Trenwick's offices in Stamford, Connecticut are occupied pursuant to a lease covering approximately 27,000 square feet of office space located at Metro Center, One Station Place. This lease terminates in 1998, and upon its termination Trenwick will relocate its offices to approximately 46,000 square feet of space located at One Canterbury Green, Stamford, Connecticut. Trenwick has entered into a ten-year lease for the new space.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 1997................................32
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of income, of changes in stockholders' equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Trenwick Group Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the responsibility of the company's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
The trust was formed for the sole purpose of issuing the capital securities and the common securities, investing the proceeds thereof in the junior subordinated debentures and making distributions to the holders of the capital securities. The capital securities mature on February 1, 2037; require preferential cumulative cash distributions at an annual rate of 8.82%, payable semiannually on February 1 and August 1 (beginning August 1, 1997) from the payment of interest on the junior subordinated debentures; and are guaranteed by Trenwick, within certain limits, as to the payment of distributions and liquidation or redemption payments. They are subject to mandatory redemption, (i) in whole but not in part at maturity, upon repayment of the junior subordinated debentures, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest; (ii) in whole but not in part at any time, contemporaneously with the optional prepayment of the junior subordinated debentures upon the occurrence and continuation of certain events, at a redemption price equal to the greater of the principal amount or the present value of principal and interest payable to February 1, 2007, plus accrued and unpaid interest and possible additional sums; and (iii) in whole or in part, after February 1, 2007, contemporaneously with the optional prepayment of the junior subordinated debentures, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and possible additional sums. Upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debentures, the capital securities shall have a preference over the common securities. Upon the occurrence of an event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debentures which is attributable to Trenwick's failure to make required payments or with respect to Trenwick's guarantee, the holders of the capital securities may institute a direct action against Trenwick.
Trenwick's reinsurance subsidiary, Trenwick America Re, is domiciled in and subject to the insurance statutes of Connecticut.
During 1997, 1996 and 1995, Trenwick America Re paid dividends of $8,250,000, $4,100,000 and $9,500,000, respectively. The statutory limitation on dividends which can be paid without prior approval of the Connecticut Insurance Commissioner, applicable to Trenwick America Re, is the greater of 10% of policyholder surplus at December 31 of the preceding year or 100% of net income, not including realized capital gains, for the twelve month period ending December 31 of the preceding year, both determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices. For the purpose of computing the limitation, carryforward provisions apply with respect to net income realized in the two previous calendar years
Summarized unaudited quarterly financial data reported by Trenwick for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 are as follows: