2012.12.31 - 10K
Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
Commission file number 001-33606
VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

BERMUDA
98-0501001
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

29 Richmond Road, Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(441) 278-9000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class:
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered:
Common Shares, $0.175 par value per share
 
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý    No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o    No ý
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 ý    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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý    No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. 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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ý
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
 (Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No ý
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2012 was $2,077.0 million computed upon the basis of the closing sales price of the Common Shares on June 30, 2012. For the purposes of this computation, shares held by directors and officers of the registrant have been excluded. Such exclusion is not intended, nor shall it be deemed, to be an admission that such persons are affiliates of the registrant.
As of February 13, 2013, there were 107,468,544 outstanding Common Shares, $0.175 par value per share, of the registrant.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Part III incorporates information from certain portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.
 


Table of Contents

 
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
        


Table of Contents

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “Forward-Looking Statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A non-exclusive list of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such Forward-Looking Statements is set forth herein under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

PART I
All amounts presented in this part are in U.S. dollars except as otherwise noted.

Item 1.    Business
Overview
Validus Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of Bermuda on October 19, 2005. Our initial investor, which we refer to as our founding investor, is Aquiline Capital Partners LLC, a private equity firm dedicated to investing in financial services companies. Other sponsoring investors included private equity funds managed by Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Vestar Capital Partners, New Mountain Capital and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. The Company conducts its operations worldwide through three operating segments which have been determined under U.S. GAAP segment reporting, Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Validus Re”), Talbot Holdings Ltd. (“Talbot”) and AlphaCat Managers, Ltd. ("AlphaCat"). The Company provides reinsurance, insurance and insurance linked securities management. Validus Re is a Bermuda based reinsurer focused on short tail lines of reinsurance. Talbot is the Bermuda parent of the specialty insurance group primarily operating within the Lloyd's insurance market through Syndicate 1183.  AlphaCat is a Bermuda based investment adviser, managing third-party capital in insurance linked securities and other investments in the property catastrophe reinsurance space.
We seek to establish ourselves as a leader in the global insurance and reinsurance markets. Our principal operating objective is to use our capital efficiently by underwriting primarily short-tail insurance and reinsurance contracts with superior risk and return characteristics. Our primary underwriting objective is to construct a portfolio of short-tail insurance and reinsurance contracts which maximizes our return on equity subject to prudent risk constraints on the amount of capital we expose to any single event. We manage our risks through a variety of means, including contract terms, portfolio selection, diversification criteria, including geographic diversification criteria, and proprietary and commercially available third-party vendor catastrophe models.
Since our formation in 2005, we have been able to achieve substantial success in the development of our business. Selected examples of our accomplishments are as follows:
Raising approximately $1.0 billion of initial equity capital in December 2005 and underwriting $217.4 million in gross premiums written for the January 2006 renewal season;
At the time of the Company’s formation an executive management team was assembled with an average of 20 years of industry experience and senior expertise spanning multiple aspects of the global insurance and reinsurance business;
Building a risk analytics staff comprised of over 40 experts, many of whom have PhDs and Masters degrees in related fields;
Developing Validus Capital Allocation and Pricing System (“VCAPS”), a proprietary computer-based system for modeling, pricing, allocating capital and analyzing catastrophe-exposed risks;
Acquiring all of the outstanding shares of Talbot Holdings Ltd. on July 2, 2007;
Completing an initial public offering (“IPO”) on July 30, 2007;
Acquiring all of the outstanding shares of IPC Holdings Ltd. (“IPC”) on September 4, 2009;
Raising $185.0 million of initial capital for AlphaCat Re 2011, Ltd. (“AlphaCat Re 2011”) on May 25, 2011 and a further $71.0 million of additional capital on December 23, 2011;
Raising $500.0 million of capital for PaCRe, Ltd. ("PaCRe") a new Class 4 Bermuda reinsurer formed for the purpose of writing high excess property catastrophe reinsurance, on April 2, 2012;
Raising $70.0 million of capital for AlphaCat Re 2012, Ltd. (“AlphaCat Re 2012”) on May 29, 2012;
Acquiring all of the outstanding shares of Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings, S.A. ("Flagstone") on November 30, 2012;

1

Table of Contents

Raising $230.0 million of capital for Alpha Cat 2013, Ltd. ("AlphaCat 2013") on December 17, 2012 and receiving $219.4 million of third party subscriptions for AlphaCat Insurance Linked Securities ("ILS") Funds;
Increasing the annual dividend by 20% from $1.00 to $1.20 per common share and per common share equivalent and announcing a $2.00 special dividend per common share and per common share equivalent on February 6, 2013; and
Repurchasing approximately 43.7 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $1,227.1 million and paying and aggregate amount of $467.6 million in dividends from inception of the Company to February 13, 2013.
Our Operating Subsidiaries
The following chart shows how our Company and its principal operating subsidiaries are organized.


For a complete list of the Company’s subsidiaries, see Exhibit 21.
(a)
AlphaCat Re 2012  and AlphaCat 2013 are non-consolidated operating affiliates.
Operating Segments
Validus Re: Validus Re, the Company’s principal reinsurance operating subsidiary, operates as a Bermuda-based provider of short-tail reinsurance products on a global basis. Validus Re concentrates on first-party risks, which are property risks and other reinsurance lines commonly referred to as short-tail in nature due to the relatively brief period between the occurrence and payment of a claim.
Validus Re was registered as a Class 4 insurer under The Insurance Act 1978 of Bermuda, amendments thereto and related regulations (the “Insurance Act”) in November 2005. It commenced operations with approximately $1.0 billion of equity capital and a balance sheet unencumbered by any historical losses relating to the 2005 hurricane season, the events of September 11, 2001, asbestos or other legacy exposures affecting our industry.
Validus Re entered the global reinsurance market in 2006 during a period of imbalance between the supply of underwriting capacity available for reinsurance on catastrophe-exposed property, marine and energy risks and demand for such reinsurance coverage.
On September 4, 2009, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of IPC. The primary lines in which IPC conducted business were property catastrophe reinsurance and, to a limited extent, property-per-risk excess, aviation (including satellite) and

2

Table of Contents

other short-tail reinsurance on a worldwide basis. For segmental reporting purposes, the results of IPC’s operations since the acquisition date have been included within the Validus Re segment in the consolidated financial statements.
On November 30, 2012, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Flagstone, strengthening the Company's leading property catastrophe reinsurance and short-tail specialty insurance platform. The primary lines in which Flagstone conducted business were property catastrophe reinsurance, property pro rata and per-risk excess and short tail specialty and casualty reinsurance such as aviation, energy, personal accident and health, satellite, marine and workers' compensation catastrophe. For segmental reporting purposes, the results of Flagstone’s operations since the acquisition date have been included within the Validus Re segment in the consolidated financial statements.
The following are the primary lines in which Validus Re conducts its business. Details of gross premiums written by line of business are provided below:
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
Year Ended December 31, 2010
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross
Premiums
Written
 
Gross
Premiums
Written (%)
 
Gross
Premiums
Written
 
Gross
Premiums
Written (%)
 
Gross
Premiums
Written
 
Gross
Premiums
Written (%)
Property
 
$
771,617

 
68.2
%
 
$
786,937

 
70.6
%
 
$
778,794

 
71.5
%
Marine
 
257,469

 
22.7
%
 
232,401

 
20.9
%
 
227,135

 
20.8
%
Specialty
 
102,873

 
9.1
%
 
95,155

 
8.5
%
 
83,514

 
7.7
%
Total
 
$
1,131,959

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,114,493

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,089,443

 
100.0
%
Property:    Validus Re underwrites property catastrophe reinsurance, property per risk reinsurance and property pro rata reinsurance.
Property catastrophe:    Property catastrophe reinsurance provides reinsurance for insurance companies’ exposures to an accumulation of property and related losses from separate policies, typically relating to natural disasters or other catastrophic events. Property catastrophe reinsurance is generally written on an excess of loss basis, which provides coverage to primary insurance companies when aggregate claims and claim expenses from a single occurrence from a covered peril exceed a certain amount specified in a particular contract. Under these contracts, the Company provides protection to an insurer for a portion of the total losses in excess of a specified loss amount, up to a maximum amount per loss specified in the contract. In the event of a loss, most contracts provide for coverage of a second occurrence following the payment of a premium to reinstate the coverage under the contract, which is referred to as a reinstatement premium. The coverage provided under excess of loss reinsurance contracts may be on a worldwide basis or limited in scope to specific regions or geographical areas. Coverage can also vary from “all property” perils, which is the most expansive form of coverage, to more limited coverage of specified perils such as windstorm-only coverage. Property catastrophe reinsurance contracts are typically “all risk” in nature, providing protection against losses from earthquakes and hurricanes, as well as other natural and man-made catastrophes such as floods, tornadoes, fires and storms. The predominant exposures covered are losses stemming from property damage and business interruption coverage resulting from a covered peril. Certain risks, such as war or nuclear contamination may be excluded, partially or wholly, from certain contracts. Gross premiums written on property catastrophe business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $598.0 million.
Property per risk:    Property per risk reinsurance provides reinsurance for insurance companies’ excess retention on individual property and related risks, such as highly-valued buildings. Per risk excess of loss reinsurance protects insurance companies on their primary insurance risks on a “single risk” basis. A “risk” in this context might mean the insurance coverage on one building or a group of buildings or the insurance coverage under a single policy which the reinsured treats as a single risk. Coverage is usually triggered by a large loss sustained by an individual risk rather than by smaller losses which fall below the specified retention of the reinsurance contract. Such property per risk coverages are generally written on an excess of loss basis, which provides the reinsured protection beyond a specified amount up to the limit set within the reinsurance contract. Gross premiums written on property per risk business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $59.3 million.
Property pro rata:    Property pro rata contracts require that the reinsurer share the premiums as well as the losses and loss expenses in an agreed proportion with the cedant. Gross premiums written on property pro rata business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $114.2 million.
Marine:    Validus Re underwrites reinsurance on marine risks covering damage to or losses of marine vessels and cargo, third-party liability for marine accidents and physical loss and liability from principally offshore energy properties. Validus Re underwrites marine on an excess of loss basis and on a pro rata basis. Gross premiums written on marine business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $257.5 million.
Specialty:    Validus Re underwrites other lines of business depending on an evaluation of pricing and market conditions, which include aerospace and aviation, agriculture, financial lines of business, terrorism, life, accident & health, nuclear, workers’

3

Table of Contents

compensation, crisis management, contingency, motor and technical lines. The Company seeks to underwrite other specialty lines with very limited exposure correlation with its property, marine and energy portfolios. With the exception of the aerospace line of business, which has a meaningful portion of its gross premiums written volume on a proportional basis, the Company’s other specialty lines are written on an excess of loss basis. Gross premiums written on specialty business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $102.9 million.
AlphaCat: The AlphaCat segment manages strategic relationships that leverage the Company’s underwriting and investment expertise and earns management, performance and underwriting fees. AlphaCat Managers, Ltd. ("AlphaCat Managers"), formed in 2008, is a core element within the Validus Group strategic initiative to expand into capital market activities by participating in the market for Insurance Linked Securities ("ILS"). ILS are financial instruments whose fundamental value is determined by insurance losses caused by natural catastrophes such as major earthquakes and hurricanes. As the returns of ILS are primarily driven by natural catastrophes, when carefully structured, they are generally uncorrelated with the overall financial market, making ILS an attractive asset class for capital market investors.
AlphaCat helps investors take full advantage of this uncorrelated asset class through various funds and sidecars, accessing the market via AlphaCat Reinsurance Ltd., a Bermuda provider of fully collateralized property catastrophe reinsurance and retrocession capacity. AlphaCat invests in private reinsurance transactions, as well as catastrophe bonds, a common type of ILS issued by insurance and reinsurance companies. AlphaCat leverages the Validus Group’s extensive business sourcing, underwriting, research and analytic capabilities to construct ILS portfolios subject to prudent risk constraints.
During the first quarter of 2012, to better align the Company’s operating and reporting structure with its current strategy, there was a change in the Company's segment structure. This change included the AlphaCat group of companies as a separate operating segment. The AlphaCat segment was included as an additional segment and includes AlphaCat Re 2011, AlphaCat Re 2012, AlphaCat 2013, PaCRe and other affiliated investment funds. Prior period comparatives have been restated to reflect the change in segmentation.
Talbot:  On July 2, 2007, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Talbot. Talbot is the Bermuda parent of a specialty insurance group primarily operating within the Lloyd’s insurance market through Syndicate 1183. The acquisition of Talbot provided the Company with significant benefits in terms of product line and geographic diversification as well as offering the Company broader access to underwriting expertise. Similar to Validus Re, Talbot writes primarily short-tail lines of business but, as a complement to Validus Re, focuses mostly on insurance, as opposed to reinsurance risks, and on specialty lines where Validus Re currently has limited or no presence (e.g., war, financial institutions, contingency, accident and health). In addition, Talbot provides the Company with access to the Lloyd’s marketplace where Validus Re does not operate. As a London-based insurer, Talbot also writes the majority of its premiums on risks outside the United States. Talbot’s team of underwriters have, in many cases, spent most of their careers writing niche, short-tail business and bring their expertise to bear on expanding the Company’s short-tail insurance franchise.
The Company has expanded and diversified its business through Syndicate 1183’s access to Lloyd’s license agreements with regulators around the world. Talbot Underwriting Risk Services Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Services, (U.S.) Ltd., Talbot Underwriting (MENA) Ltd., Validus Reaseguros, Inc., Validus Re Chile S.A. and Talbot Risk Services Pte, Ltd., act as approved Lloyd’s coverholders for Syndicate 1183.
The following are the primary lines in which Talbot conducts its business. Details of gross premiums written by line of business are provided below:
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
Year Ended December 31, 2010
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross
Premiums
Written
 
Gross
Premiums
Written (%)
 
Gross
Premiums
Written
 
Gross
Premiums
Written (%)
 
Gross
Premiums
Written
 
Gross
Premiums
Written (%)
Property
 
$
324,910

 
30.2
%
 
$
306,317

 
30.2
%
 
$
314,769

 
32.1
%
Marine
 
396,207

 
36.7
%
 
341,821

 
33.7
%
 
315,102

 
32.1
%
Specialty
 
357,519

 
33.1
%
 
365,984

 
36.1
%
 
351,202

 
35.8
%
Total
 
$
1,078,636

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,014,122

 
100.0
%
 
$
981,073

 
100.0
%
Property:    The main sub-classes within property are international and North American direct and facultative contracts, onshore energy, lineslips and binding authorities together with a book of business written on a treaty reinsurance basis. The business written is mostly commercial and industrial insurance though there is a modest personal lines component. The business is short-tail with premiums for reinsurance and, direct and facultative business, substantially earned within 12 months and premiums for lineslips and binding authorities substantially earned within 12 months of the expiry of the contract. Gross premiums written on property business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $324.9 million, including $86.3 million of treaty reinsurance.

4

Table of Contents

Marine:    The main types of business within marine are hull, cargo, energy, marine and energy liabilities, yachts and marinas and other treaty. Hull consists primarily of ocean going vessels and cargo and covers worldwide risks. Energy covers a variety of oil and gas industry risks. The marine and energy liability account provides cover for protection and indemnity clubs and a wide range of companies operating in the marine and energy sector. Each of the sub-classes within marine has a different profile of contracts written—some, such as energy, derive up to 36.1% of their business through writing facultative contracts while others, such as cargo, only derive 21.9% through this method. Each of the sub-classes also has a different geographical risk allocation. Most business written is short-tail enabling a quicker and more accurate picture of expected profitability than is the case for long-tail business. The marine and energy liability account, which makes up $60.3 million of the $396.2 million of gross premiums written during the year ended December 31, 2012, is the primary long-tail class in this line. The business written is mainly on a direct and facultative basis with a small element written on a reinsurance basis either as excess of loss reinsurance or proportional reinsurance.
Specialty:    This class consists of war (comprising marine & aviation war, political risks and political violence, including war on land), financial institutions, contingency, bloodstock, accident and health, airlines and aviation treaty. With the exception of aviation treaty, most of the business written under the specialty accounts is written on a direct or facultative basis or under a binding authority through a coverholder. Gross premiums written on specialty business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $357.5 million.
War:    The marine & aviation war account covers physical damage to aircraft and marine vessels caused by acts of war and terrorism. The political risk account deals primarily with expropriation, contract frustration/trade credit, kidnap and ransom, and malicious and accidental product tamper. The political violence account mainly insures physical loss to property or goods anywhere in the world, caused by war, terrorism or civil unrest. This class is often written in conjunction with cargo, specie, property, energy, contingency and political risk. The period of the risks can extend up to 36 months and beyond. The attritional losses on the account are traditionally low but the account can be affected by large individual losses. Talbot is a market leader in the war and political violence classes. Gross premiums written on war business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $184.7 million.
Financial Institutions:    Talbot’s financial institutions team predominantly underwrites bankers blanket bond, professional indemnity and directors’ and officers’ coverage for various types of financial institutions and similar companies. Bankers blanket bond insurance products are specifically designed to protect against direct financial loss caused by fraud/criminal actions and mitigate the damage such activities may have on the asset base of the insured. Professional indemnity insurance protects businesses in the event that legal action is taken against them by third parties claiming professional negligence. Directors’ and officers’ insurance protects directors and officers against personal liability for losses incurred by a third party due to negligent performance by the director or officer. Gross premiums written on financial institutions business for the year ended December 31, 2012 were $35.8 million, comprising:
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross
Premiums
Written
 
Gross
Premiums
Written (%)
Bankers blanket bond
 
$
20,933

 
58.5
%
Professional indemnity
 
12,887

 
36.0
%
Directors’ and Officers’
 
1,986

 
5.5
%
Total
 
$
35,806

 
100.0
%
The risks covered in financial institutions are primarily fraud related and are principally written on an excess of loss basis. Talbot’s financial institutions account is concentrated on non-U.S. based clients, with 37.2% of gross premiums written in 2012 generated in Europe, 7.9% from the U.S. and 54.9% from other geographical regions. In addition, Talbot seeks to write regional accounts rather than global financial institutions with exposure in multiple jurisdictions and has only limited participation in exposures to publicly listed U.S. companies. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had gross reserves related to the financial institutions business of $157.9 million, comprised of $71.3 million, or 45.1% of incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) and $86.6 million, or 54.9% of case reserves. For comparison, as at December 31, 2011 the Company had gross reserves related to the financial institutions business of $176.7 million, comprising $69.5 million, or 39.4% of IBNR and $107.2 million, or 60.6% of case reserves. As of December 31, 2012, Talbot had minimal exposure to U.S. directors’ and officers’ risks.
Contingency:    The main types of covers written under the contingency account are event cancellation and non-appearance business. Gross premiums written on contingency business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $20.7 million.
Accident and Health:    The accident and health account provides insurance in respect of individuals in both their personal and business activity together with corporations where they have an insurable interest relating to death or disability of employees

5

Table of Contents

or those under contract. Gross premiums written on accident and health business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $19.4 million.
Aviation:    The aviation account insures major airlines, general aviation, aviation hull war and satellites. The coverage includes excess of loss treaties with medium to high attachment points. Gross premiums written on aviation business during the year ended December 31, 2012 were $95.7 million.
Enterprise Risk Management
The Company has implemented an Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) framework (the “Framework”) to identify, assess, quantify and manage risks and opportunities in order to protect our capital and maximize shareholder returns. This Framework is incorporated into the business activities of the Company and its strategic planning processes.
The Company’s Board of Directors has established a separate Risk Committee that is responsible for, among other things, approving the Company’s ERM Framework, working with management to ensure ongoing, effective implementation of the Framework and reviewing the Company’s specific risk limits as defined in the Framework, including limits for underwriting, investment, operational, business and other risks. The Company’s Chief Risk Officer prepares a quarterly presentation for the Risk Committee and communicates with the chairman of the Risk Committee on an informal basis periodically throughout the year.
The management committee of the Company that oversees risk management is the Group Risk Management Committee (“GRMC”). The GRMC is comprised of senior executives including among others; the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Actuary, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Risk Officer of Validus Re, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Risk Officer of Talbot and the Chief Executive Officer of Validus Research and AlphaCat.
To efficiently assess risks to the Company the GRMC has identified six key risk categories. Potential risks may span several or all of these key risk areas and as such risks are considered both within the context of these areas and the Company as a whole. The key risk areas are: Credit Risk, Market Risk, Liquidity Risk, Insurance Risk, Operational Risk and Group Risk.
Risk Appetite
The Group’s risk appetite sets a context within which all risks and opportunities are viewed. The risk appetite is proposed by management and approved by the Board of Directors, it represents the amount of risk the Company wants to take, within the constraints of capital resources, strategy, regulation and the rating agency environment.
Economic Capital Model
The Group uses economic capital modeling for capital adequacy assessment, risk-adjusted performance measurement and group-level and operating entity-level risk analysis.
Modeling
A pivotal factor in determining whether to found and fund the Company was the opportunity for differentiation based upon superior risk management expertise; specifically, managing catastrophe risk and optimizing our portfolio to generate attractive returns on capital while controlling our exposure to risk, and assembling a management team with the experience and expertise to do so. The Company’s proprietary models are current with emerging scientific trends. This has enabled the Company to gain a competitive advantage over those reinsurers who rely exclusively on commercial models for pricing and portfolio management. The Company has made a significant investment in expertise in the risk modeling area to capitalize on this opportunity. The Company has assembled an experienced group of professional experts who operate in an environment designed to allow them to use their expertise as a competitive advantage. While the Company uses both proprietary and commercial probabilistic models, catastrophe risk is ultimately subject to absolute aggregate limitations based on risk levels determined by the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors.
Vendor Models:    The Company has global licenses for all three major commercial vendor models (RMS, AIR and EQECAT), to assess the adequacy of risk pricing and to monitor its overall exposure to risk in correlated geographic zones. Commencing in January 2012, the Company incorporated RMS version 11 into its vendor models. The Company models property exposures that could potentially lead to an over-aggregation of property risks (i.e., catastrophe-exposed business) using the vendor models. The vendor models enable the Company to aggregate exposures by correlated event loss scenarios, which are probability-weighted. This enables the generation of exceedance probability curves for the portfolio and major geographic areas. Once exposures are modeled using one of the vendor models, the other two models are used as a reasonability check and validation of the loss scenarios developed and reported by the first. The three commercial models each have unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, it is sometimes necessary to impose changes to frequency and severity ahead of changes made by the model vendors.

