Endurance Reports Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results


PEMBROKE, Bermuda, Oct. 27, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:ENH) today reported a net loss of $20.0 million and $0.71 per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2011 versus net income of $139.1 million and $2.51 per diluted common share in the third quarter of 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the net loss was $66.4 million and $2.07 per diluted common share versus net income of $253.5 million and $4.33 per diluted common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Operating highlights for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 were as follows:

  • Net premiums written of $551.3 million, an increase of 22.0% over the same period in 2010;
  • Combined ratio of 104.6%, which included 17.5 percentage points of catastrophe losses partially offset by the benefit of 7.9 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development;
  • Net investment income of $14.1 million, a decrease of $39.6 million over the same period in 2010;
  • An operating loss, which excludes after-tax realized investment gains and losses and foreign exchange gains and losses, of $24.7 million and $0.83 per diluted common share;
  • An operating loss on average common equity for the quarter of 1.5%; and
  • Book value of $51.63 per diluted common share, down 1.1% from June 30, 2011.

Operating highlights for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were as follows:

  • Net premiums written of $1,792.0 million, an increase of 11.6 % over the same period in 2010;
  • Combined ratio of 113.0%, which included 24.9 percentage points of catastrophe losses partially offset by the benefit of 9.6 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development;
  • Net investment income of $106.4 million, a decrease of $37.0 million over the same period in 2010;
  • An operating loss, which excludes after-tax realized investment gains and losses and foreign exchange gains and losses, of $96.9 million and $2.83 per diluted common share;
  • An operating loss on average common equity for the first nine months of the year of 4.6%; and
  • Book value of $51.63 per diluted common share, down 2.1% from December 31, 2010.

David Cash, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The third quarter was a tough one for the industry, as we saw continued frequency of severe catastrophe events and adverse weather conditions, combined with historically low interest rates, global economic uncertainty and a competitive marketplace. Endurance has been able to withstand these challenges, and continues to maintain a very strong balance sheet with prudent reserves and a high quality, short duration investment portfolio. We have selectively expanded our business within profitable niches while reducing those business lines where returns were below our targets."

Insurance Segment

Operating highlights for Endurance's Insurance segment for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 were as follows:

  • Net premiums written of $303.2 million, an increase of 48.4% from the third quarter of 2010;
  • Combined ratio of 96.8%, an increase of 6.7 percentage points from the third quarter of 2010; and
  • Favorable prior year loss reserve development of 3.9 percentage points during the current period, level with the third quarter of 2010.

Operating highlights for Endurance's Insurance segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were as follows:

  • Net premiums written of $909.0 million, an increase of 21.5 % from the same period in 2010;
  • Combined ratio of 96.3%, an increase of 4.3 percentage points from the same period in 2010; and
  • Favorable prior year loss reserve development of 9.6 percentage points during the current period, compared to 5.7 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development in the same period in 2010.

Third quarter net premiums written in the Insurance segment grew within the agriculture and casualty lines of business, partially offset by declines in the property and professional lines. The growth in the agriculture line resulted from positive adjustments to spring crop premiums, as well as commodity prices being higher than a year ago for winter crops. The increase in the casualty line was driven by the continued successful rollout of our contract binding authority business line which we launched in November 2010. The decline in net premiums written in the property, healthcare and professional lines of business was driven by increased competition, which led to either non-renewing business or a move to higher policy attachment points. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, net premiums written increased primarily as a result of increased commodity prices in the agriculture line and growth in casualty premiums, partially offset by declines in the property, healthcare and professional lines of business.

The increase in the Insurance segment combined ratios in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 compared to the same periods in 2010 resulted from higher net loss ratios, partially offset by improvements in the acquisition expense ratio and, in the third quarter, an improvement in the general and administrative expense ratio. The 2011 Insurance segment net loss ratios were higher than the net loss ratios in the corresponding 2010 periods primarily due to storm and flood losses in the property insurance line of business, including net losses of $7.5 million from Hurricane Irene in the current periods. The higher 2011 Insurance segment net loss ratios also resulted from higher losses in our agriculture line of business due to the current drought in the Southwest United States and the excess moisture in the Midwest United States in the spring. These losses were partially offset by higher levels of favorable prior year reserve development for the current nine months. The current quarter combined ratio benefitted from 3.9 percentage points of favorable loss reserve development, the same as the third quarter of 2010. For the first nine months of 2011, the combined ratio benefitted from 9.6 percentage points of favorable loss development compared to 5.7 percentage points for the first nine months of 2010. Favorable development for the current nine months was experienced in the short tail, long tail and other lines of business, as claims did not occur as originally expected.

