e10vq
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     
    for the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2010.
     
o   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     
    from                      to                     
Commission file number 001-13790
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   76-0336636
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
     
13403 Northwest Freeway, Houston, Texas   77040-6094
 
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
(713) 690-7300
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ
  Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
 
      (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.
On October 31, 2010, there were approximately 115.3 million shares of common stock outstanding.
 
 

 


 

HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
    Page
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
       
Item 1. Financial Statements
       
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 EX-12
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Report on Form 10-Q contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated by reference in this Report that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including such things as growth of our business and operations, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, plans, future capital expenditures and references to future successes may be considered forward-looking statements. Also, when we use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “probably” or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements.
Many risks and uncertainties may have an impact on the matters addressed in these forward-looking statements, which could affect our future financial results and performance, including, among other things:
    the effects of catastrophic losses,
 
    the cyclical nature of the insurance business,
 
    inherent uncertainties in the loss estimation process, which can adversely impact the adequacy of loss reserves,
 
    the impact of the credit market downturn and subprime market exposures,
 
    the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues,
 
    the effects of extensive governmental regulation of the insurance industry,
 
    potential credit risk with brokers,
 
    the effects of industry consolidations,
 
    our assessment of underwriting risk,
 
    our retention of risk, which could expose us to potential losses,
 
    the adequacy of reinsurance protection,
 
    the ability and willingness of reinsurers to pay balances due us,
 
    the occurrence of terrorist activities,
 
    our ability to maintain our competitive position,
 
    changes in our assigned financial strength ratings,
 
    our ability to raise capital and funds for liquidity in the future,
 
    attraction and retention of qualified employees,
 
    fluctuations in securities markets, which may reduce the value of our investment assets, reduce investment income or generate realized investment losses,
 
    our ability to successfully expand our business through the acquisition of insurance-related companies,
 
    impairment of goodwill,

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    the ability of our insurance company subsidiaries to pay dividends in needed amounts,
 
    fluctuations in foreign exchange rates,
 
    failures or constraints of our information technology systems,
 
    changes to the country’s health care delivery system,
 
    the effects , if any, of climate change, on the risks we insure,
 
    change of control, and
 
    difficulties with outsourcing relationships.
We describe these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
These events or factors could cause our results or performance to differ materially from those we express in our forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions, and, therefore, also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements that are included in this Report, our inclusion of this information is not a representation by us or any other person that our objectives or plans will be achieved.
Our forward-looking statements speak only at the date made, and we will not update these forward-looking statements unless the securities laws require us to do so. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any forward-looking events discussed in this Report may not occur.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands except per share data)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
ASSETS
               
 
               
Investments
               
Fixed income securities — available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2010 — $4,865,445;
2009 — $4,381,762)
  $ 5,166,709     $ 4,538,073  
Fixed income securities — held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: 2010 — $198,317;
2009 — $104,008)
    193,841       102,792  
Short-term investments, at cost, which approximates fair value
    474,066       810,673  
Other investments
    433       4,691  
 
           
Total investments
    5,835,049       5,456,229  
 
           
Cash
    98,213       129,460  
Restricted cash and cash investments
    157,677       146,133  
Premium, claims and other receivables
    658,670       600,332  
Reinsurance recoverables
    1,042,650       1,016,411  
Ceded unearned premium
    283,529       270,436  
Ceded life and annuity benefits
    58,985       61,313  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    219,062       208,463  
Goodwill
    821,700       822,006  
Other assets
    118,360       123,608  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 9,293,895     $ 8,834,391  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES
               
 
               
Loss and loss adjustment expense payable
  $ 3,555,505     $ 3,492,309  
Life and annuity policy benefits
    58,985       61,313  
Reinsurance balances payable
    202,202       182,661  
Unearned premium
    1,069,594       1,044,747  
Deferred ceding commissions
    72,714       71,595  
Premium and claims payable
    142,445       154,596  
Notes payable
    298,598       298,483  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    556,750       497,504  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities
    5,956,793       5,803,208  
 
           
 
               
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
 
               
Common stock, $1.00 par value; 250,000 shares authorized (shares issued: 2010 — 120,398 and
2009 — 118,724; outstanding: 2010 — 115,268 and 2009 — 114,051)
    120,398       118,724  
Additional paid-in capital
    940,745       914,339  
Retained earnings
    2,177,266       1,977,254  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    208,936       119,665  
Treasury stock, at cost (shares: 2010 — 5,130 and 2009 — 4,673)
    (110,243 )     (98,799 )
 
           
 
               
Total shareholders’ equity
    3,337,102       3,031,183  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 9,293,895     $ 8,834,391  
 
           
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(unaudited, in thousands except per share data)
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
REVENUE
                               
 
                               
Net earned premium
  $ 1,532,138     $ 1,524,425     $ 516,166     $ 520,059  
Net investment income
    150,603       141,740       51,137       48,111  
Other operating income
    35,035       69,765       7,888       12,166  
Net realized investment gain
    7,897       4,852       1,057       864  
Other-than-temporary impairment loss
                               
Total loss
    (316 )     (6,089 )     (316 )     (380 )
Portion recognized in other comprehensive income
    16       810       16       55  
 
                       
Net loss recognized in earnings
    (300 )     (5,279 )     (300 )     (325 )
 
                       
 
                               
Total revenue
    1,725,373       1,735,503       575,948       580,875  
 
                       
 
                               
EXPENSE
                               
 
                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense, net
    922,645       911,944       297,138       303,808  
Policy acquisition costs, net
    242,078       223,186       80,748       71,492  
Other operating expense
    189,953       195,509       60,770       64,985  
Interest expense
    15,907       11,816       5,280       3,549  
 
                       
 
                               
Total expense
    1,370,583       1,342,455       443,936       443,834  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings before income tax expense
    354,790       393,048       132,012       137,041  
Income tax expense
    106,993       123,972       38,949       42,720  
 
                       
 
                               
Net earnings
  $ 247,797     $ 269,076     $ 93,063     $ 94,321  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings per common share
                               
 
                               
Basic
  $ 2.15     $ 2.39     $ 0.81     $ 0.84  
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted
  $ 2.15     $ 2.37     $ 0.81     $ 0.83  
 
                       
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
(unaudited, in thousands except per share data)
                                                 
                            Accumulated                
            Additional             other             Total  
    Common     paid-in     Retained     comprehensive     Treasury     shareholders’  
    stock     capital     earnings     income     stock     equity  
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 118,724     $ 914,339     $ 1,977,254     $ 119,665     $ (98,799 )   $ 3,031,183  
 
                                               
Comprehensive income
                                               
 
                                               
Net earnings
                247,797                   247,797  
 
                                               
Other comprehensive income
                                               
Change in net unrealized gain on investments, net of tax
                      92,707             92,707  
 
                                               
Other, net of tax
                      (3,436 )           (3,436 )
 
                                             
 
                                               
Total other comprehensive income
                                            89,271  
 
                                             
 
                                               
Comprehensive income
                                            337,068  
 
                                               
Issuance of 948 shares for exercise of options, including tax effect
    948       17,691                         18,639  
 
                                               
Purchase of 457 common shares
                            (11,444 )     (11,444 )
 
                                               
Stock-based compensation
    726       8,715                         9,441  
 
                                               
Cash dividends declared, $0.415 per share
                (47,785 )                 (47,785 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Balance at September 30, 2010
  $ 120,398     $ 940,745     $ 2,177,266     $ 208,936     $ (110,243 )   $ 3,337,102  
 
                                   
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
                 
    Nine months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Operating activities
               
Net earnings
  $ 247,797     $ 269,076  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Change in premium, claims and other receivables
    (36,040 )     36,443  
Change in reinsurance recoverables
    (32,474 )     14,853  
Change in ceded unearned premium
    (15,368 )     (25,093 )
Change in loss and loss adjustment expense payable
    76,829       51,519  
Change in reinsurance balances payable
    21,435       24,548  
Change in unearned premium
    30,471       39,441  
Change in premium and claims payable, net of restricted cash
    (9,934 )     (63,727 )
Change in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    12,593       22,132  
Stock-based compensation expense
    9,441       12,472  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    12,894       11,796  
Gain on investments
    (8,086 )     (3,152 )
Other, net
    5,073       27,238  
 
           
Cash provided by operating activities
    314,631       417,546  
 
           
 
               
Investing activities
               
Sales of available for sale fixed income securities
    132,897       337,615  
Maturity or call of available for sale fixed income securities
    458,495       260,839  
Maturity or call of held to maturity fixed income securities
    25,187       86,190  
Cost of available for sale fixed income securities acquired
    (1,048,010 )     (1,020,506 )
Cost of held to maturity fixed income securities acquired
    (115,215 )     (59,677 )
Change in short-term investments
    328,951       (91,617 )
Proceeds from sales of strategic and other investments
    4,577       114,940  
Payments for purchase of businesses, net of cash received
    (36,348 )     (37,995 )
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries
    15,278       6,188  
Other, net
    (6,755 )     (13,109 )
 
           
Cash used by investing activities
    (240,943 )     (417,132 )
 
           
 
               
Financing activities
               
Advances on line of credit
          115,000  
Payments on line of credit
          (15,032 )
Payments on convertible notes
    (64,472 )      
Sale of common stock
    18,639       9,423  
Purchase of common stock
    (11,444 )     (35,464 )
Dividends paid
    (46,532 )     (42,244 )
Other, net
    (1,126 )     (2,570 )
 
           
Cash provided (used) by financing activities
    (104,935 )     29,113  
 
           
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash
    (31,247 )     29,527  
Cash at beginning of year
    129,460       27,347  
 
           
 
               
Cash at end of period
  $ 98,213     $ 56,874  
 
           
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
(1) General Information
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively HCC, we, us or our) include domestic and foreign property and casualty and life insurance companies and underwriting agencies. We operate primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland, although some of our operations have a broader international scope. We market our products both directly to customers and through a network of independent brokers, producers, agents and third party administrators. We provide specialized property and casualty, surety and credit, and accident and health insurance coverages and related agency services to commercial customers and individuals.
Basis of Presentation
Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and include the accounts of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries. We have made all adjustments that, in our opinion, are necessary for a fair statement of results of the interim periods, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2009 was derived from the audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.
Management must make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in our condensed consolidated financial statements and in disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Ultimate results could differ from those estimates. We have reclassified certain amounts in our 2009 condensed consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2010 presentation, including the reclassification related to fee and commission income discussed below. None of our reclassifications had an effect on our consolidated net earnings, shareholders’ equity or cash flows.
HCC completed the reorganization of its management structure in the third quarter of 2010. Our segment reporting structure has been realigned to reflect these changes. See Note 2, “Segments” for a discussion of our new segment structure.
In connection with our resegmentation, we changed the presentation of our consolidated income statement to better represent our current operations. Previously, we presented reinsurance ceding commissions that exceeded policy acquisition costs as a component of fee and commission income, within total revenue. We now present all ceding commissions as an offset to policy acquisition costs, within total expense, and classify the remaining fee and commission income as a component of other operating income, within total revenue.
Accounting Guidance in 2010
A new accounting standard, originally issued as SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), became effective January 1, 2010. The guidance, which was incorporated into Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 810, Consolidation, changes various aspects of accounting for and disclosures of interests in variable interest entities. Our adoption of this guidance as of January 1, 2010 had no material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2010, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-06, which incorporated changes in disclosure requirements into ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. Where applicable, we have included the additional required disclosures in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements.
A new accounting standard, ASU 2010-20, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses, was issued in July 2010. The new guidance expands disclosures related to financing receivables, including the nature of credit risk in financing receivables, how that risk is analyzed in determining the related allowance for credit losses, and changes to the allowance during the reporting period. We will provide the additional required disclosures in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
A new accounting standard, originally issued as EITF 09-G, Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts, was ratified in September 2010. The guidance, which will be incorporated into ASC Topic 944, Financial Services — Insurance, clarifies the definition of what constitutes an acquisition cost and limits the types of acquisition costs that

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
can be capitalized by insurance entities to those that are “directly related to” the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts. Under the new guidance, direct costs only include those that result in the successful acquisition of a policy. All costs incurred for unsuccessful efforts, along with indirect costs, are to be expensed as incurred. This guidance must be adopted by January 1, 2012, either prospectively or retrospectively, and may be adopted earlier at the beginning of an annual period. We are currently evaluating the timing and effect of our adoption of this guidance.
Derivative Financial Instruments
At December 31, 2009, we had interests in two long-term mortgage impairment insurance contracts that were denominated in British pound sterling. The exposure with respect to these two contracts was measured based on movement in a specified United Kingdom housing index. In the first quarter of 2010, we commuted our interest in one contract for $8.3 million cash. We recognized a gain of $8.0 million, which is included in other operating income in our condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The remaining contract qualifies as a derivative financial instrument, is unhedged and is reported at fair value in other assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We record changes in fair value and any foreign exchange gain/loss on this contract as a component of other operating income.
Stock-based Compensation
In the first nine months of 2010, we granted the following shares of common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock options for the purchase of shares of our common stock. For all grants except stock options, we measure fair value based on our closing stock price on the grant date. For stock options, we use the Black-Scholes single option pricing model to determine the fair value of an option on its grant date. The fair value of the common stock was expensed on the grant date. The fair value of the restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock options will be expensed over the vesting period.
                                 
