Net income for 2017 includes a significant net benefit of $200 million, or $0.59 per share, resulting from the enactment on December 22, 2017 of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, (the “Tax Act”). The net benefit primarily relates to the remeasurement of Loews’s net deferred tax liability precipitated by the lowering of the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Excluding the impact of the Tax Act, net income for 2017 would have been $964 million. For additional details on the Tax Act, see the subsidiary discussions below.
Core income increased $16 million in 2016 as compared with 2015. The increase in core income was primarily due to higher favorable net prior year reserve development and net investment income, partially offset by an increase in the current accident year loss ratio and higher underwriting expenses. Net catastrophe losses were $111 million (after tax) in 2016 as compared to catastrophe losses of $95 million (after tax) in 2015.
Core loss decreased $293 million in 2016 as compared to 2015. In 2015, CNA recognized a $198 million (after-tax) charge relating to a premium deficiency and claim reserve strengthening in its long term care business. The December 31, 2015 Gross Premium Valuation (“GPV”) indicated a premium deficiency of $296 million. The indicated premium deficiency necessitated a charge to income that was effected by the write off of the entire long term care deferred acquisition cost of $289 million and an increase to active life reserves of $7 million. Due to the recognition of the premium deficiency and resetting of actuarial assumptions in the fourth quarter of 2015, the operating results of CNA’s long term care business in 2016 reflect the variance between actual experience and the expected results contemplated in its best estimate reserves.
Core income in 2016 and 2015 was also negatively affected by $83 million and $55 million (after tax) charges related to the application of retroactive reinsurance accounting to adverse reserve development ceded under the 2010 A&EP loss portfolio transfer, as further discussed in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8.
Oil prices have partially rebounded from the historical 12-year low of less than $30 per barrel in January of 2016 to the upper $60s per barrel range at the end of January of 2018. The increase in commodity price is in part due to the shutdown of a major North Sea pipeline in December of 2017, which led to production shutdowns at several offshore fields, and production cuts by certain members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and others that went into effect in 2017 to reduce the oversupply of oil and raise and potentially stabilize oil prices. However, the increase in oil prices has not yet resulted in a measurable increase in demand for offshore contract drilling services or higher dayrates as capital spending for offshore exploration and development remains at a relatively low level at the start of 2018. As a consequence, the offshore contract drilling industry remains weak.
Parent Company cash and investments, net of receivables and payables, at December 31, 2017 totaled $4.9 billion, as compared to $5.0 billion at December 31, 2016. In 2017, we received $804 million in dividends from our subsidiaries, including a special dividend from CNA of $485 million. Cash outflows included the payment of $620 million to fund the acquisition of Consolidated Container, which was in addition to approximately $600 million of debt financing proceeds at the subsidiary level as discussed in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8. In addition, cash outflows included the payment of $84 million of cash dividends to our shareholders and $216 million to fund treasury stock purchases. As a holding company we depend on dividends from our subsidiaries and returns on our investment portfolio to fund our obligations. We are not responsible for the liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries and there are no Parent Company guarantees.
For 2018, Diamond Offshore has budgeted approximately $220 million for capital expenditures. Diamond Offshore has no other purchase obligations for major rig upgrades at December 31, 2017.
CNA applies the same impairment model as described above for the majority of its non-redeemable preferred stock securities on the basis that these securities possess characteristics similar to debt securities. For all other equity securities, in determining whether the security is other-than-temporarily impaired, CNA considers a number of factors including, but not limited to: (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost, (ii) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, (iii) the intent and ability of CNA to
Securities with carrying values of approximately $2.6 billion and $2.3 billion were deposited by CNA’s insurance subsidiaries under requirements of regulatory authorities and others as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Capitalized interest related to the construction and upgrade of qualifying assets amounted to approximately $37 million, $51 million and $36 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
(a) Total net incurred above does not agree to Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income due to amounts related to retroactive reinsurance deferred gain accounting, uncollectible reinsurance and loss deductible receivables and benefit expenses related to future policy benefits, which are not reflected in the table above.
In 2016, the $20 million in reductions for tax positions related to a prior year, is primarily from the devaluation of the Egyptian pound. At December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, $102 million, $36 million and $49 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to Diamond Offshore would affect the effective tax rate if recognized.
Boardwalk Pipeline has a subordinated loan agreement with a subsidiary of the Company under which it can borrow up to $300 million until December 31, 2018. Boardwalk Pipeline had no outstanding borrowings under the subordinated loan agreement.