UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
or
Commission File Number 001-15811
MARKEL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6148
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
(804) 747-0136
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
NONE
(Former name, former address and 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 x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No ¨
Number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at October 29, 2004: 9,847,253
Markel Corporation
Form 10-Q
Index
PART I.FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets— September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)— Quarters and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity— Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows— Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Critical Accounting Policies
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4.Controls and Procedures
Safe Harbor and Cautionary Statement
PART II.OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits
Signatures
Exhibit Index
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
ASSETS
Investments, available-for-sale, at estimated fair value:
Fixed maturities (amortized cost of $4,171,190 in 2004 and $3,840,339 in 2003)
Equity securities (cost of $755,752 in 2004 and $638,445 in 2003)
Short-term investments (estimated fair value approximates cost)
Total Investments, Available-For-Sale
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses
Deferred policy acquisition costs
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
Intangible assets
Other assets
Total Assets
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
Unearned premiums
Payables to insurance companies
Convertible notes payable (estimated fair value of $111,000 in 2004 and $99,000 in 2003)
Senior long-term debt (estimated fair value of $660,000 in 2004 and $562,000 in 2003)
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (estimated fair value of $165,000 in 2004 and $153,000 in 2003)
Other liabilities
Total Liabilities
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Net unrealized holding gains on fixed maturities and equity securities, net of tax expense of $150,293 in 2004 and $145,826 in 2003
Cumulative translation adjustments, net of tax benefit of $1,043 in 2004 and $505 in 2003
Total Shareholders’ Equity
Commitments and contingencies
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
OPERATING REVENUES
Earned premiums
Net investment income
Net realized gains (losses) from investment sales
Total Operating Revenues
OPERATING EXPENSES
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses
Amortization of intangible assets
Total Operating Expenses
Operating Income (Loss)
Interest expense
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
Net Income (Loss)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of taxes:
Net holding gains (losses) arising during the period
Less reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)
Net unrealized gains (losses)
Currency translation adjustments, net of taxes
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic
Diluted
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Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
COMMON STOCK
Balance at beginning of period
Issuance of common stock and other equity transactions
Balance at end of period
RETAINED EARNINGS
Net income
Repurchase of common stock
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Unrealized gains:
Net unrealized holding gains arising during the period, net of taxes
Cumulative translation adjustments:
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AT END OF PERIOD
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities and equity securities
Proceeds from maturities, calls and prepayments of fixed maturities
Cost of fixed maturities and equity securities purchased
Net change in short-term investments
Other
Net Cash Used By Investing Activities
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Additions to senior long-term debt
Repayments and repurchases of senior long-term debt
Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2004, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for fair presentation of such consolidated financial statements have been included. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003 was derived from the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements.
The consolidated financial statements and notes are presented as permitted by Form 10-Q, and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes. Readers are urged to review the Company’s 2003 annual report on Form 10-K for a more complete description of the Company’s business and accounting policies.
Certain reclassifications of prior year’s amounts have been made to conform with 2004 presentations.
2. Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Net income (loss) per share was determined by dividing net income (loss) by the applicable shares outstanding (in thousands):
Net income (loss), as reported (basic and diluted)
Average common shares outstanding
Dilutive potential common shares
Average diluted shares outstanding
3. Stock Compensation Plans
The Company applies the intrinsic value recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations, in accounting for stock-based compensation plans. The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement (Statement) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, as amended.
Stock-based compensation cost, net of taxes, included in net income (loss) under APB Opinion No. 25 was $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and $0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2003. Under the fair value method principles of Statement No. 123, pro forma stock-based compensation cost, net of taxes, and pro forma net income (loss) would not have differed from reported amounts for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.
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4. Reinsurance
The table below summarizes the effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned (dollars in thousands):
Direct
Assumed
Ceded
Net premiums
Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses are net of reinsurance recoverables (ceded incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses) of $102.1 million and $56.3 million, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 and $246.2 million and $156.4 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.
5. Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (8.71% Junior Subordinated Debentures)
On January 8, 1997, the Company arranged the sale of $150 million of Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Capital Securities (8.71% Capital Securities) issued under an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated January 13, 1997 (the Declaration) by Markel Capital Trust I (the Trust), a statutory business trust sponsored and wholly-owned by the Company. Proceeds from the sale of the 8.71% Capital Securities were used to purchase the Company’s 8.71% Junior Subordinated Debentures due January 1, 2046, issued to the Trust under an indenture dated January 13, 1997 (the Indenture). The 8.71% Junior Subordinated Debentures are the sole assets of the Trust. The Company has the right to defer interest payments on the 8.71% Junior Subordinated Debentures for up to five years. The 8.71% Capital Securities and related 8.71% Junior Subordinated Debentures are redeemable by the Company on or after January 1, 2007. Taken together, the Company’s obligations under the Debentures, the Indenture, the Declaration and a guarantee made by the Company provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of distributions and other amounts due on the 8.71% Capital Securities. No other subsidiary of the Company guarantees the 8.71% Junior Subordinated Debentures or the 8.71% Capital Securities. In the event of default under the Indenture, the Trust may not make distributions on, or repurchases of, the Trust’s common securities. During a period in which the Company elects to defer interest payments or in the event of default under the Indenture, the Company may not make distributions on, or repurchases of, the Company’s capital stock or debt securities ranking equal or junior to the 8.71% Junior Subordinated Debentures.
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6. Convertible Notes Payable
During 2001, the Company issued $408.0 million principal amount at maturity, $112.9 million net proceeds, of Liquid Yield Option Notes™(LYONs). The LYONs are zero coupon senior notes convertible into the Company’s common shares under certain conditions, with an initial conversion price of $243.53 per common share. The issue price of $283.19 per LYON represented a yield to maturity of 4.25%. The LYONs mature on June 5, 2031. The Company uses the effective yield method to recognize the accretion of discount from the issue price to the face amount of the LYONs at maturity. The accretion of discount is included in interest expense.
The Company’s potential obligation to accrue contingent additional principal terminated in accordance with the terms of the LYONs on June 5, 2004.
The Company will pay contingent cash interest to the holders of the LYONs during the six-month period commencing June 5, 2006 and during any six-month period thereafter if the average market price of a LYON for a specified period equals or exceeds 120% of the sum of the issue price and accrued original issue discount of the LYON.
Each LYON will be convertible into 1.1629 shares of common stock upon the occurrence of any of the following events: if the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the New York Stock Exchange exceeds specified levels, if the credit rating of the LYONs is reduced below specified levels, if the Company calls the LYONs for redemption, or if the Company is party to certain mergers or consolidations. The shares that would be issued if the LYONs were converted are not included in the Company’s calculation of diluted earnings per share for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, as none of the conversion events had occurred. See Note 13 for discussion of a recently issued accounting pronouncement regarding contingently convertible instruments.
LYONs holders have the right to require the Company to repurchase the LYONs on June 5th of 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 and 2026 at their accreted value on these dates as follows:
June 5, 2006
June 5, 2011
June 5, 2016
June 5, 2021
June 5, 2026
The Company may choose to pay the purchase price for such repurchases in cash or common shares of the Company. The Company may redeem the LYONs for cash on or after June 5, 2006 at their accreted value.
7. Unsecured Senior Notes
On August 13, 2004, the Company issued $200 million of 7.35% unsecured senior notes due August 15, 2034. The unsecured senior notes were issued under an existing shelf registration statement. Net proceeds to the Company were $196.8 million and were primarily used to repay $110.0 million outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
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8. Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss) is primarily composed of net holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period less reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in net income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) also includes foreign currency translation adjustments. The related tax expense (benefit) on net holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period was $30.2 million and $6.9 million, respectively, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and $(7.1) million and $44.5 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2003. The related tax expense (benefit) on the reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in net income (loss) was $(0.1) million and $2.4 million, respectively, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and $(2.6) million and $12.5 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2003. The related tax expense (benefit) on foreign currency translation adjustments was $(0.2) million and $(0.5) million, respectively, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and $(1.5) million and $2.1 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2003.
9. Segment Reporting Disclosures
The Company operates in three segments of the specialty insurance marketplace: the Excess and Surplus Lines, the Specialty Admitted and the London markets.
All investing activities are included in the Investing segment. Discontinued programs and non-strategic insurance subsidiaries are included in Other for purposes of segment reporting.
