The following is a discussion and analysis of our results of operations for 2013, compared to 2012, and 2012, compared to 2011, respectively. The following also includes a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources at December 31, 2013. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this filing. This filing contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results described or implied by these forward-looking statements. See “Note on Forward-Looking Statements.”
expenses, costs for research and development, and other miscellaneous costs, including those associated with operating as a publicly traded company; (5) redeemable noncontrolling interest, which represents the interest of third parties with respect to the net income (loss) of DaVinciRe and Medici; and (6) interest and dividend costs related to our debt and preference shares. We are also subject to taxes in certain jurisdictions in which we operate. Since the majority of our income is currently earned in Bermuda, which does not have a corporate income tax, the tax impact to our operations has historically been minimal, however, in the future, our net tax exposure may increase as our operations expand geographically.
Our processes and methodologies in respect of loss estimation for the coverages we offer through our specialty reinsurance operation differ from those used for our property catastrophe-oriented coverages. For example, our specialty reinsurance coverages are more likely to be impacted by factors such as long-term inflation and changes in the social and legal environment, which we believe gives rise to greater uncertainty in our claims reserves. Moreover, in reserving for our specialty reinsurance coverages we do not have the benefit of a significant amount of our own historical experience in certain lines of business and may have little or no related corporate reserving history in new lines of business. We believe this makes our Specialty Reinsurance segment reserving subject to greater uncertainty than our Catastrophe Reinsurance segment.
reported claims for catastrophe losses within our Lloyd’s segment’s property catastrophe reinsurance book of business, partially offset by $1.3 million of adverse development related to actuarial assumption changes.
The table below shows the impact on our ultimate claims and claim expenses, net income and shareholders’ equity as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013 of reasonably likely changes to our estimates of ultimate losses for claims and claim expenses incurred from catastrophic events associated with property catastrophe reinsurance business within our Lloyd’s segment. The reasonably likely changes are based on a historical analysis of the period-to-period variability of our ultimate costs to settle claims from catastrophic events, giving due consideration to changes in our reserving practices over time. In general, our claim reserves for our more recent catastrophic events are subject to greater uncertainty and, therefore, greater variability and are likely to experience material changes from one period to the next. This is due to the uncertainty as to the size of the industry losses from the event, uncertainty as to which contracts have been exposed to the catastrophic event, and uncertainty as to the magnitude of claims incurred by our clients. As our claims age, more information becomes available and we believe our estimates become more certain, although there is no assurance this trend will continue in the future. As a result, the sensitivity analysis below is based on the age of each accident year, our current estimated ultimate claims and claim expenses for the catastrophic events occurring in each accident year, and the reasonably likely variability of our current estimates of claims and claim expenses by accident year.
The majority of the balance we have accrued as recoverable will not be due for collection until some point in the future. The amounts recoverable ultimately collected are open to uncertainty due to the ultimate ability and willingness of reinsurers to pay our claims, for reasons including insolvency and elective run-off, contractual dispute and various other reasons. In addition, because the majority of the balances recoverable will not be collected for some time, economic conditions as well as the financial and operational performance of a particular reinsurer may change, and these changes may affect the reinsurer’s willingness and ability to meet their contractual obligations to us. To reflect these uncertainties, we estimate and record a valuation allowance for potential uncollectible reinsurance recoverable which reduces reinsurance recoverable and net income (loss).
In addition, the net positive impact on the Catastrophe Reinsurance segment‘s underwriting results from our review of Storm Sandy during the fourth quarter of 2013 was $32.8 million, or 6.8 percentage points on the combined ratio, as detailed in the table below.
See the financial data below for additional information detailing the net negative impact of Hurricane Isaac and Storm Sandy on our Catastrophe Reinsurance segment in 2012.
catastrophe loss activity, such as 2013 and 2012, we have the potential to produce a low level of losses and a related increase in underwriting income. As described herein, we believe there is likely to be an increase in the severity, and possibly the frequency, of weather related natural disasters and catastrophes relative to the historical experience over the past 100 years, including the frequency and severity of hurricanes that have the potential to make landfall in the U.S., potentially as a result of decadal ocean water temperature cyclical trends, changes in expected sea levels and a longer-term trend towards global warming.
