Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016

 

or

 

o         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: 001-10898

 


 

The Travelers Companies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Minnesota

 

41-0518860

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

485 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(917) 778-6000

(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 o

 

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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x    No o

 

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    

x

 

Accelerated filer

o

 

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer   

o

 

Smaller reporting company

o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

 

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

 

Yes o    No x

 

The number of shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, without par value, outstanding at April 18, 2016 was 292,394,631.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

The Travelers Companies, Inc.

 

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

 

For Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2016

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

Part I — Financial Information

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements:

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited) — Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) — Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

4

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet — March 31, 2016 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2015

5

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited) — Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

6

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) — Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

7

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

8

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

35

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

62

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

63

 

 

 

 

Part II — Other Information

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

63

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

63

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

63

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

64

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

65

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

65

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

66

 

2



Table of Contents

 

PART 1 — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2016

 

2015

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

$

5,981

 

$

5,888

 

Net investment income

 

544

 

592

 

Fee income

 

117

 

114

 

Net realized investment gains (losses) (1)

 

(9

)

10

 

Other revenues

 

53

 

25

 

Total revenues

 

6,686

 

6,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

 

3,712

 

3,431

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

971

 

963

 

General and administrative expenses

 

995

 

995

 

Interest expense

 

91

 

92

 

Total claims and expenses

 

5,769

 

5,481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

917

 

1,148

 

Income tax expense

 

226

 

315

 

Net income

 

$

691

 

$

833

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.33

 

$

2.58

 

Diluted

 

$

2.30

 

$

2.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

294.2

 

320.8

 

Diluted

 

297.9

 

324.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared per share

 

$

0.61

 

$

0.55

 

 


(1)  Total other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses were $(28) million and $(4) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Of total OTTI, credit losses of $(18) million and $(3) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were recognized in net realized investment gains (losses).  In addition, unrealized losses from other changes in total OTTI of $(10) million and $(1) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) as part of changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

(in millions)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

691

 

$

833

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income

 

714

 

169

 

Having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income

 

5

 

(5

)

Net changes in benefit plan assets and obligations

 

16

 

24

 

Net changes in unrealized foreign currency translation

 

103

 

(274

)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes

 

838

 

(86

)

Income tax expense

 

267

 

25

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes

 

571

 

(111

)

Comprehensive income

 

$

1,262

 

$

722

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(in millions)

 

 

 

March 31,
2016

 

December 31,
2015

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $59,490 and $58,878)

 

$

61,985

 

$

60,658

 

Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value (cost $528 and $528)

 

710

 

705

 

Real estate investments

 

927

 

989

 

Short-term securities

 

4,587

 

4,671

 

Other investments

 

3,469

 

3,447

 

Total investments

 

71,678

 

70,470

 

Cash

 

361

 

380

 

Investment income accrued

 

599

 

642

 

Premiums receivable

 

6,845

 

6,437

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

8,803

 

8,910

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

805

 

656

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

1,899

 

1,849

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

296

 

Contractholder receivables

 

4,419

 

4,374

 

Goodwill

 

3,588

 

3,573

 

Other intangible assets

 

275

 

279

 

Other assets

 

2,408

 

2,318

 

Total assets

 

$

101,680

 

$

100,184

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves

 

$

48,640

 

$

48,295

 

Unearned premium reserves

 

12,331

 

11,971

 

Contractholder payables

 

4,419

 

4,374

 

Payables for reinsurance premiums

 

438

 

296

 

Deferred taxes

 

82

 

 

Debt

 

6,344

 

6,344

 

Other liabilities

 

5,260

 

5,306

 

Total liabilities

 

77,514

 

76,586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock (1,750.0 shares authorized; 292.4 and 295.9 shares issued and outstanding)

 

22,269

 

22,172

 

Retained earnings

 

30,454

 

29,945

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

414

 

(157

)

Treasury stock, at cost (473.2 and 467.6 shares)

 

(28,971

)

(28,362

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

24,166

 

23,598

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

101,680

 

$

100,184

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)

(in millions)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2016

 

2015

 

Common stock

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of year

 

$

22,172

 

$

21,843

 

Employee share-based compensation

 

47

 

66

 

Compensation amortization under share-based plans and other changes

 

50

 

73

 

Balance, end of period

 

22,269

 

21,982

 

Retained earnings

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of year

 

29,945

 

27,251

 

Net income

 

691

 

833

 

Dividends

 

(181

)

(178

)

Other

 

(1

)

 

Balance, end of period

 

30,454

 

27,906

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of year

 

(157

)

880

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

571

 

(111

)

Balance, end of period

 

414

 

769

 

Treasury stock (at cost)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of year

 

(28,362

)

(25,138

)

Treasury stock acquired — share repurchase authorization

 

(550

)

(600

)

Net shares acquired related to employee share-based compensation plans

 

(59

)

(72

)

Balance, end of period

 

(28,971

)

(25,810

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

$

24,166

 

$

24,847

 

Common shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of year

 

295.9

 

322.2

 

Treasury stock acquired — share repurchase authorization

 

(5.1

)

(5.6

)

Net shares issued under employee share-based compensation plans

 

1.6

 

2.1

 

Balance, end of period

 

292.4

 

318.7

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(in millions)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2016

 

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

691

 

$

833

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized investment (gains) losses

 

9

 

(10

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

213

 

225

 

Deferred federal income tax expense

 

105

 

133

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

971

 

963

 

Equity in income from other investments

 

(17

)

(43

)

Premiums receivable

 

(393

)

(258

)

Reinsurance recoverables

 

126

 

69

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

(1,014

)

(987

)

Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves

 

226

 

(561

)

Unearned premium reserves

 

328

 

185

 

Other

 

(395

)

(350

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

850

 

199

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from maturities of fixed maturities

 

1,748

 

2,830

 

Proceeds from sales of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

421

 

906

 

Equity securities

 

14

 

11

 

Real estate investments

 

69

 

7

 

Other investments

 

186

 

146

 

Purchases of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

(2,700

)

(3,325

)

Equity securities

 

(12

)

(8

)

Real estate investments

 

(7

)

(6

)

Other investments

 

(162

)

(168

)

Net sales (purchases) of short-term securities

 

85

 

(134

)

Securities transactions in course of settlement

 

291

 

305

 

Other

 

(79

)

(90

)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(146

)

474

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock acquired — share repurchase authorization

 

(550

)

(600

)

Treasury stock acquired — net employee share-based compensation

 

(59

)

(71

)

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

(180

)

(177

)

Issuance of common stock — employee share options

 

64

 

90

 

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements

 

 

27

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(725

)

(731

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

2

 

(8

)

Net decrease in cash

 

(19

)

(66

)

Cash at beginning of year

 

380

 

374

 

Cash at end of period

 

$

361

 

$

308

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes paid

 

$

63

 

$

126

 

Interest paid

 

$

42

 

$

34

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1.                       BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company). These financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and are unaudited.  In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected.  Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, but that is not required for interim reporting purposes, has been omitted.  All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.  The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the Company’s 2015 Annual Report).

 

The preparation of the interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the interim consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and claims and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2015 financial statements to conform to the 2016 presentation.

 

Adoption of Accounting Standards

 

Compensation — Stock Compensation: Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period

 

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued updated guidance to resolve diversity in practice concerning employee share-based payments that contain performance targets that could be achieved after the requisite service period.  The updated guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that can be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target that affects vesting should not be reflected in estimating the fair value of the award at the grant date. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which service has been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost for which requisite service has not yet been rendered is recognized prospectively over the remaining service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest.  The updated guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

Derivatives and Hedging: Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity

 

In November 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance to clarify when the separation of certain embedded derivative features in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share is required. That is, an entity will continue to evaluate whether the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative feature are clearly and closely related to those of the host contract. Specifically, the amendments clarify that an entity should consider all relevant terms and features, including the embedded derivative feature being evaluated for bifurcation, in evaluating the nature of the host contract. Furthermore, the amendments clarify that no single term or feature would necessarily determine the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract. Rather, the nature of the host contract depends upon the economic characteristics and risks of the entire hybrid financial instrument. The updated guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

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Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

1.                       BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES, Continued

 

Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis

 

In February 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance that makes targeted amendments to the current consolidation accounting guidance. The update is in response to accounting complexity concerns, particularly from the asset management industry. The guidance simplifies consolidation accounting by reducing the number of approaches to consolidation, provides a scope exception to registered money market funds and similar unregistered money market funds and ends the indefinite deferral granted to investment companies from applying the variable interest entity guidance.  The updated guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

Interest — Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance to clarify the required presentation of debt issuance costs.  The amended guidance requires that debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the recognized debt liability, consistent with the treatment of debt discounts.  Amortization of debt issuance costs is to be reported as interest expense.  The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the updated guidance.  The updated guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  The updated guidance is consistent with the Company’s accounting policy and its adoption did not have any effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

Business Combinations: Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments

 

In September 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance regarding business combinations that requires an acquirer to recognize post-close measurement adjustments for provisional amounts in the period the adjustment amounts are determined rather than retrospectively.  The acquirer is also required to recognize, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the provisional amount, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date.  The updated guidance is to be applied prospectively effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  In connection with business combinations which have already been completed, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

Compensation Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance to simplify several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions as follows:

 

Accounting for Income Taxes

 

Under current accounting guidance, if the deduction for a share-based payment award for tax purposes exceeds, or is less than, the compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes, the resulting excess tax benefit, or tax deficiency, is reported as part of additional paid-in capital.  Under the updated guidance, these excess tax benefits, or tax deficiencies, are reported as part of income tax expense or benefit in the income statement.  The updated guidance also removes the requirement to delay recognition of any excess tax benefit when there are no current taxes payable to which the benefit would be applied.  The tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based payments are to be included with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity rather than being reported separately as a financing activity.

 

Forfeitures

 

The updated guidance permits an entity to make an accounting policy election to either account for forfeitures when they occur or continue to apply the current method of accruing the compensation cost based on the number of awards that are expected to vest.

 

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Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

1.                       BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES, Continued

 

Minimum Statutory Tax Withholding Requirements

 

The updated guidance changes the threshold amount an entity can withhold for taxes when settling an equity award and still qualify for equity classification. A company can withhold up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the employees’ applicable jurisdiction rather than withholding up to the employers’ minimum statutory withholding requirement. The update also clarifies that all cash payments made to taxing authorities on behalf of employees for withheld shares are to be presented in financing activities on the statement of cash flows.

 

Transition

 

The updated guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  Early adoption is permitted in any interim period; if early adoption is elected, the entity must adopt all of the amendments in the same reporting period and reflect any adjustments as of the beginning of the fiscal year.

 

The Company adopted the updated guidance effective January 1, 2016.  With respect to the forfeiture accounting policy election, the Company elected to retain its policy of accruing the compensation cost based on the number of awards that are expected to vest. The adoption did not result in any cumulative effect adjustments or restatement and did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

 

Leases

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance to require lessees to recognize a right-to-use asset and a lease liability for leases with terms of more than 12 months.  The updated guidance retains the two classifications of a lease as either an operating or finance lease (previously referred to as a capital lease).  Both lease classifications require the lessee to record the right-to-use asset and the lease liability based upon the present value of cash flows.  Finance leases will reflect the financial arrangement by recognizing interest expense on the lease liability separately from the amortization expense of the right-to-use asset.  Operating leases will recognize lease expense (with no separate recognition of interest expense) on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.   The accounting by lessors is not significantly changed by the updated guidance.  The updated guidance requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures, including additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements.

 

The updated guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and will require that the earliest comparative period presented include the measurement and recognition of existing leases with an adjustment to equity as if the updated guidance had always been applied.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures:  Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance that eliminates the requirement to retroactively apply the equity method of accounting when an investment that was previously accounted for using another method of accounting becomes qualified to apply the equity method due to an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence.  If the investment was previously accounted for as an available-for-sale security, any related unrealized gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income at the date the investment becomes qualified for the equity method is recognized through earnings.  The updated guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and is to be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

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Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

1.                       BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES, Continued

 

Derivatives and Hedging:  Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance clarifying that when a call (put) option in a debt instrument can accelerate the repayment of principal on the debt instrument, a reporting entity does not need to assess whether the contingent event that triggers the ability to exercise the call (put) option is related to interest rates or credit risk in determining whether the option should be accounted for separately.  The updated guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

Additional Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

 

For information regarding additional accounting standards that the Company has not yet adopted, see the “Other Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted section of note 1 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Nature of Operations

 

The Company is organized into three reportable business segments: Business and International Insurance; Bond & Specialty Insurance; and Personal Insurance. These segments reflect the manner in which the Company’s businesses are currently managed and represent an aggregation of products and services based on type of customer, how the business is marketed and the manner in which risks are underwritten.  For more information regarding the Company’s nature of operations, see the Nature of Operations” section of note 1 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

2.             SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The following tables summarize the components of the Company’s operating revenues, operating income and total assets by reportable business segments:

 

(for the three months
ended March 31,
in millions)

 

Business and
International
Insurance

 

Bond & Specialty
Insurance

 

Personal
Insurance

 

Total
Reportable
Segments

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

$

3,599

 

$

508

 

$

1,874

 

$

5,981

 

Net investment income

 

415

 

52

 

77

 

544

 

Fee income

 

114

 

 

3

 

117

 

Other revenues

 

33

 

3

 

14

 

50

 

Total operating revenues (1)

 

$

4,161

 

$

563

 

$

1,968

 

$

6,692

 

Operating income (1)

 

$

476

 

$

144

 

$

139

 

$

759

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

$

3,620

 

$

504

 

$

1,764

 

$

5,888

 

Net investment income

 

454

 

56

 

82

 

592

 

Fee income

 

111

 

 

3

 

114

 

Other revenues

 

8

 

5

 

12

 

25

 

Total operating revenues (1)

 

$

4,193

 

$

565

 

$

1,861

 

$

6,619

 

Operating income (1)

 

$

515

 

$

124

 

$

252

 

$

891

 

 


(1)                  Operating revenues for reportable business segments exclude net realized investment gains (losses). Operating income for reportable business segments equals net income excluding the after-tax impact of net realized investment gains (losses).

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

2.                       SEGMENT INFORMATION, Continued

 

Business Segment Reconciliations

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

(in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Revenue reconciliation

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

 

 

 

 

Business and International Insurance:

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic:

 

 

 

 

 

Workers’ compensation

 

$

981

 

$

962

 

Commercial automobile

 

491

 

468

 

Commercial property

 

437

 

440

 

General liability

 

482

 

468

 

Commercial multi-peril

 

782

 

774

 

Other

 

5

 

10

 

Total Domestic

 

3,178

 

3,122

 

International

 

421

 

498

 

Total Business and International Insurance

 

3,599

 

3,620

 

Bond & Specialty Insurance:

 

 

 

 

 

Fidelity and surety

 

230

 

225

 

General liability

 

234

 

236

 

Other

 

44

 

43

 

Total Bond & Specialty Insurance

 

508

 

504

 

Personal Insurance:

 

 

 

 

 

Automobile

 

936

 

836

 

Homeowners and Other

 

938

 

928

 

Total Personal Insurance

 

1,874

 

1,764

 

Total earned premiums

 

5,981

 

5,888

 

Net investment income

 

544

 

592

 

Fee income

 

117

 

114

 

Other revenues

 

50

 

25

 

Total operating revenues for reportable segments

 

6,692

 

6,619

 

Other revenues

 

3

 

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

(9

)

10

 

Total consolidated revenues

 

$

6,686

 

$

6,629

 

Income reconciliation, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating income for reportable segments

 

$

759

 

$

891

 

Interest Expense and Other (1)

 

(61

)

(64

)

Total operating income

 

698

 

827

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

(7

)

6

 

Total consolidated net income

 

$

691

 

$

833

 

 


(1)  The primary component of Interest Expense and Other for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was after-tax interest expense of $59 million and $60 million, respectively.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

2.                       SEGMENT INFORMATION, Continued

 

(in millions)

 

March 31,
2016

 

December 31,
2015

 

Asset reconciliation:

 

 

 

 

 

Business and International Insurance

 

$

80,961

 

$

79,692

 

Bond & Specialty Insurance

 

7,537

 

7,360

 

Personal Insurance

 

12,905

 

12,748

 

Total assets for reportable segments

 

101,403

 

99,800

 

Other assets (1)

 

277

 

384

 

Total consolidated assets

 

$

101,680

 

$

100,184

 

 


(1)                  The primary component of other assets at March 31, 2016 was other intangible assets and the primary components at December 31, 2015 were other intangible assets and deferred taxes.