The Company considers many factors, including the nature of the underwriting units’ insurance products, production sources, distribution strategies and regulatory environment in determining how to aggregate operating segments.
Segment profit or (loss) for each of the Company’s operating segments is measured by underwriting profit or (loss). The property and casualty insurance industry commonly defines underwriting profit or (loss) as earned premiums net of losses and loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses. Underwriting profit or (loss) does not replace operating income (loss) or net income (loss) computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) as a measure of profitability. Underwriting profit or (loss) provides a basis for management to evaluate the Company’s underwriting performance. Segment profit for the Investing segment is measured by net investment income and net realized gains or losses.
The Company does not allocate assets to the Excess and Surplus Lines, Specialty Admitted and London Insurance Market operating segments for management reporting purposes. The total investment portfolio, cash and cash equivalents are allocated to the Investing segment. The Company does not allocate capital expenditures for long-lived assets to any of its operating segments for management reporting purposes.
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a) Following is a summary of segment disclosures (dollars in thousands):
Quarter Ended September 30, 2004
Gross premium volume
Net premiums written
Underwriting profit (loss)
Net realized losses from investment sales
Segment profit (loss)
Income before income taxes
U.S. GAAP combined ratio*
Quarter Ended September 30, 2003
Loss before income taxes
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
Excess and
Surplus Lines
Net realized gains from investment sales
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003
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December 31,
2003
Segment Assets
Investing
10. Income Taxes
During the quarter ended September 30, 2004, the Company’s 2000 federal income tax year was closed. As a result, management determined that tax liabilities were $22.5 million less than previously estimated. The Company recognized a nonrecurring tax benefit of $4.1 million, reduced goodwill related to the Markel International acquisition by $14.7 million and increased additional paid in capital related to closed stock option plans by $3.7 million.
11. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, requires goodwill to be tested at least annually for impairment. The Company completes its annual test during the fourth quarter of each year based upon the results of operations through September 30. There was no indication of goodwill impairment as of September 30, 2004 or December 31, 2003.
Intangible assets other than goodwill were fully amortized as of June 30, 2003. The amortization expense for intangible assets was $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.
The carrying amounts of goodwill by reporting unit at September 30, 2004 were as follows: Excess and Surplus Lines, $81.8 million, and London Insurance Market, $260.8 million. The carrying amounts of goodwill by reporting unit at December 31, 2003 were as follows: Excess and Surplus Lines, $81.8 million, and London Insurance Market, $275.5 million. The carrying amount of goodwill for the London Insurance Market was reduced in the third quarter of 2004 by $14.7 million as discussed in Note 10.
12. Contingencies
On January 31, 2001, the Company received notice of a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York against Terra Nova Insurance Company Limited by Palladium Insurance Limited and Bank of America, N.A. seeking approximately $27 million plus exemplary damages in connection with alleged reinsurance agreements. The discovery phase of this matter recently ended. The case is not expected to be ready for trial before 2005. The Company believes it has numerous defenses to this claim, including the defense that the alleged reinsurance agreements and insurance policies were not valid. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter.
This and other contingencies arise in the normal conduct of the Company’s operations. In the opinion of management, the resolutions of these contingencies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. However, adverse outcomes are possible and could negatively impact the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
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13. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncement
In September 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 04-8 (Issue No. 04-8) which addresses the effect of contingently convertible instruments on diluted earnings per share. The Company’s convertible notes payable are considered to be a contingently convertible instrument based upon the criteria established by Issue No. 04-8. When Issue No. 04-8 becomes effective, the Company will be required to restate previously reported diluted earnings per share. It is anticipated this rule will take effect during the fourth quarter of 2004. If the proposed accounting treatment for the convertible notes payable had been in effect at the end of the third quarter, the Company’s diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 would be further diluted by approximately 2%.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of Markel Corporation and all subsidiaries (the Company).
Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are both important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require management to exercise significant judgment. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of material contingent assets and liabilities, including litigation contingencies, at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates, by necessity, are based on assumptions about numerous factors.
Management reviews its estimates and assumptions quarterly, including the adequacy of reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and reinsurance allowance for doubtful accounts, as well as the recoverability of deferred tax assets and intangible assets and the evaluation of the investment portfolio for other than temporary declines in value. Actual results may differ materially from the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Readers are urged to review the Company’s 2003 annual report on Form 10-K for a more complete description of the Company’s critical accounting policies.
The Company
The Company markets and underwrites specialty insurance products and programs to a variety of niche markets. In each of these markets, the Company seeks to be a market leader. The financial goals of the Company are to earn consistent underwriting profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value.
The Company competes in three segments of the specialty insurance marketplace: the Excess & Surplus Lines, the Specialty Admitted and the London markets. The Excess and Surplus Lines segment is comprised of five underwriting units, the Specialty Admitted segment consists of two underwriting units and the London Insurance Market segment is comprised of the ongoing operations of Markel International.
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The Excess and Surplus Lines segment writes property and casualty insurance for non-standard and hard-to-place risks including catastrophe-exposed property, professional liability, products liability, general liability, commercial umbrella and other coverages tailored for unique exposures.
The Specialty Admitted segment writes risks that are unique and hard-to-place in the standard market but must remain with an admitted insurance company for marketing and regulatory reasons. The underwriting units in this segment write specialty program insurance for well-defined niche markets and personal and commercial property and liability coverages.
The Company participates in the London market through Markel Capital Limited and Markel International Insurance Company Limited, two wholly-owned subsidiaries. Markel Capital Limited is the corporate capital provider for Markel Syndicate 3000 at Lloyd’s. Markel Syndicate Management Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary, manages the Company’s Lloyd’s operations. The London Insurance Market segment writes specialty property, casualty, marine and aviation insurance and reinsurance.
Discontinued lines of business and non-strategic insurance subsidiaries are included in Other for segment reporting purposes. Other consisted primarily of discontinued Markel International programs and Corifrance, a wholly-owned subsidiary, for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.
Results of Operations
The following information presents results of operations for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2003.
Underwriting Results
Following is a comparison of selected data from the Company’s operations (dollars in thousands):
Net retention
Underwriting profit (loss)*
U.S. GAAP Combined Ratios
Excess and Surplus Lines
Specialty Admitted
London Insurance Market
Markel Corporation (Consolidated)
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industry commonly defines underwriting profit or (loss) as earned premiums net of losses and loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses. Underwriting profit or (loss) does not replace operating income (loss) or net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP as a measure of profitability.
Underwriting profits are a key component of the Company’s strategy to grow book value per share. The Company believes that the ability to achieve consistent underwriting profits demonstrates knowledge and expertise, commitment to superior customer service and the ability to manage insurance risk. The Company uses underwriting profit or (loss) as a basis of evaluating its underwriting performance.
The U.S. GAAP combined ratio is a measure of underwriting performance and represents the relationship of incurred losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses to earned premiums. A combined ratio of less than 100% indicates an underwriting profit, while a combined ratio of greater than 100% reflects an underwriting loss.
The Company reported a combined ratio of 106% and 97%, respectively, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to a combined ratio of 110% and 101%, respectively, for the same periods in 2003. For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004, the improved underwriting performance for the Excess and Surplus Lines and Specialty Admitted segments was partially offset by loss development in the London Insurance Market segment. The third quarter and nine month results for 2004 reflected approximately $80 million of pre-tax net losses related to Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.
The combined ratios for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment improved for both the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and included approximately $26 million of net losses related to the 2004 hurricanes. The improvement for both periods was due to more favorable development of prior years’ loss reserves in 2004 compared to 2003. In 2003, underwriting results included a $50 million increase in prior years’ loss reserves at the Investors Brokered Excess and Surplus Lines unit.
The Specialty Admitted segment produced improved underwriting results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to the same periods of 2003. The combined ratios for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 included approximately $9 million of net losses from the 2004 hurricanes. The Specialty Admitted segment continues to benefit from lower current year losses, more favorable development of prior years’ loss reserves and lower expense ratios.
The London Insurance Market segment’s combined ratios for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 included approximately $45.0 million of net losses for the 2004 hurricanes and an $8.0 million provision for dispute resolution. The underwriting loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 also included $30.0 million of loss reserve increases reported during the first quarter of 2004.
