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Fair Value
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Fair Value
(a) Fair Value of Financial Instrument Assets
The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value by maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. The level in the hierarchy within which a given fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement.
The Company determines the appropriate level in the hierarchy for each financial instrument that it measures at fair value. In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches, including market, income and cost approaches. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the observability of inputs as follows:
Level 1 inputs—Unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.
The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 1 inputs generally include equities listed on a major exchange.
Level 2 inputs—Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets and significant directly or indirectly observable inputs, other than quoted prices, used in industry accepted models.
The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 2 inputs generally include: U.S. government issued bonds; U.S. government sponsored enterprises bonds; certain U.S. state, territory and municipal entities bonds; non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related bonds; investment grade and high yield corporate bonds; mortgage-backed securities; short-term investments; certain common and preferred equities; foreign exchange forward contracts; foreign currency option contracts; and interest rate swaps.
Level 3 inputs—Unobservable inputs.
The Company’s financial instruments that it measures at fair value using Level 3 inputs generally include: inactively traded fixed maturities including U.S. state, territory and municipal bonds; certain corporate bonds; special purpose financing asset-backed bonds; unlisted or private equities; certain other mutual fund equities; privately placed corporate loans, notes and loans receivable and notes securitizations included in Other invested assets; and certain other derivatives, including weather derivatives, longevity insurance-linked securities; warrants; and total return swaps included in Other invested assets.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value were classified between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
December 31, 2020Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
Significant
other observable
inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fixed maturities
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises$ $2,409,540 $ $2,409,540 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities 17,491 120,477 137,968 
Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related 2,180,762  2,180,762 
Corporate bonds 3,325,324 16,530 3,341,854 
Asset-backed securities  17,528 17,528 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 4,698,728  4,698,728 
Fixed maturities$ $12,631,845 $154,535 $12,786,380 
Short-term investments$ $416,350 $ $416,350 
Equities
Energy$— $— $34,448 $34,448 
Consumer cyclical13,312  475 13,787 
Consumer non-cyclical  6,886 6,886 
Insurance 117 4,000 4,117 
Finance3,508  138 3,646 
Real estate  2,338 2,338 
Industrials  39 39 
Diversified2  3,098 3,100 
Mutual funds  1,428,080 1,428,080 
Equities$16,822 $117 $1,479,502 $1,496,441 
Other invested assets
Derivative assets
Foreign exchange forward contracts$ $7,309 $ $7,309 
Total return swaps  797 797 
Insurance-linked securities  3,074 3,074 
Other  419 419 
Other
Corporate loans (1)
  1,326,143 1,326,143 
Notes and loans receivable and notes securitization  7,121 7,121 
Private equities  756,731 756,731 
Derivative liabilities
Foreign exchange forward contracts (10,698) (10,698)
Total return swaps  (3,152)(3,152)
Interest rate swaps (17,509) (17,509)
Insurance-linked securities  (2,000)(2,000)
Other invested assets$ $(20,898)$2,089,133 $2,068,235 
Total$16,822 $13,027,414 $3,723,170 $16,767,406 
(1)Corporate loans includes a portfolio of third-party, individually managed privately issued corporate loans that are managed under an externally managed mandate with a fair value of $0.9 billion and $1.4 billion at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The mandate primarily invests in U.S. floating rate, first lien, senior secured broadly syndicated loans with a focus on facility sizes greater than $300 million. Corporate loans also includes $0.4 billion and $0.5 billion of other privately issued corporate loans at December 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively.
