Transatlantic Holdings (TRH)

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United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

For the Transition Period From           to          

Commission File Number 1-10545

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(212) 365-2200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of March 31, 2011. 62,475,513.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

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Part I — Item 1

TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”, and collectively with its subsidiaries, “TRH”) for the year ended December 31, 2010.

In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements contain the normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results presented herein.  All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures.  TRH relies on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable, under the circumstances, to make judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

TRH believes its most critical accounting estimates are those with respect to loss reserves, fair value measurements of certain financial assets, other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) of investments and premium revenues, as they require management’s most significant exercise of judgment on both a quantitative and qualitative basis in the preparation of TRH’s condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes.  The accounting estimates that result require the use of assumptions about certain matters that are highly uncertain at the time of estimation.  To the extent actual experience differs from the assumptions used, TRH’s results of operations and financial condition would be affected, possibly materially.

Subsequent events through the time of filing of this Form 10-Q were evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

Certain reclassifications and format changes have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation.

Correction of Amortized Cost or Cost of Certain Fixed Maturities and Equities Denominated in Functional Currencies

The below error and related corrections did not have a material effect on the current or any prior period and thus, prior period financial statements have not been restated.

In the first quarter of 2010, it was determined that as of December 31, 2009 the amortized cost of fixed maturities and cost of equities available for sale that were denominated in functional currencies were incorrectly translated into the reporting currency (i.e., U.S. dollars) using historical, rather than period-end, foreign currency exchange rates.  This practice, which began in the third quarter of 2009, resulted in an understatement of amortized cost or cost of such investments of $98.1 million ($80.1 million relating to fixed maturities and $18.0 million relating to equities) as of December 31, 2009.  Thus, net unrealized appreciation of investments, net of tax, (a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) on the Balance Sheet) was overstated by $63.7 million as of December 31, 2009 with an equal and offsetting overstatement of net unrealized currency translation loss, net of tax (also a component of AOCI).  The related components of other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) were similarly affected, with no net effect on OCI. The error discussed above had no net effect on AOCI, stockholders’ equity, net income, comprehensive income or cash flows for the full-year 2009 or any of its quarters.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)

For all interim and annual periods subsequent to December 31, 2009, the amortized cost of fixed maturities and cost of equities available for sale that are denominated in functional currencies were properly translated into the reporting currency using period-end foreign currency exchange rates. However, as the correction of the treatment discussed earlier occurred in the first quarter of 2010, both net unrealized depreciation of investments, net of tax, and net unrealized currency translation gain, net of tax, in the Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 include $63.7 million related to this correction, with no net effect on OCI. In addition, this correction had no net impact on AOCI and stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2010 nor did it have any net impact on net income, comprehensive income or cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

(a) Adoption of new accounting guidance on disclosures about fair value measurements (Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-06)

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance requires the amounts and reasons for significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 to be discussed. In addition, a greater level of disaggregation of asset and liability classes is required in fair value measurement disclosures. For fair value measurements that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3, a reporting entity should provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. TRH adopted this portion of the guidance in the first quarter of 2010.  The adoption of this guidance had no effect on TRH’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In addition, for activity within Level 3, this guidance requires that purchases, sales, issuances and settlements be presented separately rather than as one net amount. TRH adopted this portion of the guidance prospectively in the first quarter of 2011.  The adoption of this guidance had no effect on TRH’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

(b) Future Application of Accounting Standard

In October 2010, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts (ASU 2010-26). This guidance specifies that incremental direct costs of contract acquisition and certain costs directly related to certain acquisition activities performed by the insurer for the contract should be capitalized. All other acquisition-related costs should be charged to expense as incurred.

For TRH, this guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and shall be applied prospectively. TRH does not currently expect the implementation of this guidance to be material to TRH’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

3. Fair Value Measurements

(a) Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis

TRH measures at fair value on a recurring basis financial instruments included principally in its available for sale securities portfolios and short-term investments. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or settle a liability in an orderly transaction between willing, able and knowledgeable market participants at the measurement date.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)

The degree of judgment used in measuring the fair value of financial instruments generally correlates with the level of pricing observability. Financial instruments with quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and less judgment is used in measuring fair value. Conversely, financial instruments traded in other-than-active markets or that do not have quoted prices have less observability and are measured at fair value using valuation models or other pricing techniques that require more judgment. An active market is one in which transactions for the asset being valued occurs with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. An other-than-active market is one in which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly for the asset being valued. Pricing observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, whether the financial instrument is new to the market and not yet established, the characteristics specific to the transaction and general market conditions.

TRH management is responsible for the determination of the value of the financial assets and the supporting methodologies and assumptions. With respect to securities, TRH employs independent third party valuation service providers to gather, analyze and interpret market information and derive fair values based upon relevant methodologies and assumptions for individual instruments. When TRH’s valuation service providers are unable to obtain sufficient market observable information upon which to estimate the fair value for a particular security, fair value is determined either by requesting from brokers who are knowledgeable about these securities to provide a quote, which is generally non-binding, or by employing widely accepted internal valuation models.