The underwriting loss from Other was $4.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 compared to $55.9 million for 2003. The Other underwriting loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $10.6 million compared to $74.5 million for the same period of 2003. During the third quarter of 2004, the Company completed a review of asbestos and environmental exposures in both its U.S. and international operations. While the legal environment and process for resolving asbestos and environmental claims continues to be adverse, no adjustments to loss reserves resulted from this review. The third quarter of 2003 included $55.0 million of reserve increases for asbestos and environmental exposures. Asbestos and environmental reserves are subject to significant uncertainty due to potential loss severity and frequency resulting from the uncertain and
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unfavorable legal climate. The Company seeks to establish appropriate reserve levels for asbestos and environmental exposures; however, these reserves could be subject to increases in the future.
Premiums
Following is a comparison of gross premium volume by significant underwriting segment:
Gross Premium Volume
(dollars in thousands)
Gross written premium for the third quarter of 2004 declined 5% compared to the same period of 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, gross written premium was flat compared to 2003. The Company has experienced some market pressure to reduce prices in select lines of business on both new and renewal accounts. When the Company believes the prevailing market rates will not support its underwriting profit targets, the business is not written. The Company will not sacrifice underwriting profits to achieve top line growth and expects 2004 gross premium volume to be flat or slightly down compared to 2003.
Following is a comparison of earned premiums by significant underwriting segment:
Earned Premiums
Earned premium for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased 10% and 15%, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2003. This increase in both periods of 2004 is due to higher gross premium volume over the past two years and higher retentions compared to 2003 in all segments.
Net Retention
The Company purchases reinsurance in order to reduce its retention on individual risks and to enable it to write policies with sufficient limits to meet policyholder needs. The Company’s underwriting philosophy seeks to offer products with limits that do not require significant amounts of reinsurance. Net written premium was $525.4 million for the third quarter of 2004 compared to $523.8 million for the same period of 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, net written premium was $1.6 billion compared to $1.5 billion in 2003. Net retention of gross written premium has increased, consistent with the Company’s strategy to retain more of its underwriting profits. Net retention of gross written premium for the third quarter of 2004 was 82% compared to 78% for 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 net retention of gross written premium was 82% compared to 76% for the same period of 2003. The increase was primarily due to changes in the mix of premium writings and purchasing less reinsurance in both the Excess and Surplus Lines and the London Insurance Market segments during 2004 compared to 2003.
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Investment Results
Third quarter 2004 net investment income was $51.2 million compared to $46.4 million in the prior year. Net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $147.9 million compared to $137.1 million in 2003. In both periods of 2004, a larger investment portfolio offset lower investment yields.
Net realized losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 were $0.3 million compared to $7.4 million in 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, net realized gains were $6.9 million compared to $35.8 million for the same period last year. Variability in the timing of realized and unrealized investment gains and losses is to be expected.
Net realized losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 included $1.5 million of realized losses resulting from the write down of two equity securities. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, net realized gains were partially offset by $3.2 million of realized losses resulting from the write down of three equity securities to their estimated fair value. These securities were deemed by management to have a decline in value that was other than temporary. For the quarter ended September 30, 2003, management determined there were no securities with a decline in value that was other than temporary. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, net realized gains were partially offset by $15.0 million of realized losses resulting from the write down of one fixed income security and five equity securities to their estimated fair value. At September 30, 2004, the Company held securities with gross unrealized losses of approximately $14.1 million, or significantly less than 1% of the Company’s total investments, cash and cash equivalents. At September 30, 2004, all of these securities were reviewed and the Company believes there were no indications of other than temporary impairment.
Other Expenses
During the quarter ended September 30, 2004, the Company’s 2000 federal income tax year was closed. As a result, management determined that tax liabilities were $22.5 million less than previously estimated. The Company recognized a nonrecurring tax benefit of $4.1 million, reduced goodwill related to the Markel International acquisition by $14.7 million and increased additional paid in capital related to closed stock option plans by $3.7 million. Without regard to the nonrecurring benefit, the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate was 29% for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to 33% for the same period in 2003. The Company’s estimated annual effective rate differs from the statutory tax rate of 35% primarily as a result of tax exempt investment income.
