UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

xQuarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015

 

or

 

¨Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from _______ to _______

 

Commission File Number: 001-36777

 

 

 

JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Bermuda   98-0585280

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

90 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM08, Bermuda

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(441) 278-4580

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  o   Accelerated filer  o   Non-accelerated filer  x   Smaller reporting company  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨     No  x

 

Number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding at November 5, 2015: 28,769,487

 

 

 

 

 

 

James River Group Holdings, Ltd.

Form 10-Q

Index

 

    Page
  Number
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3
     
Item 1. Financial Statements 3
     
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 3
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income – Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 5
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 6
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 7
     
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 8
     
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 30
     
  Critical Accounting Estimates 31
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 52
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 53
   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 54
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 54
Item 1A. Risk Factors 54
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 54
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 54
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure 54
Item 5. Other Information 54
Item 6. Exhibits 54
   
Signatures 55
   
Exhibit Index 56

 

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or Quarterly Report, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. You can identify forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans” and “believes,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could.” These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to our future financial performance, our business prospects and strategy, anticipated financial position, liquidity and capital needs and other similar matters. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events, which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict.

 

Our actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report as a result of various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including, among others:

 

·the inherent uncertainty of estimating reserves and the possibility that incurred losses may be greater than our loss and loss adjustment expense reserves;

 

·inaccurate estimates and judgments in our risk management may expose us to greater risks than intended;

 

·the potential loss of key members of our management team or key employees and our ability to attract and retain personnel;

 

·adverse economic factors, including recession, inflation, periods of high unemployment or lower economic activity, adversely affecting our growth and profitability;

 

·a decline in our financial strength rating resulting in a reduction of new or renewal business;

 

·reliance on a select group of brokers and agents for a significant portion of our business and the impact of our potential failure to maintain such relationships;

 

·existing or new regulations that may inhibit our ability to achieve our business objectives or subject us to penalties or suspensions for non-compliance or cause us to incur substantial compliance costs;

 

·a failure of any of the loss limitations or exclusions we employ;

 

·potential effects on our business of emerging claim and coverage issues;

 

·exposure to credit risk, interest rate risk and other market risk in our investment portfolio;

 

·losses in our investment portfolio;

 

·the cyclical nature of the insurance and reinsurance industry, resulting in periods during which we may experience excess underwriting capacity and unfavorable premium rates;

 

·additional government or market regulation;

 

·our reinsurance business being subject to loss settlements made by ceding companies and fronting carriers;

 

·a forced sale of investments to meet our liquidity needs;

 

·our ability to obtain reinsurance coverage at reasonable prices or on terms that adequately protect us;

 

·our underwriters and other associates taking excessive risks;

 

·losses resulting from reinsurance counterparties failing to pay us on reinsurance claims or insurance companies with whom we have a fronting arrangement failing to pay us for claims;

 

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·the potential impact of internal or external fraud, operational errors, systems malfunctions or cybersecurity incidents;

 

·our ability to manage our growth effectively;

 

·competition within the casualty insurance and reinsurance industry;

 

·an adverse outcome in a legal action that we are or may become subject to in the course of our insurance and reinsurance operations;

 

·in the event we do not qualify for the insurance company exception to the passive foreign investment company rules and are therefore considered a passive foreign investment company, there could be material adverse tax consequences to an investor that is subject to U.S. federal income taxation, including a higher tax rate on dividends received from us and any gain realized on a sale or other disposition of our common shares, as well as an interest charge;

 

·the Company or JRG Reinsurance Company, Ltd. becoming subject to U.S. federal income taxation;

 

·failure to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

 

·the continued ownership of a significant portion of our outstanding shares by affiliates of D. E. Shaw & Co. L.P. and their resulting ability to exert significant influence over matters requiring shareholder approval in a manner that could conflict with the interests of other shareholders; as well as their rights with respect to board representation and approval rights with respect to certain transactions;

 

·changes in our financial condition, regulations or other factors that may restrict our ability to pay dividends; and

 

·other risks and uncertainties disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report. Except as expressly required under federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not have any obligation, and do not undertake, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of this Quarterly Report, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report or that may be made elsewhere from time to time by us, or on our behalf. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

 

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PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   (Unaudited)     
   September 30,   December 31, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Assets          
Invested assets:          
Fixed maturity securities:          
Available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost:  2015 – $878,724; 2014 – $737,916)  $888,480   $756,963 
Trading, at fair value (amortized cost:  2015 – $1,249; 2014 – $7,324)   1,251    7,388 
Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (cost:  2015 – $72,346; 2014 – $64,348)   74,453    67,905 
Bank loan participations held-for-investment, at amortized cost, net of allowance   213,625    239,511 
Short-term investments   50,225    131,856 
Other invested assets   74,301    33,622 
Total invested assets   1,302,335    1,237,245 
           
Cash and cash equivalents   76,561    73,383 
Accrued investment income   8,281    7,273 
Premiums receivable and agents’ balances, net   197,962    162,527 
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses   133,273    127,254 
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses   5,835    1,725 
Prepaid reinsurance premiums   37,709    29,445 
Deferred policy acquisition costs   72,673    60,202 
Intangible assets, net   39,678    40,125 
Goodwill   181,831    181,831 
Other assets   39,977    38,282 
Total assets  $2,096,115   $1,959,292 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)

 

   (Unaudited)     
   September 30,   December 31, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands, except share amounts) 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity          
Liabilities:          
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses  $779,009   $716,296 
Unearned premiums   329,867    277,579 
Payables to reinsurers   20,566    19,272 
Senior debt   88,300    88,300 
Junior subordinated debt   104,055    104,055 
Accrued expenses   29,250    31,107 
Other liabilities   37,652    34,762 
Total liabilities   1,388,699    1,271,371 
           
Commitments and contingent liabilities          
           
Shareholders’ equity:          
Common Shares – 2015 and 2014: $0.0002 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 2015 and 2014: 28,769,487 and 28,540,350 shares issued and outstanding, respectively   6    6 
Preferred Shares – 2015 and 2014: $0.00125 par value; 20,000,000 convertible shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding        
Additional paid-in capital   630,272    628,236 
Retained earnings   68,252    41,323 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   8,886    18,356 
Total shareholders’ equity   707,416    687,921 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $2,096,115   $1,959,292 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

 

  

Three Months Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands, except share amounts) 
Revenues                    
Gross written premiums  $148,236   $171,415   $463,505   $415,616 
Ceded written premiums   (25,308)   (17,579)   (73,104)   (47,998)
Net written premiums   122,928    153,836    390,401    367,618 
Change in net unearned premiums   (223)   (53,847)   (44,625)   (81,561)
Net earned premiums   122,705    99,989    345,776    286,057 
                     
Net investment income   9,510    9,996    34,496    33,189 
Net realized investment (losses) gains   (17)   2,033    (2,473)   (1,678)
Other income   925    (201)   2,018    740 
Total revenues   133,123    111,817    379,817    318,308 
                     
Expenses                    
Losses and loss adjustment expenses   66,718    54,486    209,133    171,936 
Other operating expenses   43,387    34,114    119,764    98,971 
Other expenses   69    2,459    207    2,848 
Interest expense   1,769    1,557    5,217    4,661 
Amortization of intangible assets   149    149    447    447 
Total expenses   112,092    92,765    334,768    278,863 
                     
Income before taxes   21,031    19,052    45,049    39,445 
Income tax expense   2,070    1,884    4,222    3,626 
Net income   18,961    17,168    40,827    35,819 
                     
Other comprehensive income:                    
Net unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes of $(128) and $(1,272) in 2015 and $(776) and $2,882 in 2014   1,586    (4,420)   (9,470)   7,084 
Total comprehensive income  $20,547   $12,748   $31,357   $42,903 
                     
Per share data:                    
Basic earnings per share  $0.66   $0.60   $1.43   $1.26 
Diluted earnings per share  $0.64   $0.60   $1.40   $1.24 
Dividend declared per share  $0.16   $2.45   $0.48   $2.45 
                     
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:                    
Basic   28,735,087    28,540,350    28,608,398    28,540,350 
Diluted   29,418,251    28,793,815    29,244,520    28,787,500 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

 

  
Common
Shares
   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
   Retained
Earnings
   Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
   Total 
   (in thousands) 
Balances at December 31, 2013  $6   $627,647   $66,636   $7,201   $701,490 
Net income           35,819        35,819 
Other comprehensive income               7,084    7,084 
Dividends           (69,998)       (69,998)
Compensation expense under stock incentive plans       312            312 
Balances at September 30, 2014  $6   $627,959   $32,457   $14,285   $674,707 
                          
Balances at December 31, 2014  $6   $628,236   $41,323   $18,356   $687,921 
Net income           40,827        40,827 
Other comprehensive income               (9,470)   (9,470)
Dividends           (13,898)       (13,898)
Exercise of stock options and related excess tax benefits       (758)           (758)
Compensation expense under stock incentive plans       2,794            2,794 
Balances at September 30, 2015  $6   $630,272   $68,252   $8,886   $707,416 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Operating activities          
Net cash provided by operating activities  $104,279   $88,221 
           
Investing activities          
Securities available-for-sale:          
Purchases – fixed maturity securities   (245,346)   (144,487)
Sales – fixed maturity securities   29,276    28,101 
Maturities and calls – fixed maturity securities   74,460    33,027 
Purchases – equity securities   (7,998)   (8,133)
Sales – equity securities       16,612 
Bank loan participations:          
Purchases   (96,896)   (203,980)
Sales   90,293    113,819 
Maturities   29,876    57,652 
Other invested assets:          
Purchases   (47,099)   (4,800)
Disposals   35    9,470 
Maturities and repayments   6,957     
Short-term investments, net   81,631    (43,730)
Securities receivable or payable, net   39    37,781 
Purchases of property and equipment   (1,185)   (909)
Net cash used in investing activities   (85,957)   (109,577)
           
Financing activities          
Dividends paid   (13,735)   (65,045)
Senior debt issuances       20,300 
Debt issue costs paid       (395)
Issuances of common stock   863     
Common stock repurchases   (3,715)    
Stock option excess tax benefit   2,094     
Repayments of financing obligations net of proceeds   (488)   (475)
Other financing   (163)    
Net cash used in financing activities   (15,144)   (45,615)
Change in cash and cash equivalents   3,178    (66,971)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   73,383    158,604 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $76,561   $91,633 
           
Supplemental information          
Interest paid  $5,490   $4,913 
           
U.S. income taxes paid (net of refunds)  $(1,532)  $5,131 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.Accounting Policies

 

Organization

 

James River Group Holdings, Ltd. (referred to as “JRG Holdings” or the “Company”) is an exempted holding company registered in Bermuda, organized for the purpose of acquiring and managing insurance and reinsurance entities.

 

The Company owns five insurance companies based in the United States (“U.S.”) focused on specialty insurance niches and a Bermuda-based reinsurance company, as described below:

 

·James River Group, Inc. (“James River Group”) is a Delaware domiciled insurance holding company formed in 2002, which owns all of the Company’s U.S.-based subsidiaries, either directly or indirectly through one of its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries. James River Group oversees the Company’s U.S. insurance operations and maintains all of the outstanding U.S. debt.

 

·James River Insurance Company (“James River Insurance”) is an Ohio domiciled excess and surplus lines insurance company that, with its wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, James River Casualty Company, is authorized to write business in every state and the District of Columbia.

 

·Falls Lake National Insurance Company (“Falls Lake National”) is an Ohio domiciled insurance company which wholly-owns Stonewood Insurance Company (“Stonewood Insurance”), a North Carolina domiciled company, and Falls Lake General Insurance Company, an Ohio domiciled company. Falls Lake National began writing specialty admitted program business in late 2013.

 

·Stonewood Insurance is a workers’ compensation insurance company that writes insurance primarily for the residential construction and light manufacturing industries. Stonewood Insurance writes individual risk workers’ compensation coverage in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

 

·JRG Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“JRG Re”) was formed in 2007 and commenced operations in 2008. JRG Re, a Bermuda domiciled reinsurer, provides reinsurance to U.S. third parties and to the Company’s U.S.-based insurance subsidiaries.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and do not contain all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of the Company and its subsidiaries from their respective dates of inception or acquisition, as applicable. Readers are urged to review the Company’s 2014 audited consolidated financial statements for a more complete description of the Company’s business and accounting policies. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed 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, 2014 was derived from the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements.

 

Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Estimates and Assumptions

 

Preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Those estimates are inherently subject to change, and actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

Entities that do not have sufficient equity at risk to allow the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support or in which the equity investors, as a group, do not have the characteristic of a controlling financial interest are referred to as variable interest entities (“VIE”). A VIE is consolidated by the variable interest holder that is determined to have the controlling financial interest (primary beneficiary) as a result of having both (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of an entity subject to consolidation based on a qualitative assessment of the VIE’s capital structure, contractual terms, nature of the VIE’s operations and purpose, and the Company’s relative exposure to the related risks of the VIE on the date it becomes initially involved in the VIE. The Company reassesses its VIE determination with respect to an entity on an ongoing basis.

 

The Company holds interests in VIEs through certain equity method investments in limited liability companies (“LLCs”) included in “other invested assets” in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company has determined that it should not consolidate any of the VIEs as it is not the primary beneficiary in any of the relationships. Although the investments resulted in the Company holding variable interests in the entities, they did not empower the Company to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entities. The Company’s investments related to these VIEs totaled $26.0 million and $25.1 million as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, representing the Company’s maximum exposure to loss.

 

Prospective Accounting Standards

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which creates a new comprehensive revenue recognition standard that will serve as a single source of revenue guidance for all companies in all industries. The guidance applies to all companies that either enter into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enter into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards, such as insurance contracts. Under this guidance, a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU No. 2014-09 becomes effective for the Company during the first quarter of 2017 and must be applied retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating ASU No. 2014-09 to determine the potential impact that adopting this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. ASU 2015-02 changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether entities should be consolidated if they are deemed variable interest entities. It is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2015-02 on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-09, Insurance (Topic 944), Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts. ASU 2015-09 requires additional disclosures about short-duration contracts. The disclosures will focus on the liability for the reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses. ASU 2015-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2015-09 on our consolidated financial statements.

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2.Investments

 

The Company’s available-for-sale investments are summarized as follows:

 

   Cost or
Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value
 
   (in thousands) 
September 30, 2015                    
Fixed maturity securities:                    
State and municipal  $112,053   $7,841   $(41)  $119,853 
Residential mortgage-backed   135,851    2,255    (1,394)   136,712 
Corporate   342,689    5,620    (7,887)   340,422 
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed   134,420    1,989    (117)   136,292 
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies   94,872    1,107    (3)   95,976 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government   56,814    454    (3)   57,265 
Redeemable preferred stock   2,025    -    (65)   1,960 
Total fixed maturity securities   878,724    19,266    (9,510)   888,480 
Equity securities   72,346    3,908    (1,801)   74,453 
Total investments available-for-sale  $951,070   $23,174   $(11,311)  $962,933 
                     
December 31, 2014                    
Fixed maturity securities:                    
State and municipal  $90,715   $8,509   $(178)  $99,046 
Residential mortgage-backed   113,997    2,661    (1,409)   115,249 
Corporate   261,574    8,742    (2,434)   267,882 
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed   111,056    2,429    (144)   113,341 
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies   100,376    1,431    (532)   101,275 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government   58,173    289    (193)   58,269 
Redeemable preferred stock   2,025        (124)   1,901 
Total fixed maturity securities   737,916    24,061    (5,014)   756,963 
Equity securities   64,348    5,182    (1,625)   67,905 
Total investments available-for-sale  $802,264   $29,243   $(6,639)  $824,868 

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2.Investments (continued)

 

The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale investments in fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2015 are summarized, by contractual maturity, as follows:

 

   Cost or
Amortized
Cost
   Fair
Value
 
   (in thousands) 
One year or less  $84,559   $85,179 
After one year through five years   267,065    266,232 
After five years through ten years   105,309    106,787 
After ten years   149,495    155,318 
Residential mortgage-backed   135,851    136,712 
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed   134,420    136,292 
Redeemable preferred stock   2,025    1,960 
Total  $878,724   $888,480 

 

Actual maturities may differ for some securities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without penalties.

 

The following table shows the Company’s gross unrealized losses and fair value for available-for-sale securities aggregated by investment category and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

 

   Less Than 12 Months   12 Months or More   Total 
   Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
   (in thousands) 
September 30, 2015                              
Fixed maturity securities:                              
State and municipal  $9,587   $(41)          $9,587   $(41)
Residential mortgage-backed   23,275    (161)   43,109    (1,233)   66,384    (1,394)
Corporate   118,402    (3,363)   4,817    (4,524)   123,219    (7,887)
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed   42,098    (58)   18,055    (59)   60,153    (117)
Obligation of U.S. government corporations and agencies           4,047    (3)   4,047    (3)
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government           2,202    (3)   2,202    (3)
Redeemable preferred stock   1,960    (65)           1,960    (65)
Total fixed maturity securities   195,322    (3,688)   72,230    (5,822)   267,552    (9,510)
Equity securities   9,342    (265)   12,071    (1,536)   21,413    (1,801)
Total investments available-for-sale  $204,664   $(3,953)  $84,301   $(7,358)  $288,965   $(11,311)

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2.Investments (continued)

 

   Less Than 12 Months   12 Months or More   Total 
   Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
   (in thousands) 
December 31, 2014                              
Fixed maturity securities:                              
State and municipal  $3,197   $(176)  $247   $(2)  $3,444   $(178)
Residential mortgage-backed   2,072    (2)   47,594    (1,407)   49,666    (1,409)
Corporate   25,885    (235)   22,353    (2,199)   48,238    (2,434)
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed   23,894    (118)   8,742    (26)   32,636    (144)
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies   202        48,029    (532)   48,231    (532)
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government   13,055    (24)   19,383    (169)   32,438    (193)
Redeemable preferred stock           1,901    (124)   1,901    (124)
Total fixed maturity securities   68,305    (555)   148,249    (4,459)   216,554    (5,014)
Equity securities   1,361    (205)   10,621    (1,420)   11,982    (1,625)
Total investments available-for-sale  $69,666   $(760)  $158,870   $(5,879)  $228,536   $(6,639)

 

As of September 30, 2015, the Company held securities of 88 issuers that were in an unrealized loss position with a total fair value of $289.0 million and gross unrealized losses of $11.3 million. None of the fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses has ever missed, or been delinquent on, a scheduled principal or interest payment.

 

At September 30, 2015, 87.1% of the Company’s fixed maturity security portfolio was rated “A-“ or better by Standard & Poor’s or received an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating agency. Fixed maturity securities with ratings below investment grade by Standard & Poor’s or another nationally recognized rating agency at September 30, 2015 had an aggregate fair value of $10.3 million and an aggregate net unrealized loss of $4.7 million.

 

The Company previously held two municipal bonds issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico’s weak economic conditions and heavy debt burden heightened the risk of default on the bonds and management concluded that the bonds, which had been downgraded to below investment grade, were other-than-temporarily impaired at June 30, 2014. The Company recognized impairment losses of $1.4 million on these bonds for the year ended December 31, 2014 and $660,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The bonds were sold during the second quarter of 2015 and a net realized gain of $22,000 was recognized on the sales.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2.Investments (continued)

 

Management concluded that none of the other fixed maturity securities with an unrealized loss at September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014 experienced an other-than-temporary impairment. Management does not intend to sell available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, and it is not “more likely than not” that the Company will be required to sell these securities before a recovery in their value to their amortized cost basis occurs. Management also concluded that none of the equity securities with an unrealized loss at September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014 experienced an other-than-temporary impairment. Management has evaluated the near-term prospects of these equity securities in relation to the severity and duration of the impairment, and management has the ability and intent to hold these securities until such time that they recover their fair value.

 

The Company holds participations in two loans issued by companies that produce and supply power to Puerto Rico through power purchase agreements with Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”), a public corporation and governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. PREPA’s credit strength and ability to make timely payments has been impacted by the economic conditions in Puerto Rico, thus raising doubt about the companies’ ability to meet the debt obligations held by the Company. Management concluded that the loans were impaired at December 31, 2014 and established an allowance for credit losses on the loans of $752,000. After recording this impairment, these loans had a carrying value of $7.1 million at December 31, 2014 and unpaid principal of $8.4 million. At September 30, 2015, the allowance for credit losses on these loans was $501,000. The loans had a carrying value of $4.7 million at September 30, 2015 and unpaid principal of $5.6 million. The allowance for credit losses on these loans at September 30, 2014 was $742,000.

 

A number of the Company’s bank loans are to oil and gas companies in the energy sector. The market values of these loans declined significantly in the fourth quarter of 2014 in response to declining energy prices. The declines in market values continued into 2015 and, after discussions with our independent investment manager, management decided to sell certain energy sector loans where there was an increased risk associated with the issuer’s ability to meet all principal and interest obligations as they became due. In total, the Company’s investments in bank loans to oil and gas companies in the energy sector had a carrying value of $21.0 million and an unrealized loss of $5.0 million at September 30, 2015. Management concluded that none of these loans were impaired as of September 30, 2015. There was no allowance for credit losses on these loans at September 30, 2014. Management also concluded that one non-energy sector loan held at September 30, 2015 should be considered impaired and an allowance for credit losses of $29,000 was established on the loan. After recording this impairment, the loan had a carrying value of $695,000 at September 30, 2015 and unpaid principal of $724,000.

 

Bank loan participations generally have a credit rating that is below investment grade (i.e. below “BBB-” for Standard & Poor’s) at the date of purchase. These bank loans are primarily senior, secured floating-rate debt rated “B” or “BB” by Standard & Poor’s or an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating agency. These bank loans include assignments of, and participations in, performing and non-performing senior corporate debt generally acquired through primary bank syndications and in secondary markets. Bank loans consist of, but are not limited to, term loans, the funded and unfunded portions of revolving credit loans, and other similar loans and investments. Management believed that it was probable at the time that these loans were acquired that the Company would be able to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

 

Generally, the accrual of interest on a bank loan participation is discontinued when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or management has serious doubts about further collectability of principal or interest. A bank loan participation may remain on accrual status if it is in the process of collection and is either guaranteed or well secured. Generally, bank loan participations are restored to accrual status when the obligation is brought current, has performed in accordance with the contractual terms for a reasonable period of time, and the ultimate collectability of the total contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt. Interest received on nonaccrual loans generally is reported as investment income. There were no bank loans on nonaccrual status at September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2.Investments (continued)

 

The allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level believed adequate by management to absorb estimated probable credit losses. Management’s periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on consultations and advice of the Company’s independent investment manager, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. The Company generally records an allowance equal to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost of bank loans that it has determined to be impaired as a practical expedient for an estimate of probable future cash flows to be collected on those bank loans. Bank loans are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

 

The average recorded investment in impaired bank loans was $6.3 million and $4.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Investment income of $139,000 and $59,000, respectively, was recognized during the time within those periods that the loans were impaired. The Company recorded realized gains of $143,000 and $346,000, respectively, in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 for changes in the fair value of impaired bank loans. In the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded realized gains of $221,000 and realized losses of $742,000, respectively, for changes in the fair value of impaired bank loans.

 

Changes in unrealized gains or losses on securities held for trading are recorded as trading gains or losses within net investment income. Net investment income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes $21,000 and $4,000, respectively, of net trading gains of which $1,000 (for both the three and nine month periods) relates to securities held at September 30, 2015.

 

The Company’s realized gains and losses are summarized as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Fixed maturity securities:                    
Gross realized gains  $130   $29   $1,417   $423 
Gross realized losses   (72)   (91)   (736)   (1,503)
    58    (62)   681    (1,080)
                     
Bank loan participations:                    
Gross realized gains   421    736    953    1,714 
Gross realized losses   (496)   (3)   (4,150)   (981)
    (75)   733    (3,197)   733 
                     
Equity securities:                    
Gross realized gains   -    -    -    88 
Gross realized losses   -    -    -    (842)
    -    -    -    (754)
                     
Short-term investments and other:                    
Gross realized gains   4    1,362    52    1,362 
Gross realized losses   (4)   -    (9)   (1,939)
    -    1,362    43    (577)
Total  $(17)  $2,033   $(2,473)  $(1,678)

 

Realized investment gains or losses are determined on a specific identification basis.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2.Investments (continued)

 

The Company invests selectively in private debt and equity opportunities. These investments, which together comprise the Company’s other invested assets, are primarily focused in renewable energy, limited partnerships, and bank holding companies.

 

           Investment Income 
   Carrying Value   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30,   December 31,   September 30,   September 30, 
   2015   2014   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Category                              
Renewable energy LLCs (a)  $26,021   $25,119   $(659)  $697   $3,956   $4,737 
Renewable energy bridge financing notes (b)   30,078    -    984    -    2,483    - 
Limited partnerships (c)   13,702    4,003    (1,038)   (105)   (1,112)   127 
Bank holding companies (d)   4,500    4,500    86    86    257    314 
Other (e)   -    -    -    3    -    184 
Total other invested assets  $74,301   $33,622   $(627)  $681   $5,584   $5,362 

 

(a)Equity interests ranging from 2.7% to 33.3% in various LLCs whose principal objective is capital appreciation and income generation from owning and operating renewable energy production facilities (wind and solar). The LLCs are managed by an affiliate of the Company’s largest shareholder and the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has invested in certain of these LLCs. The equity method is used to account for the Company’s LLC investments. Income for the LLCs primarily reflects adjustments to the carrying values of investments in renewable energy projects to their determined fair values. The fair value adjustments are included in revenues for the LLCs. Expenses for the LLCs are not significant and are comprised of administrative and interest expenses. The Company received cash distributions from these investments totaling $3.1 million and $3.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. In March 2014, the Company sold its interest in one of the LLCs for $5.9 million and a $1.9 million realized loss was recognized on the sale. Investment income of $3.6 million was recognized on this investment in the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

(b)Investments in bridge loans for renewable energy projects. The notes, all with affiliates of the Company’s largest shareholder, generally mature in less than one year and carry primarily variable rates of interest ranging from 7.3% to 15.0%. Original discounts and commitment fees received are recognized over the terms of the notes under the effective interest method. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company invested a total of $36.3 million in these notes and has received maturities and partial repayments totaling $7.0 million.

 

(c)Investments in limited partnerships that invest in concentrated portfolios of high yield bonds of companies undergoing financial stress, publicly-traded small cap equities, loans of middle market private equity sponsored companies, and equity tranches of collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Income from the partnerships is recognized under the equity method of accounting. The Company has outstanding commitments to invest another $9.2 million in limited partnerships.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2.Investments (continued)

 

(d)Net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes $57,000 related to a previously held equity investment in a bank holding company (“Predecessor Bank Holding Company”). On July 4, 2014, the Predecessor Bank Holding Company merged with and into another bank holding company (the “Surviving Bank Holding Company”). In exchange for its shares of the Predecessor Bank Holding Company, the Company received $354,000 in cash and $6.4 million of common shares in the Surviving Bank Holding Company, and the realized investment gain on the exchange was $1.4 million. The common shares of the Surviving Bank Holding Company are carried as available for-sale equity securities as they are publicly-traded and the Company does not have significant influence over the Surviving Bank Holding Company.

 

The Company also holds $4.5 million of subordinated notes issued by a company that was substantially owned by the Predecessor Bank Holding Company (the “Bank Affiliate”). The $4.5 million of subordinated notes issued by the Bank Affiliate became debt of the Surviving Bank Holding Company. Interest on the notes, which mature on August 12, 2023, is fixed at 7.6% per annum.

 

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company previously served as Chairman of the Predecessor Bank Holding Company and the Bank Affiliate. Effective July 4, 2014, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer became the Lead Independent Director of the Surviving Bank Holding Company. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company is a former investor in the Predecessor Bank Holding Company and is now an investor in the Surviving Bank Holding Company. Additionally, one of the Company’s directors is a former investor in the Predecessor Bank Holding Company and is now an investor in the Surviving Bank Holding Company. In addition, this director was a lender to the Bank Affiliate and is now a lender to the Surviving Bank Holding Company. The Company’s Chief Financial Officer is a former investor in the Predecessor Bank Holding Company and the Surviving Bank Holding Company.

 

(e)For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, income of $3,000 and $184,000 was recognized on a $3.3 million note agreement with two property development companies. The note, which carried a fixed interest rate of 11.10%, was repaid in full on July 3, 2014. The Bank Holding Company also entered into note agreements with the same property development companies.

 

On December 19, 2014, the Company purchased a $1.0 million certificate of deposit issued by the Surviving Bank Holding Company. The certificate of deposit, which matures on December 19, 2015, is carried as a short-term investment. Interest income of $1,000 and $4,000 was recognized on this investment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

 

Two of the Company’s directors are also directors of First Wind Capital, LLC (“First Wind”), which is an affiliate of the Company’s largest shareholder. At December 31, 2014, the Company held fixed maturity securities with a fair value of $12.6 million issued by First Wind. These securities were called in March 2015, resulting in a realized gain of $845,000. Also at December 31, 2014, the Company held a bank loan participation with a carrying value of $4.6 million from an affiliate of First Wind. The loan was repaid in full in January 2015.

 

3.Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

On December 11, 2007, the Company completed an acquisition of James River Group by acquiring 100% of the outstanding shares of James River Group common stock, referred to herein as the “Merger”. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, and goodwill and intangible assets were recognized by the Company as a result of the transaction. Goodwill resulting from the Merger was $181.8 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

3.Goodwill and Intangible Assets (continued)

 

The gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization for each major specifically identifiable intangible asset class were as follows:

 

      September 30, 2015   December 31, 2014 
  

Life

(Years)

 

Gross

Carrying

Amount

  

Accumulated

Amortization

  

Gross

Carrying

Amount

  

Accumulated

Amortization

 
      ($ in thousands) 
Intangible Assets                       
Trademarks  Indefinite  $22,200   $   $22,200   $ 
Insurance licenses and authorities  Indefinite   9,164        9,164     
Identifiable intangibles not subject to amortization      31,364        31,364     
                        
Broker relationships  24.6   11,611    3,297    11,611    2,850 
Identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization      11,611    3,297    11,611    2,850 
      $42,975   $3,297   $42,975   $2,850 

 

4.Earnings Per Share

 

The following represents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations contained in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Net income to shareholders  $18,961   $17,168   $40,827   $35,819 
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                    
Basic   28,735,087    28,540,350    28,608,398    28,540,350 
Common share equivalents   683,164    253,465    636,122    247,150 
Diluted   29,418,251    28,793,815    29,244,520    28,787,500 
                     
Earnings per share:                    
Basic  $0.66   $0.60   $1.43   $1.26 
Common share equivalents   (0.02)   -    (0.03)   (.02)
Diluted  $0.64   $0.60   $1.40   $1.24 

 

Common share equivalents relate to stock options and restricted share units (“RSU’s”). For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, common share equivalents of 10,627 and 25,000 shares, respectively, are excluded from the calculations of diluted earnings per share as their effects are anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, common share equivalents of 5,761 and 25,000 shares, respectively, are excluded from the calculations of diluted earnings per share as their effects are anti-dilutive.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

5.Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending reserve balances for losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance, to the gross amounts reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses net of reinsurance recoverables at beginning of period  $627,504   $561,939   $589,042   $526,985 
Add: Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses net of reinsurance:                    
Current year   76,303    69,838    223,725    191,038 
Prior years   (9,585)   (15,352)   (14,592)   (19,102)
Total incurred losses and loss and adjustment expenses   66,718    54,486    209,133    171,936 
Deduct: Loss and loss adjustment expense payments net of reinsurance:                    
Current year   4,062    7,341    18,665    12,454 
Prior years   44,424    37,602    133,774    114,985 
Total loss and loss adjustment expense payments   48,486    44,943    152,439    127,439 
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses net of reinsurance recoverables at end of period   645,736    571,482    645,736    571,482 
Add: Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses at end of period   133,273    119,400    133,273    119,400 
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses gross of reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses at end of period  $779,009   $690,882   $779,009   $690,882 

 

A $9.6 million reserve redundancy developed in the three months ended September 30, 2015 on the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses held at December 31, 2014. This favorable reserve development included $10.1 million of favorable development in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment primarily from the 2014 and 2013 accident years. This favorable development occurred because our actuarial studies at September 30, 2015 for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment indicated that our loss experience on our casualty business continues to be below our initial expected loss ratios. The Company also experienced $2.0 million of favorable development on prior accident years for the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment. The favorable development in the Excess and Surplus Lines and Specialty Admitted Insurance segments was partially offset by $2.5 million of adverse reserve development in the Casualty Reinsurance segment, primarily related to one reinsurance relationship from the 2012 and 2011 underwriting years that experienced higher loss development in 2015 than expected.

 

The Company experienced $15.4 million of favorable reserve development in the three months ended September 30, 2014 on the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses held at December 31, 2013. This reserve development included $12.0 million of favorable development in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment, primarily from the 2011 and 2010 accident years. This favorable development occurred because our actuarial studies at September 30, 2014 for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment indicated that our loss experience on our casualty business continued to be below our initial expected loss ratios. The Company also experienced $2.2 million of favorable development for the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment and $1.2 million of favorable development in the Casualty Reinsurance segment.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

5.Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 

A $14.6 million reserve redundancy developed in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 on the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses held at December 31, 2014. This favorable reserve development included $18.5 million of favorable development in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment primarily from the 2014 and 2013 accident years. This favorable development occurred because our actuarial studies at September 30, 2015 for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment indicated that our loss experience on our casualty business continues to be below our initial expected loss ratios. The Company also experienced $2.2 million of favorable development on prior accident years for the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment. The favorable development in the Excess and Surplus Lines and Specialty Admitted Insurance segments was partially offset by $6.0 million of adverse reserve development in the Casualty Reinsurance segment, primarily related to one reinsurance relationship from the 2012 and 2011 underwriting years that experienced higher loss development in 2015 than expected.

 

A $19.1 million reserve redundancy developed in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 on the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses held at December 31, 2013. This favorable development included $18.3 million of favorable development in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment primarily from the 2011, 2009 and 2007 accident years and $3.3 million of favorable development in the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment. This favorable development was partially offset by $2.4 million of adverse development on assumed business in the Casualty Reinsurance segment.

 

6.Other Comprehensive Income

 

The following table summarizes the components of comprehensive income:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
                 
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, before U.S. income taxes  $1,516   $(5,258)  $(10,061)  $8,132 
U.S. income taxes   104    787    1,434    (2,200)
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, net of U.S. income taxes   1,620    (4,471)   (8,627)   5,932 
Less reclassification adjustment:                    
Net realized investment gains (losses)   58    (62)   681    (1,834)
U.S. income taxes   (24)   11    162    682 
Reclassification adjustment for investment gains (losses) realized in net income   34    (51)   843    (1,152)
Other comprehensive income  $1,586   $(4,420)  $(9,470)  $7,084 

 

7.Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

 

The Company is a party to various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of its operations. The Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not materially impact its financial position, cash flows, or results of operations.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

7.Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (continued)

 

The Company’s reinsurance subsidiary, JRG Re, entered into two letter of credit facilities with banks as security to third-party reinsureds on reinsurance assumed by JRG Re. JRG Re has established custodial accounts to secure these letters of credit. Under a $100.0 million facility, $95.2 million of letters of credit were issued through September 30, 2015, and assets of $113.4 million were on deposit at September 30, 2015 securing the letters of credit. Under a $102.5 million facility, $43.5 million of letters of credit were issued through September 30, 2015, and assets of $61.8 million were on deposit at September 30, 2015 securing the letters of credit. JRG Re has also established trust accounts to secure its obligations to selected reinsureds. The total amount deposited in the trust accounts at September 30, 2015 was $216.7 million.

 

In May 2015, the Company committed to a $15.0 million investment in a limited partnership that invests in equity tranches of collateralized loan obligations (CLO)s. The Company has funded $10.2 million, and the remaining commitment is $4.8 million as of September 30, 2015.  The Company also committed to fund $5.0 million in a limited partnership that invests in loans of middle market private equity sponsored companies.  The Company has funded $625,000, and the remaining commitment is $4.4 million as of September 30, 2015.

 

8.Segment Information

 

The Company has four reportable segments: the Excess and Surplus Lines segment, the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment, the Casualty Reinsurance segment, and the Corporate and Other segment. Segment profit (loss) is measured by underwriting profit (loss), which is generally defined as net earned premiums less loss and loss adjustment expenses and other operating expenses of the operating segments. Fee income and expenses of the Excess and Surplus Lines segment is included in that segment’s underwriting profit (loss). Net fee income of $861,000 and $(218,000) was included in underwriting profit for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, net fee income included in underwriting profit was $1.8 million and $565,000, respectively. Segment results are reported prior to the effects of intercompany reinsurance agreements among the Company’s insurance subsidiaries.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s segment results:

 

  

Excess and

Surplus

Lines

  

Specialty

Admitted

Insurance

  

Casualty

Reinsurance

  

Corporate

and

Other

   Total 
   (in thousands) 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015                    
Gross written premiums  $82,249   $22,898   $43,089   $   $148,236 
Net earned premiums   65,804    10,743    46,158        122,705 
Underwriting profit of insurance segments   17,047    462    276        17,785 
Net investment income   3,394    618    5,862    (364)   9,510 
Interest expense               1,769    1,769 
Segment revenues   70,117    11,462    51,871    (327)   133,123 
Segment goodwill   181,831                181,831 
Segment assets   715,832    154,805    1,115,175    110,303    2,096,115 

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

8.Segment Information (continued)

 

  

Excess and

Surplus

Lines

  

Specialty

Admitted

Insurance

  

Casualty

Reinsurance

  

Corporate

and

Other

   Total 
   (in thousands) 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2014                         
Gross written premiums  $61,857   $16,211   $93,347   $   $171,415 
Net earned premiums   51,230    7,185    41,574        99,989 
Underwriting profit of insurance segments   13,033    162    17        13,212 
Net investment income   3,472    581    5,269    674    9,996 
Interest expense               1,557    1,557 
Segment revenues   54,879    7,791    47,123    2,024    111,817 
Segment goodwill   181,831                181,831 
Segment assets   696,504    119,367    1,055,793    97,922    1,969,586 
                          
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015                         
Gross written premiums  $235,384   $61,755   $166,366   $   $463,505 
Net earned premiums   178,071    30,448    137,257        345,776 
Underwriting profit of insurance segments   30,259    506    911        31,676 
Net investment income   10,466    1,720    16,579    5,731    34,496 
Interest expense               5,217    5,217 
Segment revenues   188,686    32,424    152,868    5,839    379,817 
Segment goodwill   181,831                181,831 
Segment assets   715,832    154,805    1,115,175    110,303    2,096,115 
                          
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014                         
Gross written premiums  $182,544   $40,447   $192,625   $   $415,616 
Net earned premiums   138,313    18,847    128,897        286,057 
Underwriting profit (loss) of insurance segments   21,931    (878)   424        21,477 
Net investment income   10,496    1,747    15,441    5,505    33,189 
Interest expense               4,661    4,661 
Segment revenues   147,205    20,683    145,388    5,032    318,308 
Segment goodwill   181,831                181,831 
Segment assets   696,504    119,367    1,055,793    97,922    1,969,586 

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

8.Segment Information (continued)

 

The following table reconciles the underwriting profit (loss) of the operating segments by individual segment to consolidated income before taxes:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Underwriting profit (loss) of the insurance segments:                    
Excess and Surplus Lines  $17,047   $13,033   $30,259   $21,931 
Specialty Admitted Insurance   462    162    506    (878)
Casualty Reinsurance   276    17    911    424 
Total underwriting profit of insurance segments   17,785    13,212    31,676    21,477 
Other operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment   (4,324)   (2,041)   (12,958)   (5,762)
Underwriting profit   13,461    11,171    18,718    15,715 
Net investment income   9,510    9,996    34,496    33,189 
Net realized investment (losses) gains   (17)   2,033    (2,473)   (1,678)
Amortization of intangible assets   (149)   (149)   (447)   (447)
Other income and expenses   (5)   (2,442)   (28)   (2,673)
Interest expense   (1,769)   (1,557)   (5,217)   (4,661)
Income before taxes  $21,031   $19,052   $45,049   $39,445 

 

9.Other Operating Expenses and Other Expenses

 

Other operating expenses consist of the following:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Amortization of policy acquisition costs  $28,621   $22,258   $75,523   $63,316 
Other underwriting expenses of the operating segments   10,442    9,815    31,283    29,893 
Other operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment   4,324    2,041    12,958    5,762 
Total  $43,387   $34,114   $119,764   $98,971 

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

9.Other Operating Expenses and Other Expenses (continued)

 

Other expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 total $69,000 and $207,000, respectively.  Other expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 total $2.5 million and $2.8 million respectively.  Other expenses for 2015 are all associated with the Company’s minority investment in a partnership that was involved in the construction of a building that the Company was deemed to own for accounting purposes.  Deemed ownership of the building also makes up $72,000 and $210,000 of other expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.   Other expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2014 include $1.8 million of legal, audit and other professional services related to the Company’s initial public offering and $600,000 in employee severance.  Similarly, other expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 include $1.9 million of legal, audit and other professional services related to the Company’s initial public offering, $600,000 in employee severance, and $183,000 of due diligence cost for an acquisition which we elected not to pursue.

 

10.Fair Value Measurements

 

Three levels of inputs are used to measure fair value of financial instruments: (1) Level 1: quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets, (2) Level 2: inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the instrument, and (3) Level 3: inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable for the asset or liability.

 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

 

To measure fair value, the Company obtains quoted market prices for its investment securities. If a quoted market price is not available, the Company uses prices of similar securities. Values for U.S. Treasury and publicly-traded equity securities are generally based on Level 1 inputs which use the market approach valuation technique. The values for all other fixed maturity securities (including state and municipal securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies) generally incorporate significant Level 2 inputs, and in some cases, Level 3 inputs, using the market approach and income approach valuation techniques. There have been no changes in the Company’s use of valuation techniques since January 1, 2014.

 

The Company reviews fair value prices provided by its outside investment managers for reasonableness by comparing the fair values provided by the managers to those provided by its investment custodian. The Company also reviews and monitors changes in unrealized gains and losses. The Company has not historically adjusted security prices. The Company obtains an understanding of the methods, models and inputs used by the investment managers and independent pricing services, and controls are in place to validate that prices provided represent fair values. The Company’s control process includes, but is not limited to, initial and ongoing evaluation of the methodologies used, a review of specific securities and an assessment for proper classification within the fair value hierarchy, and obtaining and reviewing internal control reports for our investment manager that obtains fair values from independent pricing services.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

10.Fair Value Measurements (continued)

 

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015 are summarized below:

 

   Fair Value Measurements Using 
  

Quoted Prices

in Active

Markets for

Identical

Assets

  

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

     
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
   (in thousands) 
Available-for-sale securities:                    
Fixed maturity securities:                    
State and municipal  $   $119,853   $   $119,853 
Residential mortgage-backed       136,712        136,712 
Corporate       340,422    -    340,422 
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed       136,292    -    136,292 
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies       95,976        95,976 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government   56,534    731        57,265 
Redeemable preferred stock       1,960        1,960 
Total fixed maturity securities   56,534    831,946    -    888,480 
Equity securities:                    
Preferred stock       55,977        55,977 
Common stock   17,742    734    -    18,476 
Total equity securities   17,742    56,711    -    74,453 
Total available-for-sale securities  $74,276   $888,657   $-   $962,933 
Trading securities:                    
Fixed maturity securities  $1,251   $   $   $1,251 
Short-term investments  $25,930   $24,295   $   $50,225 

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

10.Fair Value Measurements (continued)

 

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 are summarized below:

 

   Fair Value Measurements Using 
  

Quoted Prices

in Active

Markets for

Identical

Assets

  

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

     
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
   (in thousands) 
Available-for-sale securities:                    
Fixed maturity securities:                    
State and municipal  $   $99,046   $   $99,046 
Residential mortgage-backed       115,249        115,249 
Corporate       267,882        267,882 
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed       113,341        113,341 
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies       101,275        101,275 
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government   56,891    1,378        58,269 
Redeemable preferred stock       1,901        1,901 
Total fixed maturity securities   56,891    700,072        756,963 
Equity securities:                    
Preferred stock       49,601        49,601 
Common stock   17,570    734        18,304 
Total equity securities   17,570    50,335        67,905 
Total available-for-sale securities  $74,461   $750,407   $   $824,868 
Trading securities:                    
Fixed maturity securities  $   $7,388   $   $7,388 
Short-term investments  $58,507   $73,349   $   $131,856 

 

The beginning and ending balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) was $0, and there was no activity (purchases, sales, transfers) involving Level 3 securities for the three months or nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

 

Transfers out of Level 3 occur when the Company is able to obtain reliable prices from pricing vendors for securities for which the Company was previously unable to obtain reliable prices. Transfers to Level 3 occur when the Company is unable to obtain reliable prices for securities from pricing vendors and instead must use broker price quotes to value the securities.

 

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three months or nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014. The Company recognizes transfers between levels at the beginning of the reporting period.

 

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JAMES RIVER GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

10.Fair Value Measurements (continued)

 

There were no realized gains or losses included in earnings for the three months or nine months ended September 30, 2015 attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to Level 3 assets valued at fair value on a recurring basis that are still held at September 30, 2015.

 

The Company measures certain bank loan participations at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the year as part of the Company’s impairment evaluation when loans are determined by management to be impaired.

 

Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are summarized below:

 

   Fair Value Measurements Using 
  

Quoted Prices

In Active

Markets for

Identical Assets

Level 1

  

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

Level 2

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

Level 3

   Total 
   (in thousands) 
September 30, 2015                    
Bank loan participations held-for-investment  $   $   $695   $695 

 

There were no assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2014.

 

Bank loan participations held-for-investment that were determined to be impaired were written down to their fair value of $695,000 at September 30, 2015, and $7.9 million at September 30, 2014. The allowance for credit losses on bank loan participations was $530,000 at September 30, 2015 and $242,000 at December 31, 2014. The change in the allowance for credit losses on bank loan participations is included in net realized investment gains.

 

In the determination of the fair value for bank loan participations and certain high yield bonds, the Company’s investment manager endeavors to obtain data from multiple external pricing sources. External pricing sources may include brokers, dealers and price data vendors that provide a composite price based on prices from multiple dealers. Such external pricing sources typically provide valuations for normal institutional size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities, and various relationships between securities, as generally recognized by institutional dealers. For investments in which the investment manager determines that only one external pricing source is appropriate or if only one external price is available, the relevant investment is generally recorded at fair value based on such price.

 

Investments for which external sources are not available or are determined by the investment manager not to be representative of fair value are recorded at fair value as determined by the investment manager. In determining the fair value of such investments, the investment manager considers one or more of the following factors: type of security held, convertibility or exchangeability of the security, redeemability of the security (including timing of redemptions), application of industry accepted valuation models, recent trading activity, liquidity, estimates of liquidation value, purchase cost, and prices received for securities with similar terms of the same issuer or similar issuers. At September 30, 2015, there were bank loan participations with an unpaid principal balance of $6.3 million and a carrying value of $5.5 million for which external sources were unavailable to determine fair value. At December 31, 2014, there were bank loan participations with an unpaid principal balance of $14.1 million and a carrying value of $12.7 million for which external sources were unavailable to determine fair value.

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

10.Fair Value Measurements (continued)

 

   September 30, 2015   December 31, 2014 
   Carrying
Value
   Fair Value   Carrying
Value
   Fair Value 
   (in thousands) 
                 
Assets                    
Available-for-sale:                    
Fixed maturity securities  $888,480   $888,480   $756,963   $756,963 
Equity securities   74,453    74,453    67,905    67,905 
Trading:                    
Fixed maturity securities   1,251    1,251    7,388    7,388 
Bank loan participations held-for-investment   213,625    205,340    239,511    231,251 
Cash and cash equivalents   76,561    76,561    73,383    73,383 
Short-term investments   50,225    50,225    131,856    131,856 
Other invested assets – notes receivable   34,578    36,157    4,500    6,410 
                     
Liabilities                    
Senior debt   88,300    78,449    88,300    79,850 
Junior subordinated debt   104,055    82,345    104,055    89,100 

 

The fair values of fixed maturity securities and equity securities have been determined using quoted market prices for securities traded in the public market or prices using bid or closing prices for securities not traded in the public marketplace. The fair values of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments approximate their carrying values due to their short-term maturity.

 

The fair values of other invested assets-notes receivable, senior debt, and junior subordinated debt at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were determined by calculating the present value of expected future cash flows under the terms of the note agreements or debt agreements, as applicable, discounted at an estimated market rate of interest at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. For notes receivable maturing within one year, carrying value was used to approximate fair value.

 

The fair values of bank loan participations held-for-investment, senior debt, and junior subordinated debt at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were determined using inputs to the valuation methodology that are unobservable (Level 3).

 

11.Capital Stock and Equity Awards

 

In 2015, vested stock options for 804,875 shares were exercised, increasing the number of common shares issued and outstanding to 28,769,487 at September 30, 2015.

 

The Board of Directors declared the following cash dividends in 2015:

 

Date of

Declaration

 

Dividend per

Common Share

  

Payable to Shareholders of
Record on

  Payment Date 

Total

Amount

 
February 17, 2015  $0.16   March 16, 2015  March 31, 2015  $4.6 million 
May 5, 2015  $0.16   June 15, 2015  June 30, 2015  $4.6 million 
August 5, 2015  $0.16   September 14, 2015  September 30, 2015  $4.6 million 

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

11.Capital Stock and Equity Awards (continued)

 

On August 27, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $70.0 million or $2.45 per common share, of which $65.0 million was paid in the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $5.0 million was paid in the three months ended December 31, 2014.

 

Equity Incentive Plans

 

The Company’s shareholders have approved various equity incentive plans, including the Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Legacy Plan”), the 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (“2014 LTIP”), and the 2014 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan (“2014 Director Plan”) (collectively, the “Plans”). All awards issued under the Plans are issued at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Under the Legacy Plan, employees received non-qualified stock options. Options are outstanding under the Legacy Plan; however, no additional awards may be granted.

 

Employees are eligible to receive non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, share appreciation rights, performance shares, restricted share units (“RSUs”), and other awards under the 2014 LTIP. The maximum number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 LTIP is 3,171,150, and at September 30, 2015, 1,843,481 shares are available for grant.

 

Non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to receive non-qualified stock options, share appreciation rights, performance shares, RSUs, and other awards under the 2014 Director Plan. The maximum number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 Director Plan is 50,000, and at September 30, 2015, 42,860 shares are available for grant.

 

All options issued under the Legacy Plan vest in the event of a change in control. Generally, awards issued under the 2014 LTIP and 2014 Director Plan vest immediately in the event that an award recipient is terminated without Cause (as defined), and in the case of the 2014 LTIP for Good Reason (as defined), during the 12-month period following a Change in Control (as defined).

 

Options

 

The following table summarizes the option activity:

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2015   2014 
   Shares   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   Shares   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Outstanding:                    
Beginning of period   3,104,768   $17.27    2,166,250   $15.51 
Granted   10,627   $24.32    -   $- 
Exercised   (804,875)  $15.66    -   $- 
Lapsed   (9,810)  $21.00    (5,000)  $15.65 
End of period   2,300,710   $17.85    2,161,250   $15.51 
Exercisable, end of period   999,500   $15.34    1,668,250   $15.49 

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

11.Capital Stock and Equity Awards (continued)

 

RSUs

 

The following table summarizes the RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

 

   Shares   Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
Unvested, beginning of period   340,474   $21.00 
Granted   -   $- 
Unvested, end of period   340,474   $21.00 

 

There were no RSUs outstanding in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

Compensation Expense

 

Share based compensation expense is recognized on a straight line basis over the vesting period. The amount of expense and related tax benefit is summarized below:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Share based compensation expense  $940   $99   $2,794   $312 
U.S. tax benefit on share based compensation expense   260    21    765    62 

 

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had $8.4 million of unrecognized share based compensation expense expected to be charged to earnings over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years. The weighted-average remaining contractual life of the options outstanding and options exercisable was 4.3 years and 2.4 years, respectively.

 

12.Subsequent Events

 

On November 3, 2015, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.16 per common share, payable on December 28, 2015. Also on November 3, 2015, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $1.00 per common share, payable on December 28, 2015.

 

In October 2015, a $13.8 million investment in a bridge loan for a renewable energy project was repaid in full.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Factors that could cause such differences are discussed in the sections entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or “Quarterly Report”, and Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2015, or for any other future period. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report, and in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and its subsidiaries (“JRG Holdings” or the “Company”). Unless the context indicates or suggests otherwise, references to “JRG Holdings”, “the Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and its subsidiaries.

 

Our Business

 

JRG Holdings is a Bermuda-based insurance holding company. We own and operate a group of specialty insurance and reinsurance companies with the objective of generating compelling returns on tangible equity while limiting volatility. We seek to do this by earning profits from insurance underwriting while opportunistically investing our capital to grow tangible equity for our shareholders.

 

Our underwriting profit for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $13.5 million and $18.7 million, respectively. In the prior year, for the same periods, we had an underwriting profit of $11.2 million and $15.7 million, respectively. The improvement in our underwriting results in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 was a direct result of increased operating performance at all of our operating segments.

 

We are organized into four reportable segments, which are separately managed business units:

 

·The Excess and Surplus Lines segment offers commercial excess and surplus lines liability and property insurance in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia through James River Insurance Company (“James River Insurance”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, James River Casualty Company (“James River Casualty”);

 

·The Specialty Admitted Insurance segment offers individual risk workers’ compensation coverage for residential contractors, light manufacturing operations, transportation workers and healthcare workers in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee through Stonewood Insurance Company (“Stonewood Insurance”). This segment also includes two companies (acquired in December 2011) which have admitted licenses in 47 states and the District of Columbia. The Company expanded into other classes, lines, and geographical territories with these companies during the fourth quarter of 2013 and into program and fronting business in 2014;

 

·The Casualty Reinsurance segment provides working layer reinsurance to third parties (primarily through reinsurance intermediaries) and to our U.S.-based insurance subsidiaries (primarily through quota share reinsurance), through JRG Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“JRG Re”), a Bermuda-based reinsurance company; and

 

·The Corporate and Other segment consists of the management and treasury activities of our holding companies, interest expense associated with our debt, and expenses of our holding companies, including public company expenses that are not reimbursed by our insurance segments.

 

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All of our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries have financial strength ratings of “A-” (Excellent) with a positive outlook from A.M. Best Company.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

In preparing the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

The most critical accounting policies involve significant estimates and include those used in determining the reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses, investment valuation and impairment, goodwill and intangible assets, and assumed reinsurance premiums. For a detailed discussion of each of these policies, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. There have been no significant changes to any of these policies during the current year.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table summarizes our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   %   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   % 
   2015   2014   Change   2015   2014   Change 
   ($ in thousands) 
                         
Gross written premiums  $148,236   $171,415    (13.5)%  $463,505   $415,616    11.5%
Net retention (a)   82.9%   89.7%        84.2%   88.5%     
Net written premiums  $122,928   $153,836    (20.1)%  $390,401   $367,618    6.2%
                               
Net earned premiums  $122,705   $99,989    22.7%  $345,776   $286,057    20.9%
Losses and loss adjustment expenses   (66,718)   (54,486)   22.4%   (209,133)   (171,936)   21.6%
Other operating expenses   (42,526)   (34,332)   23.9%   (117,925)   (98,406)   19.8%
Underwriting profit (b), (c)   13,461    11,171    20.5%   18,718    15,715    19.1%
Net investment income   9,510    9,996    (4.9)%   34,496    33,189    3.9%
Net realized investment gains (losses)   (17)   2,033        (2,473)   (1,678)   47.4%
Other income and expense   (5)   (2,442)       (28)   (2,673)    
Interest expense   (1,769)   (1,557)   13.6%   (5,217)   (4,661)   11.9%
Amortization of intangible assets   (149)   (149)       (447)   (447)    
Income before taxes   21,031    19,052    10.4%   45,049    39,445    14.2%
Income tax expense   2,070    1,884    9.9%   4,222    3,626    16.4%
Net income  $18,961   $17,168    10.4%  $40,827   $35,819    14.0%
Net operating income  $19,177   $18,288    4.9%  $43,230   $39,639    9.1%
                               
Ratios:                              
Loss ratio   54.4%   54.5%       60.5%   60.1%    
Expense ratio   34.7%   34.3%       34.1%   34.4%    
Combined ratio   89.0%   88.8%       94.6%   94.5%    

 

(a) Net retention is defined as the ratio of net written premiums to gross written premiums.

(b) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” for further detail.

(c) Included in underwriting results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 is fee income of $1.2 million and $2.8 million, respectively (($7,000) and $1.1 million for the same periods in the prior year).

 

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Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

 

The Company had an underwriting profit of $13.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. This compares to an underwriting profit of $11.2 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

The results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 include certain items that are significant to the operating results of the Company. These items include (on a pre-tax basis) net realized investment losses of $17,000 and net realized investment gains of $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The $2.0 million realized gain in the three months ended September 30, 2014 included $512,000 on the sale of bank loan participations and $1.4 million on the exchange of other invested assets for cash and common shares of a publically traded bank holding company. Also in the prior year, our other expenses included $1.8 million of legal, audit and other professional services related to the Company’s initial public offering and $600,000 in employee severance.

 

We define net operating income as net income excluding net realized investment gains and losses, expenses related to due diligence costs for various merger and acquisition activities, costs associated with our initial public offering, severance costs associated with terminated employees, impairment charges on goodwill and intangible assets, gains on extinguishment of debt and interest and other expenses on a leased building that we are deemed to own for accounting purposes. We use net operating income as an internal performance measure in the management of our operations because we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of operations and our underlying business performance. Net operating income should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and our definition of net operating income may not be comparable to that of other companies.

 

Our income before taxes and net income for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 reconcile to our net operating income as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 
   2015   2014 
   Income
Before
Taxes
   Net
Income
   Income
Before
Taxes
   Net
Income
 
   (in thousands) 
                 
Income as reported  $21,031   $18,961   $19,052   $17,168 
Net realized investment (gains) losses   17    63    (2,033)   (1,420)
Other expenses   69    45    2,459    2,434 
Interest expense on leased building the Company is deemed to own for accounting purposes   166    108    163    106 
Net operating income  $21,283   $19,177   $19,641   $18,288 

 

Our combined ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was 89.0%. The combined ratio is a measure of underwriting performance and represents the relationship of incurred losses, loss adjusting expenses, and other operating expenses to net earned premiums. A combined ratio of less than 100% indicates an underwriting profit, while a combined ratio greater than 100% reflects an underwriting loss. The combined ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2015 includes $9.6 million, or 7.8 percentage points, of net favorable development on prior accident years, including $10.1 million of net favorable development from our Excess and Surplus Lines segment and $2.0 million of net favorable reserve development from the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment, offset by $2.5 million of net adverse development from the Casualty Reinsurance segment. 

 

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In the prior year, the combined ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was 88.8%. This ratio included $15.4 million, or 15.4 percentage points, of net favorable reserve development on business underwritten by the Company on prior accident years, including $12.0 million of net favorable reserve development from our Excess and Surplus Lines segment, $2.2 million of net favorable reserve development from the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment, and $1.2 million of net favorable development from the Casualty Reinsurance segment.

 

Our expense ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was 34.7% and 34.3%, respectively, principally caused by the increased expenses in our Corporate and Other segment (which, in 2015, includes increased share based compensation due to stock options and restricted share units issued in conjunction with our initial public offering, $701,000 of expenses previously allocated to our operating units which were not allocated in 2015, as well as the increased expenses related to being a public company).

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

 

The Company had an underwriting profit of $18.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. This compares to an underwriting profit of $15.7 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 include certain items that are significant to the operating results of the Company. These items include (on a pre-tax basis) net realized investment losses of $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, including $3.4 million of losses in the first quarter of 2015 from the sale of energy sector bank loans whose market values had declined significantly in response to declining oil and gas prices. The Company had $1.7 million of such net realized investment losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, including $2.1 million of impairment losses related to our investment exposure to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Also in the prior year, our other expenses included $1.8 million of legal, audit and other professional services related to the Company’s initial public offering and $600,000 in employee severance.

 

Our income before taxes and net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 reconcile to our net operating income as follows:

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2015   2014 
   Income
Before
Taxes
   Net
Income
   Income
Before
Taxes
   Net
Income
 
   (in thousands) 
                 
Income as reported  $45,049   $40,827   $39,445   $35,819 
Net realized investment losses   2,473    1,946    1,678    723 
Other expenses   207    135    2,848    2,775 
Interest expense on leased building the Company is deemed to own for accounting purposes   496    322    495    322 
Net operating income  $48,225   $43,230   $44,466   $39,639 

 

Our combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 94.6%. The combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes $14.6 million, or 4.2 percentage points, of net favorable development on prior accident years, including $18.5 million of net favorable development from our Excess and Surplus Lines segment and $2.2 million of net favorable reserve development from the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment, offset by $6.0 million of net adverse development from the Casualty Reinsurance segment.

 

In the prior year, the combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 94.5%. This ratio included $19.1 million, or 6.7 percentage points, of net favorable reserve development on prior accident years, including $18.3 million of net favorable reserve development from our Excess and Surplus Lines segment and $3.3 million of net favorable reserve development from the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment, offset by $2.4 million of net adverse development from the Casualty Reinsurance segment.

 

Our expense ratio was 34.1% and 34.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

All of the Company’s U.S. domiciled insurance subsidiaries are party to an intercompany pooling agreement that distributes the net underwriting results amongst the group companies based on their level of statutory capital and surplus. Additionally, each of the Company’s U.S.-domiciled insurance subsidiaries is a party to a quota share reinsurance agreement that cedes 70% of their premiums and losses to JRG Re. We report all segment information

 

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in this ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations’’ prior to the effects of intercompany reinsurance, consistent with the manner in which we evaluate the operating performance of our reportable segments.

 

Premiums

 

Insurance premiums are earned ratably over the terms of our insurance policies, generally twelve months. Reinsurance premiums assumed are earned over the terms of the underlying policies or reinsurance contracts. Contracts and policies written on a “losses occurring” basis cover claims that may occur during the term of the contract or policy, which is typically twelve months. Contracts which are written on a “risks attaching” basis cover claims which attach to the underlying insurance policies written during the terms of such contracts. Premiums earned on such contracts usually extend beyond the original term of the reinsurance contract, typically resulting in recognition of premiums earned over a 24-month period in proportion to the level of underlying exposure.

 

The following table summarizes the change in premium volume by component and business segment:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   %   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   % 
   2015   2014   Change   2015   2014   Change 
   ($ in thousands)     
Gross written premiums:                              
Excess and Surplus Lines  $82,249   $61,857    33.0%  $235,384   $182,544    28.9%
Specialty Admitted Insurance   22,898    16,211    41.2%   61,755    40,447    52.7%
Casualty Reinsurance   43,089    93,347    (53.8)%   166,366    192,625    (13.6)%
   $148,236   $171,415    (13.5)%  $463,505   $415,616    11.5%
                               
Net written premiums:                              
Excess and Surplus Lines  $68,731   $51,079    34.6%  $191,951   $150,618    27.4%
Specialty Admitted Insurance   11,110    9,212    20.6%   31,751    24,855    27.7%
Casualty Reinsurance   43,087    93,545    (53.9)%   166,699    192,145    (13.2)%
   $122,928   $153,836    (20.1)%  $390,401   $367,618    6.2%
                               
Net earned premiums:                              
Excess and Surplus Lines  $65,804   $51,230    28.4%  $178,071   $138,313    28.7%
Specialty Admitted Insurance   10,743    7,185    49.5%   30,448    18,847    61.6%
Casualty Reinsurance   46,158    41,574    11.0%   137,257    128,897    6.5%
   $122,705   $99,989    22.7%  $345,776   $286,057    20.9%

 

Our Excess and Surplus Lines segment and our Specialty Admitted Insurance segment experienced significant growth in gross written premiums during 2015, while our Casualty Reinsurance segment experienced a significant decline in gross written premiums. Premiums for the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were affected by the following:

 

Gross written premiums for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment (which represents 50.8% of our consolidated gross written premiums) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 increased 33.0% and 28.9%, respectively, over the prior year. Additionally, policy submissions were 1.0% higher in 2015 than in 2014. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the increase in gross written premiums compared to the same period in 2014 was most notable in our:

 

·General Casualty division (representing 33.5% of this segment’s 2015 business) which increased $13.1 million (or 83.0%) and $41.6 million (or 111.7%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively;

 

·Energy division (representing 9.9% of this segment’s 2015 business) which increased $4.9 million (or 87.0%) and $3.0 million (or 14.7%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively;

 

·Manufacturers and Contractors division (representing 25.7% of this segment’s 2015 business) which increased $1.4 million (or 7.0%) and $4.5 million (or 8.0%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively; and

 

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·Allied Health division (representing 4.9% of this segment’s 2015 business), which increased $1.1 million (or 39.2%) for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and increased $3.7 million (or 46.9%) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

 

Gross written premiums for the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment (which represents 13.3% of our consolidated gross written premiums) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were 41.2% and 52.7%, respectively, higher than those of the prior year. Gross written premiums for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included $14.5 million and $34.5 million, respectively, of premiums from its program and fronting business. In the prior year, premiums from such program and fronting business premiums were $8.3 million and $18.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The segment’s workers’ compensation gross written premiums of $8.4 million and $27.3 million were also up 5.6% and 22.7%, respectively, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 over the same periods in 2014.

 

It is our policy to audit the payroll for each expired workers’ compensation policy for the difference between estimated payroll at the time the policy is written and the final actual payroll of the customer after the policy is completed. Audit premiums increased both written and earned premiums during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 by $166,000 and $1.1 million, respectively (in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, audit premiums increased both written and earned premium by $36,000 and $632,000, respectively). Additionally, gross written premiums for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included $586,000 and $1.5 million, respectively, of assumed premiums from our allocation of involuntary insurance pools ($486,000 and $1.1 million for the same periods in the prior year, respectively).

 

Accordingly, the components of the increase in gross written premiums for the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment may be summarized as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   %   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   % 
   2015   2014   Change   2015   2014   Change 
   ($ in thousands)     
                         
Workers’ compensation premium  $7,719   $7,434    3.8%  $24,886   $20,497    21.4%
Audit premium on workers’ compensation policies   166    36    361.1%   1,133    632    79.3%
Allocation of involuntary workers’ compensation pool   517    486    6.4%   1,272    1,104    15.2%
    8,402    7,956    5.6%   27,291    22,233    22.7%
                               
Program and fronting premium   14,427    8,255    74.8%   34,285    18,214    88.2%
Allocation of involuntary pools for programs and fronting   69            179         
    14,496    8,255    75.6%   34,464    18,214    89.2%
   $22,898   $16,211    41.2%  $61,755   $40,447    52.7%

 

A significant portion of the program and fronting business is reinsured. As a result, our net written premium for this segment has not increased at a rate which corresponds to the increase in our gross written premiums.

 

Gross written premiums for the Casualty Reinsurance segment (which represents 35.9% of our consolidated gross written premiums) decreased 53.8% to $43.1 million and 13.6% to $166.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The Casualty Reinsurance segment generally writes large casualty-focused treaties that are expected to have lower volatility relative to other property and casualty treaties. We rarely write stand-alone property reinsurance. When treaties are written, it is done with relatively low catastrophe sub-limits. The decrease in premium between the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is principally due to the timing of the renewal of one contract which renewed in the third quarter of 2014 but was renewed again in the second quarter of 2015. This contract contributed $25.0 million to this segment’s gross written premium in the third

 

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quarter of 2014 and $16.0 million to the second quarter of 2015. Additionally, several other smaller contracts were either non-renewed or reduced in size at renewal.

 

Net Retention

 

The ratio of net written premiums to gross written premiums is referred to as our net premium retention. Our net premium retention is summarized by segment as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
                 
Excess and Surplus Lines   83.6%   82.6%   81.5%   82.5%
Specialty Admitted Insurance   48.5%   56.8%   51.4%   61.5%
Casualty Reinsurance   100.0%   100.2%   100.2%   99.8%
Total   82.9%   89.7%   84.2%   88.5%

 

The net premium retention for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment decreased from 82.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to 81.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily as a result of increases in direct written premium for Excess Casualty division of $813,000 (or 3.5%) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 over the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The Excess Casualty division cedes a higher percentage of premiums to reinsurers than other divisions in the Excess and Surplus Lines segment.

 

The net premium retention for the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment decreased from 2014 to 2015 for both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 as a result of the growth of the segment’s program and fronting business, which generally has much lower net premium retention than our workers’ compensation business.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the net retention on the segment’s program and fronting business was 24.7% and 20.5%, respectively (24.3% and 26.0% in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively), while the net retention on the individual risk workers’ compensation business was 89.6% and 90.4%, respectively (90.5% in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014).

 

The net retention for the Casualty Reinsurance segment for 2015 and 2014 is approximately 100.0%.

 

Underwriting Results

 

The following table compares our combined ratios by segment:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
                 
Excess and Surplus Lines   74.1%   74.6%   83.0%   84.1%
Specialty Admitted Insurance   95.7%   97.7%   98.3%   104.7%
Casualty Reinsurance   99.4%   100.0%   99.3%   99.7%
Total   89.0%   88.8%   94.6%   94.5%

 

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Excess and Surplus Lines Segment

 

Results for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment are as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   %   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   % 
   2015   2014   Change   2015   2014   Change 
   ($ in thousands)     
                         
Gross written premiums  $82,249   $61,857    33.0%  $235,384   $182,544    28.9%
Net written premiums  $68,731   $51,079    34.6%  $191,951    150,618    27.4%
                               
Net earned premiums  $65,804   $51,230    28.4%  $178,071    138,313    28.7%
Losses and loss adjustment expenses   (32,853)   (23,882)   37.6%   (101,383)   (77,362)   31.1%
Underwriting expenses   (15,904)   (14,315)   11.1%   (46,429)   (39,020)   19.0%
Underwriting profit (1), (2)  $17,047   $13,033    30.8%  $30,259   $21,931    38.0%
                               
Ratios:                              
Loss ratio   49.9%   46.6%        56.9%   55.9%     
Expense ratio   24.2%   27.9%        26.1%   28.2%     
Combined ratio   74.1%   74.6%        83.0%   84.1%     

 

(1)See – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures”
(2)Underwriting results include fee income of $861,000 and $1.8 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, ($218,000) and $565,000 for the three months and nine months ended 2014, respectively).

 

The combined ratio of the Excess and Surplus Lines segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 74.1% (comprised of a loss ratio of 49.9% and an expense ratio of 24.2%) and 83.0% (comprised of a loss ratio of 56.9% and an expense ratio of 26.1%), respectively. This compares to the prior year’s combined ratio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 of 74.6% (comprised of a loss ratio of 46.6% and an expense ratio of 27.9%) and 84.1% (comprised of a loss ratio of 55.9% and an expense ratio of 28.2%), respectively.

 

The loss ratio of 49.9% and 56.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes $10.1 million, or 15.3 percentage points and $18.5 million, or 10.4 percentage points, respectively, in net favorable reserve development in our loss estimates for prior accident years. In the prior year, the loss ratio of 46.6% and 55.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes $12.0 million, or 23.4 percentage points, and $18.3 million, or 13.2 percentage points, respectively, in net favorable reserve development in our loss estimates for prior accident years. The favorable reserve development in this segment reflects benign loss activity and continuing positive loss trends.

 

The expense ratio for this segment was 24.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 27.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2014. The expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 of 28.2% decreased to 26.1% in the corresponding period of 2015 due to the percentage increase in earned premiums for the period exceeding the percentage increase in underwriting expenses for the period.

 

As a result of the items discussed above, the underwriting profit of the Excess and Surplus Lines segment increased 30.8% and 38.0% from $13.0 million and $21.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, to $17.0 million and $30.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

 

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Specialty Admitted Insurance Segment

 

Results for the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment are as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   %   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   % 
   2015   2014   Change   2015   2014   Change 
   ($ in thousands)     
                         
Gross written premiums  $22,898   $16,211    41.2%  $61,755   $40,447    52.7%
Net written premiums  $11,110   $9,212    20.6%  $31,751    24,855    27.7%
                               
Net earned premiums  $10,743   $7,185    49.5%  $30,448    18,847    61.6%
Losses and loss adjustment expenses   (6,448)   (3,687)   74.9%   (18,377)   (10,274)   78.9%
Underwriting expenses   (3,833)   (3,336)   14.9%   (11,565)   (9,451)   22.4%
Underwriting profit (loss) (1), (2)  $462   $162    185.2%  $506   $(878)    
                               
Ratios:                              
Loss ratio   60.0%   51.3%        60.4%   54.5%     
Expense ratio   35.7%   46.4%        38.0%   50.1%     
Combined ratio   95.7%   97.7%        98.3%   104.7%     

 

(1)See – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures”
(2)Underwriting results include fee income of $328,000 and $992,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively ($211,000 and $514,000 for the same periods in 2014).

 

The combined ratio of the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 95.7% (comprised of a loss ratio of 60.0% and an expense ratio of 35.7%) and 98.3% (comprised of a loss ratio of 60.4% and an expense ratio of 38.0%), respectively. This compares to the prior year’s combined ratio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 of 97.7% (comprised of a loss ratio of 51.3% and an expense ratio of 46.4%) and 104.7% (comprised of a loss ratio of 54.5% and an expense ratio of 50.1%), respectively.