The current periods' general and administrative expense ratios improved in the current quarter compared to the same period a year ago and was flat for the first nine months of 2011 compared to a year ago. Investments in several new insurance lines of business, which require higher initial expenses compared to revenues, were offset by higher earned premiums within the agriculture line of business. The acquisition expense ratios in both periods in 2011 were lower than the same periods in 2010 as the agriculture line of business comprises a greater portion of 2011 earned premiums and has lower related acquisition costs.

Reinsurance Segment

Operating highlights for Endurance's Reinsurance segment for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 were as follows:

  • Net premiums written of $248.1 million, an increase of 0.2% from the third quarter of 2010;
  • Combined ratio of 115.0%, an increase of 38.1 percentage points from the third quarter of 2010;
  • Favorable prior year loss reserve development of 13.2 percentage points during the current period, compared to 11.3 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development in the third quarter of 2010; and
  • Net catastrophe losses of $91.1 million or 37.6 percentage points on the combined ratio.

Operating highlights for Endurance's Reinsurance segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were as follows:

  • Net premiums written of $882.9 million, an increase of 3.0% from the same period in 2010;
  • Combined ratio of 130.3%, an increase of 41.8 percentage points from the same period in 2010;
  • Favorable prior year loss reserve development of 9.7 percentage points during the current period, compared to 10.1 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development in the same period in 2010; and
  • Net catastrophe losses of $347.2 million or 50.0 percentage points on the combined ratio.

The modest increases in net premiums written in the Reinsurance segment in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 resulted primarily from growth in the property and catastrophe lines of business, partially offset by declines in the casualty line of business compared to 2010. Within the property line of business, growth primarily resulted from increased renewal premiums from one large contract and new business underwritten within our Singapore and Zurich offices. Growth in our catastrophe premiums was driven predominantly from price increases experienced on contract renewals and reinstatement premiums related to the various catastrophes. Current quarter casualty net premiums written declined 30.6% due to several contracts that were not renewed due to pricing, terms and conditions. 

The Reinsurance segment's combined ratio in the third quarter of 2011 increased compared to the third quarter of 2010 primarily due to $91.0 million or 37.6 percentage points in losses net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums from Hurricane Irene, the Danish flood, Texas brushfires and multiple storms in the Midwest which when accumulated triggered several aggregate catastrophe contracts. The current quarter's net loss ratio benefitted from 13.2 percentage points of favorable loss reserve development compared to 11.3 percentage points in the third quarter of 2010.

For the first nine months of 2011, the Reinsurance segment reported a combined ratio of 130.3% compared to 88.5% for the same period in 2010. The increase in the combined ratio was largely attributable to a greater frequency of catastrophe events in 2011, including the Australian floods, the Japan and New Zealand earthquakes, the spring tornadoes in the United States, and the third quarter events described above, which resulted in losses net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums of $347.2 million or 50.0 percentage points to the combined ratio. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the net loss ratio benefitted from 9.7 percentage points of favorable loss reserve development compared to 10.1 percentage points in the first nine months of 2010.

Investments

Endurance's net investment income for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $14.1 million, a decrease of $39.6 million as compared to the same period in 2010. Endurance's net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $106.4 million, a decrease of $37.0 million or 25.8% as compared to the same period in 2010. During the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011, Endurance's net investment income included mark to market losses of $22.5 million and $7.6 million, respectively, on its alternative investments and high yield loan funds included in other investments, as compared to mark to market gains of $13.8 million and $23.8 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively. Investment income generated from Endurance's fixed maturity investments decreased by $3.3 million and $6.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in 2010 due to lower reinvestment rates during the current periods and the short duration of the portfolio. The ending book yield on Endurance's fixed maturity investments at September 30, 2011 was 2.79%, down from 3.13% at December 31, 2010. 

Endurance's fixed income investments, which comprised approximately 92.4% of Endurance's investments as of September 30, 2011, maintained an average credit quality of AA.   Endurance recorded net realized investment gains of $1.0 million during the third quarter and $26.3 million of net realized gains for the first nine months of 2011 compared to net realized investment gains of $9.0 million and $15.2 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2010. 

