Travelers 2012 Annual Report Download - page 149

The Company’s change in reserve estimate for this product line, excluding estimated asbestos and
environmental amounts, was 3% for 2012, 8% for 2011 and 5% for 2010. The 2012 change was
primarily concentrated in excess coverages for accident years 2009 and prior and reflected what the
Company believes are more favorable legal and judicial environments than what the Company
previously expected. Also contributing to the 2012 change was better than expected results for
management liability business, primarily for the errors & omissions and fiduciary products for accident
years 2007 and prior. The 2011 change was concentrated in excess coverages for accident years
2005-2008 and reflected what the Company believes are more favorable legal and judicial environments
than what the Company previously expected. The 2010 change was primarily concentrated in excess
coverages for accident years 2006 and prior and reflected what the Company believes are more
favorable legal and judicial environments than what the Company previously expected.
Commercial Property
Commercial property is generally considered a short tail line with a simpler and faster claim
reporting and adjustment process than liability coverages, and less uncertainty in the reserve setting
process (except for more complex business interruption claims). It is generally viewed as a moderate
frequency, low to moderate severity line, except for catastrophes and coverage related to large
properties. The claim reporting and settlement process for property coverage claim reserves is generally
restricted to the insured and the insurer. Overall, the claim liabilities for this line create a low
estimation risk, except possibly for catastrophes and business interruption claims.
Commercial property reserves are typically analyzed in two components, one for catastrophic or
other large single events, and another for all other events. Examples of common risk factors, or
perceptions thereof, that could change and, thus, affect the required property reserves (beyond those
included in the general discussion section) include:
Commercial property risk factors
• Physical concentration of policyholders
• Availability and cost of local contractors
• For the more severe catastrophic events, ‘‘demand surge’’ inflation, which refers to significant
short-term increases in building material and labor costs due to a sharp increase in demand for
those materials and services
• Local building codes
• Amount of time to return property to full usage (for business interruption claims)
• Frequency of claim re-openings on claims previously closed
• Court interpretation of policy provisions (such as occurrence definition, or wind versus flooding)
• Lags in reporting claims (e.g., winter damage to summer homes, hidden damage after an
earthquake, hail damage to roofs and/or equipment on roofs)
• Court or legislative changes to the statute of limitations
Commercial property book of business risk factors
• Policy provisions mix (e.g., deductibles, policy limits, endorsements)
• Changes in underwriting standards
Unanticipated changes in risk factors can affect reserves. As an indicator of the causal effect that a
change in one or more risk factors could have on reserves for property, a 1% increase (decrease) in
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