Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

A. Business and Basis of Presentation.

Everest Re Group, Ltd. ("Group"), a Bermuda company, through its subsidiaries, principally provides reinsurance and insurance in the U.S., Bermuda and international markets. As used in this document, "Company" means Group and its subsidiaries. On December 30, 2008, Group contributed Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings") and its subsidiaries to its Irish holding company, Everest Underwriting Group (Ireland), Limited ("Holdings Ireland").

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The statements include all of the following domestic and foreign direct and indirect subsidiaries of Group: Everest International Reinsurance, Ltd. ("Everest International"), Everest Global Services, Inc. ("Global Services"), Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd. ("Bermuda Re"), Everest Re Advisors, Ltd., Everest Advisors (UK), Ltd., Holdings Ireland, Everest Reinsurance Company (Ireland) Limited ("Ireland Re"), Everest Insurance Company of Canada ("Everest Canada"), Premiere Insurance Underwriting Services ("Premiere"), Holdings, Heartland Crop Insurance, Inc. ("Heartland"), Mt. McKinley Insurance Company ("Mt. McKinley"), Mt. McKinley Managers, L.L.C., Workcare Southeast, Inc., Workcare Southeast of Georgia, Inc., Everest Reinsurance Company ("Everest Re"), Everest National Insurance Company ("Everest National"), Everest Reinsurance Company Ltda. (Brazil), Mt. Whitney Securities, Inc., Everest Indemnity Insurance Company ("Everest Indemnity") and Everest Security Insurance Company ("Everest Security"). All amounts are reported in U.S. dollars.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities (and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities) at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Ultimate actual results could differ, possibly materially, from those estimates.

All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain reclassifications and format changes have been made to prior years' amounts to conform to the 2011 presentation.

Investments

B. Investments.

Fixed maturity and equity security investments available for sale, at market value, reflect unrealized appreciation and depreciation, as a result of temporary changes in market value during the period, in shareholders' equity, net of income taxes in "accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" in the consolidated balance sheets. Fixed maturity and equity securities carried at fair value reflect fair value re-measurements as net realized capital gains and losses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The Company records changes in fair value for its fixed maturities available for sale, at market value through shareholders' equity, net of taxes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) since cash flows from these investments will be primarily used to settle its reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense liabilities. The Company anticipates holding these investments for an extended period as the cash flow from interest and maturities will fund the projected payout of these liabilities. Fixed maturities carried at fair value represent a portfolio of foreign denominated fixed maturity securities, which will be used to settle loss and loss adjustment reserves in the same currency, and a portfolio of convertible bond securities, which have characteristics similar to equity securities. The Company carries all of its equity securities at fair value except for mutual fund investments whose underlying investments are comprised of fixed maturity securities. For equity securities, available for sale, at fair value, the Company reflects changes in value as net realized capital gains and losses since these securities may be sold in the near term depending on financial market conditions. Interest income on all fixed maturities and dividend income on all equity securities are included as part of net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Unrealized losses on fixed maturities, which are deemed other-than-temporary and related to the credit quality of a security, are charged to net income (loss) as net realized capital losses. Short-term investments are stated at cost, which approximates market value. Realized gains or losses on sales of investments are determined on the basis of identified cost. For non-publicly traded securities, market prices are determined through the use of pricing models that evaluate securities relative to the U.S. Treasury yield curve, taking into account the issue type, credit quality, and cash flow characteristics of each security. For publicly traded securities, market value is based on quoted market prices or valuation models that use observable market inputs. When a sector of the financial markets is inactive or illiquid, the Company may use its own assumptions about future cash flows and risk-adjusted discount rates to determine fair value. Retrospective adjustments are employed to recalculate the values of asset-backed securities. Each acquisition lot is reviewed to recalculate the effective yield. The recalculated effective yield is used to derive a book value as if the new yield were applied at the time of acquisition. Outstanding principal factors from the time of acquisition to the adjustment date are used to calculate the prepayment history for all applicable securities. Conditional prepayment rates, computed with life to date factor histories and weighted average maturities, are used to effect the calculation of projected and prepayments for pass-through security types. Other invested assets include limited partnerships, rabbi trusts and an affiliated entity. Limited partnerships and the affiliated entity are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, which can be recorded on a monthly or quarterly lag.

Uncollectible Receivable Balances

C. Uncollectible Receivable Balances.

The Company provides reserves for uncollectible reinsurance recoverable and premium receivable balances based on management's assessment of the collectability of the outstanding balances. Such reserves are presented in the table below for the periods indicated.


	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011		2010
Reinsurance receivables and premium receivables	$	33,796	$	34,496

Deferred Acquisition Costs

D. Deferred Acquisition Costs.

Acquisition costs, consisting principally of commissions and brokerage expenses and certain premium taxes and fees incurred at the time a contract or policy is issued and that vary with and are directly related to the Company's reinsurance and insurance business, are deferred and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. Deferred acquisition costs are limited to their estimated realizable value by line of business based on the related unearned premiums, anticipated claims and claim expenses and anticipated investment income. Deferred acquisition costs amortized to income are presented in the table below for the periods indicated.


	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2011		2010		2009
Deferred acquisition costs	$	950,521	$	931,855	$	928,333

The present value of in force annuity business is included in deferred acquisition costs. This value is amortized over the expected life of the business from the time of acquisition. The amortization each year is a function of the gross profits each year in relation to the total gross profits expected over the life of the business, discounted at an assumed net credited rate.

Reserve For Losses And Loss Adjustment Expenses

E. Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses.

The reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") is based on individual case estimates and reports received from ceding companies. A provision is included for losses and LAE incurred but not reported ("IBNR") based on past experience. A provision is also included for certain potential liabilities relating to asbestos and environmental ("A&E") exposures, which liabilities cannot be estimated using traditional reserving techniques. See also Note 3. The reserves are reviewed periodically and any changes in estimates are reflected in earnings in the period the adjustment is made. The Company's loss and LAE reserves represent management's best estimate of the ultimate liability. Loss and LAE reserves are presented gross of reinsurance receivables and incurred losses and LAE are presented net of reinsurance.

Accruals for commissions are established for reinsurance contracts that provide for the stated commission percentage to increase or decrease based on the loss experience of the contract. Changes in estimates for such arrangements are recorded as commission expense. Commission accruals for contracts with adjustable features are estimated based on expected loss and LAE.

Future Policy Benefit Reserve

F. Future Policy Benefit Reserve.

Liabilities for future policy benefits on annuity policies are carried at their accumulated values. Reserves for policy benefits include mortality claims in the process of settlement and IBNR claims. Actual experience in a particular period may fluctuate from expected results.

Premium Revenues

G. Premium Revenues.

Written premiums are earned ratably over the periods of the related insurance and reinsurance contracts. Unearned premium reserves are established relative to the unexpired contract period. Such reserves are established based upon reports received from ceding companies or estimated using pro rata methods based on statistical data. Reinstatement premiums represent additional premium received on reinsurance coverages, most prevalently catastrophe related, when limits have been depleted under the original reinsurance contract and additional coverage is granted. Written and earned premiums and the related costs, which have not yet been reported to the Company, are estimated and accrued. Premiums are net of ceded reinsurance.

Payout annuity premiums are recognized as revenue over the premium-paying period of the policies.

Prepaid Reinsurance Premiums

H. Prepaid Reinsurance Premiums.

Prepaid reinsurance premiums represent unearned premium reserves ceded to other reinsurers. Prepaid reinsurance premiums for any foreign reinsurers comprising more than 10% of the outstanding balance at December 31, 2011 were collateralized either through a trust arrangement or letters of credit, thereby limiting the credit risk to the Company.

Income Taxes

I. Income Taxes.

Holdings and its wholly-owned subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Foreign branches of subsidiaries file local tax returns as required. Group and subsidiaries not included in Holdings' consolidated tax return file separate company U.S. federal income tax returns as required. Holdings Ireland files an Irish income tax return. The UK branch of Bermuda Re files a UK income tax return. Deferred income taxes have been recorded to recognize the tax effect of temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, which arise because of differences between GAAP and income tax accounting rules.