6

Table of Contents

The Company’s review of market practice revealed a number of areas where quantitative expertise can be used to improve the reliability of the vendor model outputs:
Ceding companies may often report insufficient data and many reinsurers may not be sufficiently critical in their analysis of this data. The Company generally scrutinizes data for anomalies that may indicate insufficient data quality. These circumstances are addressed by either declining the program or, if the variances are manageable, by modifying the model output and pricing to reflect insufficient data quality;
Prior to making overall adjustments for changes in climate variables, other variables are carefully examined (for example, demand surge, storm surge, and secondary uncertainty); and
Pricing individual contracts frequently requires further adjustments to the three vendor models. Examples include bias in damage curves for commercial structures and occupancies and frequency of specific perils.
In addition, many risks, such as second-event covers, aggregate excess of loss, or attritional loss components cannot be fully evaluated using the vendor models. In order to better evaluate and price these risks, the Company has developed proprietary analytical tools, such as VCAPS and other models and data sets.
Proprietary Models:    In addition to making frequency and severity adjustments to the vendor model outputs, the Company has implemented a proprietary pricing and risk management tool, VCAPS, to assist in pricing submissions and monitoring risk aggregation.
To supplement the analysis performed using vendor models, VCAPS uses the gross loss output of catastrophe models to generate a 100,000-year simulation set, which is used for both pricing and risk management. This approach allows more precise measurement and pricing of exposures. The two primary benefits of this approach are:
VCAPS takes into account annual limits, event/franchise/annual aggregate deductibles, and reinstatement premiums. This allows for more accurate evaluation of treaties with a broad range of features, including both common (reinstatement premium and annual limits) and complex features (second or third event coverage, aggregate excess of loss, attritional loss components, covers with varying attachment across different geographical zones or lines of businesses and covers with complicated structures); and
VCAPS use of 100,000-year simulations enables robust pricing of catastrophe-exposed business. This is possible in real-time operation because the Company has designed a computing hardware platform and software environment to accommodate the significant computing needs.
In addition to VCAPS, the Company uses other proprietary models and other data in evaluating exposures. The Company cannot assure that the models and assumptions used by the software will accurately predict losses. Further, the Company cannot assure that the software is free of defects in the modeling logic or in the software code. In addition, the Company has not sought copyright or other legal protection for VCAPS.
Underwriting Risk Management
We underwrite and manage risk by paying close attention to risk selection and analysis. Through a detailed examination of contract terms, diversification criteria, contract experience and exposure, we aim to outperform our peers. We strive to provide our experienced underwriters with technically sound and objective information. We believe a strong working relationship between the underwriting, catastrophe modeling and actuarial disciplines is critical to long-term success and solid decision-making.
All of the Company’s underwriters are subject to a set of underwriting guidelines. At Validus Re, these guidelines are established by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Validus Re’s Board of Directors. At Talbot, the guidelines are established by executive management at Talbot and approved by their Board of Directors. These guidelines are then subject to review and approval by the Risk Committee of our Board of Directors. Underwriters are also issued letters of authority that specifically address the limits of their underwriting authority and their referral criteria. The Company’s current underwriting guidelines and letters of authority include:
lines of business that a particular underwriter is authorized to write;
exposure limits by line of business;
contractual exposures and limits requiring mandatory referrals to the Chief Executive Officer at Validus Re and the Chief Executive Officer at Talbot; and
level of analysis to be performed by lines of business.

7

Table of Contents

In general, our underwriting approach is to:
seek high quality clients who have demonstrated superior performance over an extended period;
evaluate our clients’ exposures and make adjustments where their exposure is not adequately reflected;
apply the comprehensive knowledge and experience of our entire underwriting team to make progressive and cohesive decisions about the business they underwrite;
employ our well-founded and carefully maintained market contacts within the group to enhance our robust distribution capabilities; and
refer submissions to the Chief Underwriting Officer at Validus Re, the Chief Executive Officer at Talbot, Chief Executive Officer at Validus Re and the Risk Committee of our Board of Directors according to our underwriting guidelines.
The underwriting guidelines are subject to waiver or change by the Chief Executive Officer at Validus Re or the Chief Executive Officer at Talbot subject to their authority as overseen by their respective Risk Committees.
Our underwriters have the responsibility to analyze all submissions and determine if the related potential exposures meet with both the Company’s risk profile line size and aggregate limitations, in line with the business plan. In order to ensure compliance, we run appropriate management information reports and all lines are subject to fully approved regulatory audits. Further, our treaty reinsurance operation has the authority limits of individual underwriters built into VCAPS while Talbot maintains separate compliance procedures to ensure that the appropriate policies and guidelines are followed.
Validus Re:    Validus Re has established a referral process whereby business exceeding set exposure or premium limits is referred to the Chief Executive Officer for review. As the reviewer of such potential business, the Chief Executive Officer has the ability to determine if the business meets the Company’s overall desired risk profile. The Chief Executive Officer has defined underwriting authority for each underwriter, and risks outside of this authority must be referred to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
The Risk Committee of our Board of Directors reviews business that is outside the authority of the Chief Executive Officer.
AlphaCat: All of the investment companies managed by AlphaCat are subject to investment or underwriting guidelines. These guidelines are established in the offering documentation of the respective investment company. The AlphaCat management team manages investment portfolios in accordance with the guidelines, which are subject to oversight by the respective investment company's Board of Directors.  AlphaCat leverages the Company's underwriting and analytical resources. However, all investment decisions are ultimately made by the AlphaCat management team. When services are provided to AlphaCat by the Company's underwriting teams, the applicable underwriting risk management framework outlined in this section applies.
Talbot:    Talbot's risk review and control processes have been designed to ensure that all written risks comply with underwriting and risk control strategies. The workflow system is designed to automate the referral of risks to the relevant reviewer who has an appropriate level of authority to review the risk. These reviews are documented, monitored and reports are prepared on a regular basis.
Collectively, the various peer review procedures serve numerous objectives, including:
Validating that underwriting decisions are in accordance with risk appetite, authorities, agreed business plans and standards for type, quality and profitability of risk;
Providing an experienced and suitably qualified second review of individual risks;
Ensuring that risks identified as significant undergo the highest level of technical underwriting review;
Elevating technical underwriting queries and/or need for remedial actions on a timely basis; and
Improving data accuracy and coding for subsequent management reporting.
The principal elements of the underwriting review process are as follows:
Underwriter review:    The underwriting team must evidence data entry review by confirming review and agreement on the workflow system within a specified number of working days of entry being completed by the contracted third party.
Risk - based peer review:    The majority of risks are peer reviewed by another underwriter within a specified number of working days of data entry being completed. There is an agreed matrix of underwriters authorized to peer review.

8

Table of Contents

Class of business review:    Risks written into a class by an underwriter other than the nominated class underwriter are subsequently forwarded to, and reviewed by, the nominated class underwriter.
Exceptions review:    Risks that exceed a set of pre-determined criteria will also be referred to the Active Underwriter or the Director of Underwriting and Operations for review. Such risks are discussed by the underwriters at regular underwriting meetings in the presence of at least one of the above. In certain circumstances, some risks may be referred to the Insurance Management Committee or the Talbot Underwriting Ltd. (“TUL”) Board for final approval. These reviews also commonly include reports of risks renewed where there has been a large loss ratio in the recent past.
Insurance Management Committee:    At its regular meetings, the Committee reviews a range of key performance indicators including: premium income written versus budget; movements in syndicate cash and investments; aggregate exposures; together with other highlighted exception reports. The Committee also reviews claim movements over a financial threshold.
Expert Review Committee (“ERC”):    The ERC is a committee that meets regularly to review the underwriting activities of Syndicate 1183 and other related activities to provide assurance that the underwriting risks assumed are within the parameters of the business plan. This is achieved with the help of eight external expert reviewers who report their findings to the ERC.
The expert reviewers obtain and review a sample of risks underwritten in each class and report their findings to the quarterly meetings of the ERC. Findings range from general comments on approach and processes to specific points in respect of individual risks.
Within Talbot, the TUL Board is responsible for creating the environment and structures for risk management to operate effectively. The Talbot Chief Executive is responsible for ensuring the risk management process is implemented.
The TUL Board has several committees responsible for monitoring risk. The TUL Board approves the risk appetite as part of the syndicate business plan process which sets targets for premium volume, pricing, line sizes, aggregate exposures and retention by class of business.
The TUL Executive Committee is responsible for establishing and maintaining a comprehensive risk register and key controls for TUL. It is responsible for articulating Talbot's risk appetite for approval by the TUL Board.
The key focuses of each committee are as follows:
The TUL Executive Committee oversees the management of key risks with regard to strategy and reserves;
The Insurance Management Committee oversees the management of insurance risks;
The Operational Risk Committee oversees the management of risks related to people, processes, systems and external events; and
The Financial Risk Committee oversees the management of credit risks associated with reinsurers, brokers, coverholders and investments, market risk and liquidity risk.
Performance against underwriting targets is measured regularly throughout the year. Risks written are subject to peer review, an internal quality control process. Pricing is controlled by the monitoring of rate movements and the comparison of technical prices to actual prices. Controls over aggregation of claims exposures vary by class of business. They include limiting coastal risks, monitoring aggregation by county/region/blast zones and applying line size limits in all cases. Catastrophe modeling software and techniques are used to model expected loss outcomes for Lloyd’s Realistic Disaster Scenario returns and in-house catastrophe event scenarios. Reserves are reviewed for adequacy on a quarterly basis. The syndicate also purchases reinsurance, with an appropriate number of reinstatements, to arrive at an acceptable net retained risk.
Program Limits
Overall exposure to risk is controlled by limiting the amount of insurance or reinsurance underwritten in a particular program or contract. This helps to diversify risk within and across risk zones. The Risk Committee sets these limits, which may be exceeded only with its approval.
Geographic Diversification
The Company actively manages its aggregate exposures by geographic or risk zone (“zones”) to maintain a balanced and diverse portfolio of underlying risks. The coverage the Company is willing to provide for any risk located in a particular zone is limited to a predetermined level, thus limiting the net aggregate loss exposure from all contracts covering risks believed to be located in any zone. Contracts that have “worldwide” territorial limits have exposures in several geographic zones. Generally, if a proposed reinsurance program would cause the limit to be exceeded, the program would be declined, regardless of its desirability,

9

Table of Contents

unless the Company buys retrocessional coverage, thereby reducing the net aggregate exposure to the maximum limit permitted or less. The following table summarizes our gross premiums written by geographic zone:
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
Gross Premiums Written
 
Validus Re
 
AlphaCat
 
Talbot
 
Corporate and Eliminations
 
Total
 
%
United States
$
468,730

 
$
18,774

 
$
120,086

 
$
(7,285
)
 
$
600,305

 
27.7
%
Worldwide excluding United States (a)
40,168

 

 
263,597

 
(16,049
)
 
287,716

 
13.3
%
Europe
90,673

 
1,333

 
50,262

 
(2,868
)
 
139,400

 
6.4
%
Latin America and Caribbean
33,031

 

 
103,543

 
(6,164
)
 
130,410

 
6.0
%
Japan
30,781

 

 
6,630

 
(396
)
 
37,015

 
1.7
%
Canada
688

 

 
12,243

 
(690
)
 
12,241

 
0.6
%
Rest of the world (b)
68,754

 
496

 

 

 
69,250

 
3.2
%
Sub-total, non United States
264,095

 
1,829

 
436,275

 
(26,167
)
 
676,032

 
31.2
%
Worldwide including United States
101,594

 
1,000

 
65,084

 
(3,552
)
 
164,126

 
7.6
%
Marine and Aerospace (c)
297,540

 

 
457,191

 
(28,754
)
 
725,977

 
33.5
%
Total
$
1,131,959

 
$
21,603

 
$
1,078,636

 
$
(65,758
)
 
$
2,166,440

 
100.0
%

(a)
Represents risks in two or more geographic zones.
(b)
Represents risk in one geographic zone.
(c)
Not classified by geographic area as marine and aerospace risks can span multiple geographic areas and are not fixed locations in some instances.
The effectiveness of geographic zone limits in managing risk exposure depends on the degree to which an actual event is confined to the zone in question and on the Company’s ability to determine the actual location of the risks believed to be covered under a particular insurance or reinsurance program. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that risk exposure in any particular zone will not exceed that zone’s limits. Further control over diversification is achieved through guidelines covering the types and amount of business written in product classes and lines within a class.
Reinsurance Management
Validus Re Retrocession:  Validus Re monitors the opportunity to purchase retrocessional coverage on a continual basis and employs the VCAPS modeling system to evaluate the effectiveness of risk mitigation and exposure management relative to the cost. This coverage may be purchased on an indemnity basis as well as on an index basis (e.g., industry loss warranties (“ILWs”)). Validus Re also considers alternative retrocessional structures, including collateralized quota share (“sidecar”) and other capital markets products.
When Validus Re buys retrocessional coverage on an indemnity basis, payment is for an agreed upon portion of the losses actually suffered. In contrast, when Validus Re buys an ILW cover, which is a reinsurance contract in which the payout is dependent on both the insured loss of the policy purchaser and the measure of the industry-wide loss, payment is made only if both Validus Re and the industry suffer a loss, as reported by one of a number of independent agencies, in excess of specified threshold amounts. With an ILW, Validus Re bears the risk of suffering a loss while receiving no payment under the ILW if the industry loss was less than the specified threshold amount.
Validus Re may use capital markets instruments for risk management in the future (e.g., catastrophe bonds, sidecar facilities and other forms of risk securitization) where the pricing and terms are attractive.
AlphaCat: AlphaCat currently does not cede any premiums to third parties.
Talbot Ceded Reinsurance:    Talbot enters into reinsurance agreements in order to mitigate its accumulation of loss, reduce its liability on individual risks and enable it to underwrite policies with higher limits. The ceding of the insurance does not legally discharge Talbot from its primary liability for the full amount of the policies, and Talbot is required to pay the loss and bear collection risk if the reinsurer fails to meet its obligations under the reinsurance agreement.
The following describes the Talbot Group’s process in the purchase and authorization of treaty reinsurance policies only. It does not cover the purchase of facultative reinsurance because these premiums are not significant.

10

Table of Contents

The reinsurance program is reviewed by the reinsurance purchasing team on an on-going basis in line with the main business planning process. This process incorporates advice and analytical work from our brokers, actuarial and capital modeling teams.
The review and modification is based upon the following:
budgeted underwriting for the coming year;
loss experience from prior years;
loss information from the coming year’s individual capital assessment calculations;
changes to risk limits and aggregation limits expected and any other changes to Talbot’s risk tolerance;
scenario planning;
changes to capital requirements; and
Realistic Disaster Scenarios (“RDSs”) prescribed by Lloyd’s.
The main type of reinsurance purchased is losses occurring; however, for a few lines of business, where the timing of the loss event is less easily verified or where such cover is available, risk attaching policies are purchased.
The type, quantity and cost of cover of the proposed reinsurance program is discussed and reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Talbot group, and ultimately authorized by the TUL Board.
Once this has occurred, the reinsurance program is purchased in the months prior to the beginning of the covered period. All reinsurance contracts arranged are authorized for purchase by the Director of Underwriting and Operations. Slips are developed prior to inception to ensure that optimum cover is achieved. After purchase, cover notes are reviewed by the relevant class underwriters and presentations made to all underwriting staff to ensure they are aware of the boundaries of the cover.
Distribution
Although we conduct some business on a direct basis with our treaty and facultative reinsurance clients, most of our business is derived through insurance and reinsurance intermediaries (“brokers”), who access business from clients and coverholders. We are able to attract business through our recognized lead capability in most classes we underwrite, particularly in classes where such lead ability is rare.
Currently, our largest broker relationships, as measured by gross premiums written, are with Marsh & McLennan, Aon Benfield Group Ltd. and Willis Group Holdings Ltd. The following table sets forth the Company’s gross premiums written by broker:
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
 
Gross Premiums Written
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Validus Re
 
AlphaCat
 
Talbot
 
Corporate and Eliminations
 
Total
 
%
Name of Broker
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marsh & McLennan
 
$
399,325

 
$
7,426

 
$
244,776

 
$
(14,809
)
 
$
636,718

 
29.4
%
Aon Benfield Group Ltd.
 
400,018

 
6,133

 
180,234

 
(10,904
)
 
575,481

 
26.5
%
Willis Group Holdings Ltd.
 
187,353

 
3,418

 
167,249

 
(10,119
)
 
347,901

 
16.1
%
Sub-total
 
986,696

 
16,977

 
592,259

 
(35,832
)
 
1,560,100

 
72.0
%
All Others/Direct
 
145,263

 
4,626

 
486,377

 
(29,926
)
 
606,340

 
28.0
%
Total
 
$
1,131,959

 
$
21,603

 
$
1,078,636

 
$
(65,758
)
 
$
2,166,440

 
100.0
%
Reserve for losses and loss expenses
For insurance and reinsurance companies, a significant judgment made by management is the estimation of the reserve for losses and loss expenses. The Company establishes its reserve for losses and loss expenses to cover the estimated incurred liability for both reported and unreported claims.
The following tables show certain information with respect to the Company’s gross and net reserves:

11

Table of Contents

 
 
As at December 31, 2012
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross Case Reserves
 
Gross IBNR
 
Total Gross Reserve for
Losses and Loss Expenses
Property
 
$
930,553

 
$
892,227

 
$
1,822,780

Marine
 
522,907

 
477,948

 
1,000,855

Specialty
 
265,638

 
428,300

 
693,938

Total
 
$
1,719,098

 
$
1,798,475

 
$
3,517,573

 
 
As at December 31, 2012
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net Case Reserves
 
Net IBNR
 
Total Net Reserve for
Losses and Loss Expenses
Property
 
$
768,722

 
$
803,182

 
$
1,571,904

Marine
 
465,080

 
438,009

 
903,089

Specialty
 
230,584

 
372,029

 
602,613

Total
 
$
1,464,386

 
$
1,613,220

 
$
3,077,606

Loss reserves are established due to the significant periods of time that may lapse between the occurrence, reporting and payment of a loss. To recognize liabilities for unpaid losses and loss expenses, the Company estimates future amounts needed to pay claims and related expenses with respect to insured events. The Company’s reserving practices and the establishment of any particular reserve reflects management’s judgment concerning sound financial practice and does not represent any admission of liability with respect to any claim. Unpaid losses and loss expense reserves are established for reported claims (“case reserves”) and IBNR claims.
The nature of the Company’s high excess of loss liability and catastrophe business can result in loss payments that are both irregular and significant. Such loss payments are part of the normal course of business for the Company. Adjustments to reserves for individual years can also be irregular and significant. Conditions and trends that have affected development of liabilities in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it is inappropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies based upon historical experience. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
The tables below present the development of the Company’s unpaid losses and loss expense reserves on both a net and gross basis. The cumulative redundancy (deficiency) calculated on a net basis differs from that calculated on a gross basis. As different reinsurance programs cover different underwriting years, net and gross loss experience will not develop proportionately. The top line of the tables shows the estimated liability, net and gross of reinsurance recoveries, as at the year end balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. This represents the estimated amounts of losses and loss expenses, including IBNR, arising in the current and all prior years that are unpaid at the year end balance sheet date of the indicated year. The tables also show the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded reserve liability based on experience as of the year end balance sheet date of each succeeding year. The estimate changes as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of claims for individual years. The cumulative redundancy (deficiency) represents the aggregate change with respect to that liability originally estimated. The lower portion of each table also reflects the cumulative paid losses relating to these reserves. Conditions and trends that have affected development of liabilities in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it is not appropriate to extrapolate redundancies or deficiencies into the future, based on the tables below. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”







12

Table of Contents

Analysis of Losses and Loss Expense Reserve Development Net of Recoveries
 
 
 
 
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2006
 
2007
 
2008
 
2009
 
2010
 
2011
 
2012 (b)
Estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss expense, net of reinsurance recoverable
 
$
77,363

 
$
791,713

 
$
1,096,507

 
$
1,440,369

 
$
1,752,839

 
$
2,258,658

 
$
3,077,606

Liability—estimated as of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One year later
 
60,106

 
722,010

 
1,018,930

 
1,283,759

 
1,596,720

 
2,083,378

 
 
Two years later
 
54,302

 
670,069

 
937,696

 
1,181,987

 
1,451,448

 
 
 
 
Three years later
 
50,149

 
606,387

 
902,161

 
1,085,664

 
 
 
 
 
 
Four years later
 
46,851

 
584,588

 
847,935

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Five years later
 
45,946

 
547,965

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six years later
 
45,199

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cumulative redundancy (deficiency)(a)
 
32,164

 
243,748

 
248,572

 
354,705

 
301,391

 
175,280

 
 
Cumulative paid losses, net of reinsurance recoveries, as of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One year later
 
$
27,180

 
$
216,469

 
$
353,476

 
$
384,828

 
$
476,779

 
$
631,889

 
 
Two years later
 
34,935

 
320,803

 
562,831

 
634,041

 
741,940

 
 
 
 
Three years later
 
39,520

 
350,521

 
662,319

 
744,324

 
 
 
 
 
 
Four years later
 
41,746

 
374,788

 
722,652

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Five years later
 
41,901

 
390,895

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six years later
 
43,571

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(a)
See Part II Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further discussion.
(b)
The reserves for losses and loss expenses or Flagstone are consolidated only from the November 30, 2012 date of acquisition.