            Weighted-average        
    Number   grant date   Aggregate   Vesting
    of shares   fair value   fair value   period
Common stock
    33     $ 25.33     $ 840          
Restricted stock
    760       27.54       20,941     3-10 years
Restricted stock units
    60       25.96       1,555     3-10 years
Stock options
    395       6.07       2,398     5 years
Income Taxes
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the income tax provision was calculated based on an estimated effective tax rate for each year. Our effective tax rate differs from the U.S. Federal statutory rate primarily due to the effect of tax-exempt municipal bond interest.
Disposition
In 2010, we sold an inactive subsidiary, HCC Insurance Company, for $14.7 million cash and realized a $0.5 million gain.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
(2) Segments
In the third quarter of 2010, our chief executive officer, in the role of chief operating decision maker (CODM), completed the reorganization of HCC’s management structure in order to manage and evaluate the company’s operations from an insurance underwriting perspective, in line with our portfolio of insurance products. We have changed HCC’s segment reporting structure to reflect these changes. Previously, we reported our results in the Insurance Company, Agency, and Other Operations segments. We now report HCC’s results in the following six operating segments, each of which reports to an executive of HCC who is responsible for the segment results.
    U.S. Property & Casualty
 
    Professional Liability
 
    Accident & Health
 
    U.S. Surety & Credit
 
    International
 
    Investing
Insurance Underwriting Segments
Each of the five insurance-related segments bears risk for insurance coverage written within its portfolio of insurance products. Each segment generates income from premium written by our underwriting agencies, through third party agents and brokers, or on a direct basis. Fee and commission income earned by our agencies from third party insurance companies is included in segment revenue. Each segment also incurs insurance losses, acquisition costs and other administrative expenses related to our insurance companies and underwriting agencies. The CODM monitors and assesses each segment’s pretax results based on underwriting profit, gross and net written premium, and its combined ratio, consisting of the loss ratio and expense ratio.
Included in the portfolio of products for each insurance segment are the following key products:
    U.S. Property & Casualty — aviation, small account errors and omissions liability, public risk, employment practices liability, title, residual value, disability, contingency, kidnap and ransom and brown water marine written in the United States.
 
    Professional Liability — directors’ and officers’ liability, large account errors and omissions liability, diversified financial products and fidelity written in the United States and internationally.
 
    Accident & Health — medical stop-loss, short-term domestic and international medical, HMO reinsurance and medical excess written in the United States.
 
    U.S. Surety & Credit — contract, commercial, court and bail bonds written in the United States and credit insurance managed in the United States.
 
    International — energy, property treaty, liability, surety, credit, property, ocean marine, accident and health and other smaller product lines written outside the United States.
Investing Segment
The Investing segment includes our total investment portfolio, as well as all investment income, investment related expenses and realized investment gains and losses. All investment activity is reported as revenue, consistent with our consolidated presentation. While the insurance underwriting segments generate the cash flow underlying these investments, our CODM does not include investment income in his assessment of the underwriting results of the insurance underwriting segments. Rather, investments and investment results are managed and evaluated centrally.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
Corporate & Other
The Corporate & Other category is used to reconcile segment results to consolidated totals and includes corporate operating expenses not allocable to the segments, interest expense on long-term debt, and underwriting results of our Exited Lines. Our Exited Lines include six product lines that we no longer write and do not expect to write in the future. The Exited Lines include: 1) accident and health business managed by our underwriting agency, LDG Reinsurance, 2) workers’ compensation, 3) provider excess, 4) Spanish medical malpractice, 5) U.K. motor and 6) film completion bonds. We have included premium, losses and expenses related to our Exited Lines in the Corporate & Other category for all periods presented.
All stock-based compensation is included in Corporate & Other because it is not included in the CODM’s evaluation of the five insurance underwriting segments. All contractual and discretionary bonuses are expensed in the respective employee’s segment in the year the bonuses are earned. Any such bonuses that will be paid by restricted stock awards, which will be granted by the Compensation Committee in the following year, are reversed within corporate operating expenses. The appropriate stock-based compensation expense will be recorded in Corporate & Other as the awards vest in future years. The majority of our depreciation and amortization expense is included in Corporate & Other.
All prior period information included in this Form 10-Q has been adjusted to present our segment disclosures and information on a consistent basis with our new segment reporting structure.
The following tables present information by business segment.
                                                                 
    U.S. Property     Professional     Accident     U.S. Surety                     Corporate        
    & Casualty     Liability     & Health     & Credit     International     Investing     & Other     Consolidated  
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2010                                                          
 
Net earned premium
  $ 258,427     $ 321,849     $ 567,739     $ 148,427     $ 234,471     $     $ 1,225     $ 1,532,138  
Other revenue
    24,128       458       2,830       455       6,177       158,200       987       193,235  
 
                                               
Segment revenue
    282,555       322,307       570,569       148,882       240,648       158,200       2,212       1,725,373  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Loss and LAE, net
    164,684       196,154       412,438       38,157       107,601             3,611       922,645  
Other expense
    75,890       57,171       89,967       81,699       88,441             54,770       447,938  
 
                                               
Segment expense
    240,574       253,325       502,405       119,856       196,042             58,381       1,370,583  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 41,981     $ 68,982     $ 68,164     $ 29,026     $ 44,606     $ 158,200     $ (56,169 )   $ 354,790  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Nine months ended September 30, 2009                                                          
 
Net earned premium
  $ 289,195     $ 330,614     $ 553,967     $ 135,436     $ 189,148     $     $ 26,065     $ 1,524,425  
Other revenue
    46,815       (134 )     3,964       182       18,803       141,313       135       211,078  
 
                                               
Segment revenue
    336,010       330,480       557,931       135,618       207,951       141,313       26,200       1,735,503  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Loss and LAE, net
    164,346       202,741       406,722       39,849       68,931             29,355       911,944  
Other expense
    85,813       38,988       88,802       72,527       83,941             60,440       430,511  
 
                                               
Segment expense
    250,159       241,729       495,524       112,376       152,872             89,795       1,342,455  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 85,851     $ 88,751     $ 62,407     $ 23,242     $ 55,079     $ 141,313     $ (63,595 )   $ 393,048  
 
                                               

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
                                                                 
    U.S. Property     Professional     Accident     U.S. Surety                     Corporate        
    & Casualty     Liability     & Health     & Credit     International     Investing     & Other     Consolidated  
 
Three months ended September 30, 2010                                                          
 
Net earned premium
  $ 84,802     $ 103,696     $ 193,252     $ 49,807     $ 84,539     $     $ 70     $ 516,166  
Other revenue
    5,033       20       1,113       127       1,466       51,894       129       59,782  
 
                                               
Segment revenue
    89,835       103,716       194,365       49,934       86,005       51,894       199       575,948  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Loss and LAE, net
    61,883       63,212       138,869       10,296       23,227             (349 )     297,138  
Other expense
    21,289       18,866       30,908       28,007       29,365             18,363       146,798  
 
                                               
Segment expense
    83,172       82,078       169,777       38,303       52,592             18,014       443,936  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 6,663     $ 21,638     $ 24,588     $ 11,631     $ 33,413     $ 51,894     $ (17,815 )   $ 132,012  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Three months ended September 30, 2009                                                          
 
Net earned premium
  $ 94,453     $ 121,387     $ 185,937     $ 45,709     $ 65,421     $     $ 7,152     $ 520,059  
Other revenue
    6,979       (151 )     1,045       70       5,853       48,650       (1,630 )     60,816  
 
                                               
Segment revenue
    101,432       121,236       186,982       45,779       71,274       48,650       5,522       580,875  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Loss and LAE, net
    52,957       73,752       135,708       12,098       23,165             6,128       303,808  
Other expense
    27,601       9,250       29,899       25,332       28,478             19,466       140,026  
 
                                               
Segment expense
    80,558       83,002       165,607       37,430       51,643             25,594       443,834  
 
                                               
 
                                                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 20,874     $ 38,234     $ 21,375     $ 8,349     $ 19,631     $ 48,650     $ (20,072 )   $ 137,041  
 
                                               
The following table presents total assets by segment. Assets in the insurance underwriting segments include goodwill that was allocated in conjunction with our resegmentation. See Note 3, “Goodwill” below for further discussion of the goodwill allocation. Goodwill was allocated to the December 31, 2009 balances based on the goodwill balances in each reportable segment as of September 30, 2010.
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
U.S. Property & Casualty
  $ 988,326     $ 971,521  
Professional Liability
    979,606       954,613  
Accident & Health
    250,042       254,652  
U.S. Surety & Credit
    182,879       200,243  
International
    647,734       585,385  
Investing
    5,899,685       5,510,715  
Corporate & Other
    345,623       357,262  
 
           
Total
  $ 9,293,895     $ 8,834,391  
 
           

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
For purposes of the disclosures in the tables below, we determine geographic location by the country of domicile of our subsidiaries that write the business and not by the location of insureds or reinsureds from whom the business was generated. The tables below present the split of our revenue, pretax earnings and total assets by geographic location.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Domestic
  $ 1,361,153     $ 1,402,396     $ 448,535     $ 464,422  
Foreign
    364,220       333,107       127,413       116,453  
 
                       
Total revenue
  $ 1,725,373     $ 1,735,503     $ 575,948     $ 580,875  
 
                       
 
                               
Domestic
  $ 262,311     $ 295,816     $ 78,767     $ 98,672  
Foreign
    92,479       97,232       53,245     38,369  
 
                       
Total pretax earnings
  $ 354,790     $ 393,048     $ 132,012     $ 137,041  
 
                       
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
Domestic
  $ 7,034,297     $ 6,768,475  
Foreign
    2,259,598       2,065,916  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 9,293,895     $ 8,834,391  
 
           
(3) Goodwill
We conducted our annual goodwill impairment test as of June 30, 2010, based on our prior reporting units, and noted no indicators of impairment. An indicator of impairment of goodwill exists when the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. We will conduct our next annual goodwill impairment test as of June 30, 2011, unless other events occur that indicate there is an impairment in our goodwill prior to that date.
In connection with the changes to our segment reporting structure, we allocated our consolidated goodwill to new reporting units and tested goodwill for impairment as of September 30, 2010. Based on this impairment test, the fair value of each new reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount.
We now have five reporting units, which are the same as our new insurance underwriting segments. To determine the fair value of each reporting unit, we utilized the income and market valuation approaches and based our assumptions and inputs on market participant data, as well as our own data. For the income approach, we estimated the present value of each reporting unit’s expected cash flows to determine its fair value. We utilized estimated future cash flows of the portfolio of products included in each reporting unit, as well as a risk-appropriate rate of return specific to each reporting unit. We utilized our budgets and projection of future operations based on historical and expected industry trends to estimate our future cash flows and their probability of occurring as projected. We also determined fair value of each reporting unit based on market participant data, and used those results to test the reasonableness and validity of the income approach results.
For goodwill impairment testing purposes only, we allocated the investments and investment income from the Investing segment to the five reporting units. We assigned investments to each reporting unit based on the amount of capital required by the reporting unit to maintain an A+ rating under A.M. Best’s capital allocation model. We assumed the same investment income rate of return for all investments.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
We allocated goodwill to the reporting units based on the relative fair value of each reporting unit to the sum of the reporting units’ total fair value at September 30, 2010. In future periods, when we complete a business acquisition, we will assign goodwill to the applicable reporting units, based on the reporting unit’s share of the estimated future cash flows of all acquired insurance products.
There were no significant changes in goodwill related to our prior reportable segments during 2010. The balances by reportable segment after our resegmentation are presented below.
         