 

The loss ratio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes $2.0 million, or 18.3 percentage points, and $2.2 million or 7.1 percentage points, respectively, of net favorable reserve development on prior accident years. The loss ratio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes $2.2 million, or 30.3 percentage points, and $3.3 million, or 17.2 percentage points, respectively, of net favorable development on prior accident years. The favorable development in both 2015 and 2014 reflects the fact that actual loss emergence of the individual risk workers’ compensation book for accident years 2012 and prior has been better than expected when we took actions to strengthen reserves for the book during the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

The expense ratio of 35.7% and 38.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, declined from the prior year ratios of 46.4% and 50.1%, respectively. This decrease primarily relates to growth in gross written premiums on program and fronting business. Gross written premiums on this program and fronting business were $8.3 million and $18.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, but many of the infrastructure and personnel costs necessary to produce and administer this business (by necessity) precede the production and earning of these premiums. Gross written premiums on program and fronting business grew to $14.5 million and $34.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

 

As a result of the items discussed above, the underwriting results of the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment improved from underwriting profit of $162,000 and underwriting losses of $878,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 to an underwriting profit of $462,000 and $506,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

 

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Casualty Reinsurance Segment

 

Results for the Casualty Reinsurance segment are as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   %   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   % 
   2015   2014   Change   2015   2014   Change 
   ($ in thousands)     
                         
Gross written premiums  $43,089   $93,347    (53.8)%  $166,366   $192,625    (13.6%)
Net written premiums  $43,087   $93,545    (53.9)%  $166,699    192,145    (13.2%)
                               
Net earned premiums  $46,158   $41,574    11.0%  $137,257   $128,897    6.5%
Losses and loss adjustment expenses   (27,417)   (26,917)   1.9%   (89,373)   (84,300)   6.0%
Underwriting expenses   (18,465)   (14,640)   26.1%   (46,973)   (44,173)   6.3%
Underwriting profit (1)  $276   $17       $911   $424    114.9%
                               
Ratios:                              
Loss ratio   59.4%   64.7%        65.1%   65.4%     
Expense ratio   40.0%   35.2%        34.2%   34.3%     
Combined ratio   99.4%   100.0%        99.3%   99.7%     

 

(1) See – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures.”

 

The Casualty Reinsurance segment focuses on low volatility, proportional insurance which requires larger ceding commissions resulting in a higher commission expense than in our other segments.

 

The combined ratio of the Casualty Reinsurance segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 99.4% (comprised of a loss ratio of 59.4% and an expense ratio of 40.0%) and 99.3% (comprised of a loss ratio of 65.1% and an expense ratio of 34.2%), respectively. In the prior year, the combined ratio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 100.0% (comprised of a loss ratio of 64.7% and an expense ratio of 35.2%) and 99.7% (comprised of a loss ratio of 65.4% and an expense ratio of 34.3%), respectively.

 

The loss ratio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes $2.5 million and $6.0 million, respectively (or (5.3) and (4.4) percentage points), of net adverse reserve development in our loss estimates for prior accident years. The adverse development for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily related to one reinsurance relationship from the 2011 underwriting year that experienced higher loss development than expected. The loss ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2014 includes $1.2 million (or 2.9 points) of favorable reserve development in our loss estimates for prior accident years. The loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes $2.4 million (or (1.9) points) of adverse reserve development in our loss estimates for prior accident years.

 

The expense ratio for this segment increased from 35.2% to 40.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The increase in the expense ratio during the third quarter of 2015 was the result of increased sliding scale commissions associated with favorable loss ratios, principally in the 2014 underwriting year. The expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 34.2%, down slightly from a 34.3% expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

As a result of the items discussed above, the Casualty Reinsurance segment had an underwriting profit of $276,000 and $911,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, which was an increase over the underwriting profit of $17,000 and $424,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

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Reserves

 

An indicator of reserve strength that we monitor closely is the percentage of our gross and net loss reserves that are comprised of incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) reserves. The tables below set forth our case reserves, IBNR, total gross and net reserves and the percentage of the reserves comprised by IBNR reserves.

 

The Company’s gross reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses at September 30, 2015 was $779.0 million. Of this amount, 68.1% relates to amounts that are IBNR. This amount was 71.5% at December 31, 2014. The Company’s gross reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses by segment are summarized as follows:

 

   Gross Reserves at September 30, 2015 
   Case   IBNR   Total 
   (in thousands) 
Excess and Surplus Lines  $101,909   $367,478   $469,387 
Specialty Admitted Insurance   36,842    34,063    70,905 
Casualty Reinsurance   109,831    128,886    238,717 
Total  $248,582   $530,427   $779,009 

 

At September 30, 2015, the amount of net reserves of $645.7 million that related to IBNR was 69.0%. This amount was 70.3% at December 31, 2014. The Company’s net reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses by segment are summarized as follows:

 

   Net Reserves at September 30, 2015 
   Case   IBNR   Total 
   (in thousands) 
Excess and Surplus Lines  $82,572   $297,985   $380,557 
Specialty Admitted Insurance   25,184    22,902    48,086 
Casualty Reinsurance   92,728    124,365    217,093 
Total  $200,484   $445,252   $645,736 

 

Other Operating Expenses

 

Other operating expenses for the Company include the underwriting, acquisition, and insurance expenses of the Excess and Surplus Lines segment, the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment, the Casualty Reinsurance segment, and the Corporate and Other segment.

 

Corporate and Other Segment

 

Other operating expenses for the Corporate and Other segment include personnel costs associated with the Bermuda and U.S. holding companies, professional fees, and various other corporate expenses that are included in our calculation of our expense ratio and our combined ratio. A portion of these costs are reimbursed by our subsidiaries. These reimbursements are included primarily as underwriting expenses in the results of our insurance subsidiaries. Accordingly, other operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment represent the expenses of both the Bermuda and U.S. holding companies that were not reimbursed by our subsidiaries, including costs associated with potential acquisitions and other strategic initiatives. These costs vary from period-to-period based on the status of these initiatives.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the total operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment were $4.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively. The increase included an $840,000 increase in share based compensation expense due to stock options and restricted share units issued in the fourth quarter of 2014 in conjunction with our initial public offering and $701,000 of expenses previously allocated to our operating units which were not allocated in 2015. The three months ended September 30, 2015 also included other expenses related to being a publicly traded company, including professional services fees, printing fees, board fees, transfer agent fees, and additional director and officer insurance costs that were not present in the three months ended September 30, 2014.

 

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For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the total operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment were $13.0 million and $5.8 million, respectively. The increase included a $2.5 million increase in share based compensation expense due to stock options and restricted share units issued in the fourth quarter of 2014 in conjunction with our initial public offering and $2.1 million of expenses previously allocated to our operating units which were not allocated in 2015. The first nine months of 2015 also included other expenses related to being a publicly traded company, including professional services fees, printing fees, board fees, transfer agent fees, and additional director and officer insurance costs that were not present in the first nine months of 2014.

 

Investing Results

 

Net investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $9.5 million and $10.0 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our net investment income was $34.5 million and $33.2 million, respectively. Our cash and invested assets increased 5.9% ($1,378.9 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $1,302.1 million at September 30, 2014). The increase in assets was due to positive operating cash flows offset by the payment of dividends of $70.0 million in the third quarter of 2014 and $13.7 million during 2015. The decrease in net investment income for the quarter was primarily attributable to a decrease in the fair value of our investments in certain renewable energy partnerships in the third quarter of $(659,000) compared to an increase of $697,000 in the third quarter of the prior year. On a full year basis, these energy partnerships have contributed $4.0 million and $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, to our net investment income. The $1.3 million increase in year to date net investment income was due to additional income from the Company’s private investments and a 6.8% increase in our average cash and invested assets in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014.

 

Major categories of the Company’s net investment income are summarized as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Fixed maturity securities  $6,131   $5,807   $17,780   $17,083 
Bank loan participations   3,557    3,390    10,171    10,233 
Equity securities   1,168    1,020    3,364    3,083 
Other invested assets   (627)   681    5,584    5,362 
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments   172    31    417    89 
Trading gains (losses)   21    (51)   4    (18)
Gross investment income   10,422    10,878    37,320    35,832 
Investment expense   (912)   (882)   (2,824)   (2,643)
Net investment income  $9,510   $9,996   $34,496   $33,189 

 

The following table summarizes our investment returns:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Annualized gross investment yield on:                    
Average cash and invested assets   3.1%   3.4%   3.7%   3.8%
Average fixed maturity securities   3.4%   3.3%   3.3%   3.5%
Annualized tax equivalent yield on:                    
Average fixed maturity securities   3.5%   3.4%   3.4%   3.7%

 

Of our total cash and invested assets of $1,378.9 million at September 30, 2015, $76.6 million represents the cash and cash equivalents portion of the portfolio. The majority of the portfolio, or $962.9 million, is comprised of fixed maturity and equity securities that are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses on these securities reported, net of applicable taxes, as a separate component of accumulated

 

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comprehensive income or loss. Also included in our investments is $50.2 million of short-term investments, $74.3 million of other invested assets, and $1.3 million of fixed maturity securities classified as trading which are held at the U.S. holding company. Our trading portfolio is carried at fair value with changes to the value reported as net investment income in our condensed consolidated income statement.

 

The last component of our investment portfolio is comprised of $213.6 million of bank loan participations which are classified as held-for-investment and reported at amortized cost, net of an allowance for credit losses. Changes in this credit allowance are included in realized gains or losses. These bank loan participations are primarily senior, secured floating-rate debt which are rated “B” or “BB” by Standard & Poor’s or an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating organization, and are therefore below investment grade. Bank loans include assignments of and participations in, performing and non-performing senior corporate debt generally acquired through primary bank syndications and in secondary markets. They consist of, but are not limited to, term loans, the funded and unfunded portions of revolving credit loans, and similar loans and investments. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair market value of these securities was $205.3 million, and $231.3 million, respectively.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized net realized investment losses of $17,000. For the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recognized net realized investment gains of $2.0 million. These realized investment gains included a $1.4 million gain realized on an investment in a bank holding company.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized net realized investment losses of $2.5 million. The realized investment losses included $3.9 million principally from the sale of certain oil and gas bank loans in the energy sector as well as $660,000 in impairment losses related to our investment exposure to entities located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. These realized investment losses were partially offset by $1.3 million of net realized investment gains recognized on the sale of fixed maturities and $400,000 of net realized gains on the sale of bank loans unrelated to the energy sector. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recognized net realized investment losses of $1.7 million. The realized investment losses included $2.1 million in impairment losses related to our investment exposure to entities located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and a $1.9 million loss from the sale of one renewable energy investment, partially offset by a $1.4 million gain realized on an investment in a bank holding company and $1.0 million of net realized gains on sales of fixed maturities, equities, and bank loans.

 

In conjunction with its outside investment managers, the Company performs quarterly reviews of all securities within its investment portfolio to determine whether any impairment has occurred. In connection with this review, the Company wrote down two municipal bonds issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that were considered other than temporarily impaired. Puerto Rico’s weak economic conditions and heavy debt burden heightened the risk of default on these bonds. The Company recognized impairment losses of $660,000 on these bonds for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The impaired securities were sold in the quarter ended June 30, 2015. The Company recognized a net realized gain of $22,000 on the sales. The Company recognized impairment losses of $1.4 million on the bonds for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

At September 30, 2015, the Company holds participations in two loans issued by companies that produce and sell electricity subject to power purchase agreements with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”). PREPA is a public corporation and governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. To date, the loans are current with respect to contractual payments of principal and interest. However, PREPA’s credit strength has been affected by the economic conditions in Puerto Rico, thus raising doubt about the Company’s continuing ability to collect amounts owed by PREPA in order to continue to make full and timely payments on the debt obligations held by the Company. PREPA has been downgraded by Moody’s to “Caa2” and by S&P to “B-.” PREPA’s debt has recently traded at a significant discount to par with very high yields. It is unclear how the power contracts would be treated under a PREPA restructuring. Management concluded that the loans were impaired and at September 30, 2015, the allowance for credit losses on these loans was $501,000. The impaired loans have a carrying value of $4.7 million at September 30, 2015 and unpaid principal of $5.6 million. At September 30, 2014, losses of $742,000 were recorded to establish an allowance for credit losses on the loans.

 

The Company currently holds bank loans in the energy sector. The market values of these loans declined significantly in the fourth quarter of 2014 in response to declining oil and gas prices. The declines in market values continued into 2015 and, after discussions with our independent investment manager, management decided to sell certain energy sector loans where there was an increased risk associated with the issuer’s ability to meet all principal

 

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and interest obligations as they became due. Management concluded that one energy sector loan held at September 30, 2015 should be considered impaired and the allowance for credit losses on this loan was $29,000. The loan had a carrying value of $695,000 at September 30, 2015 and unpaid principal of $724,000. In total, including the three loans discussed above, the Company’s investments in bank loans to oil and gas companies in the energy sector had a carrying value of $21.0 million and an unrealized loss of $5.0 million at September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2015, our available-for-sale investment portfolio of fixed maturity and equity securities had net unrealized gains of $11.9 million representing 1.2% of the cost or amortized cost of the portfolio. Additionally, at September 30, 2015, 87.1% of our fixed maturity security portfolio was rated “A-” or better by Standard & Poor’s or had an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Fixed maturity securities with ratings below investment grade by Standard & Poor’s or another nationally recognized statistical rating organization at September 30, 2015 had an aggregate fair value of $10.3 million and an aggregate net unrealized loss of $4.7 million.

 

The average duration of our investment portfolio, excluding bank loans, was 4.4 years at September 30, 2015. The duration for bank loans is less than one year, resulting in an approximate duration for the entire portfolio of 3.5 years.

 

The amortized cost and fair value of our investments in available-for-sale securities were as follows:

 

   September 30, 2015   December 31, 2014 
   Cost or
Amortized
Cost
   Fair 
Value
   % of 
Total 
Fair Value
   Cost or
Amortized
Cost
   Fair 
Value
   % of 
Total 
Fair Value
 
   ($ in thousands) 
Fixed maturity securities:                              
State and municipal  $112,053   $119,853    12.4%  $90,715   $99,046    12.0%
Residential mortgage-backed   135,851    136,712    14.2%   113,997    115,249    14.0%
Corporate   342,689    340,422    35.4%   261,574    267,882    32.5%
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed   134,420    136,292    14.2%   111,056    113,341    13.7%
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies   94,872    95,976    10.0%   100,376    101,275    12.3%
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government   56,814    57,265    5.9%   58,173    58,269    7.1%
Redeemable preferred stock   2,025    1,960    0.2%   2,025    1,901    0.2%
Total   878,724    888,480    92.3%   737,916    756,963    91.8%
Equity securities:                              
Preferred stock   53,147    55,977    5.8%   45,149    49,601    6.0%
Common stock   19,199    18,476    1.9%   19,199    18,304    2.2%
Total   72,346    74,453    7.7%   64,348    67,905    8.2%
Total investments  $951,070   $962,933    100.0%  $802,264   $824,868    100.0%

 

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s portfolio of fixed maturity securities (both available-for-sale and trading) by rating as of September 30, 2015:

 

Standard & Poor’s or Equivalent Designation  Fair Value   % of Total 
   ($ in thousands) 
AAA  $136,515    15.4%
AA   404,036    45.4%
A   234,707    26.4%
BBB   104,176    11.7%
BB   4,712    0.5%
Below BB and unrated   5,585    0.6%
Total  $889,731    100.0%

 

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At September 30, 2015, our portfolio of fixed maturity securities contained corporate fixed maturity securities (both available-for-sale and trading) with a fair value of $340.4 million. A summary of these securities by industry segment is shown below as of September 30, 2015:

 

Industry  Fair Value   % of Total 
   ($ in thousands) 
Industrials and other  $234,286    68.8%
Financial   58,587    17.2%
Utilities   47,549    14.0%
Total  $340,422    100.0%

 

Corporate fixed maturity securities (both available-for-sale and trading) include public traded securities and privately placed bonds is shown below as of September 30, 2015:

 

Public/Private  Fair Value   % of Total 
   ($ in thousands) 
Publicly traded  $315,745    92.8%
Privately placed   24,677    7.2%
Total  $340,422    100.0%

 

The amortized cost and fair value of our available-for-sale investments in fixed maturity securities summarized by contractual maturity were as follows:

 

   September 30, 2015 
   Amortized
Cost
   Fair
Value
   % of 
Total Value
 
   ($ in thousands) 
Due in:               
One year or less  $84,559   $85,179    9.6%
After one year through five years   267,065    266,232    30.0%
After five years through ten years   105,309    106,787    12.0%
After ten years   149,495    155,318    17.5%
Residential mortgage-backed   135,851    136,712    15.4%
Commercial mortgage and asset-backed   134,420    136,292    15.3%
Redeemable preferred stock   2,025    1,960    0.2%
Total  $878,724   $888,480    100.0%

 

At September 30, 2015, the Company held one security with a market value of $20,000 in securitizations of alternative-A mortgages which is performing and rated “investment grade” by the established ratings agencies. The Company has no investments in sub-prime mortgages or collateralized debt obligations at September 30, 2015.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was $1.8 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively ($5.2 million and $4.7 million for the respective nine month periods). The increase in interest expense relates to an increase in the unsecured revolving facility from September 30, 2014 to September 30, 2015, $20.0 million of which was used to fund the Company’s $70.0 million dividend in September 2014 as well as other operating needs.

 

In May 2004, we issued $15.0 million of senior debt due April 29, 2034, with net proceeds to us of $14.5 million. The senior debt is not redeemable by the holder or subject to sinking fund requirements. Interest accrues quarterly and is payable in arrears at a floating rate per annum equal to the three-month LIBOR plus 3.85%. This senior debt is redeemable at par prior to its stated maturity at our option in whole or in part. The terms of the senior debt contain certain covenants, with which we are in compliance, and which, among other things, restrict our

 

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ability to assume senior indebtedness secured by our U.S. holding company’s common stock or its subsidiaries’ capital stock or to issue shares of its subsidiaries’ capital stock.

 

On June 5, 2013, the Company closed on a three-year $125.0 million senior revolving credit facility which matures on June 5, 2016. The Company and JRG Re are borrowers on the senior revolving credit facility. On September 24, 2014, we closed on an amendment to the senior revolving credit facility which, among other things, included an increase in the size of the unsecured revolving facility from $62.5 million to $112.5 million and extended the maturity date from June 5, 2016 to September 24, 2019. The amendment also reduced the interest rate applicable to borrowings under the revolver such that the current LIBOR margin dropped from 2.25% to 2.00%. On May 20, 2015, the Company exercised its option under the facility and increased its secured capacity by $40.0 million to a total of $102.5 million.

 

The senior revolving credit facility is comprised of two parts:

 

·A $102.5 million secured revolving facility to be utilized by JRG Re to issue letters of credit for the benefit of third party reinsureds. This portion of our credit facility is secured by our investment securities. At September 30, 2015, JRG Re had issued $43.5 million of letters of credit under the facility.

 

·A $112.5 million unsecured revolving facility to meet the working capital needs of the Company. All unpaid principal on the revolver is due at maturity. Interest accrues quarterly and is payable in arrears at the three-month LIBOR plus a margin, currently 2.00%, which is subject to change depending upon our total outstanding debt to capitalization. At September 30, 2015, we have drawn $73.3 million on the unsecured revolver.

 

This debt contains certain financial and other covenants with which the Company is in compliance at September 30, 2015.

 

We sold trust preferred securities through five Delaware statutory trusts sponsored and wholly-owned by the Company or its subsidiaries. Each trust used the net proceeds from the sale of its trust preferred securities to purchase our floating rate junior subordinated debt.

 

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The following table summarizes the nature and terms of the junior subordinated debt and trust preferred securities outstanding at September 30, 2015 (including the Company’s repurchase of a portion of these trust preferred securities described herein):

 

   James River
Capital Trust
I
   James River 
Capital Trust
 II
   James River 
Capital Trust
III
   James River 
Capital Trust
IV
   Franklin
Holdings II
(Bermuda)
Capital Trust
I
 
   ($ in thousands) 
Issue date   May 26,
2004
    December 15, 2004    June 15,
2006
    December 11,
2007
    January 10,
2008
 
Principal amount of trust preferred securities  $7,000   $15,000   $20,000   $54,000   $30,000 
Principal amount of junior subordinated debt  $7,217   $15,464   $20,619   $55,670   $30,928 
Principal amount of junior subordinated debt net of repurchases  $7,217   $15,464   $20,619   $44,827   $15,928 
Maturity date of junior subordinated debt, unless accelerated earlier   May 24,
2034
    December 15,
2034
    June 15,
2036
    December 15,
2037
    March 15,
2038
 
Trust common stock  $217   $464   $619   $1,670   $928 
Interest rate, per annum   Three-Month LIBOR plus 4.0%    

Three-Month LIBOR plus

3.4%

     Three-Month LIBOR plus 3.0%    Three-Month LIBOR plus 3.1% thereafter    Three-Month LIBOR plus 4.0% thereafter 

 

All of the junior subordinated debt is redeemable at 100.0% of the unpaid principal amount at our option.

 

The junior subordinated debt contains certain covenants with which we are in compliance as of September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the ratio of total debt outstanding to total capitalization (defined as total debt plus total stockholders’ equity) was 21.4% and 21.9%, respectively. Having debt as part of our capital structure allows us to generate higher earnings per share and book value per share results than we could by using equity capital alone.

 

Amortization of Intangibles

 

The Company recorded $149,000 of amortization of intangible assets for each of the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and $447,000 for each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

 

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Income Tax Expense

 

Our effective tax rate fluctuates from period to period based on the relative mix of income reported by country and the respective tax rates imposed by each tax jurisdiction. For U.S.-sourced income, the Company’s U.S. federal income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to income before taxes due primarily to interest income on tax-advantaged state and municipal securities (state and municipal securities represent 12.4% and 12.1% of our available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively) and dividends received income. For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our income tax expense was 9.8% and 9.9% of worldwide income before taxes, respectively (9.4% and 9.2% for the nine month periods, respectively).

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Sources and Uses of Funds

 

We are organized as a Bermuda holding company with our operations conducted by our wholly-owned subsidiaries. Accordingly, our holding company may receive cash through loans from banks, issuance of equity and debt securities, corporate service fees or dividends received from our insurance subsidiaries, and/or other transactions. Our U.S. holding company may receive cash in a similar manner and also through payments from our subsidiaries pursuant to our U.S. consolidated tax allocation agreement.

 

The payment of dividends by our subsidiaries is limited by various state insurance statutes. In general, the laws and regulations applicable to our domestic insurance subsidiaries limit the aggregate amount of dividends or other distributions that they may declare or pay within any 12-month period without advance regulatory approval. Generally, the limitations are based on the greater of statutory net income of the preceding year or 10.0% of statutory surplus at the end of the preceding year. In addition, insurance regulators have broad powers to prevent the reduction of statutory surplus to inadequate levels and could refuse to permit the payment of dividends calculated under any applicable formula. Under this formula, the maximum amount of dividends and return of capital available to the Company from JRG Re in 2015 without regulatory approval is calculated to be approximately $80.4 million. However, this dividend amount is subject to annual enhanced solvency requirement calculations which may decrease this available dividend amount. Additionally, the maximum amount of dividends available to the U.S. holding company from our U.S. insurance subsidiaries during 2015 without regulatory approval is $20.8 million. During the third quarter of 2015, the Company requested and subsequently received approval for James River Insurance to dividend $48.5 million to James River Group in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

At September 30, 2015, the Bermuda holding company had $1.4 million of cash and cash equivalents. The US holding company had $73.2 million of cash and invested assets, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $6.2 million, fixed maturity securities of $1.3 million, equity securities of $7.1 million, short-term investments of $1.2 million, and other invested assets of $57.4 million, which are not subject to regulatory restrictions.

 

Our net written premium to surplus ratio (defined as net written premiums to regulatory capital and surplus) is reviewed by management as well as our rating agency as a component of leverage and efficiency of deployed capital. For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our annualized net written premium to surplus ratio was 0.8 to 1.0 and 1.1 to 1.0, respectively (0.9 to 1 and 0.9 to 1 for the nine month periods, respectively).

 

Ceded Reinsurance

 

Our insurance subsidiaries enter into reinsurance contracts to limit our exposure to potential losses arising from large risks and to provide additional capacity for growth. Our reinsurance is contracted under excess of loss and quota share reinsurance contracts. In excess of loss reinsurance, the reinsurer agrees to assume all or a portion of the ceding company’s losses in excess of a specified amount. The premiums payable to the reinsurer is negotiated by the parties based on their assessment of the amount of risk being ceded to the reinsurer because the reinsurer does not share proportionately in the ceding company’s losses. In quota share reinsurance, the reinsurer agrees to assume a specified percentage of the ceding company’s losses arising out of a defined class of business in exchange for a corresponding percentage of premiums. For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our net premium retention was 82.9% and 89.7%, respectively (84.2% and 88.5% for the nine month periods, respectively).

 

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For certain casualty underwriting divisions of the Excess and Surplus Lines segment, we do not believe that the purchase of reinsurance is necessary since our total exposure to any one claim is a maximum of $1.0 million. The underwriting divisions that do not require reinsurance are Manufacturers and Contractors, General Casualty, Sports and Entertainment, and Small Business. These underwriting divisions comprise 62.0% of the Excess and Surplus Lines segment’s gross written premiums for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

The following is a summary of our reinsurance in place for the Excess and Surplus Lines segment as of October 1, 2015:

 

Line of Business   Company Retention
Casualty    
Primary Specialty Casualty   Up to $1.0 million per occurrence, subject to a $1.0 million aggregate deductible.
Excess Casualty   Up to $1.0 million per occurrence. (1)
Professional Liability   Up to $1.0 million per occurrence. (2)
Property   Up to $5.0 million per event. (3)

 

(1)For policies with an occurrence limit of $1.0 million or higher, the excess casualty treaty is set such that our retention is $1.0 million or less. For policies where we also write an underlying primary casualty policy, the net excess casualty limit is added to our retention on the primary casualty coverage, which results in a total retention of $2.0 million or less on any one risk.
(2)Only for policies where we do not write the underlying primary professional liability policy.
(3)The property catastrophe reinsurance treaty has a limit of $40.0 million with one reinstatement.

 

On July 1, 2015, we renewed a clash and contingency reinsurance treaty to cover both the Excess and Surplus Lines and Specialty Admitted Insurance segments in the event of a claims incident involving more than one of our insureds. The treaty covers $6.0 million in excess of a $2.5 million retention for loss occurrences within the treaty term. This coverage has two reinstatements in the event we exhaust any of the coverage.

 

In our Excess and Surplus Lines segment, we write a small book of excess property insurance but we do not write primary property insurance. We use catastrophe modeling software to analyze the risk of severe losses from hurricanes and earthquakes on our exposure. We utilize the model in our risk selection, pricing, and to manage our overall portfolio probable maximum loss (“PML”) accumulations. A PML is an estimate of the amount we would expect to pay in any one catastrophe event within a given annual probability of occurrence (i.e. a return period or loss exceedance probability).

 

We manage our exposure to the potential significant losses noted above through the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance coverage. Effective June 1, 2015, we purchased catastrophe reinsurance of $40.0 million in excess of a $5.0 million retention. This coverage has one reinstatement in the event we exhaust any of the coverage. Based upon our modeling results, a $45.0 million gross catastrophe loss would exceed our 1,000 year PML. In the event of a $45.0 million gross property catastrophe loss to the Company, we estimate our pre-tax cost at approximately $8.1 million, including reinstatement premiums and net retentions. In addition to this retention, we would retain any losses in excess of our reinsurance coverage limits.

 

Our Specialty Admitted Insurance segment enters into reinsurance contracts to limit our exposure to potential losses arising from large risks, to protect against the aggregation of several risks in a common loss occurrence, to provide additional capacity for growth and to support new program and fronting business initiatives.  This segment purchases reinsurance for at least 50% of the exposed limits on specialty admitted property casualty business. On a program-by-program basis, the Specialty Admitted Insurance segment:

 

·purchases quota share reinsurance for 50% of the first $600,000 for workers’ compensation program business;

 

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·purchases individual risk workers’ compensation excess of loss coverage for $400,000 excess of $600,000, $4.0 million excess of $1.0 million, $5.0 million excess of $5.0 million, $10.0 million excess of $10.0 million with maximum any one life of $12.0 million, and $10.0 million excess of $20.0 million with maximum any one life of $10.0 million;

 

·purchases property catastrophe reinsurance for $4.0 million excess $1.0 million to manage its incidental property exposure to approximate a 1,000 year PML; and

 

·purchases program specific quota share reinsurance between 50.0% and 100.0% of the primary risk layer and up to 100.0% of the excess layer.

 

In our Casualty Reinsurance segment, we also have limited property catastrophe exposure. We believe that this exposure would not exceed $1.0 million on any one event.

 

In the aggregate, we believe our pre-tax group-wide PML from a 1,000 year catastrophe event would not exceed $10.0 million, inclusive of reinstatement premiums payable.

 

Reinsurance contracts do not relieve us from our obligations to policyholders. The failure of a reinsurer to honor its obligations could result in losses to us, and therefore, we establish allowances for amounts considered uncollectible. At September 30, 2015 and 2014, there was no allowance for uncollectible reinsurance recoverables. The Company generally seeks to purchase reinsurance from reinsurers with A.M. Best financial strength ratings of “A-” (Excellent) or better.

 

At September 30, 2015, we had reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses of $133.3 million and reinsurance recoverables on paid losses of $5.8 million, and all material recoverable amounts were from companies with A.M. Best ratings of “A-” or better or collateral had been posted by the reinsurer for our benefit.