13

Table of Contents


Analysis of Losses and Loss Expense Reserve Development Gross of Recoveries
 
 
 
 
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2006
 
2007
 
2008
 
2009
 
2010
 
2011
 
2012 (b)
Estimated gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expense
 
$
77,363

 
$
926,117

 
$
1,305,303

 
$
1,622,134

 
$
2,035,973

 
$
2,631,143

 
$
3,517,573

Liability—estimated as of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One year later
 
60,106

 
846,863

 
1,223,018

 
1,484,646

 
1,854,565

 
2,422,343

 
 
Two years later
 
54,302

 
791,438

 
1,164,923

 
1,385,533

 
1,705,995

 
 
 
 
Three years later
 
50,149

 
745,624

 
1,134,043

 
1,288,915

 
 
 
 
 
 
Four years later
 
46,851

 
721,730

 
1,079,842

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Five years later
 
45,946

 
675,884

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six years later
 
46,104

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cumulative redundancy (deficiency)(a)
 
31,259

 
250,233

 
225,461

 
333,219

 
329,978

 
208,800

 
 
Cumulative paid losses, gross of reinsurance recoveries, as of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One year later
 
$
27,180

 
$
245,240

 
$
437,210

 
$
455,182

 
$
557,894

 
$
807,296

 
 
Two years later
 
34,935

 
394,685

 
706,249

 
709,309

 
878,406

 
 
 
 
Three years later
 
39,520

 
452,559

 
825,159

 
864,918

 
 
 
 
 
 
Four years later
 
41,746

 
480,277

 
898,338

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Five years later
 
41,901

 
496,511

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six years later
 
43,571

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(a)
See Part II Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further discussion.
(b)
The reserves for losses and loss expenses or Flagstone are consolidated only from the November 30, 2012 date of acquisition.
The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s paid, unpaid and incurred losses and loss expenses and a reconciliation of beginning and ending unpaid losses and loss expenses for the years indicated:

14

Table of Contents

 
 
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Reserve for losses and loss expenses, beginning of year
 
$
2,631,143

 
$
2,035,973

 
$
1,622,134

Losses and loss expenses recoverable
 
(372,485
)
 
(283,134
)
 
(181,765
)
Net reserves for losses and loss expenses, beginning of year
 
2,258,658

 
1,752,839

 
1,440,369

Net loss reserves acquired in Flagstone acquisition
 
639,641

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net losses and loss expenses incurred in respect of losses occurring in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current year
 
1,174,415

 
1,400,520

 
1,144,196

Prior years
 
(174,969
)
 
(156,119
)
 
(156,610
)
Total incurred losses and loss expenses
 
999,446

 
1,244,401

 
987,586

Less net losses and loss expenses paid in respect of losses occurring in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current year
 
(182,146
)
 
(266,247
)
 
(288,594
)
Prior years
 
(653,874
)
 
(476,779
)
 
(384,828
)
Total net paid losses
 
(836,020
)
 
(743,026
)
 
(673,422
)
Foreign exchange
 
15,881

 
4,444

 
(1,694
)
Net reserve for losses and loss expenses, end of year
 
3,077,606

 
2,258,658

 
1,752,839

Losses and loss expenses recoverable
 
439,967

 
372,485

 
283,134

Reserve for losses and loss expenses, end of year
 
$
3,517,573

 
$
2,631,143

 
$
2,035,973

Validus Re and AlphaCat: Validus Re and AlphaCat’s loss reserves are established based upon an estimate of the total cost of claims that have been incurred, including estimates of unpaid liability on known individual claims, the costs of additional case reserves on claims reported but not considered to be adequately reserved in such reporting (“ACRs”) and amounts that have been incurred but not yet reported. ACRs are used in certain cases and may be calculated based on management’s estimate of the required case reserve on an individual claim less the case reserves reported by the client. The Validus Re Loss Reserve Committee follows material catastrophe event ultimate loss reserve estimation procedures for the investigation, analysis, estimation and approval of ultimate loss reserving resulting from any material catastrophe event. U.S. GAAP does not permit the establishment of loss reserves until an event occurs that gives rise to a loss.
For reported losses, Validus Re and AlphaCat establish case reserves within the parameters of the coverage provided in the impacted reinsurance contracts. Where there is a reported claim for which the reported case reserve is determined to be insufficient, Validus Re and AlphaCat may book an ACR or individual claim IBNR estimate that is adjusted as claims notifications are received. Information may be obtained from various sources including brokers, proprietary and third party vendor models and internal data regarding reinsured exposures related to the geographic location of the event, as well as other sources. Validus Re and AlphaCat use generally accepted actuarial techniques in its IBNR estimation process. Validus Re and AlphaCat also use historical insurance industry loss emergence patterns, as well as estimates of future trends in claims severity, frequency and other factors, to aid it in establishing loss reserves.
Loss reserves represent estimates, including actuarial and statistical projections at a given point in time, of the expectations of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of claims incurred. Such estimates are not precise in that, among other things, they are based on predictions of future developments and estimates of future trends in loss severity and frequency and other variable factors such as inflation, litigation and tort reform. This uncertainty is heightened by the short time in which Validus Re has operated, thereby providing limited claims loss emergence patterns that directly pertain to Validus Re’s operations. This has necessitated the use of industry loss emergence patterns in deriving IBNR, which despite management’s and our actuaries’ care in selecting them, will differ from actual experience. Further, expected losses and loss ratios are typically developed using vendor and proprietary computer models and these expected losses and loss ratios are a significant component in the calculation deriving IBNR. Finally, the uncertainty surrounding estimated costs is greater in cases where large, unique events have been reported and the associated claims are in early stages of resolution. As a result of these uncertainties, it is likely that the ultimate liability will differ from such estimates, perhaps materially.
For disclosure purposes, only those loss events which aggregate to over $15.0 million on a consolidated basis ("notable losses") are disclosed separately and included in the reserve for notable loss events and reserve for development on events tables. Notable loss events are first determined at the respective operating segments based on segment thresholds and are then aggregated and disclosed if it is determined that they reach the consolidated threshold for notable loss disclosure.

15

Table of Contents

During 2010 and 2011, given the complexity and severity of notable loss events in the year, an explicit reserve for potential development on 2010 and 2011 notable loss events ("RDE") was included within the Company’s IBNR reserving process. As uncertainties surrounding initial estimates on notable loss events have developed, this reserve has been and will continue to be allocated to specific notable loss events. No RDE was established for 2012 notable losses.
The requirement for a reserve for potential development on notable loss events in a quarter is a function of (a) the number of significant events occurring in that quarter and (b) the complexity and volatility of those events. Complexity and volatility factors considered are as follows:
• Contract complexity;
• Nature and number of perils arising from an event;
• Limits and sub limits exposed;
• Quality, timing and flow of information received from each loss;
• Timing of receipt of information to the Company;
• Information regarding retrocessional covers;
• Assumptions, both explicit and implicit, regarding future paid and reported loss development patterns;
• Frequency and severity trends;
• Claims settlement practices; and
• Potential changes in the legal environment.
Each of these factors may lead to associated volatility for each notable loss event as well as consideration of the total reserve for loss events in the aggregate. Consequently, all of these factors are considered in the aggregate for the events occurring in the quarter, recognizing that it is more likely that one or some of the events may deteriorate significantly, rather than all deteriorating proportionately. The establishment of each quarter’s requirement for a reserve for potential development on notable loss events takes place as part of the quarterly evaluation of the Company’s overall reserve requirements. It is not directly linked in isolation to any one significant/notable loss in the quarter. The reserve for potential development on notable loss events is evaluated by our in-house actuaries as part of their normal process in setting of indicated reserves for the quarter. In ensuing quarters senior management and the in-house actuaries revisit and re-estimate certain events previously considered in the catastrophe loss event process as well as events that have subsequently emerged in the current quarter. To the extent that there has been adverse development on a notable loss event, if there is RDE remaining from that accident year, an allocation from the respective accident year RDE will be made to the notable loss event. If there is no remaining RDE relating to the accident year of the loss, then adverse development will be recorded for the notable loss event through the Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Changes to the reserve for potential development on notable loss events will be considered in light of changes to previous loss estimates from notable losses in this re-estimation process.To the extent that there are continued complexity and volatility factors relating to notable loss events in the aggregate, additions to the RDE may be established for a specific accident year, as illustrated in the RDE roll forward table which can be found in Item. 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Loss reserves are reviewed regularly and adjustments to reserves, if any, will be recorded in earnings in the period in which they are determined. Even after such adjustments, the ultimate liability may exceed or be less than the revised estimates.
Talbot:    Talbot’s loss reserves are established based upon an estimate of the total cost of claims that have been incurred, including case reserves and IBNR. Talbot uses generally accepted actuarial techniques in its IBNR estimation process. ACRs are not generally used.
Talbot performs internal assessments of liabilities on a quarterly basis. Talbot’s loss reserving process involves the assessment of actuarial estimates of gross ultimate losses on both an ultimate basis (i.e., ignoring the period during which premium earns) and an earned basis, split by underwriting year and class of business, and generally also between attritional, large and catastrophe losses. These estimates are made using a variety of generally accepted actuarial projection methodologies, as well as additional qualitative consideration of future trends in frequency, severity and other factors. The gross estimates are used to estimate ceded reinsurance recoveries, which are in turn used to calculate net ultimate losses as the difference between gross and ceded. These figures are subsequently used by Talbot’s management to help it assess its best estimate of gross and net ultimate losses.
As with Validus Re and AlphaCat, Talbot’s loss reserves represent estimates, including actuarial and statistical projections at a given point in time, of the expectations of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of claims incurred. Such estimates are not precise in that, among other things, they are based on predictions of future developments and estimates of future trends in loss severity and frequency and other variable factors such as inflation, litigation and tort reform. The uncertainty surrounding estimated costs is also greater in cases where large, unique events have been reported and the associated claims are in the early stages of resolution. As a result of these uncertainties, it is likely that the ultimate liability will differ from such estimates, perhaps materially.

16

Table of Contents

Talbot’s loss reserves are reviewed regularly and adjustments to reserves, if any, will be recorded in earnings in the period in which they are determined. Even after such adjustments, the ultimate liability may exceed or be less than the revised estimates. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Investment Management
The Company manages its investment portfolio on a consolidated basis. As we provide short-tail insurance and reinsurance coverage, we could become liable to pay substantial claims on short notice. Accordingly, we follow a conservative investment strategy designed to emphasize the preservation of invested assets and provide sufficient liquidity for the prompt payment of claims. Our Board of Directors, led by our Finance Committee, oversees our investment strategy, and in consultation with BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., Conning, Inc. and Pinebridge Investments Europe Ltd., our portfolio advisors, has established investment guidelines for us. The investment guidelines dictate the portfolio’s overall objective, benchmark portfolio, eligible securities, duration, use of derivatives, inclusion of foreign securities, diversification requirements and average portfolio rating. Management and the Finance Committee periodically review these guidelines in light of our investment goals and consequently they may change at any time.
Substantially all of the fixed maturity investments held at December 31, 2012 were publicly traded. At December 31, 2012, the average duration of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio was 1.34 years (December 31, 2011: 1.63 years). Management emphasizes capital preservation for the portfolio and maintains a significant allocation of short-term investments. At December 31, 2012, the average rating of the portfolio was AA- (December 31, 2011: AA-). At December 31, 2012, the total fixed maturity portfolio was $5,085.3 million (December 31, 2011: $4,894.1 million), of which $1,062.8 million (December 31, 2011: $882.9 million) were rated AAA.
Please refer to our Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 31, 2013 for additional disclosure with respect to the composition of our investment portfolio.
Claims Management
Claims management includes the receipt of initial loss notifications, generation of appropriate responses to claim reports, identification and handling of coverage issues, determination of whether further investigation is required and, where appropriate retention of legal representation, establishment of case reserves, approval of loss payments and notification to reinsurers.
Validus Re and AlphaCat:    The role of our claims department is to investigate, evaluate and, if validated, pay claims efficiently. Our claims director has implemented claims handling guidelines, and reporting and control procedures. The primary objectives of the claims department are to ensure that each claim is evaluated, processed and appropriately documented in a timely and efficient manner and information relevant to the management of the claim is retained.
Talbot:    Where Talbot is the lead syndicate on business written, the claims adjusters will, in accordance with the respective policies, assess, investigate, appoint third party experts (including attorneys, loss adjusters or other experts) as required and communicate the Company's actions or findings to the Broker who represents the insured. The Company will also establish adequate reserves and promptly pay valid claims in accordance with the applicable "Lloyd's Claims Scheme" and "Lloyd's Claims Management Principles and Minimum Standards."
Where Talbot is not the lead syndicate, the claims handling and case reserves are established in accordance with the applicable "Lloyd's Claims Scheme" and "Lloyd's Claims Management Principles and Minimum Standards." Material claims and claims movements are reviewed and monitored by the Talbot claims department. Claim financial reports are received daily from the "Xchanging" system pursuant to a centralized contract with Lloyd's.
Competition
The insurance and reinsurance industries are highly competitive. We compete with major U.S., Bermuda, European and other international insurers and reinsurers and certain underwriting syndicates and insurers. We encounter competition in all of our classes of business but there is less competition in those of our lines where we are a specialist underwriter. The Company competes with insurance and reinsurance providers such as:
Arch Capital Group Limited, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, Alterra Capital Holdings, Ltd., Allied World Assurance Company Holdings Limited, Alleghany Corporation, Axis Capital Holdings Limited, Endurance Specialty Holdings Limited, Everest Re Group Limited, Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd, PartnerRe Ltd., Platinum Underwriters Holdings Ltd., and Renaissance Reinsurance Holdings Ltd.;
Amlin plc, Catlin Group Limited, Hiscox and others in the Lloyd’s market;

17

Table of Contents

Treaty and direct insurers, in not only the global but also the London Market, that compete with Lloyd’s on a worldwide basis;
Various capital markets participants who access insurance and reinsurance business in securitized form, through special purpose entities or derivative transactions; and
Government-sponsored insurers and reinsurers.
Competition varies depending on the type of business being insured or reinsured and whether the Company is in a leading or following position. Competition in the types of business that the Company underwrites is based on many factors, including:
Premiums charged and other terms and conditions offered;
Services provided;
Financial ratings assigned by independent rating agencies;
Speed of claims payment;
Reputation;
Perceived financial strength; and
The experience of the underwriter in the line of insurance or reinsurance written.
Increased competition could result in fewer submissions, lower premium rates, lower share of allocated cover, and less favorable policy terms, which could adversely impact the Company’s growth and profitability. Capital market participants have created alternative products such as catastrophe bonds that are intended to compete with reinsurance products. The Company is unable to predict the extent to which these new, proposed or potential initiatives may affect the demand for products or the risks that may be available to consider underwriting.
Regulation
Bermuda
General.    As a holding company, Validus Holdings, Ltd. is not subject to Bermuda insurance regulation. However, the Insurance Act 1978 (the "Insurance Act") regulates the Company’s operating subsidiaries in Bermuda, and it provides that no person may carry on any insurance business in or from within Bermuda unless registered as an insurer by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the “BMA”) under the Insurance Act. The Insurance Act makes no distinction between insurance and reinsurance business. The Company has nine Bermuda based subsidiaries, Validus Re, a Class 4 insurer, Validus Re Americas, Ltd., a Class 4 insurer, Flagstone Reassurance Suisse SA (Bermuda Branch), a Class 4 insurer, PaCRe, Ltd., a Class 4 insurer, Talbot Insurance (Bermuda), Ltd., a Class 3 insurer, AlphaCat Reinsurance, Ltd., a Class 3 insurer , Mont Fort Re Ltd., a Class 3 insurer, AlphaCat Re 2011, Ltd., a Special Purpose Insurer (“SPI”) and AlphaCat Re 2012, Ltd., an SPI, each registered under the Insurance Act.
Principal Representative.    The Insurance Act requires that every insurer, including the Bermuda insurance subsidiaries of the Company, appoint and maintain a principal representative resident in Bermuda and maintain a principal office in Bermuda. It is the duty of the principal representative on his reaching a view that there is a likelihood of the insurer for which the principal representative acts becoming insolvent or that a reportable “event” has, to the principal representative's knowledge, occurred, to immediately notify the BMA and to make a report in writing to the BMA within 14 days of the prior notification setting out all the particulars of the case that are available to the principal representative.
Where there has been a significant loss which is reasonably likely to cause the insurer to fail to comply with its enhanced capital requirement, the principal representative must also furnish the BMA with a capital and solvency return reflecting an enhanced capital requirement prepared using post-loss data. The principal representative must provide this within 45 days of notifying the BMA regarding the loss.
Furthermore, where a notification has been made to the BMA regarding a material change to an insurer's business or structure (including merger or amalgamation), the principal representative has 30 days from the date of such notification to furnish the BMA with unaudited interim statutory financial statements in relation to such period as the Authority may require, together with a general business solvency certificate in respect of those statements.
Approved Independent Auditor. Every registered insurer must appoint an independent auditor who will annually audit and report on the statutory financial statements and the statutory financial return of the insurer, all of which, in the case of all registered insurers in Bermuda, are required to be filed annually with the BMA. The independent auditor must be approved by the BMA.

18

Table of Contents

Approved Loss Reserve Specialist. Every registered insurer is required to submit an opinion of its approved loss reserve specialist with its statutory financial return in respect of its loss and loss expense provisions in respect to all licensed entities. The loss reserve specialist, who will normally be a qualified casualty actuary, must be approved by the BMA.
Annual Financial Statements, Annual Statutory Financial Return and Annual Capital and Solvency Return. Every registered insurer must prepare annual statutory financial statements as prescribed in the Insurance Act with respect to all licensed entities. The statutory financial statements are separate from the annual GAAP basis financial statements discussed further below. All licensed entities are also required to prepare and file with the BMA statutory financial returns with respect to its general business unless granted an exemption under section 56 of the Insurance Act. The statutory financial return includes, among other items, a report of the approved independent auditor on the statutory financial statement of such insurer, solvency certificates, the statutory financial statements for the general business, the opinion of the loss reserve specialist and a schedule of reinsurance ceded (Class 4 only). Validus Re and PaCRe are also required to file audited GAAP basis annual financial statements, which are made available to the public. In addition, Validus Re and PaCRe are required to file a capital and solvency return in respect of its general business which shall include the regulatory risk based capital model, a schedule of fixed income investments by rating categories, a schedule of net reserves for losses and loss expense provisions by line of business, a schedule of premiums written by line of business, a schedule of risk management and a schedule of fixed income securities.
Minimum Solvency Margins.    The value of the general business assets of licensed insurers must exceed the amount of its general business liabilities by an amount greater than the prescribed minimum solvency margin “MSM,” being equal to the greater of:
Class 3:
(a)$1,000,000;
(b)20% of net premiums written (not to exceed $6,000,000 in net premium written) (being gross premiums written less any premiums ceded by the insurer, but the insurer may not deduct more than 25% of gross premiums when computing net premiums written); or $1,200,000 plus 15% of amount which exceeds $6,000,000; or
(c)15% of net losses and loss expense reserves.
Class 4:
(a)$100,000,000;
(b)50% of net premiums written (being gross premiums written less any premiums ceded by the insurer, but the insurer may not deduct more than 25% of gross premiums when computing net premiums written); or
(c)15% of net losses and loss expense reserves.
Enhanced Capital Requirement.    A Class 4 insurer is required to maintain available statutory capital and surplus in regards to its general business at level equal to or in excess of its enhanced capital requirement (“ECR”) which is calculated at the end of its relevant year by reference to the Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement model (“BSCR”) or an approved internal capital model. The BSCR employs a standard mathematical model that correlates risk underwritten by Bermuda insurers to the capital that is dedicated to the business. The ECR is equal to the higher of each insurer's MSM or the BSCR/approved internal capital model. A Class 4 insurer is also expected to hold a safety margin or buffer above the ECR, which is at least in total equivalent to 120% of its ECR, the target capital level (“TCL”). The TCL will serve as an early warning signal for the BMA, and failure to maintain capital at least equal to the TCL may result in additional reporting requirements or other enhanced regulatory oversight. Presently the BSCR model applies to Validus Re and PaCRe.
Eligible Capital:    The tiered capital system (Tiers 1, 2, and 3) classify capital instruments into a given tier based on their loss absorbency characteristics. Eligibility limits are then applied to each tier in determining the amounts eligible to cover regulatory capital requirement levels. The highest capital will be classified Tier 1 Capital, lesser quality capital will be classified as either Tier 2 Capital or Tier 3 Capital. Under this regime, not less than 80% of Tier 1 Capital and up to 20% of Tier 2 Capital may be used to support a company' s minimum solvency margin for its general business. Thereafter, a minimum of 60% of Tier 1 Capital and a maximum of 15% of Tier 3 Capital may be used to satisfy the Company's ECR. Any combination of Tier 1, 2, or 3 Capital may be used to meet the TCL. Eligible Capital Rules currently apply to Validus Re and PaCRe.
Group Supervision.    The BMA may, in respect of an insurance group, determine whether it is appropriate for it to be the group supervisor of that group. For purposes of the Insurance Act, an insurance group is defined as a group of companies that conducts exclusively, or mainly, insurance business. The BMA may make such determination where it ascertains that (i) the group is headed by a "specified insurer" (that is to say, it is headed by either a Class 4, 3A, 3B or Class E insurer or another class of insurer designated by order of the BMA); or (ii) where the insurance group is not headed by a "specified insurer" where it is headed

19

Table of Contents

by a parent company which is incorporated in Bermuda; or (iii) where the parent company of the group is not a Bermuda company, where the BMA is satisfied that the insurance group is directed and managed from Bermuda or the insurer with the largest balance sheet total is a specified insurer. Where the BMA determines that it should act as the group supervisor, it shall designate a specified insurer that is a member of the insurance group to be the "designated insurer" and it shall give written notice to the designated insurer and other competent authorities of its intention to act as group supervisor.
     In 2011, the BMA notified the Company that it intended to act as group supervisor and that it had designated Validus Re as the "designated insurer" of our group of insurance and reinsurance companies. Pursuant to its powers under the Insurance Act, the BMA will maintain a register of particulars for every insurance group for which it acts as the group supervisor detailing, among other things, the names and addresses of the designated insurer; each member company of the insurance group falling within the scope of group supervision; the principal representative of the insurance group in Bermuda; other competent authorities supervising other member companies of the insurance group; and the insurance group auditors. The designated insurer must notify the BMA of any changes to the above details entered on the register of an insurance group.
As group supervisor, the BMA will perform a number of supervisory functions including (i) coordinating the gathering and dissemination of information which is of importance for the supervisory task of other competent authorities; (ii) carrying out a supervisory review and assessment of the financial situation of the insurance group; (iii) carrying out an assessment of the insurance group's compliance with the rules on solvency, risk concentration, intra-group transactions and governance procedures; (iv) planning and coordinating, with other competent authorities, supervisory activities in respect of the insurance group, (v) coordinating any enforcement action that may need to be taken against the insurance group or any of its members; and (vi) planning and coordinating meetings of colleges of supervisors (consisting of insurance regulators) in order to facilitate the carrying out of the functions described above.
Group Solvency. The Insurance (Prudential Standards) (Insurance Group Solvency Requirement) Rules and Insurance (Group Supervision) Rules (together, "Group Rules"), will apply to the Company so long as the BMA remains our group supervisor. The BMA has implemented and imposed many of the additional requirements described in this section as part of its efforts to gain equivalence under Solvency II. The BMA will now wait until further notice to implement Solvency II as a result of the delay in the implementation of Solvency II in Europe. In addition, through the Group Rules, the BMA may take action which affects the Company. A summary of the Group Rules is set forth below.
Group Financial Statements. Every insurance group must prepare and submit, on an annual basis, audited financial statements prepared under GAAP or IFRS ("Group Financial Statements") and group statutory financial statements. The Group Financial Statements must be audited annually by the group's approved auditor who must prepare an auditor's report in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The designated insurer is required to file with the BMA annually the audited Group Financial Statements within five months from the end of the relevant financial year (unless specifically extended). The Group Financial Statements are available for public inspection.
Group Statutory Financial Return and Annual Capital and Solvency Return. Every insurance group is required to prepare an annual group statutory financial return which must be submitted to the BMA by the designated insurer within five months after its financial year end (unless specifically extended). The Group Rules prescribe the rules pertaining to the preparation and substance of the group statutory financial statements (which include, in statutory form, a group balance sheet, a group income statement, a group statement of capital and surplus, and notes thereto). The designated insurer of the group is required to file with the BMA the group statutory financial statements with the BMA within five months from the end of the relevant financial year (unless specifically extended). The statutory financial return shall include, among other items, a report of the approved group auditor, an insurance group business solvency certificate, an insurance group capital and solvency certificate, particulars of ceded reinsurance comprising the top ten unaffiliated reinsurers for which the group has the highest recoverable balances, a list of non-insurance financial regulated entities owned by the group and summary details of all adjustments applied to the group financial statements in the form of a reconciliation of amounts reported as total assets, total liabilities, net income and total statutory capital and surplus.
Every insurance group must also prepare and submit a group capital and solvency return (the "Group Capital and Solvency Return") which comprises the group BSCR model or an approved group internal capital model, along with the returns prescribed in the applicable schedules to the Group Rules. The Group Capital and Solvency Return is submitted by the designated insurer on behalf of the group and must include a declaration signed by two directors of the insurer, one of which may be the chief executive; and either the chief risk officer of the parent company , or the chief financial officer of the parent company
Quarterly Financial Returns. In addition to the annual filings, the designated insurer is required to prepare and file, on behalf of the group, quarterly financial returns no later than the end of the month of each May, August and November for the first, second and third quarters, respectively. The quarterly financial return shall consist of (a) quarterly unaudited (consolidated) group financial statements in respect of its business for each financial statements in respect of its business for each financial quarter, where such statements are the most recent produced by the group, and must not reflect a financial position that exceeds two months and (b) details of material intra-group transactions and risk concentrations, including among other things, details surrounding

20

Table of Contents

reinsurance and retrocession arrangements and the ten largest exposures to counterparty and other counterparty exposures exceeding 10% of the insurer's statutory capital and surplus.
Restrictions on Dividends and Distributions. A Class 3B insurer and Class 4 insurer shall not declare or pay any dividend during the financial year if it is in breach of its enhanced capital requirement or its general business solvency margins or its minimum liquidity ratio or if the declaration or payment of such dividends would cause such a breach. If it failed to meet its minimum solvency margins or minimum liquidity ratio on the last day of any financial year, a Class 4 insurer, will be prohibited, without the approval of the BMA, from declaring or paying in any financial year dividends of more than 25% of its total statutory capital and surplus (as shown on its previous financial year's statutory balance sheet) unless it files (at least seven days before payment of such dividends) with the BMA an affidavit stating that it will continue to meet the required margins.
Furthermore, Validus may only declare or pay a dividend, or make a distribution out of contributed surplus as the case may be, if the Company has no reasonable grounds for believing that it is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or if the realizable value of its assets would not be less than its liabilities.
Insurance Code of Conduct.    The BMA Insurance Code of Conduct establishes duties and standards which must be complied with by all insurers registered under the Insurance Act. The Code is divided into six categories, including:
Proportionality principle;
Corporate Governance;
Risk Management;
Governance Mechanism;
Outsourcing; and
Market Discipline and Disclosure.
Failure to comply with the requirements under the Code will be a factor taken into account by the BMA in determining whether an insurer is conducting its business in a sound and prudent manner as prescribed by the Insurance Act.
Notification of Material Changes. All registered insurers are required to give notice to the BMA of their intention to effect a material change within the meaning of the Insurance Act. For the purposes of the Insurance Act, the following changes are material: (i) the acquisition or transfer of insurance business being part of a scheme falling under section 25 of the Insurance Act or section 99 of the Companies Act 1981; (ii) the amalgamation with or acquisition of another firm; (iii) engaging in non-insurance business and activities related thereto where such business is not ancillary to its insurance business; and (iv) engaging in unrelated business that is retail business. Designated insurers are also required to give notice to the BMA if any member of its group intends to give effect to any material change.
No registered insurer shall take any steps to give effect to a material change, and no designated insurer shall, subject to the immediately following paragraph, permit any member of its group to take steps to give effect to a material change, unless it has first served notice on the BMA that it intends to effect such material change and before the end of 14 days, either the BMA has notified such company in writing that it has no objection to such change or that period has lapsed without the BMA having issued a notice of objection.
A designated insurer shall not be required to serve notice of a material change if the member of the group in question is regulated by a competent authority in an equivalent jurisdiction and has within 90 days of the event filed written notice of the material change with the BMA.
Any insurer who fails to give the required notice or which effects a material change, or allows such material change to be effected, before the prescribed period has elapsed or after having received a notice of objection from the BMA shall be guilty of an offense. A designated insurer that is guilty of an offense shall neither be liable to criminal proceedings nor any penalties but may be subject to directions issued by the BMA.
Securities:    Securities may be offered or sold in Bermuda only in compliance with the provisions of the Investment Business Act 2003, and Exchange Control Act 1972, and related regulations of Bermuda which regulate the sale of securities in Bermuda. In addition, specific permission is required from the BMA, pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Control Act 1972 and related regulations, for all issuances and transfers of securities of Bermuda companies, other than in cases where the BMA has granted a general permission. The BMA, in its policy dated June 1, 2005, provides that where any equity securities, which would include our ordinary shares, of a Bermuda company are listed on an appointed stock exchange (the New York Stock Exchange is deemed to be an appointed stock exchange under Bermuda law), general permission is given for the issue and subsequent transfer of any

21

Table of Contents

securities of a company from and/or to a non-resident, for as long as any equity securities of the company remain so listed. The ordinary shares of the Company are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Notwithstanding the above general permission, the BMA has granted us permission to, subject to our ordinary or voting shares being listed on an appointed stock exchange, issue, grant, create, sell and transfer any of our shares, stock, bonds, notes (other than promissory notes), debentures, debenture stock, units under a unit trust scheme, shares in an oil royalty, options, warrants, coupons, rights and depository receipts, collectively, the “Securities”, to and among persons who are either resident or non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes, whether or not the Securities (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, our ordinary or voting shares) are listed on an appointed stock exchange.
Shareholder Controller and other Notifications.    Under the Insurance Act each shareholder or prospective shareholder will be responsible for notifying the BMA in writing of his becoming a controller, directly or indirectly, of 10%, 20%, 33% or 50% of the Company and/or any of the Company’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries within 45 days of becoming such a controller. The BMA may serve a notice of objection on any controller of the Company or any of the Company’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries if it appears to the BMA that the person is no longer fit and proper to be such a controller. The Company’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are also required to notify the BMA in writing in the event of any person becoming or ceasing to be a controller or officer, a controller or officer being a managing director, chief executive, director, secretary, chief executive or senior executive or other person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are accustomed to act, including any person who holds, or is entitled to exercise, 10% or more of the voting shares or voting power or is able to exercise a significant influence over the management of any of the Bermuda insurance subsidiaries.
United States
Talbot operates primarily within the Lloyd’s insurance market through Syndicate 1183, and Lloyd’s operations are subject to regulation in the United States in addition to being regulated in the United Kingdom, as discussed below. The Lloyd’s market is licensed to engage in insurance business in Illinois, Kentucky and the U.S. Virgin Islands and operates as an eligible excess and surplus lines insurer in all states and territories except Kentucky and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lloyd’s is also an accredited reinsurer in all states and territories of the United States. Lloyd’s maintains various trust funds in the state of New York to protect its United States business and is therefore subject to regulation by the New York Department of Financial Services, which acts as the domiciliary department for Lloyd’s U.S. trust funds. There are deposit trust funds in other states to support Lloyd’s reinsurance and excess and surplus lines insurance business.
Talbot is subject to a Closing Agreement between Lloyd’s and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service pursuant to which Talbot is subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent its income is attributable to U.S. agents who have authority to bind Talbot. Specifically, U.S. federal income tax is imposed on 35% of its income attributable to U.S. binding authorities (70% for Illinois or Kentucky business).
We currently conduct our business in a manner such that we expect that Validus Re will not be subject to insurance and/or reinsurance licensing requirements or regulations in the United States. Although we do not currently intend for Validus Re to engage in activities which would require it to comply with insurance and reinsurance licensing requirements in the United States, should we choose to engage in activities that would require Validus Re to become licensed in the United States, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so or that we will be able to do so in a timely manner. Furthermore, the laws and regulations applicable to direct insurers could indirectly affect us, such as collateral requirements in various U.S. states to enable such insurers to receive credit for reinsurance ceded to us.
In addition, the insurance and reinsurance regulatory framework of Bermuda and the insurance of U.S. risk by companies based in Bermuda and not licensed or authorized in the United States recently has become the subject of increased scrutiny in many jurisdictions, including the United States. We are not able to predict the future impact of changes in the laws and regulation to which we are or may become subject on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
United Kingdom
The financial services industry in the U.K. is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”). The FSA is an independent non-governmental body, given statutory powers by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Although accountable to treasury ministers and through them to Parliament, it is funded entirely by the firms it regulates. The FSA has wide ranging powers in relation to rule-making, investigation and enforcement to enable it to meet its four statutory objectives, which are summarized as one overall aim: “to promote efficient, orderly and fair markets and to help retail consumers achieve a fair deal.”
In relation to insurance business, the FSA regulates insurers, insurance intermediaries and Lloyd’s itself. The FSA and Lloyd’s have common objectives in ensuring that Lloyd’s market is appropriately regulated and, to minimize duplication, the FSA has agreed arrangements with Lloyd’s for co-operation on supervision and enforcement.

22

Table of Contents

Talbot’s underwriting activities are therefore regulated by the FSA as well as being subject to the Lloyd’s “franchise”. Both FSA and Lloyd’s have powers to remove their respective authorization for Talbot to manage Lloyd’s syndicates. Lloyd’s approves annually Syndicate 1183’s business plan and any subsequent material changes, and the amount of capital required to support that plan. Lloyd’s may require changes to any business plan presented to it or additional capital to be provided to support the underwriting (known as Funds as Lloyd’s).
The U.K. government has set out proposals to replace the current system of financial regulation, which it believes has weaknesses, with a new regulatory framework. The key weakness it identified was that no single institution has the responsibility, authority and tools to monitor the financial system as a whole, and respond accordingly. That power will be given to the Bank of England. The U.K. government intends to create a new Financial Policy Committee (“FPC”) within the Bank, which will look at the wider economic and financial risks to the stability of the system.
In addition, the FSA will cease to exist in its current form, and the U.K. government will create two new focused financial regulators:
A new Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of financial institutions that are subject to significant prudential regulation. It will adopt a more judgment-focused approach to regulation so that business models can be challenged, risks identified and action taken to preserve financial stability.
A new Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) will have a strong mandate for promoting confidence and transparency in financial services and to give greater protection for consumers of financial services.
The Financial Services Bill was introduced to Parliament on January 26, 2012 and received Royal Assent in December 2012. "Legal cutover," when the new system will be operational, is expected to be April 2013.
In November 2007 Talbot established Talbot Risk Services Pte Ltd in Singapore to source business in the Far East under the Lloyd’s Asia Scheme. The Lloyd’s Asia Scheme was established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to encourage members of Lloyd’s to expand insurance activities in Asia.
An EU directive covering the capital adequacy, risk management and regulatory reporting for insurers, known as Solvency II was adopted by the European Parliament in April 2009. A directive, known as Omnibus II, which will amend certain of the Solvency II proposals, including the implementation date, was due to be considered by the European Parliament in 2012. On December 3, 2012, the European Parliament rescheduled the plenary vote of the Omnibus II Directive to June 10 2013. Consequently, the proposed Solvency II insurance directive is now widely expected not to come into force before January 1, 2016 at the earliest. Insurers and reinsurers are undertaking a significant amount of work to ensure that they meet the new requirements and this may divert resources from other operational roles. The Company’s implementation plans are well underway, although final Solvency II guidelines have not been fully published.
Switzerland
Our Swiss reinsurance subsidiary, Flagstone Réassurance SA ("Flagstone Suisse"), is a société anonyme headquartered in Martigny, Switzerland.
Regulation and Supervision. The conduct of reinsurance business by a company headquartered in Switzerland requires a license granted by FINMA. In principle, licensing and supervision requirements are imposed on Flagstone Suisse as a standalone legal entity.  However, in certain circumstances FINMA may issue a decision to exercise supplementary supervision over a group of companies. FINMA had been the group supervisor of Flagstone Group since July 1, 2011 until December 31, 2012.

Flagstone Suisse obtained its reinsurance license from the Swiss Federal Office of Private Insurance in December 2006.  On January 1, 2009, Swiss financial services regulation was reformed institutionally pursuant to the law of June 22, 2007 (“FINMALaw”), creating a single regulator ("FINMA") covering all financial services and integrating the supervision of financial crime, professional audit firms and rating agencies. The function of the Swiss Federal Office of Private Insurance ("FOPI") was replaced by this new single regulator.

In general FINMALaw is an overarching statute applying in as far as there is no contrary provision in the sectoral laws for insurance and reinsurance.  Sectoral laws are those laws germane to a particular industry sector such as, for example, insurance, reinsurance and banking.  Aside from some inconsequential amendments under FINMALaw unifying cross sectoral issues, the existing sectoral laws governing insurance and reinsurance continue in force, substantially unchanged.

The various legal and regulatory requirements that must be satisfied, are set forth primarily by the three following sets of rules and regulations: the Federal Insurance Supervisory Law (“ISL”); the Federal Private Insurance Supervision Ordinance

23

Table of Contents

(“ISO”); and the FINMA Insurance Supervision Ordinance, as well as by various implementing directives and circulars.  In general, the approach is principles based and allows for consideration of a justified application by management in relation to such principles.

Under Swiss rules and regulations, Swiss reinsurance companies are generally subject to many, but not all, of the same provisions that apply to direct insurers, and include the following obligations:

Adequacy of Financial Resources. ISL Article 9 and ISO, sets out the minimum capital requirements and solvency requirements. The minimum capital for a reinsurance firm is CHF 10 million.  Firms are also obliged to constitute and maintain an organizational fund.  In the case of Flagstone Suisse this was fixed at CHF 10 million by the Swiss Federal Office of Private Insurance prior to commencement of Flagstone Suisse's operations.

In addition Flagstone Suisse must keep adequate disposable and unencumbered capital resources to cover its entire activities.  In calculating the solvency margin, account is taken of the risks to which the firm is exposed, the insurance classes involved, the extent of the business, the geographical scope and internationally recognized principles (ISL Article 9).  Solvency is determined based on two independent methodologies:

Solvency I:  This involves calculating a margin applying defined percentages to a base of the higher of gross annual premium or gross claims for the last three available years and comparing coverage in terms of admissible “own funds” as determined under ISL Article 37.
 
The Swiss Solvency Test or SST:  Under this approach, capital adequacy is given if risk bearing capital exceeds Target Capital.  This involves a more sophisticated analysis providing for a market-consistent valuation of all assets and liabilities in the firm with a methodological approach to risk categories (insurance risk, credit risk etc.) subjecting them to scenario stress tests at a basic level in the context of the standard regulatory approach but, where appropriate (for instance mandatory for reinsurance companies), permitting the use of internal models in the overall management of risk, once such models are validated.  The validation of internal models is a general process which FINMA has pursued with all regulated firms over the past year and is ongoing.

The SST is very close to the “Solvency II” standard of the European Union.  We expect that the Swiss regulation will achieve mutual recognition in other parts of the world. On February 1, 2010, Switzerland was formally recognized as equivalent by the EU committee of supervisors, the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (“CEIOPS”), firstly as regards the EU Reinsurance Directive of 2005 regulating pure reinsurers and secondly as regards its supervisory regime.

For the SST all assets of Flagstone Suisse are considered.  There is no direct constraint on permitted investments since the provisions regarding assets linked to reserves in the ISL do not apply to reinsurance firms.  However, the use of derivative instruments is required to be fully considered as part of the risk management processes and limited to reducing investment or insurance risk or to secure investment efficiencies.

Sound Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Internal Control System. In addition to quantitative risk measures, FINMA requires full qualitative governance and control of risk in the firm.  This includes requirements as to the ongoing fitness, propriety and competence of the directors and senior management, observance of ethical standards, objective and appropriate remuneration procedures, management of conflicts of interests, the institution of a compliance function, independence and adequate resourcing of control functions (including the responsible actuary, the risk management function and the internal audit function), as well as clear terms of reference and systems of delegation and report throughout.

ISL and ISO each require the appointment of a Responsible Actuary - an independent and properly qualified actuary responsible for ensuring that solvency margins are calculated correctly, proper accounting principles are used, and adequate technical reserves are established and that he report to the Board periodically.

Insurance companies are required to implement documented procedures for risk management and internal control.  While FINMA does not require a specific quantitative outcome in relation to operational risk, the firm is expected to undertake proper analysis and to account for it.

Supervisory Process. The supervisory process includes the following requirements:

Annual Reporting:  Flagstone Suisse is required to prepare an annual report at the end of each financial year on the solvency margins available, as well as an annual report on the calculation of target capital and on risk bearing capital. Flagstone Suisse files a corporate report incorporating financial statements prepared and audited in accordance with Swiss accounting rules and a supervisory report in the prescribed format. The supervisory report is to be submitted to FINMA by June 30 of each year in electronic form together with the annual report.

24

Table of Contents


Ad Hoc Notifications:  FINMA requires ad hoc notifications of all changes to the firm's scheme of operations which include the following: any changes to company statutes, details of its organizational structure  or business activities (including expansion into new jurisdictions; changes involving at least a 10% equity holding or at least 10% of votes in the Company, or where there is a change of control allowing persons to exert a significant influence on the Company's  commercial activities; changes in management personnel, including the Responsible Actuary).

In addition, Flagstone Suisse is required to notify changes in levels of control of it (upstream) or by it (downstream) at 10%, 20%, 33% or 50% in terms of capital or voting rights.

There is a general duty to notify FINMA of all matters of which it might want to be advised (FINMALaw Article 29).  This includes all solvency material matters, which are specified by circular to include a breach of solvency requirements, fluctuations of 10% or more in terms of assets, technical provisions, or of a significant retrocession contract of the company as well as redemption of any hybrid debt instruments; and any regulatory or criminal investigations brought against the company or the senior management or other significant events.

External Auditor Involvement. Audit firms are subjected to approval and supervision by FINMA and are a significant agent in the supervisory process applying to reinsurance companies (FINMALaw 24 et seq.).  Auditors report both to the governing body of the company and to FINMA. They report to the Board on the financial statements of the company and on regulatory shortcomings with a requirement for remediation.  Material shortcomings are reported directly to FINMA.  A standardized audit report on these topics is prescribed by FINMA Directive.  Failure to have an audit conducted in accordance with legal requirements, to fulfill the legal duty of cooperation with auditors or for the auditors to perform their role properly (including whistle blowing or failing to identify regulatory breaches) all attract criminal sanctions.