    September 30,  
    2010  
U.S. Property & Casualty
  $ 223,000  
Professional Liability
    250,000  
Accident & Health
    144,000  
U.S. Surety & Credit
    79,700  
International
    125,000  
 
     
Total
  $ 821,700  
 
     
(4) Fair Value Measurements
We value financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. In determining fair value, we generally apply the market approach, which uses prices and other relevant data based on market transactions involving identical or comparable assets and liabilities. We classify our financial instruments into the following three-level hierarchy:
    Level 1 — Inputs are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.
 
    Level 2 — Inputs are based on observable market data (other than quoted prices), or are derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
 
    Level 3 — Inputs are unobservable and not corroborated by market data.
Our Level 1 investments are primarily U.S. Treasuries listed on exchanges. We use quoted prices for identical instruments to measure fair value.
Our Level 2 investments include most of our fixed income securities, which consist of U.S. government agency securities, municipal bonds, certain corporate debt securities, and certain mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Our Level 2 instruments also include our interest rate swap agreements, which are reflected as liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We measure fair value for the majority of our Level 2 investments using quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics. The remaining investments are valued using pricing models or matrix pricing. The fair value measurements consider observable assumptions, including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, default rates, loss severity and other economic measures.
We use independent pricing services to assist us in determining fair value for over 99% of our Level 1 and Level 2 investments. The pricing services provide a single price or quote per security. We use data provided by our third party investment manager to value the remaining Level 2 investments. To validate that these quoted and modeled prices are reasonable estimates of fair value, we perform various quantitative and qualitative procedures, including: 1) evaluation of the underlying methodologies, 2) analysis of recent sales activity, 3) analytical review of our fair values against current market prices, and 4) comparison of the pricing services’ fair value to other pricing services’ fair value for the same investment. Based on these procedures, we did not adjust the prices or quotes provided by our independent pricing services or third party investment managers as of September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009. In addition, we did not apply GAAP criteria for determining the fair value of securities in inactive markets since no markets for our investments were judged to be inactive as of September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.
Our Level 3 securities include certain fixed income securities, and an insurance contract that we account for as a derivative classified in other assets. We determine fair value based on internally developed models that use assumptions or other data that are not readily observable from objective sources. Because we use the lowest level significant input to determine our hierarchy classifications, a financial instrument may be classified in Level 3 even though there may be significant readily-observable inputs.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
In the first quarter of 2010, we commuted our interest in a second insurance contract that was accounted for as a derivative and also classified in other assets in Level 3 at December 31, 2009.
The following tables present our assets and interest rate swap liabilities that were measured at fair value.
                                 
 
  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
September 30, 2010
 
Fixed income securities — available for sale
                               
U.S. government and government agency securities
  $ 152,578     $ 183,041     $     $ 335,619  
Fixed income securities of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
          1,132,448             1,132,448  
Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
          1,575,914             1,575,914  
Corporate fixed income securities
          591,335       156       591,491  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
          1,099,360             1,099,360  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
          157,730             157,730  
Asset-backed securities
          4,302       1,267       5,569  
Foreign government securities
          268,578             268,578  
 
                       
Total fixed income securities — available for sale
    152,578       5,012,708       1,423       5,166,709  
Other investments
    12                   12  
Other assets
                686       686  
 
                       
 
                               
Total assets measured at fair value
  $ 152,590     $ 5,012,708     $ 2,109     $ 5,167,407  
 
                       
 
                               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $     $ (471 )   $     $ (471 )
 
                       
 
                               
Total liabilities measured at fair value
  $     $ (471 )   $     $ (471 )
 
                       

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
                                 
 
  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
December 31, 2009
 
Fixed income securities — available for sale
                               
U.S. government and government agency securities
  $ 178,927     $ 134,620     $     $ 313,547  
Fixed income securities of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
          1,059,426             1,059,426  
Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
          1,146,334             1,146,334  
Corporate fixed income securities
          686,170       151       686,321  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
          944,182             944,182  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
          143,412       2,805       146,217  
Asset-backed securities
          13,059       1,306       14,365  
Foreign government securities
          227,681             227,681  
 
                       
Total fixed income securities — available for sale
    178,927       4,354,884       4,262       4,538,073  
Other investments
    14                   14  
Other assets
                432       432  
 
                       
 
                               
Total assets measured at fair value
  $ 178,941     $ 4,354,884     $ 4,694     $ 4,538,519  
 
                       
 
                               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $     $ (2,367 )   $     $ (2,367 )
 
                       
 
                               
Total liabilities measured at fair value
  $     $ (2,367 )   $     $ (2,367 )
 
                       
We excluded from our fair value disclosures our held to maturity investment portfolio, measured at amortized cost, and our other investments, measured at cost, of which $4.1 million were redeemed in the second quarter of 2010.
The following tables present the changes in fair value of our Level 3 assets.
                                                 
    2010     2009  
    Fixed                     Fixed              
    income     Other             income     Other        
    securities     assets     Total     securities     assets     Total  
Fair value at beginning of year
  $ 4,262     $ 432     $ 4,694     $ 6,515     $ 16,100     $ 22,615  
Net redemptions
    (572 )     (8,342 )     (8,914 )     (1,590 )           (1,590 )
Gains and (losses) — unrealized
    276       254       530       1,018       3,469       4,487  
Gains and (losses) — realized
          8,342       8,342       30             30  
Transfers into Level 3
                      6,263             6,263  
Transfers out of Level 3
    (2,543 )           (2,543 )     (3,661 )           (3,661 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Fair value at September 30
  $ 1,423     $ 686     $ 2,109     $ 8,575     $ 19,569     $ 28,144  
 
                                   

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
                                                 
    2010     2009  
    Fixed                     Fixed              
    income     Other             income     Other        
    securities     assets     Total     securities     assets     Total  
Fair value at June 30
  $ 3,973     $ 470     $ 4,443     $ 5,982     $ 19,757     $ 25,739  
Net redemptions
    (77 )           (77 )     (327 )           (327 )
Gains and (losses) — unrealized
    70       216       286       487       (188 )     299  
Transfers into Level 3
                      4,348             4,348  
Transfers out of Level 3
    (2,543 )           (2,543 )     (1,915 )           (1,915 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Fair value at September 30
  $ 1,423     $ 686     $ 2,109     $ 8,575     $ 19,569     $ 28,144  
 
                                   
Unrealized gains and losses on our Level 3 fixed income securities are reported in other comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity, and unrealized gains and losses on our Level 3 other assets are reported in other operating income. We transferred investments into Level 3 in 2009 due to our inability to obtain fair values using inputs based on observable market data. We transferred investments from Level 3 to Level 2 in both years because we were able to determine their fair value using inputs based on observable market data in the period transferred.
(5) Investments
Substantially all of our fixed income securities are investment grade and 97% are rated “A” or better. The cost or amortized cost, gross unrealized gain or loss, and fair value of our fixed income securities were as follows:
                                 
    Cost or     Gross     Gross        
    amortized     unrealized     unrealized        
 
  cost     gain     loss     Fair value  
Available for sale at September 30, 2010
 
U.S. government and government agency securities
  $ 321,725     $ 13,894     $     $ 335,619  
Fixed income securities of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    1,055,013       77,737       (302 )     1,132,448  
Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    1,485,705       90,680       (471 )     1,575,914  
Corporate fixed income securities
    554,739       36,753       (1 )     591,491  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    1,042,769       59,021       (2,430 )     1,099,360  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    147,854       10,087       (211 )     157,730  
Asset-backed securities
    5,436       133             5,569  
Foreign government securities
    252,204       16,442       (68 )     268,578  
 
                       
 
                               
Total fixed income securities — available for sale
  $ 4,865,445     $ 304,747     $ (3,483 )   $ 5,166,709  
 
                       

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
                                 
    Cost or     Gross     Gross        
    amortized     unrealized     unrealized        
 
  cost     gain     loss     Fair value  
Available for sale at December 31, 2009
 
U.S. government and government agency securities
  $ 308,618     $ 6,255     $ (1,326 )   $ 313,547  
Fixed income securities of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    1,012,262       49,491       (2,327 )     1,059,426  
Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    1,101,566       46,551       (1,783 )     1,146,334  
Corporate fixed income securities
    657,653       28,785       (117 )     686,321  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    915,203       35,130       (6,151 )     944,182  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    151,357       630       (5,770 )     146,217  
Asset-backed securities
    15,118       445       (1,198 )     14,365  
Foreign government securities
    219,985       7,914       (218 )     227,681  
 
                       
 
                               
Total fixed income securities — available for sale
  $ 4,381,762     $ 175,201     $ (18,890 )   $ 4,538,073  
 
                       
 
                               
Held to maturity at September 30, 2010
                               
 
U.S. government securities
  $ 12,990     $ 337     $     $ 13,327  
Corporate fixed income securities
    104,979       2,174       (8 )     107,145  
Foreign government securities
    75,872       1,973             77,845  
 
                       
 
                               
Total fixed income securities — held to maturity
  $ 193,841     $ 4,484     $ (8 )   $ 198,317  
 
                       
 
                               
Held to maturity at December 31, 2009
                               
 
                               
U.S. government securities
  $ 14,988     $ 269     $     $ 15,257  
Corporate fixed income securities
    7,594       95       (4 )     7,685  
Foreign government securities
    80,210       1,579       (723 )     81,066  
 
                       
 
                               
Total fixed income securities — held to maturity
  $ 102,792     $ 1,943     $ (727 )   $ 104,008  
 
                       

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
All fixed income securities were income producing in 2010. The following table displays the gross unrealized losses and fair value of all available for sale fixed income securities that were in a continuous unrealized loss position for the periods indicated.
                                                 
    Less than 12 months     12 months or more     Total  
            Unrealized             Unrealized             Unrealized  
 
  Fair value     losses     Fair value     losses     Fair value     losses  
September 30, 2010
 
Fixed income securities of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
  $ 18,576     $ (211 )   $ 2,309     $ (91 )   $ 20,885     $ (302 )
Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    58,839       (374 )     7,260       (97 )     66,099       (471 )
Corporate fixed income securities
    1,966       (1 )                 1,966       (1 )
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    47,248       (339 )     25,897       (2,091 )     73,145       (2,430 )
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
                7,298       (211 )     7,298       (211 )
Foreign government securities
    11,111       (68 )                 11,111       (68 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Total
  $ 137,740     $ (993 )   $ 42,764     $ (2,490 )   $ 180,504     $ (3,483 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
December 31, 2009
                                               
 
U.S. government and government agency securities
  $ 101,542     $ (1,326 )   $     $     $ 101,542     $ (1,326 )
Fixed income securities of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    48,836       (985 )     19,816       (1,342 )     68,652       (2,327 )
Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    76,305       (1,305 )     25,261       (478 )     101,566       (1,783 )
Corporate fixed income securities
    13,773       (117 )                 13,773       (117 )
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    147,621       (2,018 )     40,568       (4,133 )     188,189       (6,151 )
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    30,209       (418 )     73,451       (5,352 )     103,660       (5,770 )
Asset-backed securities
    2,476       (246 )     7,532       (952 )     10,008       (1,198 )
Foreign government securities
    4,153       (130 )     8,593       (88 )     12,746       (218 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Total
  $ 424,915     $ (6,545 )   $ 175,221     $ (12,345 )   $ 600,136     $ (18,890 )
 
                                   
A security has an impairment loss when its fair value is less than its cost or amortized cost at the balance sheet date. We evaluate the securities in our fixed income securities portfolio for possible other-than-temporary impairment losses at each quarter end. During 2010 and 2009, our reviews covered all impaired securities where the loss exceeded $0.5 million and the loss either exceeded 10% of cost or the security had been in a loss position for longer than twelve consecutive months.
For other-than-temporary impairment losses, we recognize an other-than-temporary impairment loss in earnings in the period that we determine: 1) we intend to sell the security, 2) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis or 3) the security has a credit loss. We recognized $0.3 million of other-than-temporary impairment credit losses in the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $5.3 million and $0.3 million in the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
Since April 1, 2009, when we adopted a new accounting standard for other-than-temporary impairment losses, we have recognized credit losses on certain impaired fixed income securities, for which each security also had an impairment loss recorded in other comprehensive income. The rollforward of these credit losses, beginning at the date of adoption of the new accounting standard, was as follows:
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 3,848     $     $ 3,848     $ 3,373  
Credit losses included in retained earnings related to adoption of new accounting standard
          2,723              
Credit losses recognized in earnings
                               
Securities previously impaired
    300       550       300       200  
Securities previously not impaired
          425             125  
 
                       
 
                               
Balance at September 30
  $ 4,148     $ 3,698     $ 4,148     $ 3,698  
 
                       
We had $5.0 million after-tax of other-than-temporary impairments, primarily related to mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, included in accumulated other comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2010.
We do not consider the $3.5 million of gross unrealized losses in our fixed income securities portfolio at September 30, 2010 to be other-than-temporary impairments as of that date because: 1) we received substantially all contractual interest and principal payments on these securities as of September 30, 2010, 2) we do not intend to sell the securities, 3) it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost bases and 4) the unrealized loss relates to non-credit factors, such as interest rate changes and market conditions.
The amortized cost and fair value of our fixed income securities at September 30, 2010, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The weighted-average life of our mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities at September 30, 2010 was 2.5 years.
                                 
    Available for sale     Held to maturity  
    Cost or                    
    amortized cost     Fair value     Amortized cost     Fair value  
Due in 1 year or less
  $ 237,836     $ 241,269     $ 25,128     $ 25,345  
Due after 1 year through 5 years
    1,096,709       1,163,110       157,528       161,062  
Due after 5 years through 10 years
    871,163       945,571       11,185       11,910  
Due after 10 years through 15 years
    764,784       818,781              
Due after 15 years
    698,894       735,319              
 
                       
Securities with fixed maturities
    3,669,386       3,904,050       193,841       198,317  
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities
    1,196,059       1,262,659              
 
                       
 
                               
Total fixed income securities
  $ 4,865,445     $ 5,166,709     $ 193,841     $ 198,317  
 
                       

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
The sources of net investment income were as follows:
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Fixed income securities
  $ 150,001     $ 140,483     $ 50,921     $ 47,571  
Short-term investments
    631       1,791       271       321  
Other
    3,053       2,194       1,011       1,143  
 
                       
Total investment income
    153,685       144,468       52,203       49,035  
Investment expense
    (3,082 )     (2,728 )     (1,066 )     (924 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net investment income
  $ 150,603     $ 141,740     $ 51,137     $ 48,111  
 
                       
Realized pretax gains (losses) on the sale of investments, which exclude other-than-temporary impairment losses, were as follows:
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009  
    Gains     Losses     Net     Gains     Losses     Net  
Fixed income securities
  $ 8,875     $ (824 )   $ 8,051     $ 7,593     $ (3,289 )   $ 4,304  
Other
    2       (156 )     (154 )     710       (162 )     548  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Realized investment gain (loss)
  $ 8,877     $ (980 )   $ 7,897     $ 8,303     $ (3,451 )   $ 4,852  
 
                                   
                                                 
    Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009  
    Gains     Losses     Net     Gains     Losses     Net  
Fixed income securities
  $ 1,282     $ (225 )   $ 1,057     $ 1,960     $ (1,122 )   $ 838  
Other
                      27       (1 )     26  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Realized investment gain (loss)
  $ 1,282     $ (225 )   $ 1,057     $ 1,987     $ (1,123 )   $ 864  
 
                                   

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
(6) Earnings Per Share
The following table details the numerator and denominator used in our earnings per share calculations.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net earnings
  $ 247,797     $ 269,076     $ 93,063     $ 94,321  
Less: net earnings attributable to unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units
    (2,746 )     (1,436 )     (1,067 )     (537 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net earnings available to common stock
  $ 245,051     $ 267,640     $ 91,996     $ 93,784  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
    113,872       112,154       114,002       111,892  
Dilutive effect of outstanding options (determined using treasury stock method)
    254       283       156       371  
Dilutive effect of convertible debt (determined using treasury stock method)
          478             683  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted-average common shares and potential common shares outstanding
    114,126       112,915       114,158       112,946  
 
                       
 
                               
Anti-dilutive stock options not included in treasury stock method computation
    4,431       5,672       4,978       5,279  
 
                       

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HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
(7) Reinsurance
In the normal course of business, our insurance companies cede a portion of their premium to domestic and foreign reinsurers through treaty and facultative reinsurance agreements. Although ceding for reinsurance purposes does not discharge the direct insurer from liability to its policyholder, our insurance companies participate in such agreements in order to limit their loss exposure, protect them against catastrophic loss and diversify their business. The following tables present the effect of such reinsurance transactions on our premium, loss and loss adjustment expense and policy acquisition costs.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Direct written premium
  $ 1,697,054     $ 1,709,613     $ 565,417     $ 559,142  
Reinsurance assumed
    257,676       194,473       75,239       61,240  
Reinsurance ceded
    (415,239 )     (376,197 )     (146,218 )     (127,095 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net written premium
  $ 1,539,491     $ 1,527,889     $ 494,438     $ 493,287  
 
                       
 
                               
Direct earned premium
  $ 1,714,252     $ 1,688,378     $ 575,216     $ 583,130  
Reinsurance assumed
    217,621       186,611       76,473       61,648  
Reinsurance ceded
    (399,735 )     (350,564 )     (135,523 )     (124,719 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net earned premium
  $ 1,532,138     $ 1,524,425     $ 516,166     $ 520,059  
 
                       
 
                               
Direct loss and loss adjustment expense
  $ 1,059,094     $ 1,026,184     $ 340,225     $ 329,561  
Reinsurance assumed
    131,202       93,704       25,413       28,701  
Reinsurance ceded
    (267,651 )     (207,944 )     (68,500 )     (54,454 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss and loss adjustment expense
  $ 922,645     $ 911,944     $ 297,138     $ 303,808  
 
                       
 
                               
Policy acquisition costs
  $ 330,174     $ 313,247     $ 111,214     $ 108,998  
Ceding commissions
    (88,096 )     (90,061 )     (30,466 )     (37,506 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net policy acquisition costs
  $ 242,078     $ 223,186     $ 80,748     $ 71,492  
 
                       

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Table of Contents

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
The tables below show the components of reinsurance recoverables in our condensed consolidated balance sheets and the calculation of net reserves, net unearned premium and net deferred policy acquisition costs.
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses
  $ 92,170     $ 82,887  
Reinsurance recoverable on outstanding losses
    471,580       495,964  
Reinsurance recoverable on incurred but not reported losses
    481,845       440,505  
Reserve for uncollectible reinsurance
    (2,945 )     (2,945 )
 
           
 
               
Total reinsurance recoverables
  $ 1,042,650     $ 1,016,411  
 
           
 
               
Loss and loss adjustment expense payable
  $ 3,555,505     $ 3,492,309  
Reinsurance recoverable on outstanding losses
    (471,580 )     (495,964 )
Reinsurance recoverable on incurred but not reported losses
    (481,845 )     (440,505 )
 
           
 
               
Net reserves
  $ 2,602,080     $ 2,555,840  
 
           
 
               
Unearned premium
  $ 1,069,594     $ 1,044,747  
Ceded unearned premium
    (283,529 )     (270,436 )
 
           
 
               
Net unearned premium
  $ 786,065     $ 774,311  
 
           
 
               
Deferred policy acquisition costs
  $ 219,062     $ 208,463  
Deferred ceding commissions
    (72,714 )     (71,595 )
 
           
 
               
Net deferred policy acquisition costs
  $ 146,348     $ 136,868  
 
           
(8) Supplemental Information
Supplemental information was as follows:
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,   Three months ended September 30,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Income taxes paid
  $ 101,164     $ 121,572     $ 34,949     $ 32,756  
Interest paid
    9,714       9,827       151       3,578  
Cash paid for commutation
          43,900             43,900  
Comprehensive income
    337,068       404,005       154,317       185,298  

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Table of Contents

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited, tables in thousands except per share data)
(9) Commitments and Contingencies
Catastrophe and Large Loss Exposure
We have exposure to catastrophic losses caused by natural perils (such as hurricanes and earthquakes), as well as from man-made events (such as terrorist attacks). The incidence, timing and severity of catastrophic losses are unpredictable. We assess our exposures in areas most vulnerable to natural catastrophes and apply procedures to ascertain our probable maximum loss from a single event. We maintain reinsurance protection that we believe is sufficient to limit our exposure to a foreseeable event. In the first quarter of 2010, we recognized gross losses from catastrophic events, primarily the Chilean earthquake, of $31.9 million. After reinsurance, our pretax loss was $20.6 million. In the third quarter, we released $5.0 million of gross and net reserves related to the first-quarter catastrophic events, based on recent claims information about the potential losses. In the second quarter of 2010, we recognized gross losses for the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster of $28.2 million. Due to significant facultative reinsurance, in addition to our treaty reinsurance, our pretax net loss was minimal.
Litigation
We are a party to lawsuits, arbitrations and other proceedings that arise in the normal course of our business. Many of such lawsuits, arbitrations and other proceedings involve claims under policies that we underwrite as an insurer or reinsurer, the liabilities for which, we believe, have been adequately included in our loss reserves. Also, from time to time, we are a party to lawsuits, arbitrations and other proceedings that relate to disputes with third parties, or that involve alleged errors and omissions on the part of our subsidiaries. We have provided accruals for these items to the extent we deem the losses probable and reasonably estimable. Although the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time, based on present information, the availability of insurance coverage and advice received from our outside legal counsel, we believe the resolution of any such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Indemnifications
In conjunction with the sales of business assets and subsidiaries, we have provided indemnifications to the buyers. Certain indemnifications cover typical representations and warranties related to our responsibilities to perform under the sales contracts. Under other indemnifications, we agree to reimburse the purchasers for taxes or ERISA-related amounts, if any, assessed after the sale date but related to pre-sale activities. We cannot quantify the maximum potential exposure covered by all of our indemnifications because the indemnifications cover a variety of matters, operations and scenarios. Certain of these indemnifications have no time limit. For those with a time limit, the longest such indemnification expires in 2025. We accrue a loss when a valid claim is made by a purchaser and we believe we have potential exposure. At September 30, 2010, we have recorded a liability of $10.6 million and have provided a $3.0 million escrow account and $9.7 million of letters of credit to cover our obligations or anticipated payments under these indemnifications.

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Table of Contents

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto.
Overview
We are a specialty insurance group with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland, transacting business in approximately 150 countries. Our group consists of insurance companies, underwriting agencies and 100% participation in an active Lloyd’s of London syndicate that we manage. Our shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange and closed at $26.09 on September 30, 2010. We had a market capitalization of $3.1 billion at October 31, 2010.
We underwrite a variety of relatively non-correlated specialty lines of business. Insurance products are marketed by our insurance companies, internal agencies and the syndicate through a network of independent agents and brokers, directly to customers, or through third party administrators. The majority of our business is low limit or small premium business that has less intense price competition, as well as lower catastrophe and volatility risk. We reinsure a significant portion of our catastrophic exposure to hurricanes, earthquakes and large losses to minimize the impact on our net earnings and shareholders’ equity.
Our major domestic and international insurance companies have a financial strength rating of “AA (Very Strong)” from Standard & Poor’s Corporation. Our major domestic insurance companies have a financial strength rating of “AA (Very Strong)” from Fitch Ratings, “A1 (Good Security)” from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and “A+ (Superior)” from A.M. Best Company, Inc.
     Key facts about our consolidated group as of and for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2010 are as follows:
    We had consolidated shareholders’ equity of $3.3 billion. Our book value per share increased in the first nine months to $28.95.
 
    We had year-to-date net earnings of $247.8 million, or $2.15 per diluted share. Our third quarter earnings were $93.1 million, or $0.81 per diluted share.
 
    We produced total revenue of $1.7 billion and $575.9 million in the first nine months and third quarter, respectively.
 
    We recognized year-to-date pretax gross losses of $26.9 million and pretax net losses, after reinsurance, of $15.6 million from catastrophic events that occurred in the first quarter. We recognized $28.2 million of pretax gross losses for the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster for which we had minimal net loss primarily due to significant facultative reinsurance, in addition to our treaty reinsurance. These losses increased our net loss ratio and combined ratio by 1.0 percentage point and decreased net earnings by $0.09 per diluted share for the nine-month period.
 
    Our year-to-date net loss ratio, including the year-to-date catastrophic losses, was 60.2% and our combined ratio was 85.3%.
 
    We declared dividends of $0.415 per share and paid $46.5 million of dividends in the first nine months of 2010.
 
    We hold a total investment portfolio of $5.8 billion, of which $5.4 billion are fixed income securities with an average rating of AA+.
 
    We purchased $10.2 million of our common stock at an average cost of $25.10 per share during the quarter.
Comparisons in the following sections refer to the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, unless otherwise noted. Amounts in tables are in thousands, except for earnings per share, percentages, ratios and number of employees.

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Reporting Segment Changes
In the third quarter of 2010, our chief executive officer, in the role of chief operating decision maker (CODM), completed the reorganization of HCC’s management structure in order to manage and evaluate the company’s operations from an insurance underwriting perspective, in line with our portfolio of insurance products. We have changed our segment reporting structure to reflect these changes. Previously, we reported our results in the Insurance Company, Agency, and Other Operations segments. We now report our results in the following six operating segments, each of which reports to an executive of HCC who is responsible for the segment results:
    U.S. Property & Casualty
 
    Professional Liability
 
    Accident & Health
 
    U.S. Surety & Credit
 
    International
 
    Investing
See Note 2, “Segments” in the attached condensed consolidated financial statements for additional discussion of our new segments. In addition, in connection with our resegmentation, we changed the presentation of our consolidated income statement and redefined the calculation of our expense ratio. We previously presented reinsurance ceding commissions that exceeded policy acquisition costs as a component of fee and commission income, within total revenue. We now present all ceding commissions as an offset to policy acquisition costs, within total expense. We also now present an expense ratio for each reportable segment. All of our expense ratios are calculated using amounts included in our GAAP consolidated financial statements. The formulas are as follows:
    Consolidated – sum of other expense for each of our insurance segments, divided by the sum of segment revenue for each of our insurance segments.
 
    Segment – segment other expense divided by segment revenue.
Results of Operations
Net earnings were $247.8 million ($2.15 per diluted share) in the first nine months of 2010, compared to $269.1 million ($2.37 per diluted share) in the same period of 2009 and $93.1 million ($0.81 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2010, compared to $94.3 million ($0.83 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2009.
Significant matters impacting net earnings in 2010 and 2009 were as follows:
  We had pretax net favorable reserve development of $36.6 million and $25.4 million in the first nine months and the third quarter of 2009, respectively. We had minimal reserve development in 2010. See the “Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense” section below for further discussion of these reserve changes.
 
  In the first quarter of 2010, we recognized gross losses of $31.9 million from catastrophic events, the most significant of which was the Chilean earthquake. After reinsurance, our pretax loss was $20.6 million. In the second quarter, we recognized gross losses for the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster of $28.2 million. Due to significant facultative reinsurance, in addition to treaty reinsurance, our pretax net loss was minimal. In the third quarter, we reduced our gross and net loss reserves related to the first-quarter catastrophes by $5.0 million based on recent claims information about the potential losses.
 
  In the first quarter of 2010, we commuted our interest in a long-term mortgage impairment insurance contract that had been accounted for as a derivative financial instrument and recognized a $5.0 million pretax gain. The contract was denominated in British pound sterling. We received £5.6 million ($8.3 million) of cash, which was included in other operating income, and incurred related expenses of $3.0 million, which were included in other operating expense.

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  In the first quarter of 2009, we commuted, loss-free, all liability under a contract with Mortgage Guarantee Insurance Company (MGIC) to provide reinsurance coverage for certain residential mortgage guaranty contracts and recognized a $15.6 million pretax gain. We had been recording revenue under this contract using the deposit method of accounting because we determined the contract did not transfer significant underwriting risk. We received a cash termination payment of $25.0 million, which was included in other operating income. This additional revenue was partially offset by $9.9 million of expenses for reinsurance and other direct costs, which were included in other operating expense.
Revenue
Total revenue decreased $10.1 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009, due to lower other operating income partially offset by higher net earned premium, primarily in our International segment, and improved investment results.
Gross written premium, net written premium and net earned premium are detailed below by segment.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Gross written premium
                               
 
                               
U.S. Property & Casualty
  $ 415,139     $ 475,345     $ 146,010     $ 159,498  
Professional Liability
    414,436       435,821       144,920       151,442  
Accident & Health
    567,785       550,925       194,377       185,423  
U.S. Surety & Credit
    173,142       148,444       55,972       52,105  
International
    381,975       269,924       99,197       64,892  
Exited Lines
    2,253       23,627       180       7,022  
 
                       
 
  $ 1,954,730     $ 1,904,086     $ 640,656     $ 620,382  
 
                       
 
                               
Net written premium
                               
 
                               
U.S. Property & Casualty
  $ 247,717     $ 299,935     $ 84,250     $ 97,221  
Professional Liability
    277,956       309,963       99,131       107,727  
Accident & Health
    567,520       550,563       194,301       185,284  
U.S. Surety & Credit
    159,626       139,715       52,067       47,921  
International
    285,763       205,050       64,644       48,276  
Exited Lines
    909       22,663       45       6,858  
 
                       
 
  $ 1,539,491     $ 1,527,889     $ 494,438     $ 493,287  
 
                       
 
                               
Net earned premium
                               
 
                               
U.S. Property & Casualty
  $ 258,427     $ 289,195     $ 84,802     $ 94,453  
Professional Liability
    321,849       330,614       103,696       121,387  
Accident & Health
    567,739       553,967       193,252       185,937  
U.S. Surety & Credit
    148,427       135,436       49,807       45,709  
International
    234,471       189,148       84,539       65,421  
Exited Lines
    1,225       26,065       70       7,152  
 
                       
 
  $ 1,532,138     $ 1,524,425     $ 516,166     $ 520,059  
 
                       
Growth in premium occurred primarily in the International segment, directly related to property treaty business that we began to write in late 2009. There were offsetting increases and decreases in premium in our other segments, which partially offset the reduction of premium in our Exited Lines. See the “Segment Operations” section below for further discussion of the relationship and changes in premium revenue within each segment.

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The sources of net investment income are detailed below.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Fixed income securities
                               
Taxable
  $ 82,416     $ 78,894     $ 27,613     $ 26,795  
Exempt from U.S. income taxes
    67,585       61,589       23,308       20,776  
 
                       
Total fixed income securities
    150,001       140,483       50,921       47,571  
Short-term investments
    631       1,791       271       321  
Other
    3,053       2,194       1,011       1,143  
 
                       
Total investment income
    153,685       144,468       52,203       49,035  
Investment expense
    (3,082 )     (2,728 )     (1,066 )     (924 )
 
                       
Net investment income
  $ 150,603     $ 141,740     $ 51,137     $ 48,111  
 
                       
Net investment income increased 6% year-over-year primarily due to higher income from fixed income securities, generated from an increased amount of investments. Our fixed income securities portfolio increased 10% from $4.9 billion at September 30, 2009 to $5.4 billion at September 30, 2010. The growth in fixed income securities resulted primarily from cash flow from operations and reinvestment of funds that were held in short-term investments at December 31, 2009. Short-term investment income declined in the three and nine month periods, due to lower average short-term investment balances and lower short-term market interest rates. Other investment income for year-to-date 2009 included a $1.0 million loss on hedge fund investments.
The following table details the components of our other operating income.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Fee and commission income
  $ 21,465     $ 34,941     $ 6,311     $ 10,761  
Contract using deposit accounting
          25,532              
Financial instruments
    8,595       3,469       216       (188 )
Strategic investments
    677       4,714       120       2,859  
Other
    4,298       1,109       1,241       (1,266 )
 
                       
Other operating income
  $ 35,035     $ 69,765     $ 7,888     $ 12,166  
 
                       
Fee and commission income decreased year-over-year, primarily in our International segment, mainly due to selling our U.K. reinsurance broker in 2009. The nine month periods of 2010 and 2009 included an $8.0 million gain related to commuting a derivative contract and $25.0 million from commutation of the MGIC reinsurance contract, respectively, both of which are included in our U.S. Property & Casualty segment.
Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense
Our gross loss ratio was 61.6% and 59.7% in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 56.1% and 55.6% in the third quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively. The 2010 year-to-date loss ratio included 1.4 percentage points and 1.5 percentage points for the 2010 catastrophe losses and the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster, respectively.

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The tables below show the composition of net incurred loss and loss adjustment expense and the net loss ratio by segment.
                                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
            Loss             Loss             Loss             Loss  
    Amount     ratio     Amount     ratio     Amount     ratio     Amount     ratio  
2010 catastrophes
  $ 15,588       1.0 %   $       %   $ (5,000 )     (1.0 )%   $       %
Adverse (favorable) reserve development
    1,259       0.1       (36,647 )     (2.4 )     (907 )     (0.2 )     (25,375 )     (4.9 )
All other net incurred loss and loss adjustment expense
    905,798       59.1       948,591       62.2       303,045       58.8       329,183       63.3  
 
                                               
Net incurred loss and loss adjustment expense
  $ 922,645       60.2 %   $ 911,944       59.8 %   $ 297,138       57.6 %   $ 303,808       58.4 %
 
                                               
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
      2010       2009       2010       2009  
U.S. Property & Casualty
    63.7 %     56.8 %     73.0 %     56.1 %
Professional Liability
    60.9       61.3       61.0       60.8  
Accident & Health
    72.6       73.4       71.9       73.0  
U.S. Surety & Credit
    25.7       29.4       20.7       26.5  
International
    45.9       36.4       27.5       35.4  
 
                               
 
                               
Total loss ratio
    60.2       59.8       57.6       58.4  
 
                               
Expense ratio
    25.1       23.6       24.5       22.9  
 
                               
 
                               
Combined ratio
    85.3 %     83.4 %     82.1 %     81.3 %
 
                               
 
Our net loss ratio for the first nine months of 2010 was 60.2%, which included 1.0 percentage point for the 2010 catastrophes. The 2009 year-to-date and third quarter net loss ratios included the effect of favorable reserve development. Deficiencies and redundancies in reserves occur as we review our loss reserves with our actuaries, increasing or reducing loss reserves as a result of such reviews and as losses are finally settled or claims exposures change. See the “Segment Operations” section below for further discussion of the changes in our loss and loss adjustment expense within each segment.
 
The table below provides a reconciliation of our reserves for loss and loss adjustment expense payable, net of reinsurance ceded, the amount of our paid claims and our net paid loss ratios.
 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net reserves for loss and loss adjustment expense payable at beginning of period
  $ 2,555,840     $ 2,416,271     $ 2,568,317     $ 2,563,196  
Net reserve additions from acquired businesses
    8,110       36,522             1,600  
Foreign currency adjustment
    (11,677 )     29,109       36,109       (247 )
Incurred loss and loss adjustment expense
    922,645       911,944       297,138       303,808  
Loss and loss adjustment expense payments
    (872,838 )     (838,494 )     (299,484 )     (313,005 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net reserves for loss and loss adjustment expense payable at end of period
  $ 2,602,080     $ 2,555,352     $ 2,602,080     $ 2,555,352  
 
                       
 
                               
Net paid loss ratio
    57.0 %     55.0 %     58.0 %     60.2 %
 
                       

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The net paid loss ratio is the percentage of losses paid, net of reinsurance, divided by earned premium for the period. The year-to-date net paid loss ratio was higher in 2010, primarily due to a higher amount of claims payments for our directors’ and officers’ liability, credit and medical stop-loss products than in the same period of 2009. The amount of claims paid fluctuates period to period due to our mix of business and the timing of claims settlement and catastrophic events.
All Other Expenses
Our policy acquisition cost percentage was 15.8% and 14.6% in the nine month period of 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 15.6% and 13.7% in the third quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Our policy acquisition costs increased 8% year-over-year principally due to the effect of a $3.8 million premium deficiency reserve recorded at December 31, 2008 in our International segment, which reduced the amount of policy acquisition costs recognized throughout 2009.
Other operating expense, which includes compensation expense, decreased 3% year-over-year and 6% quarter-over-quarter. We had 1,878 employees at September 30, 2010 compared to 1,916 a year earlier. In 2009, we sold our U.K. reinsurance broker and the operations of our commercial marine agency business, which reduced our other operating expense and the number of employees in 2010. Other operating expense for year-to-date 2010 included $3.0 million of costs directly related to the commutation of a derivative contract, and year-to-date 2009 included $9.9 million of costs directly related to commuting the MGIC reinsurance contract. Currency conversion expense was $1.5 million in the first nine months of 2010. There was a currency conversion benefit of $0.9 million in the first nine months of 2009, as well as a benefit of $1.2 million and $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Other operating expense includes $9.9 million and $11.5 million in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense, after the effect of the deferral and amortization of policy acquisition costs related to stock-based compensation for our underwriters. Stock-based compensation was lower in 2010 due to the forfeiture of restricted stock grants by former employees and full vesting of certain stock options. In the first nine months of 2010, we granted $22.5 million of restricted stock awards and units, with a weighted-average life of 5.9 years. At September 30, 2010, there was approximately $27.9 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested options and restricted stock awards and units that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.9 years.
Our effective income tax rate was 30.2% for the first nine months of 2010, compared to 31.5% for the first nine months of 2009. The lower effective rate in 2010 related to the reversal of certain liabilities for uncertain tax positions and the increased benefit from tax-exempt investment income relative to a lower pretax income base.

