GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Feb. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ:GLRE) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015. Greenlight Re reported a net loss of $43.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $60.7 million for the same period in 2014. The net loss per share for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $1.17, compared to fully diluted net income per share of $1.60 for the same period in 2014.
Fully diluted adjusted book value per share was $22.17 as of December 31, 2015, a 27.9% decrease from $30.76 per share as of December 31, 2014.
"We are pleased with our fourth quarter underwriting results and our ability to grow our underwriting portfolio during 2015, with our premiums up 55% from the prior year," said Bart Hedges, Chief Executive Officer of Greenlight Re. "While reserving actions taken earlier in the year on certain legacy contracts negatively impacted our full year 2015 fiscal results, we are encouraged by our current underwriting portfolio and the strong and growing client relationships we continue to develop."
Financial and operating highlights for Greenlight Re for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2015 include:
- Gross written premiums of $144.9 million, compared to $74.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2014; net earned premiums were $119.9 million, an increase from $75.2 million reported in the prior-year period.
- Underwriting income of $6.8 million, compared to an underwriting loss of $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
- The combined ratio for the fourth quarter 2015 was 98.5% compared to 115.0% for the fourth quarter 2014.
- A net investment loss of 4.0% on Greenlight Re's investment portfolio managed by DME Advisors, LP compared to a net investment gain of 5.3% in the fourth quarter of 2014.
"Our 2015 investment results were negatively impacted by losses on three of our largest holdings and the lack of other positive contributors," stated David Einhorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "It was a challenging investment environment for value investors. We continue to believe the Company is well positioned to grow book value per share from both underwriting and investment activities over the long term."
Financial and operating highlights for Greenlight Re for the year ended December 31, 2015 include:
- Gross written premiums in 2015 of $502.1 million, compared to $324.0 million in 2014; net earned premiums were $408.4 million, an increase over $354.2 million reported for the prior year.
- An underwriting loss of $24.9 million, compared to underwriting income of $11.6 million for 2014.
- The combined ratio for the year ended December 31, 2015 was 111.8% compared to 103.6% for the year ended December 31, 2014.
- A net investment loss of $281.9 million, representing a negative return of 20.2%, compared to net investment income of $122.6 million during 2014 when Greenlight Re reported an 8.7% return.
Conference Call Details
Greenlight Re will hold a live conference call to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. The conference call title is Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Fourth Quarter and Year End 2015 Earnings Call.
To participate in the Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Fourth Quarter and Year End 2015 Earnings Call, please dial in to the conference call at:
U.S. toll free 1-888-336-7152
International 1-412-902-4178
Telephone participants may avoid any delays by pre-registering for the call using the following link to receive a special dial-in number and PIN.
Conference Call registration link: http://dpregister.com/10079517
The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:
A telephone replay of the call will be available from 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on February 23, 2016 until 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on March 1, 2016. The replay of the call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S. toll free) or 1-412-317-0088 (international), access code 10079517. An audio file of the call will also be available on the Company's website, www.greenlightre.ky.
Regulation G
Fully diluted adjusted book value per share is a non-GAAP measure and represents basic adjusted book value per share combined with the impact from dilution of share based compensation including in-the-money stock options and RSUs as of any period end. Book value is adjusted by subtracting the amount of the non-controlling interest in joint venture from total shareholders' equity to calculate adjusted book value. We believe that long term growth in fully diluted adjusted book value per share is the most relevant measure of our financial performance. In addition, fully diluted adjusted book value per share may be of benefit to our investors, shareholders and other interested parties to form a basis of comparison with other companies within the reinsurance industry.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. Federal securities laws. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made on behalf of the Company. These risks and uncertainties include the impact of general economic conditions and conditions affecting the insurance and reinsurance industry, the adequacy of our reserves, our ability to assess underwriting risk, trends in rates for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, competition, investment market fluctuations, trends in insured and paid losses, catastrophes, regulatory and legal uncertainties and other factors described in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.
Greenlight Re (www.greenlightre.ky) is a NASDAQ listed company with specialist property and casualty reinsurance companies based in the Cayman Islands and Ireland. Greenlight Re provides a variety of custom-tailored reinsurance solutions to the insurance, risk retention group, captive and financial marketplaces. Established in 2004, Greenlight Re selectively offers customized reinsurance solutions in markets where capacity and alternatives are limited. With a focus on deriving superior returns from both sides of the balance sheet, Greenlight Re's assets are managed according to a value-oriented equity-focused strategy that complements the Company's business goal of long-term growth in book value per share.
| GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD. | |||||||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||
| December 31, 2015 and 2014 | |||||||
| (expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts) | |||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Investments | |||||||
| Debt instruments, trading, at fair value | $ | 39,087 | $ | 49,212 | |||
| Equity securities, trading, at fair value | 905,994 | 1,266,175 | |||||
| Other investments, at fair value | 119,083 | 115,591 | |||||
| Total investments | 1,064,164 | 1,430,978 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 112,162 | 12,030 | |||||
| Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 1,236,589 | 1,296,914 | |||||
| Financial contracts receivable, at fair value | 13,215 | 47,171 | |||||
| Reinsurance balances receivable | 187,940 | 151,185 | |||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses recoverable | 3,368 | 11,523 | |||||
| Deferred acquisition costs, net | 59,823 | 34,420 | |||||
| Unearned premiums ceded | 3,251 | 4,027 | |||||
| Notes receivable | 25,146 | 1,566 | |||||
| Other assets | 6,864 | 5,478 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 2,712,522 | $ | 2,995,292 | |||
| Liabilities and equity | |||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||
| Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value | $ | 882,906 | $ | 1,090,731 | |||
| Financial contracts payable, at fair value | 28,245 | 44,592 | |||||
| Due to prime brokers | 396,453 | 211,070 | |||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | 305,997 | 264,243 | |||||
| Unearned premium reserves | 211,954 | 128,736 | |||||
| Reinsurance balances payable | 18,326 | 40,372 | |||||
| Funds withheld | 7,143 | 6,558 | |||||
| Other liabilities | 12,725 | 14,949 | |||||
| Performance compensation payable to related party | — | — | |||||
| Total liabilities | 1,863,749 | 1,801,251 | |||||
| Equity | |||||||
| Preferred share capital (par value $0.10; authorized, 50,000,000; none issued) | — | — | |||||
| Ordinary share capital (Class A: par value $0.10; authorized, 100,000,000; issued and outstanding, 30,772,572 (2014: 31,129,648): Class B: par value $0.10; authorized, 25,000,000; issued and outstanding, 6,254,895 (2014: 6,254,895)) | 3,703 | 3,738 | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 496,401 | 500,553 | |||||
| Retained earnings | 325,287 | 660,860 | |||||
| Shareholders’ equity attributable to shareholders | 825,391 | 1,165,151 | |||||
| Non-controlling interest in joint venture | 23,382 | 28,890 | |||||
| Total equity | 848,773 | 1,194,041 | |||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 2,712,522 | $ | 2,995,292 | |||
| GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD. | |||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME | |||||||||||
| Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 | |||||||||||
| (expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts) | |||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 502,124 | $ | 324,023 | $ | 535,702 | |||||
| Gross premiums ceded | (9,001 | ) | (13,493 | ) | (2,780 | ) | |||||
| Net premiums written | 493,123 | 310,530 | 532,922 | ||||||||
| Change in net unearned premium reserves | (84,736 | ) | 43,710 | 14,977 | |||||||
| Net premiums earned | 408,387 | 354,240 | 547,899 | ||||||||
| Net investment income (loss) | (281,924 | ) | 122,575 | 218,140 | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (3,413 | ) | 2,987 | (1,710 | ) | ||||||
| Total revenues | 123,050 | 479,802 | 764,329 | ||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred, net | 317,097 | 234,986 | 338,493 | ||||||||
| Acquisition costs, net | 116,207 | 107,665 | 171,872 | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 23,434 | 24,500 | 20,958 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 456,738 | 367,151 | 531,323 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax expense | (333,688 | ) | 112,651 | 233,006 | |||||||
| Income tax (expense) benefit | 1,755 | 624 | (538 | ) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) including non-controlling interest | (331,933 | ) | 113,275 | 232,468 | |||||||
| Loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest in joint venture | 5,508 | (3,683 | ) | (6,769 | ) | ||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (326,425 | ) | $ | 109,592 | $ | 225,699 | ||||
| Earnings (loss) per share | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (8.90 | ) | $ | 2.94 | $ | 6.13 | ||||
| Diluted | $ | (8.90 | ) | $ | 2.89 | $ | 6.01 | ||||
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the determination of earnings and loss per share | |||||||||||
| Basic | 36,670,466 | 37,242,687 | 36,838,128 | ||||||||
| Diluted | 36,670,466 | 37,874,387 | 37,585,167 | ||||||||
The following table provides the ratios for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frequency | Severity | Total | Frequency | Severity | Total | Frequency | Severity | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Loss ratio | 82.6 | % | 9.5 | % | 77.6 | % | 69.9 | % | 16.1 | % | 66.3 | % | 65.5 | % | (48.1 | )% | 61.8 | % | ||||||||
| Acquisition cost ratio | 28.0 | % | 35.2 | % | 28.5 | % | 31.2 | % | 19.7 | % | 30.4 | % | 31.7 | % | 20.8 | % | 31.4 | % | ||||||||
| Composite ratio | 110.6 | % | 44.7 | % | 106.1 | % | 101.1 | % | 35.8 | % | 96.7 | % | 97.2 | % | (27.3 | )% | 93.2 | % | ||||||||
| Internal expense ratio | 4.5 | % | 6.0 | % | 3.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate expense ratio | 1.2 | % | 0.9 | % | 0.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 111.8 | % | 103.6 | % | 97.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||