Intervention and Enforcement by the Regulator. FINMALaw provides for a wider range of supervisory intervention tools than previously provided for under the ISL such as  the commencement of formal proceedings, including orders to comply with the law, leading up to withdrawal of license, declarations of unfitness for individuals, disgorgement and the appointment of independent specialists to investigate and implement remediation.

Capital Structure and Dividends. Flagstone Suisse is funded by equity in the form of paid in capital by shares and in share premium.  Under Swiss corporate law as modified by insurance supervisory law, a non-life insurance company is obliged to contribute to statutory legal reserves a minimum of 20% of any annual profit up to 50% of statutory capital, being paid in share capital. Flagstone Suisse has been substantially funded by share premium.  As of the date of this Annual Report we are advised that, as of 2011, share premium can be distributed to shareholders without being subject to withholding tax.  However the distribution of any special dividend to shareholders remain subject to the approval of FINMA which has regard to the maintenance of solvency and the interests of reinsureds and creditors.

25

Table of Contents

Employment Practices
The following table details our personnel by geographic location as at December 31, 2012:
Location
 
Validus Re
 
Talbot
 
AlphaCat
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
%
London, England
 

 
302

 

 

 
302

 
48.0
%
Pembroke, Bermuda
 
65

 

 
5

 
50

 
120

 
19.0
%
Halifax, Canada
 
60

 

 

 

 
60

 
9.5
%
Hyderabad, India
 
28

 

 

 

 
28

 
4.4
%
Waterloo, Canada
 

 

 

 
26

 
26

 
4.1
%
Republic of Singapore
 
9

 
13

 

 

 
22

 
3.5
%
New York, United States
 

 
11

 

 
9

 
20

 
3.2
%
Miami, United States
 
17

 

 

 

 
17

 
2.7
%
Martigny, Switzerland
 
12

 

 

 

 
12

 
1.9
%
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 

 
7

 

 

 
7

 
1.1
%
Santiago, Chile
 
6

 

 

 

 
6

 
1.0
%
Toronto, Canada
 

 

 

 
5

 
5

 
0.8
%
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
 
4

 

 

 

 
4

 
0.6
%
Hamburg, Germany
 
1

 

 

 

 
1

 
0.2
%
Total
 
202

 
333

 
5

 
90

 
630

 
100.0
%

Included within the total above are 110 former Flagstone employees. We expect this number to be reduced in 2013. We believe our relations with our employees are excellent.
Available Information
The Company files periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The public may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s website address is http://www.sec.gov. The Company’s common shares are traded on the NYSE with the symbol “VR.” Similar information concerning the Company can be reviewed at the office of the NYSE at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York, 10005. The Company’s website address is http://www.validusholdings.com. Information contained in this website is not part of this report.
The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge, including through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Copies of the charters for the audit committee, the compensation committee, the corporate governance and nominating committee, the finance committee and the risk committee, as well as the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees (the “Code”), which applies to all of the Company’s Directors, officers and employees, and Code of Ethics for Senior Officers, which applies to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal accounting officer and other persons holding a comparable position, are available free of charge on the Company’s website at http://www.validusholdings.com or by writing to Investor Relations, Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke, HM 08, Bermuda. The Company will also post on its website any amendment to the Code and any waiver of the Code granted to any of its directors or executive officers to the extent required by applicable rules.



26

Table of Contents

Item 1A.    Risk Factors
Risks Related to Our Company
Claims on policies written under our short-tail insurance lines that arise from unpredictable and severe catastrophic events could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
Substantially all of our gross premiums written to date are in short-tail lines, many of which have the potential to accumulate, which means we could become liable for a significant amount of losses in a brief period. The short-tail policies we write expose us to claims arising out of unpredictable natural and other catastrophic events, whether arising from natural causes such as hurricanes, windstorms, tsunamis, severe winter weather, earthquakes and floods, or man-made causes such as fires, explosions, acts of terrorism, war or political unrest. Many observers believe that the Atlantic basin is in the active phase of a multi-decade cycle in which conditions in the ocean and atmosphere, including warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures and low wind shear, enhance hurricane activity. This increase in the number and intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes can span multiple decades (approximately 20 to 30 years). These conditions may translate to a greater potential for hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S. at higher intensities over the next five years. In addition, climate change may be causing changes in global temperatures, which may in the future increase the frequency and severity of natural catastrophes and the losses resulting therefrom. Although the frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable, we use state-of-science understanding of climate change and other climate signals for pricing and risk aggregation.
The extent of losses from catastrophes is a function of both the number and severity of the insured events and the total amount of insured exposure in the areas affected. Increases in the value and concentrations of insured property, the effects of inflation and changes in cyclical weather patterns may increase the severity of claims from natural catastrophic events in the future. Similarly, changes in global political and economic conditions may increase both the frequency and severity of man-made catastrophic events in the future. Claims from catastrophic events could reduce our earnings and cause substantial volatility in our results of operations for any fiscal quarter or year, which could adversely affect our financial condition, possibly to the extent of eliminating our shareholders’ equity. Our ability to write new reinsurance policies could also be affected as a result of corresponding reductions in our capital.
Underwriting is inherently a matter of judgment, involving important assumptions about matters that are unpredictable and beyond our control, and for which historical experience and probability analysis may not provide sufficient guidance. One or more catastrophic or other events could result in claims that substantially exceed our expectations and which would become due in a short period of time, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Emerging claim and coverage issues could adversely affect our business.
As industry practices and legal, judicial, social and other environmental conditions change, unexpected and unintended issues related to claims and coverage may emerge. These issues may adversely affect our business by either extending coverage beyond our underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. In some instances, these changes may not become apparent until sometime after we have issued insurance or reinsurance contracts that are affected by the changes. For example, a (re)insurance contract might limit the amount that can be recovered as a result of flooding. However, if the flood damage was caused by an event that also caused extensive wind damage, the quantification of the two types of damage is often a matter of judgment. Similarly, one geographic zone could be affected by more than one catastrophic event. In this case, the amount recoverable from an insurer or reinsurer may in part be determined by the judgmental allocation of damage between the storms. Given the magnitude of the amounts at stake, these types of issues occasionally necessitate judicial resolution. In addition, our actual losses may vary materially from our current estimate of the loss based on a number of factors, including receipt of additional information from insureds or brokers, the attribution of losses to coverages that had not previously been considered as exposed and inflation in repair costs due to additional demand for labor and materials. As a result, the full extent of liability under an insurance or reinsurance contract may not be known for many years after such contract is issued and a loss occurs. Our exposure to this uncertainty is greater in our longer tail lines (marine and energy liabilities and financial institutions).
We depend on ratings from third party rating agencies. Our financial strength rating could be revised downward, which could affect our standing among brokers and customers, cause our premiums and earnings to decrease and limit our ability to pay dividends on our common shares.
Third-party rating agencies assess and rate the financial strength of insurers and reinsurers based upon criteria established by the rating agencies, which criteria are subject to change. The financial strength ratings assigned by rating agencies to insurance and reinsurance companies represent independent opinions of financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations and are not directed toward the protection of investors. Ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance and reinsurance companies. Insurers and intermediaries use these ratings as one measure by which to assess the financial strength and quality of insurers and reinsurers. These ratings are often a key factor in the decision by

27

Table of Contents

an insured or intermediary of whether to place business with a particular insurance or reinsurance provider. These ratings are not an evaluation directed toward the protection of investors or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold our common shares.
If our financial strength rating is reduced from current levels, our competitive position in the reinsurance industry would suffer, and it would be more difficult for us to market our products. A downgrade could result in a significant reduction in the number of reinsurance contracts we write and in a substantial loss of business as our customers and brokers that place such business, move to other competitors with higher financial strength ratings. The substantial majority of reinsurance contracts issued through reinsurance brokers contain provisions permitting the ceding company to cancel such contracts in the event of a downgrade of the reinsurer by A.M. Best below “A-” (Excellent).
We cannot predict in advance the extent to which this cancellation right would be exercised, if at all, or what effect any such cancellations would have on our financial condition or future operations, but such effect could be material and adverse. Consequently, substantially all of Validus Re’s business could be affected by a downgrade of our A.M. Best rating below “A-”.
The indenture governing our Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures would restrict us from declaring or paying dividends on our common shares if we are downgraded by A.M. Best to a financial strength rating of “B” (Fair) or below or if A.M. Best withdraws its financial strength rating on any of our material insurance subsidiaries. A downgrade of the Company’s A.M. Best financial strength rating below “B++” (Fair) would also constitute an event of default under our credit facilities. Either of these events could, among other things, reduce the Company’s financial flexibility.
If our risk management and loss limitation methods fail to adequately manage exposure to losses from catastrophic events, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We manage exposure to catastrophic losses by analyzing the probability and severity of the occurrence of catastrophic events and the impact of such events on our overall (re)insurance and investment portfolio. We use various tools to analyze and manage the reinsurance exposures assumed from insureds and ceding companies and risks from a catastrophic event that could have an adverse effect on our investment portfolio. VCAPS, a proprietary risk modeling software, enables us to assess the adequacy of reinsurance risk pricing and to monitor the overall exposure to insurance and reinsurance risk in correlated geographic zones. There can be no assurance that the models and assumptions used by the software will accurately predict losses. Further, there can be no assurance that the models are free of defects in the modeling logic or in the software code. In addition, we have not sought copyright or other legal protection for VCAPS.
In addition, much of the information that we enter into the risk modeling software is based on third-party data that may not be reliable, as well as estimates and assumptions that are dependent on many variables, such as assumptions about building material and labor demand surge, storm surge, the expenses of settling claims (known as loss adjustment expenses), insurance-to-value and storm intensity. Accordingly, if the estimates and assumptions that are entered into the proprietary risk model are incorrect, or if the proprietary risk model proves to be an inaccurate forecasting tool, the losses we might incur from an actual catastrophe could be materially higher than its expectation of losses generated from modeled catastrophe scenarios, and its financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
A modeled outcome of net loss from a single event also relies in significant part on the reinsurance and retrocessional arrangements in place, or expected to be in place at the time of the analysis, and may change during the year. Modeled outcomes assume that the reinsurance in place responds as expected with minimal reinsurance failure or dispute. Reinsurance and retrocessional coverage is purchased to protect the inwards exposure in line with our risk appetite, but it is possible for there to be a mismatch or gap in cover which could result in higher than modeled losses. In addition, many parts of the reinsurance program are purchased with limited reinstatements and, therefore, the number of claims or events which may be recovered from second or subsequent events is limited. It should also be noted that renewal dates of the reinsurance and retrocessional program do not necessarily coincide with those of the inwards business written. Where inwards business is not protected by risks attaching reinsurance and retrocessional programs, the programs could expire resulting in an increase in the possible net loss retained and as such, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We also seek to limit loss exposure through loss limitation provisions in its policies, such as limitations on the amount of losses that can be claimed under a policy, limitations or exclusions from coverage and provisions relating to choice of forum, which are intended to assure that its policies are legally interpreted as intended. There can be no assurance that these contractual provisions will be enforceable in the manner expected or that disputes relating to coverage will be resolved in our favor. If the loss limitation provisions in the policies are not enforceable or disputes arise concerning the application of such provisions, the losses we might incur from a catastrophic event could be materially higher than expected and our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The insurance and reinsurance business is historically cyclical and we expect to experience periods with excess underwriting capacity and unfavorable premium rates and policy terms and conditions, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

28

Table of Contents

The insurance and reinsurance industry has historically been cyclical. Insurers and reinsurers have experienced significant fluctuations in operating results due to competition, frequency of occurrence or severity of catastrophic events, levels of underwriting capacity, underwriting results of primary insurers, general economic conditions and other factors. The supply of insurance and reinsurance is related to prevailing prices, the level of insured losses and the level of industry surplus which, in turn, may fluctuate, including in response to changes in rates of return on investments being earned in the reinsurance industry.
The insurance and reinsurance pricing cycle has historically been a market phenomenon, driven by supply and demand rather than by the actual cost of coverage. The upward phase of a cycle is often triggered when a major event forces insurers and reinsurers to make large claim payments, thereby drawing down capital. This, combined with increased demand for insurance against the risk associated with the event, pushes prices upwards. Over time, insurers’ and reinsurers’ capital is replenished with the higher revenues. At the same time, new entrants flock to the industry seeking a part of the profitable business. This combination prompts a slide in prices—the downward cycle—until a major insured event restarts the upward phase. As a result, the insurance and reinsurance business has been characterized by periods of intense competition on price and policy terms due to excessive underwriting capacity, which is the percentage of surplus or the dollar amount of exposure that a reinsurer is willing to place at risk, as well as periods when shortages of capacity result in favorable premium rates and policy terms and conditions.
Premium levels may be adversely affected by a number of factors which fluctuate and may contribute to price declines generally in the reinsurance industry. For example, as premium levels for many products increased subsequent to the significant natural catastrophes of 2004 and 2005, the supply of reinsurance increased, either as a result of capital provided by new entrants or by the commitment of additional capital by existing reinsurers. Increases in the supply of insurance and reinsurance may have consequences for the reinsurance industry generally and for us including fewer contracts written, lower premium rates, increased expenses for customer acquisition and retention, and less favorable policy terms and conditions. As a consequence, the Company may experience greater competition on most insurance and reinsurance lines. This could adversely affect the rates we receive for our (re)insurance and our gross premiums written.
The cyclical trends in the industry and the industry’s profitability can also be affected significantly by volatile and unpredictable developments, such as natural disasters (such as catastrophic hurricanes, windstorms, tornados, earthquakes and floods), courts granting large awards for certain damages, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the investment environment that affect market prices of investments and inflationary pressures that may tend to affect the size of losses experienced by insureds and primary insurance companies. We expect to experience the effects of cyclicality, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Competition for business in our industry is intense, and if we are unable to compete effectively, we may not be able to retain market share and our business may be materially adversely affected.
The insurance and reinsurance industries are highly competitive. We face intense competition, based upon (among other things) global capacity, product breadth, reputation and experience with respect to particular lines of business, relationships with (re)insurance intermediaries, quality of service, capital and perceived financial strength (including independent rating agencies’ ratings), innovation and price. We compete with major global insurance and reinsurance companies and underwriting syndicates, many of which have extensive experience in (re)insurance and may have greater financial, marketing and employee resources available to them than us. Other financial institutions, such as banks and hedge funds, now offer products and services similar to our products and services through alternative capital markets products that are structured to provide protections similar to those provided by reinsurers. These products, such as catastrophe-linked bonds, compete with our products. In the future, underwriting capacity will continue to enter the market from these identified competitors and perhaps other sources. Increased competition could result in fewer submissions and lower rates, which could have an adverse effect on our growth and profitability. If we are unable to compete effectively against these competitors, we may not be able to retain market share.
Insureds have been retaining a greater proportion of their risk portfolios than previously, and industrial and commercial companies have been increasingly relying upon their own subsidiary insurance companies, known as captive insurance companies, self-insurance pools, risk retention groups, mutual insurance companies and other mechanisms for funding their risks, rather than risk transferring insurance. This has also put downward pressure on insurance premiums.
Consolidation in the (re)insurance industry could adversely affect our business.
We believe that several (re)insurance industry participants are seeking to consolidate. These consolidated entities may try to use their enhanced market power to negotiate price reductions for our products and services and/or obtain a larger market share through increased line sizes. If competitive pressures reduce our prices, we would expect to write less business. As the insurance industry consolidates, competition for customers will become more intense and the importance of acquiring and properly servicing each customer will become greater. We could incur greater expenses relating to customer acquisition and retention, further reducing our operating margins. In addition, insurance companies that merge may be able to spread their risks across a consolidated, larger capital base so that they require less reinsurance. The number of companies offering retrocessional reinsurance may decline.

29

Table of Contents

Reinsurance intermediaries could also continue to consolidate, potentially adversely impacting our ability to access business and distribute our products. We could also experience more robust competition from larger, better capitalized competitors. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business or our results of operations.
If we underestimate our reserve for losses and loss expenses, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our success depends on our ability to accurately assess the risks associated with the businesses and properties that we insure/reinsure. If unpredictable catastrophic events occur, or if we fail to adequately manage our exposure to losses or fail to adequately estimate our reserve requirements, our actual losses and loss expenses may deviate, perhaps substantially, from our reserve estimates.
We estimate the risks associated with our outstanding obligations, including the risk embedded within our unearned premiums. To do this, we establish reserves for losses and loss expenses (or loss reserves), which are liabilities that we record to reflect the estimated costs of claim payment and the related expenses that we will ultimately be required to pay in respect of premiums written and include case reserves and IBNR reserves. However, under U.S. GAAP, we are not permitted to establish reserves for losses until an event which gives rise to a claim occurs. As a result, only reserves applicable to losses incurred up to the reporting date may be set aside on our financial statements, with no allowance for the provision of loss reserves to account for possible other future losses. Case reserves are reserves established with respect to specific individual reported claims. IBNR reserves are reserves for estimated losses that we have incurred but that have not yet been reported to us.
Our reserve estimates do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, they are estimates of what we expect the ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost. These estimates are based upon actuarial and statistical projections and on our assessment of currently available data, predictions of future developments and estimates of future trends and other variable factors such as inflation. Establishing an appropriate level for our loss reserve estimates is an inherently uncertain process. It is likely that the ultimate liability will be greater or less than these estimates and that, at times, this variance will be material. Our reserve estimates are regularly refined as experience develops and claims are reported and settled. In addition, as we operate largely through intermediaries, reserving for our business can involve added uncertainty arising from our dependence on information from ceding companies which, in addition to the risk of receiving inaccurate information involves an inherent time lag between reporting information from the primary insurer to us. Additionally, ceding companies employ differing reserving practices which add further uncertainty to the establishment of our reserves. Moreover, these uncertainties are greater for reinsurers like us than for reinsurers with a longer operating history, because we do not yet have an established loss history. The lack of historical information for the Company has necessitated the use of industry loss emergence patterns in deriving IBNR. Loss emergence patterns are development patterns used to project current reported or paid loss amounts to their ultimate settlement value or amount. Further, expected losses and loss ratios are typically developed using vendor and proprietary computer models and these expected loss ratios are a material component in the calculation deriving IBNR. Actual loss ratios will deviate from expected loss ratios and ultimate loss ratios will be greater or less than expected loss ratios. Because of these uncertainties, it is possible that our estimates for reserves at any given time could prove inadequate.
To the extent we determine that actual losses and loss adjustment expenses from events which have occurred exceed our expectations and the loss reserves reflected in our financial statements, we will be required to reflect these changes in the current reporting period. This could cause a sudden and material increase in our liabilities and a reduction in our profitability, including operating losses and reduction of capital, which could materially restrict our ability to write new business and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and potentially our A.M. Best rating.
The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make many estimates and judgments, which are even more difficult than those made in a mature company, and which, if inaccurate, could cause volatility in our results.
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Management believes the item that requires the most subjective and complex estimates is the reserve for losses and loss expenses. Due to the Company’s relatively short operating history, loss experience is limited and reliable evidence of changes in trends of numbers of claims incurred, average settlement amounts, numbers of claims outstanding and average losses per claim will necessarily take many years to develop. Following a major catastrophic event, the possibility of future litigation or legislative change that may affect interpretation of policy terms further increases the degree of uncertainty in the reserving process. The uncertainties inherent in the reserving process, together with the potential for unforeseen developments, including changes in laws and the prevailing interpretation of policy terms, may result in losses and loss expenses materially different than the reserves initially established. Changes to prior year reserves will affect current underwriting results by increasing net income if the prior year reserves prove to be redundant or by decreasing net income if the prior year reserves prove to be insufficient. We expect volatility in results in periods in which significant loss events occur because U.S. GAAP does not permit insurers or reinsurers to reserve for loss events until they have occurred and are expected to give rise to a claim. As a result, we are not allowed to record contingency reserves to account for expected future losses. We anticipate that claims arising from future events will require the establishment of substantial reserves from time to time.