Comprehensive income was $69.8 million for the third quarter of 2004 compared to comprehensive loss of $27.7 million for the same period of 2003. The improvement was primarily due to an increase in the market value of the Company’s investment portfolio and higher net income as a result of improved underwriting performance in the third quarter of 2004 compared to the same period of 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, comprehensive income was $122.4 million compared to $142.1 million in 2003. The decrease in comprehensive income was due to lower unrealized gains on the investment portfolio for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to the same period of 2003 partially offset by higher net income as a result of a return to consolidated underwriting profits in 2004. Comprehensive income for the third quarter of 2004 includes a $0.3 million loss from currency translation adjustments, net of taxes, compared to a loss of $2.8 million for the same period of 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the loss from currency translation adjustments, net of taxes, was $1.0 million compared to a gain of $4.0 million for the same period in 2003. The Company attempts to match assets and liabilities in original currencies to mitigate the impact of currency volatility.
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Financial Condition
At September 30, 2004, the Company’s investment portfolio increased approximately 11% to $5.9 billion from $5.3 billion at December 31, 2003. The Company reported net unrealized gains, net of taxes, on its fixed maturity and equity investments of $279.1 million at September 30, 2004 compared to $270.8 million at December 31, 2003. The fair market values of equity securities were $1.1 billion and $968.8 million, respectively, and represented 18% of the total investment portfolio at both September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $493.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to $450.8 million for the same period in 2003. The increase was primarily due to increased cash flows from the Company’s international operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to same period of 2003.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company reported net cash provided by financing activities of $84.4 million compared to $73.1 million in 2003. The net cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was primarily due to a debt issuance during the third quarter, partially offset by the repayment of the outstanding balance under the Company’s revolving credit facility and the repurchase of 12,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. These repurchases were made in anticipation of the future issuance of the Company’s common stock to satisfy grants of Restricted Stock Units made to directors and officers under the Markel Corporation Omnibus Incentive Plan. The net cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was primarily the result of debt issuances during the first and second quarters of 2003, partially offset by the repayment of the outstanding balance under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
Prior to December 31, 2004, the Company expects to reallocate capital and liabilities among and between certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of Markel International by means of commutation and reinsurance agreements between the subsidiaries. The Company anticipates this transaction may require a capital contribution to Markel International of approximately $70 million.
The Company has access to various liquidity sources including dividends from its insurance subsidiaries, holding company investments and cash, undrawn capacity under its revolving credit facility and access to the debt and equity capital markets. Management believes that the Company has sufficient liquidity to meet its needs.
Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2004 was $1.5 billion compared to $1.4 billion at December 31, 2003. Book value increased 9% to $152.93 per share primarily as a result of $115.1 million of net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2004.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of economic losses due to adverse changes in the estimated fair value of a financial instrument as the result of changes in equity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices.
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The Company’s consolidated balance sheets include assets and liabilities with estimated fair values which are subject to market risk. The primary market risks to the Company are equity price risk associated with investments in equity securities, interest rate risk associated with investments in fixed maturities and foreign exchange risk for its international operations. The Company has no material commodity risk.
The Company primarily manages foreign exchange risk by matching assets and liabilities in each foreign currency as closely as possible. Significant estimations and assumptions are required when establishing insurance balances such as reinsurance recoverables and reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses. As a result, matching of assets and liabilities by currency is subject to change as actual results emerge.
The Company’s market risks at September 30, 2004 have not materially changed from those identified at December 31, 2003.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15 (Disclosure Controls).
The Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that its Disclosure Controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Based upon the Company’s controls evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s Disclosure Controls provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in its periodic reports is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
This is a “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It also contains general cautionary statements regarding the Company’s business, estimates and management assumptions.
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Future actual results may materially differ from those in these statements because of many factors. Among other things:
The Company’s premium volume, underwriting and investment results have been and will continue to be potentially materially affected by these factors. Additional factors, which could affect the Company, are discussed in the Company’s reports on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company is not intending to become obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or other changes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as at their dates.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
See Exhibit Index for a list of Exhibits filed as part of this report.
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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, this 3rd day of November, 2004.
/s/ Alan I. Kirshner
/s/ Anthony F. Markel
/s/ Steven A. Markel
/s/ Darrell D. Martin
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Description
August 5, 2003.
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