 

3.                       INVESTMENTS

 

Fixed Maturities

 

The amortized cost and fair value of investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale were as follows:

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Fair

 

(at March 31, 2016, in millions)

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Value

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

 

$

2,128

 

$

27

 

$

1

 

$

2,154

 

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local general obligation

 

13,242

 

690

 

1

 

13,931

 

Revenue

 

9,914

 

563

 

3

 

10,474

 

State general obligation

 

1,944

 

102

 

 

2,046

 

Pre-refunded

 

5,640

 

231

 

 

5,871

 

Total obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

 

30,740

 

1,586

 

4

 

32,322

 

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

 

1,794

 

52

 

 

1,846

 

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

 

1,799

 

131

 

1

 

1,929

 

All other corporate bonds

 

22,921

 

834

 

135

 

23,620

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

108

 

6

 

 

114

 

Total

 

$

59,490

 

$

2,636

 

$

141

 

$

61,985

 

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

3.                       INVESTMENTS, Continued

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Fair

 

(at December 31, 2015, in millions)

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Value

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

 

$

2,202

 

$

8

 

$

16

 

$

2,194

 

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local general obligation

 

12,744

 

577

 

3

 

13,318

 

Revenue

 

9,492

 

472

 

4

 

9,960

 

State general obligation

 

1,978

 

97

 

2

 

2,073

 

Pre-refunded

 

5,813

 

247

 

 

6,060

 

Total obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

 

30,027

 

1,393

 

9

 

31,411

 

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

 

1,829

 

45

 

1

 

1,873

 

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

 

1,863

 

124

 

6

 

1,981

 

All other corporate bonds

 

22,854

 

523

 

288

 

23,089

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

103

 

7

 

 

110

 

Total

 

$

58,878

 

$

2,100

 

$

320

 

$

60,658

 

 

Pre-refunded bonds of $5.87 billion and $6.06 billion at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, were bonds for which states or municipalities have established irrevocable trusts, almost exclusively comprised of U.S. Treasury securities, which were created to satisfy their responsibility for payments of principal and interest.

 

Proceeds from sales of fixed maturities classified as available for sale were $421 million and $906 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Gross gains of $23 million and $19 million and gross losses of $7 million and $1 million were realized on those sales during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Equity Securities

 

The cost and fair value of investments in equity securities were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Fair

 

(at March 31, 2016, in millions)

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Value

 

Public common stock

 

$

383

 

$

174

 

$

8

 

$

549

 

Non-redeemable preferred stock

 

145

 

24

 

8

 

161

 

Total

 

$

528

 

$

198

 

$

16

 

$

710

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Fair

 

(at December 31, 2015, in millions)

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Value

 

Public common stock

 

$

386

 

$

164

 

$

7

 

$

543

 

Non-redeemable preferred stock

 

142

 

26

 

6

 

162

 

Total

 

$

528

 

$

190

 

$

13

 

$

705

 

 

Proceeds from sales of equity securities classified as available for sale were $14 million and $11 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Gross gains of $3 million and $2 million and gross losses of $2 million and $0 million were realized on those sales during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

3.                       INVESTMENTS, Continued

 

Unrealized Investment Losses

 

The following tables summarize, for all investments in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time those securities have been continuously in an unrealized loss position.  The fair value amounts reported in the tables are estimates that are prepared using the process described in note 4 herein and in note 4 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or longer

 

Total

 

(at March 31, 2016, in millions)

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

 

$

171

 

$

 

$

10

 

$

1

 

$

181

 

$

1

 

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

 

681

 

3

 

141

 

1

 

822

 

4

 

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

 

25

 

 

 

 

25

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

 

98

 

 

73

 

1

 

171

 

1

 

All other corporate bonds

 

2,010

 

70

 

941

 

65

 

2,951

 

135

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

22

 

 

 

 

22

 

 

Total fixed maturities

 

3,007

 

73

 

1,165

 

68

 

4,172

 

141

 

Equity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public common stock

 

54

 

8

 

34

 

 

88

 

8

 

Non-redeemable preferred stock

 

29

 

1

 

59

 

7

 

88

 

8

 

Total equity securities

 

83

 

9

 

93

 

7

 

176

 

16

 

Total

 

$

3,090

 

$

82

 

$

1,258

 

$

75

 

$

4,348

 

$

157

 

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

3.                       INVESTMENTS, Continued

 

 

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or longer

 

Total

 

(at December 31, 2015, in millions)

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

 

$

1,820

 

$

15

 

$

28

 

$

1

 

$

1,848

 

$

16

 

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

 

928

 

7

 

142

 

2

 

1,070

 

9

 

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

 

172

 

1

 

 

 

172

 

1

 

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

 

473

 

4

 

57

 

2

 

530

 

6

 

All other corporate bonds

 

7,725

 

197

 

710

 

91

 

8,435

 

288

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

8

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

Total fixed maturities

 

11,126

 

224

 

937

 

96

 

12,063

 

320

 

Equity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public common stock

 

48

 

6

 

33

 

1

 

81

 

7

 

Non-redeemable preferred stock

 

47

 

3

 

38

 

3

 

85

 

6

 

Total equity securities

 

95

 

9

 

71

 

4

 

166

 

13

 

Total

 

$

11,221

 

$

233

 

$

1,008

 

$

100

 

$

12,229

 

$

333

 

 

Unrealized losses for all fixed maturities and equity securities reported at fair value for which fair value is less than 80% of amortized cost at March 31, 2016 totaled $50 million, representing less than 1% of the combined fixed maturity and equity security portfolios on a pre-tax basis and less than 1% of shareholders’ equity on an after-tax basis.

 

Impairment Charges

 

Impairment charges included in net realized investment gains (losses) in the consolidated statement of income were $18 million and $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

For fixed maturities held at March 31, 2016 and 2015, the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income from other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) was $92 million and $94 million, respectively, on investments for which a portion of the OTTI was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).  These credit losses represent less than 1% of the fixed maturity portfolio on a pre-tax basis and less than 1% of shareholders’ equity on an after-tax basis at both dates.  There were no significant changes in the credit component of OTTI during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 from that disclosed in note 3 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

From time to time, the Company enters into U.S. Treasury note futures contracts to modify the effective duration of specific assets within the investment portfolio.  U.S. Treasury futures contracts require a daily mark-to-market and settlement with the broker.  At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had $400 million notional value of open U.S. Treasury futures contracts.  Net realized investment gains (losses) in the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 included net losses of $19 million and $10 million, respectively, related to U.S. Treasury futures contracts.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

4.            FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Company’s estimates of fair value for financial assets and financial liabilities are based on the framework established in the fair value accounting guidance.  The framework is based on the inputs used in valuation, gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and requires that observable inputs be used in the valuations when available.  The disclosure of fair value estimates in the fair value accounting guidance hierarchy is based on whether the significant inputs into the valuation are observable.  In determining the level of the hierarchy in which the estimate is disclosed, the highest priority is given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s significant market assumptions.  The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is reported is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety.  The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

 

·                  Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.

 

·                  Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data.

 

·                  Level 3 - Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable.  The unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use.

 

Valuation of Investments Reported at Fair Value in Financial Statements

 

The Company utilized a pricing service to estimate fair value measurements for approximately 98% of its fixed maturities at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

While the vast majority of the Company’s fixed maturities are included in Level 2, the Company holds a number of municipal bonds and corporate bonds which are not valued by the pricing service and estimates the fair value of these bonds using an internal pricing matrix with some unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation.  Due to the limited amount of observable market information, the Company includes the fair value estimates for these particular bonds in Level 3.  The fair value of the fixed maturities for which the Company used an internal pricing matrix was $116 million and $101 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  Additionally, the Company holds a small amount of other fixed maturity investments that have characteristics that make them unsuitable for matrix pricing.  For these fixed maturities, the Company obtains a quote from a broker (primarily the market maker).  The fair value of the fixed maturities for which the Company received a broker quote was $93 million and $117 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  Due to the disclaimers on the quotes that indicate that the price is indicative only, the Company includes these fair value estimates in Level 3.

 

For more information regarding the valuation of the Company’s fixed maturities, equity securities and other investments, see note 4 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

 

The following tables present the level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities are measured on a recurring basis at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  An investment transferred between levels during a period is transferred at its fair value as of the beginning of that period.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

4.            FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS, Continued

 

(at March 31, 2016, in millions)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invested assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

 

$

2,154

 

$

2,154

 

$

 

$

 

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

 

32,322

 

 

32,309

 

13

 

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

 

1,846

 

 

1,846

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

 

1,929

 

 

1,927

 

2

 

All other corporate bonds

 

23,620

 

 

23,433

 

187

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

114

 

3

 

104

 

7

 

Total fixed maturities

 

61,985

 

2,157

 

59,619

 

209

 

Equity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public common stock

 

549

 

549

 

 

 

Non-redeemable preferred stock

 

161

 

64

 

97

 

 

Total equity securities

 

710

 

613

 

97

 

 

Other investments

 

55

 

16

 

 

39

 

Total

 

$

62,750

 

$

2,786

 

$

59,716

 

$

248

 

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company’s transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 were not significant.

 

(at December 31, 2015, in millions)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invested assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

 

$

2,194

 

$

2,194

 

$

 

$

 

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

 

31,411

 

 

31,398

 

13

 

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

 

1,873

 

 

1,873

 

 

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

 

1,981

 

 

1,957

 

24

 

All other corporate bonds

 

23,089

 

 

22,915

 

174

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

110

 

3

 

100

 

7

 

Total fixed maturities

 

60,658

 

2,197

 

58,243

 

218

 

Equity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public common stock

 

543

 

543

 

 

 

Non-redeemable preferred stock

 

162

 

55

 

107

 

 

Total equity securities

 

705

 

598

 

107

 

 

Other investments

 

56

 

18

 

 

38

 

Total

 

$

61,419

 

$

2,813

 

$

58,350

 

$

256

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company’s transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 were not significant.

 

There was no significant activity in Level 3 of the hierarchy during the three months ended March 31, 2016 or the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

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Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

4.            FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS, Continued

 

Financial Instruments Disclosed, But Not Carried, At Fair Value

 

The following tables present the carrying value and fair value of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities disclosed, but not carried, at fair value, and the level within the fair value hierarchy at which such assets and liabilities are categorized.

 

(at March 31, 2016, in millions)

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Financial assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term securities

 

$

4,587

 

$

4,587

 

$

1,174

 

$

3,378

 

$

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt

 

$

6,244

 

$

7,419

 

$

 

$

7,419

 

$

 

Commercial paper

 

$

100

 

$

100

 

$

 

$

100

 

$

 

 

(at December 31, 2015, in millions)

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Financial assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term securities

 

$

4,671

 

$

4,671

 

$

1,685

 

$

2,958

 

$

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt

 

$

6,244

 

$

7,180

 

$

 

$

7,180

 

$

 

Commercial paper

 

$

100

 

$

100

 

$

 

$

100

 

$

 

 

The Company utilized a pricing service to estimate fair value for approximately 98% and 99% of short-term securities at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  For a description of the process and inputs used by the pricing service to estimate fair value, see the “Fixed Maturities” section in note 4 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

The Company utilized a pricing service to estimate fair value for 100% of its debt, including commercial paper, at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

The Company had no material assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis during the three months ended March 31, 2016 or year ended December 31, 2015.

 

5.                       GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Goodwill

 

The following table presents the carrying amount of the Company’s goodwill by segment at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

(in millions)

 

March 31,
2016

 

December 31,
2015

 

Business and International Insurance (1)

 

$

2,454

 

$

2,439

 

Bond & Specialty Insurance

 

496

 

496

 

Personal Insurance

 

612

 

612

 

Other

 

26

 

26

 

Total

 

$

3,588

 

$

3,573

 

 


(1)  Includes goodwill associated with the Company’s international business which is subject to the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

5.                       GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, Continued

 

Other Intangible Assets

 

The following tables present a summary of the Company’s other intangible assets by major asset class at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

(at March 31, 2016, in millions)

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net

 

Subject to amortization (1)

 

$

209

 

$

151

 

$

58

 

Not subject to amortization

 

217

 

 

217

 

Total

 

$

426

 

$

151

 

$

275

 

 

(at December 31, 2015, in millions)

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net

 

Subject to amortization (1)

 

$

210

 

$

148

 

$

62

 

Not subject to amortization

 

217

 

 

217

 

Total

 

$

427

 

$

148

 

$

279

 

 


(1)   Intangible assets subject to amortization are comprised of fair value adjustments on claims and claim adjustment expense reserves, reinsurance recoverables and other contract and customer-related intangibles.  The time value of money and the risk adjustment (cost of capital) components of the intangible asset run off at different rates, and, as such, the amount recognized in income may be a net benefit in some periods and a net expense in other periods.

 

Amortization expense of intangible assets was $3 million and $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Intangible asset amortization expense is estimated to be $8 million for the remainder of 2016, $9 million in 2017, $8 million in 2018, $6 million in 2019 and $5 million in 2020.

 

6.                                      OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND ACCCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

The following table presents the changes in the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

(in millions)

 

Changes in Net
Unrealized Gains on
Investment
Securities Having No
Credit Losses
Recognized in the
Consolidated
Statement of Income

 

Changes in Net
Unrealized Gains on
Investment
Securities Having
Credit Losses
Recognized in the
Consolidated
Statement of Income

 

Net Benefit Plan
Assets and
Obligations
Recognized in
Shareholders’ Equity

 

Net Unrealized
Foreign Currency
Translation

 

Total Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

 

Balance, December 31, 2015

 

$

1,100

 

$

189

 

$

(713

)

$

(733

)

$

(157

)

Other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) before reclassifications

 

474

 

(4

)

 

90

 

560

 

Amounts reclassified from AOCI

 

(7

)

7

 

11

 

 

11

 

Net OCI, current period

 

467

 

3

 

11

 

90

 

571

 

Balance, March 31, 2016

 

$

1,567

 

$

192

 

$

(702

)

$

(643

)

$

414

 

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

6.                                      OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, Continued

 

The following table presents the pre-tax components of the Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) and the related income tax expense (benefit) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income

 

$

714

 

$

169

 

Income tax expense

 

247

 

56

 

Net of taxes

 

467

 

113

 

Having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income

 

5

 

(5

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

2

 

(2

)

Net of taxes

 

3

 

(3

)

Net changes in benefit plan assets and obligations

 

16

 

24

 

Income tax expense

 

5

 

8

 

Net of taxes

 

11

 

16

 

Net changes in unrealized foreign currency translation

 

103

 

(274

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

13

 

(37

)

Net of taxes

 

90

 

(237

)

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

 

838

 

(86

)

Total income tax expense

 

267

 

25

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes

 

$

571

 

$

(111

)

 

The following table presents the pre-tax and related income tax (expense) benefit components of the amounts reclassified from the Company’s AOCI to the Company’s consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

6.                                      OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, Continued

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification adjustments related to unrealized gains on investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income (1)

 

$

(11

)

$

(18

)

Income tax expense (2)

 

(4

)

(6

)

Net of taxes

 

(7

)

(12

)

Having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income (1)

 

11

 

 

Income tax benefit (2)

 

4

 

 

Net of taxes

 

7

 

 

Reclassification adjustment related to benefit plan assets and obligations (3)

 

16

 

23

 

Income tax benefit (2)

 

5

 

8

 

Net of taxes

 

11

 

15

 

Reclassification adjustment related to foreign currency translation (1)

 

 

 

Income tax benefit (2)

 

 

 

Net of taxes

 

 

 

Total reclassifications

 

16

 

5

 

Total income tax benefit

 

5

 

2

 

Total reclassifications, net of taxes

 

$

11

 

$

3

 

 


(1)         (Increases) decreases net realized investment gains (losses) on the consolidated statement of income.

 

(2)         (Increases) decreases income tax expense on the consolidated statement of income.

 

(3)         Increases (decreases) general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statement of income.

 

7.             COMMON SHARE REPURCHASES

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 5.1 million shares under its share repurchase authorization for a total cost of $550 million.  The average cost per share repurchased was $108.46.  At March 31, 2016, the Company had $2.78 billion of capacity remaining under its share repurchase authorization.  In addition, the Company acquired 0.5 million shares for a total cost of $59 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that were not part of the publicly announced share repurchase authorization.  These shares consisted of shares retained to cover payroll withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards and shares used by employees to cover the exercise price of certain stock options that were exercised.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

8.                       EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

The following is a reconciliation of the income and share data used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the periods presented:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

(in millions, except per share amounts)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Basic and Diluted

 

 

 

 

 

Net income, as reported

 

$

691

 

$

833

 

Participating share-based awards — allocated income

 

(5

)

(6

)

Net income available to common shareholders — basic and diluted

 

$

686

 

$

827

 

Common Shares

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

294.2

 

320.8

 

Diluted

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

294.2

 

320.8

 

Weighted average effects of dilutive securities — stock options and performance shares

 

3.7

 

3.7

 

Total

 

297.9

 

324.5

 

Net Income per Common Share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.33

 

$

2.58

 

Diluted

 

$

2.30

 

$

2.55

 

 

9.             SHARE-BASED INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following information relates to fully vested stock option awards at March 31, 2016:

 

Stock Options

 

Number

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life
Remaining

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
($in millions)

 

Vested at end of period (1)

 

8,773,891

 

$

77.11

 

6.6 Years

 

$

347

 

Exercisable at end of period

 

5,158,324

 

$

61.95

 

4.9 Years

 

$

282

 

 


(1) Represents awards for which the requisite service has been rendered, including those that are retirement eligible.

