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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004;

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM              TO             

 

Commission File No. 000-11538

 


 

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Islands of Bermuda   N/A

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

Cumberland House, One Victoria Street, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

441-295-0788

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class


  

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered


None    None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, par value $.10 per share

(Title of Class)

 


 

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.    YES  x.    NO  ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  x    NO  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on a price per share of $6.06, the price per share as of June 30, 2004, at which the Registrant has rights of first refusal for the purchase of its shares offered for sale by shareowners, was $719,745,267.

 

The number of shares of Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of February 28, 2005 was 118,769,846.

 



Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD.

 

INDEX 10-K

 

PART I     
Item 1   Business    1
Item 2   Properties    11
Item 3   Legal Proceedings    11
Item 4   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    11
PART II     
Item 5   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters    12
Item 6   Selected Financial Data    16
Item 7   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    17
Item 7A   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    34
Item 8   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    37
Item 9   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    37
Item 9A   Controls and Procedures    38
Item 9B   Other Information    39
PART III     
Item 10   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    40
Item 11   Executive Compensation    42
Item 12   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management    49
Item 13   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    51
Item 14   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    51
PART IV     
Item 15   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    53


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

OVERVIEW

 

Overseas Partners Ltd. (“OPL” or the “Company”) is a company headquartered in Bermuda. Unless the context otherwise indicates, the term “Company” refers to one or more of OPL and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

The Company was organized as a corporation under the laws of Bermuda in 1983 as a subsidiary of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (“UPS”). On December 31, 1983, the Company ceased to be a subsidiary of UPS when UPS paid a special dividend to its shareowners of one share of OPL Common Stock for each UPS share then outstanding to its shareowners of record as of November 18, 1983.

 

The Company’s operations have historically been conducted through two segments – reinsurance and real estate & leasing. OPL’s primary business segment was reinsurance. OPL’s other business segment was ownership and management of United States real estate and property leasing.

 

OPL was originally formed to provide reinsurance against loss or damage to packages carried by UPS (the “shipper’s risk business”). Although the Company diversified into other lines of reinsurance, this remained OPL’s largest single reinsurance program until it was cancelled effective October 1, 1999. The shipper’s risk business was significant to the Company, not only because of the magnitude of the underwriting income that it generated, but also because its unique characteristics influenced our strategic and operational decision making. Our long-term investment philosophy, our underwriting risk tolerance and our real estate diversification were all functions of the profitability, stability and liquidity of the shipper’s risk business as were our dividend and share repurchase programs.

 

On February 13, 2002, the Board of Directors of OPL announced its decision to restructure OPL and to begin an orderly runoff of its operations. The Board concluded that OPL’s then existing capital structure would not allow it to continue to grow and compete effectively in the reinsurance market while at the same time satisfying the desire of many of OPL’s 98,000 shareowners to have greater liquidity for their investment in OPL, for which there is no trading market and no prospect of such a market. OPL’s capital requirements have constrained its ability to purchase shares from its shareowners since the end of 1999 following the cancellation of the shipper’s risk business. See “Item 5 – Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters” for further discussion about our dividend policy and share repurchase rights.

 

Our operational focus since entering runoff has been to (i) preserve our capital base through various risk management initiatives; (ii) actively manage and negotiate early settlement of our reinsurance liabilities and real estate debt; (iii) seek opportunistic sales of our real estate assets and reinsurance subsidiaries; and (iv) prudently return capital to our shareowners over time. During the runoff of our operations we will continue to pay losses as they become due and collect outstanding receivables. OPL’s reinsurance operations are still exposed to new losses on unexpired policies and adverse development on prior year accrued loss and loss expense reserves. A more detailed discussion of our current operational objectives and the associated risks and uncertainties can be found in “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.


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The following table provides financial highlights of OPL, broken down by business segments. More information concerning identifiable segment assets, revenues and net income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 can be found in Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

 

(in thousands U.S.$)


   2004

   2003

    2002

 

Reinsurance:

                       

Revenue

   $ 46,411    $ 166,216     $ 64,298  

Net reinsurance income (loss)

   $ 94,577    $ 91,243     $ (253,913 )

Assets

   $ 754,037    $ 2,188,127     $ 3,171,741  

Real estate and leasing:

                       

Revenue

   $ —      $ 18,502     $ 272,516  

Net real estate and leasing (loss) income

   $ —      $ (25,418 )   $ 103,315  

Assets

   $ —      $ —       $ 186,680  

 

REINSURANCE SEGMENT

 

Reinsurance Overview

 

Reinsurance is an arrangement in which a reinsurer agrees to indemnify a “primary” or “ceding” company against all or part of the risks assumed by the primary insurer under a policy or policies it has issued. Primary insurers purchase reinsurance for various reasons, including:

 

    Protection from catastrophes or multiple losses;

 

    Increased underwriting capacity;

 

    Ability to write larger individual risks;

 

    Withdrawal from certain markets or product lines;

 

    Reduced financial leverage; and

 

    Stability of operating results.

 

Reinsurance, however, generally does not discharge the primary insurer from its liability to policyholders.

 

There are generally two basic types of reinsurance arrangements: treaty and facultative reinsurance. In treaty reinsurance, the ceding company (or cedant) is obligated to cede and the reinsurer is obligated to assume a specified portion of a type or category of risks insured by the ceding company, while facultative reinsurance involves the underwriting of individual risks.

 

Both treaty and facultative reinsurance can be written on either a pro rata basis or an excess of loss basis. Pro rata (or proportional) reinsurance describes all forms of reinsurance in which the reinsurer shares in a proportional part of the original premiums and losses of the business ceded by the primary insurer. Excess (or non-proportional) reinsurance refers to reinsurance that indemnifies the primary company for that portion of a loss that exceeds an agreed-upon amount, known as the ceding company’s retention or reinsurer’s attachment point.

 

Premiums payable by the ceding company to a reinsurer for excess of loss reinsurance are not directly proportional to the premiums that the ceding company receives because the reinsurer does not assume a proportionate risk. In contrast, premiums that the ceding company pays to the reinsurer for pro rata reinsurance are proportional to the premiums that the ceding company receives, consistent with the proportional sharing of risk between the ceding company and the reinsurer. In addition, in pro rata reinsurance the reinsurer generally pays the ceding company a ceding commission. The ceding commission generally is based on the ceding company’s cost of acquiring the business being reinsured (commissions, premium taxes, assessments and miscellaneous administrative expense) and also may include a profit factor for producing the business.

 

Reinsurers may also purchase reinsurance to cover their own risk exposure. Reinsurance of a reinsurer’s business is called retrocession. Reinsurance companies cede risks under retrocessional agreements to other reinsurers, known as retrocessionaires, for reasons similar to those that cause primary insurers to purchase reinsurance. The terms “reinsurer” and “retrocessionaire” are often used synonymously. Similarly, the terms “reinsured” and “ceding company” are used interchangeably.

 

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Reinsurance Activities

 

OPL’s reinsurance activity began with the shipper’s risk program – the reinsuring of insured packages carried by subsidiaries of UPS. Customers of UPS insured their packages for amounts greater than $100 by paying excess value charges. Insured values were typically limited to a maximum of $25,000 per occurrence.

 

Until October 1, 1999, OPL received premiums under this reinsurance equal to the excess value charges received by primary insurers, less appropriate ceding commissions, brokerage fees and taxes. OPL reimbursed the primary insurers for the losses they paid on the underlying package insurance policies.

 

The shipper’s risk reinsurance described above was historically OPL’s largest source of revenue, generating $273.5 million of premiums earned for 1999. The program was cancelled effective October 1, 1999, as UPS decided to provide shipper’s risk reinsurance for its customers through a UPS subsidiary. Over the years OPL diversified into a number of other lines of reinsurance business through subsidiaries based in Bermuda and Philadelphia, USA.

 

The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Overseas Partners Re Ltd. (“OPRe”), was incorporated in 1995 to diversify into additional lines of treaty and facultative business, including finite risk, accident & health, aviation & satellite, property, auto liability, marine and workers’ compensation. OPRe discontinued writing new business on February 13, 2002.

 

The Company established a wholly owned subsidiary, Overseas Partners Assurance Ltd. (“OPAL”), during 1998 to enhance and broaden its reinsurance relationships. OPAL provides rent-a-captive facilities to reinsurance clients, allowing them to participate in the underwriting and investment profits associated with their programs. OPAL discontinued writing new business on February 13, 2002.

 

On May 10, 2002, the Company sold its wholly owned subsidiary, Overseas Partners Cat Ltd. (“OPCat”), which was established in November 1999 to write worldwide property catastrophe business, for $25 million.

 

On November 15, 2004, the Company sold its wholly owned subsidiary, Overseas Partners US Reinsurance Company (“OPUS Re”), to Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. (“OdysseyRe”) for $43 million. OPUS Re is a property & casualty reinsurer, based in Philadelphia, and was acquired by OPL in October 2000. OPUS Re discontinued writing new business in the second quarter of 2002.

 

Prior to February 13, 2002, OPL and its wholly owned subsidiaries OPRe, OPUS Re and OPCat, underwrote reinsurance on a treaty and facultative basis for insurance and reinsurance companies in the United States and selected international markets. We received underwriting submissions for new and renewal business from independent brokers and ceding reinsurance companies located in the United States and internationally. Our underwriting teams built relationships with key brokers and cedants by explaining their underwriting approach and demonstrating responsiveness to customer needs.

 

During 2000 there was a comprehensive review of our operations and we decided to discontinue our marine, property, and financial lines, based on poor profitability and other considerations. From 2000 until February 2002 we concentrated on a smaller number of specialty lines in which we could add value to our clients. Our underwriting incorporated a detailed technical analysis of risk and return characteristics through actuarial analysis and financial modeling and required the involvement of underwriting, claims, actuarial, finance and legal professionals. All business written had to meet strict, Board-approved, underwriting standards and minimum risk and return criteria.

 

We did not separately evaluate each of the individual risks assumed under our treaties and were largely dependent on the original risk underwriting decisions made by the ceding company. This dependence subjected the Company to the possibility that the ceding companies had not adequately evaluated the risks to be reinsured and, therefore, that the premiums ceded in connection therewith may not have adequately compensated the Company for the risk that we assumed.

 

 

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To mitigate these risks, we focused on those ceding companies that we believed effectively managed the underwriting process through proper analysis and pricing of underlying risks and whose underwriting guidelines and performance were compatible with our profitability objectives. We reviewed treaties for compliance with our general underwriting standards and evaluated certain larger treaties in part based upon actuarial analyses conducted by the Company and/or independent consulting actuaries. The actuarial models used in such analyses were tailored in each case to the exposures and experience underlying the specific treaty and the loss experience for the risks covered by such treaties. When appropriate we conducted underwriting audits at the offices of ceding companies to ensure that the ceding companies operated within their guidelines. Underwriting audits focused on the quality of the underwriting staff, the selection and pricing of risks and the capability of monitoring price levels over time. We also perform claims audits, when appropriate, in order to evaluate the client’s claims handling abilities and practices. We have continued to perform these claim audits as the Company’s operations run off.

 

For both treaty and facultative business, we also considered factors such as cash flows, return on risk capital invested, the establishment of long-term ceding company and broker relationships, new product or innovative offerings, market conditions, potential partnerships with market leaders and diversification.

 

Our reinsurance contracts sometimes included sliding scale and profit commission features to motivate the ceding companies to maintain disciplined underwriting standards. Depending on the risk, we sometimes also worked with the ceding companies to purchase common account reinsurance protection to further reduce exposure to large individual claims or an accumulation of claims. We also purchased several layers of excess of loss protection for our aviation and property books of business and entered into a quota share retrocession of our property catastrophe business. Reinsurance premiums ceded by the Company totaled $(0.5) million, $3.0 million and $77.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Of the reinsurance premiums ceded by the Company in 2002 $77.4 million was for property catastrophe premiums ceded to Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. including $50.9 million as a result of a 100% quota share of the in-force property catastrophe business that became effective on February 15, 2002.

 

Runoff

 

Despite the decision to restructure OPL and cause its operations to go into runoff, OPL’s reinsurance operations are still exposed to new losses on unexpired policies and to adverse development on prior year accrued loss and loss expense reserves. Some of these policies do not expire for several years and include a residual value reinsurance program where the Company is exposed to losses until 2013 arising from potential lease income shortfalls on a portfolio of aircraft. During the runoff we will continue to pay losses as they fall due and collect outstanding receivables. OPL will distribute equity to shareowners as and when the Board of Directors feels that it is prudent to do so and regulatory requirements allow. In order to accelerate the distribution of equity to shareowners we will attempt to commute or novate our remaining reinsurance contracts as this reduction in exposure will also reduce the amount of capital we are required to hold to satisfy regulatory requirements.

 

A commutation is an agreement between the ceding insurer and the reinsurer that provides for the valuation, payment and complete discharge of all obligations between the parties under particular reinsurance contracts. Commutation agreements can be used whenever the parties wish to settle and discharge all future obligations. Novation is the process where one reinsurer replaces another reinsurer, usually with policyholder approval.

 

Ratings

 

On January 13, 2003, at the Company’s request, A.M. Best Company withdrew the Company’s financial strength rating. A.M. Best Company will no longer formally evaluate OPL or its reinsurance subsidiaries for the purposes of assigning a rating opinion. We are not currently rated by any rating agency. The lack of financial strength ratings has not significantly affected the operations of OPL and its subsidiaries given their current runoff status.

 

Claims

 

Claims are managed by OPL’s professional claims staff, whose responsibilities include the review of initial cession statements, determination of whether further investigation is required, establishment and adjustment of case reserves and payment of claims. In addition, the claims staff conducts comprehensive claims audits of both specific claims and overall claims procedures at the offices of selected brokers and ceding companies.

 

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The Company’s gross liability for accrued losses and loss expenses, which provides for estimated future payments arising from prior reinsurance transactions, amounted to approximately $188.2 million and $913.7 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The reserve for accrued losses and loss expenses includes an estimate of outstanding losses and an estimate for losses incurred but not reported (“IBNR”). Outstanding losses are estimated based on ceding company reports and other data considered relevant to the estimation process. The estimate for IBNR reflects management’s best estimates based on the recommendations of an independent actuary using common actuarial techniques that project ultimate losses from the past loss experience of the Company and relevant industry data. Accrued losses and loss expenses are carried at the full amount estimated for ultimate expected liabilities, without any discount to reflect the time value of money. This is in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulations.

 

Paid losses recoverable from reinsurers were $21.4 million and $26.3 million as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Unpaid losses recoverable from reinsurers were $24.6 million and $63.6 million as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. OPL remains liable with respect to reinsurance ceded in the event that the reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations. The senior management of OPL re-evaluates the financial condition of reinsurers at least annually and establishes provisions for unrecoverable amounts as necessary. At December 31, 2004 the Company had established a provision of $6 million for unrecoverable amounts.

 

A detailed discussion of the industry wide and company specific uncertainties relating to the estimate of outstanding losses and IBNR is contained in the section relating to “Critical Accounting Policies” in “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.

 

While the Company has recorded its current best estimate of its liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses, it is reasonably possible that these estimated liabilities may increase or decrease in the future and that the increase or decrease may be material to its results from operations, cash flows and financial position. The reserves as established by management are reviewed regularly and adjustments are made in the period in which they become known.

 

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The “Analysis of Losses and Loss Expenses Development” shown below presents the subsequent development of the estimated year-end liability for accrued losses and loss expenses, (net of unpaid losses recoverable from reinsurers), at the end of each of the years in the ten year period ended December 31, 2004. The top line of the table shows the estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, (net of unpaid losses recoverable from reinsurers), recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated periods. This net liability represents the estimated amount of losses and loss expenses for claims arising from all prior years’ policies and agreements that were unpaid at the balance sheet date. The upper portion of the table shows the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded net liability as of the end of each succeeding year. This estimate changes as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of claims for individual years. The “Cumulative (Redundancy) / Deficiency” line represents the aggregate change in the estimates over all prior years. The lower portion of the table presents the amounts paid as of subsequent periods on those claims for which reserves were carried as of each balance sheet date. Conditions and trends that have affected development of the liabilities in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it may not be appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies based on the tables below.

 

Analysis of Losses and Loss Expenses Development

 

 

     Years ended December 31

As at December 31,

(In thousands U.S.$)


   1994

    1995

    1996

   1997

   1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

Estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, net of reinsurance recoveries

   219,311     214,207     265,166    338,425    461,891    957,161    1,374,123    1,607,199     1,257,498     850,113     163,534

Liability Re-estimated as of:

                                                           

1 year later

   224,149     216,581     278,328    332,893    588,585    1,261,420    1,408,621    1,622,964     1,271,317     786,433      

2 years later

   224,861     216,581     271,061    309,921    693,914    1,317,873    1,438,180    1,625,940     1,208,707            

3 years later

   224,861     211,404     245,962    322,253    726,635    1,334,010    1,479,891    1,572,291                  

4 years later

   223,162     187,978     247,106    336,623    734,691    1,363,614    1,426,915                       

5 years later

   201,409     187,978     253,252    340,853    744,655    1,332,885                            

6 years later

   201,409     193,470     258,872    351,196    733,566                                 

7 years later

   206,339     199,368     267,899    351,483                                      

8 years later

   211,464     207,522     267,899                                           

9 years later

   218,671     207,522                                                 

10 years later

   218,671                                                       

Cumulative (Redundancy)/Deficiency

   (640 )   (6,685 )   2,733    13,058    271,675    375,724    52,792    (34,908 )   (48,791 )   (63,680 )   —    

Cumulative paid losses, net of reinsurance recoveries, as of:

                                                           

1 year later

   75,836     94,811     130,802    139,219    146,565    331,474    369,867    463,013     451,926     624,039      

2 years later

   135,631     133,078     177,156    213,046    321,574    669,233    820,581    864,254     1,051,572            

3 years later

   164,616     153,978     202,130    253,791    467,415    939,441    1,171,137    1,428,217                  

4 years later

   179,612     166,011     218,924    267,297    584,088    1,142,097    1,348,340                       

5 years later

   188,489     173,194     228,564    289,414    671,592    1,279,993                            

6 years later

   193,323     180,757     242,937    313,764    718,348                                 

7 years later

   199,474     187,012     260,831    351,183                                      

8 years later

   204,006     203,165     267,899                                           

9 years later

   215,561     207,522                                                 

10 years later

   218,671                                                       

 

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Reconciliation of Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses

 

The following table presents an analysis of paid and unpaid losses and loss expenses and a reconciliation of beginning and ending unpaid losses and loss expenses for the years indicated:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)


   2004

    2003

    2002

 

Gross balance as of January 1,

   $ 913,711     $ 1,370,110     $ 1,798,044  

Less reinsurance recoverable

     (63,598 )     (112,612 )     (190,845 )
    


 


 


Net balance as of January 1,

     850,113       1,257,498       1,607,199  
    


 


 


Incurred related to:

                        

Current year

     2,128       37,760       216,802  

Prior years

     (63,680 )     13,819       15,765  
    


 


 


Total incurred

     (61,552 )     51,579       232,567  
    


 


 


Paid related to:

                        

Current year

     (988 )     (7,038 )     (85,675 )

Prior years

     (624,039 )     (451,926 )     (463,013 )
    


 


 


Total paid

     (625,027 )     (458,964 )     (548,688 )
    


 


 


Transfer of loss reserves on sale of OP Cat

     —         —         (33,580 )
    


 


 


Net balance as of December 31,

     163,534       850,113       1,257,498  

Plus reinsurance recoverable

     24,621       63,598       112,612  
    


 


 


Gross balance as of December 31,

   $ 188,155     $ 913,711     $ 1,370,110  
    


 


 


 

The following summarizes the development of incurred losses as depicted in the prior two tables. Prior to 1996 the vast majority of the Company’s reinsurance business was shipper’s risk. The shipper’s risk business was characterized by relatively predictable claim experience as a result of the maximum claim exposure being limited to $25,000 per occurrence. The shipper’s risk was also short-tail business (i.e. claims would be notified and settled quickly). In 1996 the Company started to diversify into other lines of business that were less predictable and generally had a longer tail than the shipper’s risk business. The diversification came at a time of intense competition in the reinsurance industry resulting in industry pricing that has proven inadequate for the exposures being reinsured. The proliferation of large industry loss events in the late 1990’s also compounded the effects of inadequate pricing.

 

Prior to 1999 the Company had not experienced any significant adverse loss development, primarily as a result of the stability of the shipper’s risk results and the recentness of the Company’s expansion into other lines of business. However, in the third and fourth quarters of 1999 the Company recorded adverse development of $127 million relating primarily to two programs written in 1998. We also made significant reserve strengthening adjustments in the second quarter of 2000 relating primarily to accident & health, aviation, multi-line, marine and property programs written during the period from 1997 to 1999. The reserve increases in 2001 related mainly to adverse loss development on the discontinued reinsurance of the workers’ compensation risks of a UPS subsidiary in the State of California and on discontinued auto and property programs. This was partially offset by a $20.8 million decrease in the provision for losses and loss adjustment expenses relating to our property catastrophe business.

 

The 2002 prior years reserve increases of $15.8 million related to an increase in estimated ultimate losses on a number of programs, primarily a marine contract and two multi-year contracts in our property and accident & health lines of business, respectively. These contracts have now been commuted.

 

The 2003 prior years reserve increases related primarily to an increase in estimated ultimate losses of approximately $15 million on two workers’ compensation programs. The change in estimates followed an independent actuarial evaluation completed in the third quarter of 2003 and reflected adverse trending of medical expenses associated with workers’ compensation claims in California. These contracts were subsequently commuted in 2004.

 

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The 2004 prior years reserve decrease was primarily as a result of the settlement of liabilities through commutations and novations at amounts less than carried loss reserves and a reduction in the provision for non-collectible reinsurance of $4 million. The commutations included a workers’ compensation contract, with recorded loss reserves of approximately $198 million, where reinsurance had been provided to a reinsurer that had commenced arbitration to rescind its own reinsurance contract with the primary carrier. The commutation allowed the Company to generate savings compared to carried reserves and eliminated the risk of further losses that may have arisen from an unfavorable arbitration decision in the underlying contract.

 

Although it is still possible that the Company may experience adverse loss development, these commutations and novations have significantly reduced that risk. However, it is also extremely unlikely that there will be further reserve redundancies of the magnitude experienced in 2004.

 

Additional information on these matters is included in “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.

 

Investments

 

The Company maintains portfolios of highly liquid investments and cash to support its reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses and unearned premiums as well as its capital requirements. The fair value of such cash and investments was approximately $669 million at December 31, 2004.

 

For accounting purposes we classify our investments as either trading or available-for-sale; however, we manage the Company’s cash and investments in total and make asset allocation decisions primarily on a consolidated basis but with due regard to the individual needs and regulatory requirements of each subsidiary.

 

Following our decision to enter runoff our risk tolerance decreased and our investment objective has been and will continue to be focused on capital preservation and short- to medium-term liquidity, as opposed to long-term return. The Company’s strategy of accelerating loss payments through commutations and novations of the remaining reinsurance contracts will result in continued negative cash flow. Consequently, we have reduced the duration of our investment portfolio and increased our cash and short-term investment positions to ensure that we will have sufficient cash available to fund our loss payment obligations, fund permitted distributions to shareowners and to mitigate our exposure to investment losses in the event of interest rate increases.