30

Table of Contents

We rely on key personnel and the loss of their services may adversely affect us. The Bermuda location of our head office may be an impediment to attracting and retaining experienced personnel.
Various aspects of our business depend on the services and skills of key personnel of the Company. We believe there are only a limited number of available qualified executives in the business lines in which we compete. We rely substantially upon the services of Edward J. Noonan, Chairman of our Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer; Jeffrey D. Sangster, Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Incoming Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer); John H. Hendrickson, incoming Director of Strategy, Corporate Development and Risk Management; Kean Driscoll, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd.; C.N. Rupert Atkin, Chief Executive Officer of the Talbot Group; Robert F. Kuzloski, Executive Vice President and General Counsel; Andrew E. Kudera, Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary; Lixin Zeng, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of AlphaCat Managers, Ltd.; Stuart W. Mercer, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer; and Jonathan P. Ritz, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, among other key employees. The loss of any of their services or the services of other members of our management team or any difficulty in attracting and retaining other talented personnel could impede the further implementation of our business strategy, reduce our revenues and decrease our operational effectiveness. Although we have an employment agreement with each of the above named executives, there is a possibility that these employment agreements may not be enforceable in the event any of these employees leave. The employment agreements for each of the above-named executives provide that the terms of the agreement will continue for a defined period after either party giving notice of termination, and will terminate immediately upon the Company giving notice of termination for cause. We do not currently maintain key man life insurance policies with respect to them or any of our other employees. In addition, changes in employment laws, taxation and remuneration practices within our operating jurisdiction may adversely impact the retention or recruitment of key personnel.
The operating location of our head office and our Validus Re subsidiary may be an impediment to attracting and retaining experienced personnel. Under Bermuda law, non-Bermudians (other than spouses of Bermudians) may not engage in any gainful occupation in Bermuda without an appropriate governmental work permit. Our success may depend in part on the continued services of key employees in Bermuda. A work permit may be granted or renewed upon demonstrating that, after proper public advertisement, no Bermudian (or spouse of a Bermudian or a holder of a permanent resident’s certificate or holder of a working resident’s certificate) is available who meets the minimum standards reasonably required by the employer. A work permit is issued with an expiry date (up to ten years for senior executives) and no assurances can be given that any work permit will be issued or, if issued, renewed upon the expiration of the relevant term. If work permits are not obtained, or are not renewed, for our principal employees, we would lose their services, which could materially affect our business. Work permits are currently required for 47 of our Bermuda employees, the majority of whom have obtained three- or five-year work permits.
Certain of our directors and officers may have conflicts of interest with us.
Entities affiliated with some of our directors have sponsored or invested in, and may in the future sponsor or invest in, other entities engaged in or intending to engage in insurance and reinsurance underwriting, some of which compete with us. They have also entered into, or may in the future enter into, agreements with companies that compete with us.
We have a policy in place applicable to each of our directors and officers which provides for the resolution of potential conflicts of interest. However, we may not be in a position to influence any party’s decision to engage in activities that would give rise to a conflict of interest, and they may take actions that are not in our shareholders’ best interests.
We may require additional capital or credit in the future, which may not be available or only available on unfavorable terms.
We monitor our capital adequacy on a regular basis. The capital requirements of our business depend on many factors, including our premiums written, loss reserves, investment portfolio composition and risk exposures, as well as satisfying regulatory and rating agency capital requirements. Our ability to underwrite is largely dependent upon the quality of our claims paying and financial strength ratings as evaluated by independent rating agencies. To the extent that our existing capital is insufficient to fund our future operating requirements and/or cover claim losses, we may need to raise additional funds through financings or limit our growth. Any equity or debt financing, if available at all, may be on terms that are unfavorable to us. In the case of equity financings, dilution to our shareholders could result, and, in any case, such securities may have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to those of our outstanding securities. In addition, the capital and credit markets have recently been experiencing extreme volatility and disruption. In some cases, the markets have exerted downward pressure on the availability of liquidity and credit capacity for certain issuers. If we are not able to obtain adequate capital, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
In addition, as an alien insurer and reinsurer (not licensed in the U.S.), we are required to post collateral security with respect to any (re)insurance liabilities that we assume from insureds or ceding insurers domiciled in the U.S. in order for U.S. ceding companies to obtain full statutory and regulatory credit for our reinsurance. Other jurisdictions may have similar collateral requirements. Under applicable statutory provisions, these security arrangements may be in the form of letters of credit, insurance

31

Table of Contents

or reinsurance trusts maintained by trustees or funds-withheld arrangements where assets are held by the ceding company. We intend to satisfy such statutory requirements by maintaining the trust fund requirements for Talbot’s underwriting at Lloyd’s and by providing to primary insurers letters of credit issued under our credit facilities. To the extent that we are required to post additional security in the future, we may require additional letter of credit capacity and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such additional capacity or arrange for other types of security on commercially acceptable terms or on terms as favorable as under our current letter of credit facilities. Our inability to provide collateral satisfying the statutory and regulatory guidelines applicable to insureds and primary insurers would have a material adverse effect on our ability to provide (re)insurance to third parties and negatively affect our financial position and results of operations.
Security arrangements may subject our assets to security interests and/or require that a portion of our assets be pledged to, or otherwise held by, third parties. Although the investment income derived from our assets while held in trust typically accrues to our benefit, the investment of these assets is governed by the investment regulations of the state of domicile of the ceding insurer and therefore the investment returns on these assets may not be as high as they otherwise would be.
Loss of business from one or more major brokers could adversely affect us.
We market our insurance and reinsurance on a worldwide basis primarily through brokers, and we depend on a small number of brokers for a large portion of our revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2012, our business was primarily sourced from the following brokers: Marsh & McLennan 29.4%, Aon Benfield Group Ltd. 26.5% and Willis Group Holdings Ltd. 16.1%. These three brokers provided a total of 72.0% of our gross premiums written for the year ended December 31, 2012. Loss of all or a substantial portion of the business provided by one or more of these brokers could adversely affect our business.
We assume a degree of credit risk associated with substantially all of our brokers.
In accordance with industry practice, we frequently pay amounts owed on claims under our policies to brokers and the brokers, in turn, pay these amounts over to the ceding insurers and reinsurers that have reinsured a portion of their liabilities with us. In some jurisdictions, if a broker fails to make such a payment, we might remain liable to the ceding insurer or reinsurer for the deficiency notwithstanding the broker’s obligation to make such payment. Conversely, in certain jurisdictions, when the ceding insurer or reinsurer pays premiums for these policies to reinsurance brokers for payment to us, these premiums are considered to have been paid and the ceding insurer or reinsurer will no longer be liable to us for these premiums, whether or not we have actually received them. Consequently, we assume a degree of credit risk associated with substantially all of our brokers.
Our utilization of brokers, managing general agents and other third parties to support our business exposes us to operational and financial risks
Talbot’s business at Lloyd’s relies upon brokers, managing general agents and other third parties to produce and service a proportion of its operations. In these arrangements, we typically grant the third party the right to bind us to new and renewal policies, subject to underwriting guidelines we provide and other contractual restrictions and obligations. Should these third parties issue policies that contravene these guidelines, restrictions or obligations, we could nonetheless be deemed liable for such policies. Although we would intend to resist claims that exceed or expand on our underwriting intention, it is possible that we would not prevail in such an action, or that our managing general agent would be unable to adequately indemnify us for their contractual breach.
We also rely on managing general agents, third party administrators or other third parties we retain, to collect premiums and to pay valid claims. We could also be exposed to their or their producer’s operational risk, including, but not limited to, contract wording errors, technological and staffing deficiencies and inadequate disaster recovery plans. We could also be exposed to potential liabilities relating to the claims practices of the third party administrators we have retained to manage the claims activity on this business. Although we have implemented monitoring and other oversight protocols, we cannot assure you that these measures will be sufficient to mitigate all of these exposures.
Our success depends on our ability to establish and maintain effective operating procedures and internal controls. Failure to detect control issues and any instances of fraud could adversely affect us.
Our success is dependent upon our ability to establish and maintain operating procedures and internal controls (including the timely and successful implementation of information technology systems and programs) to effectively support our business and our regulatory and reporting requirements. We may not be successful in such efforts. Even when implemented, as a result of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide full assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company will be detected.
We may be unable to purchase reinsurance or retrocessional reinsurance in the future, and if we do successfully purchase reinsurance or retrocessional reinsurance, we may be unable to collect on claims submitted under such policies, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

32

Table of Contents

We purchase reinsurance and retrocessional reinsurance in order that we may offer insureds and cedants greater capacity, and to mitigate the effect of large and multiple losses on our financial condition. Reinsurance is a transaction whereby an insurer or reinsurer cedes to a reinsurer all or part of the insurance it has written or reinsurance it has assumed. A reinsurer’s or retrocessional reinsurer’s insolvency or inability or refusal to make timely payments under the terms of its reinsurance agreement with us could have an adverse effect on us because we remain liable to our client. From time to time, market conditions have limited, and in some cases have prevented, insurers and reinsurers from obtaining the types and amounts of reinsurance or retrocessional reinsurance that they consider adequate for their business needs. Accordingly, we may not be able to obtain our desired amounts of reinsurance or retrocessional reinsurance or negotiate terms that we deem appropriate or acceptable or obtain reinsurance or retrocessional reinsurance from entities with satisfactory creditworthiness.
Our investment portfolio may suffer reduced returns or losses which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Any increase in interest rates or volatility in the fixed income markets could result in significant unrealized losses in the fair value of our investment portfolio which would reduce our net income.
Our operating results depend in part on the performance of our investment portfolio, which currently consists largely of fixed maturity securities, as well as the ability of our investment managers to effectively implement our investment strategy. Our Board of Directors, led by our Finance Committee, oversees our investment strategy, and in consultation with our portfolio advisors, has established investment guidelines. The investment guidelines dictate the portfolio’s overall objective, benchmark portfolio, eligible securities, duration, limitations on the use of derivatives and inclusion of foreign securities, diversification requirements and average portfolio rating. Management and the Finance Committee periodically review these guidelines in light of our investment goals and consequently they may change at any time.
The investment return, including net investment income, net realized gains (losses) on investments, net unrealized (losses) gains on investments, on our invested assets was $126.5 million, or 2.0% for the year ended December 31, 2012. While we follow a conservative investment strategy designed to emphasize the preservation of invested assets and to provide sufficient liquidity for the prompt payment of claims, we will nevertheless be subject to market-wide risks including illiquidity and pricing uncertainty and fluctuations, as well as to risks inherent in particular securities. Our investment performance may vary substantially over time, and there can be no assurance that we will achieve our investment objectives. See “Business—Investment Management.”
Investment results will also be affected by general economic conditions, market volatility, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity and credit risks beyond our control. In addition, our need for liquidity may result in investment returns below our expectations. Also, with respect to certain of our investments, we are subject to prepayment or reinvestment risk. In particular, our fixed income portfolio is subject to reinvestment risk, and as at December 31, 2012, 21.8% of our fixed income portfolio is comprised of mortgage backed and asset backed securities which are subject to prepayment risk. Although we attempt to manage the risks of investing in a changing interest rate environment, a significant increase in interest rates could result in significant losses, realized or unrealized, in the fair value of our investment portfolio and, consequently, could have an adverse affect on our results of operations.
Investment methodologies and assumptions are subject to differing interpretations and impairments taken on our investments are subjective which could both adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
The valuation of our investments may include methodologies, estimations and assumptions that are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to our investment valuations. During periods of market disruptions, it may be difficult to value certain securities if trading becomes less frequent or market data less observable. There may also be certain asset classes that become illiquid due to the financial environment. As a result, valuation of securities in our investment portfolio may require more subjectivity and management judgment. Valuation methods that require greater estimation may result in values which may be greater or less than the value at which the investments may be ultimately sold. In addition, rapidly changing and unpredictable credit and equity market conditions could materially affect the valuation of securities as reported in our consolidated financial statements.
The determination of the impairments taken on our investments are also highly subjective and could materially impact our financial position. Impairments vary by investment type and are based upon our periodic evaluations and assessments of known and inherent risks associated with the respective asset class. Evaluations are revised as conditions change, and management reflects impairments in operations on a quarterly basis as such evaluations are revised. Furthermore, additional impairments may need to be taken in the future. Subjective impairments could adversely affect our financial conditions and our results of operations.
Certain of our investments are illiquid and may be difficult to sell, or to sell in significant amounts at acceptable prices, to generate cash to meet our needs
Investments in certain securities in funds attributed to utilizing the equity method, may be illiquid due to contractual provisions or investment market conditions. If we require significant amounts of cash on short notice in excess of anticipated cash obligations, then we may have difficulty selling these investments in a timely manner or we may be forced to sell or terminate them at unfavorable values.

33

Table of Contents

Our operating results may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations.
Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Many of our companies maintain both assets and liabilities in local currencies. Therefore, we are exposed to foreign exchange risk on the assets and liabilities denominated in those foreign currencies. Foreign exchange risk is reviewed as part of our risk management process. Locally required capital levels may be invested in home currencies in order to satisfy regulatory requirements and to support local insurance operations. The principal currencies creating foreign exchange risk are the British pound sterling and the Euro. As of December 31, 2012, $1,264.7 million, or 12.6% of our total assets and $1,217.9 million, or 21.9% of our total liabilities were held in foreign currencies. As of December 31, 2012, $152.3 million, or 2.7% of our total net liabilities held in foreign currencies was non-monetary items which do not require revaluation at each reporting date. We look to manage our foreign currency exposure through the use of currency derivatives as well as matching of our major foreign denominated assets and liabilities. However, there is no guarantee that we will effectively mitigate our exposure to foreign exchange losses. Please refer to Part II, Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for further discussion of foreign currency risk.
Heightened European sovereign debt risk could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Our fixed income portfolio contains certain Eurozone non-U.S. Government and Government Agency securities and Eurozone non-U.S. corporate securities which are subject to increased liquidity risk, interest rate risk and default risk as a result of heightened European sovereign debt risk. As of December 31, 2012, our fixed income portfolio contains $101.4 million or 2.0% of Eurozone Non-U.S. Government securities and $233.6 million or 4.6% of Eurozone non-U.S. corporate securities. Increased defaults, and or a significant increase in interest rates could result in losses, realized or unrealized, in the fair value of our investment portfolio and, consequently, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We are subject to cybersecurity risks and may incur increasing costs in an effort to minimize those risks.
We depend on the proper functioning and availability of our information technology platform, including communications and data processing systems, in operating our business. These systems consist of proprietary software programs that are integral to the efficient operation of our business, including our proprietary pricing and exposure management system. We are also required to effect electronic transmissions with third parties including brokers, clients vendors and others with whom we do business, and to facilitate the oversight conducted by our Board of Directors. Security breaches could expose us to a risk of loss or misuse of our information, litigation and potential liability. In addition, cyber incidents that impact the availability, reliability, speed, accuracy or other proper functioning of these systems could have a significant impact on our operations, and potentially on our results. We may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyber attacks. A significant cyber incident, including system failure, security breach, disruption by malware or other damage could interrupt or delay our operations, result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers or give rise to monetary fines and other penalties, which could be significant.
Risks Related to Acquisitions and New Ventures
Any future acquisitions or new ventures may expose us to operational risks.
We may in the future make strategic acquisitions, either of other companies or selected books of business, or grow our business organically. Any future acquisitions or new ventures may expose us to operational challenges and risks, including:
integrating financial and operational reporting systems;
integration into new geographical regions;
establishing satisfactory budgetary and other financial controls;
funding increased capital needs and overhead expenses;
obtaining management personnel required for expanded operations;
obtaining necessary regulatory permissions;
funding cash flow shortages that may occur if anticipated sales and revenues are not realized or are delayed, whether by general economic or market conditions or unforeseen internal difficulties;
the value of assets related to acquisitions or new ventures may be lower than expected or may diminish due to credit defaults or changes in interest rates and liabilities assumed may be greater than expected;
the assets and liabilities related to acquisitions or new ventures may be subject to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuation; and

34

Table of Contents

financial exposures in the event that the sellers of the entities we acquire are unable or unwilling to meet their indemnification, reinsurance and other obligations to us.
Our failure to manage successfully these operational challenges and risks may adversely impact our results of operations.
We may be exposed to risk in connection with our management of third party capital.
Our operating subsidiaries may owe certain legal duties and obligations to third party investors (including reporting obligations) and are subject to a variety of often complex laws and regulations relating to the management of third party capital. Compliance with some of these laws and regulations requires significant management time and attention. Although we seek to continually monitor our policies and procedures to attempt to ensure compliance, there could be faulty judgments, simple errors or mistakes, or the failure of our personnel to adhere to established policies and procedures which could result in our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations which could result in significant liabilities, penalties or other losses to the Company, and seriously harm our business and results of operations. In addition to the forgoing, our third party capital providers may redeem their interests in our managed funds, which could materially impact the financial condition of such funds, and could in turn materially impact our financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, we can provide no assurance that we may be able to attract and raise additional third party capital for our existing funds or for potential new funds and therefore we may forego existing and/or potential fee income and other income generating opportunities.
Risks Relating to Lloyd’s and Other U.K. Regulatory Matters
The regulation of Lloyd’s members and of Lloyd’s by the U.K. Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) and under European Directives and other local laws may result in intervention that could have a significant negative impact on Talbot.
Talbot operates in a regulated jurisdiction. Its underwriting activities are regulated by the FSA and franchised by Lloyd’s. The FSA has substantial powers of intervention in relation to the Lloyd’s managing agents (such as Talbot Underwriting Ltd.) which it regulates, including the power to remove their authorization to manage Lloyd’s syndicates. In addition, the Lloyd’s Franchise Board requires annual approval of Syndicate 1183’s business plan, including a maximum underwriting capacity, and may require changes to any business plan presented to it or additional capital to be provided to support underwriting (known as Funds at Lloyd’s or “FAL”). An adverse determination in any of these cases could lead to a change in business strategy which may have an adverse effect on Talbot’s financial condition and operating results.
An EU directive covering the capital adequacy, risk management and regulatory reporting for insurers, known as Solvency II was adopted by the European Parliament in April 2009. A directive, known as Omnibus II, which will amend certain of the Solvency II proposals, including the implementation date, was due to be considered by the European Parliament in 2012. On December 3 2012, the European Parliament rescheduled the plenary vote of the Omnibus II Directive to June 10, 2013. Consequently the proposed Solvency II insurance directive is now widely expected not to come into force before January 1, 2016 at the earliest. Insurers and reinsurers are undertaking a significant amount of work to ensure that they meet the new requirements and this may divert resources from other operational roles. The Company's implementation plans are well underway, although final Solvency II guidelines have not been fully published.
Additionally, Lloyd’s worldwide insurance and reinsurance business is subject to local regulation. Changes in such regulation may have an adverse effect on Lloyd’s generally and on Talbot.
The future structure of U.K. financial regulation
The U.K. government has set out proposals to replace the current system of financial regulation, which it believes has weaknesses, with a new regulatory framework. The key weakness it identified was that no single institution has the responsibility, authority and tools to monitor the financial system as a whole, and respond accordingly. That power will be given to the Bank of England. The U.K. government will create a new Financial Policy Committee (“FPC”) within the Bank, which will look at the wider economic and financial risks to the stability of the system.
In addition, the FSA will cease to exist in its current form, and the Government will create two new focused financial regulators:
A new Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of financial institutions that are subject to significant prudential regulation. It will adopt a more judgment-focused approach to regulation so that business models can be challenged, risks identified and action taken to preserve financial stability.
A new Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) will have a strong mandate for promoting confidence and transparency in financial services and to give greater protection for consumers of financial services.

35

Table of Contents

The Financial Services Bill was introduced to Parliament on January 26, 2012 and received Royal Assent in December 2012. “Legal cutover,” when the new system will be operational, is expected to be April 1, 2013.
Lloyd’s is keeping abreast of these developments and lobbying on behalf of the market when necessary. It is likely that Lloyd’s itself and managing agency businesses will come under the day-to-day supervision of the PRA in due course although Talbot will also have to interact with the FCA. We are unable to determine the impact, if any, the change in U.K. financial regulation will have on Talbot’s financial condition and results of operations.
Should Lloyd’s Council decide additional levies are required to support the central fund, this could adversely affect Talbot.
The central fund, which is funded by annual contributions and loans from Lloyd’s members, acts as a policyholders’ protection fund to make payments where any Lloyd’s member has failed to pay, or is unable to pay, valid claims. The Lloyd’s Council may resolve to make payments from the central fund for the advancement and protection of policyholders, which could lead to additional or special contributions being payable by Lloyd’s members, including Talbot. This, in turn, could adversely affect Talbot and the Company.
Lloyd’s 1992 and prior liabilities.
Lloyd’s currently has a number of contingent liabilities in respect of risks under certain policies allocated to 1992 or prior years of account.
Notwithstanding the “firebreak” introduced when Lloyd’s implemented the Reconstruction and Renewal Plan in 1996, and the phase II completion which was effective June 30, 2009 which, as a result Equitas and relevant policyholders now benefit from $7.0 billion of reinsurance cover provided under this arrangement, Lloyd’s members, including Talbot subsidiaries, remain indirectly exposed in a number of ways to 1992 and prior business then reinsured by Equitas, including through the application of overseas deposits and the central fund.
The statutory transfer of 1992 and prior non-life business from Names to Equitas Insurance Limited, relieved the members and former members concerned from those liabilities under U.K. law and the law of every other state within the EEA, however, if the limit of retrocessional cover from National Indemnity Company in respect of that business proves to be insufficient and as a consequence Equitas is unable to pay the 1992 and prior liabilities in full, Lloyd’s will be liable to meet any shortfall arising in respect of certain policies. The central fund, which Lloyd’s can replenish, subject to its Bye-laws, by issuing calls on current underwriting members of Lloyd’s (which will include Talbot subsidiaries), may be applied for these purposes. Lloyd’s also has contingent liabilities under indemnities in respect of claims against certain persons.
The failure of Lloyd’s to satisfy the FSA’s annual solvency test could result in limitations on managing agents’ ability, including Talbot’s ability to underwrite or to commence legal proceedings against Lloyd’s.
The FSA requires Lloyd’s to satisfy an annual solvency test. The solvency requirement in essence measures whether Lloyd’s has sufficient assets in the aggregate to meet all outstanding liabilities of its members, both current and in run-off. If Lloyd’s fails to satisfy the test in any year, the FSA may require Lloyd’s to cease trading and/or its members to cease or reduce underwriting. In the event of Lloyd’s failing to meet any solvency requirement, either the Society of Lloyd’s or the FSA may apply to the court for a Lloyd’s Market Reorganisation Order (“LMRO”). On the making of an order a “reorganisation controller” is appointed, and for its duration, a moratorium is imposed preventing any proceedings or legal process from being commenced or continued against any party that is the subject of such an order, which, if made, would apply to the market as a whole, including members, former members, managing agents, members’ agents, Lloyd’s brokers, approved run-off companies and managing general agents unless individual parties are specifically excluded.
A downgrade in Lloyd’s ratings would have an adverse effect on Syndicate 1183’s standing among brokers and customers and cause its premiums and earnings to decrease.
The ability of Lloyd’s syndicates to trade in certain classes of business at current levels is dependent on the maintenance of a satisfactory credit rating issued by an accredited rating agency. The financial security of the Lloyd’s market is regularly assessed by three independent rating agencies, A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings. Syndicate 1183 benefits from Lloyd’s current ratings and would be adversely affected if the current ratings were downgraded from their present levels.
An increase in the charges paid by Talbot to participate in the Lloyd’s market could adversely affect Talbot’s financial and operating results.
Lloyd’s imposes a number of charges on businesses operating in the Lloyd’s market, including, for example, annual subscriptions and central fund contributions for members and policy signing charges. The basis and amounts of charges may be varied by Lloyd’s and could adversely affect Talbot and the Company.