 

Cash Flows

 

Our sources of operating funds consist primarily of premiums written, investment income, and proceeds from offerings of debt and equity securities and sales and redemptions of investments. We use operating cash flows primarily to pay operating expenses, losses and loss adjustment expenses, and income taxes.

 

   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in):          
Operating activities  $104,279   $88,221 
Investing activities   (85,957)   (109,577)
Financing activities   (15,144)   (45,615)
Change in cash and cash equivalents  $3,178   $(66,971)

 

Cash from operating activities increased from $88.2 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $104.3 million in the first nine months of 2015. The decrease in cash used in financing activities is primarily attributable to dividends paid of $13.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $65.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014, partially offset by $20.3 million of proceeds from senior debt issuances in the first nine months of 2014 and none in the first nine months of 2015.

 

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Ratings

 

The A.M. Best financial strength rating for our group’s regulated insurance subsidiaries is “A-” (Excellent) with a positive outlook. This rating reflects A.M. Best’s opinion of our insurance subsidiaries’ financial strength, operating performance and ability to meet obligations to policyholders and is not an evaluation directed towards the protection of investors. A.M. Best assigns ratings to both insurance and reinsurance companies, which currently range from “A++” (Superior) to “S” (Suspended). The rating for our operating insurance and reinsurance companies of “A-” (Excellent), is the fourth highest rating issued by A.M. Best and is assigned to insurers that have, in A.M. Best’s opinion, an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders.

 

The financial strength ratings assigned by A.M. Best have an impact on the ability of our regulated subsidiaries to attract and retain agents and brokers and on the risk profiles of the submissions for insurance that our subsidiaries receive. The “A-” (Excellent) ratings obtained by our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are consistent with our companies’ business plans and allow our subsidiaries to actively pursue relationships with the agents and brokers identified in their marketing plans.

 

EQUITY

 

Equity Awards

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized $940,000 and $99,000, respectively, of share based compensation expense ($2.8 million and $312,000 for the nine month periods, respectively). The significant increase in compensation expense is due to stock options and restricted share units (“RSUs”) issued in the fourth quarter of 2014 in conjunction with our initial public offering. The amount of unrecognized share based compensation expense to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average service period of 2.6 years at September 30, 2015 is $8.4 million. There were 763,625 and 804,875 options exercised during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2015, respectively. There were no option exercises for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 nor were there any RSU vestings during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014. The Company granted 10,627 options during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and none in the prior year period ended September 30, 2014.

 

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

 

Reconciliation of Underwriting Profit (Loss)

 

The following table reconciles the underwriting profit (loss) by individual segment and of the Company as a whole to consolidated income before income taxes. We believe that these measures are useful to investors in evaluating the performance of our Company and its segments because our objective is to consistently earn underwriting profits. We evaluate the performance of our segments and allocate resources based primarily on underwriting profit (loss). Our definition of underwriting profit (loss) may not be comparable to that of other companies.

 

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   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
                 
Underwriting profit (loss) of the insurance and reinsurance segments:                    
Excess and Surplus Lines  $17,047   $13,033   $30,259   $21,931 
Specialty Admitted Insurance   462    162    506    (878)
Casualty Reinsurance   276    17    911    424 
Total underwriting profit of insurance and reinsurance segments   17,785    13,212    31,676    21,477 
Other operating expenses of the Corporate and Other segment   (4,324)   (2,041)   (12,958)   (5,762)
Underwriting profit (a)    13,461    11,171    18,718    15,715 
Net investment income   9,510    9,996    34,496    33,189 
Net realized investment gains/(losses)   (17)   2,033    (2,473)   (1,678)
Other income and expense   (5)   (2,442)   (28)   (2,673)
Interest expense   (1,769)   (1,557)   (5,217)   (4,661)
Amortization of intangible assets   (149)   (149)   (447)   (447)
Income before taxes  $21,031   $19,052   $45,049   $39,445 

 

(a)Included in underwriting results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, is fee income of $1.2 million and $2.8 million, respectively (($7,000) and $1.1 million for the same periods in the prior year).

 

Reconciliation of Net Operating Income

 

We define net operating income as net income excluding net realized investment gains and losses, expenses related to due diligence costs for various merger and acquisition activities, severance costs associated with terminated employees, impairment charges on goodwill and intangible assets and gains on extinguishment of debt. We use net operating income as an internal performance measure in the management of our operations because we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of operations and our underlying business performance. Net operating income should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and our definition of net operating income may not be comparable to that of other companies.

 

Our income before taxes and net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 reconcile to our net operating income as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 
   2015   2014 
   Income
Before
Taxes
   Net
Income
   Income
Before
Taxes
   Net
Income
 
   (in thousands) 
                 
Income as reported  $21,031   $18,961   $19,052   $17,168 
Net realized investment losses (gains)   17    63    (2,033)   (1,420)
Other expenses   69    45    2,459    2,434 
Interest expense on leased building the Company is deemed to own for accounting purposes   166    108    163    106 
Net operating income  $21,283   $19,177   $19,641   $18,288 

 

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   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2015   2014 
   Income
Before
Taxes
   Net
Income
   Income
Before
Taxes
   Net
Income
 
   (in thousands) 
                 
Income as reported  $45,049   $40,827   $39,445   $35,819 
Net realized investment losses   2,473    1,946    1,678    723 
Other expenses   207    135    2,848    2,775 
Interest expense on leased building the Company is deemed to own for accounting purposes   496    322    495    322 
Net operating income  $48,225   $43,230   $44,466   $39,639 

 

Tangible Equity Metrics

 

Two of the key financial measures that we use to assess our longer term financial performance are our percentage growth in tangible equity per share and our operating return on that tangible equity. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we increased our tangible equity per share by 4.3% and by 7.3% after adding back the dividends declared and paid of $13.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Our annualized net operating return on average tangible equity was 16.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 12.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

We define tangible equity as the sum of shareholders’ equity less goodwill and intangible assets (net of amortization). Our definition of tangible equity may not be comparable to that of other companies, and it should not be viewed as a substitute for shareholders’ equity calculated in accordance with GAAP. We use tangible equity internally to evaluate the strength of our consolidated balance sheet and to compare returns relative to this measure. The following table reconciles shareholders’ equity to tangible equity as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

 

   September 30,
2015
  June 30,
2015
  December 31,
2014
 
   (in thousands)  
                     
Shareholders’ equity  $707,416 $ 692,185   $687,921 
Less:              
Goodwill   181,831   181,831    181,831 
Intangible assets   39,678   39,827    40,125 
Tangible equity  $485,907 $ 470,527   $465,965 

 

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 currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Our consolidated balance sheets include assets and liabilities with estimated fair values that are subject to market risk. Our primary market risks have been equity price risk associated with investments in equity securities and interest rate risk associated with investments in fixed maturities. We do not have exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk or commodity risk.

 

There have been no material changes in market risk from the information provided in Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure. In connection with the preparation of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, our management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the CEO and CFO, as of September 30, 2015, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based upon this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2015.

 

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, other than the continued implementation of an internal audit function, which began during the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

 

The effectiveness of any system of controls and procedures is subject to certain limitations, and, as as a result, there can be no assurance that our controls and procedures will detect all errors or 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 will be attained.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

We are party to legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the outcome of such matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes in our risk factors in the quarter ended September 30, 2015 from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other information

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

See Exhibit Index for a list of exhibits filed as part of this report.

 

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Signatures

 

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.

 

  James River Group Holdings, Ltd.
     
Date:  November 9, 2015 By: /s/ J. Adam Abram
    J. Adam Abram
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
Date:  November 9, 2015 By: /s/ Gregg T. Davis
    Gregg T. Davis
    Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of James River Group Holdings, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
3.2   Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
3.3   Memorandum of Association of James River Group Holdings, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
3.4   Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital, dated December 24, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
3.5   Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital, dated October 7, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
3.6   Third Amended and Restated Bye-Laws of James River Group Holdings, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2015, Commission File No. 001-36777)
     
4.1   Form of Certificate of Common Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2014)
     
4.2   Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2004, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Senior Debentures Due 2034+
     
4.3   Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2004, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures Due 2034+
     
4.4   Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of James River Capital Trust I, dated as of May 26, 2004, by and among James River Group, Inc., as Sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee and Delaware Trustee, the Regular Trustees (as defined therein), and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in James River Capital Trust I+
     
4.5   Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, dated as of May 26, 2004, by James River Group, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Preferred Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of James River Capital Trust I+
     
4.6   Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2004, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures Due 2034+
     
4.7   Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of James River Capital Trust II, dated as of December 15, 2004, by and among James River Group, Inc., as Sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee and Delaware Trustee, the Administrators (as defined therein), and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the James River Capital Trust II+
     
4.8   Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2004, by James River Group, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the capital securities of James River Capital Trust II+

 

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Exhibit
Number
  Description
4.9   Indenture, dated June 15, 2006, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures Due 2036+
     
4.10   Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of James River Capital Trust III, dated as of June 15, 2006, by and among James River Group, Inc., as Sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee and Delaware Trustee, the Administrators (as defined therein) and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the James River Capital Trust III+
     
4.11   Guarantee Agreement dated as of June 15, 2006, by James River Group, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the capital securities of James River Capital Trust III+
     
4.12   Indenture dated December 11, 2007, by and between James River Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures Due 2037+
     
4.13   Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated December 11, 2007, by and among James River Group, Inc., as Sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee and Delaware Trustee and the Administrators (as defined therein) and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in James River Capital Trust IV+
     
4.14   Guarantee Agreement dated as of December 11, 2007, by James River Group, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the capital securities of James River Capital Trust IV+
     
4.15   Indenture dated as of January 10, 2008, among James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee relating to Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures Due 2038+
     
4.16   Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of January 10, 2008, by and among James River Group Holdings, Ltd., as Sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee and Delaware Trustee and the Administrators (as defined therein) for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interest in Franklin Holdings II (Bermuda) Capital Trust I+
     
4.17   Guarantee Agreement dated as of January 10, 2008, by and among James River Group Holdings, Ltd., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the capital securities of Franklin Holdings II (Bermuda) Capital Trust I+
     
10.1   Credit Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2013, among James River Group Holdings, Ltd., JRG Reinsurance Company, Ltd., the lenders named therein, and KeyBank National Association, as Administrative Agent and Letter of Credit Issuer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
10.2   Continuing Guaranty of Payment, dated as of June 5, 2013, among James River Group, Inc., as Guarantor, James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and JRG Reinsurance Company Ltd., as the Borrowers, pursuant to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2013, among the Borrowers, KeyBank National Association, as Administrative Agent and as Letter of Credit Issuer, and certain Lender parties (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)

 

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Exhibit
Number
  Description
10.3   First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2014, among James River Group Holdings, Ltd., JRG Reinsurance Company, Ltd., the lenders named therein, and KeyBank National Association, as Administrative Agent and Letter of Credit Issuer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
10.4   Letter from KeyBank National Association dated May 20, 2015 regarding certain fronting fees under the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2013, among James River Group Holdings, Ltd., JRG Reinsurance Company, Ltd., the lenders named therein, and KeyBank National Association, as Administrative Agent and Letter of Credit Issuer, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 10, 2015, Commission File No. 001-3677)
     
10.5   Redemption Agreement by and between James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and Lehman Brothers Offshore Partners, Ltd. dated April 3, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
10.6   Redemption Agreement by and between James River Group Holdings, Ltd., Sunlight Capital Ventures, LLC, and Sunlight Capital Partners II, LLC dated April 3, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
10.7   Form of Shareholder Indemnification Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2007, entered into by James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and James River Group, Inc., and each of  (1) D. E. Shaw CF-SP Franklin, L.L.C., D. E. Shaw CH-SP Franklin, L.L.C., and D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., (2) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., (3) Sunlight Capital Ventures, LLC and Sunlight Capital Partners II, LLC and (4) Lehman Brothers Offshore Partners Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)
     
10.8   Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)
     
10.9   Amended and Restated James River Group Holdings, Ltd. Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)*
     
10.10   Form of Stock Option Agreement (Amended and Restated James River Group Holdings, Ltd. Equity Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2014)*
     
10.11   First Amendment to the Amended and Restated James River Group Holdings, Ltd. Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.12   James River Group Holdings, Ltd. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.13   Form of Nonqualified Share Option Agreement (James River Group Holdings, Ltd. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.14   Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement (James River Group Holdings, Ltd. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*

 

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Table of Contents 

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
10.15   Form of Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (James River Group Holdings, Ltd. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2014)*
     
10.16   James River Group Holdings, Ltd. 2014 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.17   Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement (James River Group Holdings, Ltd. 2014 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.18   Form of Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (James River Group Holdings, Ltd. 2014 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2014)*
     
10.19   James River Management Company, Inc. Leadership Recognition Program (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.20   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 18, 2014 among James River Group Holdings, Ltd., James River Group, Inc. and J. Adam Abram (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.21   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 18, 2014 among James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and Robert P. Myron (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.22   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 18, 2014 by and between James River Group Holdings, Ltd., James River Group Inc. and Gregg T. Davis (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2015, Commission File No. 001-36777)*
     
10.23   Employment Agreement dated November 9, 2011 by and between James River Insurance Company, James River Management Company, Inc. and Richard Schmitzer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.24   James River Management Company, Inc. Leadership Recognition Program Award Letter dated September 30, 2011 to Richard Schmitzer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*
     
10.25   Consulting Agreement dated November 18, 2014 by and between James River Group Holdings, Ltd. and Conifer Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-199958, filed with the Commission on November 24, 2014)*

 

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Table of Contents 

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
10.26   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2014, by and among (1) James River Group Holdings, Ltd.; (2) (a) D. E. Shaw CH-SP Franklin, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, D. E. Shaw CF-SP Franklin, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company; and (b) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Goldman Sachs JRVR Investors Offshore, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership and (3) the persons identified as “Management Investors” on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company; Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2015, Commission File No. 001-36777)
     
31.1   Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
     
31.2   Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
     
32   Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
     
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

* Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.  
     
+ Exhibit not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K.  The Company will furnish a copy to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.  

 

 60

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, J. Adam Abram, certify that:

 

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of James River Group Holdings, Ltd.;

 

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)Not applicable;

 

(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 9, 2015

 

/s/ J. Adam Abram  
J. Adam Abram  
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  
(Principal Executive Officer)  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Gregg T. Davis, certify that:

 

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of James River Group Holdings, Ltd.;

 

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)Not applicable;

 

(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 9, 2015

 

/s/ Gregg T. Davis  
Gregg T. Davis  
Chief Financial Officer  
(Principal Financial Officer)  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 32

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the quarterly report of James River Group Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof  (the “Report”), we, J. Adam Abram, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Gregg T. Davis, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, to the best of our knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and

 

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

  /s/ J. Adam Abram  
  J. Adam Abram  
  Chairman and  
  Chief Executive Officer  
  (Principal Executive Officer)  
  November 9, 2015  
     
     
  /s/ Gregg T. Davis  
  Gregg T. Davis  
  Chief Financial Officer  
  (Principal Financial Officer)  
  November 9, 2015