SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant estimates reflected in the Company’s financial statements include, but are not limited to:


•	The premium estimates for certain reinsurance agreements,


•	Recoverability of deferred acquisition costs,


•	The reserve for outstanding losses and loss expenses,


•	Valuation of ceded reinsurance recoverables,


•	Determination of impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, and


•	Valuation of financial instruments.

Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation and entities meeting consolidation requirements have been included in the consolidated financial statements. To facilitate comparison of information across periods, certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year's presentation.

The significant accounting policies are as follows:

a) Premiums and Acquisition Costs

Premiums are recorded as written on the inception date of the policy. For certain types of business written by the Company, notably assumed reinsurance, premium income may not be known at the policy inception date. In the case of quota share reinsurance treaties assumed by the Company, the underwriter makes an estimate of premium income at inception. The underwriter’s estimate is based on statistical data provided by reinsureds and the underwriter’s judgment and experience. Such estimations are refined over the reporting period of each treaty as actual written premium information is reported by ceding companies and intermediaries. Premiums resulting from changes in the estimate of the premium income are recorded in the period the estimate is changed. Certain insurance and reinsurance contracts may require that the premium be adjusted at the expiry of the contract to reflect the change in exposure or loss experience of the insured or reinsured.

Premiums are recognized as earned over the period of policy coverage in proportion to the risks to which they relate. Reinsurance premiums under a losses-occurring reinsurance contract are earned over the coverage period. Reinsurance premiums under a risks-attaching reinsurance contract are earned over the same period as the underlying policies, or risks, covered by the contract. As a result, the earning pattern of a risks-attaching reinsurance contract may extend up to 24 months, reflecting the inception dates of the underlying policies. Premiums relating to the unexpired periods of coverage are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as “unearned premiums”.

Acquisition costs, comprised of commissions, brokerage fees and insurance taxes, are costs that are directly related to the successful acquisition of new and renewal business. While permitted under U.S. GAAP to defer certain internal costs that are directly related to the successful acquisition of new and renewal business, the Company does not defer such costs. Acquisition costs that are deferred are expensed as the premiums to which they relate are earned. Acquisition costs relating to the reserve for unearned premiums are deferred and carried on the balance sheets as an asset and are amortized over the period of coverage. Expected losses and loss expenses, other costs and anticipated investment income related to these unearned premiums are considered in determining the recoverability or deficiency of deferred acquisition costs. If it is determined that deferred acquisition costs are not recoverable, they are expensed. Further analysis is performed to determine if a liability is required to provide for losses which may exceed the related unearned premiums.

b) Reserve for Losses and Loss Expenses

The reserve for losses and loss expenses is comprised of two main elements: outstanding loss reserves (“OSLR,” also known as case reserves) and reserves for losses incurred but not reported (“IBNR”). OSLR relate to known claims and represent management’s best estimate of the likely loss payment. IBNR relates to reserves established by the Company for claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported to us as well as for changes in the values of claims that have been reported to us but are not yet settled.

The reserve for IBNR is estimated by management for each line of business based on various factors including underwriters’ expectations about loss experience, actuarial analysis, comparisons with the results of industry benchmarks and loss experience to date. The Company’s actuaries employ generally accepted actuarial methodologies to determine estimated ultimate loss reserves. The adequacy of the reserves is re-evaluated quarterly by the Company’s actuaries. At the completion of each quarterly review of the reserves, a reserve analysis is prepared and reviewed with the Company’s loss reserve committee. This committee determines management’s best estimate for loss and loss expense reserves based upon the reserve analysis.

While management believes that the reserves for OSLR and IBNR are sufficient to cover losses assumed by the Company, there can be no assurance that losses will not deviate from the Company’s reserves, possibly by material amounts. The methodology of estimating loss reserves is periodically reviewed to ensure that the assumptions made continue to be appropriate. The Company recognizes any changes in its loss reserve estimates and the related reinsurance recoverables in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income ("consolidated income statements") in the periods in which they are determined. These are recorded in “net losses and loss expenses”.

c) Ceded Reinsurance

In the ordinary course of business, the Company uses both treaty and facultative reinsurance to minimize its net loss exposure to any one catastrophic loss event or to an accumulation of losses from a number of smaller events. Reinsurance premiums ceded are expensed and any commissions recorded thereon are earned over the period the reinsurance coverage is provided in proportion to the risks to which they relate. For reinsurance treaties that have contractual minimum premium provisions, premiums ceded are recorded at the inception of the treaty based on the minimum premiums. Any unearned ceding commission is included in “net deferred acquisitions costs” on the consolidated balance sheets and is recorded as a reduction to the overall net deferred acquisition cost balance. Prepaid reinsurance represents unearned premiums ceded to reinsurance companies. Reinsurance recoverable includes the balances due from those reinsurance companies under the terms of the Company’s reinsurance agreements for unpaid losses and loss reserves, including IBNR. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the estimated claim liability associated with the reinsured policy.

The Company determines the portion of the IBNR liability that will be recoverable under its reinsurance contracts by reference to the terms of the reinsurance protection purchased. This determination is necessarily based on the estimate of IBNR and accordingly, is subject to the same uncertainties as the estimate of IBNR.

The Company remains liable to the extent that its reinsurers do not meet their obligations under the reinsurance contracts; therefore, the Company regularly evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentration of credit risk.

d) Investments

All of our fixed maturity investments and equity securities are classified as trading securities as the Company has elected the fair value option permitted under U.S. GAAP for these investments. Trading securities are carried at fair value with any change in unrealized gains or losses recognized in the consolidated income statements and included in “net realized investment gains”. As a result of our investment classification, we do not record any change in unrealized gains or losses in our investments as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income on the consolidated balance sheets.

Other invested assets consist primarily of investments in hedge funds and private equity funds, which have been accounted for as trading securities as the Company has elected the fair value option as permitted under U.S. GAAP. In addition, included in the Company’s other invested assets are various investments which are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Generally, the Company uses the equity method where it does not have a controlling interest and is not the primary beneficiary. Equity method investments are recorded at cost and adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of earnings or losses on a quarterly lag basis. An other-than-temporary impairment charge related to the equity method investments is assessed when facts and circumstances exists that indicate an impairment may exist. An other-than-temporary impairment charge is recorded when it is determined that the carrying value of the equity method investment is below its fair value and the Company does not have the intent and ability to hold to recovery. No equity method investment was deemed significant to disclose summarized financial data. Other investments are recorded based on valuation techniques depending on the nature of the individual assets.

At each measurement date, the Company estimates the fair value of the financial instruments using various valuation techniques. The Company utilizes, to the extent available, quoted market prices in active markets or observable market inputs in estimating the fair value of financial instruments. When quoted market prices or observable market inputs are not available, the Company may utilize valuation techniques that rely on unobservable inputs to estimate the fair value of financial instruments. The Company bases its determination of whether a market is active or inactive on the spread between what a seller is asking for a security and what a buyer is bidding for that security. Spreads that are significantly above historical spreads are considered inactive markets. The Company also considers the volume of trading activity in the determination of whether a market is active or inactive. See note 5 for additional information regarding the fair value of financial instruments.

The Company utilizes independent pricing sources to obtain market quotations for securities that have quoted prices in active markets. In general, the independent pricing sources use observable market inputs including, but not limited to, investment yields, credit risks and spreads, benchmarking of like securities, reported trades and sector groupings to determine the fair value. For a majority of the portfolio, the Company obtained two or more prices per security as of December 31, 2014. When multiple prices are obtained, a price source hierarchy is utilized to determine which price source is the best estimate of the fair value of the security. The price source hierarchy emphasizes more weighting to significant observable inputs such as index pricing and less weighting towards non-binding broker-dealer quotes. In addition, to validate all prices obtained from these pricing sources including non-binding broker-dealer quotes, the Company also obtains prices from its investment portfolio managers and other sources (e.g., another pricing vendor), and compares the prices obtained from the independent pricing sources to those obtained from the Company’s investment portfolio managers and other sources. The Company investigates any material differences between the multiple sources and determines which price best reflects the fair value of the individual security. There were no material differences between the prices obtained from the independent pricing sources and the prices obtained from the Company’s investment portfolio managers and other sources as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Investment securities are recorded on a trade date basis. Investment income is recognized when earned and includes the accrual of discount or amortization of premium on fixed maturity investments using the effective yield method and is net of related expenses. Interest income for fixed maturity investments is accrued and recognized based on the contractual terms of the fixed maturity investments and is included in “net investment income” in the consolidated income statements. The Company’s share of distributed and undistributed net income from equity method investments is included in “net investment income”. The return on investments is managed on a total financial statement portfolio return basis, which includes the distributed and undistributed net income from equity method investments, and as such have classified these amounts in net investment income.

Realized gains and losses on the disposition of investments, which are based upon the first-in first-out method of identification, are included in “net realized investment gains” in the consolidated income statements. For mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities and any other holdings for which there is a prepayment risk, prepayment assumptions are evaluated and revised on a regular basis. Revised prepayment assumptions are applied to securities on a retrospective basis to the date of acquisition. The cumulative adjustments to amortized cost required due to these changes in effective yields and maturities are recognized in net investment income in the same period as the revision of the assumptions.

e) Variable Interest Entities

The Company is involved in the normal course of business with variable interest entities (“VIEs”) as a passive investor in certain asset-backed securities issued by third-party VIEs and affiliated VIEs. The Company performs a qualitative assessment at the date when it becomes initially involved in the VIE, followed by ongoing reassessments related to its involvement in VIEs. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to these investments is limited to the investment carrying amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and any unfunded commitments.

f) Translation of Foreign Currencies

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Foreign currency revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Exchange gains and losses, including those arising from forward exchange contracts, are included in the consolidated income statements. The Company’s functional currency, and that of each its operating subsidiaries, is the U.S. dollar as it is the single largest currency in which the Company and its each of its subsidiaries transact business and hold invested assets.

g) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include amounts held in banks, time deposits, commercial paper, discount notes and U.S. Treasury Bills with maturities of less than three months from the date of purchase.

h) Income Taxes

Allied World Switzerland and certain of its subsidiaries operate in jurisdictions where they are subject to income taxation. Current and deferred income taxes are charged or credited to operations, or to accumulated other comprehensive income in certain cases, based upon enacted tax laws and rates applicable in the relevant jurisdiction in the period in which the tax becomes payable. Deferred income taxes are provided for all temporary differences between the bases of assets and liabilities used in the financial statements and those used in the various jurisdictional tax returns.

It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in “interest expense” and penalties in “general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated income statements. The Company has not recorded any interest or penalties during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and the Company has not accrued any payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

i) Employee Stock Option Compensation Plan

The Company has an employee stock option plan, which is in run-off, in which the amount of Allied World Switzerland's common shares received as compensation through the issuance of stock options is determined by reference to the value of the shares. Compensation expense for stock options granted to employees is recorded on a straight-line basis over the option vesting period and is based on the fair value of the stock options on the grant date. The fair value of each stock option on the grant date is determined by using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

j) Restricted Stock Units

The Company has granted restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to certain employees. The compensation expense for the RSUs is based on the market value of Allied World Switzerland’s common shares on the grant date, and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the applicable vesting period.

The Company has also granted cash-equivalent RSUs to certain employees that vest on a straight-line basis over the applicable vesting period. The amount payable per unit awarded will be equal to the price per share of Allied World Switzerland’s common shares and as such the Company measures the value of the award each reporting period based on the period ending share price. The effects of changes in the share price at each period end during the service period are recognized as increases or decreases in compensation expense over the service period.

k) Performance-Based Equity Awards

The Company has granted performance-based equity awards to key employees in order to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. Each award represents the right to receive a number of common shares in the future, based upon the achievement of established performance criteria during the applicable performance period. The compensation expense for these awards is based on the market value of Allied World Switzerland’s common shares on the grant date, and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the applicable performance and vesting period. The Company will also adjust the compensation expense, as a cumulative adjustment, to the extent the Company's performance is above or below the targeted performance criteria.

The Company has also granted cash-equivalent, performance-based awards to certain employees that vest based upon the achievement of established performance criteria during the applicable performance period. These cash-equivalent, performance-based awards vest after a three-year performance period. The amount payable per unit awarded will be equal to the price per share of Allied World Switzerland’s common shares, and as such the Company measures the value of the award each reporting period based on the period-ending share price. The effects of changes in the share price at each period end during the service period are recognized as changes in compensation expense over the service period. The Company will also adjust the compensation expense, as a cumulative adjustment, to the extent the Company's performance is above or below the targeted performance criteria.

l) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company classifies its intangible assets into three categories: (1) intangible assets with finite lives subject to amortization, (2) intangible assets with indefinite lives not subject to amortization, and (3) goodwill. Intangible assets, other than goodwill, generally consist of trademarks, renewal rights, internally generated software, non-compete covenants and insurance licenses.

For intangible assets with finite lives, the value of the assets is amortized over their expected useful lives and the expense is included in “amortization of intangible assets” in the consolidated income statements. The Company tests assets for impairment if conditions exist that indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. If, as a result of the evaluation, the Company determines that the value of the intangible assets is impaired, then the value of the assets will be written-down in the period in which the determination of the impairment is made.