 

Despite these actions, there may still be periods in which the Company records an investment loss as a result of the volatility in worldwide bond markets. We will continue to review our asset allocation as our runoff progresses.

 

Further information concerning the Company’s investment portfolio, including a discussion of the significant market risk associated with the portfolio, can be found in “Item 7A – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

 

Competition

 

Following the February 13, 2002 decision to put the Company into runoff, we no longer compete in the international property and casualty reinsurance market.

 

Regulation

 

OPL, OPRe and OPAL conduct their reinsurance business from their principal offices in Bermuda and are subjected to regulation under Bermuda law, which, among other things requires them to register and comply with certain requirements as to capitalization. For purposes of Bermuda insurance law and regulation, each of these reinsurance entities are considered to be engaged in general business; OPL is also licensed to write long-term business.

 

OPL, OPRe and OPAL must prepare an annual statutory financial return and statutory financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Bermuda Insurance Act of 1978, amendments thereto and related Regulations (the “Act”), and an annual audit is also required. Each company must also appoint a loss reserve specialist to review and report on its loss reserves on an annual basis.

 

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The minimum paid up share capital to be maintained by OPL under Bermuda insurance law and regulations is $370,000, while OPRe and OPAL each require $120,000. In addition, OPL and OPRe are individually required to maintain a minimum solvency margin at least equal to the greater of: (i) $1.0 million or (ii) the aggregate of 20% of the first $6 million of net premium income from general business and 15% of the amount by which net premium income exceeds $6 million; or (iii) 15% of the aggregate of accrued losses and loss expense provisions (net of losses and loss expenses recoverable from reinsurers) and other general business insurance reserves. The minimum solvency margin for OPL, OPRe and OPAL is approximately $1 million, $24 million and $120,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2004, OPL, OPRe and OPAL had approximately $509 million, $394 million and $0.2 million respectively, of statutory capital and surplus in excess of these requirements.

 

As a holding company, a significant proportion of OPL’s assets relate to its investments in subsidiaries. As such, OPL’s ability to make future distributions is dependent upon it receiving distributions from its subsidiaries. The Act prohibits OPL, OPRe and OPAL from distributing more than 15% of the prior year’s statutory capital unless specific approval is obtained from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. In addition to the requirements of the Act, the Bermuda Monetary Authority has requested that it pre-approve all distributions from OPL, OPRe and OPAL. In addition to these regulatory restrictions, each subsidiary needs to consider, among other issues, the potential for future adverse development in the ultimate cost of reinsurance liabilities and the potential for significant losses from unexpired policies prior to making such distributions.

 

Bermuda insurance law and regulations do not limit the categories of assets in which an insurance company may invest. However OPL, OPRe and OPAL are also required to each maintain a minimum liquidity ratio whereby the value of their relevant assets (mainly cash, investments, receivables and other liquid assets) are not less than 75% of the amount of their relevant liabilities (mainly accrued losses and loss expenses, unearned premiums, reinsurance balances payable and other accounts payable). Investments in and advances to subsidiaries are not included in the definition of relevant assets for purposes of this test. OPL, OPRe and OPAL met these requirements for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

OPL, OPRe and OPAL are not admitted or authorized to conduct business in any jurisdictions except Bermuda. They do not maintain an office or solicit, advertise, settle claims or conduct other insurance activities in any jurisdictions other than Bermuda and therefore are not subject to the insurance regulatory requirements of jurisdictions other than Bermuda. However, the statutory standards adopted by the jurisdictions that regulate the companies to which OPL, OPRe and OPAL provide life, property and casualty and other reinsurance affect each of these reinsurance entities indirectly. OPL, OPRe and OPAL record all transactions on their statutory accounts in a manner that complies with statutory accounting principles required by the Bermuda Insurance Act of 1978.

 

REAL ESTATE AND LEASING SEGMENT

 

An important aspect of the Company’s previous strategy had been the ownership of income-producing real estate and the leasing of assets through subsidiaries of Overseas Partners Capital Corp. (“OPCC”). Prior to 2000, OPCC owned a portfolio of Class A properties in three key United States markets: Atlanta, Boston and Chicago. The portfolio consisted of four large office complexes, one office/retail mixed-use development and a large convention hotel. In addition, OPCC owned two properties and other assets that were leased to major companies. Since August 2000, OPCC and its subsidiaries have sold all of these properties.

 

Following the sale of our final remaining leased asset in the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company is no longer engaged in the real estate and leasing business. Effective December 31, 2003, OPCC was liquidated and all remaining assets and liabilities were distributed to OPL as a final liquidating distribution.

 

Information concerning identifiable real estate and leasing assets, revenues and net operating income for the years ended 2003 and 2002 can be found in Notes 7 and 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and in “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.

 

Competition

 

The Company is no longer engaged in the real estate and leasing business and therefore does not compete in this market.

 

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TAXATION

 

Under current Bermuda law, OPL and its Bermuda domiciled insurance subsidiaries (“Bermuda insurance subsidiaries”) are not obligated to pay any tax in Bermuda based upon income or capital gains.

 

Pursuant to the income tax treaty between the United States and Bermuda, a Bermuda insurance company would be subject to United States income tax and United States branch profits tax on its income that is attributable to a United States permanent establishment. Under current law, United States income tax would be imposed at a 35% rate, and the United States branch profits tax would be imposed at a 30% rate. Based on the operations of OPL’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries, OPL believes that its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries do not have a United States permanent establishment. Moreover, OPL’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries intend to conduct their activities so that they will not do business in the United States through a permanent establishment. However, as there are no definitive standards provided by the Code, regulations or court decisions concerning what activities could subject a foreign corporation to tax in the United States, and as the determination is essentially factual in nature, there can be no assurance that the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) will not contend successfully that the Bermuda insurance subsidiaries have income which is attributable to a United States permanent establishment.

 

As of January 14, 2005 OPL has either liquidated or sold all of its United States based subsidiaries, so OPL no longer has any subsidiaries that are directly subject to United States income taxes. OPL’s management believes that OPL does not have any remaining United States income tax liabilities. However, the statutes of limitations for the tax returns filed by the former U.S. subsidiaries have not expired and the IRS may audit these tax returns and may seek to impose additional taxes. OPL received significant tax refunds due to losses incurred by OPCC in the year ended December 31, 2003. As the refunds were in excess of $2 million, OPCC’s tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are subject to review by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the United States Congress. In addition, the IRS is currently auditing the federal income tax returns for Overseas Partners US Holding Co. (“OPUS Holding”) and its subsidiary for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003. Although the buyer of OPUS Holding’s only subsidiary is generally responsible for any tax assessments arising out of the IRS audit, OPL has provided an indemnification with respect to withholding taxes attributable to distributions made by OPUS Holding to OPL. OPL’s management does not believe that any withholding taxes are due relating to these distributions.

 

It should be noted that Congress has historically sought to broaden the taxation of foreign enterprises owned by United States residents, and future legislation could affect the United States federal tax treatment of OPL.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

As of February 28, 2005 OPL, directly and through its subsidiaries, had a total of 19 employees all of which were in Bermuda. We expect that the number of OPL employees will reduce to approximately seven subsequent to March 31, 2005.

 

The Company purchases administrative and other services from a number of suppliers in Bermuda. The individuals who provide these outsourced services are not included as employees.

 

The Company does not have any employees who are represented by a labor union and believes that its employee relations are good.

 

See “Item 10 – Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant”.

 

Financial Information by Geographic Areas

 

See Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

 

 

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Available Information

 

Our Internet website address is www.overseaspartners.com. Under the “SEC Filings” tab at this website, we make available free of charge our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

Item 2. Properties

 

The Company conducts its reinsurance business from leased office premises in Bermuda. These facilities are in good condition and are adequate for the requirements of the Company.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

On November 19, 1999 and January 27, 2000 OPL was named as a defendant in two class action lawsuits, filed on behalf of customers of UPS, in Montgomery County, Ohio Court and Butler County, Ohio Court, respectively. The lawsuits alleged, among other things, that UPS told its customers that they were purchasing insurance for coverage of loss or damage to goods shipped by UPS. The lawsuits further alleged that UPS wrongfully enriched itself with the monies paid by its customers to purchase such insurance. The November 19, 1999 and January 27, 2000 actions were removed to federal court and thereafter transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”) and consolidated in a multi-district litigation for pretrial discovery purposes with other actions asserting claims against UPS. Plaintiffs subsequently amended those claims against all defendants to join a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) claim as well. On August 7, 2000, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, OPCC, were added as defendants in a third class action lawsuit, also consolidated in the multi-district litigation, which alleged violations of United States antitrust laws, and state unfair trade practice and consumer protection laws. The allegations in the lawsuits were drawn from an opinion by the United States Tax Court that found that the insurance program, as offered through UPS, by domestic insurance companies, and ultimately reinsured by OPL, should not be recognized for federal income tax purposes. In June 2001, the Tax Court opinion was reversed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

 

The Company filed or joined in motions to dismiss all of the consolidated actions on a number of grounds, including that the antitrust claim failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and that the remaining claims were preempted by federal law. In orders dated July 30, 2002, the Court granted in part and denied in part the motions to dismiss. Pursuant to the Court’s orders, the claims remaining against the Company were RICO, antitrust, and common law interference with contract claims. On November 8, 2002, the parties presented to the Court a stipulation and proposed order certifying a nationwide class with respect to certain of the claims brought by the plaintiffs, including the RICO and interference with contract claims against the Company. The Court approved the stipulation and proposed order. The stipulation did not certify the antitrust claims brought against the Company.

 

During October 2003 the parties reached a tentative settlement with respect to all claims brought by the various plaintiffs. The settlement agreement was executed on December 31, 2003 and on July 30, 2004 the Court approved the settlement. The final judgment and order approving the settlement and dismissing the claims with prejudice was entered on August 6, 2004 and the settlement was deemed effective on September 8, 2004. During September 2004 the Company paid $10 million in connection with the settlement. This amount was accrued in the financial statements during the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

Certain of OPL’s subsidiaries are party to legal proceedings in the investigation and defense of claims arising out of their reinsurance business and / or their former ownership of real estate. We do not believe that the eventual outcome of any such proceedings will have a material effect on their condition or business.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended December 31, 2004.

 

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

 

Summary of OPL Stock

 

We are currently authorized to issue 900,000,000 shares of our Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share, of which 127,500,000 shares were issued and 118,769,846 outstanding as of February 28, 2005. We are also authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of preference stock of par value $0.10 per share. At present no shares of preference stock have been issued or are outstanding, nor are there any plans to issue any shares of preference stock in the foreseeable future.

 

Our Common Stock is not listed on a securities exchange and is not traded in the organized over-the-counter markets. Prior to July 21, 1999, units of our Common Stock had been bundled with shares of UPS Common Stock and sold and provided as stock compensation awards to UPS employees under the UPS Managers’ Incentive and UPS Stock Purchase Plans (the “UPS Plans”). On July 21, 1999, we suspended the sale of our Common Stock under the UPS Plans following the announcement by UPS of an initial public offering.

 

There were approximately 98,000 record holders of our Common Stock as of February 28, 2005.

 

Voting Rights

 

Each share of our Common Stock is entitled to one vote in the election of directors and on other matters, except that any Substantial Stockholder, as defined in our Bye-Laws, is entitled to only one one-hundredth of a vote with respect to each vote which is in excess of 10 percent of our outstanding voting stock. The term Substantial Stockholder is defined to mean any shareowner or shareowners acting as a group, other than UPS or any employee benefit plan of ours or UPS or our subsidiaries, who is the beneficial owner of more than 10 percent of the voting power of our outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. There are no limitations imposed by foreign law, or by our Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws, or by any agreement or other instrument to which we are a party or to which we are subject, on the right of shareowners, solely by reason of their citizenship or domicile, to vote our Common Stock. Upon liquidation, our shareowners are entitled to share on a pro rata basis in our assets legally available for distribution to shareowners.

 

Transferability of Common Stock - Our Right of First Refusal

 

Our Bye-Laws provide that no outstanding shares of our voting stock, including shares of our Common Stock, may be transferred, except by operation of law, including a bona fide gift or inheritance, unless the shares shall have first been offered, by written notice, for sale to us at the lower of their fair value or the price at which they are to be offered to the proposed transferee and on the same terms upon which they are to be offered to the proposed transferee. Notices of proposed transfers must be sent to our Treasurer, must set forth the number of shares proposed to be sold, the proposed price per share, the name and address of the proposed transferee and the terms of the proposed sale and must contain a statement by the proposed transferee that the information contained in the notice is true and correct. We have the option, within 30 days after receipt of the notice, to purchase all or a portion of the offered shares. If we fail to exercise or waive the option, the shareowner may, within a period of 20 days thereafter, sell to the proposed transferee all, but not part, of the shares that were previously offered to us and not purchased by us pursuant to our option, for the price and on the terms described in the notice. All transferees of shares hold their shares subject to the same restrictions. Shares previously offered to us but not transferred within the 20-day period remain subject to the initial restrictions.

 

Under our Bye-Laws, we have the right to purchase shares of our Common Stock that may be issued as stock dividends, or in stock splits, re-capitalization’s or reorganizations similar to the rights that we have to purchase the shares on which the dividend, split, re-capitalization’s or reorganization shares were issued. We also have the right to purchase our Common Stock in a number of other circumstances under our Bye-Laws.

 

Shares of our Common Stock may be pledged, but they may not be transferred upon foreclosure unless they have first been offered to us in the manner described above.

 

 

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In addition, any shareowner who is our “affiliate” for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, may effect a public resale of their shares to a purchaser other than us only upon delivery of an effective prospectus applicable to the resale as permitted by applicable securities laws or upon other compliance with applicable securities laws.

 

On August 8, 2001 the Board suspended the repurchase of all shares and therefore we do not anticipate exercising our right of first refusal in the foreseeable future.

 

Our Purchase Rights - Recall

 

We have the right under our Bye-Laws to purchase (or “recall”) shares of our Common Stock from shareowners following their retirement, death or other termination of employment with UPS, OPL, or any of their respective subsidiaries. We may exercise this right to recall all or a portion of the shares of a former employee at any time within a period of three years or thirteen years following the holder’s termination of employment. The purchase price will be the book value of the shares at the time of purchase.

 

Given our runoff status it is unlikely that we will recall any shares in the future.

 

Dividend Policy

 

The declaration and payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and depends on many factors, including our earnings, financial condition, business needs, capital and surplus requirements of our operating subsidiaries and legal and regulatory considerations. The ability of our reinsurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to OPL and its ability to pay dividends to our shareowners are subject to the maintenance of minimum solvency and liquidity margins as required by Bermuda insurance law.

 

Dividends paid by us on shares of our Common Stock to persons residing in the United States will be subject to United States federal income taxes to the same extent that the dividends would be taxable if paid by a domestic corporation, but without the dividend received deduction available to corporations. Similar treatment is likely to be accorded under applicable state law. There are currently no applicable tax treaties or Bermuda laws, decrees or regulations that would adversely affect our payment or remittance of dividends, require withholding for tax purposes or restrict the export or import of capital.

 

No dividends have been paid since August 2001. Given our runoff status, it is unlikely that we will pay any ordinary dividends in the future.

 

Our Ability to Purchase Shares and Make Distributions

 

On August 8, 2001, following a decline in our capital base as result of poor underwriting and investment performance, we announced that it was necessary to suspend our share repurchase program. Following this action, and recognizing the desire of many of OPL’s shareowners to have greater liquidity for their investment in OPL, the Board of Directors initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to provide future liquidity, which resulted in our announcement on February 13, 2002 that we would begin an orderly runoff.

 

The ultimate goal of the runoff is to distribute equity to shareowners as and when the Board of Directors feels that it is prudent to do so and regulatory requirements allow. However, due to the regulated nature of the reinsurance business and other business reasons, it could take many years to complete the runoff of OPL’s businesses and fully return shareowners’ equity. See “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for a more detailed discussion of this issue.

 

Since going into runoff OPL has made three liquidating distributions to shareowners totaling $6.50 per share. Distributions of $237.7 million, $296.9 million and $237.5 million were paid on April 9, 2003, January 5, 2004 and August 31, 2004, respectively. All liquidating distributions were pre-approved by the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

 

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The distributions were liquidating distributions for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are treated as payments in exchange for stock. Accordingly, an OPL shareowner would recognize capital gain or capital loss on the difference between (i) the value of the consideration received in a liquidating distribution for each share of OPL stock and (ii) such shareowner’s adjusted tax basis in each share. Any such capital gain or loss would be long-term capital gain or loss if the shareowner held the shares for more than one year on the date of distribution and short-term capital gain or loss if the shareowner held the shares for less than one year on the date of distribution. If there are a series of liquidating distributions, amounts paid are first applied to basis; distributions are only taxed as capital gain once the aggregate amount of the distributions exceeds such basis. Capital losses on a series of liquidating distributions may be recognized only when a shareowner receives the final liquidating distribution with respect to his shares.

 

Determination of share value

 

When OPL commenced business in 1984, the book value method was used to set the price of shares. As OPL’s business grew, the Board determined that it was important to focus on the long-term value of the Company in setting the price of its stock. The fair value method enabled the Board to consider future earnings and prospects and the value of the business as a going concern when determining share price. In August of 1999, the shareowners of OPL voted to amend Bye-law 40(13) to replace the book value method with the fair value method.

 

With the exception of shares purchased from employees, who had exercised put-options to sell their shares upon termination of their employment with the Company, the Company has not repurchased shares of our Common Stock since August 8, 2001. The fair value per share as determined by our board of directors since that date was as follows:

 

August 9, 2001 to February 12, 2002

   $14.50

February 13, 2002 to August 6, 2002

   $11.07

August 7, 2002 to February 25, 2003

   $10.88

February 26, 2003 to August 6, 2003

   $10.16

 

On August 6, 2003 the shareowners of OPL voted to amend Bye-law 40(13) to replace the fair value method with the book value method such that the price paid for repurchases of our Common Stock, if any, corresponds to the net book value per share as determined from the Company’s most recent balance sheet as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. With the Board’s decision in February 2002 to restructure OPL and cause its operations to begin an orderly runoff, the Company is no longer writing new reinsurance business and has no plans to expand its business in the future. Book value measures the historic value of a business and is closely tied to accounting rules and time periods. Book value also reflects the effect of any dividends or other distributions made. Now that OPL has begun to return capital to shareowners, it is important that the price paid for repurchases of shares, if any, should reflect any amounts already distributed. As such, we believe that book value is a more appropriate way of determining the price of our Common Stock now that the Company is in runoff. The net book value per share at each quarter-end, as reported in the Company’s quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission was as follows:

 

June 30, 2003

   $8.49

September 30, 2003

   $8.37

December 31, 2003

   $5.90

March 31, 2004

   $6.06

June 30, 2004

   $6.05

September 30, 2004

   $4.21

December 31, 2004

   $4.34

 

 

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Custody Arrangements for Certificates of OPL Common Stock

 

Each shareowner may elect to have Wachovia Bank hold his or her certificates as custodian without cost to the shareowner. Wachovia’s Employee Shareholder Service Department is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and can be contacted at the following address:

 

Wachovia Bank

Employee Shareholder Services Corporate

Trust Department

P.O. Box 41784

123 South Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA

19101-1784

 

Phone: (215) 875-1144

Toll Free: (877) 223-6966

 

If a shareowner elects to have Wachovia hold the shares of Common Stock in custody, Wachovia will have the shares registered in its name, or that of a nominee, and will sell or otherwise dispose of the shares only upon the shareowner’s instruction and in conformity with our Bye-Laws. Wachovia will promptly remit distributions on Common Stock held in custody to the shareowner. Shareowners will receive periodic statements of the number of shares held by Wachovia for their account and of distributions paid on those shares. Notice of any regular or special meeting of our shareowners will be forwarded to shareowners by Wachovia, which will vote the shares as directed by the shareowner in a letter of instruction if returned to Wachovia in a timely fashion, or, on request, furnish the shareowner with a proxy thus permitting the shareowner to vote the number of shares of Common Stock held for him or her at the meeting. Absent instructions from the shareowner, Wachovia will vote the shares at its discretion. See also Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans in Item 12.

 

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

The following selected financial information should be read in conjunction with OPL’s consolidated financial statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” which follow this section. In particular, the February 2002 decision to discontinue writing new reinsurance business and begin an orderly runoff of both the reinsurance and real estate & leasing segments will materially affect the comparability of the information and future trends. Following the sale of OPUS Re during the year ended December 31, 2004 the results of OPUS Re are no longer included in the results of continuing operations from the reinsurance segment. The summary financial information for prior periods has been restated on a consistent basis.

 

Five-Year Selected Financial Data

(In thousands U.S.$, except per share amounts)

 

Income Statement Data:

 

Years Ended December 31,

(in thousands U.S.$)


   2004

   2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

 
Revenue:                                        

Gross reinsurance premiums written

   $ 3,616    $ (70,044 )   $ 208,965     $ 522,290     $ 561,233  
    

  


 


 


 


Reinsurance premiums earned

     9,399      38,126       220,410       497,176       585,894  

Reinsurance commission income

     1,667      (237 )     5,799       12,125       5,621  

Real estate and leasing

     —        3,020       83,837       196,980       273,822  

(Loss) gain on disposal of assets

     —        (10,198 )     139,902       41,767       49,496  

Investment income (loss)

     35,345      154,007       (113,134 )     22,721       (36,145 )
    

  


 


 


 


Total revenue

     46,411      184,718       336,814       770,769       878,688  
    

  


 


 


 


Net income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 84,200    $ 55,876     $ (201,662 )   $ (252,131 )   $ (558,334 )
    

  


 


 


 


Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.71    $ 0.47     $ (1.70 )   $ (2.12 )   $ (4.54 )
    

  


 


 


 


Cash dividends per share

     —        —         —       $ 0.70     $ 1.20  

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

December 31,

(in thousands U.S.$)


   2004

   2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

 

Cash and investments

   $ 669,185    $ 1,525,914     $ 2,233,824     $ 2,318,665     $ 2,592,122  
    

  


 


 


 


Assets:

                                       

Reinsurance

     754,037      1,932,586       2,809,400       2,983,785       2,991,610  

Subsidiary held for sale

     —        255,541       362,341       450,012       287,228  

Real estate and leasing

     —        —         186,680       912,968       1,298,746  
    

  


 


 


 


Total assets

     754,037      2,188,127       3,358,421       4,346,765       4,577,584  
    

  


 


 


 


Short-term debt

     —        —         —         —         135,000  
    

  


 


 


 


Long-term debt

     —        —         100,322       556,099       761,943  
    

  


 


 


 


Members’ equity

   $ 515,390    $ 700,963     $ 1,208,065     $ 1,318,921     $ 1,778,005  
    

  


 


 


 


Net book value per share

   $ 4.34    $ 5.90     $ 10.16     $ 11.07     $ 14.70  

 

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

This discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto presented under “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

 

Overview

 

Our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are affected by a number of business factors and critical accounting policies as discussed further below.