Endurance ended the third quarter of 2011 with cash and invested assets of $6.4 billion, which represents a 3.1% increase from December 31, 2010. Net operating cash flow was $337.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus $390.6 million for the same period in 2010. 

Capitalization and Shareholders' Equity

At September 30, 2011, Endurance's shareholders' equity was $2.64 billion or $51.63 per diluted common share versus $2.85 billion or $52.74 per diluted common share at December 31, 2010. For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011, Endurance declared and paid dividends of $0.30 and $0.90 per share, respectively.

Earnings Call

Endurance will host a conference call on October 28, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed via telephone by dialing (888) 631-5913 (toll free) or (913) 312-1447 (international) and entering pass code: 2144344. Those who intend to participate in the conference call should register at least ten minutes in advance to ensure access to the call. A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through November 11, 2011 by dialing (888) 203-1112 (toll-free) or (719) 457-0820 (international) and entering the pass code: 2144344. 

The public may access a live broadcast of the conference call at the "Investors" section of Endurance's website, www.endurance.bm. Following the live broadcast, an archived version will continue to be available on Endurance's website.

A copy of Endurance's financial supplement for the third quarter of 2011 will be available on Endurance's website at www.endurance.bm shortly after the release of earnings.

Operating (loss) income, operating return on average common equity, operating (loss) income per dilutive common share, operating (loss) income allocated to common shareholders and combined ratio excluding prior year net loss reserve development are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of these measures to the appropriate GAAP measures are included in the attached tables. 

About Endurance Specialty Holdings

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. is a global specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. Through its operating subsidiaries, Endurance writes property, casualty, healthcare liability, agriculture, workers' compensation, professional lines of insurance and property, catastrophe, casualty, agriculture, marine, aerospace, and surety and other specialty lines of reinsurance. We maintain excellent financial strength as evidenced by the ratings of A (Excellent) from A.M. Best (XV size category) and A (Strong) from Standard and Poor's on our principal operating subsidiaries. Endurance's headquarters are located at Wellesley House, 90 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda and its mailing address is Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., Suite No. 784, No. 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.  For more information about Endurance, please visit www.endurance.bm.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may include forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such statements may include forward-looking statements both with respect to us in general and the insurance and reinsurance sectors specifically, both as to underwriting and investment matters. Statements which include the words "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "anticipate," "seek," "will," and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements in this press release for purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or may be important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effects of competitors' pricing policies, greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity, changes in market conditions in the agriculture insurance industry, termination of or changes in the terms of the U.S. multiple peril crop insurance program, a decreased demand for property and casualty insurance or reinsurance, changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance or retrocessional coverage, our inability to renew business previously underwritten or acquired, our inability to maintain our applicable financial strength ratings, our inability to effectively integrate acquired operations, uncertainties in our reserving process, changes to our tax status, changes in insurance regulations, reduced acceptance of our existing or new products and services, a loss of business from and credit risk related to our broker counterparties, assessments for high risk or otherwise uninsured individuals, possible terrorism or the outbreak of war, a loss of key personnel, political conditions, changes in insurance regulation, changes in accounting policies, our investment performance, the valuation of our invested assets, a breach of our investment guidelines, the unavailability of capital in the future, developments in the world's financial and capital markets and our access to such markets, government intervention in the insurance and reinsurance industry, illiquidity in the credit markets, changes in general economic conditions and other factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2010 and in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation publicly to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD. 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 (in thousands of United States dollars, except share and per share amounts)
     
  September 30,
2011 
December 31,
2010
Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $623,944 $609,852
Fixed maturity investments, available for sale, at fair value  4,998,142 5,116,702
Short term investments, available for sale, at fair value 323,119 70,444
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value 49,323 13,565
Other investments 386,785 376,652
Premiums receivable, net 1,192,455 827,609
Deferred acquisition costs 203,455 154,484
Securities lending collateral -- 59,886
Prepaid reinsurance premiums 204,961 107,977
Losses recoverable 479,132 319,349
Accrued investment income 30,851 32,934
Goodwill and intangible assets 183,857 181,954
Deferred tax assets 40,253 33,684
Receivable on pending investment sales 37,947 602
Other assets 80,013 73,711
Total Assets $8,834,237 $7,979,405
     
Liabilities    
Reserve for losses and loss expenses $3,910,537 $3,319,927
Reserve for unearned premiums 1,299,864 842,154
Net deposit liabilities 28,860 32,505
Securities lending payable -- 59,886
Reinsurance balances payable 244,769 228,860
Debt 528,664 528,411
Payable on pending investment purchases 56,496 --
Other liabilities 129,097 119,509
Total Liabilities 6,198,287 5,131,252
     
Shareholders' Equity    
Preferred shares    
Series A, non-cumulative – 8,000,000 issued and outstanding (2010 – 8,000,000)  8,000 8,000
Series B, non-cumulative – 9,200,000 issued and outstanding (2010 – Nil) 9,200 --
Common shares    
40,517,222 issued and outstanding (2010 –47,218,468)  40,517 47,218
Additional paid-in capital 512,323 613,915
Accumulated other comprehensive income  144,004 138,571
Retained earnings 1,921,906 2,040,449
Total Shareholders' Equity 2,635,950 2,848,153
     
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $8,834,237 $7,979,405
     
Book Value per Common Share    
Dilutive common shares outstanding 42,728,320 50,210,614
Diluted book value per common share[a] $51.63 $52.74
 
Note: All financial information contained herein is unaudited, except the balance sheet data for the year ended December 31, 2010, which was
derived from Endurance's audited financial statements.
[a] Excludes the $430 million liquidation value of the preferred shares (2010 : $200 million). 
 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS) INCOME 
         
(in thousands of United States dollars, except share and per share amounts)
         
  Quarter Ended For the Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
  2011 2010 2011 2010
Revenues        
Gross premiums written $700,866 $555,574 $2,204,148 $1,864,011
         
Net premiums written $551,327 $451,884 $1,791,957 $1,605,629
Change in unearned premiums 10,166 17,909 (361,053) (314,252)
         
Net premiums earned 561,493 469,793 1,430,904 1,291,377
Other underwriting (loss) income (2,141) 322 (2,122) (2,046)
Net investment income 14,100 53,654 106,443 143,484
Net realized gains on investment sales 1,033 8,973 26,340 15,174
         
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses (168) (1,140) (1,908) (2,647)
Portion of loss recognized in accumulated other
comprehensive income
(72) (240) (911) (586)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings (240) (1,380) (2,819) (3,233)
         
Total revenues 574,245 531,362 1,558,746 1,444,756
         
Expenses        
Net losses and loss expenses  456,691 266,132 1,220,514 791,676
Acquisition expenses 72,249 67,443 205,754 198,095
General and administrative expenses 58,574 59,523 190,421 174,164
Amortization of intangibles 2,976 2,588 8,800 7,764
Net foreign exchange gains  (4,085) (12,565) (7,655) (6,465)
Interest expense 9,055 9,051 27,166 25,709
Total expenses 595,460 392,172 1,645,000 1,190,943
         
(Loss) Income before income taxes (21,215) 139,190 (86,254) 253,813
Income tax benefit (expense)  1,197 (62) 19,896 (303)
Net (loss) income  (20,018) 139,128 (66,358) 253,510
Preferred dividends (8,188) (3,875) (15,938) (11,625)
Net (loss) income (attributable) available to common
and participating common shareholders
$(28,206) $135,253 $(82,296) $241,885
         
Per share data        
Basic (losses) earnings per common share $(0.71) $2.64 ($(2.07) $4.56
Diluted (losses) earnings per common share  $(0.71) $2.51 ($(2.07) $4.33
 
 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
       
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
       
(in thousands of United States dollars)
       
       
       
  For the quarter ended September 30, 2011
  Insurance Reinsurance Totals
       
Revenues      
Gross premiums written $450,451 $250,415 $700,866
Ceded premiums written (147,241) (2,298) (149,539)
Net premiums written 303,210 248,117 551,327
Net premiums earned 318,602 242,891 561,493
Other underwriting (loss) income (2,875) 734 (2,141)
Total underwriting revenues 315,727 243,625 559,352
       
Expenses      
Net losses and loss expenses 260,206 196,485 456,691
Acquisition expenses 18,738 53,511 72,249
General and administrative expenses 29,328 29,246 58,574
  308,272 279,242 587,514
Underwriting income (loss) $7,455 $(35,617) $(28,162)
       
Net loss ratio 81.7% 81.0% 81.3%
Acquisition expense ratio 5.9% 22.0% 12.9%
General and administrative expense ratio 9.2% 12.0% 10.4%
Combined ratio 96.8% 115.0% 104.6%
 
 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
       
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
       
(in thousands of United States dollars)
       
       
       
