Navigators Underwriting Agency Ltd. (“NUAL”) is a Lloyd’s underwriting agency that manages Syndicate 1221. We control 100% of Syndicate 1221’s stamp capacity through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Navigators Corporate Underwriters Ltd. (“NCUL”), which is referred to as a corporate name in the Lloyd’s market. In addition, we have also established underwriting agencies in Antwerp, Belgium; Stockholm, Sweden; and Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as branches of the appointed representative, Navigators Underwriting Ltd. (“NUL”), in the European Economic Area (“EEA”), in Milan, Italy; Rotterdam; The Netherlands, and Paris,
For fixed maturity securities, we consider our intent to sell a security and whether it is more likely than not that, we will be required to sell a security before the anticipated recovery as part of the process of evaluating whether a security’s unrealized loss represents an other-than-temporary decline. For structured securities, we assess whether the amortized cost basis of a fixed maturity security will be recovered by comparing the present value of cash flows expected to be collected to the current book value. Any shortfalls of the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected in relation to the amortized cost basis is considered the credit loss portion of net other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses and is recognized in earnings. All non-credit losses are recognized as changes in OTTI losses within Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”).
Our 2013 pre-tax underwriting profit increased $38.4 million to a $43.9 million underwriting profit for December 31, 2013 compared to $5.5 million for the same period in 2012. The combined ratio for the year ended December 31, 2013 was 94.8%, compared to 99.3% for the year ended December 31, 2011. These increases were driven by strong underwriting results described below.
A favorable IBNR adjustment of $2.6 million attributable to changes in our assumptions for salvage and subrogation from our short tail Marine lines that was based on our observation of a consistent and persistent historical pattern of favorable savings attributable to salvage and subrogation.
Our Lloyd’s Operations reported net income of $25.6 million, $16.6 million and $34.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase in net income for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 was largely attributable to an increase in Other Income primarily due to a one-time $10.1 million pre-tax foreign exchange gain in connection with a change in the functional currency of our Lloyd’s Operations. To a lesser extent, the increase in net income was driven by increased underwriting profits in our Property Casualty business. The decrease in net income for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012 was largely attributable to weaker underwriting results due to only $14.7 million of net prior period reserve redundancies in 2013 compared to $47.2 million in 2012, and to a lesser extent a decrease in net realized gains on investments.
Senior Notes and Credit Facility. On October 4, 2013, we completed a public debt offering of $265 million principal amount of the 5.75% Senior Notes and received net proceeds of $263 million. We used the proceeds of the 5.75% Senior Notes for general corporate purposes including the redemption of our 7.0% Senior Notes. We incurred a charge of $17.9 million for the payment of call premium in connection with the redemption of the 7.0% Senior Notes. The effective interest rate related to the net proceeds received from the 5.75% Senior Notes is approximately 5.86%. Interest is payable on the 5.75% Senior Notes each April 15 and October 15.