 

The total compensation cost for all share-based incentive compensation awards recognized in earnings was $50 million and $47 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The related tax benefits recognized in earnings were $17 million and $16 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

The total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested share-based incentive compensation awards at March 31, 2016 was $215 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years. The total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested share-based incentive compensation awards at December 31, 2015 was $124 million, which was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

10.                PENSION PLANS, RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND SAVINGS PLANS

 

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans recognized in the consolidated statement of income.

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

Pension Plans

 

Postretirement Benefit Plans

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

Net Periodic Benefit Cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

29

 

$

33

 

$

 

$

 

Interest cost on benefit obligation

 

30

 

36

 

2

 

3

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(57

)

(58

)

 

 

Amortization of unrecognized:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior service benefit

 

 

 

(1

)

(1

)

Net actuarial loss

 

17

 

24

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

19

 

$

35

 

$

1

 

$

2

 

 

In first quarter 2016, the Company began to use a full yield curve approach in the estimation of the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit costs for its qualified and nonqualified domestic pension plans and its domestic postretirement benefit plans. The full yield curve approach applies the specific spot rates along the yield curve that the Company used to determine its projected benefit obligation at the beginning of the year to the projected cash flows related to service and interest costs.  Previously, the Company estimated these service and interest cost components by applying a single weighted-average discount rate derived from this yield curve.  This change was made to provide a better estimate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit costs, consistent with the methodology used to estimate the projected benefit obligation for each of the benefit plans.

 

This change did not affect the measurement of the Company’s total benefit obligations, as the change in service cost and interest cost is completely offset in the actuarial (gain) loss reported for the period.  The change reduced the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit costs for the first quarter 2016 by $1 million and $8 million, respectively. The weighted average discount rates that are being used to measure service and interest cost during 2016 are 4.77% and 3.64%, respectively, for the domestic qualified pension plan, 4.53% and 3.47%, respectively, for the domestic nonqualified pension plan and 0.00% and 3.53%, respectively, for the domestic postretirement benefit plan. The discount rate associated with the service cost component of the domestic postretirement benefit plan is zero as it is a closed plan and all participants are fully vested.  Under the Company’s prior estimation approach, the weighted average discount rate for both the service and interest cost components would have been 4.50% for the domestic qualified pension plan, 4.37% for the domestic nonqualified pension plan and 4.35% for the domestic postretirement benefit plan.  The Company accounted for this change as a change in estimate, and accordingly, is recognizing the effect prospectively beginning in 2016.

 

11.          CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND GUARANTEES

 

Contingencies

 

The major pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the Company’s properties is subject are described below.

 

Asbestos and Environmental Claims and Litigation

 

In the ordinary course of its insurance business, the Company has received and continues to receive claims for insurance arising under policies issued by the Company asserting alleged injuries and damages from asbestos- and environmental-related exposures that are the subject of related coverage litigation.  The Company is defending asbestos- and environmental-related litigation vigorously and believes that it has meritorious defenses; however, the outcomes of these disputes are

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

11.          CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND GUARANTEES, Continued

 

uncertain.  In this regard, the Company employs dedicated specialists and aggressive resolution strategies to manage asbestos and environmental loss exposure, including settling litigation under appropriate circumstances.  Currently, it is not possible to predict legal outcomes and their impact on the future development of claims and litigation relating to asbestos and environmental claims. Any such development will be affected by future court decisions and interpretations, as well as changes in applicable legislation. Because of these uncertainties, additional liabilities may arise for amounts in excess of the Company’s current reserves. In addition, the Company’s estimate of ultimate claims and claim adjustment expenses may change. These additional liabilities or increases in estimates, or a range of either, cannot now be reasonably estimated and could result in income statement charges that could be material to the Company’s results of operations in future periods.

 

Other Proceedings Not Arising Under Insurance Contracts or Reinsurance Agreements

 

The Company is involved in other lawsuits, including lawsuits alleging extra-contractual damages relating to insurance contracts or reinsurance agreements, that do not arise under insurance contracts or reinsurance agreements.  The legal costs associated with such lawsuits are expensed in the period in which the costs are incurred.  Based upon currently available information, the Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that any such lawsuit or related lawsuits would be material to the Company’s results of operations or would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or liquidity.

 

Gain Contingency

 

On August 17, 2010, in a reinsurance dispute in New York state court captioned United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company v. American Re-Insurance Company, et al., the trial court granted summary judgment for United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company (USF&G), a subsidiary of the Company, and denied summary judgment for American Re-Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Munich Re (American Re), and three other reinsurers.  That summary judgment was largely affirmed on appeal, but the Court of Appeals remanded the case for trial on two discrete issues.  On June 3, 2015, the trial court entered orders on pretrial motions filed by all parties in advance of the August 3, 2015 trial date and ruled in the Company’s favor that the issues for trial will be limited to the two discrete issues remanded by the Court of Appeals.  The reinsurers’ appeals of the trial court’s orders were unsuccessful, and trial of the issues remanded by the Court of Appeals is scheduled for July 6, 2016.  On March 24, 2016, the reinsurers filed a motion to change the venue, which the Company has opposed.  The Company awaits a ruling on that motion.  At March 31, 2016, the claim totaled $514 million, comprising $238 million of reinsurance recoverable plus interest amounting to $276 million as of that date.  Interest will continue to accrue at an annual rate of 9% until the claim is paid. The $238 million of reinsurance recoverable owed to the Company under the terms of the disputed reinsurance contract has been reported as part of reinsurance recoverables in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  The interest that would be owed as part of any judgment ultimately entered in favor of the Company is treated for accounting purposes as a gain contingency in accordance with FASB Topic 450, Contingencies, and accordingly has not been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Other Commitments and Guarantees

 

Commitments

 

Investment Commitments — The Company has unfunded commitments to private equity limited partnerships and real estate partnerships in which it invests.  These commitments totaled $1.72 billion and $1.71 billion at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

Guarantees

 

The maximum amount of the Company’s contingent obligation for indemnifications related to the sale of businesses that are quantifiable was $391 million at March 31, 2016, of which $2 million was recognized on the balance sheet at that date.

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

11.          CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND GUARANTEES, Continued

 

The maximum amount of the Company’s obligation for guarantees of certain investments and third-party loans related to certain investments that are quantifiable was $150 million at March 31, 2016, approximately $75 million of which is indemnified by a third party.  The maximum amount of the Company’s obligation related to the guarantee of certain insurance policy obligations of a former insurance subsidiary was $480 million at March 31, 2016, all of which is indemnified by a third party.  For more information regarding Company guarantees, see note 16 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

12.                                 CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

The following consolidating financial statements of the Company have been prepared pursuant to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X. These consolidating financial statements have been prepared from the Company’s financial information on the same basis of accounting as the consolidated financial statements. The Travelers Companies, Inc. (excluding its subsidiaries, TRV) has fully and unconditionally guaranteed certain debt obligations of Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (TPC), which totaled $700 million at March 31, 2016.

 

Prior to the merger of TPC and The St. Paul Companies, Inc. in 2004, TPC fully and unconditionally guaranteed the payment of all principal, premiums, if any, and interest on certain debt obligations of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Travelers Insurance Group Holdings, Inc. (TIGHI). Concurrent with the merger, TRV fully and unconditionally assumed such guarantee obligations of TPC. TPC is deemed to have no assets or operations independent of TIGHI. Consolidating financial information for TIGHI has not been presented herein because such financial information would be substantially the same as the financial information provided for TPC.

 

26



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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

12.                                 CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, Continued

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2016

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

$

4,085

 

$

1,896

 

$

 

$

 

$

5,981

 

Net investment income

 

376

 

166

 

2

 

 

544

 

Fee income

 

117

 

 

 

 

117

 

Net realized investment gains (losses) (1)

 

(16

)

7

 

 

 

(9

)

Other revenues

 

48

 

16

 

 

(11

)

53

 

Total revenues

 

4,610

 

2,085

 

2

 

(11

)

6,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

 

2,520

 

1,192

 

 

 

3,712

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

650

 

321

 

 

 

971

 

General and administrative expenses

 

704

 

298

 

4

 

(11

)

995

 

Interest expense

 

12

 

 

79

 

 

91

 

Total claims and expenses

 

3,886

 

1,811

 

83

 

(11

)

5,769

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

724

 

274

 

(81

)

 

917

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

199

 

69

 

(42

)

 

226

 

Net income of subsidiaries

 

 

 

730

 

(730

)

 

Net income

 

$

525

 

$

205

 

$

691

 

$

(730

)

$

691

 

 


(1) Total other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) for the three months ended March 31, 2016, and the amounts comprising total OTTI that were recognized in net realized investment gains (losses) and in other comprehensive income (OCI) were as follows:

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total OTTI losses

 

$

(14

)

$

(14

)

$

 

$

 

$

(28

)

OTTI losses recognized in net realized investment gains (losses)

 

$

(9

)

$

(9

)

$

 

$

 

$

(18

)

OTTI losses recognized in OCI

 

$

(5

)

$

(5

)

$

 

$

 

$

(10

)

 

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THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

12.                CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, Continued

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

$

3,996

 

$

1,892

 

$

 

$

 

$

5,888

 

Net investment income

 

411

 

180

 

1

 

 

592

 

Fee income

 

114

 

 

 

 

114

 

Net realized investment gains (1)

 

2

 

7

 

1

 

 

10

 

Other revenues

 

21

 

4

 

 

 

25

 

Total revenues

 

4,544

 

2,083

 

2

 

 

6,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

 

2,309

 

1,122

 

 

 

3,431

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

642

 

321

 

 

 

963

 

General and administrative expenses

 

698

 

292

 

5

 

 

995

 

Interest expense

 

12

 

 

80

 

 

92

 

Total claims and expenses

 

3,661

 

1,735

 

85

 

 

5,481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

883

 

348

 

(83

)

 

1,148

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

251

 

93

 

(29

)

 

315

 

Net income of subsidiaries

 

 

 

887

 

(887

)

 

Net income

 

$

632

 

$

255

 

$

833

 

$

(887

)

$

833

 

 


(1) Total other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and the amounts comprising total OTTI that were recognized in net realized investment gains (losses) and in other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) were as follows:

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total OTTI losses

 

$

(1

)

$

(3

)

$

 

$

 

$

(4

)

OTTI losses recognized in net realized investment gains

 

$

(1

)

$

(2

)

$

 

$

 

$

(3

)

OTTI losses recognized in OCI

 

$

 

$

(1

)

$

 

$

 

$

(1

)

 

28



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

12.                CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, Continued

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2016

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

525

 

$

205

 

$

691

 

$

(730

)

$

691

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income

 

485

 

228

 

1

 

 

714

 

Having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income

 

2

 

3

 

 

 

5

 

Net changes in benefit plan assets and obligations

 

 

1

 

15

 

 

16

 

Net changes in unrealized foreign currency translation

 

94

 

9

 

 

 

103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income before income taxes and other comprehensive income of subsidiaries

 

581

 

241

 

16

 

 

838

 

Income tax expense

 

181

 

79

 

7

 

 

267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income, net of taxes, before other comprehensive income of subsidiaries

 

400

 

162

 

9

 

 

571

 

Other comprehensive income of subsidiaries

 

 

 

562

 

(562

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

 

400

 

162

 

571

 

(562

)

571

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

925

 

$

367

 

$

1,262

 

$

(1,292

)

$

1,262

 

 

29



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

12.                CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, Continued

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

632

 

$

255

 

$

833

 

$

(887

)

$

833

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in net unrealized gains on investment securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having no credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income

 

134

 

33

 

2

 

 

169

 

Having credit losses recognized in the consolidated statement of income

 

(4

)

(1

)

 

 

(5

)

Net changes in benefit plan assets and obligations

 

 

1

 

23

 

 

24

 

Net changes in unrealized foreign currency translation

 

(179

)

(95

)

 

 

(274

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes and other comprehensive loss of subsidiaries

 

(49

)

(62

)

25

 

 

(86

)

Income tax expense

 

14

 

3

 

8

 

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, before other comprehensive loss of subsidiaries

 

(63

)

(65

)

17

 

 

(111

)

Other comprehensive loss of subsidiaries

 

 

 

(128

)

128

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

(63

)

(65

)

(111

)

128

 

(111

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

569

 

$

190

 

$

722

 

$

(759

)

$

722

 

 

30



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

12.                CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, Continued

 

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

At March 31, 2016

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $59,490)

 

$

42,898

 

$

19,039

 

$

48

 

$

 

$

61,985

 

Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value (cost $528)

 

193

 

374

 

143

 

 

710

 

Real estate investments

 

55

 

872

 

 

 

927

 

Short-term securities

 

2,100

 

861

 

1,626

 

 

4,587

 

Other investments

 

2,563

 

905

 

1

 

 

3,469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments

 

47,809

 

22,051

 

1,818

 

 

71,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

211

 

148

 

2

 

 

361

 

Investment income accrued

 

420

 

176

 

3

 

 

599

 

Premiums receivable

 

4,599

 

2,246

 

 

 

6,845

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

5,937

 

2,866

 

 

 

8,803

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

737

 

68

 

 

 

805

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

1,702

 

197

 

 

 

1,899

 

Contractholder receivables

 

3,432

 

987

 

 

 

4,419

 

Goodwill

 

2,584

 

1,004

 

 

 

3,588

 

Other intangible assets

 

202

 

73

 

 

 

275

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

 

 

28,081

 

(28,081

)

 

Other assets

 

2,070

 

322

 

16

 

 

2,408

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

69,703

 

$

30,138

 

$

29,920

 

$

(28,081

)

$

101,680

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves

 

$

32,378

 

$

16,262

 

$

 

$

 

$

48,640

 

Unearned premium reserves

 

8,603

 

3,728

 

 

 

12,331

 

Contractholder payables

 

3,432

 

987

 

 

 

4,419

 

Payables for reinsurance premiums

 

267

 

171

 

 

 

438

 

Deferred taxes

 

108

 

4

 

(30

)

 

82

 

Debt

 

692

 

 

5,652

 

 

6,344

 

Other liabilities

 

3,949

 

1,169

 

142

 

 

5,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

49,429

 

22,321

 

5,764

 

 

77,514

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock (1,750.0 shares authorized; 292.4 shares issued and outstanding)

 

 

390

 

22,269

 

(390

)

22,269

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

11,634

 

6,499

 

 

(18,133

)

 

Retained earnings

 

7,848

 

673

 

30,444

 

(8,511

)

30,454

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

792

 

255

 

414

 

(1,047

)

414

 

Treasury stock, at cost (473.2 shares)

 

 

 

(28,971

)

 

(28,971

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

20,274

 

7,817

 

24,156

 

(28,081

)

24,166

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

69,703

 

$

30,138

 

$

29,920

 

$

(28,081

)

$

101,680

 

 

31



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

12.                CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

 

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

At December 31, 2015

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $58,878)

 

$

42,289

 

$

18,323

 

$

46

 

$

 

$

60,658

 

Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value (cost $528)

 

189

 

375

 

141

 

 

705

 

Real estate investments

 

56

 

933

 

 

 

989

 

Short-term securities

 

1,947

 

1,178

 

1,546

 

 

4,671

 

Other investments

 

2,516

 

930

 

1

 

 

3,447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments

 

46,997

 

21,739

 

1,734

 

 

70,470

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

225

 

153

 

2

 

 

380

 

Investment income accrued

 

453

 

185

 

4

 

 

642

 

Premiums receivable

 

4,336

 

2,101

 

 

 

6,437

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

5,849

 

3,061

 

 

 

8,910

 

Ceded unearned premiums

 

610

 

46

 

 

 

656

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

1,660

 

189

 

 

 

1,849

 

Deferred taxes

 

178

 

83

 

35

 

 

296

 

Contractholder receivables

 

3,387

 

987

 

 

 

4,374

 

Goodwill

 

2,573

 

1,000

 

 

 

3,573

 

Other intangible assets

 

203

 

76

 

 

 

279

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

 

 

27,573

 

(27,573

)

 

Other assets

 

1,958

 

344

 

16

 

 

2,318

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

68,429

 

$

29,964

 

$

29,364

 

$

(27,573

)

$

100,184

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves

 

$

31,965

 

$

16,330

 

$

 