36

Table of Contents

An increase in the level or type of deposits required by U.S. Situs Trust Deeds to be maintained by Lloyd’s syndicates could result in Syndicate 1183 being required to make a cash call which could adversely affect Talbot’s financial performance.
The U.S. Situs Trust Deeds require syndicates transacting certain types of business in the United States to maintain minimum deposits as protection for U.S. policyholders. These deposits represent the syndicates’ estimates of unpaid claims liabilities (less premiums receivable) relating to this business, adjusted for provisions for potential bad debt on premiums earned but not received and for any anticipated profit on unearned premiums. No credit is generally allowed for potential reinsurance recoveries. The New York Insurance Department and the U.S. National Association of Insurance Commissioners currently require funding of 30% of gross liabilities in relation to insurance business classified as “Surplus Lines.” The “Credit for Reinsurance” trust fund is usually required to be funded at 100% of gross liabilities. The funds contained within the deposits are not ordinarily available to meet trading expenses. U.S. regulators may increase the level of funding required or change the requirements as to the nature of funding. Accordingly, in the event of a major claim arising in the United States, for example from a major catastrophe, syndicates participating in such U.S. business may be required to make cash calls on their members to meet claims payments and deposit funding obligations. This could adversely affect Talbot.
Risks Related to Taxation
We may be subject to U.S. tax.
We intend to operate in such a manner that none of our non-U.S. companies would be considered engaged in a U.S. trade or business. No definitive standards, however, are provided by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), U.S. Treasury regulations or court decisions regarding activities that constitute the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Because that determination is essentially factual, we cannot assure that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will not contend that we are engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If we were found to be so engaged, we could be subject to U.S. corporate income and branch profits tax on our earnings that are effectively connected to such U.S. trade or business.

If the group company involved is entitled to the benefits of a U.S. income tax treaty (the “Treaty”), it would not be subject to U.S. income tax on any income protected by the Treaty unless that income is attributable to a permanent establishment in the U.S. The income tax treaty between the U.S. and Bermuda (the “Bermuda Treaty”) clearly applies to premium income, but may be construed as not protecting other income such as investment income. If Validus Re were found to be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. and were entitled to the benefits of the Bermuda Treaty in general, but the Bermuda Treaty was found not to protect investment income, a portion of Validus Re's investment income could be subject to U.S. tax.
U.S. persons who hold common shares may be subject to U.S. income taxation at ordinary income rates on our undistributed earnings and profits.
Controlled Foreign Corporation Status:    The Company should not be a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) because its organizational documents provide that if the common shares owned, directly, indirectly or by attribution, by any person would otherwise represent more than 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all the Company’s common shares, the voting rights attached to those common shares will be reduced so that such person may not exercise and is not attributed more than 9.09% of the total voting power of the common shares. We cannot assure, however, that the provisions of the Organizational Documents will operate as intended and that the Company will not be considered a CFC. If the Company were considered a CFC, any shareholder that is a U.S. person that owns directly, indirectly or by attribution, 10% or more of the voting power of the Company may be subject to current U.S. income taxation at ordinary income tax rates on all or a portion of the Company’s undistributed earnings and profits attributable to Validus Re’s insurance and reinsurance income, including underwriting and investment income. Any gain realized on sale of common shares by such shareholder may also be taxed as a dividend to the extent of the Company’s earnings and profits attributed to such shares during the period that the shareholder held the shares and while the Company was a CFC (with certain adjustments).
Related Person Insurance Income:    If the related person insurance income (“RPII”) of any of the Company’s non-U.S. insurance subsidiaries were to equal or exceed 20% of that subsidiary’s gross insurance income in any taxable year, and U.S. persons were treated as owning 25% or more of the subsidiary’s stock, by vote or value, a U.S. person who directly or indirectly owns any common shares on the last day of such taxable year on which the 25% threshold is met would be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes that person’s ratable share of that subsidiary’s RPII for the taxable year. The amount to be included in income is determined as if the RPII were distributed proportionately to U.S. shareholders on that date, regardless of whether that income is distributed. The amount of RPII to be included in income is limited by such shareholder’s share of the subsidiary’s current-year earnings and profits, and possibly reduced by the shareholder’s share of prior year deficits in earnings and profits. The amount of RPII earned by a subsidiary will depend on several factors, including the identity of persons directly or indirectly insured or reinsured by that subsidiary. Although we do not believe that the 20% threshold will be met for our non-U.S. insurance subsidiaries, some of the factors that might affect that determination in any period may be beyond our control. Consequently, we cannot assure that we will not exceed the RPII threshold in any taxable year.

37

Table of Contents

If a U.S. person disposes of shares in a non-U.S. insurance corporation that had RPII (even if the 20% threshold was not met) and the 25% threshold is met at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of disposition, and the U.S. person owned any shares at such time, any gain from the disposition will generally be treated as a dividend to the extent of the holder’s share of the corporation’s undistributed earnings and profits that were accumulated during the period that the holder owned the shares (possibly whether or not those earnings and profits are attributable to RPII). In addition, the shareholder will be required to comply with specified reporting requirements, regardless of the amount of shares owned. We believe that those rules should not apply to a disposition of common shares because the Company is not itself directly engaged in the insurance business. We cannot assure, however, that the IRS will not successfully assert that those rules apply to a disposition of common shares.
U.S. persons who hold common shares will be subject to adverse tax consequences if the Company is considered a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If the Company is considered a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder who owns common shares will be subject to adverse tax consequences, including a greater tax liability than might otherwise apply and an interest charge on certain taxes that are deferred as a result of the Company’s non-U.S. status. We currently do not expect that the Company will be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the current taxable year or the foreseeable future because, through Validus Re, Talbot 2002 Underwriting Capital Ltd. and Talbot Underwriting Ltd., it intends to be predominantly engaged in the active conduct of a global insurance and reinsurance business. We cannot assure you, however, that the Company will not be deemed to be a PFIC by the IRS. No regulations currently exist regarding the application of the PFIC provisions to an insurance company.
Changes in U.S. tax laws may be retroactive and could subject a U.S. holder of our common shares to other adverse tax consequences.
The tax treatment of non-U.S. companies and their U.S. and non-U.S. insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries has been the subject of Congressional discussion and legislative proposals in the U.S. We cannot assure that future legislative action will not increase the amount of U.S. tax payable by us.
In addition, the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations, including those regarding whether a company is engaged in a U.S. trade or business or is a PFIC, or whether U.S. holders would be required to include “subpart F income” or RPII in their gross income, are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. No regulations regarding the application of the PFIC rules to insurance companies are currently in effect, and the regulations regarding RPII are still in proposed form. New regulations or pronouncements interpreting or clarifying such rules may be forthcoming. We cannot be certain if, when, or in what form, such regulations or pronouncements may be provided, and whether such guidance will have a retroactive effect.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012

Under previous U.S. law, non-corporate U.S. holders of our common shares generally are taxed on dividends at a capital gains tax rate of 15% rather than ordinary income tax rates. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 raises the top rate for capital gains and dividends to 20%, up from the maximum 15% rate. That top rate will apply to the extent that a taxpayer's income exceeds the thresholds set for the 39.6% rate ($400,000 for single filers; $450,000 for joint filers and $425,000 for heads of households).
The Obama administration’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013 could disallow a deduction for premiums paid for reinsurance.
Insurance companies are generally allowed a deduction for premiums paid for reinsurance. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 contains a proposal that denies an insurance company a deduction for premiums and other amounts paid to affiliated foreign companies with respect to reinsurance of property and casualty risks to the extent that the foreign reinsurer (or its parent company) is not subject to U.S. income tax with respect to the premiums received. Furthermore, the proposed law would exclude from the insurance company’s income (in the same proportion in which the premium deduction was denied) any return premiums, ceding commissions, reinsurance recovered, or other amounts received with respect to reinsurance policies for which a premium deduction is wholly or partially denied. The current proposal would only apply to policies issued in tax years beginning after December 31, 2012. Based on the information currently available to us, it is uncertain to what extent this legislation will adversely impact us.
We may become subject to taxes in Bermuda after March 31, 2035, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Under current Bermuda law, we are not subject to tax on income or capital gains. We have received from the Minister of Finance under The Exempted Undertaking Tax Protection Act 1966, as amended, an assurance that, in the event that Bermuda enacts legislation imposing tax computed on profits, income, any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance, then the imposition of any such tax shall not be applicable to us or to any of our operations or shares,

38

Table of Contents

debentures or other obligations, until March 31, 2035. We could be subject to taxes in Bermuda after that date. This assurance is subject to the proviso that it is not to be construed to prevent the application of any tax or duty to such persons as are ordinarily resident in Bermuda or to prevent the application of any tax payable in accordance with the provisions of the Land Tax Act 1967 or otherwise payable in relation to any property leased to us. We and Validus Re each pay annual Bermuda government fees; Validus Re pays annual insurance license fees. In addition, all entities employing individuals in Bermuda are required to pay a payroll tax and there are other sundry taxes payable, directly or indirectly, to the Bermuda government.
Our non-U.K. companies may be subject to U.K. tax.
We intend to operate in such a manner that none of our non-U.K. companies would be resident in the U.K. for tax purposes. A company incorporated outside the U.K. will be resident in the U.K. if its business is centrally managed and controlled from the U.K.. Because the concept of central management and control is not defined in statute but derives from case law and the determination of residence is subjective, the U.K. Inland Revenue might contend successfully that one or more of our companies is resident in the U.K..
Furthermore, we intend to operate in such a manner that none of our non-U.K. companies carry on a trade wholly or partly in the U.K.. Case law has held that whether or not a trade is being carried on is a matter of fact and emphasis is placed on where operations take place from which the profits in substance arise. This judgment is subjective. U.K. Inland Revenue might contend successfully that one or more of our non-U.K. companies, is conducting business in the U.K. For U.K. tax purposes, a non-U.K. tax resident company will only be subject to U.K. corporation tax if it carries on a trade in the U.K. through a U.K. permanent establishment. However, that company will still have an income tax liability in the U.K. if it carries on a trade in the U.K., even absent a permanent establishment, unless that company is treaty-protected.
On July 19, 2011, the U.K. government passed the Finance Act 2011 which reduced the U.K. corporate income tax rate from 27% to 26% (as of April 1, 2011) and provided for a further reduction in the U.K. corporate income tax rate from 26% to 25% (effective April 1, 2012)
On December 6, 2011, the U.K. government released draft legislation for a number of key tax reforms which includes a further reduction in U.K. corporation tax rate to 24% (effective April 1, 2013) and 23% (effective April 1, 2014). The effect of a change in an enacted tax law should be recognized through an adjustment to income from continuing operations in the period that legislation is enacted.
The deferred tax liability for underwriting profit taxable in future periods arises because of a difference in timing, for tax payment purposes, between when Talbot syndicate underwriting income is subject to tax and when corresponding corporate name reinsurance premiums are allowable for tax. Under previous U.K. tax legislation, syndicate underwriting income for a particular underwriting year of account is taxed in the year the syndicate closes. However the corresponding corporate name reinsurance premiums are allowable for tax as they are accounted for on an accruals basis. On December 6, 2011, HM Revenue & Customs announced that this timing difference will be eliminated by legislating that the corporate name reinsurance premiums will only allowable for tax in the same period that the syndicate underwriting income for the corresponding underwriting year of account is subject to tax. This change only applies to the 2012 and future underwriting years of account. Therefore, it is expected that the deferred tax liability will be eliminated in future accounting periods as a result of this change.

Our non-Swiss companies may be subject to taxation in Switzerland.

None of our newly acquired companies, except for Flagstone Reassurance Suisse SA and Flagstone Management S.A. are incorporated or managed in Switzerland. Accordingly, none of our other companies should be liable for Swiss corporation taxation unless it carries on business through a permanent establishment in Switzerland. From a Swiss tax perspective, a permanent establishment is a fixed place of business through which a company performs business activities that are considered as being quantitatively and qualitatively significant by the tax authorities, and may include a branch, office, agency or place of management. As of the date of this Annual Report, each of our companies intends to operate in such a manner so that none of our companies, apart from Flagstone Suisse and Flagstone Management S.A., will carry on business through a permanent establishment in Switzerland. If any of our companies were to be treated as carrying on business in Switzerland through a branch or agency or of having a permanent establishment in Switzerland, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

We may be subject to taxation in Luxembourg.

Flagstone Reinsurance (Luxembourg) SARL, Flagstone Finance S.A. and Flagstone Capital Management Luxembourg SICAF are incorporated and carry on business in Luxembourg. However, none of our other companies should be subject to taxation in Luxembourg. If any of our companies were to be treated as carrying on business in Luxembourg through a branch or agency or having a permanent establishment in Luxembourg, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

39

Table of Contents


We may be subject to taxation in India.

None of our companies, except for Flagstone Underwriting Support Services (India) Pvt Ltd, should be treated as being resident in India for corporate tax purposes. Accordingly, none of our other companies should be liable for corporate tax in India unless it receives or is deemed to receive income, from whatever source derived, in India or it has income that arises or accrues (or is deemed to arise or accrue) in India. As of the date of this Annual Report, each of our companies intends to operate in such a manner so that none of our companies, apart from Flagstone Underwriting Support Services (India) Pvt Ltd, receives or is deemed to receive income in India or has income that arises or accrues in India for purposes of corporate tax in India. If any of our companies were to be treated as receiving income in India or earning income that arises or accrues in India, our results of operations could be affected adversely.
Risks Related to Laws and Regulations Applicable to Us
If we become subject to insurance statutes and regulations in addition to the statutes and regulations that currently apply to us, there could be a significant and negative impact on our business.
We currently conduct our business in a manner such that we expect the Company will not be subject to insurance and/or reinsurance licensing requirements or regulations in any jurisdiction other than Bermuda, in limited circumstances, the United States, and, with respect to Talbot, the U.K. and jurisdictions to which Lloyd’s is subject. See “Business—Regulation—United States and Bermuda.” Although we do not currently intend to engage in activities which would require us to comply with insurance and reinsurance licensing requirements of other jurisdictions, should we choose to engage in activities that would require us to become licensed in such jurisdictions, we cannot assure that we will be able to do so or that we will be able to do so in a timely manner. Furthermore, the laws and regulations applicable to direct insurers could indirectly affect us, such as collateral requirements in various U.S. states to enable such insurers to receive credit for reinsurance ceded to us.
The insurance and reinsurance regulatory framework of Bermuda and the insurance of U.S. risk by companies based in Bermuda that are not licensed or authorized in the U.S. have recently become subject to increased scrutiny in many jurisdictions, including the United States. In the past, there have been U.S. Congressional and other initiatives in the United States regarding increased supervision and regulation of the insurance industry, including proposals to supervise and regulate offshore reinsurers. Government regulators are generally concerned with the protection of policyholders rather than other constituencies, such as our shareholders. We are not able to predict the future impact on our operations of changes in the laws and regulations to which we are or may become subject.
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Shares
Because we are a holding company and substantially all of our operations are conducted by our main operating subsidiaries, Validus Re and Talbot, our ability to meet any ongoing cash requirements and to pay dividends will depend on our ability to obtain cash dividends or other cash payments or obtain loans from Validus Re and Talbot.
We conduct substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries. Our ability to meet our ongoing cash requirements, including any debt service payments or other expenses, and pay dividends on our common shares in the future, will depend on our ability to obtain cash dividends or other cash payments or obtain loans from these subsidiaries and as a result will depend on the financial condition of these subsidiaries. The inability of these subsidiaries to pay dividends in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our cash requirements could have a material adverse effect on us and the value of our common shares. Each of these subsidiaries is a separate and distinct legal entity that has no obligation to pay any dividends or to lend or advance us funds and may be restricted from doing so by contract, including other financing arrangements, charter provisions or applicable legal and regulatory requirements or rating agency constraints. The payment of dividends by these subsidiaries to us is limited under Bermuda law and regulations. The Insurance Act provides that our Bermuda subsidiaries may not declare or pay in any financial year dividends of more than 25% of its total statutory capital and surplus (as shown on its statutory balance sheet in relation to the previous financial year) unless it files an affidavit with the BMA at least seven days prior to the payment signed by at least two directors and such subsidiary’s principal representative, stating that in their opinion such subsidiaries will continue to satisfy the required margins following declaration of those dividends, though there is no additional requirement for BMA approval. In addition, before reducing its total statutory capital by 15% or more (as set out in its previous years’ statutory financial statements) each of these subsidiaries must make application to the BMA for permission to do so, such application to consist of an affidavit signed by at least two directors and such subsidiary’s principal representative stating that in their opinion the proposed reduction in capital will not cause such subsidiaries to fail to meet its relevant margins, and such other information as the BMA may require. The amounts that are unrestricted net assets and which are available from the Company's subsidiaries for distribution as dividend payments to Validus Holdings, Ltd. without approval of the BMA for Validus Re, Validus Re Americas, Ltd., Talbot Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd. ("TIBL"), AlphaCat Reinsurance, Ltd., PaCRe, Ltd., Flagstone Reassurance Suisse SA (Bermuda Branch) and Mont Fort Re Ltd. were $826.2 million, $nil, $467.3 million, $0.0 million, $nil, $349.4 million and $0.1 million respectively.

40

Table of Contents

The timing and amount of any cash dividends on our common shares are at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our results of operations and cash flows, our financial position and capital requirements, general business conditions, legal, tax, regulatory, rating agency and contractual constraints or restrictions and any other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant. In addition, the indenture governing our Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures would restrict us from declaring or paying dividends on our common shares if we are downgraded by A.M. Best to a financial strength rating of “B” (Fair) or below or if A.M. Best withdraws its financial strength rating on any of our material insurance subsidiaries.
Future sales of our common shares and grants of restricted shares may affect the market price of our common shares and the future exercise of options and warrants may result in immediate and substantial dilution of the common shares.
As of February 13, 2013 (but without giving effect to unvested restricted shares), we had 107,468,544 common shares outstanding and 6,410,472 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. Approximately 7,875,859 of these outstanding shares were subject to the volume limitations and other conditions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the “Securities Act.” Furthermore, certain of our sponsoring shareholders and their transferees have the right to require us to register these common shares under the Securities Act for sale to the public, either in an independent offering pursuant to a demand registration or in conjunction with a public offering, subject to a “lock-up” agreement of no more than 90 days. Following any registration of this type, the common shares to which the registration relates will be freely transferable. In addition, we have filed one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register common shares issued or reserved for issuance under our 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The number of common shares that have been reserved for issuance under the Plan is equal to 13,126,896 of which 3,128,443 shares remain available as of December 31, 2012. We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our common shares, or the availability of common shares for future sale, will have on the market price of our common shares. Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that sales of this type could occur, could depress the market price of our common shares and may make it more difficult for our shareholders to sell their common shares at a time and price that they deem appropriate.
Our Bye-laws authorize our Board of Directors to issue one or more series of common shares and preferred shares without stockholder approval. Specifically, we have an authorized share capital of 571,428,571 shares ($0.175 par value per share), which can consist of common shares and/or preference shares, as determined by our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has the right to issue the remaining shares without obtaining any approval from our stockholders and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series or designation of such series. Any issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our common shares and could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing the payment of any dividends (including any liquidating dividends) and any change in control of us. If a significant number of either common or preferred shares are issued, it may cause the market price of our common shares to decline.
Our classified board structure may prevent a change in our control.
Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. Each year one class of directors is elected by the shareholders for a three year term. The staggered terms of our directors may reduce the possibility of a tender offer or an attempt at a change in control, even though a tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of our shareholders.
There are provisions in our Bye-laws that reduce the voting rights of voting common shares that are held by a person or group to the extent that such person or group holds more than 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all common shares entitled to vote on a matter.
In general, and except as provided below, shareholders have one vote for each voting common share held by them and are entitled to vote at all meetings of shareholders. However, if, and for so long as, the common shares of a shareholder, including any votes conferred by “controlled shares” (as defined below), would otherwise represent more than 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all common shares entitled to vote on a matter, including an election of directors, the votes conferred by such shares will be reduced by whatever amount is necessary such that, after giving effect to any such reduction (and any other reductions in voting power required by our Bye-laws), the votes conferred by such shares represent 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all common shares entitled to vote on such matter. “Controlled shares” include, among other things, all shares that a person is deemed to own directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of Section 958 of the Code, or Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). At December 31, 2012, there were 109,365,642 voting common shares, of which 9,941,336 voting common shares would confer votes that represent 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all common shares entitled to vote generally at an election of directors. An investor who does not hold, and is not deemed under the provisions of our Bye-laws to own, any of our common shares may therefore purchase up to such amount without being subject to voting cutback provisions in our Bye-laws.
In addition, we have the authority under our Bye-laws to request information from any shareholder for the purpose of determining ownership of controlled shares by such shareholder.