December 31, 2019Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
Significant
other observable
inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Fixed maturities
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises$— $1,421,716 $— $1,421,716 
U.S. states, territories and municipalities— 13,807 143,427 157,234 
Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related— 3,255,154 — 3,255,154 
Corporate bonds— 2,643,402 18,687 2,662,089 
Asset-backed securities— — 18,228 18,228 
Residential mortgage-backed securities— 3,166,290 — 3,166,290 
Other mortgage-backed securities— — 
Fixed maturities$— $10,500,372 $180,342 $10,680,714 
Short-term investments$— $1,003,421 $— $1,003,421 
Equities
Finance$31,315 $$126 $31,443 
Consumer cyclical20,117 — — 20,117 
Insurance5,284 273 9,403 14,960 
Consumer noncyclical13,126 — — 13,126 
Basic materials5,295 — — 5,295 
Industrials4,042 — — 4,042 
Technology3,027 — — 3,027 
Real estate— — 2,385 2,385 
Communications922 — — 922 
Mutual funds— — 1,199,847 1,199,847 
Equities$83,128 $275 $1,211,761 $1,295,164 
Other invested assets
Derivative assets
Foreign exchange forward contracts$— $4,363 $— $4,363 
Total return swaps— — 1,448 1,448 
Insurance-linked securities— — 2,728 2,728 
Foreign currency option contracts— 266 — 266 
Other
Corporate loans — — 1,879,105 1,879,105 
Notes and loans receivable and notes securitization— — 3,085 3,085 
Private equities— — 533,744 533,744 
Derivative liabilities
Foreign exchange forward contracts— (5,643)— (5,643)
Total return swaps— — (2,962)(2,962)
Interest rate swaps— (12,378)— (12,378)
Insurance-linked securities— — (3,871)(3,871)
Other invested assets$— $(13,392)$2,413,277 $2,399,885 
Total$83,128 $11,490,676 $3,805,380 $15,379,184 
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the aggregate carrying amounts of items included in Other invested assets that the Company did not measure at fair value were $900 million and $866 million, respectively, which related to the Company’s investments that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Refer to Note 4(f) for further information on the Company's equity method investments.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the carrying value of accrued investment income approximated fair value due to its short-term nature.
During the year ended December 31, 2020 , an equity security valued at $4 million was transferred from Level 1 to Level 3 due to the unavailability of quoted prices in active markets. There were no transfers from Level 1 to Level 3 during the year ended December 31, 2019.
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, private equity securities valued at $3 million and $14 million, respectively, were transferred from Level 3 to Level 1 due to the availability of quoted prices in active markets.
Disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments that the Company does not measure at fair value exclude insurance contracts and certain other financial instruments. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the fair values of financial instrument assets recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets not described above approximate their carrying values.
The reconciliations of the beginning and ending balances for financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
For the year ended December 31, 2020Balance at
beginning
of year
Realized and
unrealized
investment
(losses) gains
included in
net income
Purchases
Settlements
and
sales
(1)
Net
transfers into
(out of) Level 3
Balance
at end of
year
Change in
unrealized
investment (losses) gains
relating to
assets held at
end of year
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities$143,427 $(5,785)$ $(17,165)$ $120,477 $(5,780)
Asset-backed securities18,228   (700) 17,528  
Corporate bonds18,687 (128) (2,029) 16,530 (128)
Fixed maturities$180,342 $(5,913)$ $(19,894)$ $154,535 $(5,908)
Equities
Energy$ $3,419 $31,128 $(99)$ $34,448 $3,320 
Consumer noncyclical (3,168)5,560  4,494 6,886 278 
Insurance9,403 (5,403)   4,000 4,000 
Real estate2,385 (416)369   2,338 (416)
Consumer cyclical  475   475  
Finance126 12    138 12 
Industrials (491)530   39 (491)
Diversified (706)3,804   3,098 (706)
Mutual funds1,199,847 206,654 47,391 (25,812) 1,428,080 198,911 
Equities$1,211,761 $199,901 $89,257 $(25,911)$4,494 $1,479,502 $204,908 
Other invested assets
Derivatives, net$(2,657)$(8,217)$5,008 $5,004 $ $(862)$(5,085)
Corporate loans1,879,105 (10,980)555,780 (1,097,762) 1,326,143 31,980 
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization3,085 124 4,448 (536) 7,121 (979)
Private equities533,744 105,627 260,096 (140,074)(2,662)756,731 93,903 
Other invested assets$2,413,277 $86,554 $825,332 $(1,233,368)$(2,662)$2,089,133 $119,819 
Total$3,805,380 $280,542 $914,589 $(1,279,173)$1,832 $3,723,170 $318,819 
(1)Settlements and sales of Equities and Other invested assets included sales of $26 million and $1.1 billion, respectively. Sales of Other invested assets of $1.1 billion included sales of corporate loans of $981 million and private equities of $137 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2019Balance at
beginning
of year
Realized and
unrealized
investment
gains (losses)
included in
net income
Purchases
Settlements
and
sales
(1)
Net
transfers
(out of) into
Level 3
Balance
at end of
year
Change in
unrealized
investment gains (losses)
relating to
assets held at
end of year
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities$120,898 $12,959 $10,455 $(885)$— $143,427 $12,951 
Asset-backed securities17,596 1,274 — (642)— 18,228 1,274 
Corporate21,470 157 — (2,940)— 18,687 157 
Fixed maturities$159,964 $14,390 $10,455 $(4,467)$— $180,342 $14,382 
Equities
Finance
$13,710 $100 $— $— $(13,684)$126 $(3)
Technology12,256 (1,538)— (10,718)— — — 
Mutual funds621,759 388,024 206,685 (16,621)— 1,199,847 385,317 
Insurance— 7,514 1,889 — — 9,403 7,514 
Real estate— — 2,385 — — 2,385 — 
Equities$647,725 $394,100 $210,959 $(27,339)$(13,684)$1,211,761 $392,828 
Other invested assets
Derivatives, net$(1,279)$115 $(2,000)$507 $— $(2,657)$(111)
Corporate loans401,702 9,237 1,828,802 (360,636)— 1,879,105 9,940 
Notes and loan receivables and notes securitization6,507 (717)— (2,705)— 3,085 139 
Private equities372,710 49,759 132,256 (20,981)— 533,744 37,159 
Other invested assets$779,640 $58,394 $1,959,058 $(383,815)$— $2,413,277 $47,127 
Total$1,587,329 $466,884 $2,180,472 $(415,621)$(13,684)$3,805,380 $454,337 
(1)Settlements and sales of Equities and Other invested assets included sales of $27 million and $289 million, respectively. Sales of Other invested assets of $289 million included sales of corporate loans of $270 million, notes and loan receivables and notes securitization of $2 million, and private equities of $17 million.
The significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs at December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows (fair value in thousands of U.S. dollars):
December 31, 2020Fair valueValuation techniquesUnobservable inputs
Range
(Weighted average (1))
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities$120,477 Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
2.5% – 283.2% (14.8%)
Asset backed securities17,528 Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
4.7% (4.7%)
Other invested assets
Total return swaps, net(2,355)Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
2.7% – 36.7% (29.8%)
Insurance-linked securities – longevity swaps3,074 Discounted cash flowCredit Spreads
1.8% (1.8%)
Notes and loans receivables6,446 Discounted cash flowCredit spread
17.5% (17.5%)
Gross revenue/fair value
1.1 (1.1)
Note securitization675 Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
2.5% (2.5%)
Private equity – other30,067 Discounted cash flowEffective yield
3.9% (3.9%)
Private equity – funds188,533 Lag reported market valueNet asset value, as reported
100.0% (100.0%)
Market adjustments
15.7% – 16.0% (15.9%)
December 31, 2019Fair valueValuation techniquesUnobservable inputs
Range
(Weighted average (1))
Fixed maturities
U.S. states, territories and municipalities$143,427 Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
(0.1)% – 9.6% (3.5%)
Asset backed securities18,228 Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
4.7% (4.7%)
Equities
Insurance9,403 Weighted market comparablesRevenue multiple
2.6x (2.6x)
Adjusted earnings multiple
7.7x (7.7x)
Liquidity discount
30.0% (30.0%)
Other invested assets
Total return swaps, net(1,514)Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
2.3% – 24.0% (16.9%)
Insurance-linked securities – longevity swaps2,728 Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
1.9% (1.9%)
Insurance-linked securities – pandemic swaps(1,871)Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
56.2% (56.2%)
Notes and loans receivables2,153 Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
17.5% (17.5%)
Gross revenue/fair value ratios
1.1 (1.1)
Note securitization932 Discounted cash flowCredit spreads
1.2% (1.2%)
Private equity – other15,800Discounted cash flowEffective yield
3.0% (3.0%)
Private equity – funds167,804Lag reported market valueNet asset value, as reported
100.0% (100.0%)
Market adjustments
1.9% – 15.0% (9.7%)
(1)Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments.
