Commercial’s combined ratio of 101.1% improved 1.6 points in 2018 as compared with 2017. The loss ratio increased 0.3 points driven by lower favorable net prior year loss reserve development partially offset by lower net catastrophe losses. Excluding the Small Business premium rate adjustments, the expense ratio improved 1.5 points driven by lower employee costs and IT spend.
Over the past five years, crude oil prices have been volatile, reaching a high of $115 per barrel in 2014, but dropping to $55 per barrel by the end of 2014. In 2015, oil prices continued to decline, closing at $37 per barrel at the end of that year, and continuing to fall to a low of $28 per barrel during 2016 before recovering to nearly $57 per barrel by the end of 2016. While the price of crude oil continued to fluctuate in 2017 and 2018, as of the date of this Report, the current spot price for Brent crude was in the $60 per barrel range. As a result of this volatility in commodity price and its uncertain future, the offshore drilling industry has experienced a substantial decline in demand for its services, as well as a significant decline in dayrates for contract drilling services. Although demand and offshore utilization increased during 2018, with industry-wide floater utilization averaging near 60% at the end of 2018 based on analyst reports, dayrates remain low as the increase in oil prices from earlier lows has not yet resulted in significantly higher dayrates. If dayrates increase, offshore drillers with more available floaters and/or unpriced options for currently committed rigs will be better positioned to take advantage of the market recovery as it materializes.
Tendering activity has also increased. During 2018 and continuing into 2019, there was an increase in contract tenders for late 2019 and 2020 project commencements, primarily for work in the North Sea and Australia floater markets. Industry analysts also predict that there will be additional opportunities in the West Africa market in the near term. Reflective of the uncertainty in the market, many of these tenders have been limited to single-well jobs, with options for future wells. Although some geographic areas appear to be improving, other markets show little or no sign of recovery at this time.
The following table summarizes the results of operations for Diamond Offshore for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 as presented in Note 20 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8:
Net results improved $159 million in 2017 as compared with 2016, primarily due to a lower aggregate impairment charge recognized in 2017 of $100 million ($32 million after taxes and noncontrolling interests) as compared with $680 million ($267 million after taxes and noncontrolling interests) in 2016 and reduced depreciation expense, primarily due to a lower depreciable asset base as a result of asset impairments recognized in 2016 and 2017. In addition, results reflect a net reduction in rig operating results and an increase in interest expense due to a loss of $35 million ($11 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to the redemption of debt in 2017 and a reduction in interest capitalized during 2017 due to the completion of construction projects in 2016.
debt and equity securities. We are not responsible for the liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries and there are no Parent Company guarantees.
The investment portfolio is periodically analyzed for changes in duration and related price risk. Additionally, CNA periodically reviews the sensitivity of the portfolio to the level of foreign exchange rates and other factors that contribute to market price changes. A summary of these risks and specific analysis on changes is included in the Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk included under
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Loews Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
Securities lending activities - The Company lends securities for the purpose of enhancing income or to finance positions to unrelated parties who have been designated as primary dealers by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Borrowers of these securities must deposit and maintain collateral with the Company of no less than 100% of the fair value of the securities loaned. United States of America (“U.S.”) Government securities and cash are accepted as collateral. The Company maintains effective control over loaned securities and, therefore, continues to report such securities as investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Structured settlements have been negotiated for certain property and casualty insurance claims. Structured settlements are agreements to provide fixed periodic payments to claimants. CNA’s obligations for structured settlements not funded by annuities are included in claim and claim adjustment expense reserves and carried at present values determined using interest rates ranging from 5.5% to 8.0% as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the discounted reserves for unfunded structured settlements were $512 million and $527 million, net of discount of $760 million and $798 million. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the amount of interest recognized on the discounted reserves of unfunded structured settlements was $40 million, $41 million and $42 million. This interest accretion is presented as a component of Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits on the Consolidated Statements of Income but is excluded from the disclosure of prior year loss reserve development.