41

Table of Contents

There are regulatory limitations on the ownership and transfer of our common shares which could result in the delay or denial of any transfers shareholders might seek to make.
The BMA must approve all issuances and transfers of securities of a Bermuda exempt company. We have received permission from the BMA to issue our common shares, and for the free transferability of our common shares as long as the common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or other appointed exchange, to and among persons who are residents and non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes. Any other transfers remain subject to approval by the BMA and such approval may be denied or delayed.
A shareholder of our company may have greater difficulties in protecting its interests than as a shareholder of a U.S. corporation.
The Companies Act 1981 (the “Companies Act”), which applies to us, differs in material respects from laws generally applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Taken together with the provisions of our Bye-laws, some of these differences may result in a shareholder having greater difficulties in protecting its interests as a shareholder of our company than it would have as a shareholder of a U.S. corporation. This affects, among other things, the circumstances under which transactions involving an interested director are voidable, whether an interested director can be held accountable for any benefit realized in a transaction with our company, what approvals are required for business combinations by our company with a large shareholder or a wholly owned subsidiary, what rights a shareholder may have as a shareholder to enforce specified provisions of the Companies Act or our Bye-laws, and the circumstances under which we may indemnify our directors and officers.
We are a Bermuda company and it may be difficult for our shareholders to enforce judgments against us or against our directors and executive officers.
We were incorporated under the laws of Bermuda and our business is based in Bermuda. In addition, certain of our directors and officers reside outside the United States, and a portion of our assets and the assets of such persons may be located in jurisdictions outside the United States. As such, it may be difficult or impossible to effect service of process within the United States upon us or those persons, or to recover against us or them on judgments of U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers in the first instance for violation of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial application under Bermuda law and do not have force of law in Bermuda; however, a Bermuda court may impose civil liability, including the possibility of monetary damages, on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law. Currently, of our executive officers, Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino, C. Jerome Dill, Jeffrey Sangster, Robert Kuzloski and Lixin Zeng reside in Bermuda, Edward Noonan, Stuart Mercer and Jonathan Ritz maintain residences in both Bermuda and the United States and Rupert Atkin resides in the United Kingdom. Of our directors, Edward Noonan maintains residences in both Bermuda and the United States, Jean-Marie Nessi resides in France, Michael Carpenter resides in the United Kingdom and the remainder reside in the United States.
We have been advised by Bermuda counsel, that there is doubt as to whether the courts of Bermuda would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or our directors and officers, as well as the experts named herein, predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws, or original actions brought in Bermuda against us or such persons predicated solely upon U.S. federal securities laws. Further, we have been advised by Bermuda counsel that there is no treaty in effect between the United States and Bermuda providing for the enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters, and there are grounds upon which Bermuda courts may decline to enforce the judgments of U.S. courts. Some remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including some remedies available under the U.S. federal securities laws, may not be allowed in Bermuda courts as contrary to public policy in Bermuda. Because judgments of U.S. courts are not automatically enforceable in Bermuda, it may be difficult for our shareholders to recover against us based upon such judgments.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

Item 2.    Properties
The Company and its subsidiaries currently occupy office space as described below. As a result of the Flagstone acquisition, we own office space and buildings in Hyderabad, India, Martigny, Switzerland and Luxembourg. We believe our current facilities and the leaseholds with respect thereto are sufficient for us to conduct our operations.

42

Table of Contents

Legal entity
 
Location
 
Expiration date
Validus Holdings, Ltd. and Validus Reinsurance, Ltd.
 
Pembroke, Bermuda
 
December 31, 2021
Validus Reinsurance, Ltd.
 
Hamburg, Germany
 
January 1, 2014
Validus Research Inc. 
 
Waterloo, Canada
 
March 31, 2015
Validus Research Inc. 
 
Toronto, Canada
 
March 31, 2013
Validus Reaseguros, Inc. 
 
Miami, Florida, USA
 
April 1, 2018
Validus Services, Inc. 
 
New York, New York, USA
 
November 8, 2015
Talbot Underwriting Services (U.S.) Ltd.
 
New York, New York, USA
 
November 8, 2015
Validus Re Americas (New Jersey), Inc.
 
Princeton, New Jersey, USA
 
June 30, 2022
Talbot Holdings Ltd. and Talbot Underwriting Services Ltd. 
 
London, England
 
June 22, 2024
Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. 
 
Republic of Singapore
 
August 31, 2013
Talbot Risk Services PTE Ltd. 
 
Republic of Singapore
 
December 31, 2015
Talbot Underwriting Services (MENA) Ltd. 
 
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 
January 31, 2014
Validus Re Chile S.A. 
 
Santiago, Chile
 
May 1, 2014
Flagstone Management Services (Halifax)
 
Halifax, Canada
 
July 31, 2014
Flagstone Bermuda Holdings
 
Hamilton, Bermuda
 
June 1, 2016
Flagstone Reinsurance (Africa)
 
South Africa
 
August 31, 2014
Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited
 
Hamilton, Bermuda
 
September 30, 2015

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings
Similar to the rest of the insurance and reinsurance industry, we are subject to litigation and arbitration in the ordinary course of business.
Executive Officers of the Company
The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and key employees as of February 15, 2013:
Name
 
Age
 
Position
Edward J. Noonan
 
54
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Validus Group
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino
 
46
 
Director, President and Chief Financial Officer
Jeffrey D. Sangster
 
40
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
C.N. Rupert Atkin
 
54
 
Chief Executive Officer of the Talbot Group
Kean D. Driscoll
 
39
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd.
Andrew E. Kudera
 
53
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary
Robert F. Kuzloski
 
49
 
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Stuart W. Mercer
 
53
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer
Jonathan P. Ritz
 
45
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Lixin Zeng
 
44
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of AlphaCat Managers, Ltd. and Validus Research Inc.
Edward J. Noonan has been Chairman of our Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its formation. Mr. Noonan has 30 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry, serving most recently as the acting Chief Executive Officer of Global Indemnity plc (Nasdaq: GBLI) from February 2005 through October 2005 and as a member of the Board of Directors from December 2003 to May 2007. Mr. Noonan served as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Re-Insurance Company from 1997 to 2002, having joined American Re in 1983. Mr. Noonan also served as Chairman of Inter-Ocean

43

Table of Contents

Reinsurance Holdings of Hamilton, Bermuda from 1997 to 2002. Mr. Noonan is also a Director of Central Mutual Insurance Company and All American Insurance Company, both of which are property and casualty companies based in Ohio.
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino was appointed a director of the Company on October 31, 2012 and is currently President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, a position that he has held since November 2010 and March 2006, respectively. Mr. Consolino has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, specifically in providing investment banking services to the insurance industry, and most recently served as a managing director in Merrill Lynch’s Financial Institutions Group specializing in insurance company advisory and financing transactions. He serves as a Director of American Financial Group and of National Interstate Corporation, Ohio based insurance companies, and of AmWINS Group, Inc., a wholesale insurance broker based in North Carolina. Mr. Consolino will be stepping down as President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective as of end of day February 15, 2013.

Jeffrey D. Sangster joined the Company in October 2006 and has served in various finance positions during that time, including Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer as well as Chief Financial Officer of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. and will be appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Validus Holdings, Ltd., effective February 16, 2013. Mr. Sangster has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company since May 2012. Mr. Sangster is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Bermuda and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Manitoba.
C. N. Rupert Atkin began his career at the Alexander Howden Group in 1980 before moving to Catlin Underwriting Agencies in 1984. After six years at Catlin he left to join Talbot, then Venton Underwriting Ltd to start Syndicate 1183 as Active Underwriter. In November 2001, Mr. Atkin was made Director of Underwriting. Following the sale of Talbot to Validus in the summer of 2007 Mr. Atkin was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Talbot. Mr. Atkin has served or is still serving on a variety of market bodies including chairing the Lloyd's Underwriters' Association and Joint War Risk Committee and being a member of the Lloyd's Insurance Services Board, Lloyd's Regulatory Board, Lloyd's Professional Standards Committee and Lloyd's Charities Trust Committee. Mr. Atkin was appointed to the Council of Lloyd's in 2007 and appointed as the Chairman of the Lloyd's Market Association in 2012.
Kean D. Driscoll is the Chief Executive Officer of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd., the reinsurance segment for the Validus Group. He was a founding member of the Company, and previously served as Chief Underwriting Officer. Mr. Driscoll has 17 years of experience as a reinsurance underwriter, and was previously with Quanta Re, and Zurich Re N.A. (Converium). Mr. Driscoll holds a B.A. in Literature from Colgate University, and an M.B.A. from Columbia University, where he graduated with Honors.
Andrew E. Kudera has served as Chief Actuary of the Company since January 2010. Previously, Mr. Kudera operated an independent actuarial consulting firm which served as corporate actuary and loss reserve specialist for Validus Re from its inception through to the end of 2008. Prior to establishing his own consulting firm, Mr. Kudera was the Chief Reserving Actuary for Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., a large international insurance and reinsurance company. Mr. Kudera has over 30 years of actuarial and financial management experience in the insurance industry, primarily in a consulting capacity. Mr. Kudera is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, and a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.
Robert F. Kuzloski joined the company in January 2009 and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Legal Officer of the Company until August of 2012 when he was appointed Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company. Prior to joining the Company in January of 2009, Mr. Kuzloski served as Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of XL Capital Ltd. Prior to that, Mr. Kuzloski worked as an attorney at the law firm of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP where he specialized in general corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.
Stuart W. Mercer has been Executive Vice President of the Company since its formation. Mr. Mercer has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry focusing on structured derivatives, energy finance and reinsurance. Previously, Mr. Mercer was a senior advisor to DTE Energy Trading.
Jonathan P. Ritz serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Ritz has over 20 years of experience in the (re)insurance and brokerage industries. Most recently, Mr. Ritz served as Chief Operating Officer of IFG Companies-Burlington Insurance Group. Prior to IFG, Mr. Ritz served as Chief Operating Officer of the specialty lines division of ICAT Holdings LLC. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Ritz was a Managing Director at Guy Carpenter and from 1997 to 2007 he held various positions with United America Insurance Group including Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of ceded reinsurance.
Lixin Zeng, Ph.D., CFA serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of AlphaCat Managers, Ltd. and has played a key role in AlphaCat since its formation in 2008. Prior to this role, he was Executive Risk Officer of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd., responsible for developing and executing the catastrophe risk strategy of the entire Validus Group.  Mr. Zeng was one of the original eight employees at the founding of the Company in 2005.  His prior positions include: Chief Catastrophe Risk Officer at

44

Table of Contents

the ACE Group from 2004 to 2005, Head of Development at Willis Re Inc. from 2001 to 2004, Analyst at EW Blanch Co. from 1998 to 2001 and Research Scientist at Arkwright Mutual Insurance Co from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Zeng has expertise in insurance portfolio optimization and risk management and has published multiple articles in professional journals on related topics.  He has a Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Washington where he graduated in 1996.  He received a B.S. in Meteorology from Beijing University, graduating in 1990 and is a CFA charterholder.
Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosure—Not Applicable

45

Table of Contents

PART II
All amounts presented in this part are in U.S. dollars except as otherwise noted.

Item 5.    Market for Registrants, Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company’s common shares, $0.175 par value per share, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “VR.”
The following tables sets forth the high and low sales prices per share, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape, of the Company’s common shares per fiscal quarter for the two most recent fiscal years.
 
High
 
Low
2012:
 
 
 
1st Quarter
$
32.51

 
$
29.97

2nd Quarter
$
33.25

 
$
30.41

3rd Quarter
$
34.91

 
$
31.62

4th Quarter
$
37.63

 
$
33.11

 
High
 
Low
2011:
 
 
 
1st Quarter
$
33.72

 
$
28.86

2nd Quarter
$
34.95

 
$
29.44

3rd Quarter
$
31.35

 
$
23.24

4th Quarter
$
31.77

 
$
23.87

There were approximately 45 record holders of our common shares as of December 31, 2012. This figure does not represent the actual number of beneficial owners of our common shares because such shares are frequently held in “street name” by securities dealers and others for the benefit of individual owners who may vote the shares.

46

Table of Contents

Performance Graph
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return, assuming the reinvestment of dividends, over the period from the Company’s IPO on July 25, 2007, through December 31, 2012 as compared to the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Stock Index and the cumulative total return of an index of the Company’s peer group. The peer group index is comprised of the following companies*: Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd., Alterra Capital Holdings Limited, Arch Capital Group, Ltd., Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., Everest Re Group, Ltd., Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., PartnerRe Ltd., Platinum Underwriters Holdings Ltd., and RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

Dividend Policy
On February 6, 2013, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had increased the Company's annual dividend by 20% from $1.00 to $1.20 per common share and per common share equivalent. The first quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per common share and $0.30 per common share equivalent is payable on March 29, 2013 to holders of record on March 15, 2013. In addition, the Company announced a special dividend in the amount of $2.00 per common share and $2.00 per common share equivalent for which each outstanding warrant is exercisable, payable on February 26, 2013 to shareholders and warrant holders of record as of February 19, 2013.
We are a holding company and have no direct operations. Our ability to pay dividends depends, in part, on the ability of Validus Re and Talbot to pay dividends to us. As a holding company, Validus Holdings, Ltd.'s principal source of income is dividends or other sources of permitted payments from its subsidiaries. These funds provide the cash flow required for dividend payments to the Company's shareholders. The amount of retained earnings that is unrestricted for the payment of dividends by Validus Holdings, Ltd., to its shareholders was $1,643.0 million as at December 31, 2012. The Bermuda Companies Act 1981 (the “Companies Act”) limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends and distributions to shareholders. Total statutory capital and surplus and total statutory capital of our subsidiaries are relevant to the calculation of retained earnings that are free of restriction for the payment of dividends to Validus Holdings Ltd.
The ability of certain of these subsidiaries to pay dividends to us is limited under Bermuda law and regulations. The Insurance Act provides that each of our Bermuda subsidiaries may not declare or pay, in any financial year, dividends of more than 25% of

47

Table of Contents

its total statutory capital and surplus (as shown on its statutory balance sheet in relation to the previous financial year) unless it files with the BMA at least seven days prior to the payment, an affidavit signed by at least two directors and such subsidiary's principal representative, stating that in their opinion such subsidiary will continue to satisfy the required margins following declaration of those dividends, however, there is no additional requirement for BMA approval. In addition, before reducing its total statutory capital by 15% or more (as set out in its previous years' statutory financial statements) each of these subsidiaries must make application to the BMA for permission to do so, such application to consist of an affidavit signed by at least two directors and such subsidiary's principal representative stating that in their opinion the proposed reduction in capital will not cause such subsidiaries to fail to meet its relevant margins, and such other information as the BMA may require. The Company's primary restrictions on net assets of subsidiaries consist of regulatory requirements placed upon the regulated (re)insurance subsidiaries to hold minimum amounts of total statutory capital and surplus and there were no other material restrictions on net assets in place as of December 31, 2012. These amounts are available for distribution as dividend payments to the Company, subject to approval of the BMA. The amounts that are unrestricted net assets and which are available from the Company's subsidiaries for distribution as dividend payments to Validus Holdings, Ltd. without approval of the BMA for Validus Re, Validus Re Americas, Ltd., TIBL, AlphaCat Reinsurance, Ltd., PaCRe, Ltd., Flagstone Reassurance Suisse SA (Bermuda Branch) and Mont Fort Re Ltd. were $826.2 million, $nil, $467.3 million, $nil, $nil, $349.4 million and $0.1 million respectively.
Talbot manages Syndicate 1183 (the “Syndicate”) at Lloyd’s. Lloyd’s requires Talbot to hold cash and investments in trust for the benefit of policyholders either as Syndicate trust funds or as Funds at Lloyd’s (“FAL”). Talbot may not distribute funds from the Syndicate into its corporate member’s trust accounts unless, firstly, they are represented by audited profits and, secondly, the Syndicate has adequate future cash flow to service its policyholders. Talbot’s corporate member may not distribute funds to Talbot’s unregulated bank or investment accounts unless they are represented by a surplus of cash and investments over the FAL requirement. Additionally, U.K. company law prohibits Talbot’s corporate name from declaring a dividend to the Company unless it has “profits available for distribution”. The determination of whether a company has profits available for distribution is based on its accumulated realized profits less its accumulated realized losses. While the U.K. insurance regulatory laws do not impose statutory restrictions on a corporate name’s ability to declare a dividend, the U.K. Financial Services Authority’s (“FSA”) rules require maintenance of each insurance company’s solvency margin within its jurisdiction.
In addition, the indenture governing our Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures would restrict us from declaring or paying dividends on our common shares if we are downgraded by A.M. Best to a financial strength rating of “B” (Fair) or below or if A.M. Best withdraws its financial strength rating on any of our material insurance subsidiaries. See “Business—Regulation—Bermuda,” “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Shares—Because we are a holding company and substantially all of our operations are conducted by our main operating subsidiaries, Validus Re and Talbot, our ability to meet any ongoing cash requirements and to pay dividends will depend on our ability to obtain cash dividends or other cash payments or obtain loans from Validus Re and Talbot,” “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Company—We depend on ratings by A.M. Best Company. Our financial strength rating could be revised downward, which could affect our standing among brokers and customers, cause our premiums and earnings to decrease and limit our ability to pay dividends on our common shares.”
Share Repurchase Program
The Company has repurchased approximately 43.7 million common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $1,227.1 million from the inception of the share repurchase program to February 13, 2013.
The Company expects the purchases under its share repurchase program to be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing, form and amount of the share repurchases under the program will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, the Company’s capital position relative to internal and rating agency targets, legal requirements and other factors.
On February 6, 2013, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized an increase to the Company's common share repurchase authorization to $500.0 million. This amount is in addition to, and in excess of, the $1,206.8 million of common shares repurchased by the Company through February 6, 2013 under its previously authorized share repurchase program.
The repurchase program may be modified, extended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. The remaining amount available under the current authorizations is $479.8 million as of February 13, 2013.
Share repurchases include repurchases by the Company of shares, from time to time, from employees in order to facilitate the payment of withholding taxes on restricted shares granted and the exercise of stock appreciation rights. We purchased these shares at their fair market value, as determined by reference to the closing price of our common shares on the day the restricted shares vested or the stock appreciation rights were exercised.

48

Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
Share Repurchase Activity by Quarter
Effect of share repurchases:
 
As at December 31, 2011 (cumulative)
 
Quarter ended March 31, 2012
 
Quarter ended June 30, 2012
 
Quarter ended September 30, 2012
 
Quarter ended December 31, 2012
 
 
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Aggregate purchase price(a)
 
$
947,170

 
$
11,308

 
$
209,944

 
$
38,423

 
$

Shares repurchased
 
35,031,985

 
372,560

 
6,558,884

 
1,174,628

 

Average price(a)
 
$
27.04

 
$
30.35

 
$
32.01

 
$
32.71

 
$

Estimated net cumulative accretive (dilutive) impact on:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted BV per common share(b)
 
 
 
$
1.49

 
$
1.87

 
$
2.42

 
$
1.93

Diluted EPS—Quarter(c)
 
 
 
0.29

 
$
0.42

 
$
0.63

 
$
0.32

 
 
 
 
Share Repurchase Activity Post Year End
 
 
Effect of share repurchases:
 
As at December 31, 2012 (cumulative)
 
January
 
February
 
As at February 13, 2013
 
Cumulative to Date
Effect
 
 
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Aggregate purchase price(a)
 
$
1,206,845

 
$

 
$
20,218

 
$
20,218

 
$
1,227,063

Shares repurchased
 
43,138,057

 

 
550,576

 
550,576

 
43,688,633

Average price(a)
 
$
27.98

 
$

 
$
36.72

 
$
36.72

 
$
28.09


(a)
Share transactions are on a trade date basis through February 13, 2013 and are inclusive of commissions. Average share price is rounded to two decimal places.
(b)
As the average price per share repurchased during the periods 2010, 2011 and 2012 was lower than the book value per common share, the repurchase of shares increased the ending book value per share.
(c)
The estimated impact on diluted earnings per share was calculated by comparing reported results versus i) net income per share plus an estimate of lost net investment income on the cumulative share repurchases divided by ii) weighted average diluted shares outstanding excluding the weighted average impact of cumulative share repurchases. The impact of cumulative share repurchases was accretive to diluted earnings per share.

49

Table of Contents


Item 6.    Selected Financial Data
The summary Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income data for the years ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 and the summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The Company was formed on October 19, 2005 and completed the acquisitions of Talbot, IPC and Flagstone on July 2, 2007, September 4, 2009 and November 30, 2012, respectively. IPC is included in the Company’s consolidated results only for the four months ended December 31, 2009 and subsequent fiscal year ends. IPC is not included in the consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2008. Flagstone is included in the Company's consolidated results only for the one month ended December 31, 2012. Flagstone is not included in the consolidated results for the years ended December 31, 2011, December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 or December 31, 2008.
You should read the following summary consolidated financial information together with the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere herein.

50

Table of Contents

 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross premiums written
$
2,166,440

 
$
2,124,691

 
$
1,990,566

 
$
1,621,241

 
$
1,362,484

Reinsurance premiums ceded
(307,506
)
 
(289,241
)
 
(229,482
)
 
(232,883
)
 
(124,160
)
Net premiums written
1,858,934

 
1,835,450

 
1,761,084

 
1,388,358

 
1,238,324

Change in unearned premiums
14,282

 
(33,307
)
 
39

 
61,219

 
18,194

Net premiums earned
1,873,216

 
1,802,143

 
1,761,123

 
1,449,577

 
1,256,518

Gain on bargain purchase, net of expenses (a)
17,701

 

 

 
287,099

 

Net investment income
107,936

 
112,296

 
134,103

 
118,773

 
139,528

Realized gain on repurchase of debentures

 

 

 
4,444

 
8,752

Net realized gains (losses) on investments
18,233

 
28,532

 
32,498

 
(11,543
)
 
(1,591
)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
17,585

 
(19,991
)
 
45,952

 
84,796

 
(79,707
)
(Loss) from investment affiliate
(964
)
 

 

 

 

Other income
22,396

 
5,718

 
5,219