Foreign Currency

J. Foreign Currency.

Assets and liabilities relating to foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date; revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates in effect during the reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from translating foreign currency financial statements, net of deferred income taxes, are excluded from net income (loss) and accumulated in shareholders' equity. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions, other than debt securities available for sale, are recorded through the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in other income (expense). Gains and losses resulting from changes in the foreign currency exchange rates on debt securities, available for sale at market value, are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and any losses which are deemed other-than-temporary are changed to net income (loss) as net realized capital loss.

Earnings Per Common Share

K. Earnings Per Common Share.

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that would occur if options granted under various share-based compensation plans were exercised resulting in the issuance of common shares that would participate in the earnings of the entity.

Net income (loss) per common share has been computed as per below, based upon weighted average common basic and dilutive shares outstanding.


		Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)		2011			2010			2009
Net income (loss) per share:
Numerator
Net income (loss)		$	(80,486	)	$	610,754		$	806,989
Less: dividends declared-common shares and nonvested common shares			(103,848	)		(108,477	)		(116,856	)
Undistributed earnings			(184,334	)		502,277			690,133
Percentage allocated to common shareholders (1)			99.3	%		99.5	%		99.7	%
			(183,134	)		499,882			687,729
Add: dividends declared-common shareholders			103,150			107,926			116,477
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share		$	(79,984	)	$	607,808		$	804,207

Denominator
Denominator for basic earnings per weighted-average common shares			53,792			56,630			60,661
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options			124			156			187
Denominator for diluted earnings per adjusted weighted-average common shares			53,916			56,786			60,847

Per common share net income (loss)
Basic		$	(1.49	)	$	10.73		$	13.26
Diluted		$	(1.49	)	$	10.70		$	13.22

(1)	Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding		53,792			56,630			60,661
	Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding and nonvested common shares expected to vest		54,145			56,902			60,873
	Percentage allocated to common shareholders		99.3	%		99.5	%		99.7	%
(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)

The table below presents the options to purchase common shares that were outstanding, but were not included in the computation of earnings per diluted share as they were anti-dilutive, for the periods indicated:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2011	2010	2009
Anti-dilutive options	1,490,730	1,873,070	1,613,450

All outstanding options expire on or between September 26, 2012 and May 18, 2021.

Segmentation

L. Segmentation.

The Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in four segments: U.S. Reinsurance, Insurance, International and Bermuda. See also Note 19.

Derivatives

M. Derivatives.

The Company sold seven equity index put option contracts, based on two indices, in 2001 and 2005, which are outstanding. The Company sold these equity index put options as insurance products with the intent of achieving a profit. These equity index put option contracts meet the definition of a derivative under FASB guidance and the Company's position in these equity index put option contracts is unhedged. Accordingly, these equity index put option contracts are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

The fair value of the equity index put options can be found in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as follows:


(Dollars in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as	Location of fair value	At December 31,
hedging instruments	in balance sheets	2011		2010

Equity index put option contracts	Equity index put option liability	$	69,729	$	58,467
Total		$	69,729	$	58,467

The change in fair value of the equity index put option contracts can be found in the Company's statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as follows:


(Dollars in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as	Location of gain (loss) in statements of	For the Years Ended December 31,
hedging instruments	operations and comprehensive income (loss)	2011			2010			2009

Equity index put option contracts	Net derivative gain (loss)	$	(11,261	)	$	(1,119	)	$	3,204
Total		$	(11,261	)	$	(1,119	)	$	3,204

Deposit Assets And Liabilities

N. Deposit Assets and Liabilities.

In the normal course of its operations, the Company may enter into contracts that do not meet risk transfer provisions. Such contracts are accounted for using the deposit accounting method and are included in other liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. For such contracts, the Company originally records deposit liabilities for an amount equivalent to the assets received. Actuarial studies are used to estimate the final liabilities under such contracts with any change reflected in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Share-Based Compensation

O. Share-Based Compensation.

Share-based compensation option or restricted share awards are fair valued at the grant date and expensed over the vesting period of the award. The tax benefit on the recorded expense is deferred until the time the award is exercised or vests (becomes unrestricted). See Note 17.

