Greenlight Re Announces Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results


GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Nov. 03, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ:GLRE) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.  Greenlight Re reported net income of $30.0 million for the third quarter of 2016, compared to a net loss of $219.7 million for the same period in 2015.  The net income per share for the third quarter of 2016 was $0.80, compared to a net loss per share of $5.98 for the same period in 2015.

Fully diluted adjusted book value per share was $22.04 as of September 30, 2016, a 5.4% decrease from $23.29 per share as of September 30, 2015. 

“We are pleased to report positive performance from both our underwriting and investment operations during the third quarter,” said Bart Hedges, Chief Executive Officer of Greenlight Re. “While we saw a slight reduction in our reported premiums written, primarily due to our non-renewal of certain Florida home-owners business, we continue to find attractive opportunities to grow profitably.”

Financial and operating highlights for Greenlight Re for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016 include:

  • Gross written premiums of $128.2 million, a decrease from $134.6 million in the third quarter of 2015; net earned premiums were $112.8 million, an increase from $102.0 million reported in the prior-year period. 

  • Underwriting income of $0.6 million, compared to an underwriting loss of $31.7 million in the third quarter of 2015. 

  • A composite ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 of 101.9% compared to 111.0% for the prior year period.  The combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was 105.3% compared to 115.5% for the prior year period.

  • A net investment gain of 3.1% on Greenlight Re’s investment portfolio, compared to a net investment loss of 14.2% in the third quarter of 2015. For the first nine months of 2016 net investment income was $23.3 million, representing a gain of 2.1%, compared to a net investment loss of $236.5 million during the comparable period in 2015 when Greenlight Re reported a 16.9% loss.

On November 3, 2016 A.M. Best revised Greenlight Re’s rating from “A” (Excellent) with a negative outlook to “A-” (Excellent) stable.   A.M. Best has indicated that the lower rating is the result of Greenlight Re’s underwriting results falling short of A.M. Best’s expectations but notes that the Company’s risk-adjusted capital position remains robust.

Hedges added, “We have experienced several years of adverse development on construction defect contracts, which have negatively affected financial year results. We have novated these contracts to limit further exposure to this business. The remainder of our underwriting portfolio continues to perform in line with our expectations.”

“Our investment portfolio performed adequately during the quarter,” stated David Einhorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “While we are disappointed with the rating action taken by A.M. Best, we will continue to leverage our underwriting relationships and strong capital position and focus on identifying and fostering new profitable opportunities.”

Conference Call Details

Greenlight Re will hold a live conference call to discuss its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016 on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.  The conference call title is Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Third Quarter 2016 Earnings Call.

To participate in the Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Third Quarter 2016 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/10095266

The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:

http://services.choruscall.com/links/glre161108.html

A telephone replay of the call will be available from 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on November 8, 2016 until 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on November 15, 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 10095266. 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 considered 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 because it provides management and investors a yardstick by which to monitor the shareholder value generated.  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 property and casualty reinsurance industry.

Net underwriting income (loss) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes items used in the calculation of net income before taxes under U.S. GAAP.  The measure includes underwriting expenses which are directly related to underwriting activities as well as an allocation of other general and administrative expenses. Net underwriting income (loss) is calculated as net premiums earned, less net loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred, less, acquisition costs and less underwriting expenses. The measure excludes, on a recurring basis: (1) net investment income; (2) any foreign exchange gains or losses; (3) corporate general and administrative expenses; (4) other income (expense) not related to underwriting, and (5) income taxes and income attributable to non-controlling interest. We exclude net investment income and foreign exchange gains or losses as we believe these are influenced by market conditions and other factors not related to underwriting decisions. We exclude corporate general and administrative expenses because these expenses are generally fixed and not incremental to or directly related to our underwriting operations. We believe all of these amounts are largely independent of our underwriting process and including them distorts the analysis of trends in our underwriting operations. Net underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP net income.

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.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
    
 September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
 (unaudited) (audited)
Assets   
Investments   
Debt instruments, trading, at fair value$74,058  $39,087 
Equity securities, trading, at fair value834,281  905,994 
Other investments, at fair value176,480  119,083 
Total investments1,084,819  1,064,164 
Cash and cash equivalents39,163  112,162 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents1,098,718  1,236,589 
Financial contracts receivable, at fair value42,478  13,215 
Reinsurance balances receivable227,425  187,940 
Loss and loss adjustment expenses recoverable3,220  3,368 
Deferred acquisition costs, net55,818  59,823 
Unearned premiums ceded3,131  3,251 
Notes receivable, net34,102  25,146 
Other assets4,878  6,864 
Total assets$2,593,752  $2,712,522 
Liabilities and equity   
Liabilities   
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value$802,863  $882,906 
Financial contracts payable, at fair value2,570  28,245 
Due to prime brokers398,711  396,453 
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves282,941  305,997 
Unearned premium reserves213,835  211,954 
Reinsurance balances payable33,115  18,326 
Funds withheld5,930  7,143 
Other liabilities12,824  12,725 
Total liabilities1,755,202  1,863,749 
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, 31,103,618 (2015: 30,772,572): Class B: par value $0.10; authorized, 25,000,000; issued and outstanding, 6,254,895 (2015: 6,254,895))3,736  3,703 
Additional paid-in capital499,497  496,401 
Retained earnings320,972  325,287 
Shareholders’ equity attributable to shareholders824,205  825,391 
Non-controlling interest in joint venture14,345  23,382 
Total equity838,550  848,773 
Total liabilities and equity$2,593,752  $2,712,522 
        


GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
    
 Three months ended
September 30
 Nine months ended
September 30
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Revenues       
Gross premiums written$128,205  $134,568  $387,234  $357,240 
Gross premiums ceded(2,119) (2,288) (7,748) (5,782)
Net premiums written126,086  132,280  379,486  351,458 
Change in net unearned premium reserves(13,294) (30,286) (3,000) (62,986)
Net premiums earned112,792  101,994  376,486  288,472 
Net investment income (loss)32,945  (191,322) 23,326  (236,456)
Other income (expense), net(192) (542) (181) (2,714)
Total revenues145,545  (89,870) 399,631  49,302 
Expenses       
Loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred, net81,467  97,421  283,511  237,281 
Acquisition costs, net25,844  32,146  100,291  82,926 
General and administrative expenses6,937  5,382  18,930  18,436 
Total expenses114,248  134,949  402,732  338,643 
Income (loss) before income tax31,297  (224,819) (3,101) (289,341)
Income tax (expense) benefit(305) 1,233  (251) 1,394 
Net income (loss) including non-controlling interest30,992  (223,586) (3,352) (287,947)
Loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest in joint venture(981) 3,909  (963) 4,627 
Net income (loss)$30,011  $(219,677) $(4,315) $(283,320)
Earnings (loss) per share       
Basic$0.80  $(5.98) $(0.12) $(7.73)
Diluted$0.80  $(5.98) $(0.12) $(7.73)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the determination of earnings and loss per share       
Basic37,323,575  36,710,216  36,928,283  36,636,464 
Diluted37,385,481  36,710,216  36,928,283  36,636,464 
            

The following table provides the ratios for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 Nine months ended September 30
   2016     2015  
 Frequency Severity Total Frequency Severity Total
            
Loss ratio76.4% 62.9% 75.3% 87.4% 5.4% 82.3%
Acquisition cost ratio27.0% 21.9% 26.6% 27.9% 41.3% 28.7%
Composite ratio103.4% 84.8% 101.9% 115.3% 46.7% 111.0%
Underwriting expense ratio    3.4%     4.5%
Combined ratio    105.3%     115.5%
              



            

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