$

 

$

48,295

 

Unearned premium reserves

 

8,335

 

3,636

 

 

 

11,971

 

Contractholder payables

 

3,387

 

987

 

 

 

4,374

 

Payables for reinsurance premiums

 

175

 

121

 

 

 

296

 

Debt

 

693

 

 

5,651

 

 

6,344

 

Other liabilities

 

3,958

 

1,221

 

127

 

 

5,306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

48,513

 

22,295

 

5,778

 

 

76,586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock (1,750.0 shares authorized; 295.9 shares issued and outstanding)

 

 

390

 

22,172

 

(390

)

22,172

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

11,634

 

6,499

 

 

(18,133

)

 

Retained earnings

 

7,888

 

688

 

29,933

 

(8,564

)

29,945

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

394

 

92

 

(157

)

(486

)

(157

)

Treasury stock, at cost (467.6 shares)

 

 

 

(28,362

)

 

(28,362

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

19,916

 

7,669

 

23,586

 

(27,573

)

23,598

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

68,429

 

$

29,964

 

$

29,364

 

$

(27,573

)

$

100,184

 

 

32



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

12.                CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, Continued

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2016

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

525

 

$

205

 

$

691

 

$

(730

)

$

691

 

Net adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

151

 

(55

)

115

 

(52

)

159

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

676

 

150

 

806

 

(782

)

850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from maturities of fixed maturities

 

1,239

 

507

 

2

 

 

1,748

 

Proceeds from sales of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

237

 

183

 

1

 

 

421

 

Equity securities

 

4

 

10

 

 

 

14

 

Real estate investments

 

 

69

 

 

 

69

 

Other investments

 

122

 

64

 

 

 

186

 

Purchases of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

(1,534

)

(1,162

)

(4

)

 

(2,700

)

Equity securities

 

(1

)

(10

)

(1

)

 

(12

)

Real estate investments

 

 

(7

)

 

 

(7

)

Other investments

 

(123

)

(39

)

 

 

(162

)

Net sales (purchases) of short-term securities

 

(152

)

317

 

(80

)

 

85

 

Securities transactions in course of settlement

 

159

 

131

 

1

 

 

291

 

Other

 

(78

)

(1

)

 

 

(79

)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(127

)

62

 

(81

)

 

(146

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock acquired — share repurchase authorization

 

 

 

(550

)

 

(550

)

Treasury stock acquired — net employee share-based compensation

 

 

 

(59

)

 

(59

)

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

 

 

(180

)

 

(180

)

Issuance of common stock — employee share options

 

 

 

64

 

 

64

 

Dividends paid to parent company

 

(565

)

(217

)

 

782

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(565

)

(217

)

(725

)

782

 

(725

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

2

 

 

 

 

2

 

Net decrease in cash

 

(14

)

(5

)

 

 

(19

)

Cash at beginning of year

 

225

 

153

 

2

 

 

380

 

Cash at end of period

 

$

211

 

$

148

 

$

2

 

$

 

$

361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes paid (received)

 

$

51

 

$

17

 

$

(5

)

$

 

$

63

 

Interest paid

 

$

16

 

$

 

$

26

 

$

 

$

42

 

 

33



Table of Contents

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

 

12.                CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, Continued

 

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

 

(in millions)

 

TPC

 

Other
Subsidiaries

 

TRV

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

632

 

$

255

 

$

833

 

$

(887

)

$

833

 

Net adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

(405

)

(350

)

16

 

105

 

(634

)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

227

 

(95

)

849

 

(782

)

199

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from maturities of fixed maturities

 

1,851

 

979

 

 

 

2,830

 

Proceeds from sales of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

555

 

351

 

 

 

 

906

 

Equity securities

 

6

 

5

 

 

 

11

 

Real estate investments

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Other investments

 

98

 

48

 

 

 

146

 

Purchases of investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

(2,133

)

(1,192

)

 

 

(3,325

)

Equity securities

 

(1

)

(6

)

(1

)

 

(8

)

Real estate investments

 

 

(6

)

 

 

(6

)

Other investments

 

(139

)

(29

)

 

 

(168

)

Net sales (purchases) of short-term securities

 

(23

)

6

 

(117

)

 

(134

)

Securities transactions in course of settlement

 

175

 

130

 

 

 

305

 

Other

 

(89

)

(1

)

 

 

(90

)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

300

 

292

 

(118

)

 

474

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock acquired — share repurchase authorization

 

 

 

(600

)

 

(600

)

Treasury stock acquired — net employee share-based compensation

 

 

 

(71

)

 

(71

)

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

 

 

(177

)

 

(177

)

Issuance of common stock — employee share options

 

 

 

90

 

 

90

 

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements

 

 

 

27

 

 

27

 

Dividends paid to parent company

 

(552

)

(230

)

 

782

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(552

)

(230

)

(731

)

782

 

(731

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

(1

)

(7

)

 

 

(8

)

Net decrease in cash

 

(26

)

(40

)

 

 

(66

)

Cash at beginning of year

 

221

 

151

 

2

 

 

374

 

Cash at end of period

 

$

195

 

$

111

 

$

2

 

$

 

$

308

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes paid (received)

 

$

138

 

$

52

 

$

(64

)

$

 

$

126

 

Interest paid

 

$

16

 

$

 

$

18

 

$

 

$

34

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following is a discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

2016 First Quarter Consolidated Results of Operations

 

·                   Net income of $691 million, or $2.33 per share basic and $2.30 per share diluted

·                   Net earned premiums of $5.98 billion

·                   Catastrophe losses of $318 million ($207 million after-tax)

·                   Net favorable prior year reserve development of $180 million ($119 million after-tax)

·                   Combined ratio of 92.3%

·                   Net investment income of $544 million ($439 million after-tax)

·                   Operating cash flows of $850 million

 

2016 First Quarter Consolidated Financial Condition

 

·                   Total investments of $71.68 billion; fixed maturities and short-term securities comprise 93% of total investments

·                   Total assets of $101.68 billion

·                   Total debt of $6.34 billion, resulting in a debt-to-total capital ratio of 20.8% (22.1% excluding net unrealized investment gains, net of tax)

·                   Repurchased 5.6 million common shares for a total cost of $609 million and paid $180 million of dividends to shareholders

·                   Common stock dividend increased to $0.67 per share, a 10% increase, on April 21, 2016

·                   Shareholders’ equity of $24.17 billion

·                   Net unrealized investment gains of $2.69 billion ($1.76 billion after-tax)

·                   Book value per common share of $82.65

·      Holding company liquidity of $1.71 billion

 

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Table of Contents

 

CONSOLIDATED OVERVIEW

 

Consolidated Results of Operations

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions except ratio and per share amounts)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums

 

$

5,981

 

$

5,888

 

Net investment income

 

544

 

592

 

Fee income

 

117

 

114

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

(9

)

10

 

Other revenues

 

53

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

6,686

 

6,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

 

3,712

 

3,431

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

971

 

963

 

General and administrative expenses

 

995

 

995

 

Interest expense

 

91

 

92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total claims and expenses

 

5,769

 

5,481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

917

 

1,148

 

Income tax expense

 

226

 

315

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

691

 

$

833

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.33

 

$

2.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

$

2.30

 

$

2.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined ratio

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

 

61.1

%

57.4

%

Underwriting expense ratio

 

31.2

 

31.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined ratio

 

92.3

%

88.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental impact of direct to consumer initiative on combined ratio

 

0.3

%

0.4

%

 

The following discussions of the Company’s net income and segment operating income are presented on an after-tax basis.  Discussions of the components of net income and segment operating income are presented on a pre-tax basis, unless otherwise noted.  Discussions of net income per common share are presented on a diluted basis.

 

Overview

 

Diluted net income per share of $2.30 in the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 10% from diluted net income per share of $2.55 in the same period of 2015.  Net income of $691 million in the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 17% from net income of $833 million in the same period of 2015.  The lower rate of decrease in diluted net income per share reflected the impact of share repurchases in recent periods.  The decrease in net income primarily reflected the pre-tax impacts of (i) higher catastrophe losses, (ii) lower net favorable prior year reserve development and (iii) lower net investment income. Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 was $180 million and $243 million, respectively.  Catastrophe losses in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 were $318 million and $162 million, respectively.  Partially offsetting the net pre-tax decrease in income was a related decrease in income tax expense.

 

The Company has insurance operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, as well as in Brazil, primarily through a joint venture.  Because these operations are conducted in local currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the Company is subject to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.  For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, changes in foreign currency exchange rates had the impact of lowering the reported line items in the statement of income by insignificant amounts.  The impact of these changes was not material to the Company’s net income or the Business and International Insurance segment’s operating income for the periods reported.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Revenues

 

Earned Premiums

 

Earned premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were $5.98 billion, $93 million or 2% higher than in the same period of 2015.  In the Business and International Insurance segment, earned premiums in the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 1% from the same period of 2015.  In the Bond & Specialty Insurance segment, earned premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 1% over the same period of 2015.  In the Personal Insurance segment, earned premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 6% over the same period of 2015.  Factors contributing to the changes in earned premiums are discussed in more detail in the segment discussions that follow.

 

Net Investment Income

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s investments.

 

(for the three months ended March 31, dollars in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Average investments (1)

 

$

69,926

 

$

70,722

 

Pre-tax net investment income

 

544

 

592

 

After-tax net investment income

 

439

 

478

 

Average pre-tax yield (2)

 

3.1

%

3.3

%

Average after-tax yield (2)

 

2.5

%

2.7

%

 


(1)                  Excludes net unrealized investment gains and losses and reflects cash, receivables for investment sales, payables on investment purchases and accrued investment income.

(2)                  Excludes net realized and net unrealized investment gains and losses.

 

Net investment income in the first quarter of 2016 was $544 million, $48 million or 8% lower than in the same period of 2015.  Net investment income from fixed maturity investments was $503 million in the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of $28 million from the same period in 2015.  The decrease primarily resulted from lower long-term reinvestment rates available in the market.  Net investment income generated by non-fixed maturity investments was $44 million in the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of $25 million from the same period of 2015 primarily due to lower hedge fund returns.

 

Fee Income

 

The National Accounts market in the Business and International Insurance segment is the primary source of the Company’s fee-based business.  The $3 million increase in fee income in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period of 2015 is discussed in the Business and International Insurance segment discussion that follows.

 

Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s net realized investment gains (losses).

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

 

 

 

 

 

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

 

$

(18

)

$

(3

)

Other net realized investment gains

 

9

 

13

 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

 

$

(9

)

$

10

 

 

Other Revenues

 

Other revenues in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 included installment premium charges.  Other revenues in the first quarter of 2016 also included proceeds from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter in the Business and International Insurance segment.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Claims and Expenses

 

Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $3.71 billion, $281 million or 8% higher than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting (i) higher catastrophe losses, (ii) the impact of loss cost trends, (iii) lower net favorable prior year reserve development and (iv) higher volumes of insured exposures, partially offset by (v) lower non-catastrophe weather-related losses.  Catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2016 primarily resulted from wind and hail storms in Texas and several other regions of the United States, as well as winter storms in the eastern United States.  Catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2015 resulted from a winter storm in the eastern United States.  Factors contributing to net favorable prior year reserve development in each segment during the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 are discussed in more detail in the segment discussions that follow.

 

Significant Catastrophe Losses

 

The following table presents the amount of losses recorded by the Company for significant catastrophes that occurred in 2016, 2015 and 2014, the amount of related net unfavorable (favorable) prior year reserve development recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, and the estimate of ultimate losses for those catastrophes at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  For purposes of the table, a significant catastrophe is an event for which the Company estimates its ultimate losses will be $100 million or more after reinsurance and before taxes. For the Company’s definition of a catastrophe, refer to “Part II—Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Consolidated Overview” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

 

 

Losses Incurred/Unfavorable (Favorable)
Prior Year Reserve Development
For The Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Estimated Ultimate Losses

 

(in millions, pre-tax and net of reinsurance)

 

2016

 

2015

 

March 31, 2016

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCS Serial Number:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32 – Winter storm

 

$

(1

)

$

(1

)

$

138

 

$

139

 

43 – Severe wind and hail storms

 

$

 

$

 

$

176

 

$

176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCS Serial Number:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

68 – Winter storm

 

$

 

$

162

 

$

140

 

$

140

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCS Serial Number:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21 – Severe wind and hail storms

 

$

163

 

$

n/a

 

$

163

 

$

n/a

 

 

n/a: not applicable.

 

Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs in the first quarter of 2016 of $971 million was $8 million or 1% higher than in the same period of 2015.  Amortization of deferred acquisition costs is discussed in more detail in the segment discussions that follow.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $995 million, level with the same period of 2015.  General and administrative expenses are discussed in more detail in the segment discussions that follow.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 was $91 million and $92 million, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense in the first quarter of 2016 was $226 million, $89 million or 28% lower than in the same period of 2015, which primarily reflected the $231 million decrease in income before income taxes in the first quarter of 2016.

 

The Company’s effective tax rate was 25% and 27% in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The effective tax rates in both periods were lower than the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the impact of tax-exempt investment income on the calculation of the Company’s income tax provision.

 

Combined Ratio

 

The combined ratio of 92.3% in the first quarter of 2016 was 3.4 points higher than the combined ratio of 88.9% in the same period of 2015.

 

The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio of 61.1% in the first quarter of 2016 was 3.7 points higher than the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio of 57.4% in the same period of 2015.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 provided 3.0 points and 4.1 points of benefit, respectively, to the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio.  Catastrophe losses accounted for 5.3 points and 2.7 points of the 2016 and 2015 first quarter loss and loss adjustment expense ratios, respectively.  The 2016 first quarter loss and loss adjustment expense ratio excluding prior year reserve development and catastrophe losses (“underlying loss and loss adjustment expense ratio”) was level with the 2015 ratio on the same basis.

 

The underwriting expense ratio of 31.2% in the first quarter of 2016 was 0.3 points lower than the underwriting expense ratio of 31.5% in the same period of 2015.

 

Written Premiums

 

Consolidated gross and net written premiums were as follows:

 

 

 

Gross Written Premiums

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business and International Insurance

 

$

4,366

 

$

4,276

 

Bond & Specialty Insurance

 

536

 

522

 

Personal Insurance

 

1,810

 

1,676

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

6,712

 

$

6,474

 

 

 

 

Net Written Premiums

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business and International Insurance

 

$

3,914

 

$

3,797

 

Bond & Specialty Insurance

 

492

 

478

 

Personal Insurance

 

1,760

 

1,622

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

6,166

 

$

5,897

 

 

Gross written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 4% over the same period of 2015.  Net written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 5% over the same period of 2015.  Factors contributing to the changes in gross and net written premiums in each segment are discussed in more detail in the segment discussions that follow.

 

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Table of Contents

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

 

Business and International Insurance

 

Results of the Company’s Business and International Insurance segment were as follows:

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions except ratio amounts)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

$

3,599

 

$

3,620

 

Net investment income

 

415

 

454

 

Fee income

 

114

 

111

 

Other revenues

 

33

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

4,161

 

$

4,193

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total claims and expenses

 

$

3,541

 

$

3,503

 

Operating income

 

$

476

 

$

515

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

 

62.4

%

61.2

%

Underwriting expense ratio

 

32.4

 

32.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined ratio

 

94.8

%

93.3

%

 

Overview

 

Operating income in the first quarter of 2016 was $476 million, $39 million or 8% lower than operating income of $515 million in the same period of 2015.  The decrease primarily reflected the pre-tax impacts of (i) higher catastrophe losses and (ii) lower net investment income.  Catastrophe losses in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 were $148 million and $99 million, respectively.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 was $93 million and $77 million, respectively.  Partially offsetting the net pre-tax decrease in operating income was a related decrease in income tax expense.

 

Earned Premiums

 

Earned premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were $3.60 billion, $21 million or 1% lower than in the same period of 2015.

 

Net Investment Income

 

Net investment income in the first quarter of 2016 was $415 million, $39 million or 9% lower than in the same period of 2015.  Refer to the “Net Investment Income” section of the “Consolidated Results of Operations” discussion herein for a description of the factors contributing to the decrease in the Company’s consolidated net investment income in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period of 2015.  In addition, refer to note 2 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report for a discussion of the Company’s net investment income allocation methodology.

 

Fee Income

 

National Accounts is the primary source of fee income.  Fee income in the first quarter of 2016 was $114 million, $3 million or 3% higher than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the impact of higher claim volume in the large deductible business driven by growth.