  For the quarter ended September 30, 2010
  Insurance Reinsurance Totals
       
Revenues      
Gross premiums written $303,561 $252,013 $555,574
Ceded premiums written (99,268) (4,422) (103,690)
Net premiums written 204,293 247,591 451,884
Net premiums earned 242,766 227,027 469,793
Other underwriting income (loss) 473 (151) 322
Total underwriting revenues 243,239 226,876 470,115
       
Expenses      
Net losses and loss expenses 172,015 94,117 266,132
Acquisition expenses 17,356 50,087 67,443
General and administrative expenses 29,256 30,267 59,523
  218,627 174,471 393,098
Underwriting income $24,612 $52,405 $77,017
       
Net loss ratio 70.9% 41.5% 56.6%
Acquisition expense ratio 7.1% 22.1% 14.4%
General and administrative expense ratio 12.1% 13.3% 12.7%
Combined ratio 90.1% 76.9% 83.7%
 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
       
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
       
(in thousands of United States dollars)
       
       
       
  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011
  Insurance Reinsurance Totals
       
Revenues      
Gross premiums written $1,302,032 $902,116 $2,204,148
Ceded premiums written (393,020) (19,171) (412,191)
Net premiums written 909,012 882,945 1,791,957
Net premiums earned 730,491 700,413 1,430,904
Other underwriting (loss) income (2,875) 753 (2,122)
Total underwriting revenues 727,616 701,166 1,428,782
       
Expenses      
Net losses and loss expenses 550,438 670,076 1,220,514
Acquisition expenses 50,907 154,847 205,754
General and administrative expenses 102,361 88,060 190,421
  703,706 912,983 1,616,689
Underwriting income (loss) $23,910 ($211,817) ($187,907)
       
Net loss ratio 75.3% 95.6% 85.3%
Acquisition expense ratio 7.0% 22.1% 14.4%
General and administrative expense ratio 14.0% 12.6% 13.3%
Combined ratio 96.3% 130.3% 113.0%
 
 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
       
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
       
(in thousands of United States dollars)
       
       
  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010
  Insurance Reinsurance Totals
       
Revenues      
Gross premiums written $999,528 $864,483 $1,864,011
Ceded premiums written (251,307) (7,075) (258,382)
Net premiums written 748,221 857,408 1,605,629
Net premiums earned 616,300 675,077 1,291,377
Other underwriting income (loss) 471 (2,517) (2,046)
Total underwriting revenues 616,771 672,560 1,289,331
       
Expenses      
Net losses and loss expenses 428,872 362,804 791,676
Acquisition expenses 51,336 146,759 198,095
General and administrative expenses 86,523 87,641 174,164
  566,731 597,204 1,163,935
Underwriting income  $50,040 $75,356 $125,396
       
Net loss ratio 69.6% 53.7% 61.3%
Acquisition expense ratio 8.4% 21.8% 15.3%
General and administrative expense ratio 14.0% 13.0% 13.5%
Combined ratio 92.0% 88.5% 90.1%
 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD. 
             
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RATIOS
             
             
             
As Reported            
             
   
  For the quarter ended September 30
  Insurance Reinsurance Total
  2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010
             
Net loss ratio 81.7% 70.9% 81.0% 41.5% 81.3% 56.6%
Acquisition expense ratio 5.9% 7.1% 22.0% 22.1% 12.9% 14.4%
General and administrative expense ratio 9.2% 12.1% 12.0% 13.3% 10.4% 12.7%
Combined ratio 96.8% 90.1% 115.0% 76.9% 104.6% 83.7%
             
Effect of Prior Year Net Loss Reserve Development            
             
Favorable / (Unfavorable)            
             
   
  For the quarter ended September 30
  Insurance Reinsurance Total
  2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010
             
Net loss ratio 3.9% 3.9% 13.2% 11.3% 7.9% 7.5%
             
Net of Prior Year Net Loss Reserve Development            
             
   
  For the quarter ended September 30
  Insurance Reinsurance Total
  2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010
             
Net loss ratio 85.6% 74.8% 94.2% 52.8% 89.2% 64.1%
Acquisition expense ratio 5.9% 7.1% 22.0% 22.1% 12.9% 14.4%
General and administrative expense ratio 9.2% 12.1% 12.0% 13.3% 10.4% 12.7%
Combined ratio 100.7% 94.0% 128.2% 88.2% 112.5% 91.2%

The combined ratio is the sum of the loss, acquisition expense and general and administrative expense ratios. Endurance presents the combined ratio as a measure that is commonly recognized as a standard of performance by investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information. The combined ratio, excluding prior year net loss reserve development, enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze Endurance's results of underwriting activities in a manner similar to how management analyzes Endurance's underlying business performance. The combined ratio, net of prior year net loss reserve development, should not be viewed as a substitute for the combined ratio. 

 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD. 
             
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RATIOS
             
             
             
As Reported            
             
   
  For the nine months ended September 30
  Insurance Reinsurance Total
  2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010
             
Net loss ratio 75.3% 69.6% 95.6% 53.7% 85.3% 61.3%
Acquisition expense ratio 7.0% 8.4% 22.1% 21.8% 14.4% 15.3%
General and administrative expense ratio            
  14.0% 14.0% 12.6% 13.0% 13.3% 13.5%
Combined ratio 96.3% 92.0% 130.3% 88.5% 113.0% 90.1%
             
Effect of Prior Year Net Loss Reserve Development            
             
Favorable / (Unfavorable)            
             
   
  For the nine months ended September 30
  Insurance Reinsurance Total
  2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010
             
Net loss ratio 9.6% 5.7% 9.7% 10.1% 9.6% 8.0%
             
Net of Prior Year Net Loss Reserve Development            
             
   
  For the nine months ended September 30
  Insurance Reinsurance Total
  2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010
             
Net loss ratio 84.9% 75.3% 105.3% 63.8% 94.9% 69.3%
Acquisition expense ratio 7.0% 8.4% 22.1% 21.8% 14.4% 15.3%
General and administrative expense ratio            
  14.0% 14.0% 12.6% 13.0% 13.3% 13.5%
Combined ratio 105.9% 97.7% 140.0% 98.6% 122.6% 98.1%

The combined ratio is the sum of the loss, acquisition expense and general and administrative expense ratios. Endurance presents the combined ratio as a measure that is commonly recognized as a standard of performance by investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information. The combined ratio, excluding prior year net loss reserve development, enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze Endurance's results of underwriting activities in a manner similar to how management analyzes Endurance's underlying business performance. The combined ratio, excluding prior year net loss reserve development, should not be viewed as a substitute for the combined ratio. 

 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
         
GROSS AND NET PREMIUMS WRITTEN BY SEGMENT
         
(in thousands of United States dollars)
         
The following tables show Endurance's gross and net premiums written for the quarters and nine months ended
September 30, 2011 and 2010: 
         
  Quarter Ended  Quarter Ended 
  September 30, 2011 September 30, 2010
  Gross Premiums
Written
Net Premiums
Written 
Gross Premiums
Written
Net Premiums
Written 
         
Insurance        
 Agriculture $289,656 $185,017 $156,162 $89,119
 Professional lines 39,559 30,812 43,381 38,522
 Casualty 57,520 37,664 40,538 23,700
 Property 30,049 17,681 30,295 21,366
 Healthcare liability 33,652 32,021 34,024 32,393
 Workers' compensation 15 15 (839) (807)
 Subtotal Insurance $450,451 $303,210 $303,561 $204,293
         
Reinsurance        
 Catastrophe  $46,275 $43,868 $45,513 $41,154
 Casualty 56,293 56,292 81,167 81,163
 Property 129,203 129,203 111,395 111,395
 Aerospace and Marine  5,891 6,002 4,184 4,184
 Surety and other specialty 12,753 12,752 9,754 9,695
 Subtotal Reinsurance $250,415 $248,117 $252,013 $247,591
         
Total $700,866 $551,327 $555,574 $451,884
 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
         
GROSS AND NET PREMIUMS WRITTEN BY SEGMENT
         
(in thousands of United States dollars)
         
         
  Nine Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  September 30, 2011 September 30, 2010
  Gross Premiums
Written
Net Premiums
Written 
Gross Premiums
Written
Net Premiums
Written 
         
Insurance        
 Agriculture  $855,486 $577,538 $560,531 $402,395
 Professional lines 124,209 99,560 133,456 115,546
 Casualty 159,580 107,234 130,172 82,265
 Property 90,643 56,262 99,976 76,404
 Healthcare liability 72,243 68,542 76,782 72,947
 Workers' compensation (129) (124) (1,389) (1,336)
 Subtotal Insurance $1,302,032 $909,012 $999,528 $748,221
         