Our net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests was $148.0 million in 2012, compared to a net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of $33.2 million in 2011. The $181.2 million change is primarily due to increased profits at DaVinciRe as a result of significantly lower insured losses in respect of large events and improved investment results, partially offset by a decrease in our noncontrolling economic ownership percentage in DaVinciRe from 42.8% at December 31, 2011 to 30.8% at December 31, 2012.
The Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants customary for bank loan facilities of this type. In addition to customary covenants which limit RenaissanceRe and its subsidiaries’ ability to merge, consolidate, enter into negative pledge agreements, sell a substantial amount of assets, incur liens and declare or pay dividends under certain circumstances, the Credit Agreement also contains certain financial covenants. These financial covenants generally provide that consolidated debt to capital shall not exceed the ratio of 0.35:1 and that for the year ending December 31, 2014, the consolidated net worth of RenaissanceRe and Renaissance Reinsurance shall equal or exceed approximately $2.3 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively (the “Net Worth Requirements”). The Net Worth Requirements are recalculated effective as of the end of each fiscal year, all as more fully set forth in the Credit Agreement. The commitments under the Credit Agreement expire on May 17, 2015.
“eligible reinsurer” in the state of Florida. Therefore they are each authorized to provide reduced collateral equal to 20% of their net outstanding insurance liabilities to Florida-domiciled insurers. Each of Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci has established a multi-beneficiary reduced collateral reinsurance trust (“RCT”) to collateralize its (re)insurance liabilities associated with Florida-domiciled cedants. Because the RTCs were established in New York, they are subject to the rules and regulations of the state of New York including but not limited to certain minimum capital funding requirements, investment guidelines, capital distribution restrictions and regulatory reporting requirements. Assets held under trust at December 31, 2013 with respect to the RCTs totaled $21.1 million and $18.6 million for Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, respectively, compared to the minimum amount required under U.S. state regulations of $16.3 million and $10.2 million, respectively.
The duration of our fixed maturity investments and short term investments at December 31, 2013 was 2.1 years (2012 - 2.2 years). From time to time, we may reevaluate the duration of our portfolio in light of the duration of our liabilities and market conditions.
In circumstances where there is a reporting lag between the current period end reporting date and the reporting date of the latest fund valuation, we estimate the fair value of these funds by starting with the prior month or quarter-end fund valuations, adjusting these valuations for actual capital calls, redemptions or distributions, as well as the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and then estimating the return for the current period. In circumstances in which we estimate the return for the current period, all information available to us is utilized. This principally includes preliminary estimates reported to us by our fund managers, obtaining the valuation of underlying portfolio investments where such underlying investments are publicly traded and therefore have a readily observable price, using information that is available to us with respect to the underlying investments, reviewing various indices for similar investments or asset classes, as well as estimating returns based on the results of similar types of investments for which we have obtained reported results, or other valuation methods, where possible. Actual final fund valuations may differ, perhaps materially so, from our estimates and these differences are recorded in our statement of operations in the period in which they are reported to us as a change in estimate. Included in net investment income for 2013 is a loss of $3.7 million (2012 - loss of $4.7 million) representing the change in estimate during the period related to the difference between our estimated net investment income due to the lag in reporting discussed above and the actual amount as reported in the final net asset values provided by our fund managers.
In addition, we continue to explore potential strategic transactions or investments, and other opportunities, from time to time that are presented to us or that we originate. In evaluating these potential investments and opportunities, we seek to improve the portfolio optimization of our business as a whole, to enhance our strategy, to achieve an attractive estimated return on equity in respect of investments, to develop or capitalize on a competitive advantage, and to source business opportunities that will not detract from our core operations. Our efforts to explore strategic transactions may not result in positive gains, or may not yield material contributions to our financial results or book value growth over time. Alternatively, strategic investments in which we engage to improve the optimization of our business, focus our operations on core or scalable business, or position us for future opportunities, may fail to be successfully executed, pose more operational risk than we estimate or otherwise not yield the financial or strategic benefits we seek. Should we pursue or consummate a strategic transaction, we may mis-value the acquired company or operations, fail to integrate the acquired operation appropriately into our own franchise, expend unforeseen costs during the acquisition or integration process, or encounter unanticipated risks or challenges.