Property, plant and equipment - Property, plant and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of properties. Leaseholds and leasehold improvements are depreciated or amortized over the terms of the related leases (including optional renewal periods, where appropriate) or the estimated lives of improvements, if less than the lease term.
In June of 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The updated accounting guidance requires changes to the recognition of credit losses on financial instruments not accounted for at fair value through net income. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The guidance will be applied using the modified retrospective method with a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings. A prospective transition method is required for debt securities that have recognized an other-than-temporary impairment prior to the effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and expects the primary changes to be the use of the expected credit loss model for the mortgage loan portfolio, reinsurance and insurance receivables and other financing receivables and the use of the allowance method rather than the write-down method for credit losses within the available-for-sale fixed maturities portfolio. The expected credit loss model will require a financial asset to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Under the allowance method for available-for-sale debt securities the Company will record reversals of credit losses if the estimate of credit losses declines.
The carrying value of limited partnerships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 was approximately $2.4 billion and $3.3 billion, which includes net undistributed earnings of $208 million and $903 million. Limited partnerships comprising 67.6% of the total carrying value are reported on a current basis through December 31, 2018 with no reporting lag, 11.4% of the total carrying value are reported on a one month lag and the remainder are reported on more than a one month lag. The number of limited partnerships held and the strategies employed provide diversification to the limited partnership portfolio and the overall invested asset portfolio.
The increase in the goodwill balance as of December 31, 2017 primarily reflects the acquisition of Consolidated Container in 2017. The increase as of December 31, 2018 reflects the acquisitions made by Consolidated Container in 2018. See Note 2 for further discussion on these acquisitions.
Changes in estimates of claim and claim adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance, for prior years are defined as net prior year loss reserve development (“development”). These changes can be favorable or unfavorable.
The information in the tables is reported on a net basis after reinsurance and does not include the effects of discounting. The information contained in calendar years 2017 and prior is unaudited. To the extent CNA enters into a commutation, the transaction is reported on a prospective basis. To the extent that CNA enters into a disposition, the effects of the disposition are reported on a retrospective basis by removing the balances associated with it.
CNA has a five-year $250 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks which may be used for general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2018, CNA had no outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement and was in compliance with all covenants.
There are no restrictions on the Company’s retained earnings or net income with regard to payment of dividends. However, as a holding company, Loews Corporation relies upon invested cash balances and distributions from its subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to declare and pay any dividends to holders of its common stock. The ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to pay dividends is subject to, among other things, the availability of sufficient earnings and funds in such subsidiaries, compliance with covenants in their respective credit agreements and applicable state laws, including in the case of the insurance subsidiaries of CNA, laws and rules governing the payment of dividends by regulated insurance companies. See Note 14 for a discussion of the regulatory restrictions on CNA’s availability to pay dividends.
Stock-based Compensation - In 2016, shareholders approved the Loews Corporation 2016 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2016 Loews Plan”) which replaced a previously existing plan. The aggregate number of shares of Loews common stock authorized under the 2016 Loews Plan is 6,000,000 shares, plus up to 3,000,000 shares that may be forfeited under the prior plan. The maximum number of shares of Loews common stock with respect to which awards may be granted to any individual in any calendar year is 500,000 shares. In accordance with the 2016 Loews Plan and the prior plan, the Company’s stock-based compensation consists of the following:
(b) Prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method of adoption of ASU 2014-09 or under the adoption of ASU 2016-01. See Note 1 for more information on these accounting standards.
CNA also provided guarantees, if the primary obligor fails to perform, to holders of structured settlement annuities provided by a previously owned subsidiary. As of December 31, 2018, the potential amount of future payments CNA could be required to pay under these guarantees was approximately $1.8 billion, which will be paid over the lifetime of the annuitants. CNA does not believe any payment is likely under these guarantees, as CNA is the beneficiary of a trust that must be maintained at a level that approximates the discounted reserves for these annuities.