576
)
 
(881
)
Ending balance at June 30
 
$
70,914

 
$
100,581

The amount of total (losses) gains for the six months ended June 30, included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at June 30
 
$
(3,112
)
 
$
399


Transfers out of Level 3 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, are hedge funds for which the Company can reasonably estimate when it will be able to redeem its investment at the net asset value, and the redemption period is considered to be in the near term.

7. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and measures them at fair value.
The Company uses various interest rate-linked derivatives, including swaptions, swaps and futures to manage the interest rate exposure of its fixed maturity investment portfolio. The Company also uses various foreign currency forward contracts, money market futures, credit derivatives and interest rate swaps as part of a total investment strategy applied to a portion of the Company’s investment portfolio. As of June 30, 2012, the Company also held convertible bond securities, with embedded equity call options, for their total return potential. None of the derivatives used were designated as hedging investments.

26

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

The fair values of derivative instruments as of June 30, 2012 were: 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Derivative assets
Fair Value
 
Derivative liabilities
Fair Value
Convertible bond equity call options
 
$
35

 
$

Interest rate-linked derivatives
 
722

 
(1,183
)
Credit default swaps
 

 

Money market futures
 
75

 

Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
432

 
(409
)
Total derivatives
 
$
1,264

 
$
(1,592
)

The fair values of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2011 were: 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Derivative assets
Fair Value
 
Derivative liabilities
Fair Value
Convertible bond equity call options
 
$
2,516

 
$

Interest rate-linked derivatives
 
188

 
(4,784
)
Credit default swaps
 
187

 
(526
)
Money market futures
 
501

 

Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
700

 
(448
)
Total derivatives
 
$
4,092

 
$
(5,758
)
The derivative assets and liabilities are included within other investments in the consolidated balance sheets.
As of June 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding interest rate swaps and swaptions of $41.0 million in notional long positions and $66.3 million in notional short positions (December 31, 2011$42.7 million and $104.7 million, respectively). As of June 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding credit default swaps of $nil in notional long positions and $nil in notional short positions (December 31, 2011$2.5 million and $9.3 million, respectively). As of June 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding money market futures contracts with a notional value of $13.0 million (December 31, 2011$300.0 million). As of June 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding foreign currency forward contracts of $9.9 million in long positions and $148.2 million in short positions (December 31, 2011$13.7 million and $53.6 million, respectively). As of June 30, 2012, the Company held $6.4 million (December 31, 2011$94.5 million) of convertible bond securities, including the fair value of the equity call options embedded therein.
The impact of derivative instruments on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income for the three months ended June 30, was: 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
2012
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
 
2011
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Convertible bond equity call options
 
$
(221
)
 
$
(3,110
)
Interest rate-linked derivatives
 
(2,705
)
 
(327
)
Credit default swaps
 
103

 

Money market futures
 
636

 

Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
1,057

 
(397
)
Total derivatives
 
$
(1,130
)
 
$
(3,834
)







27

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

The impact of derivative instruments on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, was: 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
2012
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
 
2011
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Convertible bond equity call options
 
$
1,743

 
$
(2,206
)
Interest rate-linked derivatives
 
4,150

 
(184
)
Credit default swaps
 
170

 

Money market futures
 
869

 
(280
)
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
(365
)
 
(490
)
Total derivatives
 
$
6,567

 
$
(3,160
)
The gain (loss) on all derivative instruments is included within net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

8. SENIOR NOTES
On September 27, 2010, Alterra Finance, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Alterra, issued $350.0 million principal amount of 6.25% senior notes due September 30, 2020 with interest payable on March 30 and September 30 of each year (the “6.25% senior notes”). The 6.25% senior notes are Alterra Finance’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Alterra Finance’s future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and rank senior to all of Alterra Finance’s future subordinated indebtedness. The 6.25% senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Alterra on a senior unsecured basis. The guarantee ranks equally with all of Alterra’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and ranks senior to all of Alterra’s future subordinated indebtedness. The effective interest rate related to the 6.25% senior notes, based on the net proceeds received, was 6.37%. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, from the sale of the 6.25% senior notes were $346.9 million and were used to repay a $200.0 million revolving bank loan outstanding under a credit facility, with the remainder used for general corporate purposes.
Alterra Finance is a finance subsidiary and has no independent activities, assets or operations other than in connection with the 6.25% senior notes.
On April 16, 2007, Alterra USA privately issued $100.0 million principal amount of 7.20% senior notes due April 14, 2017 with interest payable on April 16 and October 16 of each year (the “7.20% senior notes”). The 7.20% senior notes are Alterra USA’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of Alterra USA. The 7.20% senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Alterra. The effective interest rate related to the 7.20% senior notes, based on the net proceeds received, was 7.27%. The net proceeds from the sale of the 7.20% senior notes were $99.5 million, which were used to repay a bank loan used to acquire Alterra E&S. Following repurchases of $8.5 million and $0.9 million principal amount in December 2008 and December 2009, respectively, the principal amount of the 7.20% senior notes outstanding as of June 30, 2012 was $90.6 million.
The Company has the option to redeem both the 6.25% senior notes and the 7.20% senior notes at any time, in whole or in part, at a “make-whole” redemption price, which is equal to the greater of the aggregate principal amount or the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest.
Interest expense in connection with the senior notes was $7.1 million and $7.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $14.2 million and $14.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

9. INCOME TAXES
Alterra and Alterra Bermuda are incorporated in Bermuda and pursuant to Bermuda law are not taxed on either income or capital gains. They have each received an assurance from the Bermuda Minister of Finance under the Exempted Undertaking Tax Protection Act, 1966 of Bermuda that if there is enacted in Bermuda any legislation imposing tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, then the imposition of any such tax will not be applicable until March 2035. The Company’s subsidiaries that are based in jurisdictions other than Bermuda are subject to the tax laws of those jurisdictions and the jurisdictions in which they operate.

28

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

The Company records income taxes during the period on the estimated effective annual rates for the year ending December 31, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, of which there have been none, would be recognized in income tax expense.

10. EQUITY CAPITAL
The Board of Directors of the Company declared the following dividends during 2012 and 2011: 
Date Declared
 
Dividend
per share
 
Dividend to be paid
to shareholders of
record on
 
Payable On
August 7, 2012
 
$
0.16

 
August 21, 2012
 
September 4, 2012
May 8, 2012
 
$
0.14

 
May 22, 2012
 
June 5, 2012
February 8, 2012
 
$
0.14

 
February 22, 2012
 
March 7, 2012
November 1, 2011
 
$
0.14

 
November 15, 2011
 
November 29, 2011
August 2, 2011
 
$
0.14

 
August 16, 2011
 
August 30, 2011
May 3, 2011
 
$
0.12

 
May 17, 2011
 
May 31, 2011
February 8, 2011
 
$
0.12

 
February 22, 2011
 
March 8, 2011
During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company repurchased 5,943,134 common shares at an average price of $23.02 per common share and 29,826 warrants at an average price of $3.79, for a total amount of $136.9 million, including the costs incurred to effect the repurchases. Of the amount repurchased during the six months ended June 30, 2012, 5,704,977 common shares and 29,826 warrants were repurchased under the Board-approved share repurchase authorization. As of June 30, 2012, the remaining authorization under the Company’s Board-approved share repurchase program was $123.0 million.
As of June 30, 2012, the Company’s total authorized share capital is $220.0 million. Authorized but unissued shares may be issued as common or preferred shares as the Board may from time to time determine. 


11. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is based on weighted average common shares outstanding and excludes any dilutive effect of warrants, options and convertible securities. Unvested share-based compensation awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are considered participating awards and are included in the computation of basic earnings per share. Non-participating unvested share-based compensation awards are excluded from the computation of basic earnings per share. Diluted earnings per share assumes the conversion of dilutive convertible securities and the exercise of dilutive stock warrants and options.

29

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011: 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
(Expressed in thousands U.S. Dollars, except share and per share amounts)
 
2012
 
2011
Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
78,940

 
$
32,635

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
 
99,563,474

 
105,604,786

Basic earnings per share
 
$
0.79

 
$
0.31

Diluted earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
78,940

 
$
32,635

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
 
99,563,474

 
105,604,786

Conversion of warrants
 
1,776,887

 
1,247,975

Conversion of options
 
92,399

 
148,366

Conversion of employee stock purchase plan
 
1,460

 
2,506

Non participating restricted shares
 
523,662

 
108,276

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted
 
101,957,882

 
107,111,909

Diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.77

 
$
0.30


For the three months ended June 30, 2012, the impact of the conversion of warrants of 288,200 and options of 2,454,661 was excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the three months ended June 30, 2011, the impact of the conversion of warrants of 294,225 and options of 2,616,563 was excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
(Expressed in thousands U.S. Dollars, except share and per share amounts)
 
2012
 
2011
Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
157,964

 
$
(14,052
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
 
100,283,266

 
106,385,007

Basic earnings per share
 
$
1.58

 
$
(0.13
)
Diluted earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
157,964

 
$
(14,052
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
 
100,283,266

 
106,385,007

Conversion of warrants
 
1,854,069

 

Conversion of options
 
104,212

 

Conversion of employee stock purchase plan
 
3,933

 

Non participating restricted shares
 
310,590

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted
 
102,556,070

 
106,385,007

Diluted earnings per share
 
$
1.54

 
$
(0.13
)

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, the impact of the conversion of warrants of 291,062 and options of 2,451,324 was excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the impact of the conversion of warrants of 10,331,810 and options of 3,568,342 was excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.



30

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

12. RELATED PARTIES
The Chubb Corporation
Effective December 15, 2005, Harbor Point acquired the continuing operations and certain assets of Chubb Re, Inc. (“Chubb Re”), the assumed reinsurance division of The Chubb Corporation (“Chubb”), a significant shareholder of Harbor Point at the time, and now a significant shareholder of Alterra. Pursuant to the transaction, Harbor Point and Federal Insurance Company (“Federal”), the principal operating subsidiary of Chubb, entered into a runoff services agreement.
Under the runoff services agreement, the Company provides claims management services on Federal’s behalf with respect to reinsurance business of Federal produced by Chubb Re from December 7, 1998 to December 31, 2005. This agreement may be terminated at any time at the sole discretion of Federal. Except for certain direct claims costs, there is no consideration paid by Federal or Chubb Re to the Company under this agreement.
The Company has entered into several reinsurance agreements with Federal and Chubb Re. The following is a summary of the amounts recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income related to these agreements since the Amalgamation: 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
As of June 30, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
Premiums receivable
 
$
1,741

 
$
5,095

Losses and benefits recoverable from reinsurers
 
3,376

 
3,597

Unearned property and casualty premiums
 
11,366

 
17,247

Property and casualty losses
 
223,133

 
253,214

Funds withheld from reinsurers
 
924

 
1,210

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 30, 2011
Statements of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross premiums written
 
$
1,169

 
$
2,523

 
$
3,774

 
$
3,764

Earned premiums
 
4,060

 
2,964

 
9,419

 
7,872

Net losses and loss expenses
 
(2,334
)
 
(2,031
)
 
(3,239
)
 
(555
)
Acquisition costs
 
718

 
1,071

 
1,828

 
2,343

Grand Central Re Limited
The Company owns 7.5% of the ordinary shares of Grand Central Re. In conjunction with this investment, Alterra Bermuda entered into a quota share retrocession agreement with Grand Central Re that requires each of Alterra Bermuda and Grand Central Re to retrocede a portion of their respective gross premiums written from certain transactions to the other party. Alterra Bermuda has not ceded any new business to Grand Central Re since 2003.
The accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income include, or are net of, the following amounts related to the quota share retrocession agreement with Grand Central Re: 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
As of June 30, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
Losses and benefits recoverable from reinsurers
 
$
34,359

 
$
34,925

Deposit liabilities
 
11,227

 
11,835

Funds withheld from reinsurers
 
58,505

 
74,625

Reinsurance balance payable
 
85

 
30


31

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 30, 2011

 
June 30, 2012

 
June 30, 2011

Statements of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
$
155

 
$
101

 
$
173

 
$
121

Earned premiums ceded
 
155

 
101

 
173

 
121

Other income
 
25

 
25

 
50

 
50

Claims and policy benefits
 
(524
)
 
(551
)
 
(892
)
 
(906
)
Interest expense
 
1,123

 
1,691

 
1,045

 
1,980

The variable quota share retrocession agreement with Grand Central Re is principally collateralized on a funds withheld basis. The rate of return on funds withheld is based on the average of two total return fixed maturity indices. The interest expense recognized by the Company will vary from period to period due to changes in the indices.

New Point IV Limited
The Company owns 34.8% of the outstanding common shares of New Point IV, a Bermuda domiciled company incorporated in 2011. In conjunction with this investment, Alterra Agency and Alterra Bermuda entered into an underwriting services agreement with New Point Re IV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Point IV. The fees associated with this agreement for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 were $1.8 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

Bay Point Holdings Limited
The Company owns 13.8% of the outstanding common shares of Bay Point. In conjunction with this investment, Alterra Bermuda entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement to cede 30% of its property-related lines of business to Bay Point Re Limited, a Bermuda-domiciled, wholly-owned reinsurance subsidiary of Bay Point that is managed by Alterra Agency. This quota share reinsurance agreement expired on December 31, 2007. As of June 30, 2012, $2.2 million (December 31, 2011$1.9 million) was included in premiums receivable and $5.9 million (December 31, 2011$5.1 million) in losses and benefits recoverable from reinsurers related to this agreement.



32

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Credit Facilities
On December 16, 2011, Alterra and Alterra Bermuda entered into a $1,100.0 million four-year secured credit facility (the “Senior Credit Facility”) with Bank of America and various other financial institutions. The Senior Credit Facility provides for secured letters of credit to be issued for the account of Alterra, Alterra Bermuda and certain other subsidiaries of Alterra and for loans to Alterra and Alterra Bermuda. Loans under the facility are subject to a sublimit of $250.0 million. Subject to certain conditions and at the request of Alterra, the aggregate commitments of the lenders under the Senior Credit Facility may be increased up to a total of $1,600.0 million.
In July 2009, Harbor Point Re Limited (now Alterra Bermuda) entered into a letter of credit facility with Citibank N.A. This credit facility provides up to GBP 30.0 million for the issuance of secured letters of credit in support of the operations of the London branch of Alterra Europe, an indirect subsidiary of Alterra Bermuda.
In December 2011, Alterra Bermuda renewed a $75.0 million letter of credit facility with The Bank of Nova Scotia, which expires on December 14, 2012.
In October 2008, Alterra entered into a credit facility agreement with ING Bank N.V., London Branch. This credit facility provided up to GBP 60.0 million for the issuance of letters of credit to provide capital in the form of Funds at Lloyd’s for Syndicate 1400. This facility expired in June 2012.
The following table provides a summary of the credit facilities and the amounts pledged as collateral for the issued and outstanding letters of credit as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011: 
 
 
Credit Facilities
(expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars or Great Britain Pounds, as applicable)
 
U.S Dollar
Facilities
 
Great Britain
Pound
Facilities
Letter of credit facility capacity as of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
$
1,175,000

 
GBP
 
30,000

December 31, 2011
 
$
1,175,000

 
GBP 
 
90,000

Letters of credit issued and outstanding as of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
$
585,710

 
GBP
 
16,774

December 31, 2011
 
$
604,017

 
GBP
 
16,774

Cash and fixed maturities at fair value pledged as collateral as of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
$
710,270

 
GBP
 
22,302

December 31, 2011
 
$
800,460

 
GBP
 
22,537

Each of the credit facilities requires that the Company and/or certain of its subsidiaries comply with certain financial covenants, which may include a minimum consolidated tangible net worth covenant, a minimum issuer financial strength rating, and restrictions on the payment of dividends. The Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants of each of its letter of credit facilities as of August 8, 2012.
Commitments
On June 20, 2012, Alterra Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, along with private equity funds sponsored by Stone Point Capital, LLC, including Trident V L.P., and several third party investors, executed a subscription agreement with New Point V Limited ("New Point V") to purchase common shares of New Point V. As of June 30, 2012, Alterra Holdings’ commitment under the subscription agreement with New Point V was $75.0 million.