Application Of Recently Issued Accounting Standard Changes

P. Application of Recently Issued Accounting Standard Changes.

Financial Accounting Standards Board Launched Accounting Codification. In June 2009, Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued authoritative guidance establishing the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM ("Codification") as the single source of authoritative U.S. GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by non-governmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. The Codification supersedes all existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. All other non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification have become non-authoritative.

Following the Codification, the FASB will no longer issue new standards in the form of Statements, FASB Staff Positions or Emerging Issues Task Force Abstracts. Instead, the FASB will issue Accounting Standards Updates, which will serve to update the Codification, provide background information about the guidance and provide the basis for conclusions on the changes to the Codification.

GAAP is not intended to be changed as a result of the FASB's Codification, but it will change the way the guidance is organized and presented. As a result, these changes have a significant impact on how companies reference GAAP in their financial statements and in the accounting policies for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Company's adoption of this guidance impacts the way the Company references U.S. GAAP accounting standards in the financial statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Intangibles-Goodwill or Other. In September 2011, the FASB amended the authoritative guidance for disclosures on Goodwill Impairment. The amendment allows an entity first to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis in determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company will adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2012.

Presentation of Comprehensive Income. In June 2011, FASB issued amendments to existing guidance to provide two alternatives for the presentation of comprehensive income. Components of net income and comprehensive income will either be presented within a single, continuous financial statement or be presented in two separate but consecutive financial statements. The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company will adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2012 and expects to present net income and comprehensive income in a single, continuous financial statement.

Common Fair Value Measurement. In May 2011, FASB issued amendments to existing guidance to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The amendments change wording used to describe many GAAP fair value measurement requirements and disclosures. FASB does not intend for the amendments to cause a change in application of fair value accounting guidance. The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company will adopt this guidance prospectively as of January 1, 2012.

Treatment of Insurance Contract Acquisition Costs. In October 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for the accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The guidance identifies the incremental direct costs of contract acquisition and costs directly related to acquisition activities that should be capitalized. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company will adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2012 and estimates that $13,492 thousand of acquisition costs will no longer be capitalized during 2012.

Subsequent Events. In May 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for subsequent events, which was later modified in February 2010, that addresses the accounting for and disclosure of subsequent events not addressed in other applicable U.S. GAAP. The Company implemented the new disclosure requirement beginning with the second quarter of 2009 and included it in the Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

Improving Disclosures About Fair Value Measurements. In January 2010, the FASB amended the authoritative guidance for disclosures on fair value measurements. Effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, the guidance requires a new separate disclosure for: significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and 2 and the reasons for the transfers; and provided clarification on existing disclosures to include: fair value measurement disclosures by class of assets and liabilities and disclosure on valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3. The Company implemented this guidance effective January 1, 2010. Effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010, the guidance requires another new separate disclosure in regards to Level 3 fair value measurements in that, the period activity will present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements. Comparative disclosures shall be required only for periods ending after initial adoption. The Company implemented this guidance beginning with the third quarter of 2010.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairments on Investment Securities. In April 2009, the FASB revised the authoritative guidance for the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments. This new guidance amends the recognition guidance for other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities and expands the financial statement disclosures for other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities. For available for sale debt securities that the Company has no intent to sell and more likely than not will not be required to sell prior to recovery, only the credit loss component of the impairment would be recognized in earnings, while the rest of the fair value loss would be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Company adopted this guidance effective April 1, 2009. Upon adoption the Company recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment increase in retained earnings and decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as follows:


(Dollars in thousands)
Cumulative-effect adjustment, gross	$	65,658
Tax		(8,346	)
Cumulative-effect adjustment, net	$	57,312

Measurement of Fair Value in Inactive Markets. In April 2009, the FASB revised the authoritative guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures, which reaffirms that fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. It also reaffirms the need to use judgment in determining if a formerly active market has become inactive and in determining fair values when the market has become inactive. There was no impact to the Company's financial statements upon adoption.