 

BUSINESS FACTORS

 

The Company’s historical operations were conducted through two segments – reinsurance and real estate & leasing. However, in February 2002, the Company announced its decision to discontinue writing new reinsurance business and begin an orderly runoff of both the reinsurance and real estate & leasing segments. The decision to go into runoff reflected the desire of many of our shareowners to have greater liquidity for their investment in OPL. The Company’s primary objective at this time is to return capital to shareowners as and when it is prudent to do so, with due regard to our ongoing capital needs and regulatory restrictions.

 

As discussed further below, the decision to put the operations into runoff has significantly impacted our results of operations and associated cash flows and will continue to do so for the duration of the runoff.

 

a. Historic operations and sources of revenue, income and cash flow

 

Prior to the decision to begin an orderly runoff, the Company participated in a number of lines of reinsurance business including finite risk, accident & health, aviation & satellite, property, property catastrophe, auto liability, marine and workers’ compensation business in Bermuda and working layer casualty in the United States through OPUS Re.

 

Our primary sources of reinsurance revenues were premiums from our reinsurance contracts and investment income earned from investing the premiums received and the capital allocated to the reinsurance segment. For some lines of business, such as workers’ compensation and working layer casualty, the expected future investment income was a critical part of the underwriting process as there are significant lags between the dates that premiums are received and losses are paid. Claims on those lines of business may typically be paid over a period of time that extends beyond 20 years. The expenses incurred by the reinsurance segment were primarily: (i) costs associated with the acquisition of the underlying business, including fees paid to reinsurance agents and brokers that introduce the business to the Company, and commissions paid to the reinsured (referred to as “ceding companies”) to reimburse them for a portion of their own acquisition costs; (ii) losses and loss adjustment expenses associated with underlying claims on the reinsured policies; and (iii) internal general and administrative expenses allocated to the reinsurance segment.

 

In addition, the Company earned real estate & leasing revenues by renting or leasing the hotel, office, retail and other properties that we acquired over time. The Company also expected to generate additional income from the appreciation in value of the properties during the period of ownership. Commencing in 2000, the Company started to dispose of its real estate properties on an opportunistic basis with a view to redeploying the capital to the reinsurance segment or making distributions to shareowners. Following the final property sale in late 2003, we no longer generate any real estate & leasing revenues.

 

b. Current operations and sources of revenue, income and cash flow

 

The Company’s only operating segment is now reinsurance. The Company has not written any new reinsurance business since the decision to discontinue reinsurance operations. However losses will continue to be incurred and paid on business written prior to the decision to begin runoff. Some of our reinsurance contracts do not expire for several years and include a $180 million residual value reinsurance program where the Company is exposed to losses until 2013 arising from potential lease income shortfalls on a portfolio of aircraft.

 

 

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Our operational focus since going into runoff has been to: (i) preserve our capital base through various risk management initiatives; (ii) actively manage and negotiate early settlement of our reinsurance liabilities and real estate debt; (iii) seek opportunistic sales of our real estate assets and reinsurance subsidiaries; and (iv) prudently return capital to our shareowners over time.

 

Our primary risk management initiatives are aimed at reducing the risk of adverse development in the estimated ultimate cost of settling our accrued losses and loss expenses (see further discussion of these uncertainties in “Critical Accounting Policies” below). We have sought to commute our reinsurance contracts through negotiation with our ceding companies. A commutation involves our paying a single amount to the ceding company as a full and final settlement of our estimated ultimate obligations. Loss reserve commutations are recorded as an increase or decrease in incurred claims. Commutations of unexpired risks are recorded as a return (i.e. reduction) of original premiums written. Not all ceding companies may be willing to agree to commutation or we may be unable to agree a mutually acceptable settlement price. As such we may also seek to novate certain reinsurance contracts to a third party reinsurer. Novation involves our paying a single amount, with the ceding company’s consent, to another reinsurer who then assumes all of our risks and obligations under the original reinsurance contract. Novations are recorded as a return of the original premium income and any attendant claims and expenses that have been previously recorded.

 

An alternative to our commutation and novation strategy is to sell the reinsurance subsidiary itself. For example, on November 15, 2004, the Company completed the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary, OPUS Re, to OdysseyRe for $43 million. Although the sale generated a loss of $25.9 million it eliminated the risk of adverse claims experience on approximately $143 million of accrued losses and loss expense reserves, enabled additional capital to be available for distribution to shareowners and will save the ongoing costs of runoff.

 

Before we can liquidate OPL we must sell or liquidate OPRe and settle OPL’s remaining contingent liabilities. To date, we have not actively pursued a sale of OPRe as we believe that the price that a buyer would be willing to pay would not match our valuation. Potential purchasers will likely value OPRe’s assets and liabilities at amounts different from their carrying values to reflect their own assessment of risks and uncertainties and the need to generate a return on their investment. Any loss on sale of OPRe will be recorded in the period that the terms of a proposed sale meet all of the criteria required for OPRe to be classified as held for sale in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”.

 

We believe that if we can negotiate the early settlement of our most volatile reinsurance contracts and collect the remaining recoveries relating to our aviation excess of loss reinsurance, then, subject to Bermuda Monetary Authority approval, we will be able to make a significant capital distribution from OPRe. Once we have reduced the capital in OPRe, and eliminated much of the potential for adverse loss development, we believe that it is more likely that a buyer would be willing to pay a price that would be in line with our valuation.

 

We have also sought resolution of other loss contingencies such as the class action litigations (see “Item 3 – Legal Proceedings”), while also reducing the risks inherent in our asset base, through the sale of our equity security portfolio (market risk), global fixed income portfolio (currency and interest rate risk) and a reduction in the duration of our remaining fixed income portfolio (interest rate risk).

 

Our ultimate objective is to liquidate OPL and distribute all of the capital to shareowners. The settlement of contingent and actual liabilities and other risk mitigation efforts described above will ultimately release capital for distribution to shareowners, although the amount and timing of such distributions to shareowners is also a function of regulatory approval in Bermuda, and position OPL for eventual liquidation. (See further discussion on Regulations in Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.)

 

 

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As of January 14, 2005 OPL has either liquidated or sold all of its United States based subsidiaries, so OPL no longer has any subsidiaries that are subject to United States income taxes. OPL’s management believes that OPL does not have any remaining United States income tax liabilities. However, the statutes of limitations for the tax returns filed by OPL’s wholly-owned subsidiary, OPCC, do not expire until at least the end of March 2008. The IRS may audit these tax returns and may seek to impose additional taxes on OPL. OPL received significant tax refunds due to losses incurred by OPCC in the year ended December 31, 2003. As the refunds were in excess of $2 million, OPCC’s tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are subject to review by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the United States Congress which may involve an audit by the IRS. These matters may impact the timing of our final liquidation.

 

The decision to put the Company’s operations into runoff has significantly impacted our results of operations and associated cash flows. In particular: (i) our results have fluctuated, and will continue to fluctuate, materially from quarter to quarter as a result of, among other things, the number and size of negotiated settlements of reinsurance contracts, changes in estimates in accrued loss and loss expenses, and the changes in the size and composition of our investment portfolio; and (ii) the Company has become cash flow negative in its reinsurance operations and expects this to continue in the future as the cash received from premiums has declined following the non-renewal of business and the payment of accrued losses has accelerated through our efforts to negotiate the early settlement of our liabilities. We anticipate that the Company’s cash and investment portfolio will provide adequate liquidity to enable the Company to meet its obligations as they fall due.

 

Our primary source of revenue at this time is the investment income earned from our investment portfolio. Investment earnings will continue to decline in future periods as we use our funds to pay reinsurance claims, including the commutation and novation of contracts, to meet corporate overhead and to make distributions to shareowners.

 

Our most significant expenses relate primarily to (i) losses and loss adjustment expenses, including changes in estimates in our accrued losses and loss adjustment expense reserves and the effects of any commutation or novation agreements, and (ii) internal general and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses currently comprise payroll, shareowner service fees, legal fees, investment management expenses and other office overhead. Expenses associated with the oversight of unexpired reinsurance policies and the handling of claims, commutations and novations are allocated to the reinsurance segment with the residual expense and other charges recorded as other operating expenses. We expect investment income to decline over the next few years as our asset base is reduced whereas our total general and administrative expenses are unlikely to decrease to the same extent. Consequently, it is possible that we will incur a net loss in future periods.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Our consolidated financial statements include amounts that, due to their nature, are inherently subjective, as their reported values are based on estimates that require complex assumptions and significant management judgment. We believe that the reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses involve the most highly subjective and complex estimates.

 

While we believe that the recorded reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses reflect our best estimates and assumptions, there could be a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition if actual events differ significantly from the underlying assumptions. As such we deem our accounting policies for the reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses to be of critical importance to our consolidated financial statements.

 

Following the sales of (i) OPUS Re; (ii) our investments in private equity funds; and (iii) our investment in affiliate, (a 22% investment in a Florida based workers’ compensation insurance company), and the fact that our remaining investments are in high quality, short-duration bonds, we do not believe that our accounting policies for the identification of other-than-temporary impairments in the carrying value of certain assets are of critical importance to our consolidated financial statements. However, the estimates and assumptions used to identify other-than-temporary impairments would have impacted our net income for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003. Our accounting policies for the identification of other-than-temporary impairments are contained in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

 

 

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The following discussion provides more information regarding the accounting policy and necessary estimates and assumptions required to arrive at the reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses. In addition, there are other significant accounting policies that are important to an understanding of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

 

Reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses

 

Losses and loss expenses are charged to income as they are incurred. We establish loss and loss expense reserves for the unpaid portion of the estimated ultimate liability of all claims covered under the terms of our reinsurance contracts with ceding companies. These accrued losses and loss expense reserves include estimates for (i) unpaid reported losses and loss expenses; and (ii) losses that have been incurred but not reported (“IBNR”). The Company also establishes an estimate of the internal costs of processing and settling the claims based on projected future costs for legal and other loss adjustment fees, payroll and office overhead. At December 31, 2004, the Company’s total reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses were $188 million, which includes approximately $137 million for IBNR reserves.

 

We are required to set such reserves for all business that we write, even though, at least initially, we do not have all the necessary information to know the total number of claims that may be covered or the ultimate cost to settle those claims. Unpaid reported losses and loss expenses are recorded based on estimates provided by the ceding companies and other information considered by management to be relevant to the estimation process. The estimate for IBNR reflects management’s best estimate based on the recommendations of an independent actuary using common actuarial techniques used throughout the insurance and reinsurance industry.

 

The following outlines the nature of the significant judgments involved in establishing such estimates and certain industry and company specific factors that further add to the complexity and subjectivity of the reserving process:

 

  i. The independent actuary projects current values for paid and reported losses to their ultimate value using a number of alternative estimation methods that reflect historical paid and reported loss development experience and, for some methods, an expectation of underwriting profitability independent of actual loss experience. The historical paid and reported loss development data includes both company specific and industry loss experience for each line of business, recognizing that the Company has limited loss experience of its own to serve as a reliable basis for estimating ultimate losses. Such data will be adjusted from time to time to reflect the changing characteristics of the book of business written by the Company. Each estimation method may result in a materially different projection of ultimate losses compared to another estimation method. The weights assigned to each estimation method are judgmentally determined by the independent actuary and will vary over time, with greater weight initially assigned to methods incorporating industry data and initial expectations of underwriting profitability. Greater weight is placed on the Company’s historical paid and reported loss experience over time as that data becomes more mature and reliable for making projections.

 

  ii. Short-tail lines describe lines of business where losses are usually known and paid shortly after the loss actually occurs. This would include, for example, most property, property catastrophe and accident & health lines of business. For these lines, most of the underlying claims would be settled by the insurance company within three to four years of the loss event, although some large or complex claims, such as those emanating from the events of September 11, 2001 may take much longer to settle. Long-tail business describes lines of business, such as workers’ compensation and working layer casualty business, where specific losses may not be reported for a considerable period of time and the final settlement of the loss may take even longer, in some cases in excess of 20 years after the loss event. Other lines written by the company, such as marine, aviation and satellite, fall somewhere in between short-tail and long-tail, while the finite risk business can be long- or short-tail depending on each individual reinsurance contract.

 

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  iii. Inherent in the estimates of ultimate losses are expected trends in claim severity and frequency and other factors, which could vary significantly as claims are settled. During these extended loss settlement periods described above, additional facts regarding claims become known and circumstances may change; for example, changing government regulations, newly identified toxins, newly reported claims, new theories of liability, new contract interpretations and other factors could significantly affect future loss emergence and the ultimate costs of settling claims. Accordingly, there is a much higher degree of variability in loss estimates for the longer-tail lines of business. As additional facts are reported and circumstances evolve, it may be necessary to increase or decrease the accrued losses and loss expenses reserves. The actual final liability may be significantly different from prior estimates.

 

  iv. While the reserving process is difficult and subjective for insurance companies, the inherent uncertainties of estimating such reserves are even greater for reinsurers such as the Company, due primarily to (1) the additional lag in reporting loss information by the insurance company to the reinsurers (and possibly by those reinsurers to their own reinsurers); (2) the necessary reliance on the ceding companies for information regarding reported claims; (3) differing reserving practices among ceding companies; and (4) the diversity of loss reporting and payment patterns among different types of reinsurance contracts or lines of business.

 

  v. The Company believes that it does not have any exposure to the environmental, asbestos and latent injury claims that have resulted in significant deterioration in loss reserves for other insurance and reinsurance companies. However, there are significant uncertainties over the estimates of ultimate losses associated with:

 

    A $180 million residual value reinsurance program where the Company is exposed to losses through 2013 arising from potential lease income shortfalls on a portfolio of aircraft. The company carries reserves for this program using actuarial projections that reflect the current performance of the fleet and projected future performance under a number of economic scenarios;

 

    Our exposure to losses incurred, particularly in our aviation portfolio, as a result of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the related events of September 11, 2001. The unprecedented nature and magnitude of these events increases the level of uncertainty surrounding the estimates of losses incurred. At December 31, 2004 our total reserves for accrued losses pertaining to such events were approximately $56 million gross and $33 million net of losses and loss expenses recoverable from reinsurers; and

 

    The Company is engaged in several ongoing disputes with ceding companies. The Company continues to reserve for losses and loss expenses on all disputed contracts without regard to any possibility of a favorable outcome. However, the uncertainty surrounding such estimates is increased by the fact that the Company may not have received current loss information from the ceding company during the period of the dispute and may not have had the opportunity to audit or otherwise review the reliability of such reported information.

 

While the Company has recorded its current ‘best estimate’ of its liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses, it is reasonably possible that these estimated liabilities may increase or decrease in the future and that the increase or decrease may be material to the results from operations, cash flows and financial position for future periods.

 

The Company considers a ‘best estimate’ to be one that has an equal likelihood of developing a redundancy or deficiency as the loss experience matures. The independent actuary also develops a range of estimated ultimate losses as well as a best estimate for each program or line of business and selects a low estimate and a high estimate for the total book of business after allowing for potential diversification effects across the Company’s various lines of business. The resulting low and high estimates were $16 million below and $53 million above the independent actuary’s ‘best estimates’. The range of estimated liabilities is provided in an attempt to quantify some of the uncertainty in estimating ultimate losses and does not present the bounds of all possible outcomes.

 

 

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Results of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

Runoff Activities for 2004

 

The results for the year ended December 31, 2004 reflect a number of significant transactions that were effected in accordance with our runoff goals and objectives. In particular, the Company:

 

    Commuted or otherwise settled a number of reinsurance contracts, contributing to a reduction in reinsurance liabilities of approximately $765 million and generating net income of approximately $73 million as a result of savings compared to carried reserves. The commutations also reduce our exposure to future adverse claims experience while also releasing capital for distribution to shareowners;

 

    Commuted a portion of our aviation excess of loss reinsurance protection, resulting in the collection of approximately $34 million of losses and loss expenses recoverable, after allowing the reinsurers a discount of $7.9 million for early settlement. In addition to the positive cash flow, the commutations eliminated the credit risk associated with such receivables and thereby allowed us to reduce our provision for bad debts by $4 million;

 

    Sold OPUS Re for cash proceeds of $43 million generating a loss of approximately $25.9 million. The sale eliminates the risk of adverse claims experience on accrued losses and loss expense reserves of approximately $143 million, saves the ongoing costs associated with the run off and also enables additional capital to be released for distribution to shareowners;

 

    Completed the sale of our investments in four private equity funds for a gain on sale of $3.7 million. The sale generated net cash proceeds of approximately $30.4 million, and also eliminated the Company’s future capital commitments of approximately $37 million;

 

    Sold our 22% investment in a Florida based workers’ compensation insurance company for $5 million, equal to the carrying value of the investment; and

 

    Paid our third post-runoff distribution to shareowners on August 31, 2004 in the amount of $237.5 million (equivalent to $2 per share).

 

Summary of Results

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   2004

    2003

 

NET INCOME BEFORE TAXES

                

Reinsurance segment

   $ 94,577     $ 91,243  

Real estate and leasing segment

     —         (25,418 )

Other operating expenses

     (11,346 )     (25,325 )
    


 


Net income before taxes from continuing operations

     83,231       40,500  

Income taxes

     969       15,376  
    


 


Net income from continuing operations

     84,200       55,876  

Net loss from discontinued operations

     (23,162 )     (10,021 )
    


 


Net income

   $ 61,038     $ 45,855  
    


 


Basic and diluted net income per share

   $ 0.51     $ 0.39  
    


 


 

Net income of $61.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2004 was primarily due to net savings of approximately $72.5 million generated through commutations and $33.5 million of reinsurance investment income, partially offset by the loss on sale of OPUS Re and the internal costs of runoff.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2003 we sold our final remaining leased asset and the Company therefore did not earn any real estate or leasing revenue in 2004.

 

Other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2004 were $11.3 million. The operating expenses consist of corporate expenses not allocated to operating segments including payroll, insurance, shareowner costs and rent.

 

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2004 we recorded a net loss from discontinued operations of $23.2 million, which relates to the operations and sale of OPUS Re. This amount includes OPUS Re’s operating income of $4.9 million, a tax charge of $2.2 million primarily due to a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, and the loss on sale of $25.9 million.

 

Net income for the year ending December 31, 2003 was $45.9 million. The main factors that contributed to the net income are discussed below in “Results of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002”.

 

Basic and diluted net income per share was $0.51 for the year ended December 31, 2004 consisting of $0.71 per share of income from continuing operations offset by a loss of $0.20 per share from the discontinued operations of OPUS Re. For the year ended December 31, 2003 basic and diluted net income per share was $0.39 consisting of $0.47 per share of income from continuing operations offset by a loss of $0.08 per share from discontinued operations.

 

A more detailed discussion of our operating results for 2004 and 2003 by segment is set out below.

 

Reinsurance Segment

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   2004

    2003

 

Gross premiums written

   $ 3,616     $ (70,044 )

Premiums ceded

     481       (3,012 )
    


 


Net premiums written

     4,097       (73,056 )

Change in unearned premiums

     5,302       111,182  
    


 


Premiums earned

     9,399       38,126  

Commission and fee income

     1,667       (237 )
    


 


       11,066       37,889  

Losses and loss expenses

     61,552       (51,579 )

Commissions, taxes and other expenses

     (11,509 )     (18,028 )
    


 


       50,043       (69,607 )
    


 


Underwriting income (loss)

     61,109       (31,718 )

Investment income, net of expenses

     33,468       122,961  
    


 


Reinsurance income

   $ 94,577     $ 91,243  
    


 


 

Underwriting

 

Gross premiums written for the year ended December 31, 2004 of $3.6 million were due to changes in the estimates of ultimate written premium. Gross premiums written for the year ended December 31, 2003 of negative $70.0 million were primarily due to the cancellation of one of the Company’s finite reinsurance agreements where $74.5 million of written and unearned premiums were returned.

 

Premiums ceded of $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 were primarily related to additional premiums due on our aviation excess of loss protection. We commuted a portion of this reinsurance protection in 2004.

 

Premiums earned for the year ended December 31, 2004 decreased to $9.4 million compared to $38.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. This decrease is a result of the reinsurance operations of the Company being runoff. Premiums earned are expected to be negligible in future years.

 

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2004, we generated net underwriting income of $61.1 million, which is primarily due to net savings of approximately $72.5 million generated through commutations of both our assumed loss reserves and portions of our aviation excess of loss reinsurance protection. The commutations included a workers’ compensation contract, with recorded loss reserves of approximately $198 million, where reinsurance had been provided to a reinsurer that had commenced arbitration to rescind its own reinsurance contract with the primary carrier. The commutation resulted in savings compared to booked reserves and eliminated the risk of further losses that may have arisen from an unfavorable arbitration decision in the underlying contract. The commutation savings were partially offset by loss adjustment expenses of $8.9 million, consisting largely of legal fees, letter of credit fees and internal costs of runoff.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2003 we experienced a net underwriting loss of $31.7 primarily due to:

 

    An increase in estimated ultimate losses of approximately $15 million on two workers’ compensation programs. The change in estimates followed an independent actuarial evaluation completed in the third quarter of 2003 and reflected adverse trending of medical expenses associated with workers’ compensation claims in California. These contracts were subsequently commuted in 2004; and

 

    Runoff costs of $11.0 million, comprising largely legal fees and internal costs.

 

Reinsurance Investment Income (Loss)

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   (Loss)
Income
2004


    Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
2004


    Total
Return
2004


    Income
(Loss)
2003


    Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
2003


    Total
Return
2003


 

Equities

                                                

Available-for-sale

     (343 )     (1,285 )     (1,628 )     46,134       (13,328 )     32,806  

Trading

     15,053       —         15,053       62,035       —         62,035  

Fixed income

     15,859       (7,497 )     8,362       19,312       (3,800 )     15,512  

Other

     4,776       —         4,776       846       19       865  

Expenses

     (1,877 )     —         (1,877 )     (5,366 )     —         (5,366 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


     $ 33,468     $ (8,782 )   $ 24,686     $ 122,961     $ (17,109 )   $ 105,852  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 

The Company’s reinsurance investments are classified as either trading or available-for-sale. The trading portfolio is recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in net income. The available-for-sale portfolio is recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in members’ equity as other comprehensive income. Despite the different accounting treatment of the trading and available-for-sale portfolios, we manage the Company’s cash and investments in total and do not place much importance on whether the return is recognized in net income or as other comprehensive income. Therefore, this discussion will focus on the total investment return.

 

Our reinsurance portfolio generated a total return of $24.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to a total return of $105.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The comparative performance was primarily due to the net effect of:

 

    Our available-for-sale S&P 500 equity portfolio generating $34.5 million of return in 2003 prior to its sale. The sale of this portfolio was in line with our strategy of reducing our exposure to equity price risk due to the runoff of our reinsurance operations;

 

    Our trading equities generating a positive return of $15.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to a positive return of $62.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Our trading equities, which were sold during the year ended December 31, 2004, were investments in a multi-manager fund that followed a combination of fixed income strategies. The fund earned 3.3% for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared with earning 12.5% for the year ended December 31, 2003. The variance was primarily due to the fund’s high-yield bond portfolio and convertible securities components returning respectively 8.7% and 1.9% during the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to 20.5% and 25.3% for the year ended December 31, 2003;

 

    A downturn in the U.S. fixed income markets such that our debt securities generated a return of $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to a return of $15.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2003;

 

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    Our completion of the sale of our investments in four private equity funds that realized a $3.7 million gain during the year ended December 31, 2004; and

 

    A reduction in investment balances of approximately $880 million during the year ended December 31, 2004 due to net investment sales in order to fund commutations, novations and distributions to shareowners.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2004 investment expenses decreased to $1.9 million from $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. This was partially due to a reduction in assets invested, although investment expenses for the year ended December 31, 2003 included the write-off of previously capitalized management fees relating to our investment in private equity funds, reflecting an impairment in the carrying value of the funds.

 

Results of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002

 

Runoff Activities for 2003

 

The results for the year ended December 31, 2003 reflect a number of significant transactions that were effected in accordance with our runoff goals and objectives. In particular, the Company:

 

    Commuted or otherwise settled a number of reinsurance contracts, contributing to a reduction in reinsurance liabilities of approximately $850 million;

 

    Sold our remaining $330 million of S&P 500 equity securities in a number of tranches throughout the year to take advantage of improved equity market conditions. These sales generated approximately $51 million of realized gains and also reduced the amount of capital required to support future investment risks;

 

    Repurchased and cancelled the remaining $75 million of long-term real estate debt. The debt was repurchased for an amount equivalent to the fair value of zero coupon securities we owned as collateral for the debt, resulting in a total repurchase premium of approximately $36 million. This was offset by $21 million of realized gains from the corresponding release and sale of the collateral securities;

 

    Sold our last real estate asset - a facility under finance lease with the Kmart Corporation. The sale of the asset generated a pre-tax loss of approximately $10.8 million. The sale of the finance lease and the debt repurchase allowed us to recover approximately $15 million of taxes previously paid on earlier real estate sales and facilitated the final liquidation of our real estate subsidiaries;

 

    Favorably resolved tax litigation and other tax issues with the IRS for 1999 and prior years, without cost;

 

    Reached a settlement of two class action lawsuits filed against the Company in late- 1999 and early- 2000. We accrued costs of $10 million in connection with the settlement; and

 

    Paid our first post-runoff distribution to shareowners on April 9, 2003 in the amount of $237 million (equivalent to $2 per share) and declared a second distribution of $297 million (equivalent to $2.50 per share) on December 2, 2003 that was paid on January 5, 2004.

 

 

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Summary of Results

 

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   2003

    2002

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES

                

Reinsurance segment

   $ 91,243     $ (253,913 )

Real estate and leasing segment

     (25,418 )     103,315  

Other operating expenses

     (25,325 )     (20,175 )
    


 


Consolidated net income (loss) before taxes

     40,500       (170,773 )

Income taxes

     15,376       (30,889 )
    


 


Net income (loss) from continuing operations

     55,876       (201,662 )
    


 


Net loss from discontinued operations

     (10,021 )     (14,929 )
    


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 45,855     $ (216,591 )
    


 


Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.39     $ (1.82 )
    


 


 

Net income of $45.9 million for the year ending December 31, 2003 was largely due to the improved performance of the United States financial markets. The main factors that contributed to the net income were:

 

    Our reinsurance investments produced $123.0 million of total income, primarily due to the $50.7 million of realized gains from the exit of our S&P 500 equity portfolio as discussed above and income of $62.0 million from our multi-manager funds. However the reinsurance segment also incurred a net underwriting loss of $31.7 million, primarily due to $15 million of adverse development in the estimate of accrued losses and loss expenses and $11.0 million of internal runoff cost allocated to the reinsurance segment;

 

    The loss of $25.4 million from our real estate and leasing segment reflected the liquidation of the real estate segment as discussed above, in particular the $10.8 million loss on sale of the facility subject to the finance lease and the $35.9 million premium paid to repurchase our remaining long-term debt offset by realized gains of $20.9 million from the sale of securities held as collateral for the debt;

 

    Other operating expenses of $25.3 million which are comprised of corporate expenses not allocated to operating segments and included the following one-time charges:

 

    10.0 million of costs to settle the class action lawsuit; and

 

    An asset impairment charge of $5.6 million due to an other-than-temporary impairment in our investment in affiliate;

 

    A tax credit of $15.4 million primarily due to the loss on the sale of the finance lease with the Kmart Corporation and the premium on the debt repurchase; and

 

    Losses from OPUS Re of $10.0 million, including an asset impairment charge of $5.8 million to write-down the capitalized cost of insurance licenses.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2002, we experienced a net loss of $216.6 million. The main factors that contributed to the net loss were:

 

    Underwriting losses of $88.3 million and investment losses of $165.6 million in our reinsurance segment. The underwriting losses included losses incurred on a number of multi-year or unexpired programs written prior to the runoff announcement, adverse development in the estimate of accrued losses and loss expenses, the cost to commute some of our satellite programs, internal underwriting expenses incurred before the runoff, and subsequent runoff costs. The losses from our reinsurance investments were primarily due to an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $177.5 million recorded in our equity portfolio;

 

    Income from our real estate and leasing segment of $103.3 million due to the net effect of gains on sale of assets offset by a premium paid to repurchase long-term debt;

 

    Other operating expenses, which included additional costs as a result of the runoff announcement, such as severance payments;

 

    Income taxes of $30.9 million relating to our real estate and leasing income; and

 

    Losses from OPUS Re of $14.9 million, including the write-off of $2.5 million of goodwill associated with OPUS Re’s acquisition.

 

A more detailed discussion of our operating results for 2003 and 2002 by segment is set out below.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Reinsurance Segment

 

(In thousands U.S.$)


   2003

    2002

 

Gross premiums written

   $ (70,044 )   $ 208,965  

Premiums ceded

     (3,012 )     (77,244 )
    


 


Net premiums written

     (73,056 )     131,721  

Change in unearned premiums

     111,182       88,689  
    


 


Premiums earned

     38,126       220,410  

Commission and fee income

     (237 )     5,799  
    


 


       37,889       226,209  

Losses and loss expenses

     (51,579 )     (232,567 )

Commissions, taxes and other expenses

     (18,028 )     (81,977 )
    


 


       (69,607 )     (314,544 )
    


 


Underwriting loss

     (31,718 )     (88,335 )

Investment income (loss), net of expenses

     122,961       (165,578 )
    


 


Reinsurance income (loss)

   $ 91,243     $ (253,913 )
    


 


 

Underwriting

 

During the year ended December 31, 2003 our gross written premium was negative $70.0 million compared to $209.0 million, written prior to the runoff announcement, for the year ended December 31, 2002. The negative gross written premium was primarily due to the cancellation of one of the Company’s finite reinsurance agreements where $74.5 million of written and unearned premiums were returned.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2003 premiums ceded decreased to $3.0 million compared to $77.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. Premium ceded for the year ended December 31, 2003 primarily related to additional premiums due on our aviation excess of loss protection. Premium ceded for the year ended December 31, 2002 primarily related to property catastrophe premiums ceded to Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd.

 

Premiums earned for the year ended December 31, 2003 decreased to $38.1 million compared to $220.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. This decrease is a result of the reinsurance operations of the Company being runoff.

 

Commission and fee income decreased to negative $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared with $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. This decrease is due to a decrease in fees earned on our finite risk contracts that were not accounted for as reinsurance as they did not satisfy the risk transfer criteria of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 113. These fees decreased due to the effects of commutations and novations following the decision to put our reinsurance operations into runoff.

 

Commissions, taxes and other expenses for the year ended December 31, 2003 decreased to $18.0 million from $82.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. This decrease was primarily related to the decrease in premiums earned and changes in the mix of premiums earned. In addition, $4.9 million of the decrease was due to a reduction in internal expenses, primarily as a result of the decision to put our reinsurance operations into runoff.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2003 we experienced a net underwriting loss of $31.7 million compared to a net underwriting loss of $88.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. For the year ended December 31, 2003 the net underwriting loss was primarily due to:

 

    An increase in estimated ultimate losses of approximately $15 million on two workers’ compensation programs. The change in estimates follows an independent actuarial evaluation completed in the third quarter of 2003 and reflects adverse trending of medical expenses associated with workers’ compensation claims in California; and

 

    Runoff costs of $11.0 million, comprising largely legal fees and internal costs.

 

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2002 the net underwriting loss was primarily due to:

 

    Incurred losses of $46.5 million as a result of credit default events on two multi-year financial lines programs;

 

    Incurred losses of $10.8 million reflecting the cost of commutations of three of our satellite programs;

 

    Internal underwriting expenses and runoff costs of $15.9 million; and

 

    Adverse development in the estimate of ultimate losses on a number of programs, primarily a marine contract and two multi-year contracts in our property and accident & health lines of business, respectively.

 

Reinsurance Investment Income (Loss)

 

(In thousands U.S.$)


   Income
(Loss)
2003


    Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
2003


    Total
Return
2003


    (Loss)
Income
2002


    Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
2002


    Total
Return
2002


 

Equities

                                                

Available-for-sale

   $ 46,134     $ (13,328 )   $ 32,806     $ (201,608 )   $ 84,442     $ (117,166 )

Trading

     62,035       —         62,035       14,916       —         14,916  

Fixed income

     19,312       (3,800 )     15,512       19,422       19,232       38,654  

Other

     846       19       865       5,359       (39 )     5,320  

Expenses

     (5,366 )     —         (5,366 )     (3,667 )     —         (3,667 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


     $ 122,961     $ (17,109 )   $ 105,852     $ (165,578 )   $ 103,635     $ (61,943 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 

Despite a reduction in the assets available for investment our reinsurance portfolio generated a total return of $105.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to a negative total return of $61.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. The improved performance in 2003 was primarily due to:

 

    An upturn in U.S equity markets such that our S&P 500 based equity portfolio returned $34.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to a negative return of $75.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2002;

 

    Our investment in a Bermuda based life reinsurer generating a negative return of $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to a negative return of $41.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2002; and

 

    Our trading equities generating a return of $62.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to a return of $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. Our trading equities are investments in multi-manager funds that follow primarily a combination of fixed income strategies. The improved performance was primarily due to increases in the value of the strategic income fund’s high-yield bond portfolio and convertible bond portfolio.

 

These results included the effects of the write-down in the cost basis of equity investments classified as available-for-sale where the decline in value was considered other than temporary. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, such a write-down is recognized as a realized loss in the income statement, even though there were no sales of the securities. For the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, the amount of the write-down was $8.0 million and $177.5 million, respectively.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2003 investment expenses increased by $1.7 million to $5.4 million from $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. This increase was due to the write-off of previously capitalized management fees relating to our investment in private equity funds.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Real Estate and Leasing

 

(In thousands U.S.$)


   2003

    2002

 

REVENUE:

                

Office buildings

   $ —       $ 39,605  

Hotel

     —         37,222  

Leasing

     3,020       7,010  

(Loss) gain on sale of real estate assets

     (10,198 )     139,902  
    


 


       (7,178 )     223,739  

EXPENSES:

                

Operating expenses

     (814 )     (51,522 )

Interest expense

     (7,495 )     (28,615 )

Premium on debt repurchase

     (35,611 )     (78,001 )

Depreciation expense

     —         (9,038 )

Minority interest in earnings

     —         (2,025 )
    


 


       (43,920 )     (169,201 )
    


 


Operating (loss) income

     (51,098 )     54,538  

Investment income:

                

Amortization of zero-coupon notes

     4,547       11,824  

Gain on sale of zero-coupon notes

     20,861       34,803  

Other

     272       2,150  
    


 


Investment income

     25,680       48,777  
    


 


Real estate and leasing (loss) income

   $ (25,418 )   $ 103,315  
    


 


 

During the fourth quarter of 2003 we sold our final remaining leased asset and the Company is therefore no longer engaged in the real estate and leasing business.

 

The reduction in office, hotel and leasing revenues and operating expenses was due to:

 

    The sale of our two-thirds partnership interest in the Copley Place retail center and office complex, located in Boston, on July 19, 2002. The sale resulted in a pre-tax gain of $35.0 million;

 

    The sale of the Marriott Copley Hotel on June 13, 2002 that resulted in a pre-tax gain of $58.8 million; and

 

    The sale of the data processing facility and the land on which the facility is located to UPS and the termination of the lease by UPS in January 2002. The sale resulted in a total pre-tax gain of $47.1 million.

 

The $3.0 million leasing revenue for the year ended December 31, 2003 relates to the lease of a distribution facility to the Kmart Corporation. On November 25, 2003, the facility was sold to Kmart Corporation for net cash proceeds of $6.8 million resulting in a pre-tax loss of $10.8 million. The Kmart Corporation assumed the associated existing debt of $23.4 million.

 

The Company had previously purchased five Boeing 757 air package freighters and a data processing facility, which were leased to UPS under separate operating leases. The Series A Bonds and the Series B Bonds financed the acquisition of the aircraft and the facility. The Series A Bonds, in the principal amount of $171.6 million, were due in 2012; the Series B Bonds, in the principal amount of $73.4 million, were due in 2019. The related operating leases originally collateralized the bonds. Following the sale of the aircraft and the data processing facility we purchased zero-coupon bonds from the sale proceeds to collateralize the remaining interest payments on the bonds. Zero-coupon treasury notes that had a maturity value equal to the par value of the bonds collateralized the principal of the bonds.

 

During June 2002 we obtained the consent of all the bondholders to amend the Trust Indenture for the Series A Bonds and Series B Bonds to permit the repurchase and cancellation of the bonds. The terms of the repurchase and cancellation required the Company to pay an amount equivalent to the fair value of the collateral securities (relating to both principal and interest) to the bondholders along with a corresponding release of security. On June 27, 2002 we completed the repurchase and cancellation of $111.6 million of our Series A Bonds and $58.4 million of our Series B Bonds for a total premium of $76.9 million. The corresponding release of security resulted in the sale of zero-coupon notes with an amortized cost of $211.5 million generating a $34.8 million gain on sale.

 

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Table of Contents

On October 6, 2003 we completed the repurchase and cancellation of the remaining $60.0 million of Series A Bonds and $15.0 million of Series B Bonds for a total premium of $35.9 million. The corresponding release of security resulted in the sale of zero-coupon notes with an amortized cost of $91.5 million, generating a $20.9 million gain on sale.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Sources of capital and liquidity

 

Liquidity is a measure of a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the short-term and long-term cash requirements of its business operations. Prior to going into runoff, our reinsurance operations had historically provided significant liquidity in that premiums were received in advance, generally substantially in advance, of the time claims were paid. However, since placing our reinsurance operations into runoff, claim payments have significantly exceeded premium receipts and this is likely to continue in future periods. The Company will continue to accelerate loss payments through commutations and novations of the remaining reinsurance contracts and this will result in continued negative cash flow. There is significant uncertainty regarding the timing of cash payments due to the uncertain number and timing of commutations and novations. Without the completion of commutations and novations, loss payments could continue for the next twenty years.

 

Following OPL’s decision to cease writing new business and to runoff our reinsurance operations, the banks required that our letter of credit facilities be fully secured by a portion of the Company’s investment portfolio of at least equivalent value. At December 31, 2003 the Company had $448.2 million of cash and investments collateralizing our $441.3 million letter of credit facilities. In the normal course of reinsurance business, OPL’s bankers had issued letters of credit totaling $261.0 million as of December 31, 2003 to collateralize the Company’s accrued losses and unearned premium obligations to certain reinsureds. As OPL’s letter of credit facilities expired on December 31, 2004 the Company no longer has investments collateralizing these facilities. Where necessary, the Company has issued replacement collateral in the form of deposits with the reinsureds.

 

At December 31, 2004 the reinsurance segment had $669 million of cash and highly liquid investments. We believe that our current cash holdings and future sales and maturities of investments are adequate sources of liquidity for the future payment of claims and operating expenses. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further information on the composition, value and scheduled maturities of our investment portfolio.

 

Following the Board of Directors February 13, 2002 announcement about its decision to restructure OPL and cause its operations to begin an orderly runoff, the Company is seeking to provide shareowners with both near term and longer-term liquidity. However, due to the regulated nature of the reinsurance business and other business reasons, it could take many years to complete the runoff of OPL’s businesses and fully return share capital to shareowners.

 

As a holding company, a substantial proportion of OPL’s assets relate to its investments in subsidiaries. As such, OPL’s ability to make future distributions to shareowners is largely dependent upon it receiving distributions from its subsidiaries. Insurance regulation in Bermuda requires that OPL, OPRe and OPAL each maintain minimum capital and liquidity requirements and also prohibits such entities from distributing more than 15% of their prior year’s statutory capital unless specific approval is obtained from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. In addition to existing regulatory requirements, the Bermuda Monetary Authority has requested that it pre-approve all distributions from OPAL, OPRe and OPL. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further information on the restrictions on distributions and “Item 1 – Business” for a further discussion of regulations impacting our reinsurance segment.

 

Since going into runoff OPL has made three liquidating distributions to shareowners totaling $6.50 per share. Distributions of $237.7 million, $296.9 million and $237.5 million were paid on April 9, 2003, January 5, 2004 and August 31, 2004, respectively. All liquidating distributions were pre-approved by the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

 

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Table of Contents

Cash Flows

 

Cash and cash equivalents increased (decreased) due to the following:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)


   2004

    2003

 

CASH FLOWS

                

Operating activities

   $ 80,229     $ (332,551 )

Investing activities

     523,646       467,648  

Financing activities

     (534,464 )     (350,969 )

Discontinued operations

     49,041       —    
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 118,452     $ (215,872 )
    


 


 

Operating activities

 

Since OPL’s reinsurance operations went into runoff in February 2002 no new reinsurance contracts have been written and there has therefore been a significant reduction in the cash generated from reinsurance operations. Claim payments have exceeded premium receipts and this is likely to continue in future periods. The Company will continue to attempt to accelerate loss payments through commutations and novations of the remaining reinsurance contracts and this will continue the negative cash flow.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2004 reinsurance balances receivable, funds withheld, accrued losses and loss expenses and reinsurance balances payable decreased by $12.7 million, $224.7 million, $725.6 million and $31.9 million, respectively. These decreases were primarily a result of the commutation and novation of several reinsurance contracts. We anticipate that these balances will continue to decrease as the runoff of OPL’s reinsurance operations progresses.

 

Reinsurance underwriting operations used $422.6 million of cash for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to using $454.7 million of cash for the year ended December 31, 2003. These cash outflows were primarily due to commutation and novation payments.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company received approximately $20.0 million of tax refunds relating to our real estate and leasing operations. Real estate operations used $8.4 million of cash for the year ended December 31, 2003. The net cash outflow was primarily due to payments of tax and interest payments on the debt that was subsequently repurchased in October 2003. The Company no longer has any real estate operations or obligations.

 

We received $25.4 million of interest and dividends during the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to $30.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. During the year ended December 31, 2004 we generated $478.6 million through the sale of investments in our trading portfolio, primarily the Oxford Strategic Income Fund, compared to $109.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2004 we used $21.3 million for the payment of other operating expenses compared to using $9.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was primarily due to the payment of $10 million as final settlement of the class action lawsuit. See “Item 3 – Legal Proceedings”.

 

Investing activities

 

Following our decision to go into runoff, our investment objective has been and will continue to be more focused on capital preservation and short-to medium-term liquidity, as opposed to long-term return. Consequently, we have been reducing the duration of our investment portfolio and increasing our short-term investment positions to ensure that we will have sufficient cash available to meet claims obligations as they fall due and to mitigate our exposure to investment losses in the event of interest rate increases. We will continue to review our asset allocation as our runoff progresses. Despite these actions there may still be periods in which the Company records an investment loss as a result of the continued volatility in bond markets.

 

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Table of Contents

During the year ended December 31, 2004 we purchased $719.1 million and sold $1,117.1 million of available-for-sale investments compared to $959.8 million and $1,255.8 million, respectively for the year ended December 31, 2003. During the year ended December 31, 2004 sales from our available-for-sale investment portfolios exceeded purchases by $398.0 million. This was in order to fund the Company’s distributions to shareowners and commutation and novation payments. During 2003 the Company sold its remaining S&P 500 portfolios in order to reduce the Company’s exposure to equity price risk.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2004, we received proceeds of $30.4 million from the sale of our investments in private equity funds.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2003 our real estate investing activities generated net cash flow of $6.8 million due to the sale of the distribution facility to Kmart Corporation. On October 6, 2003 the Company completed the repurchase and cancellation of $60.0 million of Series A Bonds and $15.0 million of Series B Bonds. The corresponding release of security resulted in the sale of zero-coupon notes for $112.4 million.

 

Following the sale of our final remaining leased asset in the fourth quarter of 2003 the Company no longer has any real estate investing activities and will therefore no longer generate any cash from real estate.

 

Financing activities

 

During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company paid $112.6 million to repay and repurchase debt, primarily due to the repurchase and cancellation of the Series A and B bonds.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2003 the Company repurchased $0.7 million of shares. These shares were purchased from employees who had exercised a put-option to sell their shares upon termination of their employment with the Company, following our decision to go into runoff.

 

As a result of the decision to restructure OPL and cause its operations to begin an orderly runoff, we amended our dividend policy. It is unlikely that the Company will pay ordinary dividends in the future. We expect that all future returns of capital to our shareowners will be in the form of liquidating distributions, giving due consideration to the Company’s required capital levels to support the runoff of our accrued loss and loss expense liabilities, our contingent liabilities, regulatory requirements and availability of unrestricted liquid assets.

 

Since going into runoff OPL has made three liquidating distributions to shareowners totaling $6.50 per share. Distributions of $237.7 million, $296.9 million and $237.5 million were paid on April 9, 2003, January 5, 2004 and August 31, 2004, respectively. All liquidating distributions were pre-approved by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. The timing and amount of any future distributions is dependent on OPL’s ability to obtain specific approval from the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The Company’s contractual obligations are as follows:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)


   Total

   Less than 1 year

   1-3 years

   3-5 years

   More than 5 years

Operating lease obligations

   2,155    787    1,368    —      —  
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   2,155    787    1,368    —      —  
    
  
  
  
  

 

The above table excludes estimated future cash flows for losses and loss expenses, as there is typically no minimum contractual commitment associated with reinsurance contracts and also the amount and timing of the cash outflows are uncertain. The amount and timing of the cash outflows will also be affected by the Company’s strategy of attempting to accelerate loss payments through commutations and novations of the remaining reinsurance contracts.

 

The Company doesn’t have any other contractual obligations as of December 31, 2004.

 

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Table of Contents

CREDIT RISK

 

Credit risk represents the loss that would occur if a counterparty or issuer failed to perform its contractual obligations. Certain policies and procedures have been established to protect the Company against such losses from its investments or receivables. Controlling duration of the investment portfolio by limiting tracking error to known benchmarks, placing limits on exposure to any one counterparty and mandating minimum credit ratings all serve to manage the credit exposure associated with the Company’s financial instruments.

 

The Company is also exposed to credit risk on losses recoverable from reinsurers and premiums receivable from cedants. The Company mitigated this risk by diversifying its assumed and ceded business with a number of different counterparties and mandating minimum credit ratings for each reinsurer at the time of placement and contractual features that permit the right of offset. The Company continues to monitor financial stability of its reinsurers and cedants on a regular basis.

 

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 OPL’s management conducted a thorough review of the claims paying ability of the Company’s reinsurers and subsequently made a provision for non-collectable reinsurance receivables of $10 million. During the year ended December 31, 2004 OPL’s management reduced the provision by $4 million to reflect the reduced credit risk following the collection of approximately $34 million of losses and loss expenses recoverable due on our aviation excess of loss reinsurance protection.

 

INFLATION

 

Inflation, including damage awards and costs, can substantially increase the ultimate cost of claims in certain types of insurance. This is because the actual payment of claims may take place a number of years after the provisions for losses are reflected in the financial statements. We will, however, earn income on the funds retained for a period of time until eventual payment of a claim. Our investments are not significantly affected by inflation as the liquidity of our portfolio permits us to respond quickly to changing market conditions.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The Company is subject to market risk arising from the potential change in the value of its various financial instruments. These changes may be due to fluctuations in interest rates, equity prices and foreign currency rates. The Company does not use derivatives to hedge market risk.

 

The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to market risks as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 are:

 

     FAIR VALUE

(In thousands U.S.$)


   2004

   2003

Trading portfolio:

             

Investment in equity securities:

             

Emerging markets

   $ —      $ 101

Multi-manager funds

     —        472,197
    

  

       —        472,298

Available-for-sale portfolio:

             

Investment in equity securities

     807      2,447

Investment in fixed income securities

     285,162      691,197
       285,969      693,644

Cash and cash equivalents

     383,216      264,764

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     —        95,208
    

  

       383,216      359,972
    

  

Total cash and investments

   $ 669,185    $ 1,525,914
    

  

 

These invested assets are classified in trading and available-for-sale portfolios, comprising both fixed income and equity securities. The Company records its trading securities at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company records its available-for-sale securities at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

 

Despite the different accounting treatment of the trading and available-for-sale portfolios, we manage the Company’s cash and investments in total and make asset allocation decisions primarily on a consolidated basis but with due regard to the individual needs and regulatory requirements of each subsidiary.

 

The available-for-sale portfolio comprises both equity and fixed income securities as follows:

 

    Available for sale equities consist of an investment in a Bermuda based life reinsurer.

 

    The fixed income investments include securities issued by the U.S. governments and government agencies. The Company’s fixed income portfolio correlates closely with the Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate and Government Bond Index (1-3 years, A rated and above).

 

Prior to going into runoff the Company used financial modeling and asset allocation techniques to optimize risk and return over the long term (typically up to 10 years). Individual asset classes were selected based on characteristics such as yield, credit quality, currency, liquidity, duration, historical volatility and correlation with other asset classes. Independent investment managers were appointed to execute management-approved investment guidelines. This focus on long-term risk and return resulted in the Company having significant investments in equity and global bond portfolios.

 

Our risk tolerance has decreased as a result of the decision to put the Company’s reinsurance operations into runoff. Following our decision to go into runoff, our investment objective has been more focused on capital preservation and short- to medium-term liquidity to pay claims when they fall due, as opposed to long-term return. As a result, our allocation to equity securities has decreased significantly. However, there may still be periods in which the Company records an investment loss as a result of the volatility in worldwide bond markets.

 

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Table of Contents

The asset allocation for the combined reinsurance trading and available-for-sale portfolios as of December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was as follows:

 

Asset Class


   2004

    2003

    2002

 

U.S. equities

   0 %   0 %   13 %

Multi-manager funds

   0 %   31 %   23 %
    

 

 

Total equities

   0 %   31 %   36 %

Cash

   57 %   24 %   35 %

Fixed income securities

   43 %   45 %   29 %
    

 

 

     100 %   100 %   100 %
    

 

 

 

The following paragraphs address the significant market risks associated with the Company’s trading and available-for-sale portfolios as of December 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The primary exposure to interest rate risk in the available-for-sale portfolio relates to fixed income investments. Changes in market interest rates directly impact the market value of such securities. The Company’s primary risk exposures are interest rates on fixed rate short-term instruments in the United States. Additionally, the creditworthiness of the issuer, relative values of alternative investments, liquidity and general market and economic conditions may affect fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments.

 

The Company’s general strategy with respect to fixed income securities is to invest in high quality securities while maintaining diversification to avoid significant concentrations to individual issuers and industry segments. Interest rate risk is managed by maintaining a short duration band. The Company’s fixed income securities have an average duration of approximately one year. This duration reflects the Company’s need to fund loss payments, including commutations, and distributions to shareowners.

 

Since the decision to put the reinsurance operations into runoff the Company has been accelerating loss payments through commutations and novations of the remaining reinsurance contracts and therefore needs to maintain a significant proportion of its assets in relatively short duration investments. There is significant uncertainty regarding the timing of cash payments due to the uncertain number and timing of commutations and novations.

 

Equity Price Risk

 

OPL invested in equity securities to diversify its exposure to interest rate risk and to enhance total return. Fluctuations in the market price of a security may result from perceived changes in the underlying economic characteristics of the investee or its country of operation, liquidity, the relative price of alternative investments or general market conditions.

 

In general, equity securities have more year-to-year price volatility than intermediate high-grade fixed income securities. However, equity returns over longer time frames have been consistently higher than fixed income returns. As an ongoing entity OPL was not necessarily concerned with short-term price volatility, so long as the portfolio remained well-diversified and overall risk remained within our tolerance, as the Company had adequate capital to absorb short-term equity price volatility. However, following the decision to put OPL’s operations into runoff, we realigned our portfolio to reflect the shorter-term objectives of the Company and have now sold all of our equity investments, with the exception of our equity investment in a Bermuda based life reinsurer.

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

OPL’s reinsurance operations have some exposure to foreign currency rates, particularly the United Kingdom pound sterling and the euro. This exposure has been significantly reduced due to the completion of commutations and novations.

 

OPL and its reinsurance subsidiaries are exempt from Bermuda’s currency exchange controls. Our assets are located and our operations are conducted in countries in which, in management’s opinion, the risks of expropriation are not substantial.

 

 

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Value-at-Risk

 

Potential gains or losses from changes in market conditions can be estimated through statistical models that attempt to predict, within a specified confidence level, the maximum loss that could occur over a defined period of time. For example: for an investment portfolio with a Value-at-Risk (“VaR”) of $10 million for a one-year time horizon and a 95% probability, there is a 5% chance that the portfolio will lose more than $10 million over a one year period.

 

The Company has performed a VaR analysis to estimate the maximum amount of potential loss in fair value of the Company’s cash and investments over a one-year time horizon and at a 95% confidence level. The estimate has been prepared separately for each of the Company’s market risk exposures in the trading and available-for-sale portfolios.

 

The estimates of VaR were calculated using the variance-covariance (delta normal) methodology. The model uses historical interest and equity prices for the 60 months ended December 31, 2004 to estimate the volatility and correlation of each of these rates and prices. The model allocates each investment into a number of security groupings and assigns a benchmark index to each security grouping as a proxy for risk measurement. Mean assumptions include no change in annual interest and no return assumptions. VaR is a statistical estimate and should not be viewed as predictive of the Company’s future financial performance. There can be no assurance that the Company’s actual losses in a particular year will not exceed the VaR amounts indicated in the following table or that such losses will not occur more than once in 20 years.

 

Limitations in the analysis include:

 

    The market risk information is limited by the assumptions and parameters established in creating the related models;

 

    The analysis is based on historical data;

 

    The analysis is limited to the Company’s cash and trading and available-for-sale investments and excludes other significant assets and liabilities; and

 

    The model assumes that the composition of the Company’s assets and liabilities remains unchanged throughout the year.

 

Therefore such models are tools and do not substitute for the experience and judgment of management.

 

The VaR for each component of the Company’s market risk in the combined trading and available-for-sale portfolios as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was:

 

Total portfolio (in millions U.S.$) :


   2004

    2003

 

Interest rate risk

   $ 10.6     $ 61.8  

Equity price risk

     0.4       21.0  

Credit risk

     4.2       5.6  

Diversification benefit

     (2.8 )     (25.4 )
    


 


     $ 12.4     $ 63.0  
    


 


 

The portfolios total VaR includes a diversification benefit since interest rate, equity and credit risks are only partially correlated.

 

The significant decrease in VaR of the portfolio at December 31, 2004 compared to December 31, 2003 reflects the sale of our shares in the Oxford Strategic Income Fund and the significant reduction in the size of the fixed income portfolio. Since going into runoff, the Company has taken actions to reduce the overall risk of the total portfolio by virtually eliminating the exposure to global equity securities, eliminating the exposure to foreign currency risk and significantly reducing the exposure to interest rate risk.

 

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The distribution of VaR for each component of the Company’s market risk in the combined trading and available-for-sale portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2004 was:

 

Total portfolio (in millions U.S.$) :


   March 31

    June 30

    September 30

    December 31

 

Interest rate risk

   $ 61.0     $ 57.8     $ 46.4     $ 10.6  

Equity price risk

     21.2       20.9       13.8       0.4  

Credit risk

     3.0       3.1       2.7       4.2  

Diversification benefit

     (24.1 )     (22.8 )     (16.2 )     (2.8 )
    


 


 


 


     $ 61.1     $ 59.0     $ 46.7     $ 12.4  
    


 


 


 


 

The above VaR analysis relates solely to the Company’s cash and trading and available-for-sale investments.

 

Safe Harbor Disclosure

 

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Some of the statements contained in this Securities and Exchange Commission filing contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical information or statements of current condition. Some forward looking statements can be identified by the use of such words as “expect,” “believe,” “goal,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may” and “will” or similar words. These forward-looking statements relate to our plans and objectives for future operations including our growth and operating strategy, our implementation of new products and new reinsurance programs, trends in our industry and our policy on future dividends.

 

You should be aware that these statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that those indicated results will be realized. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by our forward-looking statements are:

 

  The uncertainties of the loss and loss expense reserving process;

 

  The uncertainties surrounding the estimates of losses incurred as a result of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the related events of September 11, 2001;

 

  Future losses on unexpired policies, including a residual value reinsurance program where the Company is exposed to losses until 2013 and has a maximum remaining exposure of $180 million;

 

  Our ability to collect reinsurance recoverables, particularly given the increased credit risk following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the related events of September 11, 2001;

 

  Uncertainties relating to government and regulatory policies (such as subjecting us to taxation in certain jurisdictions);

 

  Losses due to interest rate fluctuations;

 

  Losses arising from the potential sale of OPRe;

 

  Volatility in U.S. financial markets which could affect our investment portfolio;

 

  Adverse outcomes from any current, pending or future state or federal tax audits; and

 

  The resolution of any current, pending or future litigation.

 

We do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements in any manner.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements of OPL are filed together with this Report: see pages F-1 to F-21, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None.

 

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Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the President & Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Accounting Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Accounting Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings. No change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting of the Company.

 

The Company’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal controls may vary over time.

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004. This assessment was based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment, management believes that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004.

 

Deloitte & Touche have audited the financial statements included in the 2004 Annual Report and have issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Members of Overseas Partners Ltd. Hamilton, Bermuda

 

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that Overseas Partners Ltd. and subsidiaries, (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 of the Company and our report dated March 6, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE

 

Hamilton, Bermuda

March 6, 2005

 

Item 9B. Other Information

 

None.

 

 

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PART III

 

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

Directors

 

Set forth below is certain biographical information concerning each of the directors.

 

Mark R. Bridges

  Age 45   Director since 2002        

 

Mr. Bridges was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of OPL effective April 15, 2002. He has also served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of OPL since May 1998. He also serves as a Director of all OPL subsidiaries. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

 

Robert J. Clanin

  Age 61   Director since 1994        

 

Mr. Clanin served as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of UPS from 1994 until his retirement on January 8, 2001. Mr. Clanin also served on the UPS Management Committee and on the UPS Board of Directors. He also serves as a director of Caraustar Industries Inc, which produces recycled packaging, CP Ships Limited, which is one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, John H. Harland Co., a financial services company and Serologicals Corporation, a biotechnology company.

 

Mark B. Cloutier

  Age 49   Director since 2002        

 

Mr. Cloutier was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of OPRe during May 2002. Mr. Cloutier has also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Claims Officer since November 20, 2000. Prior to joining OPL, Mr. Cloutier held senior management positions at E.W. Blanch Holdings, Inc. from 1999 until 2000 and TIG Holdings from 1995 until 1999.

 

D. Scott Davis

  Age 53   Director since 1999        

 

Mr. Davis served as President and as Chief Executive Officer of OPL from January 7, 1999 until his resignations on January 4, 2000 and March 30, 2000, respectively. After his resignation as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Davis served as Vice President of Finance for UPS and on January 8, 2001 was appointed Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Davis also serves as a member of the UPS Management Committee, which oversees the day-to-day management of UPS. Mr. Davis serves on the Finance Committee of the Georgia Council on Economic Education.

 

Joseph M. Pyne

  Age 57   Director since 1995        

 

From 1999 until his retirement in March 2004 Mr. Pyne directed the supply chain group of companies for UPS. Mr. Pyne also served as a member of the UPS Management Committee. Mr. Pyne is a member of the Council of Logistics Management and is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the UPS Foundation.

 

Cyril E. Rance

  Age 70   Director since 1995        

 

Mr. Rance was President and Chief Executive Officer of a large Bermuda insurer until his retirement in 1990. He has more than 40 years experience in all aspects of the insurance industry. He is a director of XL Capital Ltd., and of several other international companies registered in Bermuda.

 

 

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Executive Officers

 

Listed below is certain information relating to the executive officers of OPL.

 

Name


   Age

  

Officers


Mark R. Bridges

   45    President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Mark B. Cloutier

   49    Chief Claims Officer, President and Chief Executive Officer of OPRe

Lynda A. Davidson Leader

   46    Senior Vice President, Director of Operations and Shareowner Relations

D. Campbell McBeath

   49    Senior Vice President, Treasury and Investments

Caroline M. Komposch

   33    Senior Vice President, Cedant Management

 

Executive Officer Biographical Information

 

For biographical information on Mr. Bridges and Mr. Cloutier, see above section on “Directors”.

 

Ms. Davidson Leader joined OPL as Finance Manager in February 2000. In March 2002 she was promoted to Senior Vice President, Director of Operations and Shareowner Relations. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

 

Mr. McBeath joined OPL as Treasury Manager in December 1997. In March 2001 he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Treasury and Investments. Mr. McBeath has 23 years experience in the financial services industries in Bermuda and the United Kingdom.

 

Ms. Komposch joined OPL in August 1998 as a reinsurance accountant. In August 2001 she was promoted to Vice President, Reinsurance Accounting and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Cedant Management in March 2003. She is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda.

 

The officers of OPL serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

 

Audit Committee Financial Experts

 

The Board of Directors has determined that the Company has at least one audit committee financial expert, Robert J. Clanin, serving on its audit committee. Mr. Clanin is “independent” as that term is defined in the NYSE rules.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Based solely on the review of the forms required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that have been filed, and written representation that no other forms are required, OPL believes that all filing requirements applicable to its officers and directors have been complied with. There are no beneficial owners known to the Company that own more than 10% percent of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of its directors, officers (including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer) and employees. The Company has made the Code of Ethics available on its website at www.overseaspartners.com.

 

 

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Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table provides certain summary information concerning the compensation paid or accrued by OPL and its subsidiaries, to or on behalf of the following executive officers (collectively the “Named Executive Officers”) in all capacities in which they served for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002:

 

     Annual Compensation

Name and Principal Position


   Year

   Salary

   Bonus (5)

   Other Annual
Compensation (6)


   All Other
Compensation (7)


Mark R. Bridges (1)

President, Chief

Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

   2004
2003
2002
   $
$
$
395,833
370,833
341,667
   $
$
$
562,500
437,500
375,000
   $
$
$
162,000
156,000
150,000
   $
$
$
47,917
40,417
35,833

Mark B. Cloutier (2)

President and Chief

Executive Officer, OPRe

   2004
2003
2002
   $
$
$
331,667
312,500
291,665
   $
$
$
472,500
375,000
237,500
   $
$
$
138,000
132,000
126,000
   $
$
$
41,251
36,852
258,000

Lynda A. Davidson Leader

(3) SVP Director of Operations

   2004
2003
2002
   $
$
$
136,583
130,833
119,166
   $
$
$
86,000
82,000
48,000
   $
$
$
72,000
72,000
64,000
   $
$
$
11,129
10,641
8,358

D. Campbell McBeath

SVP Treasury and

Investments

   2004
2003
2002
   $
$
$
135,583
129,900
122,833
   $
$
$
86,000
77,000
62,900
   $
$
$
72,000
72,000
70,000
   $
$
$
11,079
10,345
9,289

Caroline M. Komposch (4)

SVP Cedant Management

   2004
2003
   $
$
126,167
120,033
   $
$
82,000
63,000
   $
$
72,000
66,667
   $
$
10,408
9,152

(1) Mr. Bridges was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer effective April 15, 2002. Prior to that he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
(2) Mr. Cloutier was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer of OPRe effective April 15, 2002. Prior to that he was Executive Vice President and Chief Claims Officer of OPRe.
(3) Ms. Davidson Leader was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Director of Operations, effective March 1, 2002. Amounts shown for 2002 are in respect of the year ended December 31, 2002.
(4) Ms. Komposch was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Cedant Management, effective March 1, 2003. Amounts shown for 2003 are in respect of the year ended December 31, 2003.
(5) Amounts shown for 2004 reflect awards determined and paid in 2004 in relation to 2003 performance.
(6) Other annual compensation consists of housing allowances.
(7) “All Other Compensation” payments for 2004 include contributions in respect of OPL’s pension plan and the 401(k) and 401(a) plans. Amounts shown for 2004 also include reimbursement of contributions to individual medical and pension plans to Mr. Cloutier following the termination of similar Company benefit plans. Payments made in 2002 include a re-signing bonus for Mr. Cloutier of $250,000 in connection with the issuance of a replacement employment contract effective April 15, 2002. None of the Named Executive Officers received fees as a director or committee member.

 

Stock Option / Stock Appreciation Right Grants in 2004

 

There were no stock option grants or SAR grants during 2004.

 

 

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Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights Exercises and Holdings

 

No Stock Options or SARs were exercised by any Named Executive Officers during 2004. There are no remaining unexercised SARs. The following table contains information on unexercised Stock Options held by the Named Executive Officers on December 31, 2004.

 

Aggregated Stock Option Value at December 31, 2004

 

     Number of Unexercised Options    Value of Unexercised Options (1)

Name


   Exercisable

   Unexercisable

   Exercisable

   Unexercisable

Mark R. Bridges

   70,352    —      $ 0    $ —  

Mark B. Cloutier

   48,855    —      $ 0    $ —  

Lynda A. Davidson Leader

   6,500    —      $ 0    $ —  

D. Campbell McBeath

   13,500    —      $ 0    $ —  

Caroline M. Komposch

   6,750    —      $ 0    $ —  

(1) Based on the book value per share of OPL Common Stock as of December 31, 2004 minus the exercise price of OPL Common Stock at the time of grant of the Stock Option. As a result of OPL’s decision to place its operations into runoff, it is unlikely that the unexercised Stock Options will have any value in the future.

 

Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment Arrangements

 

This section discusses the employment contracts and termination agreements for the Chief Executive Officer and those other Named Executive Officers that have employment contracts.

 

In the employment contracts and termination agreements of each of the Named Executive Officers, “Good Reason” means (a) the sale or other disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its reinsurance operations, (b) the change in control of the Company through the acquisition of any interest in any shares, if, upon completion of such acquisition the third party, together with persons acting in concert with the third party, would hold more than 50% of the Common Share Capital of the Company, (c) repeated violations by the Company of its obligations under the employment contracts, (d) without the Executive’s consent, the Company reduces the Executive’s current base salary, reduces the Executive’s then current target total annual compensation, reduces the Executive’s housing allowance, or reduces any of the benefits provided to the Executive, (e) a diminution in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities or the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any adverse respect with the Executive’s then current duties and responsibilities or (f) the work permit of the Executive is terminated by the Government of Bermuda.

 

In the employment contracts and termination agreements of each of the Named Executive Officers, “Cause” means (a) an act or acts of personal dishonesty taken by the Executive and intended to result in the material personal enrichment of the Executive at the expense of the Company and its Associated Companies, excluding for this purpose any isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent action not taken in bad faith which is remedied by the Executive in a reasonable period of time after receipt of reasonably prompt written notice thereof from the Company, (b) repeated violations by the Executive of his or her obligations under his or her employment agreement which are demonstrably willful and deliberate and which are not remedied in a reasonable period of time by the Executive after receipt of reasonably prompt written notice thereof from the Company, or (c) the Executive’s conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.

 

 

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Effective January 1, 2000, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mark R. Bridges that provided that he serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. That agreement was replaced following the Board of Directors’ February 13, 2002 announcement of its decision to put OPL’s operations into runoff. The replacement contract provides that he serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective April 15, 2002. The agreement sets his annual base salary effective March 1, 2002 at $350,000 (subject to annual review), sets his target annual incentive at 100% (subject to a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 150%) of base salary for 2002 and subsequent years (subject to annual review), and provided for the terms of payment of salary and benefits in the event of his death or disability, termination or a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement).

 

Mr. Bridges was also provided the right to participate in the Company’s pension plan and a monthly housing allowance of $12,500 subject to increase by $500 per month on each subsequent January 1, as well as certain additional benefits which are provided to all employees generally.

 

In addition, Mr. Bridges shall be entitled to a minimum bonus of $1,666,667, payable as of the earliest of (i) April 15, 2005, (ii) a Change of Control, (iii) the Executive’s termination without Cause or (iv) the Executive’s termination of employment for Good Reason. The final amount of the bonus payable under the agreement will be determined at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Overseas Partners Ltd. Retention and Incentive Award Plan. No bonus will be paid if Mr. Bridges’ employment is terminated for Cause or if he terminates his employment without Good Reason.

 

The scheduled termination date for this agreement is April 14, 2005 unless this agreement is terminated: (i) by the Company with or without Cause, (ii) terminated by Mr. Bridges with or without Good Reason or (iii) due to the death or total and permanent disability of Mr. Bridges in accordance with the applicable long-term policies of the Company. The agreement can also be automatically extended so as to terminate on the first annual anniversary of each renewal date after the initial term, unless either the Company or Mr. Bridges gives the other written notice. If Mr. Bridges’ employment is terminated by OPL without Cause or by Mr. Bridges with Good Reason during the term of the agreement or if the agreement is not extended by the Company upon the expiration of the initial Term of Appointment, he is entitled to receive in addition to accrued salary and benefits, a Severance benefit equal to: 1) two times his i) annual base salary and ii) target annual incentive amount, 2) the pro rata target annual incentive amount for the year of termination, and 3) the monthly housing allowance and medical benefits for twenty-four months after termination, which shall cease if he obtains full-time employment or resides outside of Bermuda. Mr. Bridges will also be entitled in these circumstances (within 45 days) to exercise a put option, requesting that OPL purchase his shares at current book value.

 

On March 7, 2005 Mr. Bridges employment was extended to March 31, 2006 on substantially equivalent terms. The employment agreement, which can be extended by mutual consent, provides the Executive with an annual base salary of $450,000 and an annual housing allowance of $168,000. The annual incentive bonus and Severance benefits remain the same as the expiring contract outlined above. The Severance benefits become due upon the Executive’s termination of employment. In addition, Mr. Bridges shall be entitled to a retention bonus of $833,000, payable upon the earliest of (i) March 31, 2006 and (ii) the Executive’s termination without Cause. No retention bonus will be paid if Mr. Bridges’ employment is terminated for Cause or if he voluntarily terminates his employment.

 

Effective November 14, 2000, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mark B. Cloutier, which provided that he serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Claims Officer of OPRe. Following the Board of Directors February 13, 2002 announcement of its decision to put OPL’s operations into runoff, Mr. Cloutier and the Company signed a replacement contract that provides that he serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Overseas Partners Re Ltd, effective April 15, 2002. The contract sets his annual base salary effective March 1, 2002 at $300,000 (subject to annual review), sets his target annual incentive at 100% (subject to a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 150%) of base salary for 2002 and subsequent years (subject to annual review) and provides for the terms of payment of salary and benefits in the event of his death or disability, termination or a Change in Control.

 

 

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Mr. Cloutier was also provided the right to participate in the Company’s pension plan or to receive an equivalent amount in the event the relevant plan is terminated, and a monthly housing allowance of $10,500, which increases by $500 per month on each subsequent January 1. In addition, the Company will reimburse Mr. Cloutier for the cost of one round-trip business class airline ticket between Bermuda and Dallas, Texas each month and provide certain additional benefits, which are provided to all employees generally.

 

Mr. Cloutier received a signing bonus of $250,000 when the replacement agreement was signed. In addition, Mr. Cloutier is entitled to a minimum bonus of $750,000, payable as of the earliest of (i) April 15, 2005, (ii) a Change of Control, (iii) Mr. Cloutier’s termination without Cause or (iv) Mr. Cloutier’s termination of employment for Good Reason. The final amount of the bonus will be determined at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Overseas Partners Ltd. Retention and Incentive Award Plan. No bonus will be paid if Mr. Cloutier’s employment is terminated for Cause or Mr. Cloutier terminates his employment without Good Reason.

 

The scheduled termination date for this agreement is April 14, 2005 unless the agreement is terminated: (i) by the Company with or without Cause, (ii) by Mr. Cloutier with or without Good Reason or (iii) due to the death or total and permanent disability of Mr. Cloutier in accordance with the applicable long-term policies of the Company. The agreement can also be automatically extended so as to terminate on the first annual anniversary of each renewal date after the initial term, unless either the Company or Mr. Cloutier gives the other written notice. If Mr. Cloutier’s employment is terminated by OPL without Cause or by Mr. Cloutier with Good Reason during the term of the agreement, or if the agreement is not extended by the Company upon the expiration of the initial Term of Appointment, he is entitled to receive in addition to accrued salary and benefits, a Severance benefit equal to: 1) two times his i) annual base salary and ii) target annual incentive amount, 2) the pro rata target annual incentive amount for the year of termination, and 3) two times the monthly housing allowance 4) medical benefits for twenty-four months after termination, which shall cease if he obtains full-time employment and 5) the expense cost (up to $30,000) of relocating from Bermuda, provided such relocation occurs within six months following termination. Mr. Cloutier will also be entitled in these circumstances (within 45 days) to exercise a put option, requesting that OPL purchase his shares at current book value.

 

By mutual consent it was determined that Mr. Cloutier’s employment would not be extended beyond the April 14, 2005 termination date.

 

Ms. Davidson Leader, Mr. McBeath and Ms. Komposch have each entered into Statements of Employment in accordance with the Company’s customary practice for all employees (with the exceptions of Mr. Bridges and Mr. Cloutier who are discussed above). Such Statements of Employment provide for the following: (i) an annual base salary (subject to annual review); (ii) a housing allowance; (iii) a target annual incentive at 50% of base salary (subject to a minimum of 25% and a maximum of 75% of base salary); (iv) the right to participate in the Company’s pension plan; and (v) certain additional benefits which are provided to all employees generally. The actual compensation packages for the three individuals are detailed under the tables and descriptive paragraphs of this section entitled “Executive Compensation”.

 

Each of the three individuals shall be entitled to receive a target Retention and Incentive Award of either 60% or 90% of base salary for the period from April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2005. The final amount of the Retention and Incentive Award will be determined at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Overseas Partners Ltd. Retention and Incentive Award Plan and is payable at the earlier of (i) March 31, 2005, (ii) the Executive’s termination without Cause, or (iii) the Executive’s termination of employment with Good Reason. No such bonus will be paid if the Executive is terminated for Cause or if the Executive terminates his or her employment without Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason, the Executive is entitled to receive, in addition to accrued salary and benefits, a severance benefit equal to nine months of base salary and housing allowance, a pro-rata target annual incentive amount for the year of termination and medical benefits for up to nine months after termination which shall cease if the Executive obtains full-time employment. All Executives will also be entitled to exercise a put option (within 45 days), requesting that OPL purchase their shares at current book value.

 

Mr. McBeath’s and Ms. Komposch’s employment will terminate on March 31, 2005, whereas Ms. Davidson Leader’s employment has been extended until March 31, 2006 on substantially equivalent terms to those outlined above.

 

 

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COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND OTHER INFORMATION

 

Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) has provided the following report on Executive Compensation:

 

Philosophy and Composition of Committee

 

The Committee is comprised entirely of the following non-management directors: Cyril E. Rance, Chairman, Robert J. Clanin and D. Scott Davis. The Committee has responsibility for determining the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and for approving the compensation of the other officers of OPL and its subsidiaries upon the recommendation of the CEO.

 

The objectives of the Committee are to (i) achieve fair compensation for the individuals; (ii) preserve shareowner value by attracting and retaining qualified executives who are creative, motivated and dedicated; and (iii) align the financial rewards of management with those of the Company’s shareowners.

 

Establishment of Executive Compensation Program and Procedures

 

The executive compensation program reflects the February 13, 2002 announcement to put OPL’s operations into runoff.

 

The Company’s current compensation program reflects the fact that the reinsurance industry is very competitive, high risk and complex. Successful companies differentiate themselves from their competitors by the talent deployed to meet their customer needs. These factors continue to be true for a company in runoff, although the required skill sets tend to be more claims and finance related rather than underwriting and marketing. The current compensation program also reflects the unique circumstances that relate to the attraction and retention of superior executives in Bermuda.

 

The Committee had previously utilized the services of an independent compensation consultant to assist in the development of the compensation philosophy and to make recommendations regarding OPL’s executive compensation program. While the compensation philosophy for base pay, housing allowances and annual incentive awards has remained the same, the long-term incentive compensation component was modified in 2002 to reflect the additional challenges of retaining adequate resources for the initial period of the run off. In particular the Company adopted the Overseas Partners Ltd. Retention and Incentive Award Plan, to replace the awarding of annual stock option and restricted stock grants.

 

As an overall evaluation tool in determining levels of compensation and compensation opportunity (e.g., base salary, annual incentive targets and retention and incentive award levels), for the Company’s executive officers, the Committee reviews the compensation policies and levels of pay opportunity of other reinsurance and insurance companies based in Bermuda. The Committee also reviews published reinsurance and insurance industry compensation surveys, both for Bermuda and U.S. companies, as they are applicable to officers and other employees. Although the Committee has not defined or established a specific comparison group of reinsurance companies for determination of compensation, those listed in the salary surveys that share one or more common traits with OPL, such as asset size, geographic location, and similar lines of business, are given more weight.

 

The Company generally targets the median to second quartile of comparable companies in establishing cash based compensation and long-term incentives.

 

 

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Components of the Named Executive Officer Compensation for 2004

 

For 2004, the executive compensation program for the Named Executive Officers consisted of the following components:

 

Base salary: The Named Executive Officers’ base salaries and performance are reviewed annually. The base salaries are primarily determined by evaluating the individual officers’ level of responsibilities for their position, the strategic importance of their position, their position relative to other positions within OPL, and by comparing salaries detailed in the salary surveys for Bermuda-based executives with similar experience and responsibilities outside of OPL. Consideration is also given to the views of the CEO regarding how the Named Executive Officer has performed during prior years. The Committee does not place specific weight on any of the above-listed factors.

 

Housing allowance: Allowances for executives are intended to subsidize the executive officers’ rental costs given the high cost of living in Bermuda. Such allowances are determined at the sole discretion of the Committee based on their assessment of prevailing market rates.

 

Annual incentive compensation: Each Executive Officer has a target and a maximum bonus available based upon a percentage of his/her base salary. Actual incentive awards are payable in cash based on the achievement of both individual and corporate financial and strategic goals. Individual goals, both qualitative and quantitative, are established annually for each officer and differ depending upon each officer’s job responsibilities.

 

The annual incentive awards approved by the Committee and paid in 2004 relate to 2003 performance. In assessing individual performance, the Committee considered a number of achievements in relation to, among other things, (i) the preservation of capital through effective risk management initiatives including the early settlement of reinsurance liabilities and the disposal of illiquid investments and the collection of reinsurance balances recoverable; (ii) the creation of shareowner value through investment income, the settlement of accrued losses and loss expenses at an amount less than carried reserves and control over internal runoff costs; (iii) timely release of capital for distribution to shareowners. The Committee also considered the Company’s overall financial performance.

 

Long-term incentive compensation: In 2002 the Company adopted the Overseas Partners Ltd. Retention and Incentive Award Plan to incent all remaining Bermuda Executives and employees to remain with the Company for an extended period and to achieve certain objectives that are aligned with the interest of our shareowners. The amount of award payable to the remaining Named Executive Officers is at the discretion of the Compensation Committee taking into account the financial performance of the Company through to their termination dates.

 

Determination of the CEO’s Compensation for 2004

 

Mark R. Bridges has served as the CEO from April 15, 2002 to the present. Mr. Bridges’ compensation package is detailed under the tables and descriptive paragraphs of this section entitled “Executive Compensation and Other Information.”

 

In evaluating the CEO’s performance, the Committee reviews the financial performance of the Company and other performance assessment areas uniquely determined for the CEO, as determined by the Committee.

 

Base salary: Mr. Bridges’ annual base salary for 2004 of $395,833 was determined by the Committee after an assessment of competitive salary levels for CEO’s of similar-sized reinsurance companies, the scope and nature of runoff activities relative to ongoing reinsurance companies and his overall prior performance with the Company.

 

Housing allowance: Mr. Bridges’ housing allowance was increased to $13,500 per month to reflect competitive market rates in Bermuda for similar positions.

 

Annual incentive compensation: The annual incentive for Mr. Bridges paid in 2004 and earned for 2003 performance, was determined at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee considered both the performance of the Company and Mr. Bridges’ individual performance. The individual performance weighting reflected, amongst other things, (i) preservation of capital through effective risk management initiatives; (ii) accelerated settlement of reinsurance liabilities; (iii) disposal of real estate assets and remaining debt; (iv) control over operating overhead; and (v) release of capital for distribution.

 

 

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Long-term incentive compensation: No awards for long-term incentive compensation were provided during 2004 as a result of OPL’s status as a Company in runoff. Mr. Bridges will participate in the Company’s Retention and Incentive Award Plan to the extent he remains with the Company until the termination of his contract (unless he is terminated for Cause). The amount of award payable is at the discretion of the Compensation Committee taking into account the financial performance of the Company through to the termination date.

 

The Company is not subject to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

 

The foregoing report has been respectfully furnished by the members of the Compensation Committee, being:

 

Cyril E. Rance, Chairman

Robert J. Clanin

D. Scott Davis

 

Compensation of Directors

 

Directors who are employees of OPL receive no additional compensation for their service as directors or as members of committees appointed by the Board of Directors. Other directors receive an annual retainer award of $40,000. Members of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees who are not employees of OPL receive an additional fee of $1,250 for each Committee meeting they attend.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

The Compensation Committee is comprised of the following members - Cyril E. Rance (Chairman), D. Scott Davis and Robert J. Clanin. Two members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of OPL were officers of OPL. Robert J. Clanin served as Vice President of OPL from 1990 until 1994, and D. Scott Davis served as President and Chief Executive Officer of OPL from January 1999 until March 2000.

 

See “Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” for disclosure of common relationships with UPS.

 

 

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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

Set forth below is information relating to the beneficial ownership of OPL Common Stock by (i) each director, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer and the other Named Executive Officers and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group. All shares are owned of record and beneficially, and each person and group identified has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares, except as otherwise indicated.

 

No individual or group known to the Company beneficially owns more than five percent of the outstanding shares of OPL Common Stock.

 

     Common Stock Held as of February 28, 2005 (1)

Name


   Shares Beneficially
Owned (2)


 

Additional Shares in
which the Individual

has, or Participates

in, the Voting or

Investment Power (3)


   Total Shares and
Percent of Class


Mark R. Bridges

Cumberland House

One Victoria Street

P.O. Box 1581

Hamilton, HM GX, Bermuda

   164,494
(includes 70,352
unexercised Stock

Options)
  —      164,494 (0.14)%

Robert J. Clanin

55 Glenlake Parkway

NE Atlanta, GA 30328

   44,075
(includes 6,204
unexercised Stock
Options)
  5,382,167    5,426,242 (4.57)%

Mark B. Cloutier

Cumberland House

One Victoria Street

P.O. Box 1581

Hamilton, HM GX, Bermuda

   53,381
(includes 48,855
unexercised Stock
Options)
  —      53,381 (0.04)%

Lynda A. Davidson Leader

Cumberland House

One Victoria Street

Hamilton, HM GX, Bermuda

   9,484
(includes 6,500
unexercised Stock
Options)
  —      9,484 (0.01)%

D. Scott Davis

55 Glenlake Parkway

NE Atlanta, GA 30328

   23,995
(includes 6,204
unexercised Stock
Options)
  —      23,995 (0.02)%

D. Campbell McBeath

Cumberland House

One Victoria Street

Hamilton, HM GX, Bermuda

   21,992
(includes 13,500
unexercised Stock
Options)
  —      21,992 (0.02)%

Joseph M. Pyne

55 Glenlake Parkway

NE Atlanta, GA 30328

   30,181
(includes 6,204
unexercised Stock
Options)
  —      30,181 (0.03%)

Cyril E. Rance

Blue Anchorage

No. 6 Agars Hill - Point Shares

Pembroke, HM 05, Bermuda

   8,204
(includes 6,204
unexercised Stock
Options)
  —      8,204 (0.01)%

Caroline M. Komposch

Cumberland House

One Victoria Street

Hamilton, HM GX, Bermuda

   8,826
(includes 6,750
unexercised Stock
Options)
  —      8,826 (0.01)%

All directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons) (4)

   364,632   5,382,167    5,746,799 (4.84)%

(1) These holdings are calculated in accordance with regulations of the SEC requiring the disclosure of shares as to which directors and officers hold voting or dispositive power, notwithstanding the fact that they are held in a fiduciary, rather than a personal, capacity and that the power is shared among a number of fiduciaries including, in several cases, corporate trustees, directors or other persons who are neither officers nor directors of OPL.

 

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(2) The amounts shown in this column include an aggregate of 15,779 shares owned by or held in trust for members of the families of Mr. Clanin and Mr. Davis as to which they disclaim beneficial ownership. The amounts shown in this column include unexercised Stock Options held by the Named Executive Officers that are exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2005. As a result of OPL’s decision to place its operations into runoff, it is unlikely that the unexercised stock options will be exercised.
(3) None of the directors, nominees, other officers or members of their families, have any ownership rights in the shares listed in this column. Of the shares 5,045,005 are owned by a charitable foundation on whose Board of Trustees Mr. Clanin and other persons serve and 337,162 shares are held by a charitable foundation of which Mr. Clanin and other persons are trustees.
(4) All directors and officers as a group are totaled as of February 28, 2005.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following sets forth information about our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2004:

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan category


   Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options


  

Weighted average
exercise price of

outstanding options


  

Number of securities
remaining available

for issuance (1)


Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders

   213,521    $ 14.50    4,664,378

Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders

   —          —      —  
    
  

  

Total

   213,521    $ 14.50    4,664,378

(1) Other than securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options.

 

 

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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

Common Relationships With UPS

 

OPL was organized under Bermuda law in June 1983 by UPS. On December 31, 1983, prior to commencing operations, OPL was spun off when UPS paid a special dividend to its shareowners of one share of Common Stock for each share of UPS Common Stock outstanding as of November 18, 1983, resulting in the distribution of approximately 97% of OPL’s outstanding Common Stock.

 

Two members of OPL’s Board of Directors served as officers of UPS during 2004. Mr. Joseph M. Pyne served as Senior Vice President - Corporate Marketing of UPS until his retirement on March 31, 2004 and Mr. D. Scott Davis serves as Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of UPS.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees, including expenses reimbursed, billed or expected to be billed by Deloitte & Touche for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and examination of the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were $404,529 and $390,980 respectively.

 

Audit Related Fees

 

The aggregate fees, including expenses reimbursed, billed or expected to be billed by Deloitte & Touche for audit related services rendered to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were $14,525 and $nil respectively. The fees for the year ended December 31, 2004 related to an agreed upon procedures engagement.

 

Tax Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed, or expected to be billed, by Deloitte & Touche for professional services rendered to the Company for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, for the years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were $544,638 and $254,668, respectively. The fees for the year ended December 31, 2004 primarily related to assistance on tax matters relating to the planned liquidation and also included federal and state income tax return assistance and assistance with tax audits. The fees for the year ended December 31, 2003 primarily related to federal and state income tax return assistance and assistance with tax audits.

 

All Other Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed, or expected to be billed, by Deloitte & Touche for services rendered to the Company, other than the services described above under “Audit Fees”, “Audit Related Fees” and “Tax Fees”, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were $8,700 and $5,000 respectively. The fees for the year ended December 31, 2004 were primarily related to assistance with the examination of OPUS Re by the Delaware Department of Insurance. The fees for the year ended December 31, 2003 were primarily for time spent providing information to potential purchasers of OPUS Re related to audit services performed.

 

General

 

In considering the nature of the tax compliance and other non-audit services provided by the independent auditor, the Audit Committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with the independent auditor and Company management to determine that they are permitted under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

 

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Pre-Approval Policy

 

The services performed by the independent auditor in 2004 were pre-approved in accordance with the pre-approval policy disclosed in the Company’s Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. These policies state that the Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services performed for the Company by the independent auditors.

 

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a) 1. Financial Statements.

 

- See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules at page F-1

 

2. Financial Statement Schedules.

 

- See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules at page F-1

 

3. List of Exhibits.

 

- See Exhibit Index at page E-1

 

  (b) Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

 

- See Exhibit Index at page E-1

 

 

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OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AND SCHEDULES COMPRISING ITEMS 8

AND 15(a) OF THE ANNUAL REPORT

ON FORM 10-K TO THE SECURITIES

AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

         

Page

Number


Item 8.    Financial Statements     
     Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm    F –2
     Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003    F –3
    

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended
December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

   F –4
    

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years
ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

   F –5
    

Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity for the years
ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

   F –6
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

   F –7
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended
December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

   F –8
to
F –21
Item 15(a).    Financial Statement Schedules     
     All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.     

 

 

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Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Members

of Overseas Partners Ltd.

Hamilton, Bermuda

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Overseas Partners Ltd. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, members’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. 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 in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards 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. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Overseas Partners Ltd. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 6, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE

 

Hamilton, Bermuda

March 6, 2005

 

 

F-2


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OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Consolidated Balance Sheets

  December 31, 2004 and 2003

  (In thousands U.S.$, except share and per share amounts)

 

     2004

    2003

 

ASSETS:

                

Investments:

                

Trading, at fair value-

   $ —       $ 472,298  

Equity securities (cost 2004 – $nil, 2003 – $357,759)

                

Available-for-sale, at fair value-

                

Debt securities (amortized cost 2004 – $285,708, 2003 – $234,650)

     285,162       234,645  

Restricted debt securities (amortized cost 2004 – $nil, 2003 – $449,546)

     —         456,552  

Equity securities (cost 2004 – $709, 2003 – $1,064)

     807       2,447  
    


 


       285,969       1,165,942  

Cash and cash equivalents

     383,216       264,764  

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     —         95,208  

Reinsurance balances receivable

     3,776       16,487  

Funds withheld

     17,978       242,635  

Paid losses recoverable from reinsurers

     21,383       26,279  

Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable from reinsurers

     24,621       63,598  

Deferred acquisition costs

     4       106  

Assets relating to subsidiary held for sale

     —         255,541  

Other assets:

                

Investment in private equity funds, at cost

     —         22,628  

Investment in affiliate

     —         5,000  

Other

     17,090       29,939  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 754,037     $ 2,188,127  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY:

                

Liabilities:

                

Accrued losses and loss expenses

   $ 188,155     $ 913,711  

Unearned premiums

     1,349       8,782  

Reinsurance balances payable

     28,060       59,933  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     21,083       25,659  

Liabilities relating to subsidiary held for sale

     —         182,155  

Distribution payable

     —         296,924  
    


 


Total liabilities

   $ 238,647     $ 1,487,164  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

     —         —    

Preference Stock, par value $0.10 per share; authorized 200 million shares; none issued

     —         —    

Members’ equity:

                

Common Stock, par value, $0.10 per share; authorized 900 million shares; issued 127.5 million; outstanding 118,769,846 shares (2003: 118,769,846 shares)

     12,750       12,750  

Contributed surplus

     37,650       37,650  

Retained earnings

     624,193       800,695  

Treasury stock (2004 – 8,730,154 shares, 2003 – 8,730,154 shares), at cost

     (158,755 )     (158,755 )

Deferred compensation

     —         (34 )

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

     (448 )     8,657  
    


 


Total members’ equity

     515,390       700,963  
    


 


Total liabilities and members’ equity

   $ 754,037     $ 2,188,127  
    


 


Net book value per share

   $ 4.34     $ 5.90  
    


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

F-3


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OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Consolidated Statements of Income

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

  (In thousands U.S.$, except share and per share amounts. Number of shares in thousands.)

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Revenues:

                        

Gross reinsurance premiums written

   $ 3,616     $ (70,044 )   $ 208,965  

Reinsurance premiums ceded

     481       (3,012 )     (77,244 )
    


 


 


Net reinsurance premiums written

     4,097       (73,056 )     131,721  

Change in unearned premiums

     5,302       111,182       88,689  
    


 


 


Reinsurance premiums earned

     9,399       38,126       220,410  

Commission and fee income

     1,667       (237 )     5,799  

Operating lease with UPS

     —         —         3,645  

Finance lease

     —         3,020       3,365  

Hotel

     —         —         37,222  

Office building

     —         —         39,605  

(Loss) gain on sale of real estate assets

     —         (10,198 )     139,902  

Interest

     22,688       32,410       37,704  

Realized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities and private equity

     6,045       66,138       (174,776 )

Net holding gain on trading securities

     11,807       57,396       11,985  

Amortization of fixed income securities

     (5,416 )     (4,163 )     7,484  

Dividends

     221       2,226       4,469  
    


 


 


       46,411       184,718       336,814  
    


 


 


Expenses:

                        

Reinsurance losses and loss expenses

     (61,552 )     51,579       232,567  

Reinsurance commissions, taxes and other expenses

     11,509       18,028       81,977  

Depreciation expense

     —         —         9,038  

Real estate and leasing operating expenses

     —         814       51,522  

Interest expense

     —         43,106       106,616  

Minority interest in earnings

     —         —         2,025  

Investment expenses

     1,877       5,366       3,667  

Impairment expense

     —         5,593       —    

Other operating expenses

     11,346       19,732       20,175  
    


 


 


       (36,820 )     144,218       507,587  
    


 


 


Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

     83,231       40,500       (170,773 )
    


 


 


Income taxes - current benefit (expense)

     969       15,351       (41,861 )

                        - deferred benefit

     —         25       10,972  
       969       15,376       (30,889 )
    


 


 


Net income (loss) from continuing operations

     84,200       55,876       (201,662 )
    


 


 


Discontinued operations:

                        

Net loss from disposed subsidiary, net of taxes

     (23,162 )     (10,021 )     (14,929 )
    


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 61,038     $ 45,855     $ (216,591 )
    


 


 


EARNINGS PER SHARE

                        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.71     $ 0.47     $ (1.70 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.20 )     (0.08 )     (0.13 )
    


 


 


Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.51     $ 0.39     $ (1.82 )
    


 


 


Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     118,770       118,825       118,967  
    


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

F-4


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

  (In thousands U.S.$)

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 61,038     $ 45,855     $ (216,591 )

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

                        

Net unrealized holding (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities

     (6,481 )     48,968       (71,081 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income

     (2,301 )     (66,138 )     174,776  
    


 


 


Other comprehensive (loss) income of continuing operations

     (8,782 )     (17,170 )     103,695  

Net unrealized holding (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities of disposed subsidiary, net of tax

     (323 )     (720 )     1,876  
    


 


 


Other comprehensive (loss) income

     (9,105 )     (17,890 )     105,571  
    


 


 


Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 51,933     $ 27,965     $ (111,020 )
    


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

  (In thousands U.S.$, except share and per share amounts. Number of shares in thousands.)