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Segment Operations
U.S. Property & Casualty Segment
Our U.S. Property & Casualty segment writes specialty lines of insurance such as aviation, small account errors and omissions (E&O) liability, public risk, employment practices liability, title, residual value, disability, contingency, kidnap and ransom and brown water marine. The products are written through our underwriting agencies, third party agents and brokers, or on a direct basis in the United States. The majority of the business is primary coverage, with reinsurance on certain product lines. Claims for most products are reported and settled on a short to medium-term basis.
The following tables summarize the operations of the U.S. Property & Casualty segment.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net earned premium
  $ 258,427     $ 289,195     $ 84,802     $ 94,453  
Other revenue
    24,128       46,815       5,033       6,979  
 
                       
Segment revenue
    282,555       336,010       89,835       101,432  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense, net
    164,684       164,346       61,883       52,957  
Other expense
    75,890       85,813       21,289       27,601  
 
                       
Segment expense
    240,574       250,159       83,172       80,558  
 
                       
 
                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 41,981     $ 85,851     $ 6,663     $ 20,874  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
    63.7 %     56.8 %     73.0 %     56.1 %
Expense ratio
    26.9       25.5       23.7       27.2  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    90.6 %     82.3 %     96.7 %     83.3 %
 
                       
 
                               
Net earned premium
                               
 
                               
Aviation
  $ 87,248     $ 98,514     $ 28,950     $ 33,053  
E&O
    74,079       90,468       23,013       29,604  
Public Risk
    34,526       28,853       11,600       11,045  
Other
    62,574       71,360       21,239       20,751  
 
                       
Total
  $ 258,427     $ 289,195     $ 84,802     $ 94,453  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
                               
 
                               
Aviation
    62.7 %     60.3 %     69.7 %     66.7 %
E&O
    84.9       63.1       133.8       68.6  
Public Risk
    58.8       64.1       37.3       60.4  
Other
    42.8       41.1       31.1       18.9  
 
                       
Total
    63.7 %     56.8 %     73.0 %     56.1 %
 
                       

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    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Gross written premium
                               
 
                               
Aviation
  $ 121,600     $ 133,913     $ 44,692     $ 50,162  
E&O
    63,316       84,118       19,018       26,760  
Public Risk
    50,397       52,071       15,706       16,194  
Other
    179,826       205,243       66,594       66,382  
 
                       
Total
  $ 415,139     $ 475,345     $ 146,010     $ 159,498  
 
                       
 
                               
Net written premium
                               
 
                               
Aviation
  $ 84,097     $ 95,655     $ 30,347     $ 34,779  
E&O
    63,256       84,055       19,019       26,759  
Public Risk
    36,635       39,647       12,985       11,796  
Other
    63,729       80,578       21,899       23,887  
 
                       
Total
  $ 247,717     $ 299,935     $ 84,250     $ 97,221  
 
                       
 
                               
Retention rate
                               
 
                               
Aviation
    69 %     71 %     68 %     69 %
E&O
    100       100       100       100  
Public Risk
    73       76       83       73  
Other
    35       39       33       36  
 
                       
Total
    60 %     63 %     58 %     61 %
 
                       
Segment earnings declined in 2010 due to: 1) lower net earned premium, primarily related to pricing competition and the mix of products in this segment, 2) the effect of adverse development in 2010 compared to favorable reserve development in 2009, which impacted the third quarter results of both years, and 3) lower year-over-year earnings due to a pretax gain of $5.0 million in 2010 and $15.6 million in 2009 related to commutations.
In 2010, we wrote less premium in most product lines due to continuing pricing competition in the segment’s markets. In particular, Aviation experienced price decreases in its U.S. markets. Our E&O volume also declined as we continued to re-underwrite that product, employing more stringent underwriting criteria in reaction to higher losses. In addition, we wrote less residual value insurance (included in Other).
The increase in the segment’s loss ratios for 2010 was due to the change in development year-over-year. The segment had adverse reserve development of $9.8 million and $4.4 million in the nine months and third quarter of 2010, respectively, compared to favorable reserve development of $9.4 million and $6.6 million in the same periods of 2009. In 2010, E&O experienced adverse development related to the 2006 – 2009 underwriting years, which was partially offset by favorable development in Public Risk and several smaller product lines (included in Other) in the third quarter. The favorable development in 2009 primarily related to Aviation, Public Risk and several smaller product lines. Higher 2009 accident year losses increased Aviation’s third quarter 2009 loss ratio.
In the first quarter of 2010, we commuted our interest in a mortgage impairment insurance contract, which generated $5.0 million of pretax earnings. In the same quarter of 2009, we commuted the MGIC contract, which generated $15.6 million of pretax earnings. Related to these commutations, we received cash of $8.3 million in 2010 and $25.0 million in 2009, which is included in other revenue. We also incurred reinsurance and other direct costs of $3.0 million in 2010 and $9.9 million in 2009, which are included in other expense. The segment’s remaining other revenue relates to fee and commission income earned by our agencies from third party insurance companies.

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Professional Liability Segment
Our Professional Liability segment includes our directors’ and officers’ (D&O) liability, large account errors and omissions liability, diversified financial products and fidelity coverages, which are written in the United States and internationally through our underwriting agencies. Policies provide both primary and excess coverage, are generally long-tailed and may have potential severity. Claims on the directors’ and officers’ liability excess layers generally take longer to settle than claims in our other segments, due to litigation involving the insureds.
The following tables summarize the operations of the Professional Liability segment.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net earned premium
  $ 321,849     $ 330,614     $ 103,696     $ 121,387  
Other revenue
    458       (134 )     20       (151 )
 
                       
Segment revenue
    322,307       330,480       103,716       121,236  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense, net
    196,154       202,741       63,212       73,752  
Other expense
    57,171       38,988       18,866       9,250  
 
                       
Segment expense
    253,325       241,729       82,078       83,002  
 
                       
 
                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 68,982     $ 88,751     $ 21,638     $ 38,234  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
    60.9 %     61.3 %     61.0 %     60.8 %
Expense ratio
    17.7       11.8       18.2       7.6  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    78.6 %     73.1 %     79.2 %     68.4 %
 
                       
 
                               
Net earned premium
                               
 
                               
U.S. D&O
  $ 229,034     $ 225,412     $ 73,835     $ 81,737  
International D&O
    36,749       44,799       10,975       19,009  
Other
    56,066       60,403       18,886       20,641  
 
                       
Total
  $ 321,849     $ 330,614     $ 103,696     $ 121,387  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
                               
 
                               
U.S. D&O
    61.0 %     62.8 %     60.3 %     63.8 %
International D&O
    60.5       49.3       60.3       36.6  
Other
    60.9       64.8       63.9       71.0  
 
                       
Total
    60.9 %     61.3 %     61.0 %     60.8 %
 
                       

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    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Gross written premium
                               
 
                               
U.S. D&O
  $ 267,302     $ 289,226     $ 98,813     $ 103,324  
International D&O
    69,926       67,612       20,554       23,409  
Other
    77,208       78,983       25,553       24,709  
 
                       
Total
  $ 414,436     $ 435,821     $ 144,920     $ 151,442  
 
                       
 
                               
Net written premium
                               
 
                               
U.S. D&O
  $ 198,043     $ 219,377     $ 73,037     $ 79,541  
International D&O
    28,074       37,187       8,260       12,486  
Other
    51,839       53,399       17,834       15,700  
 
                       
Total
  $ 277,956     $ 309,963     $ 99,131     $ 107,727  
 
                       
 
                               
Retention rate
                               
 
                               
U.S. D&O
    74 %     76 %     74 %     77 %
International D&O
    40       55       40       53  
Other
    67       68       70       64  
 
                       
Total
    67 %     71 %     68 %     71 %
 
                       
Segment earnings declined in 2010 due to lower net earned premium, $10.1 million of reduced profit commissions from reinsurers, and higher operating expenses. The compound effect of these three factors caused the 2010 expense ratios to be higher than the 2009 expense ratios.
We wrote less D&O business in the U.S. in 2010 due to pricing competition that began at the end of 2009. We purchased more reinsurance in 2010 for our International D&O in order to continue to offer our insureds large limits.
The segment had minimal reserve development in 2010 and 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, the International D&O reserves had favorable development, which was substantially offset by adverse development in the U.S. D&O reserves. The loss ratios for products in Other were higher in 2009, due to adverse reserve development and 2009 accident year losses.

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Accident & Health Segment
Our Accident & Health segment includes medical stop-loss, short-term domestic and international medical, HMO reinsurance and medical excess coverages, which are written in the United States. The majority of the business covers groups of employees, and claims are reported and settled quickly.
The following tables summarize the operations of the Accident & Health segment.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net earned premium
  $ 567,739     $ 553,967     $ 193,252     $ 185,937  
Other revenue
    2,830       3,964       1,113       1,045  
 
                       
Segment revenue
    570,569       557,931       194,365       186,982  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense, net
    412,438       406,722       138,869       135,708  
Other expense
    89,967       88,802       30,908       29,899  
 
                       
Segment expense
    502,405       495,524       169,777       165,607  
 
                       
 
                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 68,164     $ 62,407     $ 24,588     $ 21,375  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
    72.6 %     73.4 %     71.9 %     73.0 %
Expense ratio
    15.8       15.9       15.9       16.0  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    88.4 %     89.3 %     87.8 %     89.0 %
 
                       
 
                               
Net earned premium
                               
 
                               
Medical Stop-loss
  $ 488,256     $ 473,271     $ 164,698     $ 157,429  
Other
    79,483       80,696       28,554       28,508  
 
                       
Total
  $ 567,739     $ 553,967     $ 193,252     $ 185,937  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
                               
 
                               
Medical Stop-loss
    74.0 %     73.7 %     74.1 %     74.2 %
Other
    64.4       71.6       59.1       66.3  
 
                       
Total
    72.6 %     73.4 %     71.9 %     73.0 %
 
                       

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    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Gross written premium
                               
 
                               
Medical Stop-loss
  $ 488,256     $ 473,273     $ 164,698     $ 157,429  
Other
    79,529       77,652       29,679       27,994  
 
                       
Total
  $ 567,785     $ 550,925     $ 194,377     $ 185,423  
 
                       
 
                               
Net written premium
                               
 
                               
Medical Stop-loss
  $ 488,256     $ 473,271     $ 164,698     $ 157,429  
Other
    79,264       77,292       29,603       27,855  
 
                       
Total
  $ 567,520     $ 550,563     $ 194,301     $ 185,284  
 
                       
 
                               
Retention rate
                               
 
                               
Medical Stop-loss
    100 %     100 %     100 %     100 %
Other
    100       100       100       100  
 
                       
Total
    100 %     100 %     100 %     100 %
 
                       
Segment earnings increased in 2010 due to rate increases in excess of medical inflation in our medical stop-loss line. The lower loss ratios in 2010 mainly reflected reduced losses in our short-term medical product line.