33

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

14. SHARE BASED EQUITY AWARDS
At Alterra’s May 5, 2008 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, Alterra’s shareholders approved the adoption of the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”) under which the Company may award, subject to certain restrictions, incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, share awards and other awards. The 2008 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”).
Prior to adoption of the 2008 Plan, the Company made awards of equity compensation under a stock incentive plan approved by the shareholders in June 2000, as subsequently amended (the “2000 Plan”). Effective upon the adoption of the 2008 Plan, unused shares from the 2000 Plan became unavailable for future awards and instead are used only to fulfill obligations from outstanding option awards or reload obligations pursuant to grants originally made under the 2000 Plan.
In May 2010, in connection with the Amalgamation, the Company issued replacement warrants, options and restricted stock awards to holders of Harbor Point warrants, options and restricted stock awards. The replacement warrants were issued in connection with the surrender of the original warrants and the replacement options and restricted stock awards were issued under the terms and conditions of the Harbor Point Limited Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2006 Plan”, and together with the 2008 Plan and the 2000 Plan, the “Plans”). The 2006 Plan was approved by Harbor Point’s shareholders on November 17, 2006 and is administered by the Committee.
Warrants
On May 12, 2010, the Company issued 8,911,449 replacement warrants in connection with the Amalgamation. The warrants were originally issued by Harbor Point to founding shareholders and employees in connection with the purchase of shares at the time of its formation. The warrants held by non-employees are subject to anti-dilution provisions which, in the event of certain specified events including payment of cash dividends, provide the holder of the warrant the option to have the exercise price and number of warrants adjusted such that the holder of the warrant is in the same economic position as if the warrant had been exercised immediately prior to such event, or receive the cash dividends upon exercise of the warrant. The warrants held by employees are entitled to receive accumulated cash dividends upon exercise of the warrants. The warrant expiration dates range from December 15, 2015 to May 15, 2016.
The fair value of the replacement warrants issued pursuant to the Amalgamation was estimated using the Black Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: 
 
 
Warrant valuation assumptions:
 
Expected remaining warrant life
3.7 years

Expected dividend yield
%
Expected volatility
37.70
%
Risk-free interest rate
1.82
%
Forfeiture rate
%
Warrant related activity is as follows: 
 
 
Warrants
Outstanding
 
Warrants
Exercisable
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Weighted
Average
Fair Value
 
Range of
Exercise
Prices
Balance, December 31, 2011
 
10,452,253

 
10,452,253

 
$
19.33

 
$
7.04

 
$19.08 - $26.48
Additional warrants issued as a result of dividends declared
 
120,132

 
120,132

 
$
18.95

 
$
7.09

 
$18.86 - $19.05
Repurchases of warrants
 
(29,826
)
 
(29,826
)
 
$
26.48

 
$
5.24

 
$26.48
Balance, June 30, 2012
 
10,542,559

 
10,542,559

 
$
19.09

 
$
7.05

 
$18.86 - $26.48
On February 8, 2012 and May 8, 2012, Alterra declared dividends of $0.14 per share. These dividends resulted in a reduction in the weighted average exercise price of $0.24 and an increase in the number of warrants outstanding by 120,132 (issued at a weighted average grant date fair value per warrant of $7.09). As of June 30, 2012, a deferred dividend liability of $2.6 million is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets for those warrant holders who receive cash for dividends declared rather than the anti-dilution adjustment.
The warrants contain a “cashless exercise” provision that allows the warrant holder to surrender the warrants with notice of cashless exercise and receive a number of shares based on the market value of the Company’s shares. The cashless exercise

34

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

provision results in a lower number of shares being issued than the number of warrants exercised. No warrants were exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2012.
Stock Option Awards
Options that have been granted under the Plans have an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of Alterra’s common shares on the date of grant and have a maximum ten-year term. The fair value of awards granted under the Plans are measured as of the grant date and expensed ratably over the vesting period of the award. All awards provide for accelerated vesting upon a change in control of Alterra. Shares issued under the Plans are made available from authorized but unissued shares. The Company issued nil and 8,228 options during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.
The fair value of options issued was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the weighted average assumptions detailed below. 
 
 
 
2012
Option valuation assumptions:
 
Expected remaining option life
0.2 years

Expected dividend yield
%
Expected volatility
21.52
%
Risk-free interest rate
0.32
%
Forfeiture rate
%
A summary of the 2000 Plan related activity follows: 
 
 
Options
Outstanding
 
Options
Exercisable
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Fair Value
of Options
 
Range  of
Exercise
Prices
Balance, December 31, 2011
 
1,057,271
 
1,057,271
 
$
22.86

 
$
6.55

 
$8.85 - $33.76
Options granted
 
8,228
 
 
 
$
23.76

 
$
0.77

 
$23.76
Options exercised
 
(38,925)
 
 
 
$
14.35

 
$
4.24

 
$11.95 - $22.12
Options forfeited
 
(26,830)
 
 
 
$
24.81

 
$
5.21

 
$23.76 - $25.38
Balance, June 30, 2012
 
999,744
 
999,744
 
$
23.15

 
$
6.63

 
$8.85 - $33.76
A summary of the 2008 Plan related activity follows: 
 
 
Awards
Available
for Grant
 
Options
Outstanding
 
Options
Exercisable
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Fair Value
of Options
 
Range  of
Exercise
Prices
Balance, December 31, 2011
 
1,266,033

 
108,333

 
108,333

 
$
15.75

 
$
6.01

 
$
15.75

Restricted stock granted
 
(478,874
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted stock forfeited
 
8,623

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted stock units granted
 
(98,333
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2012
 
697,449

 
108,333

 
108,333

 
$
15.75

 
$
6.01

 
$
15.75

A summary of the 2006 Plan related activity follows: 
 
 
Awards
Available
for Grant
 
Options
Outstanding
 
Options
Exercisable
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Fair Value
of Options
 
Range of
Exercise
Prices
Balance, December 31, 2011
 
1,016,501

 
2,074,436

 
2,058,191

 
$
26.65

 
$
5.20

 
$26.48 - $30.82
Restricted stock granted
 
(252,909
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted stock forfeited
 
97,659

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2012
 
861,251

 
2,074,436

 
2,058,380

 
$
26.65

 
$
5.20

 
$26.48 - $30.82
 

35

ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)



Restricted Stock Awards
Restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) issued under the Plans have terms set by the Committee. These shares and RSUs contain restrictions relating to, among other things, vesting, forfeiture in the event of termination of employment and transferability. Restricted stock and RSU awards are valued equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of the shares and RSUs is charged to income over the vesting period. Generally, restricted stock and RSU awards vest between three and five years after the date of grant. The Company has also issued restricted shares and restricted share units with vesting terms that include a performance condition related to growth in book value per share or diluted book value per share over a three or a five year period.
During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company issued 146,397 restricted shares and 18,950 restricted stock units with vesting terms that include a performance condition related to growth in book value per share over a three year period. These restricted shares were issued at fair value of $22.99 per share. The number of restricted shares that ultimately vest will range between 0% to 200% of the number of shares granted based upon actual performance results.
Total compensation cost recognized for restricted stock and RSU awards recorded in general and administrative expenses was $5.2 million and $11.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and was $12.6 million and $22.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Included within compensation cost was $0.8 million and $0.5 million related to performance based awards for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $1.4 and $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of June 30, 2012, there was $37.0 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted stock and RSU awards, including $10.7 million related to performance based awards. These costs are expected to be recognized over weighted average periods of 2.0 years and 2.9 years years respectively.
A summary of the Company’s unvested restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2011 and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2012 follow: 
 
 
Non-vested
Restricted Stock
 
Weighted -
Average
Grant - Date
Fair Value
 
Non-vested
RSUs
 
Weighted -
Average
Grant - Date
Fair Value
Balance, December 31, 2011
 
3,890,099

 
$
22.00

 
278,629

 
$
22.37

Awards granted
 
731,783

 
$
23.07

 
98,333

 
$
22.99

Awards vested
 
(957,627
)
 
$
22.23

 

 
$

Awards forfeited
 
(106,282
)
 
$
21.61

 

 
$

Balance, June 30, 2012
 
3,557,973

 
$
22.15

 
376,962

 
$
22.53

Employee Stock Purchase Plan
On July 1, 2008, the Company introduced an employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”). The ESPP gives participating employees the right to purchase common shares through payroll deductions during subscription periods (the “Subscription Periods”). The Subscription Periods run from January 1 to June 30 and from July 1 to December 31 each year. The Company recorded an expense for the ESPP of $0.1 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

36


ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “we,” “us,” “our” and similar expressions are references to Alterra and its consolidated subsidiaries.
The following is a discussion and analysis of our results of operations for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 and our financial condition as of June 30, 2012. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the attached unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or Exchange Act. We intend that the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 apply to these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact but rather reflect our current expectations, estimates and predictions about future results and events.
Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “will,” “may” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
the adequacy of loss and benefit reserves and the need to adjust such reserves as claims develop over time;
the failure of any of the loss limitation methods employed;
the effect of cyclical trends, including with respect to demand and pricing in the insurance and reinsurance markets;
changes in general economic conditions, including changes in capital and credit markets;
any lowering or loss of financial ratings;
the occurrence of natural or man-made catastrophic events with a frequency or severity exceeding expectations;
actions by competitors, including consolidation;
the effects of emerging claims and coverage issues;
the loss of business provided to Alterra by its major brokers;
the effect on Alterra’s investment portfolio of changing financial market conditions including inflation, interest rates, liquidity and other factors;
tax and regulatory changes and conditions;
retention of key personnel;
the integration of new business ventures Alterra may enter into; and
management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors.
The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, our business or operations. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Generally, our policy is to communicate events that we believe may have a material adverse impact on our operations or financial position, including property and casualty catastrophic events and material losses in our investment portfolio, in a timely manner through a public announcement. It is also our policy not to make public announcements regarding events that we believe have no material impact on our operations or financial position based on management’s current estimates and available information, other than through regularly scheduled calls, press releases or filings.
Overview
We are a Bermuda headquartered global enterprise dedicated to providing diversified specialty insurance and reinsurance products to corporations, public entities and property and casualty insurers. As of June 30, 2012, we had $2,851.7 million in consolidated shareholders’ equity.
In Bermuda, we conduct our insurance and reinsurance operations through Alterra Bermuda, which is registered as a Class 4 commercial and Class C long-term insurer under the insurance laws of Bermuda.

37


In Europe, we conduct our non-Lloyd’s operations through Alterra Europe. Alterra Europe principally operates from Dublin and also operates branches in London and Zurich. Our Lloyd’s operations are conducted through the Syndicates. Alterra at Lloyd’s operations are based primarily in London, with branches in Dublin and Zurich. As of June 30, 2012, our proportionate share of Syndicates 1400, 2525 and 2526 was 100%, approximately 2%, and approximately 20%, respectively.
In the United States, our U.S. reinsurance operations are conducted through Alterra Re USA, a Connecticut-domiciled reinsurance company. Our insurance operations in the U.S. are conducted through Alterra E&S, a Delaware-domiciled excess and surplus insurance company, and Alterra America, a Delaware domiciled admitted insurance company. Through Alterra E&S and Alterra America, we write both admitted and non-admitted business throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
In Latin America, we provide reinsurance to clients through Alterra at Lloyd’s in Rio de Janeiro, using Lloyd’s admitted status, through Alterra Europe using a representative office in Bogotá and a service company in Buenos Aires and through our local reinsurance company in Brazil. Our local reinsurance company in Brazil commenced writing business in the first quarter of 2012.
We employ certain personnel and hold certain assets within our global service companies incorporated and located in Bermuda, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States, which we believe improves the efficiency of providing corporate services across the Company.
To manage our insurance and reinsurance liability exposure, make our investment decisions and assess our overall enterprise risk, we model our underwriting and investing activities on an integrated basis. Our integrated risk management, as well as terms and conditions of our products, provide flexibility in making decisions regarding investments. Our investments comprise three high grade fixed maturities securities portfolios (one held for trading, one held as available for sale and one held to maturity) and a diversified alternative asset portfolio. Our investment portfolios are designed to provide diversification and to generate positive returns while attempting to reduce the frequency and severity of credit losses. Based on fair values as of June 30, 2012, the allocation of invested assets was 95.4% in cash and fixed maturities and 4.6% in other investments, principally hedge funds.

Key Performance Indicators
Our principal objective as a global specialty insurance and reinsurance company is to meet our obligations to policyholders, while generating returns on capital that appropriately reward our shareholders for the risk that we assume under our insurance and reinsurance contracts. In an effort to achieve this objective, we assess the potential losses associated with the risks that we insure and reinsure, diversify our risk exposure by product class and by geographic location, manage our investment portfolio risk appropriately and control costs throughout our organization. The financial measures that we believe are most meaningful in analyzing our performance and assessing whether we are achieving our objective are growth in book value per share, net operating income, combined ratio, annualized return on average shareholders’ equity and annualized net operating return on average shareholders’ equity.
As a diversified insurer and reinsurer, which includes underwriting property catastrophe risks, we have substantial exposure to losses resulting from natural and man-made catastrophes. The frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable, but the loss experience of property catastrophe insurers and reinsurers has been generally characterized as low frequency and high severity in nature. Potential claims from catastrophic events may cause substantial volatility in our financial results for any fiscal quarter. As a result, the financial measures that we use to analyze our performance will reflect this volatility in the short term; however, we believe these measures should demonstrate less volatility over the long term.

38



The table below illustrates our key performance indicators as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011: 
 
 
As of June 30, 2012
 
As of March 31, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
As of June 30, 2011
Book value per share (1)
 
$
29.44

 
$
28.31

 
$
27.51

 
$
26.40

Diluted book value per share (1)
 
$
28.68

 
$
27.67

 
$
26.91

 
$
25.98



 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
 
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except percentages)
Net operating income (2)
 
$
68,960

 
$
39,558

 
$
136,683

 
$
14,833

Combined ratio (3)
 
86.6
%
 
93.7
%
 
89.5
%
 
103.5
 %
Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity (4)
 
11.1
%
 
4.7
%
 
11.1
%
 
(1.0
)%
Annualized net operating return on average shareholders’ equity (2)(4)
 
9.7
%
 
5.7
%
 
9.6
%
 
1.1
 %
 
(1)
Book value per share is calculated as shareholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding. Diluted book value per share is calculated as shareholders’ equity divided by the number of diluted common shares outstanding using the treasury stock method.
(2)
Net operating income and annualized net operating return on average shareholders’ equity are non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. See “Non-GAAP financial measures” for reconciliation to the nearest U.S. GAAP financial measure.
(3)
Combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned for the property and casualty business.
(4)
Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity and annualized net operating return on average shareholders’ equity are calculated by dividing net income and net operating income, respectively, by average shareholders’ equity (determined using the quarterly average shareholders’ equity balances).
We consider growth in book value per share to be the most important financial performance measure in assessing whether we are meeting our business objectives. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2012, our book value per share on a basic and diluted basis increased by 11.5% and 10.4%, respectively. During the quarter ended June 30, 2012, our book value per share on a basic and diluted basis increased by 4.0% and 3.7%, respectively, and during the six months ended June 30, 2012, our book value per share on a basic and diluted basis increased 7.0% and 6.6%, respectively. We also distributed $0.14 per share and $0.56 per share in dividends to our shareholders in the quarter and twelve months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, which provided tangible value to shareholders and reduced our excess capital. We believe that a comparison of book value per share and diluted book value per share growth should be adjusted for these distributions to fully reflect the return generated for shareholders. Adding back $0.14 per share to our June 30, 2012 diluted book value per share of $28.68 would result in $28.82 per share, an increase of 4.2% over March 31, 2012. Adding back $0.56 per share to our June 30, 2012 diluted book value per share of $28.68 would result in $29.24 per share, an increase of 12.5% over June 30, 2011. The increase in diluted book value per share, as adjusted, was principally due to a combination of positive operating results, unrealized gains on our investment portfolio and share repurchases at a discount to diluted book value per share.
Our net operating income for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 improved compared with the prior year periods, principally due to the significant decline in property catastrophe losses. Property catastrophe losses in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 were within our attritional loss expectations and there has been no significant development in the current year in our loss estimates for the major 2011 property catastrophe events. Property catastrophe losses of $49.6 million and $155.8 million, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, resulting from natural disasters in 2011, had an adverse effect on our results of operations for the 2011 periods.
We seek to manage and monitor our short tail catastrophe exposed business so that the estimated maximum impact of a catastrophic event in any geographic zone is less than 25% of our beginning of year shareholders’ equity for a modeled 1 in 250 year event. As of June 30, 2012, our aggregate exposure was below this target. We intend to continue to monitor the pricing environment and believe we have the capital and operational flexibility to adjust our aggregate exposure should market conditions change materially over the course of 2012.

39


Net operating income in 2012 increased compared to 2011 due to improved underwriting income and reduced general and administrative expenses. Underwriting income for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 principally was derived from our global insurance and reinsurance segments. Net favorable development of prior year loss reserves was $20.4 million and $31.2 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, principally within our global insurance and reinsurance segments, which reduced the combined ratio by 5.8 and 4.5 percentage points, respectively.
The absence of significant property catastrophe events in 2012 was the principal contributor to the decrease in our combined ratio and the increase in our annualized net return on average shareholders' equity and annualized net operating return on average shareholders' equity for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the prior year periods. We target a long-term net operating return on average shareholders' equity, or net operating ROE, of the risk free rate plus 10% over the cycle. We believe that in the current stage of the cycle, our net operating ROE is consistent with this long-term target.
We continued to actively manage our capital during the quarter by taking advantage of select opportunities to purchase our common shares. We spent $88.0 million to repurchase an aggregate of 3.9 million common shares during the quarter at an average price of $22.74 per common share, a 17.8% discount to our March 31, 2012 diluted book value per share. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, we spent $136.8 million to repurchase 5.9 million common shares at an average price of $23.02 per common share. As of June 30, 2012, our outstanding share repurchase authorization was $123.0 million. On August 7, 2012, our Board of Directors increased our share repurchase authorization by $100.0 million. We expect to continue to consider share repurchases as an effective tool to manage capital in a soft cycle and to increase book value per share for our shareholders.
During July 2012, high temperatures and low rainfall resulted in deteriorating agriculture conditions in certain parts of the United States. The drought conditions have the potential to cause material losses within the agriculture insurance and reinsurance industry. Based on recent reports on current and expected crop conditions and crop prices in the United States, and our geographical spread of risk, we estimate a net underwriting loss for the third quarter of 2012 on our agriculture reinsurance business in the range of $15.0 million to $25.0 million, pretax and net of reinsurance. Actual losses may vary materially from this estimate due to the inherent uncertainties in making such determinations resulting from several factors, including but not limited to, the preliminary nature of available information and the potential inaccuracies and inadequacies in the data provided by clients and brokers.
Business Outlook
The markets in which we operate historically have been cyclical. During periods of excess underwriting capacity, competition can result in lower pricing and less favorable policy terms for insurers and reinsurers. During periods of reduced underwriting capacity, pricing and policy terms are generally more favorable for insurers and reinsurers. We believe that the industry has had sustained excess underwriting capacity and, while 2011’s property catastrophe events likely eroded some of that capacity, there has not been sufficient pressure on the industry to materially improve pricing across all lines of business in 2012. The industry is also operating in a low interest rate environment, which makes it more difficult to generate significant investment income. Both of these factors generally result in lower net operating income, return on average shareholders’ equity and net operating ROE.
Although there remains uncertainty regarding the timing, location and scale of a favorable turn in the market, we believe that the industry has shown and will likely continue to show signs of improvement for the foreseeable future. However, we intend to maintain our disciplined underwriting efforts while actively managing our expenses. We believe that, overall, market pricing is currently more attractive in short-tail lines. Accordingly, we expect to write more premiums in our short-tail lines of business than our long-tail casualty lines of business for the year ending December 31, 2012. We are also taking advantage of favorable market conditions for short-tail property business through our participation in New Point Re IV, which reinsures property catastrophe risks. Our participation in New Point Re IV enables us to earn fee income for underwriting services and to participate in the underwriting results of attractively-priced property catastrophe reinsurance business.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which require management to make estimates and assumptions. We have performed a current assessment of our critical accounting policies in connection with preparing our interim unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. We believe that the critical accounting policies set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 continue to describe the significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. These accounting policies pertain to revenue recognition, loss and benefit expenses and investment valuation. If actual events differ significantly from the underlying judgments or estimates used by management in the application of these accounting policies, there could be a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.


40




Consolidated Results of Operations—For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011
Our consolidated results of operations for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 are summarized below:
 
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross premiums written
 
$
566,857

 
$
563,907

 
0.5
 %
 
$
1,228,187

 
$
1,191,755

 
3.1
 %
Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(189,879
)
 
(136,626
)
 
39.0
 %
 
(414,341
)
 
(273,983
)
 
51.2
 %
Net premiums written
 
$
376,978

 
$
427,281

 
(11.8
)%
 
$
813,846

 
$
917,772

 
(11.3
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 
$
350,778

 
$
348,941

 
0.5
 %
 
$
688,953

 
$
728,828

 
(5.5
)%
Net investment income
 
54,729

 
59,665

 
(8.3
)%
 
113,407

 
117,431

 
(3.4
)%
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
13,481

 
(5,774
)
 
n/m

 
38,974

 
(24,592
)
 
n/m

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
(570
)
 
(353
)
 
61.5
 %
 
(5,939
)
 
(1,382
)
 
329.7
 %
Other income
 
1,928

 
591

 
226.2
 %
 
7,290

 
1,906

 
282.5
 %
Total revenues
 
420,346

 
403,070

 
4.3
 %
 
842,685

 
822,191

 
2.5
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net losses and loss expenses
 
196,764

 
211,133

 
(6.8
)%
 
402,793

 
515,539

 
(21.9
)%
Claims and policy benefits
 
13,272

 
15,570

 
(14.8
)%
 
26,738

 
30,280

 
(11.7
)%
Acquisition costs
 
62,171

 
64,680

 
(3.9
)%
 
121,895

 
135,288

 
(9.9
)%
Interest expense
 
9,635

 
10,630

 
(9.4
)%
 
18,263

 
19,089

 
(4.3
)%
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)
 
25

 
3,090

 
(99.2
)%
 
(7
)
 
2,212

 
(100.3
)%
General and administrative expenses
 
58,777

 
69,659

 
(15.6
)%
 
118,859

 
140,862

 
(15.6
)%
Total losses and expenses
 
340,644

 
374,762

 
(9.1
)%
 
688,541

 
843,270

 
(18.3
)%
Income (loss) before taxes
 
79,702

 
28,308

 
181.6
 %
 
154,144

 
(21,079
)
 
n/m

Income tax expense (benefit)
 
762

 
(4,327
)
 
n/m

 
(3,820
)
 
(7,027
)
 
(45.6
)%
Net income (loss)
 
$
78,940

 
$
32,635

 
141.9
 %
 
$
157,964

 
$
(14,052
)
 
n/m

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio (a)
 
56.2
%
 
60.7
%
 
 
 
58.6
%
 
70.9
%
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (b)
 
17.7
%
 
18.5
%
 
 
 
17.7
%
 
18.6
%
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (c)
 
12.6
%
 
14.5
%
 
 
 
13.3
%
 
14.1
%
 
 
Combined ratio (d)
 
86.6
%
 
93.7
%
 
 
 
89.5
%
 
103.5
%
 
 
(a)
The loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned for the property and casualty business.
(b)
The acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned for the property and casualty business.
(c)
The general and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned for the property and casualty business.
(d)
The combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned for the property and casualty business.
n/m Not meaningful.
Premiums. Gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 increased by 0.5% and 3.1%, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The principal reason for the increase was strategic growth in our U.S. insurance, Alterra at Lloyd’s and Latin America segments. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, this increase was partially offset by a decline in business written by our reinsurance segment.

41


The ratio of reinsurance premiums ceded to gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 33.5% and 33.7%, respectively, compared to 24.2% and 23.0% in the prior year periods. The increase in the ratio for both the quarter and six month period was principally due to additional property reinsurance purchased in our reinsurance segment. The ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was also impacted by the 100% retrocession of the business written through our contracted general agent distribution channel (our “contract binding” business) in our U.S. insurance segment starting from August 1, 2011. We ceased writing the contract binding business in the second quarter of 2012.
During the past several quarters, principally in response to market conditions, we have shifted our mix of business written from long-tail business to short-tail business. This greater emphasis on short-tail lines of business, with property being the largest component, has increased our probable maximum loss from property catastrophe events. The industry’s adoption of new external vendor catastrophe models has also contributed to the increase in our aggregate exposure estimates for property catastrophe events. To manage this increased exposure and operate within our risk tolerances, we have increased our purchase of reinsurance, with an emphasis on property reinsurance. As a result of these factors, our net premiums written decreased for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the prior year periods despite an increase in gross premiums written. Overall, we expect our ratio of reinsurance premiums ceded to gross premiums written to increase in 2012 compared to 2011. We regularly monitor our need for reinsurance based on aggregate risk exposures.
Net premiums earned is a function of the earning of gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded over the last several quarters and, therefore, changes in net premiums earned generally lag quarterly increases and decreases in gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded.
Net investment income. Net investment income for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased by 8.3% and 3.4%, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. As investments in our fixed maturity portfolio mature, lower reinvestment yields on new purchases have reduced the weighted average book yield of our portfolio. In addition, the average amortized cost of our fixed maturity portfolio, including cash, has decreased for the current year periods compared to the prior year periods, resulting in a lower investment base.
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments. Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments may vary significantly from period to period. The quarter ended June 30, 2012 included net realized gains on available for sale fixed maturities of $12.0 million compared to $nil realized gains in the prior year period. Most of the realized gains in the current quarter related to sales of longer duration securities, taking advantage of gains caused by declining long term interest rates and at the same time reducing our exposure to longer duration securities. The quarter also included income from equity method investments of $5.6 million, principally related to our investment in New Point IV, compared to $nil in the prior year period. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, the principal components of the net gain was $19.7 million of net realized gains on available for sale fixed maturities and $10.5 million of income from equity method investments, principally related to our investment in New Point IV. The principal component of the net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was a $25.0 million loss on a catastrophe bond with exposure to the Japan earthquake and tsunami.
Other income. Other income for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 principally comprised underwriting fees and profit commission earned from New Point Re IV.
Net losses and loss expenses. The loss ratio decreased for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 by 4.5 and 12.3 percentage points, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Significant items impacting the loss ratio were:
Net favorable development of prior year loss reserves in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 of $20.4 million and $31.2 million, respectively, compared to $48.5 million and $78.7 million in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. The net favorable development in the six months ended June 30, 2012 was principally recognized on long-tail lines in our global insurance and reinsurance segments, with the decrease compared to the prior year period due to a decrease in favorable development in our property line of business. In 2010, our actual property loss experience was below our original loss estimates, which resulted in favorable development being recognized in 2011. During 2011, actual loss experience was above our expected attritional losses due to the significant worldwide property catastrophe events and, therefore, we would not expect the same level of favorable development on property reserves being recognized in 2012;
Net favorable development was recognized in our global insurance ($10.1 million) and reinsurance ($13.3 million) segments in the quarter ended June 30, 2012 partially offset by net unfavorable development in our Latin America segment ($3.0 million). Net favorable development for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was recognized in our global insurance ($28.4 million) and reinsurance ($12.4 million) segments partially offset by net unfavorable development in our Alterra at Lloyd's ($4.5 million), U.S. insurance ($1.0 million) and Latin America ($4.2 million) segments;
Excluding the net favorable loss development, the loss ratio for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 62.1% and 63.1%, respectively, compared to 74.6% and 81.7% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. The decrease in the loss ratio was principally due to the decrease in property catastrophe losses in 2012 compared to 2011, partially offset by changes in the mix of business; and

42


For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, our results included no significant losses related to property catastrophe events. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, our results included $50.5 million and $165.9 million, respectively, of losses net of reinsurance related to significant property catastrophe events. The significant property catastrophe event net losses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 included the Australia floods, Cyclone Yasi, the New Zealand earthquake and the Japan earthquake and tsunami.
Our loss estimates for property catastrophe losses are based on proprietary modeling analyses, industry assessments of exposure, claims information obtained from our clients and brokers to date, and a review of in-force contracts. Our actual losses from such events may vary materially from the estimates due to the inherent uncertainties in making such determinations resulting from several factors, including the preliminary nature of available information, the potential inaccuracies and inadequacies in the data provided by clients and brokers, the modeling techniques employed and the application of such techniques, the contingent nature of business interruption exposures, the effects of any resultant demand surge on claims activity, and the attendant coverage issues.
Acquisition costs. Our acquisition cost ratio for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased by 0.8 and 0.9 percentage points, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. The insurance and reinsurance contracts we write have a wide range of acquisition cost ratios. Changes in the mix of business written and earned impact our acquisition cost ratio from quarter to quarter. The acquisition cost ratio increased in our reinsurance and Latin America segments and decreased in our U.S. insurance and Alterra at Lloyd’s segments.
Interest expense. Interest expense reflects interest on our senior notes, interest on funds withheld from reinsurers, and accretion on deposit liability contracts. Interest expense for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased compared to the prior year periods principally due to a reduction in the funds withheld from Grand Central Re.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased by $10.9 million and $22.0 million, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. This decrease was principally due to a decrease in long-term stock-based compensation expense, including a reduction in awards granted to retirement eligible employees.
Income tax expense (benefit). Corporate income tax expense or benefit is generated through our foreign operations outside of Bermuda, principally in the United States, Europe and Latin America. The effective tax rate was 1.0% and negative 2.5% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared with negative 15.3% and 33.3% for the prior year periods, respectively. Our effective income tax rate, which we calculate as income tax expense or benefit divided by income or loss before taxes, may fluctuate significantly from period to period depending on the geographic distribution of pre-tax income or loss in any given period between different jurisdictions with different tax rates.

Segment Results of Operations—For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011
We monitor the performance of our underwriting operations in six segments:
Global insurance (formerly the insurance segment)—We offer property and casualty excess of loss capacity from our offices in Bermuda, Dublin and London primarily to U.S. and international Fortune 1000 companies. Insurance offered from our U.S. offices is included within our U.S. insurance segment. Principal lines of business include aviation, excess liability, professional lines and property.
U.S. insurance (formerly the U.S. specialty segment)—We offer property and casualty insurance coverage from our offices in the United States primarily to Fortune 3000 companies. Principal lines of business include general/excess liability, marine, professional liability and property.
Reinsurance—We offer property and casualty quota share and excess of loss reinsurance from our offices in Bermuda, Dublin, London and the United States to insurance and reinsurance companies worldwide. Principal lines of business include agriculture, auto, aviation, credit/surety, general casualty, marine & energy, medical malpractice, professional liability, property, whole account and workers’ compensation.
Alterra at Lloyd’s—We offer property and casualty quota share and excess of loss insurance and reinsurance from our offices in London, Dublin and Zurich, primarily to medium- to large- sized international clients. This segment comprises our proportionate share of the underwriting results of the Syndicates, and the results of our managing agent, Alterra at Lloyd’s. The Syndicates underwrite a diverse portfolio of specialty risks, including accident & health, agriculture, aviation, financial institutions, international casualty, marine, professional liability and property.
Latin America—We offer property and casualty quota share and excess of loss reinsurance from our offices in Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá and Buenos Aires. Principal lines of business include aviation, general liability, marine, property and surety.
Life and annuity reinsurance—We previously offered reinsurance products focusing on blocks of life and annuity

43


business, which took the form of co-insurance transactions whereby the risks are reinsured on the same basis as the original policies. We have determined not to write any new life and annuity contracts in the foreseeable future.
We also have a corporate function that includes our investment and financing activities.
We manage our invested assets on an aggregated basis, and do not allocate investment income and realized and unrealized gains on investments to the property and casualty segments. Because of the longer duration of liabilities on life and annuity reinsurance business, and the accretion of the discounted carrying value of life and annuity benefits, investment returns are important in evaluating the profitability of this segment. Consequently, we allocate investment returns based on a notional allocation of invested assets from the consolidated portfolio using durations that are determined based on estimated cash flows for the life and annuity reinsurance segment. The balance of investment returns from this consolidated portfolio is allocated to the corporate function for the purposes of segment reporting.
We monitor the performance of all of our segments other than life and annuity reinsurance on the basis of underwriting income, loss ratio, acquisition ratio, general and administrative expense ratio and combined ratio along with other metrics. We monitor the performance of our life and annuity reinsurance business on the basis of income before taxes for the segment, which includes revenue from net premiums earned and allocated net investment income, and expenses from claims and policy benefits, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses.
Effective January 1, 2012, we redefined certain of our operating and reporting segments. Reinsurance business written within Latin America, which was previously reported within the reinsurance or Alterra at Lloyd’s segments, has been reclassified to a new Latin America segment. In addition, business written by our recently incorporated Brazilian reinsurance company, Alterra Brazil, is included in the Latin America segment. Insurance business written by Alterra Insurance USA, which was previously reported within the global insurance segment, has been reclassified to the U.S. insurance segment. Alterra Insurance USA is a managing general underwriter for Alterra E&S and Alterra America, as well as various third party insurance companies, and is our principal insurance underwriting platform for retail distribution in the United States. Segment disclosures for comparative periods have been revised to reflect this reclassification.


Global Insurance Segment
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross premiums written
 
$
125,276

 
$
130,909

 
(4.3
)%
 
$
192,047

 
$
194,804

 
(1.4
)%
Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(53,224
)
 
(55,133
)
 
(3.5
)%
 
(96,475
)
 
(93,657
)
 
3.0
 %
Net premiums written
 
$
72,052

 
$
75,776

 
(4.9
)%
 
$
95,572

 
$
101,147

 
(5.5
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 
$
47,436

 
$
45,606

 
4.0
 %
 
$
94,406

 
$
95,478

 
(1.1
)%
Net losses and loss expenses
 
(22,745
)
 
(23,689
)
 
(4.0
)%
 
(40,806
)
 
(55,313
)
 
(26.2
)%
Acquisition costs
 
(239
)
 
1,117

 
(121.4
)%
 
(298
)
 
853

 
(134.9
)%
General and administrative expenses
 
(6,913
)
 
(6,774
)
 
2.1
 %
 
(13,394
)
 
(14,726
)
 
(9.0
)%
Other income
 
1

 
85

 
(98.8
)%
 
816

 
814

 
0.2
 %
Underwriting income
 
$
17,540

 
$
16,345

 
7.3
 %
 
$
40,724

 
$
27,106

 
50.2
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio (a)
 
47.9
%
 
51.9
 %
 
 
 
43.2
%
 
57.9
 %
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (b)
 
0.5
%
 
(2.4
)%
 
 
 
0.3
%
 
(0.9
)%
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (c)
 
14.6
%
 
14.9
 %
 
 
 
14.2
%
 
15.4
 %
 
 
Combined ratio (d)
 
63.0
%
 
64.3
 %
 
 
 
57.7
%
 
72.5
 %
 
 
(a)
The loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(b)
The acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(c)
The general and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(d)
The combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.

44


 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
 
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aviation
 
$
3,954

 
3.2
%
 
54.8
%
 
$
3,814

 
2.9
%
 
24.2
%
Excess liability
 
31,435

 
25.1
%
 
55.6
%
 
34,659

 
26.5
%
 
57.6
%
Professional liability
 
59,407

 
47.4
%
 
35.6
%
 
62,402

 
47.7
%
 
31.7
%
Property
 
30,480

 
24.3
%
 
40.9
%
 
30,034

 
22.9
%
 
48.1
%
 
 
$
125,276

 
100.0
%
 
42.5
%
 
$
130,909

 
100.0
%
 
42.1
%

 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
 
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aviation
 
$
5,256

 
2.7
%
 
110.5
%
 
$
5,230

 
2.7
%
 
35.6
%
Excess liability
 
56,621

 
29.5
%
 
56.9
%
 
56,936

 
29.2
%
 
54.7
%
Professional liability
 
83,873

 
43.7
%
 
42.5
%
 
86,931

 
44.6
%
 
41.1
%
Property
 
46,297

 
24.1
%
 
49.3
%
 
45,707

 
23.5
%
 
54.4
%
 
 
$
192,047

 
100.0
%
 
50.2
%
 
$
194,804

 
100.0
%
 
48.1
%

Premiums. Gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased by 4.3% and 1.4%, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The decreases in professional liability gross premiums written in both periods were principally due to continuing competitive pricing conditions in this line of business.
The ratio of reinsurance premiums ceded to gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 42.5% and 50.2%, respectively, compared to 42.1% and 48.1% in the prior year periods. The amount of reinsurance that we purchase can vary significantly by line of business and within lines of business. The increase in the percentage of reinsurance premiums ceded on our aviation line of business was due principally to premium adjustments on an excess of loss reinsurance treaty in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012.
Net premiums earned is a function of the earning of gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded over the last several quarters and, therefore, changes in net premiums earned generally lag quarterly increases and decreases in gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded.
Net losses and loss expenses. The loss ratio for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased by 4.0 and 14.7 percentage points, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Significant items impacting the loss ratio were:
Net favorable development of prior year loss reserves in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 of $10.1 million and $28.4 million, respectively, compared to $14.7 million and $22.1 million in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011;
Net favorable loss development was recorded in all four lines of business in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, principally in the following lines of business and accident years: professional liability (2006) and excess liability (2006). Net favorable loss development in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 was principally in the following lines of business and accident years: property (2009), excess liability (2005) and aviation (2009-2010).
Excluding the net favorable loss development, the loss ratio was 69.3% and 73.3% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 84.2% and 81.0% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. This decrease was principally due to a decrease in net losses related to property catastrophe events and lower than expected attritional net losses on our shorter tail lines of business; and
For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, we had no significant losses associated with significant property catastrophe events. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, our results included $3.7 million and $6.5 million of net losses, respectively, related to property catastrophe events in Japan and Australia. A portion of these losses in the prior year periods fell within our attritional loss ratio, as we expect a certain level of property losses in each period.

45


Acquisition costs. Acquisition costs are presented net of ceding commission income associated with reinsurance premiums ceded. These ceding commissions are designed to compensate us for the costs of producing the portfolio of risks ceded to our reinsurers. Acquisition costs generally fluctuate based on shifts in business mix quarter over quarter.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 were consistent with the prior year period. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, general and administrative expenses decreased 9.0% compared to the prior year period. The decrease was principally due to a reduction in incentive-based compensation expense.


U.S. Insurance Segment 
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross premiums written
 
$
112,186

 
$
109,794

 
2.2
 %
 
$
216,468

 
$
187,559

 
15.4
 %
Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(51,524
)
 
(28,227
)
 
82.5
 %
 
(122,018
)
 
(66,544
)
 
83.4
 %
Net premiums written
 
$
60,662

 
$
81,567

 
(25.6
)%
 
$
94,450

 
121,015

 
(22.0
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 
$
55,810

 
$
58,409

 
(4.4
)%
 
$
111,595

 
112,078

 
(0.4
)%
Net losses and loss expenses
 
(37,333
)
 
(38,012
)
 
(1.8
)%
 
(74,897
)
 
(72,427
)
 
3.4
 %
Acquisition costs
 
(6,169
)
 
(10,400
)
 
(40.7
)%
 
(13,865
)
 
(18,386
)
 
(24.6
)%
General and administrative expenses
 
(12,215
)
 
(11,374
)
 
7.4
 %
 
(24,472
)
 
(22,644
)
 
8.1
 %
Other income
 

 
54

 
(100.0
)%
 
81

 
137

 
(40.9
)%
Underwriting (loss) income
 
$
93

 
$
(1,323
)
 
(107.0
)%
 
$
(1,558
)
 
(1,242
)
 
25.4
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio (a)
 
66.9
%
 
65.1
%
 
 
 
67.1
%
 
64.6
%
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (b)
 
11.1
%
 
17.8
%
 
 
 
12.4
%
 
16.4
%
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (c)
 
21.9
%
 
19.5
%
 
 
 
21.9
%
 
20.2
%
 
 
Combined ratio (d)
 
99.8
%
 
102.4
%
 
 
 
101.5
%
 
101.2
%
 
 
 
(a)
The loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(b)
The acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(c)
The general and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(d)
The combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
n/m Not meaningful.
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
General/ Excess Liability
 
$
23,683

 
21.1
%
 
51.9
%
 
$
25,118

 
22.9
%
 
16.9
%
Marine
 
28,634

 
25.5
%
 
48.0
%
 
25,389

 
23.1
%
 
40.6
%
Professional Liability
 
13,133

 
11.7
%
 
38.0
%
 
8,509

 
7.7
%
 
19.7
%
Property
 
46,736

 
41.7
%
 
43.9
%
 
50,778

 
46.3
%
 
23.6
%
 
 
$
112,186

 
100.0
%
 
45.9
%
 
$
109,794

 
100.0
%
 
25.7
%


46


 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
General/ Excess Liability
 
$
58,350

 
27.0
%
 
58.5
%
 
$
48,111

 
25.7
%
 
22.5
%
Marine
 
53,835

 
24.9
%
 
38.4
%
 
42,498

 
22.7
%
 
39.3
%
Professional Liability
 
24,341

 
11.2
%
 
37.5
%
 
15,131

 
8.1
%
 
30.8
%
Property
 
79,942

 
36.9
%
 
72.7
%
 
81,819

 
43.5
%
 
42.0
%
 
 
216,468

 
100.0
%
 
56.4
%
 
187,559

 
100.0
%
 
35.5
%

During the quarter ended September 30, 2011, Alterra E&S sold the renewal rights to our contract binding business. However, under an agreement with the purchaser, commencing August 1, 2011, the contract binding business continued to be written by Alterra E&S and 100% of the premiums and losses were ceded to the purchaser. The 100% quota share reinsurance of this business meant that we did not retain any written and earned premium or net losses, but earned a ceding commission, on new and renewal policies incepting after August 1, 2011. During the quarter ended June 30, 2012 we stopped writing and ceding this business.
Premiums. Gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 2.2% and 15.4%, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Excluding the contract binding business which we no longer write, gross premiums written increased 19.9% and 29.4% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Significant factors affecting gross premiums written were:
Growth in wholesale excess casualty business (which is included within our general/excess liability line of business) of $12.2 million and $22.2 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. We commenced writing wholesale excess casualty business in the third quarter of 2011;
Continued expansion of our retail Alterra Insurance USA platform, principally in the professional liability line of business;
Improved pricing conditions across all lines of business compared to the prior year periods; and
A decrease in general liability insurance written through the brokerage distribution channel of $4.3 million and $6.4 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. We ceased writing this product line in the first quarter of 2012.
The ratio of reinsurance premiums ceded to gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 45.9% and 56.4%, respectively, compared to 25.7% and 35.5% in the prior year periods. The increase in the percentage of premiums ceded in the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was due principally to the new quota share reinsurance treaty covering our brokerage-sourced property business that was entered into in the first quarter of 2012 and an increase in excess liability business written, which is ceded at a higher percentage than the general liability business written in the prior year period. In addition, the 100% cession of $18.7 million of gross premiums written from the contract binding business affected both general liability and property lines for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Overall, we expect our ratio of reinsurance premiums ceded to gross premiums written to increase for the 2012 year compared to the 2011 year as we purchase reinsurance to manage the aggregate risk on our increased property exposures.
Net premiums earned is a function of the earning of gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded over the last several quarters and, therefore, changes in net premiums earned generally lag quarterly increases and decreases in gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded.
Net losses and loss expenses. The loss ratio for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 1.8 and 2.5 percentage points, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Significant items that impacted the loss ratio were:
Net unfavorable prior year loss development of $nil and $1.0 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to loss development of $nil for the prior year periods;
Excluding the net loss development, the loss ratio was 66.9% and 66.2% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 65.1% and 64.6% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. The slight increase was due principally to changes in the mix of business, particularly an increase in the marine, excess casualty and professional liability lines of business. These lines of business have a higher average loss ratio than property lines, which declined as a percentage of net premiums earned; and
Our results for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 included net losses of $4.5 million for property catastrophe losses and significant per risk losses. These large loss events included losses for natural disasters in the

47


U.S., including the series of tornadoes, other severe weather and flooding along the Mississippi River. These losses fell within our attritional loss ratio, as we expect a certain level of property losses each period.
Acquisition expenses. Acquisition costs decreased for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the prior year periods. The decrease was due partly to a decrease in net premiums earned, along with changes in the mix of business with an increase in excess casualty business earned which has more favorable commission rates. In addition, the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 benefited from commission income on the contract binding business that was 100% ceded.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the prior year periods. The increase was principally due to increased compensation costs resulting from the growth of our wholesale excess casualty and professional liability teams.

Reinsurance Segment
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross premiums written
 
$
246,838

 
$
244,899

 
0.8
 %
 
$
565,192

 
$
605,626

 
(6.7
)%
Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(53,185
)
 
(27,675
)
 
92.2
 %
 
(112,678
)
 
(62,927
)
 
79.1
 %
Net premiums written
 
$
193,653

 
$
217,224

 
(10.9
)%
 
$
452,514

 
$
542,699

 
(16.6
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 
$
181,316

 
$
191,655

 
(5.4
)%
 
$
349,224

 
$
416,094

 
(16.1
)%
Net losses and loss expenses
 
(89,607
)
 
(122,576
)
 
(26.9
)%
 
(190,802
)
 
(306,484
)
 
(37.7
)%
Acquisition costs
 
(42,708
)
 
(42,947
)
 
(0.6
)%
 
(81,369
)
 
(90,707
)
 
(10.3
)%
General and administrative expenses
 
(14,339
)
 
(21,647
)
 
(33.8
)%
 
(31,391
)
 
(43,919
)
 
(28.5
)%
Other income
 
1,895

 
548

 
245.8
 %
 
6,336

 
548

 
n/m

Underwriting income (loss)
 
$
36,557

 
$
5,033

 
n/m

 
$
51,998

 
$
(24,468
)
 
n/m

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio (a)
 
49.4
%
 
64.0
%
 
 
 
54.6
%
 
73.7
%
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (b)
 
23.6
%
 
22.4
%
 
 
 
23.3
%
 
21.8
%
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (c)
 
7.9
%
 
11.3
%
 
 
 
9.0
%
 
10.6
%
 
 
Combined ratio (d)
 
80.9
%
 
97.7
%
 
 
 
86.9
%
 
106.0
%
 
 
 
(a)
The loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(b)
The acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(c)
The general and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(d)
The combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
n/m Not meaningful. 