 

     Common Stock

   Treasury Stock

   

Deferred
Compensation


   

Contributed

Surplus


  

Retained

Earnings


   

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)


   

Total

Members’

Equity


 
     Shares

   Amount

   Shares

    Amount

            

Balance, January 1, 2002

   127,500    $ 12,750    (8,406 )   $ (155,406 )   $ (3,115 )   $ 37,650    $ 1,506,066     $ (79,024 )   $ 1,318,921  

Net loss

   —        —      —         —         —         —        (216,591 )     —         (216,591 )

Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale
securities, net of tax

   —        —      —         —         —         —        —         105,571       105,571  

Restricted shares forfeited

   —        —      (1 )     (19 )     19       —        —         —         —    

Purchase of treasury stock

   —        —      (238 )     (2,622 )     —         —        —         —         (2,622 )

Amortization of restricted common stock compensation

   —        —      —         —         2,786       —        —         —         2,786  
    
  

  

 


 


 

  


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2002

   127,500    $ 12,750    (8,645 )   $ (158,047 )   $ (310 )   $ 37,650    $ 1,289,475     $ 26,547     $ 1,208,065  

Net income

   —        —      —         —         —         —        45,855       —         45,855  

Net unrealized loss on available- for-sale
securities, net of tax

   —        —      —         —         —         —        —         (17,890 )     (17,890 )

Liquidating distributions
($4.50 per share)

   —        —      —         —         —         —        (534,635 )     —         (534,635 )

Purchase of treasury stock

   —        —      (85 )     (708 )     —         —        —         —         (708 )

Amortization of restricted common stock compensation

   —        —      —         —         276       —        —         —         276  
    
  

  

 


 


 

  


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2003

   127,500    $ 12,750    (8,730 )   $ (158,755 )   $ (34 )   $ 37,650    $ 800,695     $ 8,657     $ 700,963  

Net income

   —        —      —         —         —         —        61,038       —         61,038  

Net unrealized loss on available- for-sale securities, net of tax

   —        —      —         —         —         —        —         (9,105 )     (9,105 )

Liquidating distributions
($2.00 per share)

   —        —      —         —         —         —        (237,540 )     —         (237,540 )

Amortization of restricted common stock compensation

   —        —      —         —         34       —        —         —         34  
    
  

  

 


 


 

  


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2004

   127,500    $ 12,750    (8,730 )   $ (158,755 )   $ —       $ 37,650    $ 624,193     $ (448 )   $ 515,390  
    
  

  

 


 


 

  


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

F-6


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

  (In thousands U.S.$)

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

                        

Net income (loss)

   $ 61,038     $ 45,855     $ (216,591 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided (expended) by operating activities:

                        

Net loss from subsidiary held for sale

     23,162       10,021       14,929  

Deferred income taxes

     —         —         (10,972 )

Depreciation and impairment expense

     —         5,593       9,038  

Minority interest in earnings

     —         —         2,025  

Realized (gain) loss on available-for-sale securities and private equity

     (6,045 )     (66,138 )     174,776  

Net holding gain on trading securities

     (11,807 )     (57,396 )     (11,985 )

Amortization of fixed income securities

     5,416       4,163       (7,484 )

Amortization of restricted common stock compensation

     34       276       2,786  

Loss (gain) on sale of real estate assets

     —         10,198       (139,902 )

Premium on debt repurchase

     —         35,611       78,001  

Other

     (1,374 )     (130 )     (2,177 )

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                        

Reinsurance balances receivable

     12,711       197,314       135,765  

Losses and loss expenses recoverable from reinsurers

     43,873       23,734       77,234  

Funds withheld

     224,657       85,457       (73,043 )

Deferred acquisition costs

     102       6,220       40,949  

Unearned premiums ceded

     —         1,856       (66,713 )

Other assets

     19,265       (5,976 )     24,145  

Accrued losses and loss expenses

     (725,556 )     (473,219 )     (361,862 )

Unearned premiums

     (7,433 )     (116,149 )     (23,223 )

Reinsurance balances payable

     (31,873 )     (163,241 )     59,708  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     (4,576 )     13,548       (25,764 )

Proceeds from sales of trading investments

     478,635       109,852       4,115  

Purchase of trading investments

     —         —         (1,346 )
    


 


 


Net cash flow provided (expended) by operating activities

     80,229       (332,551 )     (317,591 )
    


 


 


CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                        

Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale investments

     1,117,101       1,255,806       1,393,362  

Purchase of available-for-sale investments

     (719,090 )     (959,835 )     (939,463 )

Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity investments

     —         —         13,297  

Purchase of held-to-maturity investments

     —         —         (84,192 )

Proceeds from sale of private equity funds

     30,427       —         —    

Net movement in restricted cash and cash equivalents

     95,208       164,894       (260,103 )

Net cash outflow from sale of Overseas Partners Cat Ltd.

     —         —         (38,632 )

Net proceeds from sales of real estate assets

     —         6,783       372,567  

Additions to real estate and leasing assets

     —         —         (11,517 )
    


 


 


Net cash flow provided by investing activities

     523,646       467,648       445,319  
    


 


 


CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                        

Purchases of treasury stock

     —         (708 )     (2,622 )

Repayment and repurchase of debt

     —         (112,550 )     (252,473 )

Distributions to minority interest

     —         —         (2,215 )

Liquidating distributions

     (534,464 )     (237,711 )     —    
    


 


 


Net cash flow expended by financing activities

     (534,464 )     (350,969 )     (257,310 )
    


 


 


CASH FLOW FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

                        

Proceeds from sale of subsidiary

     42,029       —         —    

Distribution from subsidiary held for sale

     7,012       —         198,500  
    


 


 


Net cash flow provided by discontinued operations

     49,041       —         198,500  
    


 


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     118,452       (215,872 )     68,918  

Cash and cash equivalents:

                        

Beginning of year

     264,764       480,636       411,718  
    


 


 


End of year

   $ 383,216     $ 264,764     $ 480,636  
    


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

F-7


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Overseas Partners Ltd. and its subsidiaries (collectively OPL or the Company). OPL was engaged in the property and casualty reinsurance business and in the real estate and leasing business. On February 13, 2002 the Board of Directors of OPL announced its decision to restructure OPL and cause its operations to begin an orderly runoff. OPL and its reinsurance subsidiaries have discontinued writing new business. OPL has disposed of its real estate assets and is no longer engaged in the real estate and leasing business.

 

The decision to put the reinsurance operations into runoff has significantly changed the ongoing results of OPL’s operations and the associated cash flows and will continue to do so. There has been no new business written, therefore the cash received from premiums has significantly decreased. The commutation and novation of reinsurance programs has significantly accelerated loss payments and will continue to result in negative cash flows in the future. Nevertheless, OPL management believes that the Company’s current cash holdings and future sales and maturities of investments are adequate sources of liquidity for the future payment of claims and operating expenses.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. All activity is recorded in U.S. dollars. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following are the significant accounting policies adopted by the Company.

 

Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Premiums written and ceded are recorded based on estimates of ultimate amounts at inception of the contract. Such estimates are regularly reviewed with adjustments, if any, recorded in the period in which they are determined. Premiums written and ceded are recognized as earned on a pro-rata basis over the period the coverage is provided. Unearned premiums and acquisition costs, primarily commissions and taxes, applicable to the unexpired periods of the policies in force, are deferred. The deferral of acquisition expenses is limited to their realizable value by giving consideration to losses and expenses expected to be incurred as premiums are earned and to the future anticipated investment income related to such premiums. After limiting the deferral of acquisition expenses, any additional premium deficiency is recorded as part of incurred losses and loss expenses. The deferral of acquisition expenses is reviewed on a program-by-program basis.

 

Following the decision to place the reinsurance operations into runoff, the Company has completed the early commutation (i.e. negotiated settlement and cancellation) and novation (i.e. transfer of the Company’s rights and obligations to another reinsurer) of several reinsurance programs. Loss reserve settlements that are structured as commutations are recorded as an increase or decrease in incurred claims whereas the commutation of unexpired risks and novations are recorded as a return of the original premium income and attendant claims and expenses.

 

 

F-8


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

    Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

The reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses include an estimate of outstanding losses and an estimate for losses incurred but not reported. Outstanding losses are estimated based on ceding company reports and other data considered relevant to the estimation process. The liability for losses incurred but not reported reflects management’s best estimates based on the recommendations of an independent actuary using the past loss experience of the Company and industry data. The reserves as established by management are reviewed periodically and adjustments are made in the period in which they become known. Although management believes the reserves are adequate, based on all available information, there can be no assurance that actual losses will not differ significantly from the amounts provided. Inherent in the estimates of ultimate losses are expected trends in claim severity and frequency and other factors, which could vary significantly as claims, are settled. In particular, there are significant uncertainties over the estimates of ultimate losses associated with the following: (a) a $180 million residual value reinsurance program where the Company is exposed to losses through 2013 arising from potential lease income shortfalls on a portfolio of aircraft. The Company carries reserves for this program using actuarial projections that reflect the current performance of the fleet and projected future performance under a number of economic scenarios; (b) the Company is engaged in several ongoing disputes with ceding companies. The Company continues to reserve for losses and loss expenses on all disputed contracts without regard to any possibility of a favorable outcome. However, the uncertainty surrounding such estimates is increased by the fact that the Company may not have received current loss information from the ceding company during the period of the dispute and may not have had the opportunity to audit or otherwise review the reliability of such reported information.

 

The Company recognizes reinsurance recoveries when the associated loss is incurred. The Company remains liable to the extent that the reinsurance companies fail to meet their obligations and consequently allowances are established for amounts deemed uncollectible. The Company regularly evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risk to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies.

 

All highly liquid debt instruments with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition are considered cash equivalents.

 

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to credit risk, consist principally of cash, cash equivalents, investments, reinsurance balances receivable, funds withheld and losses and loss expenses recoverable from our reinsurers.

 

Trading securities are carried at fair value with any unrealized gains and losses included in net income. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with any unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income. The cost of securities sold is calculated using the specific identification method. Private equity funds, for which there were no readily determinable market values, were recorded at cost.

 

Investments are reviewed periodically to determine if they have sustained an impairment of value that is considered to be other than temporary. The identification of potentially impaired investments, the assessment of whether any decline in value is other than temporary, and, in some cases, the estimation of fair value involve significant management judgment. If trading and available-for-sale investments are determined to be impaired, the cost basis of the investment is written down to fair value at the balance sheet date and a corresponding realized loss is charged to the income statement in the period in which it is determined. If unquoted investments held at cost, primarily the private equity funds, or the investment in affiliate are determined to be impaired, the carrying value of the investment is written down to estimated fair value at the balance sheet date and a corresponding impairment expense is charged to the income statement in the period in which it is determined.

 

Estimated fair value of trading and available-for-sale investments is based on market quotations. The carrying values of other financial instruments approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of the balances.

 

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The computation of diluted earnings per share adjusts net income and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the exercise of all dilutive stock options. The computation of diluted earnings per share does not assume exercise of stock options that would have an antidilutive effect on earnings per share.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

During the second quarter of 2003, the Company elected to adopt the fair value based employee stock-based compensation expense recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”) prospectively. The Company previously applied the intrinsic value based expense recognition provisions set forth in APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. SFAS 123 states that the adoption of the fair value based method is a change to a preferable method of accounting. The adoption of the fair value based method had no effect on net income for the years ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 as no stock-based compensation awards were made in 2003 or 2004. The adoption of SFAS 123 was applied only to awards granted subsequent to January 1, 2003. As a result of OPL’s decision to runoff its operations, it is unlikely that any further stock-based compensation awards will be made.

 

In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) revised Interpretation 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“FIN 46R”). FIN 46R requires the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) to include the assets, liabilities and results of the activities of the VIE in its consolidated financial statements, as well as disclosure of information about the assets and liabilities, and the nature, purpose and activities of consolidated VIEs. In addition, FIN 46R requires disclosure of information about the nature, purpose and activities on unconsolidated VIEs in which the Company holds a significant variable interest. For the purposes of FIN 46R, OPL is a nonpublic entity and therefore FIN 46R is effective immediately for any interests in VIEs acquired after December 31, 2003 and effective January 1, 2005 for all VIEs acquired before December 31, 2003. OPL does not have any VIE’s as of December 31, 2004 and therefore the implementation of FIN 46R will not have any impact on our financial position, results of operations or financial reporting.

 

In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached consensus on the guidance provided in EITF Issue No. 03-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments” (“EITF 03-1”) as applicable to debt and equity securities that are within the scope of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”. This new guidance for determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary was originally effective for the period beginning July 1, 2004. However, on September 30, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position EITF 03-1-1 delaying the effective date for the accounting and measurement provisions of EITF 03-1 until further clarification can be provided. Adoption of this standard is not anticipated to have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations or financial reporting.

 

Certain of the 2003 and 2002 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in 2004.

 

3. SALE OF SUBSIDIARIES

 

In July 2004 OPL and Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. (“OdysseyRe”) entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement, pursuant to which OdysseyRe would purchase 100% of the outstanding shares of Overseas Partners US Reinsurance Company (“OPUS Re”). The closing of the transaction occurred on November 15, 2004. The purchase price was $43.0 million and the loss on sale was $25.9 million.

 

In accordance with SFAS 144, the net operating results of OPUS Re have been recorded as discontinued operations in the statement of income. The financial statements for prior periods presented have been restated on a consistent basis. All assets pertaining to OPUS Re as of December 31, 2003, have been recorded as a single line item “Assets relating to subsidiary held for sale” and similarly all liabilities have been recorded as a single line item “Liabilities relating to subsidiary held for sale”.

 

 

F-10


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

3. SALE OF SUBSIDIARIES (continued)

 

Summary financial information about the Company’s discontinued operations is presented in the following tables:

 

(In thousands)


   2004

    2003

    2002

 

REVENUES

                        

Premiums earned

   $ 15,190     $ 80,020     $ 236,908  

Investment income

     2,478       4,005       17,578  
    


 


 


     $ 17,668     $ 84,025     $ 254,486  
    


 


 


NET INCOME (LOSS)

                        

Income (loss) from subsidiary held for sale

   $ 4,930     $ (11,645 )   $ (17,595 )

Income taxes relating to subsidiary held for sale

     (2,153 )     1,624       2,666  

Loss on sale of subsidiary

     (25,939 )     —         —    
    


 


 


Net loss from disposed subsidiary

   $ (23,162 )   $ (10,021 )   $ (14,929 )
    


 


 


 

On May 10, 2002 OPL sold its wholly owned subsidiary Overseas Partners Cat Ltd. (“OPCat”) to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd for $25 million, equal to OPCat’s net book value at the date of sale. Prior to, and in anticipation of, the sale, OPCat returned approximately $420 million of capital. At the date of sale OPCat’s assets included $63.6 million of cash, therefore the sale resulted in a net cash outflow of $38.6 million. OPL remains liable for adverse development on losses incurred prior to February 13, 2002 and, conversely, is entitled to a profit commission for any favorable development.

 

4. INVESTMENTS

 

Amortized cost and fair value of investments in trading and available-for-sale securities are as follows:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

December 31, 2004:


   AMORTIZED
COST


   UNREALIZED
GAINS


   UNREALIZED
LOSSES


    FAIR VALUE

Available-for-sale debt:

                            

U.S. government bonds

   $ 65,153    $ 127    $ (268 )   $ 65,012

Corporate and other bonds

     127,650      452      (345 )     127,757

Mortgage-backed securities

     92,905      35      (547 )     92,393
    

  

  


 

       285,708      614      (1,160 )     285,162
    

  

  


 

Available-for-sale equities:

                            

Equities

     709      98      —         807
    

  

  


 

     $ 286,417    $ 712    $ (1,160 )   $ 285,969

 

 

F-11


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

4. INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

December 31, 2003:


   AMORTIZED
COST


   UNREALIZED
GAINS


   UNREALIZED
LOSSES


    FAIR VALUE

Trading equities:

                            

Emerging markets

   $ 101    $ —      $ —       $ 101

Multi-manager fund

     357,658      114,539      —         472,197
    

  

  


 

       357,759      114,539      —         472,298
    

  

  


 

Available-for-sale debt:

                            

U.S. government bonds

     229,992      2,137      (115 )     232,014

Corporate and other bonds

     212,121      4,404      (37 )     216,488

Mortgage-backed securities

     242,083      822      (210 )     242,695
       684,196      7,363      (362 )     691,197

Available-for-sale equities:

                            

Equities

     1,064      1,383      —         2,447
    

  

  


 

     $ 1,043,019    $ 123,285    $ (362 )   $ 1,165,942
    

  

  


 

 

The multi-manager fund was listed on the Irish and Cayman Islands Stock Exchanges. The fund was a strategic income multi-manager fund with underlying securities including high grade bonds, floating rate loans, convertible securities and high yield bonds. The underlying securities were all issued in the U.S. with the average credit quality of the fund not falling below investment grade. The Company’s shares in this fund were sold during the year ended December 31, 2004 and the fund was subsequently liquidated.

 

The amount of unrealized losses and the related fair value of investments with unrealized losses are as follows:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

December 31, 2004:


   FAIR VALUE

   UNREALIZED
LOSSES


 

Available-for-sale debt:

               

U.S. government bonds

   $ 28,412    $ (268 )

Corporate and other bonds

     40,451      (345 )

Mortgage-backed securities

     55,474      (547 )
    

  


     $ 124,337    $ (1,160 )
    

  


 

All of the investments with unrealized losses have been in a continuous unrealized-loss position for less than 12 months. Management believes that the impairments are temporary and are primarily caused by fluctuations in interest rates.

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities, by contractual maturities, are shown in the following table. Mortgage-backed securities generally are more likely to be prepaid than other fixed maturities. As the stated maturity of such securities may not be indicative of actual maturities, the total for mortgage-backed securities is shown separately.

 

     2004

(In thousands U.S.$)


   AMORTIZED
COST


   FAIR VALUE

Available-for-sale securities:

             

Within 1 year

   $ 62,412    $ 62,412

After 1 year through 5 years

     130,391      130,357

Mortgage-backed securities

     92,905      92,393
     $ 285,708    $ 285,162

 

 

F-12


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

4. INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

The components of realized gains and losses were as follows:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   2004

    2003

   2002

 

Available-for-sale:

                       

Equities

   $ (343 )   $ 44,267    $ (205,468 )

Fixed income

     2,644       1,010      (3,486 )

Zero-coupon notes

     —         20,861      34,803  

Other

     —         —        (625 )
    


 

  


       2,301       66,138      (174,776 )

Private equity

     3,744             
    


 

  


     $ 6,045     $ 66,138    $ (174,776 )
    


 

  


 

Investment income for 2004 includes gross realized gains from the sales of available-for-sale securities of $4.7 million and gross realized losses of $2.4 million. Investment income for 2003 includes gross realized gains from the sales of available-for-sale securities of $78.9 million and gross realized losses of $12.8 million. Investment income for 2002 includes gross realized gains from the sales of available-for-sale securities of $51.5 million and gross realized losses of $226.3 million.

 

These results included the effects of write downs in the cost basis of OPL’s investment in a Bermuda based life reinsurer and, for the years ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, the effects of the write down in the cost basis of OPL’s equity investments in certain stocks in the S&P 500 portfolio, where the decline in value was considered other than temporary. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, such write-downs are recognized as realized losses in the income statement, even though there were no sales of the securities. For the years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 the total amount of the write down was $0.4 million, $8.0 million and $177.5 million respectively.

 

 

F-13


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

5. ACCRUED LOSSES AND LOSS EXPENSES

 

Activity in accrued losses and loss expenses is summarized as follows:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   2004

    2003

    2002

 

Gross balance as of January 1,

   $ 913,711     $ 1,370,110     $ 1,798,044  

Less reinsurance recoverable

     (63,598 )     (112,612 )     (190,845 )
    


 


 


Net balance as of January 1,

     850,113       1,257,498       1,607,199  
    


 


 


Incurred related to:

                        

Current year

     2,128       37,760       216,802  

Prior years

     (63,680 )     13,819       15,765  
    


 


 


Total incurred

     (61,552 )     51,579       232,567  
    


 


 


Paid related to:

                        

Current year

     (988 )     (7,038 )     (85,675 )

Prior years

     (624,039 )     (451,926 )     (463,013 )
    


 


 


Total paid

     (625,027 )     (458,964 )     (548,688 )
    


 


 


Transfer of loss reserves on sale of OP Cat

                 (33,580 )
    


 


 


Net balance as of December 31,

     163,534       850,113       1,257,498  

Plus reinsurance recoverable

     24,621       63,598       112,612  
    


 


 


Gross balance as of December 31,

   $ 188,155     $ 913,711     $ 1,370,110  
    


 


 


 

The reduction in incurred losses from prior years of $63.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 reflects the settlement of liabilities through commutations and novations at amounts less than carried reserves and a reduction in the provision for non-collectible reinsurance of $4 million. The commutations included a workers’ compensation contract, with recorded loss reserves of approximately $198 million, where reinsurance had been provided to a reinsurer that had commenced arbitration to rescind its own reinsurance contract with the primary carrier. The commutation allowed the Company to generate savings compared to carried reserves and eliminated the risk of further losses that may have arisen from an unfavorable arbitration decision in the underlying contract.

 

As a result of the change in estimates of insured events in prior years, the provision for losses and loss expenses increased by $13.8 million and $15.8 million in 2003 and 2002, respectively. The 2002 increase related to an increase in estimated ultimate losses on a number of programs, primarily a marine contract and two multi-year contracts in our property and accident & health lines of business, respectively. These contracts have now been commuted. The 2003 increase related primarily to an increase in estimated ultimate losses of approximately $15 million on two workers’ compensation programs. The change in estimates followed an independent actuarial evaluation completed in the third quarter of 2003 and reflected adverse trending of medical expenses associated with workers’ compensation claims in California. These contracts were subsequently commuted in 2004.