Reinsurance        
 Catastrophe $330,771 $314,328 $291,990 $287,721
 Casualty 218,264 217,463 246,060 245,257
 Property 251,475 251,475 215,916 215,916
 Aerospace and Marine 53,472 51,567 46,381 44,316
 Surety and other specialty 48,134 48,112 64,136 64,198
 Subtotal Reinsurance $902,116 $882,945 $864,483 $857,408
         
Total $2,204,148 $1,791,957 $1,864,011 $1,605,629
 
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
         
RECONCILIATIONS 
         
(in thousands of United States dollars, except share and per share amounts)
         
The following is a reconciliation of Endurance's net (loss) income, net (loss) income per diluted common share, net (loss) income allocated to common shareholders under the two-class method and annualized (loss) return on average common equity to operating (loss) income, operating (loss) income per diluted common share, operating (loss) income allocated to common shareholders under the two-class method and annualized operating (loss) return on average common equity (all non-GAAP measures) for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010: 
         
         
  Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2011 2010 2011 2010
Net (loss) income $(20,018) $139,128 $(66,358) $253,510
Add (Less) after-tax items:        
Net foreign exchange gains (4,153) (12,433) (7,822) (6,463)
Net realized and unrealized investment gains  (775) (8,687) (25,514) (13,004)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings 240 1,380 2,819 3,233
Operating (loss) income before preferred dividends $(24,706) $119,388 $(96,875) $237,276
Preferred dividends (8,188) (3,875) (15,938) (11,625)
Operating (loss) income (attributable ) available to
common and participating common shareholders
(32,894) $115,513 (112,813) $225,651
         
Operating (loss) income allocated to common
shareholders under the two-class method
$(33,118) $113,404 $(113,553) $221,390
         
Weighted average dilutive common shares 39,764,756 52,997,120 40,071,340 54,851,248
         
Operating (loss) income per diluted common share [b] $(0.83) $2.14 $(2.83) $4.04
         
Average common equity [a] $2,223,113 $2,681,895 $2,427,052 $2,653,484
         
Operating (loss) return on average common equity (1.5)% 4.3% (4.6)% 8.5%
Annualized operating (loss) return on average common equity (5.9)% 17.2% (6.2)% 11.3%
         
Net (loss) income $(20,018) $139,128 $(66,358) $253,510
Preferred dividends (8,188) (3,875) (15,938) (11,625)
Net (loss) income (attributable) available to common and
participating common shareholders
$(28,206) $135,253 $(82,296) $241,885
         
Net (loss) income allocated to common shareholders under
the two-class method
$(28,430) $132,785 $(83,036) $237,320
         
Net (loss) income per diluted common share $(0.71) $2.51 $(2.07) $4.33
         
(Loss) return on average common equity, Net (loss)
income
(1.3)% 5.0% (3.4)% 9.1%
Annualized (loss) return on average common equity, Net
(loss) income 
(5.1)% 20.2% (4.5)% 12.2%
 [a] Average common equity is calculated as the arithmetic average of the beginning and ending common equity balances for the
stated period, which excludes the $430 million liquidation value of the preferred shares (2010: $200 million).
       
[b] Represents diluted (loss) income per share calculated under the two-class method which was the lower of the treasury stock
method and the two-class method.
       

Operating (loss) income and operating (loss) income per diluted common share are internal performance measures used by Endurance in the management of its operations. Operating (loss) income allocated to common shareholders (excludes unvested restricted shares outstanding which are considered participating) per diluted common share represents operating (loss) income divided by weighted average dilutive common shares, which has been calculated in accordance with the two-class method under U.S. GAAP. Operating (loss) income represents after-tax operational results excluding, as applicable, after-tax net realized capital gains or losses and after-tax net foreign exchange gains or losses because the amount of these gains or losses is heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in part, according to the availability of market opportunities. Endurance believes these amounts are largely independent of its business and underwriting process and including them distorts the analysis of trends in its operations. In addition to presenting net (loss) income and net (loss) income per dilutive common share determined in accordance with the two-class method under GAAP, Endurance believes that showing operating (loss) income and operating (loss) income per dilutive common share enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze Endurance's results of operations in a manner similar to how management analyzes Endurance's underlying business performance. Operating (loss) income and operating (loss) income per dilutive common share should not be viewed as substitutes for GAAP net (loss) income and net (loss) income per dilutive common share, respectively.          

Endurance presents return on equity as a measure that is commonly recognized as a standard of performance by investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information.


            

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