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U.S. Surety & Credit Segment
Our U.S. Surety & Credit segment includes contract, commercial, court and bail bonds written in the United States and credit insurance managed in the United States. Claims for all products are reported quickly, but settled on a medium-term basis.
The following tables summarize the operations of the U.S. Surety & Credit segment.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net earned premium
  $ 148,427     $ 135,436     $ 49,807     $ 45,709  
Other revenue
    455       182       127       70  
 
                       
Segment revenue
    148,882       135,618       49,934       45,779  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense, net
    38,157       39,849       10,296       12,098  
Other expense
    81,699       72,527       28,007       25,332  
 
                       
Segment expense
    119,856       112,376       38,303       37,430  
 
                       
 
                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 29,026     $ 23,242     $ 11,631     $ 8,349  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
    25.7 %     29.4 %     20.7 %     26.5 %
Expense ratio
    54.9       53.5       56.1       55.3  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    80.6 %     82.9 %     76.8 %     81.8 %
 
                       
 
                               
Net earned premium
                               
 
                               
Surety
  $ 119,325     $ 107,995     $ 39,777     $ 37,598  
Credit
    29,102       27,441       10,030       8,111  
 
                       
Total
  $ 148,427     $ 135,436     $ 49,807     $ 45,709  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
                               
 
                               
Surety
    22.2 %     22.0 %     15.9 %     20.6 %
Credit
    40.3       58.8       39.4       53.6  
 
                       
Total
    25.7 %     29.4 %     20.7 %     26.5 %
 
                       

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    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Gross written premium
                               
 
                               
Surety
  $ 132,137     $ 114,668     $ 43,437     $ 41,916  
Credit
    41,005       33,776       12,535       10,189  
 
                       
Total
  $ 173,142     $ 148,444     $ 55,972     $ 52,105  
 
                       
 
                               
Net written premium
                               
 
                               
Surety
  $ 127,348     $ 110,502     $ 42,038     $ 40,026  
Credit
    32,278       29,213       10,029       7,895  
 
                       
Total
  $ 159,626     $ 139,715     $ 52,067     $ 47,921  
 
                       
 
                               
Retention rate
                               
 
                               
Surety
    96 %     96 %     97 %     95 %
Credit
    79       86       80       77  
 
                       
Total
    92 %     94 %     93 %     92 %
 
                       
Segment earnings increased year-over-year due to the effect of higher net earned premium and favorable loss experience in 2010, partially offset by higher expenses. In early 2009, we purchased a surety insurance company, which increased written and earned premium for the Surety product line in 2010. We wrote more Credit premium in 2010 due to improved pricing.
The segment had favorable reserve development of $7.9 million and $3.7 million in the nine months and third quarter of 2010, respectively, compared to $4.1 million in both periods of 2009, mainly related to the Surety product line. The Credit product line experienced several large losses in the nine months and third quarter of 2009, due to weak economic conditions in the world credit markets.

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International Segment
Our International segment includes energy, property treaty, liability, surety, credit, property, ocean marine, accident and health and other smaller product lines written outside the United States. Products in this segment are susceptible to catastrophic events and large losses, for which we maintain excess of loss, quota share and facultative reinsurance protection to limit our exposure to such losses. Claims for most products are reported and settled on a medium-term basis.
The following tables summarize the operations of the International segment.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net earned premium
  $ 234,471     $ 189,148     $ 84,539     $ 65,421  
Other revenue
    6,177       18,803       1,466       5,853  
 
                       
Segment revenue
    240,648       207,951       86,005       71,274  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense, net
    107,601       68,931       23,227       23,165  
Other expense
    88,441       83,941       29,365       28,478  
 
                       
Segment expense
    196,042       152,872       52,592       51,643  
 
                       
 
                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 44,606     $ 55,079     $ 33,413     $ 19,631  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratio
    45.9 %     36.4 %     27.5 %     35.4 %
Expense ratio
    36.8       40.4       34.1       40.0  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    82.7 %     76.8 %     61.6 %     75.4 %
 
                       
 
                               
Net earned premium
                               
 
                               
Energy
  $ 39,566     $ 34,968     $ 12,777     $ 12,546  
Property Treaty
    32,533             16,924        
Liability
    60,478       61,363       19,929       20,687  
Surety & Credit
    53,800       50,429       17,916       17,778  
Other
    48,094       42,388       16,993       14,410  
 
                       
Total
  $ 234,471     $ 189,148     $ 84,539     $ 65,421  
 
                       
 
                               
Net loss ratios
                               
 
                               
Energy
    25.4 %     17.9 %     3.3 %     36.9 %
Property Treaty
    47.0             (5.2 )      
Liability
    55.4       25.6       55.9       14.0  
Surety & Credit
    38.1       53.0       37.5       48.6  
Other
    58.8       47.8       34.3       48.5  
 
                       
Total
    45.9 %     36.4 %     27.5 %     35.4 %
 
                       

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    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Gross written premium
                               
 
                               
Energy
  $ 97,053     $ 92,277     $ 16,731     $ 14,645  
Property Treaty
    71,404             16,309        
Liability
    68,501       66,466       19,464       20,795  
Surety & Credit
    57,019       55,149       16,774       15,574  
Other
    87,998       56,032       29,919       13,878  
 
                       
Total
  $ 381,975     $ 269,924     $ 99,197     $ 64,892  
 
                       
 
                               
Net written premium
                               
 
                               
Energy
  $ 51,716     $ 50,268     $ 4,251     $ 2,551  
Property Treaty
    61,994             12,948        
Liability
    63,410       59,641       17,663       19,603  
Surety & Credit
    51,278       49,953       14,605       14,818  
Other
    57,365       45,188       15,177       11,304  
 
                       
Total
  $ 285,763     $ 205,050     $ 64,644     $ 48,276  
 
                       
 
                               
Retention rate
                               
 
                               
Energy
    53 %     54 %     25 %     17 %
Property Treaty
    87             79        
Liability
    93       90       91       94  
Surety & Credit
    90       91       87       95  
Other
    65       81       51       81  
 
                       
Total
    75 %     76 %     65 %     74 %
 
                       
Segment earnings decreased year-over-year due to the net effect of: 1) catastrophic events in the first quarter of 2010, which generated $15.6 million of net losses, 2) higher favorable reserve development in 2009 and 3) lower other revenue, due to the sale of our U.K. reinsurance broker in the third quarter of 2009, partially offset by 4) higher net earned premium. The increase in premium substantially related to Property Treaty, which we began to write in late 2009. In addition, in 2010, we wrote more short tail property business (included in Other), which was substantially reinsured.
In the first quarter of 2010, we recognized gross losses of $31.9 million from catastrophic events, the most significant of which was the Chilean earthquake. After reinsurance, the pretax loss was $20.6 million, which primarily impacted our Energy and Property Treaty lines. In the third quarter, we reduced our Energy gross and net loss reserves related to the first-quarter catastrophes by $5.0 million, based on recent claims information about the potential losses. In the second quarter of 2010, we recognized gross losses of $28.2 million for the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster. Due to significant facultative reinsurance, in addition to treaty reinsurance, our pretax net loss was minimal.
The International segment had favorable reserve development of $8.4 million and $1.7 million in the nine months and third quarter of 2010, respectively, compared to $27.3 million and $14.0 million in the same periods of 2009. The 2010 development related to the reduction of Energy reserves for the 2005 and 2008 hurricanes. The 2009 development related to Energy reserves for the 2005 hurricanes and to our U.K. professional liability line (included in Liability) for the 2004 – 2006 underwriting years. Property Treaty experienced particularly favorable loss experience in 2010, which we reflected in our loss expectations in the third quarter. Our U.K. Credit line incurred higher losses in 2009 due to the U.K. financial conditions that time.

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Investing Segment
Our Investing segment includes our total consolidated investment portfolio, as well as investment income and investment related expenses, realized gains and losses and other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments.
The following table summarizes activity in the Investing segment.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Fixed income securities
  $ 150,001     $ 140,483     $ 50,921     $ 47,571  
Short-term investments
    631       1,791       271       321  
Other investments
    3,053       2,194       1,011       1,143  
Net realized investment gain
    7,897       4,852       1,057       864  
Other-than-temporary impairments
    (300 )     (5,279 )     (300 )     (325 )
Investment expenses
    (3,082 )     (2,728 )     (1,066 )     (924 )
 
                       
 
                               
Segment pretax earnings
  $ 158,200     $ 141,313     $ 51,894     $ 48,650  
 
                       
At September 30, 2010, we had $5.8 billion of total investments, an increase of $378.8 million from December 31, 2009. This table summarizes our investments by type, substantially all of which are reported at fair value, at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Amount     %     Amount     %  
U.S. government and government agency securities
  $ 348,609       6 %   $ 328,535       6 %
Fixed income securities of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    1,132,448       19       1,059,426       19  
Special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and political subdivisions
    1,575,914       27       1,146,334       21  
Corporate fixed income securities
    696,470       12       693,915       13  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    1,099,360       19       944,182       17  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    157,730       3       146,217       3  
Asset-backed securities
    5,569             14,365        
Foreign government securities
    344,450       6       307,891       6  
Short-term investments
    474,066       8       810,673       15  
Other investments
    433             4,691        
 
                       
 
                               
Total investments
  $ 5,835,049       100 %   $ 5,456,229       100 %
 
                       

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This table shows the average amount of investments, the net investment income we earned, the related yields and duration, and the average rating of our fixed income securities.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Average investments, at cost
  $ 5,334,463     $ 5,015,803     $ 5,350,244     $ 5,194,608  
Net investment income *
    150,603       141,740       51,137       48,111  
Average short-term yield *
    0.2 %     0.4 %     0.2 %     0.2 %
Average long-term yield *
    4.1 %     4.1 %     4.1 %     4.2 %
Average long-term tax equivalent yield *
    4.9 %     4.9 %     4.9 %     5.0 %
Average combined tax equivalent yield *
    4.5 %     4.6 %     4.6 %     4.4 %
Weighted-average life of fixed income securities
  6.7 years   6.5 years                
Weighted-average duration of fixed income securities
  4.6 years   4.7 years                
Weighted-average combined duration
  4.4 years   4.3 years                
Average rating of fixed income securities
  AA+   AA+                
 
*   Excluding realized and unrealized gains and losses.
This table summarizes our investments in fixed income securities by their rating category at September 30, 2010.
                                 
    Available for sale     Held to maturity  
    at fair value     at amortized cost  
    Amount     %     Amount     %  
AAA
  $ 2,467,554       48 %   $ 83,596       43 %
AA
    1,928,022       37       32,374       17  
A
    642,683       12       76,582       39  
BBB
    91,112       2       1,289       1  
BB and below
    37,338       1              
 
                       
 
                               
Total fixed income securities
  $ 5,166,709       100 %   $ 193,841       100 %
 
                       
The overall rating of our municipal bonds (consisting of our fixed income securities of states, municipalities and political subdivisions and our special purpose revenue bonds of states, municipalities and political subdivisions) was AA+ at September 30, 2010. Our portfolio of special purpose revenue bonds at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 included $128.6 million and $138.7 million, respectively, of pre-refunded bonds that are supported by U.S. government debt obligations. The remaining special purpose bonds are secured by revenue sources specific to each security. The table below summarizes our percentage holdings of special purpose revenue bonds by revenue source.
                 
    September 30,   December 31,
    2010   2009
Water and sewer
    25 %     27 %
Education
    16       14  
Transportation
    14       13  
Special tax
    11       11  
Pre-refunded
    8       13  
Leasing
    8       8  
Electric
    8       7  
Other
    10       7  
 
               
 
               
Total
    100 %     100 %
 
               

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Many of our special purpose revenue bonds are insured by mono-line insurance companies or supported by credit enhancement programs of various states and municipalities. We view bond insurance as credit enhancement and not credit substitution. We base our investment decision on the strength of the issuer. A credit review is performed on each issuer and on the sustainability of the revenue source before we acquire a special purpose revenue bond and periodically, on an ongoing basis, thereafter. The underlying average credit rating of our special purpose revenue bond issuers, excluding any bond insurance, was AA+ at September 30, 2010. Although recent economic conditions in the United States may reduce the source of revenue to support certain of these securities, the majority are supported by revenue from essential sources, such as water and sewer, education and transportation fees, which we believe generate a stable source of revenue.
At September 30, 2010, we held a corporate bond portfolio with a carrying value of $696.5 million, an overall rating of A, and a weighted-average life of approximately 3.4 years.
At September 30, 2010, we also held a portfolio of residential mortgage-backed securities (MBSs) and collateralized mortgage-obligations (CMOs) with a fair value of $1.1 billion. Within our residential MBS/CMO portfolio, $1.0 billion of securities, or 95%, were issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), which are backed by the U.S. government. Of the remaining $54.4 million of residential mortgage-backed securities, 89% were collateralized by prime mortgages.
At September 30, 2010, we held a commercial MBS securities portfolio with a fair value of $157.7 million, an average rating of AA+, an average loan-to-value ratio of 73%, and a weighted-average life of approximately 4.5 years. We owned no collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) or collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), and we have never been counterparty to any credit default swap transactions.
This table indicates the expected maturity distribution of our fixed income securities at September 30, 2010.
                                                                 
                    Mortgage-backed and              
    Available for sale at     asset-backed at     Held to maturity at     Total fixed income  
    amortized cost     amortized cost     amortized cost     securities  
    Amount     %     Amount     %     Amount     %     Amount     %  
One year or less
  $ 237,836       6 %   $ 142,089       12 %   $ 25,128       13 %   $ 405,053       8 %
One year to five years
    1,096,709       30       896,923       75       157,528       81       2,151,160       43  
Five years to ten years
    871,163       24       149,876       12       11,185       6       1,032,224       20  
Ten years to fifteen years
    764,784       21       7,171       1                   771,955       15  
More than fifteen years
    698,894       19                               698,894       14  
 