 

Losses recoverable are primarily due from five different reinsurers including three Lloyds of London syndicates. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 OPL’s management conducted a thorough review of the claims paying ability of the Company’s reinsurers and subsequently made a provision for non-collectible reinsurance receivables of $10 million. During the year-ended December 31, 2004 OPL’s management reviewed the provision and reduced it to $6 million to reflect the collection of a significant portion of the assets through commutation with the Company’s reinsurers. Losses incurred are net of $(0.2) million, $4.3 million and $(49.7) million of losses recoverable from reinsurers for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, there were no amounts due from any individual reinsurer in excess of 10% of OPL’s members’ equity.

 

 

F-14


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

6. COMMITMENTS

 

Following OPL’s decision to cease writing new business and to runoff our reinsurance operations, the banks required that our letter of credit facilities be fully secured by a portion of the Company’s investment portfolio of at least equivalent value. At December 31, 2003 the Company had $448.2 million of cash and investments collateralizing our $441.3 million letter of credit facilities. In the normal course of reinsurance business, OPL’s bankers had issued letters of credit totaling $261.0 million as of December 31, 2003 to collateralize the Company’s accrued losses and unearned premium obligations to certain reinsureds. As OPL’s letter of credit facilities expired on December 31, 2004 the Company no longer has investments collateralizing these facilities. Where necessary, the Company has issued replacement collateral in the form of deposits with the reinsureds.

 

7. REAL ESTATE AND LEASING ACTIVITIES

 

On November 25, 2003 the Company disposed of its only remaining real estate asset, a distribution facility that was leased to the Kmart Corporation. The facility was sold to the Kmart Corporation for net cash proceeds of $6.8 million resulting in a pre-tax loss of $10.8 million. The purchaser of the property assumed the associated existing debt of $23.4 million.

 

During 2002 the Company sold its data processing facility, hotel and one remaining office building, a two-thirds partnership interest in the Copley Place retail center and office complex. On January 31, 2002 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS) purchased the data processing facility for $127.9 million and the land on which the facility is located for $13.6 million resulting in a total pre-tax gain on sale of $47.1 million. The Copley Marriott Hotel was sold on June 13, 2002 for net cash proceeds of $111.6 million resulting in a pre-tax gain on sale of $58.8 million. The purchaser of the property assumed the associated existing debt of $96.7 million. Copley Place was sold on July 19, 2002 for net cash proceeds of $119.6 million resulting in a pre-tax gain on sale of $35.0 million. The purchaser of the property assumed the associated existing debt of $184.6 million.

 

In 1989 a subsidiary of OPCC acquired five 757 aircraft and a data processing facility, which were subsequently leased to UPS under separate operating leases. The acquisition of the aircraft and the facility were financed by two series of privately placed, fixed rate, non-callable bonds issued by OPL Funding, incorporated in Delaware as a single purpose subsidiary of Overseas Capital Co. The Series A Bonds, in the principal amount of $171.6 million, were due in 2012; the Series B Bonds, in the principal amount of $73.4 million, were due in 2019.

 

The aircraft were sold in July 1998 and the data processing facility was sold in January 2002. OPL Funding invested $186.6 million of the proceeds from the sale of the aircraft into United States zero-coupon treasury notes and corporate bonds as substitute collateral for the interest obligations associated with the Series A Bonds. Following the sale of the data processing facility, OPL Funding invested $84.2 million of the proceeds from the sale into United States zero-coupon treasury notes as substitute collateral for the interest obligations associated with the Series B Bonds. These investments were sufficient to defease all remaining interest payments due on the bonds.

 

Following the February 2002 decision to put OPL’s operations into runoff the Company sought to accelerate the settlement of reinsurance and real estate liabilities. During June 2002 OPL Funding approached and obtained the consent of all the bondholders to amend the Trust Indenture to permit the repurchase and cancellation of the Series A Bonds and Series B Bonds. The terms of the repurchase and cancellation required the Company to pay an amount equivalent to the fair value of the collateral securities (relating to both principal and interest) to the bondholders. On June 27, 2002 OPL Funding completed the repurchase and cancellation of $111.6 million of the Series A Bonds and $58.4 million of the Series B Bonds for a total premium of $78.0 million recorded in interest expense. The corresponding sale of the collateral securities with an amortized cost of $211.5 million resulted in an offsetting $34.8 million gain on sale.

 

On October 6, 2003 OPL Funding completed the repurchase and cancellation of the remaining $60.0 million of the Series A Bonds and $15.0 million of the Series B Bonds for a total premium of $35.6 million recorded in interest expense. The corresponding sale of the collateral securities with an amortized cost of $91.5 million resulted in an offsetting $20.9 million gain on sale.

 

 

F-15


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

8. TAXES

 

OPL and its remaining subsidiaries are incorporated under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda. OPL believes that neither it nor its Bermuda subsidiaries carries on business through a permanent establishment in the United States. Therefore, it does not expect itself or its Bermuda subsidiaries to be subject to United States income taxes. Under current Bermuda law, OPL and its Bermuda subsidiaries are not obligated to pay any tax in Bermuda based upon income or capital gains.

 

Certain of OPL’s subsidiaries were incorporated in the United States. These subsidiaries were subject to United States income taxes. As of January 14, 2005 OPL has either liquidated or sold all of its United States based subsidiaries, so OPL no longer has any subsidiaries that are directly subject to United States income taxes. OPL’s management believes that OPL does not have any remaining United States income tax liabilities. However, the statutes of limitations for the tax returns filed by the former U.S. subsidiaries have not expired and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may audit these tax returns and may seek to impose additional taxes. OPL received significant tax refunds due to losses incurred by OPCC in the year ended December 31, 2003. As the refunds were in excess of $2 million, OPCC’s tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are subject to review by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the United States Congress. In addition, the IRS is currently auditing the federal income tax returns for Overseas Partners US Holding Co. (“OPUS Holding”) and its subsidiary for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003. Although the buyer of OPUS Holding’s only subsidiary is generally responsible for any tax assessments arising out of the IRS audit, OPL has provided an indemnification with respect to withholding taxes attributable to distributions made by OPUS Holding to OPL. OPL’s management does not believe that any withholding taxes are due relating to these distributions.

 

The components of income tax (benefit) expense related to earnings for those subsidiaries engaged in business in the United States, as indicated above, were as follows:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   2004

    2003

    2002

 

Current:

                        

Federal

   $ (184 )   $ (14,931 )   $ 32,146  

State

     (785 )     (420 )     9,715  
    


 


 


       (969 )     (15,351 )     41,861  

Deferred:

                        

Federal

     —         —         (9,143 )

State

     —         (25 )     (1,829 )
    


 


 


       —         (25 )     (10,972 )
    


 


 


Income tax (benefit) expense

   $ (969 )   $ (15,376 )   $ 30,889  
    


 


 


 

A reconciliation of income tax (benefit) expense provided at the United States Federal statutory rate (35% in 2004, 2003 and 2002) to income tax (benefit) expense follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Income tax expense (benefit) at U.S. Federal statutory rate

   $ 29,131     $ 14,175     $ (59,771 )

State taxes

     (785 )     (445 )     7,886  

Bermuda operations not subject to U.S. taxation

     (29,258 )     (28,730 )     88,932  

Other

     (57 )     (376 )     (6,158 )
    


 


 


Income tax (benefit) expense

   $ (969 )   $ (15,376 )   $ 30,889  
    


 


 


 

 

F-16


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

9. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Under the 2000 OPL Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) the Company may issue, among others, Restricted Stock Grants (“RSG’s”), Incentive Stock Options (“ISO’s”) and Non-statutory Stock Options (“NQSO’s”). Under the plan there were originally 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares of the Company available for issuance. The number of shares currently available for grants reserved for issuance to participants under the Plan at December 31, 2004 was 4,664,378. As a result of OPL’s decision to runoff its operations, it is unlikely that any further awards of RSG’s, ISO’s or NQSO’s will be made.

 

Options under the plan may be exercised for Common Shares of the Company upon vesting. The Options generally vest three years after the award date. Under the plan the Options expire seven years after vesting. Below is a summary of Options activity:

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

     NUMBER
OF
OPTIONS


    AVERAGE
EXERCISE
PRICE


   NUMBER
OF
OPTIONS


    AVERAGE
EXERCISE
PRICE


   NUMBER
OF
OPTIONS


    AVERAGE
EXERCISE
PRICE


Outstanding balance at January 1

   229,521     $ 14.50    417,729     $ 14.50    1,474,831     $ 14.50

Forfeited

   (16,000 )   $ 14.50    (188,208 )   $ 14.50    (1,057,102 )   $ 14.50
    

 

  

 

  

 

Outstanding balance at December 31

   213,521     $ 14.50    229,521     $ 14.50    417,729     $ 14.50
    

 

  

 

  

 

Options exercisable at December 31

   213,521     $ 14.50    —         —      —         —  
    

 

  

 

  

 

 

At December 31, 2004 the weighted-average remaining contractual life of options outstanding was 6.25 years. As a result of OPL’s decision to runoff its operations, it is unlikely that these Stock Options will have any value in the future and therefore it is unlikely that any of these Stock Options will be exercised.

 

Total stock based compensation expensed for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $0.0 million, $0.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The stock based compensation expense related to the RSG’s issued to certain Company employees during the year ended December 31, 2001. These grants vested over a three-year period and a compensation expense equal to the fair market value of the RSG’s on the date of the grant was amortized over the period that the service was provided.

 

If the Company had adopted the fair value based method of accounting for options granted in prior years, as per the provisions of SFAS 123, compensation costs would have been determined based on the estimated fair value of the stock options awards at the time of the grant. The effect on net income and earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 would have been immaterial.

 

 

F-17


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

10. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 

In the past, the Company’s operations have been conducted through two segments—reinsurance and real estate and leasing. The reinsurance segment is managed from the Bermuda office and includes the runoff of accident & health, aviation, property, workers’ compensation and finite risk business. Previously the reinsurance segment also included the operations of OPUS Re. Real estate and leasing activities were owned and managed through United States subsidiaries of OPCC. During the fourth quarter of 2003 the Company sold its final remaining leased asset and the Company is therefore no longer engaged in the real estate and leasing business. On December 31, 2003 OPCC was dissolved and all remaining assets and liabilities distributed to OPL. There were no inter-segment revenues earned for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002. Inter-segment expenses, such as corporate overhead, were allocated based on estimated utilization for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

 

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Income before income taxes by segment consists of revenues less expenses related to the respective segment’s operations. The reinsurance segment maintains a portfolio of cash and liquid investments to support its reserves for accrued losses and loss expenses and unearned premiums as well as its capital requirements.

 

Summary financial information about the Company’s segments is presented in the following table:

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   2004

    2003

    2002

 

REVENUES

                        

Reinsurance:

                        

Premiums earned

   $ 9,399     $ 38,126     $ 220,410  

Commission and fee income

     1,667       (237 )     5,799  

Investment income (loss)

     35,345       128,327       (161,911 )
    


 


 


       46,411       166,216       64,298  
    


 


 


Real estate and leasing:

                        

Rentals

     —         3,020       83,837  

(Loss) gain on sale of assets

     —         (10,198 )     139,902  

Investment income

     —         25,680       48,777  
       —         18,502       272,516  
    


 


 


Consolidated

   $ —       $ 184,718     $ 336,814  
    


 


 


NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES

                        

Reinsurance

   $ 94,577     $ 91,243     $ (253,913 )

Real estate and leasing

     —         (25,418 )     103,315  

Other operating expenses

     (11,346 )     (25,325 )     (20,175 )
    


 


 


Consolidated

   $ 83,231     $ 40,500     $ (170,773 )
    


 


 


ASSETS

                        

Reinsurance:

                        

Cash and investments

   $ 669,185     $ 1,525,914     $ 2,090,679  

Other

     84,852       662,213       1,081,062  
    


 


 


       754,037       2,188,127       3,171,741  
    


 


 


Real estate and leasing:

                        

Cash and investments

     —         —         143,145  

Other

     —         —         43,535  
    


 


 


       —         —         186,680  
    


 


 


Consolidated

   $ 754,037     $ 2,188,127     $ 3,358,421  
    


 


 


 

 

F-18


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

10. BUSINESS SEGMENTS (continued)

 

Substantially all of the Company’s long-lived assets, interest expense, depreciation expense and continuing operations income tax expense were related to the Company’s real estate and leasing operations. All of the Company’s leasing and real estate revenues were generated in the United States. For 2004, 2003 and 2002, all of the Company’s long-lived assets were located in the United States.

 

11. STATUTORY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

OPL’s ability to repurchase shares, pay dividends, or make other distributions to shareowners is subject to certain regulatory restrictions including the following:

 

1. In Bermuda, the Bermuda Insurance Act of 1978, amendments thereto and related Regulations (the “Act”) requires OPL and its Bermuda based reinsurance subsidiaries to each maintain a minimum solvency margin determined as the greater of 15% of accrued losses and loss expenses (net of reinsurance recoverables), or a given fraction of net premiums written. At December 31, 2004 the minimum statutory capital and surplus requirements for OPL, OPRe and OPAL were approximately $1 million, $24 million and $120,000, respectively. Each company was in compliance with these requirements for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

2. The Act also requires OPL and its Bermuda based reinsurance subsidiaries to each maintain a minimum liquidity ratio whereby the value of their relevant assets, (mainly cash, investments, receivables and other liquid assets), are not less than 75% of the amount of their relevant liabilities, (mainly accrued losses and loss expenses, unearned premiums, reinsurance balances payable and other accounts payable). Investments in and advances to subsidiaries are not included in the definition of relevant assets for purposes of this test. OPL, OPRe and OPAL met these requirements for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

3. As a holding company, a significant proportion of OPL’s assets relate to its investments in subsidiaries. As such, OPL’s ability to make future distributions is heavily dependent upon it receiving distributions from its subsidiaries. The Act prohibits OPL, OPRe and OPAL from distributing more than 15% of the prior year’s statutory capital unless specific approval is obtained from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. In addition to the requirements of the Act the Bermuda Monetary Authority has requested that all distributions from OPL, OPRe and OPAL be pre-approved by themselves. In addition to the regulatory restrictions, each subsidiary needs to consider, inter alia, the potential for future adverse development in the settlement of reinsurance liabilities, ongoing operating expenses and the potential for contingent liabilities, prior to making such distributions. Since going into runoff OPL has made three liquidating distributions to shareowners totaling $6.50 per share. Distributions of $237.7 million, $296.9 million and $237.5 million were paid on April 9, 2003, January 5, 2004 and August 31, 2004, respectively. All liquidating distributions were pre-approved by the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

 

12. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

 

Reinsurance commissions, taxes and other expenses for 2004, 2003 and 2002 include amortization of acquisition expenses of $2.6 million, $7.0 million and $66.1 million and underwriting and claims related expenses of $8.9 million, $11.0 million and $15.9 million, respectively.

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                    

Amount of cash paid during the year for:

                    

U.S. income taxes

   $    $ 3,608    $ 38,378

Interest

   $    $ 7,488    $ 28,733

Assignment of debt in partial consideration for sale of fixed assets

   $    $ 23,383    $ 281,304

 

 

F-19


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

13. CONTINGENCIES

 

On November 19, 1999 and January 27, 2000 OPL was named as a defendant in two class action lawsuits, filed on behalf of customers of UPS, in Montgomery County, Ohio Court and Butler County, Ohio Court, respectively. The lawsuits alleged, among other things, that UPS told its customers that they were purchasing insurance for coverage of loss or damage to goods shipped by UPS. The lawsuits further alleged that UPS wrongfully enriched itself with the monies paid by its customers to purchase such insurance. The November 19, 1999 and January 27, 2000 actions were removed to federal court and thereafter transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”) and consolidated in a multi-district litigation for pretrial discovery purposes with other actions asserting claims against UPS. Plaintiffs subsequently amended those claims against all defendants to join a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) claim as well. On August 7, 2000, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, OPCC, were added as defendants in a third class action lawsuit, also consolidated in the multi-district litigation, which alleged violations of United States antitrust laws, and state unfair trade practice and consumer protection laws. The allegations in the lawsuits were drawn from an opinion by the United States Tax Court that found that the insurance program, as offered through UPS, by domestic insurance companies, and ultimately reinsured by OPL, should not be recognized for federal income tax purposes. In June 2001, the Tax Court opinion was reversed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

 

The Company filed or joined in motions to dismiss all of the consolidated actions on a number of grounds, including that the antitrust claim failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and that the remaining claims were preempted by federal law. In orders dated July 30, 2002, the Court granted in part and denied in part the motions to dismiss. Pursuant to the Court’s orders, the claims remaining against the Company were RICO, antitrust, and common law interference with contract claims. On November 8, 2002, the parties presented to the Court a stipulation and proposed order certifying a nationwide class with respect to certain of the claims brought by the plaintiffs, including the RICO and interference with contract claims against the Company. The Court approved the stipulation and proposed order. The stipulation did not certify the antitrust claims brought against the Company.

 

During October 2003 the parties reached a tentative settlement with respect to all claims brought by the various plaintiffs. The settlement agreement was executed on December 31, 2003 and on July 30, 2004 the Court approved the settlement. The final judgment and order approving the settlement and dismissing the claims with prejudice was entered on August 6, 2004 and the settlement was deemed effective on September 8, 2004. During September 2004 the Company paid $10 million in connection with the settlement. This amount was accrued in the financial statements during the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

Certain of OPL’s subsidiaries are party to legal proceedings in the investigation and defense of claims arising out of their reinsurance business and / or their former ownership of real estate. OPL’s management do not believe that the eventual outcome of any such proceedings will have a material effect on OPL’s business.

 

 

F-20


Table of Contents

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

14. UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

 

2004

 

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   FIRST
QUARTER


    SECOND
QUARTER


    THIRD
QUARTER


    FOURTH
QUARTER


 

Reinsurance:

                                

Net premiums earned

   $ 6,690     $ (2,811 )   $ 5,833     $ (313 )

Commission and fee income

     (2 )     —         1,327       342  

Investment income

     15,484       889       11,584       7,388  
    


 


 


 


Total revenues

     22,172       (1,922 )     18,744       7,417  
    


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     18,866       31,655       17,060       15,650  
    


 


 


 


Net income from continuing operations

     18,942       31,762       17,060       16,436  

Net income (loss) from subsidiary held for sale

     442       (24,514 )     872       38  
    


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 19,384     $ 7,248     $ 17,932     $ 16,474  
    


 


 


 


Net income per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.16     $ 0.27     $ 0.14     $ 0.14  

Net income (loss) per share from subsidiary held for sale

     0.00       (0.21 )     0.01       0.00  
    


 


 


 


Basic and diluted net income per share

   $ 0.16     $ 0.06     $ 0.15     $ 0.14  
    


 


 


 


 

2003

                                

(In thousands U.S.$)

 

   FIRST
QUARTER


    SECOND
QUARTER


    THIRD
QUARTER


    FOURTH
QUARTER


 

Reinsurance:

                                

Net premiums earned

   $ 9,458     $ 4,401     $ 18,630     $ 5,637  

Commission and fee income

     238       7       (410 )     (72 )

Investment income

     7,928       56,254       12,934       51,211  
    


 


 


 


       17,624       60,662       31,154       56,776  

Real estate and leasing:

                                

Rentals

     830       825       821       544  

Loss on sale of assets

     —         —         —         (10,198 )

Investment income

     1,661       1,479       1,608       20,932  
    


 


 


 


       2,491       2,304       2,429       11,278  

Total revenues

     20,115       62,966       33,583       68,054  
    


 


 


 


(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes

     (1,674 )     45,595       (18,785 )     15,364  

Net (loss) income from continuing operations

     (2,937 )     45,945       (15,694 )     28,562  

Net (loss) income from subsidiary held for sale

     (383 )     (9,952 )     378       (64 )
    


 


 


 


Net (loss) income

   $ (3,320 )   $ 35,993     $ (15,316 )   $ 28,498  
    


 


 


 


Net (loss) income per share from continuing operations

   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.38     $ (0.13 )   $ 0.24  

Net (loss) income per share from subsidiary held for sale

     0.00       (0.08 )     0.00       0.00  
    


 


 


 


Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share

   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.30     $ (0.13 )   $ 0.24  
    


 


 


 


 

F-21


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Overseas Partners Ltd. has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Hamilton, Bermuda.

 

 

    OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD.

Date: March 11, 2005

  By:  

/s/ Mark R. Bridges


        President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the following persons, on behalf of Overseas Partners Ltd. and in the capacities and on the dates indicated, have signed this Report below:

 

Signature


 

Title


 

Date


/s/ Mark R. Bridges


 

President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief

Financial Officer and Director

  March 11, 2005

(Mark R. Bridges)

     

/s/ Robert J. Clanin


 

Chairman of the Board

of Directors and

Director

  March 11, 2005

(Robert J. Clanin)

     

/s/ Mark B. Cloutier


  Chief Executive Officer of OPRe and Director   March 11, 2005

(Mark B. Cloutier)

       

/s/ D. Scott Davis


  Director   March 11, 2005

(D. Scott Davis)

       

/s/ Chris Fleming


  Chief Accounting Officer   March 11, 2005

(Chris Fleming)

       

/s/ Joseph M. Pyne


  Director   March 11, 2005

(Joseph M. Pyne)

       

/s/ Cyril E. Rance


  Director   March 11, 2005

(Cyril E. Rance)

       

 

 


Table of Contents

EXHIBITS

 

TO

 

OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD.

 

REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

 


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

(3) Articles of Incorporation and Bye-Laws.

 

3(a)    Certificate of Incorporation    Incorporated by Reference of Exhibit 3(a) of Registration Statement (on Form S-1), No. 2-95460.
3(b)    Bye-Laws as amended and restated    Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 3(b) of OPL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1999
3(c)    Altered Memorandum of Association    Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 3(c) of OPL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2000

 

(4) Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures.

 

4(a)    Copy of specimen stock certificate    Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 99 (c) of OPL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1996
4(b)    Agreement accepting restrictions on transfer and rights to purchase executed by recipients of shares    Incorporated by Reference of Exhibit 4(b) of Registration Statement (on Form S-1), No. 2-95460.

 

(10) Material Contracts.

 

10(a)    Overseas Partners Ltd. Incentive Compensation Plan    Incorporated by Reference to of OPL’s Employee Benefit Plan Registration Statement on Form S-8 as filed on May 31, 2000
10(b)    Amended Employment Agreement between Overseas Partners Ltd. and Mark Bridges dated September 1, 2002.    Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10 (a) of OPL’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2002
10(c)    Amended Employment Agreement between Overseas Partners Ltd. and Mark Cloutier dated September 1, 2002.    Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10 (b) of OPL’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2002
10(d)    Form of Statements of Employment for Executive Officers.    Filed herewith.
(21)    Subsidiaries    Filed herewith.
(31a)    Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith.
(31b)    Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith.
(32)    Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Furnished herewith.
(99)    Additional exhibits:     
(99a)    Custody Arrangements for OPL Common Stock.    Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 28(c) of OPL’s Registration Statement (on Form S-1) No. 2-95460.