48


 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
written
 
% Ceded
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S Dollars)
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agriculture
 
$
5,299

 
2.1
%
 
(1.1
)%
 
$
8,713

 
3.6
 %
 

Auto
 
39,584

 
16.0
%
 

 
55,072

 
22.5
 %
 

Aviation
 
5,809

 
2.4
%
 
14.1
 %
 
80

 
 %
 
127.5
%
Credit/surety
 
2,625

 
1.1
%
 

 
571

 
0.2
 %
 

General casualty
 
24,054

 
9.7
%
 

 
22,045

 
9.0
 %
 

Marine & energy
 
6,256

 
2.5
%
 
3.1
 %
 
(678
)
 
(0.3
)%
 
1.6
%
Medical malpractice
 
8,105

 
3.3
%
 

 
11,223

 
4.6
 %
 
0.5
%
Other
 
549

 
0.2
%
 

 
447

 
0.2
 %
 

Professional liability
 
36,968

 
15.0
%
 

 
39,462

 
16.1
 %
 

Property
 
108,994

 
44.2
%
 
47.9
 %
 
103,390

 
42.2
 %
 
26.4
%
Whole account
 
191

 
0.1
%
 

 
268

 
0.1
 %
 

Workers’ compensation
 
8,404

 
3.4
%
 

 
4,306

 
1.8
 %
 
4.6
%
 
 
$
246,838

 
100.0
%
 
21.5
 %
 
$
244,899

 
100.0
 %
 
11.3
%
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
written
 
% Ceded
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousand of U.S Dollars)
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agriculture
 
$
22,803

 
4.0
%
 
(0.2
)%
 
$
29,498

 
4.9
%
 
0.3
%
Auto
 
40,102

 
7.1
%
 

 
70,096

 
11.6
%
 

Aviation
 
11,271

 
2.0
%
 
17.9
 %
 
984

 
0.2
%
 
26.2
%
Credit/surety
 
33,628

 
6.0
%
 

 
23,278

 
3.8
%
 

General casualty
 
36,689

 
6.5
%
 

 
37,472

 
6.2
%
 

Marine & energy
 
17,969

 
3.2
%
 
3.6
 %
 
15,871

 
2.6
%
 

Medical malpractice
 
19,381

 
3.4
%
 

 
28,805

 
4.8
%
 
1.3
%
Other
 
4,986

 
0.9
%
 

 
2,140

 
0.3
%
 
0.4
%
Professional liability
 
96,704

 
17.1
%
 

 
99,146

 
16.4
%
 

Property
 
253,408

 
44.8
%
 
43.4
 %
 
242,256

 
40.0
%
 
25.6
%
Whole account
 
1,599

 
0.3
%
 

 
35,338

 
5.8
%
 
0.1
%
Workers’ compensation
 
26,652

 
4.7
%
 
0.2
 %
 
20,742

 
3.4
%
 
1.0
%
 
 
$
565,192

 
100.0
%
 
19.9
 %
 
$
605,626

 
100.0
%
 
10.4
%

Premiums. Gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 increased by 0.8% and decreased by 6.7%, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Significant factors affecting the gross premiums written were:
For the quarter ended June 30, 2012:
Gross premiums written in our property line of business increased $5.6 million principally in our international property business, where we continued to experience improvement in pricing conditions and in our U.S. property business as a result of improved pricing, increased line sizes on existing programs and new business. Partially off-setting this growth was $7.4 million of gross premiums written on multi-year contracts which were recorded in the prior year period and which were not renewable in the quarter. In addition, the quarter ended June 30, 2012 included positive premium adjustments of $2.5 million compared to negative premium adjustments of $7.4 million in the prior year period;
Gross premiums written in our marine & energy and aviation lines of business increased $6.9 million and $5.7 million,

49


respectively, principally due to new business written;
Gross premiums written in our workers' compensation lines of business increased $4.1 million principally due to new business written; and
Partially off-setting these increases was a decrease in gross premiums written in our auto line of business of $15.5 million principally relating to reductions in premiums written on two contracts renewed in the quarter compared to the prior year period. These reductions related to increased rates charged by our cedants to their clients that resulted in a lower premium volume of better priced business ceded to us.
For the six months ended June 30, 2012 :
Gross premiums written in our whole account line of business decreased $33.7 million principally due to the non-renewal of two contracts totaling $28.5 million due to unfavorable pricing;
Gross premiums written in our auto line of business decreased $30.0 million. The six months ended June 30, 2012 included negative premium adjustments of $7.8 million compared to positive premiums adjustments of $13.3 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of these adjustments, the gross premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were $47.9 million compared to $56.8 million in the prior year period. This decrease was principally related to reductions in premiums written on two contracts renewed in the quarter compared to the prior year period. These reductions related to increased rates charged by our cedants to their clients that resulted in a lower premium volume of better priced business ceded to us;
Gross premiums written in our medical malpractice line of business decreased $9.4 million. The six months ended June 30, 2012 included positive premium adjustments of $1.2 million compared to $6.4 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of these adjustments, the gross premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were $18.2 million compared to $22.4 million in the prior year period. This decrease principally was due to the non-renewal of a significant contract;
Gross premiums written in our property line of business increased $11.2 million principally in our international property business where we continued to experience improvement in pricing conditions. Partially off-setting this growth was $7.4 million of gross premiums written on multi-year contracts which were recorded in the prior year period and which were not renewable in the period. In addition, the six months ended June 30, 2011 included $15.2 million of reinstatement premiums related to catastrophe events compared to insignificant amounts for the six months ended June 30, 2012;
Gross premiums written in our aviation line of business increased $10.3 million due to new business written and positive premiums adjustments in the period;
Gross premiums written in our credit/surety line of business increased $10.3 million principally due to the renewal of two multi-year residential mortgage contracts that were originally written two years ago; and
Gross premiums written in our workers' compensation line of business increased $5.9 million principally due to an improved pricing environment which has resulted in some new business opportunities.
The ratio of reinsurance premiums ceded to gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 21.5% and 19.9%, respectively, compared to 11.3% and 10.4% in the prior year periods. The increase was principally due to changes in our property reinsurance program, including an increase in the ceding percentage on our property quota share treaties and the purchase of an excess of loss reinsurance treaty in the previous quarter. We regularly monitor our need for reinsurance based on aggregate risk exposures.
Net premiums earned is a function of the earning of gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded over the last several quarters and, therefore, changes in net premiums earned generally lag quarterly increases and decreases in gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded.
Net losses and loss expenses. The loss ratio decreased by 14.6 and 19.1 percentage points for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Significant items impacting the loss ratio were:
Net favorable development of prior year loss reserves in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 of $13.3 million and $12.4 million, respectively, compared $23.9 million and $46.7 million in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011;
Prior year loss development in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 came from most of our lines of business, with favorable development in general casualty (2002-2007), whole account (2006-2007) and professional liability (2002-2005) partially offset by unfavorable development principally in medical malpractice (2008-2010) and workers compensation (2008-2010). Prior year loss development in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 was principally on the following lines of business and accident years: net favorable development on property (2007-2010), whole account (2006-2007), agriculture (2009) and aviation (2006-2009), partially offset by net unfavorable development on general casualty (2006-2007) and medical malpractice (2008-2010);

50


Excluding the net favorable loss development, the loss ratio was 56.8% and 58.2% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 76.4% and 84.9% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011. The decrease in the loss ratio was due principally to the significant decrease in property catastrophe and significant per-risk losses; and
The quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 included no significant losses related to significant property catastrophe events. The quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 included $33.3 million and $118.0 million, respectively, in significant losses related to property catastrophe events. The quarter ended June 30, 2011 included losses resulting from tornadoes and flooding in the United States. The six months ended June 30, 2011 also included losses resulting from the Australia floods, Cyclone Yasi, the New Zealand earthquake and the Japan earthquake and tsunami.
Acquisition costs. Acquisition costs for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased consistent with decreases in net premiums earned compared to the prior year periods; however, the acquisition cost ratios for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 increased slightly compared to the prior year periods. The reinsurance contracts we write have a range of acquisition cost ratios and the variance is the result of shifts in the mix of business written and earned. In addition, the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 included $5.0 million and $15.2 million, respectively, of reinstatement premiums related to catastrophe events compared to insignificant reinstatement premiums in the current year periods. These reinstatement premiums had low acquisition costs associated with them thereby reducing the acquisition cost ratio for the prior year periods.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased by $7.3 million and $12.5 million, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The decreases were due principally to a reduction in compensation expense compared to the prior year periods, resulting from fewer employees and a lower level of stock based compensation granted to retirement eligible employees.
Other income. Other income for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 principally related to underwriting fees and profit commission earned from New Point Re IV.

Alterra at Lloyd’s Segment
Our Alterra at Lloyd’s segment comprises all of our Lloyd’s operating businesses, other than underwriting activity related to Latin America, which is now included within our Latin America segment. 
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross premiums written
 
$
72,008

 
$
72,428

 
(0.6
)%
 
$
218,151

 
$
180,318

 
21.0
 %
Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(27,068
)
 
(24,918
)
 
8.6
 %
 
(65,658
)
 
(48,097
)
 
36.5
 %
Net premiums written
 
$
44,940

 
$
47,510

 
(5.4
)%
 
152,493

 
$
132,221

 
15.3
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 
$
46,222

 
$
43,577

 
6.1
 %
 
99,072

 
86,161

 
15.0
 %
Net losses and loss expenses
 
(33,030
)
 
(21,072
)
 
56.7
 %
 
(71,705
)
 
(69,515
)
 
3.2
 %
Acquisition costs
 
(7,443
)
 
(9,946
)
 
(25.2
)%
 
(16,877
)
 
(22,598
)
 
(25.3
)%
General and administrative expenses
 
(7,856
)
 
(7,773
)
 
1.1
 %
 
(16,951
)
 
(16,026
)
 
5.8
 %
Other income
 
7

 
165

 
(95.8
)%
 
7

 
380

 
(98.2
)%
Underwriting (loss) income
 
$
(2,100
)
 
$
4,951

 
(142.4
)%
 
$
(6,454
)
 
$
(21,598
)
 
(70.1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio (a)
 
71.5
%
 
48.4
%
 
 
 
72.4
%
 
80.7
%
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (b)
 
16.1
%
 
22.8
%
 
 
 
17.0
%
 
26.2
%
 
 
General and administrative Expense ratio (c)
 
17.0
%
 
17.8
%
 
 
 
17.1
%
 
18.6
%
 
 
Combined ratio (d)
 
104.6
%
 
89.0
%
 
 
 
106.5
%
 
125.5
%
 
 
(a)
The loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(b)
The acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(c)
The general and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(d)
The combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.

51


 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
Accident & health
 
$
8,250

 
11.5
%
 
20.6
 %
 
$
8,380

 
11.6
%
 
2.7
%
Agriculture
 
613

 
0.8
%
 

 

 

 

Aviation
 
3,220

 
4.5
%
 
30.4
 %
 
1,810

 
2.5
%
 
118.8
%
Financial institutions
 
5,400

 
7.5
%
 
(14.4
)%
 
6,441

 
8.9
%
 
10.0
%
International casualty
 
8,423

 
11.7
%
 
17.6
 %
 
8,263

 
11.4
%
 
0.5
%
Marine
 
2,282

 
3.2
%
 
1.6
 %
 

 

 

Professional liability
 
6,108

 
8.5
%
 
28.5
 %
 
10,466

 
14.4
%
 
6.4
%
Property
 
37,712

 
52.3
%
 
58.1
 %
 
37,068

 
51.2
%
 
57.1
%
 
 
$
72,008

 
100.0
%
 
37.6
 %
 
$
72,428

 
100.0
%
 
34.4
%

 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
Accident & health
 
$
25,682

 
11.8
%
 
31.8
 %
 
$
21,924

 
12.2
%
 
20.3
%
Agriculture
 
20,983

 
9.6
%
 
 %
 

 
%
 
%
Aviation
 
5,706

 
2.6
%
 
124.5
 %
 
3,577

 
2.0
%
 
92.2
%
Financial institutions
 
12,304

 
5.6
%
 
28.8
 %
 
15,477

 
8.6
%
 
32.6
%
International casualty
 
57,691

 
26.4
%
 
9.9
 %
 
42,052

 
23.3
%
 
4.7
%
Marine
 
5,008

 
2.3
%
 
(4.2
)%
 

 
%
 
%
Professional liability
 
11,536

 
5.3
%
 
34.9
 %
 
18,388

 
10.2
%
 
8.6
%
Property
 
79,241

 
36.4
%
 
47.1
 %
 
78,900

 
43.7
%
 
40.2
%
 
 
$
218,151

 
100.0
%
 
30.1
 %
 
$
180,318

 
100.0
%
 
26.7
%

Premiums. Gross premiums written for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 decreased 0.6% compared to the prior year period. Gross premiums written in our professional liability and financial institution lines decreased compared to the prior year period due to competitive market conditions. These declines were offset by increased gross premiums written in our marine business, which commenced business in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Gross premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 21.0% compared to the prior year period. The increase in gross premiums written was primarily due to:
An increase of $21.0 million in our agriculture line of business. Our Alterra at Lloyd’s segment commenced writing agriculture business in the first quarter of 2012. The majority of this business was previously written in our reinsurance segment and was renewed in 2012 in our Alterra at Lloyd’s segment;
An increase of $15.6 million in our international casualty line of business. The increase reflects the continued expansion of our client base as well as favorable market conditions, particularly in motor liability; and
Partially offsetting these increases were declines of gross premiums written in our professional liability and financial institution lines of business principally due to competitive market conditions.
The ratio of reinsurance premiums ceded to gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 37.6% and 30.1%, respectively, compared to 34.4% and 26.7% for the prior year periods. The increase in the ratio was principally due to changes in mix of business and the timing of renewal of certain reinsurance treaties.

52


Net premiums earned is a function of the earning of gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded over the last several quarters and, therefore, changes in net premiums earned generally lag quarterly increases and decreases in gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded.
Net losses and loss expense. The loss ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 increased 23.1 percentage points compared to the prior year period. The loss ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased 8.3 percentage points compared to the prior year period. Significant items impacting the loss ratios were:
Net favorable development of prior year loss reserves in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 of $nil and $4.5 million, respectively, compared to net favorable development of $9.9 million in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011;
The favorable development in the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was principally on our property line of business, offset by unfavorable development on our accident & health line of business. The net favorable development in the six months ended June 30, 2012 was principally on our property and pre-2008 discontinued lines of business partially offset by net unfavorable development in our accident & health and financial institutions lines of business;
Excluding the net favorable loss development, the loss ratio was 71.5% and 67.8% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 71.1% and 92.2% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011. The prior year period loss ratios were impacted by losses related to significant property catastrophe events. The current year period loss ratios were impacted by changes in the mix of business, particularly an increase in casualty and agriculture lines of business. These lines of business have a higher average loss ratio than property lines, which have declined as a percentage of net premiums earned; and
The quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 included no significant losses related to significant property catastrophe events. The quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 included $9.1 million and $37.0 million, respectively, in significant property catastrophe-related losses. The quarter ended June 30, 2011 included losses resulting from tornadoes and flooding in the United States. The six months ended June 30, 2011 also included losses resulting from the Australia floods, Cyclone Yasi, the New Zealand earthquake and the Japan earthquake and tsunami. A portion of these losses in the prior year period fell within our attritional loss ratio, as we expect a certain level of property losses in each period.
Acquisition expenses. The acquisition cost ratio decreased 6.7 percentage points and 9.2 percentage points, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the prior year periods. The decreases in both periods were principally attributable to changes in the mix of business written with a higher proportion of net earned premiums from our international casualty and agriculture lines of business, which generally have lower acquisition cost ratios compared to other lines.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 increased $0.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively, compared to prior year periods, principally due to growth in the products offered by the segment. Net premiums earned also increased, which resulted in the general and administrative expense ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 remaining relatively consistent with the prior year period, and decreasing 1.5 percentage points for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the prior year period.


















53


Latin America Segment 
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross premiums written
 
$
9,495

 
$
4,947

 
91.9
 %
 
$
34,835

 
$
22,083

 
57.7
 %
Reinsurance premiums ceded
 
(4,723
)
 
(572
)
 
n/m

 
(17,339
)
 
(2,637
)
 
n/m

Net premiums written
 
$
4,772

 
$
4,375

 
9.1
 %
 
$
17,496

 
$
19,446

 
(10.0
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 
$
19,095

 
$
8,865

 
115.4
 %
 
$
33,335

 
$
17,773

 
87.6
 %
Net losses and loss expenses
 
(14,049
)
 
(5,784
)
 
142.9
 %
 
(24,583
)
 
(11,800
)
 
108.3
 %
Acquisition costs
 
(5,456
)
 
(2,382
)
 
129.1
 %
 
(9,211
)
 
(4,169
)
 
120.9
 %
General and administrative expenses
 
(2,722
)
 
(3,053
)
 
(10.8
)%
 
(4,981
)
 
(5,509
)
 
(9.6
)%
Underwriting loss
 
$
(3,132
)
 
$
(2,354
)
 
33.1
 %
 
$
(5,440
)
 
$
(3,705
)
 
46.8
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio (a)
 
73.6
%
 
65.2
%
 
 
 
73.7
%
 
66.4
%
 
 
Acquisition cost ratio (b)
 
28.6
%
 
26.9
%
 
 
 
27.6
%
 
23.5
%
 
 
General and administrative expense ratio (c)
 
14.3
%
 
34.4
%
 
 
 
14.9
%
 
31.0
%
 
 
Combined ratio (d)
 
116.4
%
 
126.6
%
 
 
 
116.3
%
 
120.8
%
 
 
 
(a)
The loss ratio is calculated by dividing net losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(b)
The acquisition cost ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(c)
The general and administrative expense ratio is calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
(d)
The combined ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.
n/m Not meaningful.
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
Aviation
 
$
9

 
0.1
 %
 

 
$

 

 

General casualty
 
(543
)
 
(5.7
)%
 
3.6
%
 
223

 
4.5
%
 

Marine
 
348

 
3.7
 %
 
11.6
%
 
59

 
1.2
%
 

Property
 
8,634

 
90.9
 %
 
46.6
%
 
3,681

 
74.4
%
 
15.5
%
Surety
 
1,047

 
11.0
 %
 
64.1
%
 
984

 
19.9
%
 

 
 
$
9,495

 
100.0
 %
 
49.7
%
 
$
4,947

 
100.0
%
 
11.6
%

 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% of
Premium
Written
 
% Ceded
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Gross Premiums Written by Type of Risk:
 
 
 
 
Aviation
 
$
74

 
0.2
%
 
12.2
 %
 
$

 
%
 

General casualty
 
1,892

 
5.4
%
 
(0.1
)%
 
1,180

 
5.3
%
 
0.6
%
Marine
 
2,036

 
5.8
%
 
2.0
 %
 
603

 
2.7
%
 

Property
 
25,345

 
72.8
%
 
48.1
 %
 
17,616

 
79.8
%
 
14.9
%
Surety
 
5,488

 
15.8
%
 
92.9
 %
 
2,684

 
12.2
%
 

 
 
$
34,835

 
100.0
%
 
49.8
 %
 
$
22,083

 
100.0
%
 
11.9
%

54



The Latin America segment is a new operating segment, effective January 1, 2012. This segment comprises Latin American reinsurance business written from our various operations in Latin America. Reinsurance business written within Latin America in 2011, which was previously reported within the reinsurance and Alterra at Lloyd’s segments, has been reclassified for comparative purposes to the new Latin America segment. In addition, reinsurance business written by Alterra Brazil is also included within the Latin America segment. Alterra Brazil commenced underwriting operations in the first quarter of 2012.
Premiums. Gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 91.9% and 57.7%, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The increase in gross premiums written was primarily due to continued expansion of our product offerings in Latin America and growth in our client base. Pricing for property risks did not improve as much as expected since the end of 2011, but increased during the current year and pricing for the other lines of business was stable. We expect that property reinsurance will continue to be our largest line of business, while also diversifying our exposure into casualty and specialty lines, as we have done in our other segments.
The ratio of reinsurance premiums ceded to gross premiums written for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 49.7% and 49.8%, respectively, compared to 11.6% and 11.9% for the prior year periods. The increase in the ratio for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 was principally due to the purchase of additional property excess of loss reinsurance and quota share reinsurance covering our surety line of business.
Net premiums earned is a function of the earning of gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded over the last several quarters and, therefore, changes in net premiums earned generally lag quarterly increases and decreases in gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded. Ceded premiums earned increased significantly in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to previous quarters due principally to the surety quota share reinsurance treaty, which was written on a retroactive basis, with premiums related to the period from June 2010 to December 2011 being fully earned in the quarter ended March 31, 2012.
Net losses and loss expense. The loss ratio for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 8.4 and 7.3 percentage points, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. This was principally due to net unfavorable development of prior year loss reserves in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 of $3.0 million and $4.2 million, respectively, due to higher than expected property per-risk losses in Argentina. There was no prior year loss development in the prior year periods.
Acquisition expenses. The acquisition cost ratio increased 1.7 and 4.1 percentage points, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the prior year periods. The increase was attributable to changes in the mix of business written. Over the last several quarters, we have increased the amount of surety, general casualty and marine business written, all of which have higher acquisition cost ratios, on average, than property business.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased compared to the prior periods due to lower than expected incentive-based compensation expenses. This decrease, together with the growing base of net premiums earned, resulted in the general and administrative expense ratio declining by 20.1 and 16.1 percentage points, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, compared to the prior periods.



Life and Annuity Reinsurance Segment
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Net premiums earned
 
$
899

 
$
829

 
8.4
 %
 
$
1,321

 
$
1,244

 
6.2
 %
Net investment income
 
13,466

 
12,545

 
7.3
 %
 
28,242

 
24,888

 
13.5
 %
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments
 

 
(1,299
)
 
(100.0
)%
 

 
1,508

 
(100.0
)%
Claims and policy benefits
 
(13,272
)
 
(15,570
)
 
(14.8
)%
 
(26,738
)
 
(30,280
)
 
(11.7
)%
Acquisition costs
 
(156
)
 
(122
)
 
27.9
 %
 
(275
)
 
(281
)
 
(2.1
)%
General and administrative expenses
 
(119
)
 
(259
)
 
(54.1
)%
 
(153
)
 
(436
)
 
(64.9
)%
Other income
 

 
(23
)
 
(100.0
)%
 

 
(23
)
 
(100.0
)%
Net income (loss)
 
$
818

 
$
(3,899
)
 
(121.0
)%
 
$
2,397

 
$
(3,380
)
 
(170.9
)%


55



There were no new life and annuity contracts written during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 or 2011. We have decided not to write any new life and annuity contracts for the foreseeable future. This decision does not affect our existing life and annuity reinsurance contracts and we continue to service our existing life and annuity customer base.
Our life and annuity benefit reserves are recorded on a discounted present value basis. This discount is amortized through income as a claims and policy benefits expense over the term of the underlying policies. As a result, income is derived primarily from the spread between the actual rate of return on our investments and the interest expense related to the discount on our reserves. Income can also be impacted by changes in estimated and actual claims, premiums, expenses and persistency of the underlying policies.
For periods prior to January 1, 2012, we allocated a portion of our net investment income from fixed maturities investments as well as a portion of our realized and unrealized gains/losses from hedge fund investments to this segment. Effective from January 1, 2012, only net investment income from fixed maturities investments is allocated to this segment. Due to our strategic decision to cease writing new life reinsurance business, our level of claims and policy benefits expense is relatively stable and predictable. Similarly, fixed maturity investments provides a more stable and predictable level of investment income compared to hedge fund returns, resulting in a better match with our claims and policy benefits expense stream.
Gross premiums written, reinsurance premiums ceded, net premiums earned, acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses represent ongoing premium receipts or adjustments and related administration expenses on existing contracts. Claims and policy benefits in each period represent reinsured policy claims payments net of the change in policy and claim liabilities.
Net investment income and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are discussed within the investing activities section as we manage investments for this segment on a consolidated basis with our other segments.


Investing Activities
The results of investing activities discussed below include net investment income, net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and net impairment losses recognized in earnings for the consolidated group, including amounts that are allocated to the life and annuity segment. 
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
% change
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Net investment income
 
$
54,729

 
$
59,665

 
(8.3
)%
 
$
113,407

 
$
117,431

 
(3.4
)%
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
$
13,481

 
$
(5,774
)
 
n/m

 
$
38,974

 
$
(24,592
)
 
n/m

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
$
(570
)
 
$
(353
)
 
61.5
 %
 
$
(5,939
)
 
$
(1,382
)
 
329.7
 %
Average annualized yield on cash and fixed maturities
 
2.92
%
 
3.11
%
 
 
 
3.02
%
 
3.12
%
 
 

Net investment income. Net investment income for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased compared to the respective prior year periods. As investments in our fixed maturity portfolio mature, lower reinvestment yields on new purchases have reduced the weighted average book yield of our portfolio. In addition, the average amortized cost of our fixed maturity portfolio, including cash, has decreased for the current year periods compared to the prior year periods, resulting in a lower investment base.

56


Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment include the following: 
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
(Decrease) increase in fair value of hedge funds
 
$
(2,894
)
 
$
(1,879
)
 
$
785

 
$
1,288

(Decrease) increase in fair value of derivatives
 
(1,130
)
 
(3,834
)
 
6,567

 
(3,160
)
Decrease in fair value of catastrophe bonds
 

 
(251
)
 

 
(25,641
)
(Decrease) increase in fair value of structured deposit
 
(655
)
 
(1,284
)
 
(290
)
 
50

Income (loss) from equity method investments
 
5,583

 
(12
)
 
10,510

 
(157
)
Increase (decrease) in fair value of other investments
 
904

 
(7,260
)
 
17,572

 
(27,620
)
Net realized gains on available for sale securities
 
11,990

 
54

 
19,749

 
3,423

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities
 
587

 
1,432

 
1,653

 
(395
)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
$
13,481

 
$
(5,774
)
 
$
38,974

 
$
(24,592
)

Change in fair value of other investments. Our investments in hedge funds comprises the majority of other investments. The decrease in fair value of the hedge fund portfolio was $2.9 million, or a negative 0.91% rate of return, for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, compared to a decrease of $1.9 million, or a negative 0.45% rate of return, for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The increase in fair value of the hedge fund portfolio was $0.8 million, or a 0.41% rate of return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $1.3 million, or a 0.53% rate of return for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The rate of return of 0.41% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compares to the HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index returning 1.09% over the same period, which we believe is our most relevant benchmark.
The allocation of invested assets to our hedge fund portfolio as of June 30, 2012 was 3.2%, which is consistent with our expected ongoing allocation. The objective of our hedge fund portfolio is to achieve a market neutral/absolute return strategy, with diversification by strategy and underlying fund. A market neutral strategy strives to generate consistent returns in both up and down markets by selecting long and short positions with a total net exposure of zero. Returns are derived from the long/short spread, or the amount by which long positions outperform short positions. The objective of an absolute return strategy is to provide stable performance regardless of market conditions, with minimal correlation to market benchmarks.
The fair value of derivatives decreased by $1.1 million and increased by $6.6 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to decreases in fair value of $3.8 million and $3.2 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. We hold various derivative instruments, including convertible bond equity call options, interest rate linked derivative instruments and foreign exchange forward contracts. The majority of the loss for the quarter and the gain for the six months ended June 30, 2012 resulted from interest rate swap positions taken as part of a total return strategy followed by a portion of our investment portfolio.
The decrease in fair value of the catastrophe bonds during the six months ended June 30, 2011, principally was due to a $25.0 million loss on one catastrophe bond with exposure to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. During the second quarter of 2011, we disposed of all catastrophe bond holdings.
As of June 30, 2012, we held an index-linked structured deposit. The deposit has a guaranteed minimum redemption amount of $24.3 million and a scheduled redemption date of December 18, 2013. The fair value of the structured deposit decreased by $0.7 million and $0.3 million, respectively, during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 due to a decrease in the reference index.
Income from equity method investments for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 principally comprised our equity share of net income from New Point IV.
Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on available for sale and trading securities. Our total fixed maturities portfolio is split into three portfolios:
an available for sale portfolio;
a held to maturity portfolio; and
a trading portfolio.

57


Our available for sale portfolio is recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in other comprehensive income as part of total shareholders’ equity. Our available for sale fixed maturities investment strategy is not generally intended to generate significant realized gains and losses as more fully discussed below in the Financial Condition section. Our held to maturity portfolio includes securities for which we have the ability and intent to hold to maturity or redemption, and is recorded at amortized cost. There should be no realized gains or losses related to this portfolio unless there is an other than temporary impairment loss. Our trading portfolio is recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in net income.
Net realized and unrealized gains on our fixed maturities portfolios for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 were $12.6 million and $21.4 million, respectively, compared to gains of $1.5 million and $3.0 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. Most of the realized gains in the current quarter related to sales of longer duration securities, taking advantage of gains caused by declining long term interest rates and at the same time reducing our exposure to longer duration securities.
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings. As a result of our quarterly review of securities in an unrealized loss position, we recorded other-than-temporary impairment losses through earnings of $0.6 million and $5.9 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and $0.4 million and $1.4 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. These impairment losses are presented separately from all other net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments. Of the $0.6 million of impairment losses during the quarter ended June 30, 2012, only $0.2 million were due to estimated credit losses. The remainder was recognized as impairment losses due to our decision to sell our holdings of convertible bond securities prior to any recovery in value. Most of our convertible bond portfolio was sold in April 2012 for a net realized gain. A discussion of our process for estimating other-than-temporary impairments is included in Note 5 of our unaudited consolidated interim financial statements included herein.

Financial Condition
Cash and invested assets. Aggregate invested assets, comprising cash and cash equivalents, fixed maturities and other investments, were $7,886.0 million as of June 30, 2012 compared to $7,814.7 million as of December 31, 2011, an increase of 0.9%. The modest increase in cash and invested assets resulted principally from the combination of the timing of the settlement of premiums and losses, the increase in fair value of our available for sale portfolio offset by payments for share repurchases and dividends.
We hold an available for sale portfolio, a trading portfolio and a held to maturity portfolio of fixed maturities securities. In an effort to match the expected cash flow requirements of our long-term liabilities, we invest a portion of our fixed maturity investments in longer duration securities. Because we intend to hold a number of these longer duration securities to maturity, we classify these securities as held to maturity in our consolidated balance sheet. This held to maturity portfolio is recorded at amortized cost. As a result, we do not record changes in the fair value of this portfolio, which should reduce the impact on shareholders’ equity of fluctuations in fair value of those investments.
Fixed maturities are subject to fluctuations in fair value due to changes in interest rates, changes in issuer specific circumstances, such as credit rating changes, and changes in industry specific circumstances, such as movements in credit spreads based on the market’s perception of industry risks. As a result of these fluctuations, it is possible to have significant unrealized gains or losses on a security. Our strategy for our fixed maturities portfolios is to tailor the maturities of the portfolios to the timing of expected loss and benefit payments. At maturity, absent any credit loss, a fixed maturity’s amortized cost will equal its fair value and no realized gain or loss will be recognized in income. If, due to an unforeseen change in loss payment patterns, we need to sell available for sale fixed maturity securities before maturity, we could realize significant gains or losses in any period, which could result in a meaningful effect on reported net income for such period.
In order to reduce the likelihood of needing to sell investments before maturity, especially given the unpredictable and potentially significant cash flow requirements of our property catastrophe business, we maintain significant cash and cash equivalent balances. We believe it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell those fixed maturities securities in an unrealized loss position until such time as they reach maturity or the fair value increases.
We perform regular reviews of our fixed maturities portfolio and utilize a process that considers numerous indicators in order to identify investments that show signs of potential other than temporary impairments. The indicators include the issuer’s financial condition and ability to make future scheduled interest and principal payments, benchmark yield spreads, the nature of collateral or other credit support and significant economic events that have occurred that affect the industry in which the issuer participates.
Our fixed maturity portfolio comprises high quality, liquid securities. As of June 30, 2012, our fixed maturities investments had a dollar-weighted average credit rating of Aa2/AA. Under our fixed maturities investment guidelines, a minimum weighted average credit rating of Aa3/AA-, or its equivalent, must be maintained for our fixed maturities investment portfolio as a whole. Our fixed maturities investment guidelines also provide that we cannot leverage our fixed maturities investments. Further details of the credit ratings on our fixed maturities investments is included in Note 5 of our unaudited consolidated interim financial statements included herein.

58


Our portfolio of investment grade fixed maturities includes mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. These types of securities have cash flows that are backed by the principal and interest payments of a group of underlying mortgages or other receivables. As a result of the increasing default rates of borrowers, there currently is a greater risk of defaults on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations than historically existed, especially those that are non-investment grade. These factors make estimating the fair value of these securities more uncertain. We obtain fair value estimates from multiple independent pricing sources in an effort to mitigate some of the uncertainty surrounding the fair value estimates. If we need to liquidate these securities within a short period of time, the actual realized proceeds may be significantly different from the fair values estimated as of June 30, 2012.
We performed a review of securities in an unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2012 for other-than-temporary impairments, which included the consideration of relevant factors, including prepayment rates, subordination levels, default rates, credit ratings, weighted average life and cash flow testing. Together with our investment managers, we continue to monitor our potential exposure to credit losses in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and we will make adjustments to the investment portfolio, if and when we deem necessary.
We continue to monitor the ongoing uncertainty over the financial health of certain European governments and corporate institutions and our exposure to the credit risk of investments in these entities. As of June 30, 2012, we held European government securities with a fair value of $750.4 million, distributed as follows: 
 
 
As of June 30, 2012
 
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
 
 
(in thousands
of U.S. Dollars)
 
 
France
 
$
266,621

 
35.5
%
Germany
 
256,424

 
34.2
%
Netherlands
 
146,068

 
19.5
%
United Kingdom
 
44,971

 
6.0
%
Belgium
 
20,579

 
2.7
%
Norway
 
7,075

 
0.9
%
Denmark
 
4,253

 
0.6
%
All others
 
4,401

 
0.6
%
European government holdings
 
$
750,392

 
100.0
%
As of June 30, 2012, we held no government securities issued by Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal or Spain.