                                               
 
                               
Total fixed income securities
  $ 3,669,386       100 %   $ 1,196,059       100 %   $ 193,841       100 %   $ 5,059,286       100 %
 
                                               
A security has an impairment loss when its fair value is less than its cost or amortized cost at the balance sheet date. The gross unrealized losses of the individual securities within our available for sale fixed income securities portfolios were $3.5 million at September 30, 2010, compared to $18.9 million at December 31, 2009. We evaluate the securities in our fixed income securities portfolio for possible other-than-temporary impairment losses at each quarter end. For a description of the accounting polices and procedures that we use to determine our other-than-temporary impairment losses, see Note 5, “Investments” in the notes to these condensed consolidated financial statements and “Critical Accounting Policies – Other-than-temporary Impairments in Investments” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. We recognized $0.3 million of other-than-temporary impairment credit losses in the first nine months and third quarter of 2010, compared to $5.3 million and $0.3 million in the first nine months and third quarter of 2009, respectively.
At September 30, 2010, the net unrealized gain on our available for sale fixed income securities portfolio was $301.3 million, compared to $156.3 million at December 31, 2009. The change in the net unrealized gain, net of the related income tax effect, is recorded in other comprehensive income and fluctuates with changes in market interest rates. Our general policy has been to hold our fixed income securities, most of which are classified as available for sale, through periods of fluctuating interest rates and to not

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realize significant gains or losses from their sale. We recognized $7.9 million and $4.9 million of pretax net realized investment gains in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Corporate & Other
A Corporate & Other category includes operations not related to our segments, including unallocable corporate operating expenses, consolidated interest expense and underwriting results of our Exited Lines of business. The Exited Lines include: 1) accident and health business managed by our underwriting agency, LDG Reinsurance, 2) workers’ compensation, 3) provider excess, 4) Spanish medical malpractice, 5) U.K. motor and 6) film completion bonds. We no longer write the Exited Lines and do not expect to write these product lines in the future.
The following table summarizes activity in the Corporate & Other category.
                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,     Three months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net earned premium
  $ 1,225     $ 26,065     $ 70     $ 7,152  
Other revenue
    987       135       129       (1,630 )
 
                       
Total revenue
    2,212       26,200       199       5,522  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss adjustment expense
    3,611       29,355       (349 )     6,128  
Other expense — Exited Lines
    3,124       6,493       1,049       2,187  
Other expense — Corporate
    36,270       42,854       12,198       13,980  
Interest expense
    15,376       11,093       5,116       3,299  
 
                       
Total expense
    58,381       89,795       18,014       25,594  
 
                       
 
                               
Pretax loss
  $ (56,169 )   $ (63,595 )   $ (17,815 )   $ (20,072 )
 
                       
Net earned premium and losses decreased in 2010 because we sold the renewal rights to provider excess and stopped writing film completion bonds in 2009. In 2010, we had $3.0 million of adverse reserve development on the LDG accident and health business due to receipt of new claims information. Our Corporate expenses not allocable to the segments decreased $6.6 million year-over-year, principally due to lower expense in 2010 related to bonuses, stock-based compensation and the fair value adjustment on our interest rate swap agreements. Our interest expense increased in 2010 because we issued long-term debt in late 2009 at a higher fixed rate than the floating rate related to our prior line of credit borrowings.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Credit market disruptions in recent years have resulted in a tightening of available sources of credit and significant liquidity concerns for many companies. We believe we have sufficient sources of liquidity at a reasonable cost at the present time, based on the following:
    We held $572.3 million of cash and liquid short-term investments at September 30, 2010.
 
    Our available for sale bond portfolio had a fair value of $5.2 billion at September 30, 2010, compared to $4.5 billion at December 31, 2009, and has an average rating of AA+. We intend to hold these securities until their maturity, but we would be able to sell securities to generate cash if the need arises.
 
    Our insurance subsidiaries have sufficient resources to pay potential claims. At September 30, 2010, they had $774.2 million of cash, short-term investments, maturing bonds, and principal payments from mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities that will be available cash resources during the next twelve months.
 
    Our debt consists of $300.0 million principal amount of unsecured 6.30% Senior Notes due November 15, 2019. Our debt to total capital ratio was 8.2% at September 30, 2010 and 9.0% at December 31, 2009.

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    We have a committed $575.0 million Revolving Loan Facility at a rate of 30-day LIBOR plus 25 basis points that matures December 19, 2011. Letters of credit issued on behalf of certain of our subsidiaries reduce available borrowing capacity under the facility. At September 30, 2010, we had $556.6 million of unused capacity, which we can draw against at any time at our request. The facility agreement contains two restrictive financial covenants, with which we were in compliance at September 30, 2010.
 
    During 2010, there was no significant change in our Standby Letter of Credit Facility used to guarantee our performance in our Lloyd’s of London syndicates.
 
    Our domestic insurance subsidiaries have the ability to pay $217.8 million in dividends in 2010 to our holding company without obtaining special permission from state regulatory authorities. Our underwriting agencies have no restrictions on the amount of dividends that can be paid to our holding company. The holding company can utilize these dividends for any purpose, including to pay down debt, pay dividends to shareholders, fund acquisitions, purchase common stock and pay operating expenses. Cash flow available to the holding company in 2010 is expected to be more than ample to cover the holding company’s required cash disbursements.
 
    We have a “Universal Shelf” registration statement that provides for the issuance of an aggregate of $1.0 billion of securities, of which we have $700.0 million of remaining capacity. These securities may be debt securities, equity securities, or a combination thereof. The shelf registration statement provides us the means to access the debt and equity markets relatively quickly, if we are satisfied with the current pricing in the financial market.
Cash Flow
We receive substantial cash from premiums, reinsurance recoverables, outward commutations, proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments and investment income. Our principal cash outflows are for the payment of claims and loss adjustment expenses, premium payments to reinsurers, inward commutations, purchases of investments, debt service, policy acquisition costs, operating expenses, taxes, dividends and common stock purchases. Cash provided by operating activities can fluctuate due to timing differences in the collection of premiums and reinsurance recoverables and the payment of losses and premium and reinsurance balances payable and the completion of commutations.
We generated cash from operations of $314.6 million and $417.5 million in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively. The components of our net operating cash flows are summarized in the following table.
                 
    Nine months ended September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Net earnings
  $ 247,797     $ 269,076  
Change in premium, claims and other receivables, net of reinsurance, other payables and restricted cash
    (24,539 )     (2,736 )
Change in unearned premium, net
    15,103       14,348  
Change in loss and loss adjustment expense payable, net of reinsurance recoverables
    44,355       66,372  
Gain on investments
    (8,086 )     (3,152 )
Other, net
    40,001       73,638  
 
           
 
               
Cash provided by operating activities
  $ 314,631     $ 417,546  
 
           
Timing differences in the collection of premium and payment of reinsurance balances payable reduced our cash provided by operating activities in 2010, compared to 2009. In addition, we had $34.3 million of higher claims payments in 2010. Our operating cash flow is also impacted by the timing of cash receipts and payments related to commutations. In 2009, we commuted certain loss reserves for $43.9 million of cash, which reduced cash provided by operating activities in 2009. We received $25.0 million to commute the MGIC reinsurance contract in 2009 and $8.3 million to commute a derivative contract in 2010.
We maintain a substantial level of cash and liquid short-term investments to meet anticipated payment obligations. During January 2010, we paid the final $64.5 million due to previous holders of our 1.3% Convertible Notes that were submitted for conversion in December 2009 using cash held as of December 31, 2009. Our combined cash and short-term investments totaled $572.3 million at September 30, 2010.

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Accounting Guidance in 2010
A new accounting standard, originally issued as SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), became effective January 1, 2010. The guidance, which was incorporated into Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 810, Consolidation, changes various aspects of accounting for and disclosures of interests in variable interest entities. Our adoption of this guidance as of January 1, 2010 had no material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2010, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-06, which incorporated changes in disclosure requirements into ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. Where applicable, we have included the additional required disclosures in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements.
A new accounting standard, ASU 2010-20, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses, was issued in July 2010. The new guidance expands disclosures related to financing receivables, including the nature of credit risk in financing receivables, how that risk is analyzed in determining the related allowance for credit losses, and changes to the allowance during the reporting period. We will provide the additional required disclosures in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
A new accounting standard, originally issued as EITF 09-G, Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts, was ratified in September 2010. The guidance, which will be incorporated into ASC Topic 944, Financial Services – Insurance, clarifies the definition of what constitutes an acquisition cost and limits the types of acquisition costs that can be capitalized by insurance entities to those that are “directly related to” the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts. Under the new guidance, direct costs only include those that result in the successful acquisition of a policy. All costs incurred for unsuccessful efforts, along with indirect costs, are to be expensed as incurred. This guidance must be adopted by January 1, 2012, either prospectively or retrospectively, and may be adopted earlier at the beginning of an annual period. We are currently evaluating the timing and effect of our adoption of this guidance.
Critical Accounting Policies
We provided information about our critical accounting policies in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies”, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. We have made no changes in the identification or methods of application of these policies, except as related to the “Valuation of Goodwill”. During the third quarter of 2010, we realigned our segments and allocated our goodwill to new reporting units, as described in Note 2, “Segments” and Note 3, “Goodwill” in our Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended September 30, 2010.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
There have been no material changes in market risk from the information provided in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Act)) that are designed to ensure that required information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required timeframe, as specified in rules set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Our management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2010. Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2010.
(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the third quarter of 2010, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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Part II — Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are a party to lawsuits, arbitrations and other proceedings that arise in the normal course of our business. Many of such lawsuits, arbitrations and other proceedings involve claims under policies that we underwrite as an insurer or reinsurer, the liabilities for which, we believe, have been adequately included in our loss reserves. Also, from time to time, we are a party to lawsuits, arbitrations and other proceedings that relate to disputes with third parties, or that involve alleged errors and omissions on the part of our subsidiaries. We have provided accruals for these items to the extent we deem the losses probable and reasonably estimable. Although the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time, based on present information, the availability of insurance coverage and advice received from our outside legal counsel, we believe the resolution of any such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On June 20, 2008, our Board of Directors approved the purchase of up to $100.0 million of our common stock. On May 27, 2010, our Board of Directors approved a new authorization for $300.0 million and cancelled the $0.7 million remaining under the original authorization. The new share purchase plan authorizes purchases to be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time-to-time in compliance with applicable rules and regulations, including Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Purchases under the plan will be subject to market and business conditions, as well as the level of cash generated from our operations, cash required for acquisitions, debt covenant compliance, trading price of the stock being at or below book value and other relevant factors. The purchase plan does not obligate us to purchase any particular number of shares, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time at our discretion. As of September 30, 2010, we had paid $110.2 million to purchase 5,130,077 shares of our common stock in the open market pursuant to these purchase programs.
During the third quarter of 2010, we purchased our common stock, as follows:
                                 
                    Total number of shares   Approximate dollar
                    purchased as part of   value of shares that may
    Total number of   Average price   publicly announced   yet be purchased under
Period   shares purchased   paid per share   plans or programs   the plans or programs
July 1 - July 31, 2010
                    $ 299,248,840  
August 1 - August 31, 2010
    407,166     $ 25.10       407,166     $ 289,027,526  
September 1 - September 30, 2010
                    $ 289,027,526  

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Item 6. Exhibits
a. Exhibits
  3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on July 23, 1996 and May 21, 1998, respectively (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Registration Statement of Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-61687) filed August 17, 1998).
 
  3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K filed April 3, 2008).
 
  12   Statement of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  31.1   Certification by Chief Executive Officer.
 
  31.2   Certification by Chief Financial Officer.
 
  32.1   Certification with Respect to Quarterly Report.
 
  101   The following financial statements from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.*
 
*   The XBRL related information in Exhibit 101 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability of that section and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing or document.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
         
 
  HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.    
 
 
 
(Registrant)
   
 
       
November 8, 2010
  /s/ John N. Molbeck, Jr.    
     (Date)
 
 
John N. Molbeck, Jr., President
   
 
  and Chief Executive Officer    
 
       
November 8, 2010
  /s/ Pamela J. Penny    
     (Date)
 
 
Pamela J. Penny, Executive Vice President
   
 
  and Chief Accounting Officer    

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