The tables above do not include financial instruments that are measured using unobservable inputs (Level 3) where the unobservable inputs were obtained from external sources and used without adjustment. These financial instruments include corporate bonds (included within Fixed maturities), equities and mutual fund investments (included within Equities), certain private equity funds (private equities included within Other invested assets), privately placed corporate loans (included within Other invested assets) and certain derivatives (included within Other invested assets).
Changes in the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments subject to the fair value option during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands of U.S. dollars):
202020192018
Fixed maturities and short-term investments$219,946 $190,343 $(150,926)
Equities167,456 403,011 2,791 
Other invested assets63,669 50,857 (12,987)
Funds held–directly managed (1)
 — (6,484)
Total$451,071 $644,211 $(167,606)
(1) The funds held–directly managed account was settled in 2018 upon commutation of the related Paris Re Reserve Agreement. See Note 7(a).
Substantially all of the above changes in fair value are included in Net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The change in the fair value of Other invested assets subject to the fair value option does not include certain derivatives.
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of each class of financial instrument recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. There have been no material changes in the Company’s valuation techniques during the periods presented.
Fixed maturities 
U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises—consists primarily of bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and corporate debt securities issued by government sponsored enterprises and federally owned or established corporations. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services. The independent pricing services may use actual transaction prices for securities that have been actively traded. For securities that have not been actively traded, each pricing source has its own proprietary method to determine the fair value, which may incorporate option adjusted spreads (OAS), interest rate data and market news. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
U.S. states, territories and municipalities—consists primarily of bonds issued by U.S. states, territories and municipalities and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Certain of the bonds that are issued by municipal housing authorities and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation are not actively traded and are priced based on internal models using unobservable inputs (credit spreads). Accordingly, the Company classifies these securities in Level 3. A significant increase (decrease) in credit spreads in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. The remaining securities are generally priced by independent pricing services using the techniques described for U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises above. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
Non-U.S. sovereign government, supranational and government related—consists primarily of bonds issued by non-U.S. national governments and their agencies, non-U.S. regional governments and supranational organizations. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services using the techniques described for U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises above. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
Corporate—consists primarily of bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations covering a variety of industries and issuing countries. Corporate securities also include real estate investment trusts, catastrophe bonds, longevity and mortality bonds and government guaranteed corporate debt. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider incorporates information including credit spreads, interest rate data and market news into the valuation of each security. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2. When a corporate security is inactively traded or the valuation model uses unobservable inputs, the Company classifies the security in Level 3.
Asset-backed securities— consists of special purpose financing securities. Special purpose financing securities are generally inactively traded and are priced based on valuation models using unobservable inputs (credit spreads). The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 3. A significant increase (decrease) in credit spreads in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
Residential mortgage-backed securities—primarily consists of bonds issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as well as private, non-agency issuers. These residential mortgage-backed securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. When current market trades are not available, the pricing provider or the Company will employ proprietary models with observable inputs including other trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
Other mortgage-backed securities—primarily consists of commercial mortgage-backed securities. These securities are generally priced by independent pricing services and brokers. The pricing provider applies dealer quotes and other available trade information, prepayment speeds, yield curves and credit spreads to the valuation. The Company generally classifies these securities in Level 2.
In general, the methods employed by the independent pricing services to determine the fair value of the securities that have not been actively traded primarily involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the independent pricing source applies the credit spread for a comparable security that has traded recently to the current yield curve to determine a reasonable fair value. The Company generally uses one pricing source per security and uses a pricing service ranking to consistently select the most appropriate pricing service in instances where it receives multiple quotes on the same security. When fair values are unavailable from these independent pricing sources, quotes are obtained directly from broker-dealers who are active in the corresponding markets. Most of the Company’s fixed maturities are priced from the pricing services or dealer quotes. The Company will typically not make adjustments to prices received from pricing services or dealer quotes; however, in instances where the quoted external price for a security uses significant unobservable inputs, the Company will classify that security as Level 3. The methods used to develop and substantiate the unobservable inputs used are based on the Company’s valuation policy and are dependent upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the individual investments which are generally transaction specific. The Company’s inactively traded fixed maturities are classified as Level 3. For all fixed maturity investments, the bid price is used for estimating fair value.
To validate prices, the Company compares the fair value estimates to its knowledge of the current market and will investigate prices that it considers not to be representative of fair value. The Company also reviews an internally generated fixed maturity price validation report which converts prices received for fixed maturity investments from the independent pricing sources and from broker-dealers quotes and plots OAS and duration on a sector and rating basis. The OAS is calculated using established algorithms developed by an independent risk analytics platform vendor. The OAS on the fixed maturity price validation report are compared for securities in a similar sector and having a similar rating, and outliers are identified and investigated for price reasonableness. In addition, the Company completes quantitative analyses to compare the performance of each fixed maturity investment portfolio to the performance of an appropriate benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated.
Short-term investments
Short-term investments are valued in a manner similar to the Company’s fixed maturity investments and are generally classified in Level 2.
Equities
Equity securities include U.S. and foreign common and preferred stocks, real estate investment trusts and mutual funds. Publicly traded equities are generally classified in Level 1 as the Company uses prices received from independent pricing sources based on quoted prices in active markets. Equities classified as Level 2 are generally mutual funds invested in fixed income securities, where the net asset value of the fund is provided on a daily basis, and certain common and preferred equities. Equities classified as Level 3 are generally mutual funds invested in securities other than the common stock of publicly traded companies, where the net asset value is not provided on a daily basis, and inactively traded common stocks. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of inactively traded common stocks classified as Level 3 include market return information, weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded companies in the same industry, in a similar region and of a similar size, including revenue multiples and adjusted earnings multiples. Significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs could result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. Significant unobservable inputs used in measuring the fair value measurement of inactively traded common stocks also include a liquidity discount. A significant increase (decrease) in the liquidity discount could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
To validate prices, the Company completes quantitative analyses to compare the performance of each equity investment portfolio to the performance of an appropriate benchmark, with significant differences identified and investigated.
Other invested assets
The Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts, interest rate swaps and foreign currency option contracts are generally classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and are priced by independent pricing services.
Included in the Company’s Level 3 classification, in general, are certain derivatives, including weather derivative insurance-linked securities and total return swaps; privately placed corporate loans; notes and loans receivable and notes securitizations; and private equities. For Level 3 instruments, the Company will generally (i) receive a price based on a manager’s or trustee’s valuation for the asset; (ii) develop an internal discounted cash flow model to measure fair value; or (iii) use market return information, adjusted if necessary and weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded equity funds in a similar region and of a similar size. Where the Company receives prices from the manager or trustee, these prices are based on the manager’s or trustee’s estimate of fair value for the assets and are generally audited on an annual basis. Where the Company develops its own discounted cash flow models, the inputs will be specific to the asset in question, based on appropriate historical information, adjusted as necessary, and using appropriate discount rates. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of Other invested assets classified as Level 3 include credit spreads and gross revenue to fair value ratios. Significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of Other invested assets classified as Level 3 also include market return information, weighted using management’s judgment, from comparable selected publicly traded companies in the same industry, in a similar region and of a similar size and effective yields. Significant increases (decreases) in these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. As part of the Company’s modeling to determine the fair value of an investment, the Company considers counterparty credit risk as an input to the model, however, the majority of the Company’s counterparties are investment grade rated institutions and the failure of any one counterparty would not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
To validate prices, the Company will compare them to benchmarks, where appropriate, or to the business results generally within that asset class and specifically to those particular assets.
(b) Fair Value of Financial Instrument Liabilities
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the carrying values of financial instrument liabilities recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate their fair values, with the exception of the long-term debt related to senior notes and junior subordinated notes. The fair value of the debt related to senior notes as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 was calculated based on discounted cash flow models using observable market yields and contractual cash flows based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding. The fair value of the debt related to junior subordinated notes as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 was calculated based on market data valuation models using observable inputs based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the intercompany debt.
See Note 9 for further details related to the Company's debt, including the carrying values and fair values.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s debt related to the senior notes and junior subordinated notes was classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Disclosures about the fair value of financial instrument liabilities exclude insurance contracts.