 

Other Revenues

 

Other revenues in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 included installment premium charges.  Other revenues in the first quarter of 2016 also included proceeds from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Claims and Expenses

 

Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $2.30 billion, $34 million or 2% higher than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the impacts of (i) loss cost trends and (ii) higher catastrophe losses, partially offset by (iii) lower non-catastrophe weather-related losses and (iv) higher net favorable prior year reserve development.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarter of 2016 was primarily driven by better than expected loss experience in the Company’s domestic operations in (i) the workers’ compensation product line for excess coverages for accident years 2006 and prior, (ii) the general liability product line, primarily related to excess coverages for accident years 2011 and 2013 and (iii) the commercial automobile product line for accident years 2010 and prior, as well as in the Company’s international operations in Europe and Canada.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarter of 2015 was primarily driven by better than expected loss experience in the Company’s domestic operations in (i) the general liability product line, primarily related to primary coverages for accident years 2005 and prior, and (ii) the workers’ compensation product line for accident years 2007 and prior.

 

Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs in the first quarter of 2016 was $579 million, $5 million or 1% lower than in the same period of 2015, generally consistent with the decrease in earned premiums.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $663 million, $9 million or 1% higher than in the same period of 2015.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense in the first quarter of 2016 was $144 million, $31 million or 18% lower than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the $70 million decrease in income before income taxes in the first quarter of 2016.

 

Combined Ratio

 

The combined ratio of 94.8% in the first quarter of 2016 was 1.5 points higher than the combined ratio of 93.3% in the same period of 2015.

 

The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio of 62.4% in the first quarter of 2016 was 1.2 points higher than the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio of 61.2% in the same period of 2015.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 provided 2.6 points and 2.1 points of benefit, respectively, to the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio.  Catastrophe losses in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 accounted for 4.1 points and 2.7 points, respectively, of the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio.  The 2016 first quarter underlying loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 0.3 points higher than the 2015 ratio on the same basis.

 

The underwriting expense ratio of 32.4% in the first quarter of 2016 was 0.3 points higher than the underwriting expense ratio of 32.1% in the same period of 2015.

 

Written Premiums

 

The Business and International Insurance segment’s gross and net written premiums by market were as follows:

 

 

 

Gross Written Premiums

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic:

 

 

 

 

 

Select Accounts

 

$

744

 

$

740

 

Middle Market

 

1,901

 

1,819

 

National Accounts

 

534

 

510

 

First Party

 

440

 

423

 

Specialized Distribution

 

288

 

270

 

Total Domestic

 

3,907

 

3,762

 

International

 

459

 

514

 

Total Business and International Insurance

 

$

4,366

 

$

4,276

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Net Written Premiums

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic:

 

 

 

 

 

Select Accounts

 

$

724

 

$

722

 

Middle Market

 

1,829

 

1,726

 

National Accounts

 

320

 

299

 

First Party

 

358

 

340

 

Specialized Distribution

 

286

 

268

 

Total Domestic

 

3,517

 

3,355

 

International

 

397

 

442

 

Total Business and International Insurance

 

$

3,914

 

$

3,797

 

 

Gross and net written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 2% and 3%, respectively, over the same period of 2015.  Business retention rates remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes remained positive in the first quarter of 2016 but were lower than in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015.

 

Select Accounts.  Net written premiums of $724 million in the first quarter of 2016 were comparable with the same period of 2015.  Business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 remained positive but were lower than in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015.

 

Middle Market.  Net written premiums of $1.83 billion in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 6% over the same period of 2015.  Business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 remained positive but were lower than in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015. The increase in net written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 also included a modest benefit from the impact of changes in the timing and structure of certain reinsurance transactions.

 

National Accounts.  Net written premiums of $320 million in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 7% over the same period of 2015.  Business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 remained positive and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015.

 

First Party.  Net written premiums of $358 million in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 5% over the same period of 2015.  Business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 were slightly negative, compared with slightly positive in the same period of 2015. New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015.

 

Specialized Distribution.  Net written premiums of $286 million in the first quarter of 2016 increased by 7% over the same period of 2015.  Business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 remained positive but were lower than in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015.

 

International.  Net written premiums of $397 million in the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 10% from the same period of 2015, primarily due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.  Excluding the surety line of business, for which the following are not relevant measures, business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong but were lower than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 were slightly negative as compared to flat in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Bond & Specialty Insurance

 

Results of the Company’s Bond & Specialty Insurance segment were as follows:

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions except ratio amounts)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

$

508

 

$

504

 

Net investment income

 

52

 

56

 

Other revenues

 

3

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

563

 

$

565

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total claims and expenses

 

$

354

 

$

386

 

Operating income

 

$

144

 

$

124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

 

31.9

%

37.6

%

Underwriting expense ratio

 

37.4

 

38.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined ratio

 

69.3

%

76.1

%

 

Overview

 

Operating income in the first quarter of 2016 was $144 million, $20 million or 16% higher than operating income of $124 million in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the pre-tax impacts of (i) higher net favorable prior year reserve development and (ii) higher underwriting margins excluding prior year reserve development and catastrophe losses (“underlying underwriting margins”).  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 was $60 million and $35 million, respectively.  Catastrophe losses in the first quarters of both 2016 and 2015 were $1 million.  Partially offsetting the net pre-tax increase in operating income was a related increase in income tax expense.

 

Earned Premiums

 

Earned premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were $508 million, $4 million or 1% higher than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the impact of an increase in net written premiums over the preceding twelve months.

 

Net Investment Income

 

Net investment income in the first quarter of 2016 was $52 million, $4 million or 7% lower than in the same period of 2015.  Refer to the “Net Investment Income” section of “Consolidated Results of Operations” herein for a discussion of the decrease in the Company’s consolidated net investment income in the first quarter of 2016 as compared with the same period of 2015.

In addition, refer to note 2 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report for a discussion of the Company’s net investment income allocation methodology.

 

Claims and Expenses

 

Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $164 million, $28 million or 15% lower than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting higher net favorable prior year reserve development.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in first quarter 2016 was primarily driven by better than expected loss experience in the surety product line for accident years 2012 through 2014.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarter of 2015 was primarily driven by better than expected loss experience in the contract surety product line for accident years 2010 through 2012.

 

Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs in the first quarter of 2016 was $96 million, $2 million or 2% higher than in the same period of 2015, generally consistent with the increase in earned premiums.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $94 million, $6 million or 6% lower than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the impact of certain customer-related intangible assets which became fully amortized in the second quarter of 2015.

 

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Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense in the first quarter of 2016 was $65 million, $10 million or 18% higher than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the $30 million increase in income before income taxes.

 

Combined Ratio

 

The combined ratio of 69.3% in the first quarter of 2016 was 6.8 points lower than the combined ratio of 76.1% in the same period of 2015.

 

The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio of 31.9% in the first quarter of 2016 was 5.7 points lower than the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio of 37.6% in the same period of 2015.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 provided 11.9 points and 6.9 points of benefit, respectively, to the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio.  Catastrophe losses in the first quarters of both 2016 and 2015 accounted for 0.1 points of the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio.  The 2016 first quarter underlying loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 0.7 points lower than the 2015 ratio on the same basis, primarily reflecting lower loss estimates in certain management liability businesses.

 

The underwriting expense ratio of 37.4% in the first quarter of 2016 was 1.1 points lower than the underwriting expense ratio of 38.5% in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the impact of certain customer-related intangible assets which became fully amortized in the second quarter of 2015.

 

Written Premiums

 

The Bond & Specialty Insurance segment’s gross and net written premiums by market were as follows:

 

 

 

Gross Written Premiums

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Bond & Specialty Insurance

 

$

536

 

$

522

 

 

 

 

Net Written Premiums

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Bond & Specialty Insurance

 

$

492

 

$

478

 

 

Gross and net written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were each 3% higher than in the same period of 2015.  Excluding the surety line of business, for which the following are not relevant measures, business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 remained positive but were lower than in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015.

 

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Personal Insurance

 

Results of the Company’s Personal Insurance segment were as follows:

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions except ratio amounts)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Earned premiums

 

$

1,874

 

$

1,764

 

Net investment income

 

77

 

82

 

Fee income

 

3

 

3

 

Other revenues

 

14

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

1,968

 

$

1,861

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total claims and expenses

 

$

1,775

 

$

1,493

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

$

139

 

$

252

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and loss adjustment expense ratio

 

66.7

%

55.2

%

Underwriting expense ratio

 

27.0

 

28.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined ratio

 

93.7

%

83.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental impact of direct to consumer initiative on combined ratio

 

0.9

%

1.7

%

 

Overview

 

Operating income in the first quarter of 2016 was $139 million, $113 million or 45% lower than operating income of $252 million in the same period of 2015.  The decrease in operating income primarily reflected the pre-tax impacts of (i) higher catastrophe losses and (ii) lower net favorable prior year reserve development, partially offset by (iii) higher underlying underwriting margins.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 was $27 million and $131 million, respectively.  Catastrophe losses in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 were $169 million and $62 million, respectively.  Partially offsetting the net pre-tax decrease in operating income was a related decrease in income tax expense.

 

Earned Premiums

 

Earned premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were $1.87 billion, $110 million or 6% higher than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the impact of an increase in net written premiums over the preceding twelve months.

 

Net Investment Income

 

Net investment income in the first quarter of 2016 was $77 million, $5 million or 6% lower than in the same period of 2015.  Refer to the “Net Investment Income” section of the “Consolidated Results of Operations” discussion herein for a description of the factors contributing to the decrease in the Company’s consolidated net investment income in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period of 2015.  In addition, refer to note 2 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report for a discussion of the Company’s net investment income allocation methodology.

 

Other Revenues

 

Other revenues in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 primarily consisted of installment premium charges.

 

Claims and Expenses

 

Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $1.25 billion, $275 million or 28% higher than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting (i) higher catastrophe losses, (ii) lower net favorable prior year reserve development, (iii) higher volumes of insured exposures and (iv) the impact of loss cost trends, partially offset by (v) lower non-catastrophe weather-related losses.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in first quarter 2016 was primarily driven by better than expected loss experience in (i) the Homeowners and Other product line for liability coverages for accident year 2014 and (ii) in the Automobile product line for accident year 2014.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarter of 2015 was primarily driven by better than expected loss experience in (i) the Homeowners and Other product line for liability coverages for accident years 2011 through 2014, for non-catastrophe weather-related

 

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losses for accident years 2013 and 2014 and for catastrophe losses for accident year 2011, and (ii) the Automobile product line for liability coverages for accident years 2010 through 2013.

 

Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs

 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs in the first quarter of 2016 was $296 million, $11 million or 4% higher than in the same period of 2015, generally consistent with the increase in earned premiums.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $230 million, $4 million or 2% lower than in the same period of 2015.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense in the first quarter of 2016 was $54 million, $62 million or 53% lower than in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the $175 million decrease in income before income taxes.

 

Combined Ratio

 

The combined ratio of 93.7% in the first quarter of 2016 was 10.2 points higher than the combined ratio of 83.5% in the same period of 2015.

 

The loss and loss adjustment expense ratio of 66.7% in the first quarter of 2016 was 11.5 points higher than the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio of 55.2% in the same period of 2015.  Net favorable prior year reserve development in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 provided 1.4 points and 7.5 points of benefit to the loss and loss adjustment expense ratio, respectively.  Catastrophe losses accounted for 9.0 points and 3.5 points of the loss and loss adjustment expense ratios in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The 2016 first quarter underlying loss and loss adjustment expense ratio was 0.1 points lower than the 2015 ratio on the same basis.

 

The underwriting expense ratio of 27.0% in the first quarter of 2016 was 1.3 points lower than the underwriting expense ratio of 28.3% in the same period of 2015, primarily reflecting the impact of an increase in earned premiums, as well as the decrease in general and administrative expenses.

 

Agency Written Premiums

 

Personal Insurance’s gross and net written premiums by product line were as follows for its Agency business, which comprises business written through agents, brokers and other intermediaries and represents almost all of the Personal Insurance segment’s gross and net written premiums:

 

 

 

Gross Written Premiums

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agency Automobile

 

$

939

 

$

828

 

Agency Homeowners and Other

 

803

 

795

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Agency Personal Insurance

 

$

1,742

 

$

1,623

 

 

 

 

Net Written Premiums

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agency Automobile

 

$

932

 

$

822

 

Agency Homeowners and Other

 

760

 

748

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Agency Personal Insurance

 

$

1,692

 

$

1,570

 

 

Gross agency written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were 7% higher than in the same period of 2015.  Net agency written premiums were 8% higher than in the same period of 2015.

 

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In the Agency Automobile line of business, net written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were 13% higher than in the same period of 2015.  Business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 remained positive but were lower than in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015 as a result of the Company’s private passenger automobile product, Quantum Auto 2.0.

 

In the Agency Homeowners and Other line of business, net written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were 2% higher than in the same period of 2015.  Business retention rates in the first quarter of 2016 remained strong and were higher than in the same period of 2015.  Renewal premium changes in the first quarter of 2016 remained positive but were lower than in the same period of 2015.  New business premiums in the first quarter of 2016 increased over the same period of 2015.

 

For its Agency business, the Personal Insurance segment had approximately 6.3 million and 6.0 million active policies at March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Direct to Consumer Written Premiums

 

In the direct to consumer business, net written premiums in the first quarter of 2016 were $68 million, $16 million or 31% higher than in the same period of 2015.  In the first quarter of 2016, automobile net written premiums increased by $13 million, or 34% and homeowners and other net written premiums increased by $3 million, or 21% over the same period of 2015.  The direct to consumer business had 254,000 and 203,000 active policies at March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Interest Expense and Other

 

(for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

(61

)

$

(64

)

 

The operating income (loss) for Interest Expense and Other in the first quarter of 2016 and 2015 was $(61) million and $(64) million, respectively.  After-tax interest expense was $59 million and $60 million in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

ASBESTOS CLAIMS AND LITIGATION

 

The Company believes that the property and casualty insurance industry has suffered from court decisions and other trends that have expanded insurance coverage for asbestos claims far beyond the original intent of insurers and policyholders. The Company has received and continues to receive a significant number of asbestos claims from the Company’s policyholders (which includes others seeking coverage under a policy).  Factors underlying these claim filings include continued intensive advertising by lawyers seeking asbestos claimants and the continued focus by plaintiffs on defendants who were not traditionally primary targets of asbestos litigation.  The focus on these defendants is primarily the result of the number of traditional asbestos defendants who have sought bankruptcy protection in previous years.  In addition to contributing to the overall number of claims, bankruptcy proceedings may increase the volatility of asbestos-related losses by initially delaying the reporting of claims and later by significantly accelerating and increasing loss payments by insurers, including the Company. The bankruptcy of many traditional defendants has also caused increased settlement demands against those policyholders who are not in bankruptcy but remain in the tort system. Currently, in many jurisdictions, those who allege very serious injury and who can present credible medical evidence of their injuries are receiving priority trial settings in the courts, while those who have not shown any credible disease manifestation are having their hearing dates delayed or placed on an inactive docket.  Prioritizing claims involving credible evidence of injuries, along with the focus on defendants who were not traditionally primary targets of asbestos litigation, contributes to the claims and claim adjustment expense payment patterns experienced by the Company.  The Company’s asbestos-related claims and claim adjustment expense experience also has been impacted by the unavailability of other insurance sources potentially available to policyholders, whether through exhaustion of policy limits or through the insolvency of other participating insurers.

 

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The Company continues to be involved in coverage litigation concerning a number of policyholders, some of whom have filed for bankruptcy, who in some instances have asserted that all or a portion of their asbestos-related claims are not subject to aggregate limits on coverage. In these instances, policyholders also may assert that each individual bodily injury claim should be treated as a separate occurrence under the policy. It is difficult to predict whether these policyholders will be successful on both issues. To the extent both issues are resolved in a policyholder’s favor and other Company defenses are not successful, the Company’s coverage obligations under the policies at issue would be materially increased and bounded only by the applicable per-occurrence limits and the number of asbestos bodily injury claims against the policyholders.  Although the Company has seen a moderation in the overall risk associated with these lawsuits, it remains difficult to predict the ultimate cost of these claims.

 

Many coverage disputes with policyholders are only resolved through settlement agreements. Because many policyholders make exaggerated demands, it is difficult to predict the outcome of settlement negotiations. Settlements involving bankrupt policyholders may include extensive releases which are favorable to the Company but which could result in settlements for larger amounts than originally anticipated. There also may be instances where a court may not approve a proposed settlement, which may result in additional litigation and potentially less beneficial outcomes for the Company. As in the past, the Company will continue to pursue settlement opportunities.

