SEC Company Response from ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD (AHL, AHL-PD, AHL-PE, AHL-PF) (CIK 0001267395) (AHL-PD) — Feb 2, 2006
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD (AHL, AHL-PD, AHL-PE, AHL-PF) (CIK 0001267395)
Date: Feb. 2, 2006 · CIK: 0001267395 · Accession: 0000950136-06-000689
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 001-31909
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CORRESP 1 filename1.htm February 2, 2006 VIA FAX Jim B. Rosenberg Senior Assistant Chief Accountant Division of Corporate Finance United States Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street N.E. Washington D.C. 20549 Our Ref: JC040106 Your Ref: 001-31909 Re: Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (the "Company") Review of Form 10-K for the fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004 Filed March 14, 2005 (File No. 001-31909) Dear Mr. Rosenberg, Further to your letter of December 20, 2005, we have set out below our responses to the questions raised, proposed disclosures and where necessary provided additional tabular analysis. This letter follows the discussion with Joseph Ferraro of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae and Lisa Vanjoske on the timetable for the response which was extended due to the holidays. For your convenience, we set forth in this letter (the ‘‘Response Letter’’) each comment from your letter in bold typeface and include the Company’s response below each such comment. Item 1. Business Analysis of Consolidated Loss and Loss Expense Reserve Development Net of Reinsurance Recoverables, page 17 1. We note that the company only provides this information on a net basis. Please provide us, in disclosure-type format, a presentation of your reserves that includes this information on a gross basis. Refer to SFAS 113 and Industry Guide 6 paragraphs B(2)(c) and (d). Alternatively, the staff allows a net GAAP presentation in lieu of a gross GAAP presentation, if for all periods, the table a) reconciles the net end-of-period liability (the original reserve estimate in the 10-year table) with the related gross liability on the balance sheet and b) presents the gross re-estimated liability as of the end of the latest re-estimation period, with separate disclosure of the related re-estimated reinsurance recoverable. In response to your comment, we intend to include the following table setting out an analysis of the consolidated gross loss and loss expense reserve development as at December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 in future Form 10-K filings. As at December 31, 2002 ($ in millions) As at December 31, 2003 ($ in millions) As at December 31, 2004 ($ in millions) As at December 31, 2005 ($ in millions) Estimated gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses 93.9 525.8 1,277.9 [ ] Liability re-estimate as of: - one year later 88.4 455.4 [ ] - two years later 69.7 [ ] - three years later [ ] Cumulative redundancy (deficiency) 24.2 70.4 1 Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Critical Accounting Policies — Premiums, page 68 2. We believe your disclosure in Management’s Discussion and Analysis regarding the estimate of assumed premium on your reinsurance business could be improved to better explain the judgments and uncertainties surrounding this estimate and the potential impact on your financial statements. Accordingly, please provide us the following information in disclosure-type format to help us evaluate the adequacy of your disclosure: a. Please disclose the assumed premium estimate for each line of business, including the amount of any estimate for commissions and related expenses and the amount included in premium receivable related to the estimate. b. Discuss the key assumptions used to arrive at management’s best estimate of the assumed premium estimate and what specific factors led management to believe that this amount is the most realistic. Please include quantified and narrative disclosure of the impact that reasonably likely changes in one or more of the variables (i.e. methodology and/or assumptions used) would have on reported results, financial position and liquidity. c. Disclose the provision for doubtful accounts that is recorded related to the assumed premium estimate. If no provision is recorded, please discuss why management believes all amounts recorded are collectible. A large number of the contracts we write are written on a treaty basis where we reinsure a portfolio of risks written by a ceding company. As the ultimate level of business written by each cedent can only be estimated at the time the reinsurance is placed, the reinsurance contracts generally stipulate a minimum and deposit premium payable under the contract with an adjustable premium based on variables such as: the number of contracts covered by the reinsurance; the total premium received by the cedent; and the nature of the exposures assumed. Minimum and deposit premiums generally cover the majority of premiums due under such treaty reinsurance contracts and the adjustable portion of the premium is usually a small portion of the total premium receivable. The following are in response to your specific comments: a. The premium disclosed for each line of business represents the best estimate of the premiums receivable and commission and related expenses payable. We exercise judgment in determining the adjustment premiums, which represent a small portion of total premiums receivable. Commission is charged as a fixed percentage of premium per contract and is adjusted in line with adjustments in premium. The proportion of adjustable premiums included in the premium estimates varies between business lines with the largest adjustment premiums associated with property reinsurance business and the smallest with property and liability insurance. b. The key factors in determining the adjustable estimate of premiums receivable are past underwriting experience, broker analysis and actuarial projections (in respect of treaty business). During the life of a contract, notifications from cedents and brokers may affect the estimate of the ultimate premium and consequently may result in either increases or reductions in reported revenue. In addition, for proportional treaty reinsurance, we estimate premium receivable initially and then update throughout the contract term based on treaty statements received from the ceding company. Our property reinsurance segment is the only segment which currently includes a large amount of proportional treaty business. In the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, $131 million or 20.2% of all property reinsurance business written was proportional treaty. Changes in estimated adjustable premiums will have less of an impact on short term liquidity as the payment of adjustment premiums generally occurs after the expiration of a contract. Premium estimates are reviewed regularly, comparing actual reported premiums to expected ultimate premiums along with a review of the collection of premium estimates. Based on management’s review, the appropriateness of the premium estimates is evaluated, and any adjustments to these estimates is recorded in the period in which it becomes known. Adjustments to original premium estimates could be material and these adjustments may directly and significantly impact earnings in the period they are determined because the subject premium may be fully or substantially earned. c. A significant portion of amounts included as premiums receivable, which represent 2 estimated premiums written, net of commissions, is not currently due based on the terms of the underlying contracts. In determining whether or not any bad debt provision is necessary, we consider the financial security of the cedent, past payment history and any collateral held. We have not made a provision for doubtful accounts in relation to assumed premium estimates as adjustable premiums are considered to be inseparable from minimum and deposit premiums. In addition, based on the above process, management believes that the premium estimates included in premiums receivable will be collectible and, therefore, we have not maintained a bad debt provision for doubtful accounts on the premiums at December 31, 2004. In response to your specific comments above, we intend to supplement our existing disclosures in our Annual Report on Form 10-K in the appropriate place within the ‘‘Critical Accounting Policies — Premiums’’ section of the MD&A, as follows: A large number of the contracts we write are written on a treaty basis where we reinsure a portfolio of risks written by a ceding company. As the ultimate level of business written by each cedent can only be estimated at the time the reinsurance is placed, the reinsurance contracts generally stipulate a minimum and deposit premium payable under the contract with an adjustable premium based on variables such as: the number of contracts covered by the reinsurance; the total premium received by the cedent; and the nature of the exposures assumed. Minimum and deposit premiums generally cover the majority of premiums due under such treaty reinsurance contracts and the adjustable portion of the premium is usually a small portion of the total premium receivable. For proportional treaty reinsurance, we estimate premium receivable initially and then update throughout the contract term based on treaty statements received from the ceding company. Our property reinsurance segment is the only segment which currently includes a large amount of proportional treaty business. In the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, $[2005 figure to be inserted in 10-K] million or [2005 figure to be inserted in 10-K]% of all property reinsurance business was written on a proportional basis. We exercise judgment in determining the adjustment premiums, which represent a small portion of total premiums receivable. Commission is charged as a fixed percentage of premium per contract and is adjusted in line with adjustments in premium. The proportion of adjustable premiums included in the premium estimates varies between business lines with the largest adjustment premiums associated with property reinsurance business and the smallest with property and liability insurance. The key factors in determining the adjustable estimate of premiums receivable are past underwriting experience, broker analysis and actuarial projections (in respect of treaty business). During the life of a contract, notifications from cedents and brokers may affect the estimate of ultimate premium and result in either increases or reductions in reported revenue. Changes in estimated adjustable premiums will have less of an impact on short term liquidity as the payment of adjustment premiums generally occurs after the expiration of a contract. A significant portion of amounts included as premiums receivable, which represent estimated premiums written, net of commissions, is not currently due based on the terms of the underlying contracts. In determining whether or not any bad debt provision is necessary, we consider the financial security of the cedent, past payment history and any collateral held. We have not made a provision for doubtful accounts in relation to assumed premium estimates as adjustable premiums are considered to be inseparable from minimum and deposit premiums. In addition, based on the above process, management believes that the premium estimates included in premiums receivable will be collectible and, therefore, we have not maintained a bad debt provision for doubtful accounts on the premiums at December 31, 2005. 3 Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Reserve for Losses and Loss Expenses, page 69 3. We note that you set your claim reserves for assumed reinsurance operations based upon information received from the cedant. As this appears to pose a potential for a higher degree of uncertainty in establishing the estimate of assumed loss reserves as compared to direct loss reserves, please expand the disclosure in the critical accounting estimates section of MD&A related to this uncertainty. Please provide us the following information in disclosure-type format to help us evaluate the adequacy of your disclosure: a. Include in this disclosure the risks associated with making this estimate and the effects and expected effects this uncertainty has or will have on management’s judgements and assumptions in establishing the assumed loss reserve. b. The nature and extent of the information received from the cedants related to policies, claims, unearned premiums and loss reserves; c. The time lag from when claims are reported to the cedant to when the cedant reports them to the company and whether, how, and to what extend this time lag effects the loss reserve estimate; d. How management uses the information received from the cedants in its determination of its assumed loss reserves, whether reinsurance intermediaries are used to transact and service reinsurance policies, and how that impacts the loss reserving methodology; e. The amount of any backlog related to the processing of assumed reinsurance information, whether the backlog has been reserved for in the financial statements and, if applicable, when the backlog will be resolved; f. What process management performs to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information received from the cedants; g. How management resolves disputes with cedants, how often disputes occur, and the magnitude of any current, material disputes; and h. Whether management uses historical loss information to validate its existing reserves and/or as a means of noticing unusual trends in the information received from the cedants. The claim reserves reported in the Company’s annual report are a combination of case reserves and Incurred But Not Reported (‘‘IBNR’’) claims. The process for establishing claim reserves is not based solely on information from the cedent but includes significant actuarial analysis. Our process is to first establish case reserves on reported claims based on information from cedents (this is a similar process for both insurance and reinsurance claims). The rest of the reserves are for IBNR claims which are determined statistically from actuarial analyses, which includes assessment of available historical data and other approaches in establishing a range of appropriate loss ratios for management to select its best point estimate. For reinsurance lines of business, a higher proportion of initial reserves is statistically based IBNR due to longer reporting delays between the original loss and the time when reinsurers are aware of the extent of the losses. For insurance business, notifications are received earlier and closer to the date of original loss notification. This delay in reinsurance lines explains why there is a higher degree of uncertainty in reinsurance than direct loss reserves. The following are in response to your specific comments: a. We intend to supplement our existing disclosures in our Annual Report on Form 10-K in the appropriate place within our ‘‘Critical Accounting Policies — Reserves for Losses and Loss Expenses’’ section of the MD&A, as follows: The higher degree of uncertainty associated with reserves for reinsurance business is associated with the assumptions used in deriving the IBNR. Where it is based on an analysis of past loss experience, then the principal assumption is that past patterns of development will be repeated on current business. The process of extrapolation is by necessity one involving subjective judgment because the actuary has to take into account the impact of the changing business mix as well as changes in legislative conditions, changes in judicial interpretation of legal liability policy coverages and inflation. These factors are incorporated in the recommended reserve range from which management selects its best point estimate. b. We intend to supplement our existing disclosures in our Annual Report on Form 10-K in the appropriate place within our ‘‘Critical Accounting Policies — Reserves for Losses and Loss Expenses’’ section of the MD&A, as follows: 4 Full cedent policy information is recorded at the time of underwriting and includes inception and expiry dates, attachment points and limits and our share of the