Valuation service providers typically obtain data about market transactions and other key valuation model inputs from multiple sources and, through the use of widely accepted internal valuation models, provide a single fair value measurement for individual securities for which a fair value has been requested under the terms of service agreements. The inputs used by the valuation service providers include, but are not limited to, market prices from recently completed transactions and transactions of comparable securities, interest rate yield curves, credit spreads, currency rates, and other market observable information, as applicable. The valuation models take into account, among other things, market observable information as of the measurement date as well as the specific attributes of the security being valued including its term, interest rate, credit rating, industry sector, and when applicable, collateral quality and other issue or issuer specific information. When market transactions or other market observable data is limited, the extent to which judgment is applied in determining fair value is greatly increased.

TRH employs specific control processes to determine the reasonableness of the fair values of TRH’s financial assets. TRH’s processes are designed to ensure that the values received or internally estimated are accurately recorded and that the data inputs and the valuation techniques utilized are appropriate, consistently applied, and that the assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value. TRH assesses the reasonableness of individual security values received from valuation service providers through various analytical techniques. In addition, TRH may validate the reasonableness of fair values by comparing information obtained from TRH’s valuation service providers to other third party valuation sources for selected securities. TRH also validates prices obtained from brokers for selected securities through reviews by those who have relevant expertise and who are independent of those charged with executing investing transactions.

A further discussion of the most significant categories of investments carried at fair value on a recurring basis follows:

(1) Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available for Sale

TRH maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Whenever available, TRH obtains quoted prices in active markets for identical assets at the balance sheet date to measure at fair value fixed maturity and marketable equity securities in its available for sale portfolios. Market price data generally are obtained from exchange or dealer markets.

TRH estimates the fair value of fixed maturity securities not traded in active markets by referring to traded securities with similar attributes, using dealer quotations and matrix pricing methodologies, discounted cash flow analyses or internal valuation models. This methodology considers such factors as the issuer’s industry, the security’s rating and tenor, its coupon rate, its position in the capital structure of the issuer, yield curves, credit curves, prepayment rates and other relevant factors. For fixed maturity securities that are not traded in active markets or that are subject to transfer restrictions, valuations are adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability, and such adjustments generally are based on available market evidence. In the absence of such evidence, management’s best estimate is used.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)

Fair values for fixed maturity securities based on observable market prices for identical or similar instruments implicitly include the incorporation of counterparty credit risk. Fair values for fixed maturity securities based on internal models would incorporate counterparty credit risk by using discount rates that take into consideration cash issuance spreads for similar instruments or other observable information.

(2) Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments are carried at cost or amortized cost, which approximates fair value, and principally include money market instruments, treasury bills and commercial paper. These instruments are typically not traded in active markets; however, their fair values are based on market observable inputs.

(b) Fair Value Measurements on a Non-Recurring Basis

TRH also measures the fair value of certain assets on a non-recurring basis, generally quarterly, annually, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. These assets primarily include held-to-maturity fixed maturities, which are carried on the balance sheet at amortized cost, and equity method investments. When TRH determines that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable, TRH records the assets at fair value with the loss recognized in income as a realized capital loss. In such cases, TRH measures the fair value of these assets using the techniques discussed above for fixed maturity and equity securities.

(c) Fair Value Hierarchy

Assets recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet are measured and classified in a hierarchy for disclosure purposes consisting of three levels based on the observability of inputs available in the marketplace used to measure the fair values as discussed below:

·                  Level 1:  Fair value measurements that are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that TRH has the ability to access for identical assets. Market price data generally is obtained from exchange or dealer markets. Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and classified as Level 1 principally include actively traded listed common stocks and mutual funds (which are included on the balance sheet in equities available for sale).

·                  Level 2:  Fair value measurements based on inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and classified as Level 2 generally include most government and government agency securities, state, municipal and political subdivision obligations, most investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds, most residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), most commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), most other asset-backed securities and short-term investments.

·                  Level 3:  Fair value measurements based on valuation techniques that use significant inputs that are unobservable. These measurements may be made under circumstances in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset. TRH’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment. In making the assessment, TRH considers factors specific to the asset. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and classified as Level 3 principally include certain RMBS, CMBS, other-asset backed securities and other invested assets.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)

(d) Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents information about assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and indicates the level of the fair value measurement based on the levels of the inputs used:

(1) Represents only items measured at fair value.

(2) Primarily private equities.

(3) Short-term investments in Level 2 are carried at cost or amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

During the first quarter of 2011, there were no transfers in or out of Level 1, $20.2 million of transfers into Level 2 from Level 3 and no transfers out of Level 2 into Level 3.  The transfers into Level 2 from Level 3 in the first quarter of 2011 were due to an increase in observable inputs related to the valuation of such securities. During the first quarter of 2010, there were no significant transfers in or out of Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)

At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, Level 3 assets totaled $186.6 million and $230.0 million, respectively, representing 1.6% and 2.0%, respectively, of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Both observable and unobservable inputs may be used to determine the fair values of positions classified in Level 3. As a result, the unrealized gains and losses on instruments held at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 may include changes in fair value that were attributable to both observable inputs (e.g., changes in market interest rates) and unobservable inputs (e.g., changes in unobservable long-dated volatilities).

Net unrealized depreciation related to Level 3 investments at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 approximated $5.8 million and $6.7 million, respectively.

The following tables present analyses of the changes during the three month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)

(e) Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

None of TRH’s assets were written down to fair value on a non-recurring basis during the three month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

(a) Statutory Deposits

Investments with carrying values of $617 million and $574 million at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, were deposited with governmental authorities as required by law. The substantial majority of these deposits are fixed maturities and equities available for sale.

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TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)

(b) Gross Unrealized Gains and Losses

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are summarized as follows: