Variable Interest Entity and Noncontrolling Interests

Variable interest entity

A VIE refers to an entity that has characteristics such as (i) insufficient equity at risk to allow the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support or (ii) instances where the equity investors, as a group, do not have characteristics of a controlling financial interest. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is defined as the variable interest holder that is determined to have the controlling financial interest as a result of having both (i) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. If a company is determined to be the primary beneficiary, it is required to consolidate the VIE in its financial statements.

In March 2014, Watford raised approximately $1.1 billion of capital consisting of $907.3 million in common equity ($895.6 million net of issuance costs) and $226.6 million in preference equity ($219.2 million net of issuance costs and discount). The Company invested $100.0 million and acquired approximately 11% of Watford Holdings Ltd.’s common equity and a warrant to purchase additional common equity. Arch Underwriters Ltd. (“AUL”), a subsidiary of the Company, acts as Watford’s reinsurance manager, and Highbridge Principal Strategies, LLC (“Highbridge”), a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., manages Watford’s investment assets, each under separate long term services agreements. John Rathgeber, previously Vice Chairman of Arch Worldwide Reinsurance Group, was named CEO of Watford. In addition, Marc Grandisson, Chairman and CEO of Arch Worldwide Reinsurance and Mortgage Groups, and Nicolas Papadopoulo, Chairman and CEO of Arch Reinsurance Ltd., were appointed to the board of directors of Watford.

The Company concluded that Watford is a VIE due to both the reinsurance management services agreement with AUL and the investment management agreement with Highbridge. Both of these agreements provide for services for an extended period of time with limited termination rights by Watford. In addition, these agreements allow for both AUL and Highbridge to participate in the favorable results of Watford in the form of performance fees. To determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary of Watford, the Company concluded that the most significant activity of Watford pertains to the insurance activities arising from the reinsurance management services agreement, as these activities will ultimately generate the investable assets required by Highbridge to execute the investment strategy. In addition, the Company factored into its analysis qualitative aspects of the relationship with Watford that are indicative of power to direct the insurance activities. These aspects coupled with the Company’s board seats and a former executive of the Company serving as Watford’s CEO resulted in the Company concluding that it is the primary beneficiary of Watford. As such, the results of Watford are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company concluded that Watford represents a separate operating segment and provides the income statement and total investable assets, total assets and total liabilities of Watford within Note 6. Because Watford is an independent company, the assets of Watford can be used only to settle obligations of Watford and Watford is solely responsible for its own liabilities and commitments. The Company’s financial exposure to Watford is limited to its investment in Watford’s common shares and counterparty credit risk (mitigated by collateral) arising from the reinsurance transactions.

Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests

The Company accounts for the portion of Watford’s common equity attributable to third party investors in the shareholders’ equity section of its consolidated balance sheets. The noncontrolling ownership in Watford’s common shares was approximately 89% at March 31, 2014. The portion of Watford’s income or loss attributable to third party investors is recorded in the consolidated statements of income as ‘net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests.’ The following table sets forth activity in the non-redeemable noncontrolling interests:



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Balance, beginning of year	$	—
Sale of shares to noncontrolling interests	796,903
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,407		)
Balance, end of period	$	793,496

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

The Company accounts for redeemable noncontrolling interests in the mezzanine section of its consolidated balance sheets in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. Such redeemable noncontrolling interests represent the 9,065,200 cumulative redeemable preference shares (“Watford Preference Shares”) issued in late March 2014 with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share. The Watford Preference Shares were issued at a discounted amount of $24.50 per share. Due to the timing of the issuance, not all amounts subscribed were collected by Watford by March 31, 2014. Holders of the Watford Preference Shares will be entitled to receive, if declared by Watford’s board, quarterly cash dividends on the last day of March, June, September, and December commencing June 30, 2014. Dividends will accrue from the closing date to June 30, 2019 at a fixed rate of 8.5% per annum. From June 30, 2019 and subsequent, dividends will accrue based on a floating rate equal to the 3 month U.S. dollar LIBOR (with a 1% floor) plus a margin based on the difference between the fixed rate and the 5 year mid swap rate to the floating rate as set out on the IRSB18. The Watford Preference Shares may be redeemed by Watford on or after June 30, 2019 or at the option of the preferred shareholders at any time on or after June 30, 2034. Because the redemption features are not solely within the control of Watford, the Company accounts for the redeemable noncontrolling interests in the Watford Preference Shares in the mezzanine section of its consolidated balance sheets. Third party investors own 100% of the Watford Preference Shares at March 31, 2014. Preferred dividends, including the accretion of the discount and issuance costs, are included as ‘net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests’ in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.