 

In addition to claims against policyholders, proceedings have been launched directly against insurers, including the Company, by individuals challenging insurers’ conduct with respect to the handling of past asbestos claims and by individuals seeking damages arising from alleged asbestos-related bodily injuries.  Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (TPC) had previously entered into settlement agreements in connection with a number of these direct action claims (Direct Action Settlements).  The Company had been involved in litigation concerning whether all of the conditions of the Direct Action Settlements had been satisfied.  On July 22, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that all of the conditions of the Direct Action Settlements had been satisfied.  On January 15, 2015, the bankruptcy court entered an order directing the Company to pay $579 million to the plaintiffs, comprised of the $502 million settlement amounts, plus pre- and post-judgment interest of $77 million, and the Company made that payment in 2015.  For a full discussion of these settlement agreements and related litigation, see the “Settlement of Asbestos Direct Action Litigation” section of note 16 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.  It is possible that the filing of other direct actions against insurers, including the Company, could be made in the future.  It is difficult to predict the outcome of these proceedings, including whether the plaintiffs will be able to sustain these actions against insurers based on novel legal theories of liability. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to these claims and has received favorable rulings in certain jurisdictions.

 

The Company’s quarterly asbestos reserve reviews include an analysis of exposure and claim payment patterns by policyholder category, as well as recent settlements, policyholder bankruptcies, judicial rulings and legislative actions.  The Company also analyzes developing payment patterns among policyholders in the Home Office and Field Office, and Assumed Reinsurance and Other categories as well as projected reinsurance billings and recoveries.  In addition, the Company reviews its historical gross and net loss and expense paid experience, year-by-year, to assess any emerging trends, fluctuations, or characteristics suggested by the aggregate paid activity.  Conventional actuarial methods are not utilized to establish asbestos reserves nor have the Company’s evaluations resulted in any way of determining a meaningful average asbestos defense or indemnity payment.  Over the past decade, the property and casualty insurance industry, including the Company, has experienced net unfavorable prior year reserve development with regard to asbestos reserves.  While the Company believes that over the past several years there has been a reduction in the volatility associated with the Company’s overall asbestos exposure, there nonetheless remains a high degree of uncertainty with respect to future exposure from asbestos claims.

 

Because each policyholder presents different liability and coverage issues, the Company generally reviews the exposure presented by each policyholder at least annually.  Among the factors which the Company may consider in the course of this review are: available insurance coverage, including the role of any umbrella or excess insurance the Company has issued to the policyholder; limits and deductibles; an analysis of the policyholder’s potential liability; the jurisdictions involved; past and anticipated future claim activity and loss development on pending claims; past settlement values of similar claims; allocated claim adjustment expense; potential role of other insurance; the role, if any, of non-asbestos claims or potential non-asbestos claims in any resolution process; and applicable coverage defenses or determinations, if any, including the determination as to whether or not an asbestos claim is a products/completed operation claim subject to an aggregate limit and the available coverage, if any, for that claim.

 

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Net asbestos paid loss and loss expenses in the first quarter of 2016 were $37 million, compared with $520 million in the same period of 2015.  Net payments in the first quarter of 2015 included the payment of the $502 million settlement amounts related to the Settlement of Asbestos Direct Action Litigation as described in more detail in note 16 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.  Net asbestos reserves were $1.77 billion at March 31, 2016, compared with $1.84 billion at March 31, 2015.

 

The following table displays activity for asbestos losses and loss expenses and reserves:

 

(at and for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Beginning reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

$

1,989

 

$

2,520

 

Ceded

 

(179

)

(163

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

1,810

 

2,357

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incurred losses and loss expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

Ceded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid loss and loss expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

52

 

560

 

Ceded

 

(15

)

(40

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

37

 

520

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange and other:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

(1

)

Ceded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

1,937

 

1,959

 

Ceded

 

(164

)

(123

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

$

1,773

 

$

1,836

 

 

See “—Uncertainty Regarding Adequacy of Asbestos and Environmental Reserves.”

 

On January 29, 2009, the Company and PPG Industries, Inc (“PPG”), along with approximately 30 other insurers of PPG, agreed in principle to an agreement to settle asbestos-related coverage litigation under insurance policies issued to PPG.  The tentative settlement agreement has been incorporated into the Modified Third Amended Plan of Reorganization (“Amended Plan”) proposed as part of the Pittsburgh Corning Corp. (“PCC,” which is 50% owned by PPG) bankruptcy proceeding. Pursuant to the proposed Amended Plan, which was filed on January 30, 2009, PCC, along with enumerated other companies (including PPG as well as the Company as a participating insurer), are to receive protections afforded by Section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code from certain asbestos-related bodily injury claims.  Under the agreement in principle, the Company has the option to make a series of payments over 20 years totaling approximately $620 million to the Trust created under the Amended Plan, or it may elect to make a one-time discounted payment, which, as of June 30, 2016, would total approximately $525 million.  The Company’s obligations under the agreement in principle were included in its claim and claim adjustment expense reserves at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  On January 7, 2016, the final objections to the Amended Plan were dismissed.  The agreement in principle with PPG is still subject to the condition that the Amended Plan becomes effective.  The Company expects that the Plan will become effective, and that it will make the one-time payment, in the second quarter of 2016.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS AND LITIGATION

 

The Company has received and continues to receive claims from policyholders who allege that they are liable for injury or damage arising out of their alleged disposition of toxic substances. Mostly, these claims are due to various legislative as well as regulatory efforts aimed at environmental remediation. For instance, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), enacted in 1980 and later modified, enables private parties as well as federal

 

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and state governments to take action with respect to releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances. This federal statute permits the recovery of response costs from some liable parties and may require liable parties to undertake their own remedial action. Liability under CERCLA may be joint and several with other responsible parties.

 

The Company has been, and continues to be, involved in litigation involving insurance coverage issues pertaining to environmental claims. The Company believes that some court decisions have interpreted the insurance coverage to be broader than the original intent of the insurers and policyholders. These decisions often pertain to insurance policies that were issued by the Company prior to the mid-1980s. These decisions continue to be inconsistent and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Environmental claims, when submitted, rarely indicate the monetary amount being sought by the claimant from the policyholder, and the Company does not keep track of the monetary amount being sought in those few claims which indicate a monetary amount.

 

The resolution of environmental exposures by the Company generally occurs through settlements with policyholders as opposed to claimants.  Generally, the Company strives to extinguish any obligations it may have under any policy issued to the policyholder for past, present and future environmental liabilities and extinguish any pending coverage litigation dispute with the policyholder.  This form of settlement is commonly referred to as a “buy-back” of policies for future environmental liability. In addition, many of the agreements have also extinguished any insurance obligation which the Company may have for other claims, including but not limited to asbestos and other cumulative injury claims.  The Company and its policyholders may also agree to settlements which extinguish any liability arising from known specified sites or claims.  Where appropriate, these agreements also include indemnities and hold harmless provisions to protect the Company.  The Company’s general purpose in executing these agreements is to reduce the Company’s potential environmental exposure and eliminate the risks presented by coverage litigation with the policyholder and related costs.

 

In establishing environmental reserves, the Company evaluates the exposure presented by each policyholder and the anticipated cost of resolution, if any. In the course of this analysis, the Company generally considers the probable liability, available coverage and relevant judicial interpretations.  In addition, the Company considers the many variables presented, such as: the nature of the alleged activities of the policyholder at each site; the number of sites; the total number of potentially responsible parties at each site; the nature of the alleged environmental harm and the corresponding remedy at each site; the nature of government enforcement activities at each site; the ownership and general use of each site; the overall nature of the insurance relationship between the Company and the policyholder, including the role of any umbrella or excess insurance the Company has issued to the policyholder; the involvement of other insurers; the potential for other available coverage, including the number of years of coverage; the role, if any, of non-environmental claims or potential non-environmental claims in any resolution process; and the applicable law in each jurisdiction.  The evaluation of the exposure presented by a policyholder can change as information concerning that policyholder and the many variables presented is developed.  Conventional actuarial methods are not used to estimate these reserves.

 

In its review of environmental reserves, the Company considers: past settlement payments; changing judicial and legislative trends; its reserves for the costs of litigating environmental coverage matters; the potential for policyholders with smaller exposures to be named in new clean-up actions for both on- and off-site waste disposal activities; the potential for adverse development; the potential for additional new claims beyond previous expectations; and the potential higher costs for new settlements.

 

The duration of the Company’s investigation and review of these claims and the extent of time necessary to determine an appropriate estimate, if any, of the value of the claim to the Company vary significantly and are dependent upon a number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the cooperation of the policyholder in providing claim information, the pace of underlying litigation or claim processes, the pace of coverage litigation between the policyholder and the Company and the willingness of the policyholder and the Company to negotiate, if appropriate, a resolution of any dispute pertaining to these claims. Because these factors vary from claim-to-claim and policyholder-by-policyholder, the Company cannot provide a meaningful average of the duration of an environmental claim. However, based upon the Company’s experience in resolving these claims, the duration may vary from months to several years.

 

The Company continues to receive notices from policyholders tendering claims for the first time, frequently under policies issued prior to the mid-1980s.  These policyholders continue to present smaller exposures, have fewer sites and are lower tier defendants.  Further, in many instances, clean-up costs have been reduced because regulatory agencies are willing to accept

 

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risk-based site analyses and more efficient clean-up technologies.  Over the past several years, the Company has experienced generally favorable trends in the number of new policyholders tendering environmental claims for the first time and in the number of pending declaratory judgment actions relating to environmental matters.  However, the degree to which those favorable trends have continued has been less than anticipated.  In addition, reserve development on existing environmental claims has been greater than anticipated.

 

Net environmental paid loss and loss expenses in the first quarters of both 2016 and 2015 were $10 million.  At March 31, 2016, approximately 92% of the net environmental reserve (approximately $325 million) was carried in a bulk reserve and included unresolved environmental claims, incurred but not reported environmental claims and the anticipated cost of coverage litigation disputes relating to these claims. The bulk reserve the Company carries is established and adjusted based upon the aggregate volume of in-process environmental claims and the Company’s experience in resolving those claims. The balance, approximately 8% of the net environmental reserve (approximately $27 million), consists of case reserves.

 

The following table displays activity for environmental losses and loss expenses and reserves:

 

(at and for the three months ended March 31, in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Beginning reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

$

375

 

$

353

 

Ceded

 

(14

)

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

361

 

346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incurred losses and loss expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

Ceded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid loss and loss expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

10

 

11

 

Ceded

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

10

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange and other:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

1

 

(1

)

Ceded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

1

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

366

 

341

 

Ceded

 

(14

)

(6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

$

352

 

$

335

 

 

UNCERTAINTY REGARDING ADEQUACY OF ASBESTOS AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESERVES

 

As a result of the processes and procedures discussed above, management believes that the reserves carried for asbestos and environmental claims are appropriately established based upon known facts, current law and management’s judgment. However, the uncertainties surrounding the final resolution of these claims continue, and it is difficult to determine the ultimate exposure for asbestos and environmental claims and related litigation. As a result, these reserves are subject to revision as new information becomes available and as claims develop. The continuing uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks and lack of predictability inherent in complex litigation, any impact from the bankruptcy protection sought by various asbestos producers and other asbestos defendants, a further increase or decrease in the cost to resolve, and/or the number of, asbestos and environmental claims beyond that which is anticipated, the emergence of a greater number of asbestos claims than anticipated as a result of extended life expectancies resulting from medical advances and lifestyle improvements, the role of any umbrella or excess policies the Company has issued, the resolution or adjudication of disputes pertaining to the amount of available coverage for asbestos and environmental claims in a manner inconsistent with

 

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the Company’s previous assessment of these claims, the number and outcome of direct actions against the Company, future developments pertaining to the Company’s ability to recover reinsurance for asbestos and environmental claims and the unavailability of other insurance sources potentially available to policyholders, whether through exhaustion of policy limits or through the insolvency of other participating insurers.  In addition, uncertainties arise from the insolvency or bankruptcy of policyholders and other defendants.  It is also not possible to predict changes in the legal, regulatory and legislative environment and their impact on the future development of asbestos and environmental claims.  This environment could be affected by changes in applicable legislation and future court and regulatory decisions and interpretations, including the outcome of legal challenges to legislative and/or judicial reforms establishing medical criteria for the pursuit of asbestos claims.  It is also difficult to predict the ultimate outcome of complex coverage disputes until settlement negotiations near completion and significant legal questions are resolved or, failing settlement, until the dispute is adjudicated. This is particularly the case with policyholders in bankruptcy where negotiations often involve a large number of claimants and other parties and require court approval to be effective. As part of its continuing analysis of asbestos and environmental reserves, the Company continues to study the implications of these and other developments.

 

Because of the uncertainties set forth above, additional liabilities may arise for amounts in excess of the Company’s current reserves.  In addition, the Company’s estimate of claims and claim adjustment expenses may change.  These additional liabilities or increases in estimates, or a range of either, cannot now be reasonably estimated and could result in income statement charges that could be material to the Company’s operating results in future periods.

 

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

 

The Company’s invested assets at March 31, 2016 were $71.68 billion, of which 93% was invested in fixed maturity and short-term investments, 1% in equity securities, 1% in real estate investments and 5% in other investments.  Because the primary purpose of the investment portfolio is to fund future claims payments, the Company employs a conservative investment philosophy.  A significant majority of funds available for investment are deployed in a widely diversified portfolio of high quality, liquid, taxable U.S. government, tax-exempt U.S. municipal and taxable corporate and U.S. agency mortgage-backed bonds.

 

The carrying value of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio at March 31, 2016 was $61.99 billion.  The Company closely monitors the duration of its fixed maturity investments, and investment purchases and sales are executed with the objective of having adequate funds available to satisfy the Company’s insurance and debt obligations.  The weighted average credit quality of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio, both including and excluding U.S. Treasury securities, was “Aa2” at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  Below investment grade securities represented 2.9% and 2.8% of the total fixed maturity investment portfolio at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  The average effective duration of fixed maturities and short-term securities was 4.0 (4.3 excluding short-term securities) at March 31, 2016 and 3.9 (4.2 excluding short-term securities) at December 31, 2015.

 

Obligations of States, Municipalities and Political Subdivisions

 

The Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 included $32.32 billion and $31.41 billion, respectively, of securities which are obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions (collectively referred to as the municipal bond portfolio).  The municipal bond portfolio is diversified across the United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and includes general obligation and revenue bonds issued by states, cities, counties, school districts and similar issuers.  Included in the municipal bond portfolio at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $5.87 billion and $6.06 billion, respectively, of pre-refunded bonds, which are bonds for which states or municipalities have established irrevocable trusts, almost exclusively comprised of U.S. Treasury securities, which were created to satisfy their responsibility for payments of principal and interest.  The irrevocable trusts are verified as to their sufficiency by an independent verification agent of the underwriter, issuer or trustee.  All of the Company’s holdings of securities issued by Puerto Rico and related entities have been pre-refunded and therefore are defeased by U.S. Treasury securities.

 

The Company bases its investment decision on the underlying credit characteristics of the municipal security.  While its municipal bond portfolio includes a number of securities that were enhanced by third-party insurance for the payment of

 

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principal and interest in the event of an issuer default, the Company does not rely on enhanced credit characteristics provided by such third-party insurance as part of its investing decisions.  Of the insured municipal securities in the Company’s investment portfolio at March 31, 2016, approximately 97% were rated at “A3” or above, and approximately 90% were rated at “Aa3” or above, without the benefit of insurance.  The Company believes that a loss of the benefit of insurance would not result in a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity, due to the underlying credit strength of the issuers of the securities, as well as the Company’s ability and intent to hold the securities.  The average credit rating of the underlying issuers of these securities was “Aa2” at March 31, 2016.  The average credit rating of the entire municipal bond portfolio was “Aa1” at March 31, 2016, with and without the enhancement provided by third-party insurance.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities, Collateralized Mortgage Obligations and Pass-Through Securities

 

The Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 included $1.93 billion and $1.98 billion, respectively, of residential mortgage-backed securities, including pass-through-securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), all of which are subject to prepayment risk (either shortening or lengthening of duration).  While prepayment risk for securities and its effect on income cannot be fully controlled, particularly when interest rates move dramatically, the Company’s investment strategy generally favors securities that reduce this risk within expected interest rate ranges.  Included in the totals at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $650 million and $676 million, respectively, of GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC (excluding FHA project loans) and Canadian government guaranteed residential mortgage-backed pass-through securities classified as available for sale.  Also included in those totals were residential CMOs classified as available for sale with a fair value of $1.28 billion and $1.30 billion at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  Approximately 47% and 48% of the Company’s CMO holdings at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, were guaranteed by or fully collateralized by securities issued by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC.  The average credit rating of the $674 million and $683 million of non-guaranteed CMO holdings was “Baa2” at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  The average credit rating of all of the above securities was “Aa3” at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  For further discussion regarding the Company’s investments in residential CMOs, see “Part II—Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Investment Portfolio” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Equity Securities Available for Sale, Real Estate and Short-Term Investments

 

See note 1 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report for further information about these invested asset classes.

 

Other Investments

 

The Company also invests in private equity limited partnerships, hedge funds, and real estate partnerships.  Also included in other investments are non-public common and preferred equities and derivatives.  These asset classes have historically provided a higher return than fixed maturities but are subject to more volatility.  At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the carrying value of the Company’s other investments was $3.47 billion and $3.45 billion, respectively.

 

REINSURANCE RECOVERABLES

 

For a description of the Company’s reinsurance recoverables, refer to “Part II—Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Reinsurance Recoverables” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

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The following table summarizes the composition of the Company’s reinsurance recoverables:

 

(in millions)

 

March 31,
2016

 

December 31,
2015

 

Gross reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses

 

$

3,754

 

$

3,848

 

Allowance for uncollectible reinsurance

 

(151

)

(157

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net reinsurance recoverables

 

3,603

 

3,691

 

Mandatory pools and associations

 

2,011

 

2,015

 

Structured settlements

 

3,189

 

3,204

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total reinsurance recoverables

 

$

8,803

 

$

8,910

 

 

The $88 million decline in net reinsurance recoverables from December 31, 2015 primarily reflected the impacts of cash collections in the first quarter of 2016.

 

OUTLOOK

 

The following discussion provides outlook information for certain key drivers of the Company’s results of operations and capital position.

 

Premiums.  The Company’s earned premiums are a function of net written premium volume.  Net written premiums comprise both renewal business and new business and are recognized as earned premium over the life of the underlying policies. When business renews, the amount of net written premiums associated with that business may increase or decrease (renewal premium change) as a result of increases or decreases in rate and/or insured exposures, which the Company considers as a measure of units of exposure (such as the number and value of vehicles or properties insured).  Net written premiums from both renewal and new business, and therefore earned premiums, are impacted by competitive market conditions as well as general economic conditions, which, particularly in the case of the Business and International Insurance segment, affect audit premium adjustments, policy endorsements and mid-term cancellations.  Property and casualty insurance market conditions are expected to remain competitive.  Net written premiums may also be impacted by the structure of reinsurance programs and related costs, as well as changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

Overall, the Company expects retention levels (the amount of expiring premium that renews, before the impact of renewal premium changes) will remain strong by historical standards.  In the Business and International Insurance segment, the Company expects that domestic renewal premium changes during the remainder of 2016 will remain positive and will be broadly consistent with the levels attained in the first quarter of 2016.  Given the relatively smaller amount of premium that the Company generates from outside the United States and the transactional nature of some of those markets, particularly Lloyd’s, international renewal premium changes during the remainder of 2016 could be somewhat higher, broadly consistent with or somewhat lower than the levels attained in the first quarter of 2016.  In the Bond & Specialty Insurance segment, the Company expects that renewal premium changes with respect to management liability business during the remainder of 2016 will remain positive, but will be slightly lower than the levels attained in the first quarter of 2016.  With respect to surety business within the Bond & Specialty Insurance segment, the Company expects that net written premium volume during the remainder of 2016 will be slightly higher than the levels attained in the same period of 2015. In the Personal Insurance segment, the Company expects that Agency Auto renewal premium changes during the remainder of 2016 will remain positive and will be slightly higher than the levels attained in the first quarter of 2016, and Agency Homeowners and Other renewal premium changes during the remainder of 2016 will remain positive, but will be slightly lower than the levels attained in the first quarter of 2016.  The need for state regulatory approval for changes to personal property and casualty insurance prices, as well as competitive market conditions, may impact the timing and extent of renewal premium changes.

 

Property and casualty insurance market conditions are expected to remain competitive during the remainder of 2016 for new business, not only in Business and International Insurance and Bond & Specialty Insurance, but especially in Personal Insurance, where price comparison technology used by agents and brokers, sometimes referred to as “comparative raters,” has facilitated the process of generating multiple quotes, thereby increasing price comparison on new business and, increasingly, on renewal business.  The Company expects that its Quantum Auto 2.0 product in the Personal Insurance segment’s Agency Automobile line of business will continue to generate increased levels of new business premiums during the remainder of

 

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2016 compared with the levels attained in the same period of 2015, although at a lower rate of increase than in recent periods.  The Company also expects that, as a result of strong business retentions and increases in new business, policies in force in the Personal Insurance segment’s Agency Automobile line of business will continue to increase during the remainder of 2016 compared with the number of policies in force at December 31, 2015.  Policies in force in the Personal Insurance segment’s Homeowners and Other line of business are also expected to increase during the remainder of 2016 compared with the number of policies in force at December 31, 2015.  In each of the Company’s business segments, new business generally has less of an impact on underwriting profitability than renewal business, given the volume of new business relative to renewal business.  However, in periods of meaningful increases in new business, despite its positive impact on underwriting gains over time, the impact of higher new business levels may negatively impact the combined ratio in the short-term.

 

General uncertainty regarding a variety of domestic and international matters, such as the U.S. Federal budget and taxes, implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the political and regulatory environment, geopolitical instability, the United Kingdom’s possible withdrawal from the European Union, slow growth and economic uncertainty in the United States and in various parts of the world, rapid changes in commodity prices, such as in oil, and fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, has added to the uncertainty regarding economic conditions generally.  If economic conditions deteriorate, the resulting low levels of economic activity could impact exposure changes at renewal and the Company’s ability to write business at acceptable rates.  Additionally, low levels of economic activity could adversely impact audit premium adjustments, policy endorsements and mid-term cancellations after policies are written.  All of the foregoing, in turn, could adversely impact net written premiums in the remainder of 2016, and because earned premiums are a function of net written premiums, earned premiums could be adversely impacted on a lagging basis.

 

Underwriting Gain/Loss.  The Company’s underwriting gain/loss can be significantly impacted by catastrophe losses and net favorable or unfavorable prior year reserve development, as well as underlying underwriting margins.

 

Catastrophe and other weather-related losses are inherently unpredictable from period to period.  The Company experienced significant catastrophe and other weather-related losses in a number of periods during the past decade, which adversely impacted its results of operations.  The Company’s results of operations could be adversely impacted if significant catastrophe and other weather-related losses were to occur.

 

For a number of years, the Company’s results have included significant amounts of net favorable prior year reserve development driven by better than expected loss experience in all of the Company’s segments.  However, given the inherent uncertainty in estimating claims and claim adjustment expense reserves, loss experience could develop such that the Company recognizes higher or lower levels of favorable prior year reserve development, no favorable prior year reserve development or unfavorable prior year reserve development in future periods.  In addition, the ongoing review of prior year claims and claim adjustment expense reserves, or other changes in current period circumstances, may result in the Company revising current year loss estimates upward or downward in future periods of the current year.

 

It is possible that the steps taken by the federal government in recent years, particularly by the Federal Reserve, to stabilize financial markets and improve economic conditions could lead to higher inflation than the Company had anticipated, which could in turn lead to an increase in the Company’s loss costs and the need to strengthen claims and claim adjustment expense reserves. These impacts of inflation on loss costs and claims and claim adjustment expense reserves could be more pronounced for those lines of business that are considered “long tail”, such as general liability, as they require a relatively long period of time to finalize and settle claims for a given accident year.  For a further discussion, see “Part I—Item 1A—Risk Factors—If actual claims exceed our claims and claim adjustment expense reserves, or if changes in the estimated level of claims and claim adjustment expense reserves are necessary, our financial results could be materially and adversely affected” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

In Business and International Insurance, the Company expects underlying underwriting margins during the remainder of 2016 will be broadly consistent with those in the same period of 2015.

 

In Bond & Specialty Insurance, the Company expects underlying underwriting margins during the remainder of 2016 will be broadly consistent with those in the same period of 2015.

 

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In Personal Insurance, the Company expects underlying underwriting margins during the remainder of 2016 will be lower than in the same period of 2015.  In Agency Automobile, the Company expects underlying underwriting margins during the remainder of 2016 will be slightly lower than in the same period of 2015, reflecting the impact from the significant levels of new business in recent years.  In Agency Homeowners and Other, the Company expects underlying underwriting margins during the remainder of 2016 will be lower than in the same period of 2015, reflecting higher (and more normalized) levels of loss activity.  Also in Personal Insurance, the Company’s direct to consumer initiative, the distribution channel that the Company launched in 2009, while intended to enhance the Company’s long-term ability to compete successfully in a consumer-driven marketplace, is expected to remain modest with respect to premium volume and remain unprofitable for a number of years as this book of business grows and matures.

 

Investment Portfolio.  The Company expects to continue to focus its investment strategy on maintaining a high-quality investment portfolio and a relatively short average effective duration.  The average effective duration of fixed maturities and short-term securities was 4.0 (4.3 excluding short-term securities) at March 31, 2016.  From time to time, the Company enters into short positions in U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage the duration of its fixed maturity portfolio.  At March 31, 2016, the Company had $400 million notional value of open U.S. Treasury futures contracts.  The Company continually evaluates its investment alternatives and mix.  Currently, the majority of the Company’s investments are comprised of a widely diversified portfolio of high-quality, liquid, taxable U.S. government, tax-exempt U.S. municipal and taxable corporate and U.S. agency mortgage-backed bonds.

 

The Company also invests much smaller amounts in equity securities, real estate, private equity limited partnerships, hedge funds, and real estate partnerships and joint ventures.  These investment classes have the potential for higher returns but also the potential for higher degrees of risk, including less stable rates of return and less liquidity.

 

Net investment income is a material contributor to the Company’s results of operations.  Interest rates remain at very low levels by historical standards.  Based on the current interest rate environment, the Company estimates that the impacts of lower reinvestment yields and a lower level of fixed maturity investments could, during the remainder of 2016, result in approximately $25 million to $30 million of lower after-tax net investment income from that portfolio on a quarterly basis as compared to the corresponding quarters of 2015.  Net investment income from the non-fixed maturity investment portfolio in the first quarter of 2016 was lower than in the same period of 2015.  Given recent levels of market volatility, there is more than the usual uncertainty as to the impact of future market conditions on net investment income from the non-fixed maturity investment portfolio during the remainder of 2016.  If general economic conditions and/or investment market conditions deteriorate during the remainder of 2016, the Company could experience a further reduction in net investment income and/or significant realized investment losses, including impairments.

 

The Company had a net pre-tax unrealized investment gain of $2.50 billion ($1.63 billion after-tax) in its fixed maturity investment portfolio at March 31, 2016.  While the Company does not attempt to predict future interest rate movements, a rising interest rate environment would reduce the market value of fixed maturity investments and, therefore, reduce shareholders’ equity, and a declining interest rate environment would have the opposite effects.

 

For further discussion of the Company’s investment portfolio, see “Investment Portfolio” herein.  For a discussion of the risks to the Company’s business during or following a financial market disruption and risks to the Company’s investment portfolio, see the risk factors entitled “During or following a period of financial market disruption or economic downturn, our business could be materially and adversely affected” and “Our investment portfolio may suffer reduced returns or material realized or unrealized losses” included in “Part I—Item 1A—Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.  For a discussion of the risks to the Company’s investments from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, see the risk factor entitled “We are subject to a number of risks associated with our business outside the United States” included in “Part I—Item 1A—Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report and see “Part II—Item 7A—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk—Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Capital Position. The Company believes it has a strong capital position and, as part of its ongoing efforts to create shareholder value, expects to continue to return capital not needed to support its business operations to its shareholders.  The Company expects that, generally over time, the combination of dividends to common shareholders and common share repurchases will likely not exceed operating income.  In addition, the timing and actual number of shares to be repurchased in the future will depend on a variety of additional factors, including the Company’s financial position, earnings, share price,

 

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catastrophe losses, maintaining capital levels commensurate with the Company’s desired ratings from independent rating agencies, funding of the Company’s qualified pension plan, capital requirements of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, other investment opportunities (including mergers and acquisitions and related financings), market conditions and other factors.  For information regarding the Company’s common share repurchases in 2016, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” herein.  As a result of the Company’s business outside of the United States, primarily in Canada, the United Kingdom (including Lloyd’s), the Republic of Ireland and Brazil, the Company’s capital is also subject to the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.  For example, strengthening of the U.S. dollar in comparison to other currencies could result in a reduction of shareholders’ equity.  For additional discussion of the Company’s foreign exchange market risk exposure, see “Part IIItem 7A—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Many of the statements in this “Outlook” section are forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict and beyond the Company’s control.  Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Further, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them.  See “—Forward Looking Statements.”  For a discussion of potential risks and uncertainties that could impact the Company’s results of operations or financial position, see “Part I—Item 1A—Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report and “Critical Accounting Estimates” herein.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Liquidity is a measure of a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the cash requirements of its business operations and to satisfy general corporate purposes when needed.

 

Operating Company Liquidity.  The liquidity requirements of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are met primarily by funds generated from premiums, fees, income received on investments and investment maturities.  For further discussion of operating company liquidity, see “Part II—Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Holding Company Liquidity.  TRV’s liquidity requirements primarily include shareholder dividends, debt servicing, common share repurchases and, from time to time, contributions to its qualified domestic pension plan.  At March 31, 2016, TRV held total cash and short-term invested assets in the United States aggregating $1.71 billion and having a weighted average maturity of 57 days.  TRV has established a holding company liquidity target equal to its estimated annual pretax interest expense and common shareholder dividends (currently approximately $1.1 billion).  TRV’s holding company liquidity of $1.71 billion at March 31, 2016 exceeded this target and it is the opinion of the Company’s management that these assets are sufficient to meet TRV’s current liquidity requirements.

 

TRV is not dependent on dividends or other forms of repatriation from its foreign operations to support its liquidity needs.  U.S. income taxes have not been recognized on substantially all of the Company’s foreign operations’ undistributed earnings as of March 31, 2016, as such earnings are intended to be permanently reinvested in those operations.  Furthermore, taxes paid to foreign governments on these earnings may be used as credits against the U.S. tax on dividend distributions if such earnings were to be distributed to the holding company.  The amount of undistributed earnings from foreign operations and related taxes on those undistributed earnings were not material to the Company’s financial position or liquidity at March 31, 2016.

 

TRV has a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission that expires in June 2016 which permits it to issue securities from time to time.  The Company intends to file a new shelf registration statement in the second quarter of 2016.  TRV also has a $1.0 billion line of credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions that expires in June 2018.  This line of credit also supports TRV’s $800 million commercial paper program, of which $100 million was outstanding at March 31, 2016.  TRV is not reliant on its commercial paper program to meet its operating cash flow needs.

 

The Company utilized uncollateralized letters of credit issued by major banks with an aggregate limit of approximately $172 million, to provide a portion of the capital needed to support its obligations at Lloyd’s at March 31, 2016.  On April 14, 2016, the Company increased the aggregate limit by approximately $28 million.  If uncollateralized letters of credit are not available at a reasonable price or at all in the future, the Company can collateralize these letters of credit or may have to seek alternative means of supporting its obligations at Lloyd’s, which could include utilizing holding company funds on hand.

 

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On June 20, 2016, the Company’s $400 million, 6.25% senior notes will mature.  The Company may pay this maturing debt through funds generated internally or, depending on market conditions, through funds generated externally.

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 were $850 million and $199 million, respectively.  Cash flows in the first quarter of 2015 reflected a higher level of losses and loss adjustment expenses paid as a result of the Company’s $579 million payment related to the settlement of the Asbestos Direct Action Litigation as described in more detail in note 16 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities were $146 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared with net cash flows provided by investing activities of $474 million in the first quarter of 2015.  The Company’s consolidated total investments at March 31, 2016 increased by $1.21 billion, or 2% over year-end 2015, primarily reflecting the impacts of net cash flows provided by operating activities, an increase in the unrealized appreciation of investments and changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by common share repurchases and dividends paid to shareholders.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash flows used in financing activities in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 were $725 million and $731 million, respectively.  The totals in both periods primarily reflected common share repurchases and dividends paid to shareholders, partially offset by the proceeds from employee stock option exercises.

 

Dividends.  Dividends paid to shareholders were $180 million and $177 million in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of the Company’s common stock will be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s financial position, earnings, capital requirements of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, legal requirements, regulatory constraints and other factors as the board of directors deems relevant.  Dividends will be paid by the Company only if declared by its board of directors out of funds legally available, subject to any other restrictions that may be applicable to the Company.  On April 21, 2016, the Company announced that it increased its regular quarterly dividend from $0.61 per share to $0.67 per share, a 10% increase.  The increased dividend is payable June 30, 2016 to shareholders of record on June 10, 2016.

 

Share Repurchase Authorization.  The Company’s board of directors has approved common share repurchase authorizations under which repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, pursuant to pre-set trading plans meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in private transactions or otherwise.  The authorizations do not have a stated expiration date.  The timing and actual number of shares to be repurchased in the future will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial position, earnings, share price, catastrophe losses, maintaining capital levels commensurate with the Company’s desired ratings from independent rating agencies, funding of the Company’s qualified pension plan, capital requirements of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, other investment opportunities (including mergers and acquisitions and related financings), market conditions and other factors.  During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 5.1 million shares under its share repurchase authorization for a total cost of $550 million.  The average cost per share repurchased was $108.46.  At March 31, 2016, the Company had $2.78 billion of capacity remaining under its share repurchase authorization.

 

Capital Structure.  The following table summarizes the components of the Company’s capital structure at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

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(in millions)

 

March 31,
2016

 

December 31,
2015

 

Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term

 

$

500

 

$

500

 

Long-term

 

5,861

 

5,861

 

Net unamortized fair value adjustments and debt issuance costs

 

(17

)

(17

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total debt

 

6,344

 

6,344

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock and retained earnings, less treasury stock

 

23,752

 

23,755

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

414

 

(157

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

24,166

 

23,598

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capitalization

 

$

30,510

 

$

29,942

 

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of total capitalization excluding net unrealized gain on investments to total capitalization presented in the foregoing table.

 

(dollars in millions)

 

March 31,
2016

 

December 31,
2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capitalization excluding net unrealized gain on investments

 

$

28,751

 

$

28,653

 

Net unrealized gain on investments, net of taxes

 

1,759

 

1,289

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total capitalization

 

$

30,510

 

$

29,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt-to-total capital ratio

 

20.8

%

21.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt-to-total capital ratio excluding net unrealized gain on investments

 

22.1

%

22.1

%

 

The debt-to-total capital ratio excluding net unrealized gain on investments is calculated by dividing (a) debt by (b) total capitalization excluding net unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of taxes.  Net unrealized gains and losses on investments can be significantly impacted by both interest rate movements and other economic factors.  Accordingly, in the opinion of the Company’s management, the debt-to-total capital ratio calculated on this basis provides another useful metric for investors to understand the Company’s financial leverage position.  The Company’s ratio of debt-to-total capital (excluding after-tax net unrealized investment gains) of 22.1% at March 31, 2016 was within the Company’s target range of 15% to 25%.

 

RATINGS

 

Ratings are an important factor in assessing the Company’s competitive position in the insurance industry.  The Company receives ratings from the following major rating agencies: A.M. Best Company (A.M. Best), Fitch Ratings (Fitch), Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) and Standard & Poor’s Corp. (S&P).  There were no rating agency actions taken with respect to the Company since February 11, 2016, the date on which the Company’s 2015 Annual Report was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  For additional discussion of ratings, see “Part I—Item 1—Business—Ratings” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

For a description of the Company’s critical accounting estimates, refer to “Part II—Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.  The Company considers its most significant accounting estimates to be those applied to claims and claim adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance recoverables, investment valuation and impairments, and goodwill and other intangible assets impairments. Except as shown in the table below, there have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2015.

 

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Claims and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves

 

The table below displays the Company’s gross claims and claim adjustment expense reserves by product line.  Additional liabilities may arise for amounts in excess of the current related reserves.  In addition, the Company’s estimate of claims and claim adjustment expenses may change. These additional liabilities or increases in estimates, or a range of either, cannot now be reasonably estimated and could result in income statement charges that could be material to the Company’s operating results in future periods. In particular, a portion of the Company’s gross claims and claim adjustment expense reserves (totaling $2.30 billion at March 31, 2016) are for asbestos and environmental claims and related litigation. While the ongoing review of asbestos and environmental claims and associated liabilities considers the inconsistencies of court decisions as to coverage, plaintiffs’ expanded theories of liability and the risks inherent in complex litigation and other uncertainties, in the opinion of the Company’s management, it is possible that the outcome of the continued uncertainties regarding these claims could result in liability in future periods that differs from current reserves by an amount that could be material to the Company’s future operating results. See the preceding discussion of “Asbestos Claims and Litigation” and “Environmental Claims and Litigation.”

 

Gross claims and claim adjustment expense reserves by product line were as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2016

 

December 31, 2015

 

(in millions)

 

Case

 

IBNR

 

Total

 

Case

 

IBNR

 

Total

 

General liability

 

$

5,472

 

$

7,216

 

$

12,688

 

$

5,588

 

$

7,120

 

$

12,708

 

Commercial property

 

695

 

407

 

1,102

 

715

 

397

 

1,112

 

Commercial multi-peril

 

1,820

 

1,947

 

3,767

 

1,888

 

1,750

 

3,638

 

Commercial automobile

 

2,068

 

1,207

 

3,275

 

2,068

 

1,253

 

3,321

 

Workers’ compensation

 

10,278

 

8,669

 

18,947

 

10,269

 

8,470

 

18,739

 

Fidelity and surety

 

219

 

456

 

675

 

229

 

475

 

704

 

Personal automobile

 

1,726

 

803

 

2,529

 

1,710

 

842

 

2,552

 

Homeowners and personal—other

 

620

 

516

 

1,136

 

601

 

399

 

1,000

 

International and other

 

2,839

 

1,660

 

4,499

 

2,808

 

1,690

 

4,498

 

Property-casualty

 

25,737

 

22,881

 

48,618

 

25,876

 

22,396

 

48,272

 

Accident and health

 

22

 

 

22

 

23

 

 

23

 

Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves

 

$

25,759

 

$

22,881

 

$

48,640

 

$

25,899

 

$

22,396

 

$

48,295

 

 

The $345 million increase in gross claims and claim adjustment expense reserves since December 31, 2015 primarily reflected the impact of catastrophe losses incurred in the first quarter of 2016 and changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by net favorable prior year reserve development.

 

Asbestos and environmental reserves are included in the General liability, Commercial multi-peril and International and other lines in the summary table above.  Asbestos and environmental reserves are discussed separately; see “Asbestos Claims and Litigation”, “Environmental Claims and Litigation” and “Uncertainty Regarding Adequacy of Asbestos and Environmental Reserves” in this report.

 

FUTURE APPLICATION OF ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

See note 1 of notes to the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in this quarterly report and in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report for a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains, and management may make, certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements.  Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements.  These statements include, among other things, the Company’s statements about:

 

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·                  the Company’s outlook and its future results of operations and financial condition (including, among other things, premium volume, premium rates, margins, net and operating income, investment income and performance, loss costs, return on equity and expected current returns and combined ratios);

·                  share repurchase plans;

·                  future pension plan contributions;

·                  the sufficiency of the Company’s asbestos and other reserves;

·                  the impact of emerging claims issues as well as other insurance and non-insurance litigation;

·                  the cost and availability of reinsurance coverage;

·                  catastrophe losses;

·                  the impact of investment, economic (including rapid changes in commodity prices, such as a significant decline in oil and gas prices, as well as fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates) and underwriting market conditions; and

·                  strategic initiatives to improve profitability and competitiveness.

 

The Company cautions investors that such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements.

 

Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

·                  catastrophe losses could materially and adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, its financial position and/or liquidity, and could adversely impact the Company’s ratings, the Company’s ability to raise capital and the availability and cost of reinsurance;

·                  during or following a period of financial market disruption, economic downturn or prolonged period of slow economic growth, the Company’s business could be materially and adversely affected;

·                  if actual claims exceed the Company’s claims and claim adjustment expense reserves, or if changes in the estimated level of claims and claim adjustment expense reserves are necessary, the Company’s financial results could be materially and adversely affected;

·                  the Company’s investment portfolio may suffer reduced or low returns or material realized or unrealized losses;

·                  the Company’s business could be harmed because of its potential exposure to asbestos and environmental claims and related litigation;

·                  the Company is exposed to, and may face adverse developments involving, mass tort claims such as those relating to exposure to potentially harmful products or substances;

·                  the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues on the Company’s business are uncertain;

·                  the intense competition that the Company faces could harm its ability to maintain or increase its business volumes and its profitability;

·                  disruptions to the Company’s relationships with its independent agents and brokers could adversely affect the Company;

·                  the Company may not be able to collect all amounts due to it from reinsurers and reinsurance coverage may not be available to the Company in the future at commercially reasonable rates or at all;

·                  the Company is exposed to credit risk in certain of its business and investment operations including reinsurance or structured settlements, as well as guarantees or indemnifications from third parties;

·                  within the United States, the Company’s businesses are heavily regulated by the states in which it conducts business, including licensing and supervision, and changes in regulation may reduce the Company’s profitability and limit its growth;

·                  changes in federal regulation could impose significant burdens on the Company and otherwise adversely impact the Company’s results;

·                  a downgrade in the Company’s claims-paying and financial strength ratings could adversely impact the Company’s business volumes, adversely impact the Company’s ability to access the capital markets and increase the Company’s borrowing costs;

·                  the inability of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company’s holding company in sufficient amounts would harm the Company’s ability to meet its obligations, pay future shareholder dividends or make future share repurchases;

 

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·                  the Company’s efforts to develop new products or expand in targeted markets may not be successful and may create enhanced risks;

·                  the Company may be adversely affected if its pricing and capital models provide materially different indications than actual results;

·                  the Company’s business success and profitability depend, in part, on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology;

·                  if the Company experiences difficulties with technology, data and network security, including as a result of cyber-attacks, outsourcing relationships, or cloud-based technology, the Company’s ability to conduct its business could be negatively impacted;

·                  the Company is also subject to a number of additional risks associated with its business outside the United States, including foreign currency exchange fluctuations and restrictive regulations, as well as risks associated with the United Kingdom’s possible withdrawal from the European Union;

·                  regulatory changes outside of the United States, including in Canada and the European Union, could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and limit its growth;

·                  loss of or significant restrictions on the use of particular types of underwriting criteria, such as credit scoring, or other data or methodologies, in the pricing and underwriting of the Company’s products could reduce the Company’s future profitability;

·                  acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses may result in operating difficulties and other unintended consequences;

·                  the Company could be adversely affected if its controls designed to ensure compliance with guidelines, policies and legal and regulatory standards are not effective;

·                  the Company’s businesses may be adversely affected if it is unable to hire and retain qualified employees;

·                  intellectual property is important to the Company’s business, and the Company may be unable to protect and enforce its own intellectual property or the Company may be subject to claims for infringing the intellectual property of others;

·                  changes to existing accounting standards may adversely impact the Company’s reported results;

·                  changes in U.S. tax laws or in the tax laws of other jurisdictions in which the Company operates could adversely impact the Company; and

·                  the Company’s share repurchase plans depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial position, earnings, share price, catastrophe losses, maintaining capital levels commensurate with the Company’s desired ratings from independent rating agencies, funding of the Company’s qualified pension plan, capital requirements of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, other investment opportunities (including mergers and acquisitions and related financings), market conditions and other factors.

 

The Company’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.  For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see the information under the captions “Part IItem 1A—Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” herein and in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA DISCLOSURE

 

From time to time, the Company may use its website and/or social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, as distribution channels of material company information.  Financial and other important information regarding the Company is routinely accessible through and posted on the Company’s website at http://investor.travelers.com, its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/travelers and its Twitter account (@Travelers) at http://twitter.com/Travelers.  In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about the Company when you enroll your email address by visiting the “Email Notifications” section at http://investor.travelers.com.

 

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

For the Company’s disclosures about market risk, please see “Part II—Item 7A—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  There have been no material changes to the Company’s disclosures about market risk in Part II—Item 7A of the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

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Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2016.  Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2016, the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to accomplish their objectives at the reasonable assurance level.

 

In addition, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

The Company regularly seeks to identify, develop and implement improvements to its technology systems and business processes, some of which may affect its internal control over financial reporting. These changes may include such activities as implementing new, more efficient systems, updating existing systems or platforms, or automating manual processes.  These systems changes are often phased in over multiple periods in order to limit the implementation risk in any one period, and as each change is implemented the Company monitors its effectiveness as part of its internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The information required with respect to this item can be found under “Contingencies” in note 11 of notes to the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in this quarterly report and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

 

Item 1A.  RISK FACTORS

 

For a discussion of the Company’s potential risks or uncertainties, please see “Part IItem 1A—Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  In addition, please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Outlook” and “—Critical Accounting Estimates” herein and in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.  There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Part I—Item 1A of the Company’s 2015 Annual Report.

 

Item 2.   UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The table below sets forth information regarding repurchases by the Company of its common stock during the periods indicated.

 

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ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period Beginning

 

Period Ending

 

Total number of
shares
purchased

 

Average price paid
per share

 

Total number of
shares purchased
as part of
publicly announced
plans or programs

 

Approximate
dollar value of
shares that may
yet be purchased
under the
plans or programs
(in millions)

 

January 1, 2016

 

January 31, 2016

 

720,148

 

$

103.74

 

720,000

 

$

3,259

 

February 1, 2016

 

February 29, 2016

 

3,106,289

 

$

107.23

 

2,565,789

 

$

2,984

 

March 1, 2016

 

March 31, 2016

 

1,785,422

 

$

112.31

 

1,785,422

 

$

2,784

 

Total

 

 

 

5,611,859

 

$

108.40

 

5,071,211

 

$

2,784

 

 

The Company’s board of directors has approved common share repurchase authorizations under which repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, pursuant to pre-set trading plans meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in private transactions or otherwise.  The authorizations do not have a stated expiration date.  The timing and actual number of shares to be repurchased in the future will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial position, earnings, share price, catastrophe losses, maintaining capital levels commensurate with the Company’s desired ratings from independent rating agencies, funding of the Company’s qualified pension plan, capital requirements of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, other investment opportunities (including mergers and acquisitions and related financings), market conditions and other factors.

 

The Company acquired 540,648 shares for a total cost of approximately $59 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that were not part of the publicly announced share repurchase authorization.  These shares consisted of shares retained to cover payroll withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards and shares used by employees to cover the exercise price of certain stock options that were exercised.

 

Item 5.   OTHER INFORMATION

 

Executive Ownership and Sales. All of the Company’s executive officers hold equity in the Company in excess of the required level under the Company’s executive stock ownership policy. For a summary of this policy as currently in effect, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Stock Ownership Guidelines, Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policies, and Other Trading Restrictions” in the Company’s proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2016. From time to time, some of the Company’s executives may determine that it is advisable to diversify their investments for personal financial planning reasons, or may seek liquidity for other reasons, and may sell shares of common stock of the Company in the open market, in private transactions or to the Company. To effect such sales, some of the Company’s executives have entered into, and may in the future enter into, trading plans designed to comply with the Company’s Securities Trading Policy and the provisions of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The trading plans will not reduce any of the executives’ ownership of the Company’s shares below the applicable executive stock ownership guidelines. The Company does not undertake any obligation to report Rule 10b5-1 plans that may be adopted by any employee or director of the Company in the future, or to report any modifications or termination of any publicly announced plan.

 

As of the date of this report, Jay S. Fishman, Executive Chairman of the Board, and Doreen Spadorcia, Vice Chairman, Technology, Claim Services, Operations and Risk Control and Chief Executive Officer, Personal Insurance and Bond & Specialty Insurance, were the only “named executive officers” (i.e., an executive officer named in the compensation disclosures in the Company’s most recent proxy statement) that have entered into Rule 10b5-1 trading plans that remain in effect. Under the Company’s stock ownership guidelines, Mr. Fishman has a target ownership level established as the lesser of 150,000 shares or the equivalent value of 500% of base salary, and Ms. Spadorcia has a target ownership level established as the lesser of 30,000 shares or the equivalent value of 300% of base salary (as such amount is calculated for purposes of the stock ownership guidelines). See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Stock Ownership Guidelines, Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policies, and Other Trading Restrictions” in the Company’s proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 1, 2016.

 

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Item 6.   EXHIBITS

 

See Exhibit Index.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, The Travelers Companies, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC.

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

Date: April 21, 2016

By

/S/ KENNETH F. SPENCE III

 

 

Kenneth F. Spence III
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
(Authorized Signatory)

 

 

 

Date: April 21, 2016

By

/S/ DOUGLAS K. RUSSELL

 

 

Douglas K. Russell
Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (the Company), as amended and restated May 23, 2013, were filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2013, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective as of August 5, 2014, were filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on August 11, 2014, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.1†

 

Letter regarding Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Jay S. Fishman, dated March 28, 2016.

 

 

 

12.1†

 

Statement regarding the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

 

 

 

31.1†

 

Certification of Alan D. Schnitzer, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

31.2†

 

Certification of Jay S. Benet, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.1†

 

Certification of Alan D. Schnitzer, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.2†

 

Certification of Jay S. Benet, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

101.1†

 

The following financial information from The Travelers Companies, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; (ii) Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015; (iv) Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; (v) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 


                          Filed herewith.

 

The total amount of securities authorized pursuant to any instrument defining rights of holders of long-term debt of the Company does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.  Therefore, the Company is not filing any instruments evidencing long-term debt.  However, the Company will furnish copies of any such instrument to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

Copies of any of the exhibits referred to above will be furnished to security holders who make written request therefor to The Travelers Companies, Inc., 385 Washington Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

 

The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose.  In particular, any representations and warranties made by the Company in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs at the date they were made or at any other time.

 

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