For indefinite lived intangible assets the Company does not amortize the intangible asset but evaluates and compares the fair value of the assets to their carrying values on an annual basis or more frequently if circumstances warrant. If, as a result of the evaluation, the Company determines that the value of the intangible assets is impaired, then the value of the assets will be written-down in the period in which the determination of the impairment is made.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisitions over the fair value of net assets acquired and is not amortized. Goodwill is assigned at acquisition to the applicable reporting unit(s) based on the expected benefit to be received by the reporting units from the business combination. The Company determines the expected benefit based on several factors including the purpose of the business combination, the strategy of the Company subsequent to the business combination and structure of the acquired company subsequent to the business combination. A reporting unit is a component of the Company’s business that has discrete financial information that is reviewed by management. In determining the reporting unit, the Company analyzes the inputs, processes, outputs and overall operating performance of the reporting unit. The Company has determined that for purposes of the acquisition of Allied World Underwriters, Inc. ("AW Underwriters") (f/k/a Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc.) the U.S. direct insurance operations of the North American Insurance segment is the reporting unit that is expected to receive the benefit of the business combination and as such all of the goodwill has been allocated to this reporting unit.

For goodwill, the Company performs an annual impairment test, or more frequently if circumstances are warranted. The Company may first 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. The results of the qualitative assessment will determine if an entity needs to proceed with the two-step goodwill impairment test. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company elected to bypass the qualitative assessment and performed the first step of the goodwill impairment test.

The first step of the goodwill impairment test is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value then the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed.

The second step of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill in order to determine the amount of impairment to be recognized. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by deducting the fair value of a reporting unit’s identifiable assets and liabilities from the fair value of the reporting unit as a whole. The excess of the carrying value of goodwill above the implied goodwill, if any, would be recognized as an impairment charge in the consolidated income statements.

We recorded no impairments during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

m) Derivative Instruments

The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments as part of its overall risk management strategy. The Company recognizes all derivative financial instruments at fair value as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The accounting for gains and losses associated with changes in the fair value of a derivative and the effect on the consolidated financial statements depends on its hedge designation and whether the hedge is highly effective in achieving offsetting changes in the fair value of the asset or liability hedged.

The Company uses currency forward contracts and foreign currency swaps to manage currency exposure. The Company also utilizes various derivative instruments such as interest rate futures, interest rate swaps and index options, for the purpose of managing market exposures, interest rate volatility, portfolio duration, hedging certain investments, or enhancing investment performance. These derivatives are not designated as hedges and accordingly are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets with realized and unrealized gains and losses included in the consolidated income statements. Refer to Note 4 for the Company’s related disclosure.

n) Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is defined as net income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, giving no effect to dilutive securities. Diluted earnings per share is defined as net income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common and common share equivalents outstanding calculated using the treasury stock method for all potentially dilutive securities, including share warrants, employee stock options, employee share repurchase plan, RSUs and performance-based awards. When the effect of dilutive securities would be anti-dilutive, these securities are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

o) Treasury Shares

Common shares repurchased by the Company and not subsequently cancelled are classified as "treasury shares" on the consolidated balance sheets and are recorded at cost. When shares are reissued from treasury the historical cost, based on the first-in, first-out method, is used to determine the cost of the reissued shares. The difference between the cost of the treasury shares and the par value of the common stock shall be first reflected as additional paid-in capital, but to the extent additional paid-in capital is exhausted the remainder shall reduce retained earnings. The issuance of shares out of treasury have been related to vesting equity-based compensation of the Company's employees and directors.

p) New Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-08, "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity" ("ASU 2014-08"). ASU 2014-08 changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations, such that a disposal of a component of the Company's operations is required to be reported as discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results. Examples of strategic shifts that could have a major effect on the Company's operations could include a disposal of a major geographical area, a major line of business, a major equity method investment, or other major parts of the Company. ASU 2014-08 is effective for all disposals that occur after January 1, 2015. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2014-08 will have a material impact on future financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 provides a framework, through a five-step process, for recognizing revenue from customers, improves comparability and consistency of recognizing revenue across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets, and requires enhanced disclosures. Certain contracts with customers are specifically excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09, including; amongst others, insurance contracts accounted for under Accounting Standard Codification 944, Financial Services - Insurance. ASU 2014-09 is effective on January 1, 2017 with retrospective adoption required for the comparative periods. The Company is currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on future financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, "Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern" ("ASU 2014-15"). Currently, there is no guidance under U.S. GAAP regarding management's responsibility to assess whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern. Under ASU 2014-15, the Company will be required to assess its ability to continue as a going concern each interim and annual reporting period and provide certain disclosures if there is substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern, including management's plan to alleviate the substantial doubt. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the year ended December 31, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-15 will have on future financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-17, "Pushdown Accounting" ("ASU 2014-17"). ASU 2014-17 provides an acquired entity with an option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements upon an acquirer obtaining control of the acquired entity. The acquired entity may also elect to apply pushdown accounting in a subsequent reporting period, if pushdown accounting was not applied when the acquirer obtained control, but that will be treated as a change in accounting principle. Once pushdown accounting is applied, the election is irrevocable. The Company adopted ASU 2014-17 when it became effective in November 2014.