59


As of June 30, 2012, we held corporate securities issued by European institutions with a fair value of $744.3 million. The distribution by country was as follows:
 
 
As of June 30, 2012
 
 
Banking Institutions
 
Other Financial Institutions
 
Other Corporate
 
Total
 
 
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
United Kingdom
 
$
96,898

 
29,384

 
98,154

 
224,436

Netherlands
 
42,027

 
9,045

 
50,978

 
102,050

Germany
 
84,557

 

 
11,359

 
95,916

France
 
37,999

 

 
50,401

 
88,400

Supranational
 
72,269

 

 

 
72,269

Switzerland
 
61,979

 

 
2,038

 
64,017

Sweden
 
19,309

 
3,994

 

 
23,303

Norway
 
16,392

 

 
20,253

 
36,645

Ireland
 
1,104

 
9,369

 
4,984

 
15,457

Luxembourg
 

 

 
11,950

 
11,950

Denmark
 
5,020

 

 

 
5,020

New Zealand
 

 

 
4,363

 
4,363

Spain
 

 

 
509

 
509

European corporate holdings
 
$
437,554

 
51,792

 
254,989

 
744,335

The distribution by investment rating (provided by major rating agencies) was as follows:
 
 
As of June 30, 2012
 
 
Banking Institutions
 
Other Financial Institutions
 
Other Corporate
 
Total
 
 
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
AAA
 
$
250,192

 
29,420

 
402

 
280,014

AA
 
46,168

 
8,885

 
48,214

 
103,267

A
 
123,667

 
12,993

 
175,584

 
312,244

BBB
 
11,432

 

 
17,536

 
28,968

BB
 
4,429

 
494

 
7,747

 
12,670

B
 
1,666

 

 
5,506

 
7,172

European corporate holdings
 
$
437,554

 
51,792

 
254,989

 
744,335



60


As of June 30, 2012, we held securities issued by European banking institutions with a fair value of $437.6 million, distributed as follows: 
 
 
As of June 30, 2012
 
 
Fair Value
 
% of Total
 
 
(in thousands
of U.S. Dollars)
 
 
European Investment Bank
 
$
67,735

 
15.5
%
KFW
 
58,980

 
13.5
%
Credit Suisse Group
 
36,410

 
8.3
%
Barclays plc
 
29,076

 
6.6
%
UBS AG
 
28,097

 
6.4
%
Lloyds Banking Group plc
 
27,689

 
6.3
%
BNP Paribas SA
 
18,304

 
4.2
%
HSBC Holdings plc
 
17,895

 
4.1
%
Cooperatieve Central Raiffeisen-Voerenlee
 
16,289

 
3.7
%
All other
 
137,079

 
31.4
%
European banking institution holdings
 
$
437,554

 
100.0
%
All of our European government and corporate holdings are included within our review procedures for other-than-temporary impairments.
A discussion of our process for estimating other-than-temporary impairments is included in Note 5 of our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein.
As described in Note 6 of our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, our available for sale and trading fixed maturities investments and the majority of our other investments are carried at fair value.
Fair value prices for all securities in our fixed maturities portfolio are independently provided by our investment custodians, our investment accounting service provider and our investment managers, with each utilizing internationally recognized independent pricing services. We record the unadjusted price provided by the investment custodian, investment accounting service provider or investment manager after validating the prices. Our validation process includes: (i) comparison of prices between two independent sources, with significant differences requiring additional price sources; (ii) quantitative analysis (e.g., comparing the quarterly return for each managed portfolio to its target benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated); (iii) evaluation of methodologies used by external parties to calculate fair value including a review of the inputs used for pricing; and (iv) comparing the price to our knowledge of the current investment market.
The independent pricing services used by our investment custodians, investment accounting service provider and investment managers obtain actual transaction prices for securities that have quoted prices in active markets. Each pricing service has its own proprietary method for determining the fair value of securities that are not actively traded. In general, these methods involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the independent pricing service uses observable market inputs including, but not limited to, reported trades, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, interest rates, prepayment speeds, default rates and such other inputs as are available from market sources to determine a reasonable fair value. In addition, pricing services use valuation models, such as an Option Adjusted Spread model, to develop prepayment and interest rate scenarios. The Option Adjusted Spread model is commonly used to estimate fair value for securities such as mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The ability to obtain quoted market prices is reduced in periods of decreasing liquidity, which generally increases the use of matrix pricing methods and the uncertainty surrounding the fair value estimates.
Investments in hedge funds comprise a portfolio of limited partnerships and stock investments in trading entities, or funds, which invest in a wide range of financial products. The units of account that we value are our interests in the funds and not the underlying holdings of such funds. As a result, the inputs we use to value our investments in each of the funds may differ from the inputs used to value the underlying holdings of such funds. These funds are stated at fair value, which ordinarily will be the most recently reported net asset value as advised by the fund manager or administrator, where the fund’s underlying holdings can be in various quoted and unquoted investments. We believe the reported net asset value represents the fair value market participants would apply to an interest in the fund. The fund managers value their underlying investments at fair value in accordance with policies established by each fund, as described in each of their financial statements and offering memoranda.
We have designed ongoing due diligence processes with respect to funds in which we invest and their managers. These processes are designed to assist us in assessing the quality of information provided by, or on behalf of, each fund and in determining whether such information continues to be reliable or whether further review is necessary. While reported net asset

61


value is the primary input to the review, when the net asset value is deemed not to be indicative of fair value, we may incorporate adjustments to the reported net asset value. These adjustments may involve significant judgment. We obtain the audited financial statements for each fund annually and regularly review and discuss the fund performance with the fund managers to corroborate the reasonableness of the reported net asset values.
We are able to redeem the hedge fund portfolio on the same terms that the underlying funds can be liquidated. In general, the funds in which we are invested require at least 30 days notice of redemption, and may be redeemed on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual or longer basis, depending on the fund. The timing of the redemption maybe be impacted if the funds in which we invest have a lock up period (this refers to the initial amount of time an investor is contractually required to invest before having the ability to redeem), a gate imposed (where the fund has denied or delayed a redemption in order to allow the execution of an orderly redemption process) or the fund has invested a portion of their assets in illiquid securities, such as private equity and convertible debt, through a side pocket. The majority of our hedge fund portfolio is redeemable within one year, and the imposition of gates by certain funds is not expected to significantly impact our cash flow needs. Based upon information provided by the fund managers, as of June 30, 2012, we estimate that over 72.0% of the underlying assets held by our hedge fund portfolio are traded securities or have broker quotes available.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of the redemption of the underlying assets within funds with gates and side-pockets, we have included these funds in the greater than 365 days category in the table below. If we requested full redemptions for all of our holdings in the funds, the tables below indicate our best estimate of the earliest date from June 30, 2012 on which such redemptions might be received. This estimate is based on available information from the funds and is subject to significant change. 
 
 
As of June 30, 2012
 
 
Fair Value
 
% of Hedge fund
portfolio
 
 
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
 
Liquidity:
 
 
 
 
Within 90 days
 
$
60,549

 
24.0
%
Between 91 to 180 days
 
22,968

 
9.1
%
Between 181 to 365 days
 
97,728

 
38.8
%
Greater than 365 days
 
70,914

 
28.1
%
Total hedge funds
 
$
252,159

 
100.0
%
Although we believe that our significant cash balances, fixed maturities investments and credit facilities provide sufficient liquidity to satisfy the claims of insureds and ceding clients, in the event that we were required to access assets invested in the hedge fund investment portfolio, our ability to do so may be limited by these liquidity constraints.
Additional information about the hedge fund portfolio can be found in Notes 5 and 6 to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein.
Losses and benefits recoverable from reinsurers. Losses and benefits recoverable from reinsurers totaled $1,083.8 million as of June 30, 2012 compared to $1,068.1 million as of December 31, 2011, an increase of 1.5%. This increase resulted principally from additional losses ceded under our reinsurance and retrocessional agreements resulting from net earned premiums during the six months ended June 30, 2012.
Losses recoverable from reinsurers on property and casualty business were $1,051.2 million and $1,034.9 million as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Benefits recoverable from reinsurers on life and annuity business were $32.6 million and $33.2 million as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
As of June 30, 2012, 86.7% of our losses and benefits recoverable were with reinsurers rated “A” or above by A.M. Best Company, 7.7% were rated “A-” and the remaining 5.6% were with “NR-not rated” reinsurers. Grand Central Re, a Bermuda domiciled reinsurance company in which Alterra Bermuda has a 7.5% equity investment, is our largest “NR—not rated” retrocessionaire and accounted for 3.2% of our losses and benefits recoverable as of June 30, 2012. As security for outstanding loss obligations, we retain funds from Grand Central Re amounting to 137.6% of its loss recoverable obligations. Of the remaining amounts with “NR-not rated” retrocessionaires, we retain collateral equal to 70.2% of the losses and benefits recoverable. Our losses and benefits recoverable are not due for payment until the underlying loss has been paid. As of June 30, 2012, 97.1% of our losses and benefits recoverable were not due for payment.
Liabilities for property and casualty losses. Property and casualty losses totaled $4,308.3 million as of June 30, 2012 compared to $4,216.5 million as of December 31, 2011, an increase of 2.2%. During the six months ended June 30, 2012, we incurred gross losses of $500.3 million and we paid $408.3 million in property and casualty losses. Included in gross losses was gross favorable development on prior year reserves of $79.0 million, excluding reserve movements related to changes in

62


premium estimates. Net of reinsurance, we paid $325.1 million in property and casualty losses during the six months ended June 30, 2012.

As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 our gross property and casualty loss reserves by type and by segment were as follows:

 
As of June 30, 2012
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
Case 
 
 
IBNR 
 
 
Total 
 
 
Case 
 
 
IBNR 
 
 
Total 
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
 
Global Insurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casualty
$
347,306

 
$
803,126

 
$
1,150,432

 
$
314,812

 
$
822,820

 
$
1,137,632

Property
92,357

 
54,127

 
146,484

 
104,644

 
43,707

 
148,351

 
439,663

 
857,253

 
1,296,916

 
419,456

 
866,527

 
1,285,983

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Insurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casualty
104,258

 
215,869

 
320,127

 
87,089

 
190,437

 
277,526

Property
24,243

 
49,511

 
73,754

 
41,614

 
37,926

 
79,540

 
128,501

 
265,380

 
393,881

 
128,703

 
228,363

 
357,066

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reinsurance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casualty
465,593

 
987,728

 
1,453,321

 
523,074

 
1,130,029

 
1,653,103

Property
308,482

 
332,223

 
640,705

 
245,691

 
189,469

 
435,160

 
774,075

 
1,319,951

 
2,094,026

 
768,765

 
1,319,498

 
2,088,263

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alterra at Lloyd's
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casualty
41,663

 
198,869

 
240,532

 
43,169

 
166,508

 
209,677

Property
100,515

 
126,735

 
227,250

 
116,427

 
124,939

 
241,366

 
142,178

 
325,604

 
467,782

 
159,596

 
291,447

 
451,043

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Latin America
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casualty
1,351

 
8,206

 
9,557

 
720

 
5,714

 
6,434

Property
27,392

 
18,762

 
46,154

 
13,896

 
13,853

 
27,749

 
28,743

 
26,968

 
55,711

 
14,616

 
19,567

 
34,183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
1,513,160

 
$
2,795,156

 
$
4,308,316

 
$
1,491,136

 
$
2,725,402

 
$
4,216,538

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casualty
$
960,171

 
$
2,213,798

 
$
3,173,969

 
$
968,864

 
$
2,315,508

 
$
3,284,372

Property
552,989

 
581,358

 
1,134,347

 
522,272

 
409,894

 
932,166

Total
$
1,513,160

 
$
2,795,156

 
$
4,308,316

 
$
1,491,136

 
$
2,725,402

 
$
4,216,538

In the above table, the following lines of business are included within property: agriculture, aviation, marine & energy, property and other. The following lines of business are included within casualty: accident & health, auto, credit, excess liability, financial institutions, general casualty, international casualty, medical malpractice, professional liability surety, whole account and workers compensation.
The liability for property and casualty losses, including loss adjustment expenses, represents estimates of the ultimate cost of all losses incurred but not paid as of the balance sheet date. The reserves are estimated on an undiscounted basis. Case reserves are reserves established for individual claims. IBNR represents incurred but not reported reserves. We utilize a variety of standard actuarial methods to estimate our reserves. Although these actuarial methods have been developed over time,

63


assumptions about anticipated size of loss and loss emergence patterns are subject to fluctuations. We review our estimate of reserves on a quarterly basis and consider all significant facts and circumstances then known. New reported loss information from clients or insureds is the principal contributor to adjustments to our loss reserve estimates. These adjustments are recognized in the period in which they are determined, and therefore can impact that period's results either favorably (when reserve estimates established in prior periods prove to be redundant) or unfavorably (when reserve estimates established in prior periods prove to be deficient).
Liabilities for life and annuity benefits. Life and annuity benefits totaled $1,148.3 million at June 30, 2012 compared to $1,190.7 million as of December 31, 2011. The decrease was principally attributable to movements in foreign exchange rates. We endeavor to match these liabilities with assets of similar currency and duration in order to limit the net impact to shareholders’ equity of movements in foreign exchange rates. In addition, we paid $50.8 million of benefit payments during the six months ended June 30, 2012.
Senior notes. On September 27, 2010, Alterra Finance, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Alterra, issued $350.0 million principal amount of 6.25% senior notes due September 30, 2020 with interest payable on March 30 and September 30 of each year. The 6.25% senior notes are Alterra Finance’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Alterra Finance’s future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and rank senior to all of Alterra Finance’s future subordinated indebtedness. The 6.25% senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Alterra on a senior unsecured basis. The guarantee ranks equally with all of Alterra’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and ranks senior to all of Alterra’s future subordinated indebtedness. The effective interest rate related to the 6.25% senior notes, based on the net proceeds received, was 6.37%. The proceeds, net of all issuance costs, from the sale of the 6.25% senior notes were $346.9 million and were used to repay a $200.0 million revolving bank loan outstanding under a prior credit facility, which was replaced by our $1,100.0 million Senior Credit Facility in December 2011, with the remainder designated for general corporate purposes.
On April 16, 2007, Alterra USA privately issued $100.0 million principal amount of 7.20% senior notes due April 14, 2017 with interest payable on April 16 and October 16 of each year. The senior notes are Alterra USA’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of Alterra USA. The senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Alterra. The principal amount of the senior notes outstanding as of June 30, 2012 was $90.6 million.
Shareholders’ equity. Our shareholders’ equity increased to $2,851.7 million as of June 30, 2012 from $2,809.2 million as of December 31, 2011, an increase of 1.5%, principally due to net income of $158.0 million, partially offset by the repurchase of $136.9 million of common shares and warrants and the declaration of dividends of $27.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012. In addition, we recorded an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income of $35.3 million, principally from an increase in net unrealized gains on investments.
Liquidity. We generated $165.4 million of cash from operations during the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $148.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The principal factors that impact our operating cash flow are premium collections and payments, and the timing of loss and benefit payments and recoveries.
Our casualty business generally has a long claim-tail. As a result, we expect that we will generate significant operating cash flow as we accumulate property and casualty loss reserves on our balance sheet. Our property business generally has a short claim-tail. Consequently, we expect volatility in our operating cash flow levels as losses are incurred. We believe that our property and casualty loss reserves and life and annuity benefit reserves currently have an average duration of approximately 4.9 years. We expect increases in the amount of expected loss payments in future periods with a resulting decrease in operating cash flow; however, we do not expect loss payments to exceed the premiums generated. Actual premiums written and collected and losses and loss expenses paid in any period could vary materially from our expectations and could have a significant and adverse effect on operating cash flow.
While we tailor our fixed maturities portfolios in an effort to match the duration of expected loss and benefit payments, increased loss amounts or settlement of losses and benefits earlier than anticipated can result in greater cash needs. We maintain a significant working cash balance and have generated positive cash flow from operations in each of our last eight years of operating history. We also have the ability to borrow an additional $250.0 million using our current credit facilities, subject to certain conditions. Our largest credit facility, a $1,100.0 million four-year secured facility, expires in December 2015. Our cash and cash equivalents balance was $764.0 million as of June 30, 2012. We believe that we currently maintain sufficient liquidity to cover existing requirements and provide for contingent liquidity. Nonetheless, significant deviations in expected loss and benefit payments can occur, potentially requiring us to liquidate a portion of our fixed maturities portfolios. If we need to liquidate our fixed maturities securities within a short period of time, the actual realized proceeds may be significantly different from the fair values estimated as of June 30, 2012. We believe that our portfolio has sufficient liquidity to mitigate this risk, and we believe that we can continue to hold any potentially illiquid position until we can initiate an appropriately priced transaction.
As a holding company, Alterra’s principal source of funds is from interest income on cash balances and cash dividends from its subsidiaries, including Alterra Bermuda. The payment of dividends by Alterra Bermuda is limited under Bermuda

64


insurance laws. In particular, Alterra Bermuda may not declare or pay any dividends if it is in breach of its minimum solvency or liquidity levels under Bermuda law or if the declaration or payment of the dividends would cause it to fail to meet the minimum solvency or liquidity levels under Bermuda law. As of June 30, 2012, Alterra Bermuda met all minimum solvency and liquidity requirements.
In the ordinary course of business, we are required to provide letters of credit or other regulatory approved security to certain of our clients to meet contractual and regulatory requirements. As of June 30, 2012, we had two U.S. dollar denominated letter of credit facilities totaling $1,175.0 million with an additional $500.0 million available, subject to certain conditions. On that date, we had $585.7 million in letters of credit outstanding under these facilities. We also had a British pound sterling, or GBP, denominated letter of credit facility of GBP 30.0 million ($47.1 million) to support our London branch of Alterra Europe, of which GBP 16.8 million ($26.3 million) was utilized as of June 30, 2012. Each of our credit facilities requires that we comply with certain financial covenants, which may include covenants related to maximum debt to capital ratio, minimum consolidated tangible net worth, minimum insurer financial strength rating and restrictions on the payment of dividends. We were in compliance with all of the financial covenants of each of our credit facilities as of August 8, 2012.
As of June 30, 2012, we provided $276.4 million in Funds at Lloyds. These amounts are not available for distribution for the payment of dividends. Our Funds at Lloyd’s commitments are met using cash and fixed maturity securities. Our corporate members may also be required to maintain funds under the control of Lloyd’s in excess of their capital requirements and such funds also may not be available for distribution or the payment of dividends.
Capital resources. As of June 30, 2012, total shareholders’ equity was $2,851.7 million compared to $2,809.2 million as of December 31, 2011, an increase of 1.5%. On May 21, 2010, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-167035) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that permits us to periodically issue debt securities, common shares, preferred shares, depository shares, warrants, share-purchase contracts and share purchase units. The shelf registration statement also covers debt securities of Alterra Finance and trust preferred securities of Alterra Capital Trust I. In September 2010, Alterra Finance issued $350.0 million principal amount of 6.25% senior notes due September 30, 2020 with interest payable on March 30 and September 30 of each year pursuant to the shelf registration statement. The senior notes are guaranteed by Alterra. The net proceeds of the offering were used to repay a $200.0 million revolving bank loan outstanding under a prior credit facility, with the remainder used for general corporate purposes. In April 2007, Alterra USA sold $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.20% senior notes due April 14, 2017, of which $90.6 million principal amount was outstanding as of June 30, 2012. The senior notes are guaranteed by Alterra.
We believe that we have sufficient capital to meet our foreseeable financial obligations.
We may repurchase our securities from time to time through the open market, privately negotiated transactions or Rule 10b5-1 stock trading plans. During the quarter ended June 30, 2012, we repurchased 3,870,719 common shares for $88.0 million. As of June 30, 2012, the aggregate amount available under our Board approved share repurchase plan was $123.0 million.
Ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of reinsurance and insurance companies and are important to our ability to market our products. We have a financial strength rating for our non-Lloyd’s reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries from each of A.M. Best Company, or A.M. Best, Fitch Inc., or Fitch, Moody’s Investor Services, Inc., or Moody’s, and Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, or S&P. These ratings reflect each rating agency’s opinion of our financial strength, operating performance and ability to meet obligations. They are not evaluations directed toward the protection of investors in securities issued by Alterra. The Syndicates share the Lloyd’s market ratings.
As of June 30, 2012, we were rated as follows: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
A.M. Best
  
Fitch
  
Moody’s
  
S&P
Financial strength rating for non-Lloyd’s reinsurance and insurance subsidiaries
  
A (excellent) (1)
  
A (strong) (1)
  
A3 (2)
  
A (1)
Outlook on financial strength rating
  
Stable (1)
  
Stable (1)
  
Stable (2)
  
Stable (1)
Lloyd’s financial strength rating applicable to the Syndicates
  
A (excellent)
  
A+ (strong)
  
Not applicable
  
A+ (strong)
 
(1)
Applicable to Alterra Bermuda, Alterra Europe, Alterra Re USA, Alterra America and Alterra E&S.
(2)
Applicable to Alterra Bermuda.
On June 5, 2012, we paid a dividend to shareholders of $0.14 per share for an aggregate amount of $27.8 million. On August 7, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.16 per share for an estimated aggregate amount of $15.6 million payable to shareholders on September 4, 2012. Future cash dividends are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be dependent upon our results of operations, cash flows, financial position and capital requirements and upon general business conditions, legal, tax, regulatory and contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and other factors the Board of Directors deems relevant.

65


Off-balance sheet arrangements
We do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or variable interest entities, that have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have presented net operating income and annualized net operating return on average shareholders’ equity, which are “non-GAAP financial measures” as defined in Regulation G. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, which may be defined differently by other companies, allow for a more complete understanding of the performance of our business. These measures, however, should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to their respective most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures is as follows: 
 
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
 
 
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except
share and per share amounts)
Net income (loss)
 
$
78,940

 
$
32,635

 
$
157,964

 
$
(14,052
)
Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on investments not included in operating income, net of tax (a)
 
(9,987
)
 
4,711

 
(21,267
)
 
27,313

Net foreign exchange losses (gains), net of tax
 
7

 
2,212

 
(14
)
 
1,572

Net operating income
 
$
68,960

 
$
39,558

 
$
136,683

 
$
14,833

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per diluted share
 
$
0.77

 
$
0.30

 
$
1.54

 
$
(0.13
)
Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on investments not included in operating income, net of tax
 
(0.10
)
 
0.04

 
(0.21
)
 
0.26

Net foreign exchange losses (gains), net of tax
 

 
0.02

 

 
0.01

Net operating income per diluted share
 
$
0.68

 
$
0.37

 
$
1.33

 
$
0.14

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
 
99,563,474

 
105,604,786

 
100,283,266

 
106,385,007

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
 
101,957,882

 
107,111,909

 
102,556,070

 
106,385,007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annualized net income (loss)
 
$
315,760

 
$
130,540

 
$
315,928

 
$
(28,104
)
Annualized net operating income
 
$
275,840

 
$
158,232

 
$
273,366

 
$
29,666

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average shareholders’ equity (b)
 
$
2,851,499

 
$
2,758,200

 
$
2,840,874

 
$
2,789,435

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity
 
11.1
%
 
4.7
%
 
11.1
%
 
(1.0
)%
Annualized net operating return on average shareholders’ equity
 
9.7
%
 
5.7
%
 
9.6
%
 
1.1
 %
Per share totals may not add due to rounding.
(a)
Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on investments not included in operating income includes realized and unrealized (gains) losses on trading securities, realized (gains) losses on available for sale securities, net impairment losses recognized in earnings, earnings from equity method investments in run-off, and changes in fair value of investment derivatives, catastrophe bonds and structured deposits.
(b)
Average shareholders’ equity is computed as the average of the quarterly average shareholders’ equity balances.


ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We engage in an investment strategy that combines a fixed maturities investment portfolio and a hedge fund portfolio that employs various strategies to manage investment risk. We attempt to maintain adequate liquidity in our cash and fixed maturities investment portfolio to fund operations, pay insurance and reinsurance liabilities and claims and provide funding for

66


unexpected events. We seek to manage our credit risk through industry and issuer diversification, and interest rate risk by monitoring the duration and structure of our investment portfolio relative to the duration and structure of our liabilities. We are exposed to potential loss from various market risks, primarily changes in interest rates, credit spreads and equity prices. Accordingly, our earnings are affected by these changes. We manage our market risk based on Board-approved investment policies. With respect to our fixed maturities investment portfolio, our risk management strategy and investment policy is to invest in debt instruments of investment grade issuers (with limited and specific exceptions) and to limit the amount of credit exposure with respect to particular ratings categories and any one issuer. We select investments with characteristics such as duration, yield, currency and liquidity that are tailored to the cash flow characteristics of our property and casualty and life and annuity liabilities.
As of June 30, 2012, 96.4% of the securities held in our fixed maturities portfolio, by carrying value, were rated Baa3/BBB- or above. As of June 30, 2012, the weighted average credit rating of our fixed maturities portfolio was Aa2/AA. Under our current fixed maturities investment guidelines, securities in our fixed maturities portfolio, when purchased, generally must have a minimum rating of Baa3/BBB-, or its equivalent, from at least one internationally recognized statistical rating organization. Our guidelines permit three of our investment managers (managing approximately 2.3% of our invested assets by fair value as of June 30, 2012) to follow an opportunistic strategy, allowing them to purchase securities below investment-grade; however, no more than 10.0% of their holdings may be rated below B3/B-. In addition, a minimum weighted average credit quality rating of Aa3/AA-, or its equivalent, must be maintained for our fixed maturities investment portfolio as a whole. As of June 30, 2012, the impact on the fixed maturities investment portfolio from an immediate 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would have resulted in an estimated decrease in fair value of 4.5%, or approximately $311.1 million, and the impact on the fixed maturities investment portfolio from an immediate 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates would have resulted in an estimated increase in fair value of 4.9%, or approximately $339.4 million.
With respect to our hedge fund portfolio, we consistently and systematically monitor the strategies and funds in which we are invested. We focus on risk as well as return in the selection of each of our hedge fund portfolio investments. We select individual hedge funds that have exhibited attractive risk/reward characteristics and low correlation to other investments in the portfolio, as opposed to individual investments that have shown the highest return, but also higher volatility of return. We then combine the selected individual hedge funds into a portfolio of hedge funds. By combining investments that we believe have moderate volatility and low correlations, we aim to achieve a hedge fund portfolio that has overall lower volatility relative to investing in a common stock portfolio or a typical fund of hedge funds portfolio.
As of June 30, 2012, the estimated impact on the hedge fund portfolio from an immediate 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would have resulted in an estimated decrease in fair value of 1.8%, or approximately $4.6 million, and the impact on the hedge fund portfolio from an immediate 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates would have resulted in an estimated increase in fair value of 1.8%, or approximately $4.6 million. Another method that attempts to measure portfolio risk is Value-at-Risk, or VaR. VaR is a statistical risk measure, calculating the level of potential losses that could be expected to be exceeded, over a specified holding period and at a given level of confidence, in normal market conditions, and is expressed as a percentage of the portfolio’s initial value. Since the VaR approach is based on historical positions and market data, VaR results should not be viewed as an absolute and predictive gauge of future financial performance or as a way for us to predict risk. As of June 30, 2012, our hedge fund portfolio’s VaR was estimated to be 11.0% at the 99.0% level of confidence and with a three-month time horizon. 

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
Part A—Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, which we refer to as disclosure controls), are controls and procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms. Disclosure controls are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any control system. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance that its objectives are met. No evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected.
As of June 30, 2012, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, each of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls were effective to ensure that material information relating to our company is made known to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, particularly during the periods when our periodic reports are being prepared.


67


Part B—Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any control system. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance that its objectives are met. No evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected.
Management evaluated whether there was a change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2012 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on our evaluation, we believe that there was no such change during the quarter ended June 30, 2012.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings
Two lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia name Alterra Bermuda, along with approximately 100 other insurance companies and brokers, as a defendant. The claims in each case are that the defendants conspired to manipulate bidding practices for insurance policies in certain insurance lines and failed to disclose certain commission arrangements. The first of these cases was filed on April 4, 2006 by New Cingular Wireless Headquarter LLC and 16 other corporations, which we refer to as the "New Cingular Plaintiffs". The complaint asserts statutory claims under the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, the antitrust laws of several states, as well as common law claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. On October 16, 2006, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred the case to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey for pretrial proceedings on a consolidated basis with other lawsuits raising smaller claims. The second action was filed on October 12, 2007 by Sears, Roebuck & Co. and two affiliated corporations, which we refer to as the "Sears Plaintiffs". The complaint in this suit charges Alterra Bermuda and certain other insurance company defendants with violations of the antitrust and consumer fraud laws of Georgia and other states and common law claims of inducement of breach of fiduciary duties, tortuous interference with contract, unjust enrichment and aiding and abetting fraud. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred this case to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey for consolidated pretrial proceedings in November 2007. The two lawsuits were stayed for more than four years while the court addressed issues in related cases in which Alterra Bermuda was not a party. In October 2011, the District Court lifted the stay and allowed the two cases against Alterra Bermuda to proceed. On May 23, 2012, both the New Cingular Plaintiffs and the Sears Plaintiffs filed amended complaints. On August 1, 2012, Alterra Bermuda entered into a settlement and release agreement with the New Cingular Plaintiffs and the Sears Plaintiffs pursuant to which both the New Cingular Plaintiffs and the Sears Plaintiffs agreed to dismiss, with prejudice, all of their claims against the Company in exchange for an aggregate payment by Alterra Bermuda of $225,000 to the New Cingular Plaintiffs and the Sears Plaintiffs.


ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
Reference is made to the Risk Factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 24, 2012. There were no material changes from these risk factors during the three months ended June 30, 2012.


ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
We repurchase our shares from time to time through the open market, privately negotiated transactions and Rule 10b5-1 stock trading plans. During the three months ended June 30, 2012, we repurchased 3,870,719 common shares for $88.0 million. As of June 30, 2012, the aggregate amount available under our Board-approved repurchase plan was $123.0 million.
The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Alterra or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act) of our common shares during the three months ended June 30, 2012. 

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Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of
Publically
Announced Plans
or Programs
 
Approximate
Dollar Value
of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs
 
 
(April 1, 2012 to April 30, 2012)
 
127,500

 
$
23.24

 
127,500

 
$ 202.8 million
 
  
(May 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012)
 
1,279,836

 
$
23.03

 
1,052,100

 
$ 178.6 million
 
  
(June 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012)
 
2,463,383

 
$
22.56

 
2,459,500

 
$ 123.0 million
 
(3
)
Total (April 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012) (1)(2)
 
3,870,719

 
$
22.74

 
3,639,100

 
$ 123.0 million
 
(3
)
 
(1)
On September 17, 2001, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase plan providing for repurchases of our common shares. The repurchase plan has been increased from time to time at the election of our Board of Directors. The most recent increase was on August 7, 2012 when our Board of Directors authorized an additional $100.0 million in repurchases.
(2)
During the three months ended June 30, 2012, we purchased 231,619 of our common shares in connection with our employee benefit plans, including, as applicable, purchases associated with the exercise of options and the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards. These purchases were not made pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan or program.
(3)
During June 2012, we purchased 27,115 warrants from employees, which are not reflected in this table. These purchases reduced the dollar value of shares that may be purchased under publicly announced plans or programs by $0.1 million.

ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

ITEM 5. Other Information

None.

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ITEM 6. Exhibits
Exhibit
  
Description
 
 
4.1
  
Alterra Capital Holdings Limited Employee Stock Purchase Plan for Non-U.S. Taxpayers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 9, 2012).

 
 
4.2
  
Alterra Capital Holdings Limited Employee Stock Purchase Plan for U.S. Taxpayers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 9, 2012).

 
 
10.1
  
Form of Performance Award Agreement under 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2012).

 
 
10.2
 
Form of Performance Award Agreement under 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2012).

 
 
 
10.3
 
Form of Performance Award Agreement for employees in the United Kingdom under 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2012).

 
 
 
12.1
  
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
 
 
21.1
  
Schedule of Group Companies.
 
 
31.1
  
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer filed herewith pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
31.2
  
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer filed herewith pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
32.1
  
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer furnished herewith pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
32.2
  
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer furnished herewith pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
101
  
The following information from Alterra Capital Holdings Limited's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2012 formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011; and (v) Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. 
Alterra Capital Holdings Limited
 
 
 
 
/s/    W. MARSTON BECKER        
Name:
 
W. Marston Becker
Title:
 
Chief Executive Officer
Date:
 
August 8, 2012
 
 
 
 
/s/    JOSEPH W. ROBERTS        
Name:
 
Joseph W. Roberts
Title:
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date:
 
August 8, 2012
 
 
 
 
/s/    DAVID F. SHEAD        
Name:
 
David F. Shead
Title:
 
Chief Accounting Officer
Date:
 
August 8, 2012

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