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8-K - FORM 8-K PRESS RELEASE - GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.q42014earningsreleaseform8k.htm

GREENLIGHT RE ANNOUNCES
FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END 2014 FINANCIAL RESULTS

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands - February 17, 2015 - Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLRE) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2014. Greenlight Re reported net income of $60.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to net income of $83.9 million for the same period in 2013. Fully diluted net income per share for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $1.60, compared to fully diluted net income per share of $2.22 for the same period in 2013.

Fully diluted adjusted book value per share was $30.76 as of December 31, 2014, a 10.2% increase from $27.91 per share as of December 31, 2013.

"We are pleased with our progress and ability to attract new business in this competitive reinsurance market," said Bart Hedges, Chief Executive Officer of Greenlight Re. "Overall, our 2014 premium numbers decreased due to the impact of not renewing certain business, which we believe was inadequately priced. Our combined ratio was modestly impacted by the effect of adverse development on prior years' contracts and the deleveraging effect of flat costs on reduced premiums."

Financial and operating highlights for Greenlight Re for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014 include:

Gross written premiums of $74.3 million, compared to $124.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013; net earned premiums were $75.2 million, a decrease from $141.5 million reported in the prior-year period.

An underwriting loss of $(4.6) million, compared to underwriting income of $7.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

A net investment gain of 5.3% on Greenlight Re's investment portfolio managed by DME Advisors, LP compared to a net investment gain of 6.6% in the fourth quarter of 2013.

“In a persistently challenging reinsurance market, we have made progress finding new opportunities that we believe will bear favorable results,” stated David Einhorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “The Company remains focused on generating income and preserving capital while we continue to enhance our infrastructure and seek new business."

Financial and operating highlights for Greenlight Re for the year ended December 31, 2014 include:

Gross written premiums in 2014 of $324.0 million, compared to $535.7 million in 2013; net earned premiums were $354.2 million, a decrease from $547.9 million reported for the prior year.

Underwriting income of $11.6 million, compared to underwriting income of $37.5 million for 2013.

The combined ratio for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 102.9% compared to 97.1% for the year ended December 31, 2013.




Net investment income was $122.6 million, representing a return of 8.7%, compared to net investment income of $218.1 million during 2013 when Greenlight Re reported a 19.6% 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, 2014 on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.  The conference call title is Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Fourth Quarter and Year End 2014 Earnings Call.

To participate in the Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Fourth Quarter and Year End 2014 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/10059413

The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:

http://services.choruscall.com/links/glre150218.html

A telephone replay of the call will be available from 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on February 18, 2015 until 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on February 26, 2015.  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 10059413. 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.


Contact:
Garrett Edson
ICR
(203) 682-8331
IR@greenlightre.ky

Media:
Brian Ruby
ICR
(203) 682-8268
Brian.ruby@icrinc.com






GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
December 31, 2014 and 2013
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
 
2014
 
2013
 

 

Assets
 
 
 
Investments
 
 
 
Debt instruments, trading, at fair value
$
49,212

 
$
4,312

Equity securities, trading, at fair value
1,266,175

 
1,282,156

Other investments, at fair value
115,591

 
107,211

Total investments
1,430,978

 
1,393,679

Cash and cash equivalents
12,030

 
3,722

Restricted cash and cash equivalents
1,296,914

 
1,334,074

Financial contracts receivable, at fair value
47,171

 
104,048

Reinsurance balances receivable
151,185

 
167,340

Loss and loss adjustment expenses recoverable
11,523

 
16,829

Deferred acquisition costs, net
34,420

 
51,797

Unearned premiums ceded
4,027

 
3,173

Notes receivable
1,566

 
16,049

Other assets
5,478

 
4,565

Total assets
$
2,995,292

 
$
3,095,276

Liabilities and equity
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
$
1,090,731

 
$
1,111,690

Financial contracts payable, at fair value
44,592

 
18,857

Due to prime brokers
211,070

 
314,702

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves
264,243

 
329,894

Unearned premium reserves
128,736

 
173,057

Reinsurance balances payable
40,372

 
38,789

Funds withheld
6,558

 
10,126

Other liabilities
14,949

 
11,857

Performance compensation payable to related party

 

Total liabilities
1,801,251

 
2,008,972

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, 31,129,648 (2013: 30,791,865): Class B: par value $0.10; authorized, 25,000,000; issued and outstanding, 6,254,895 (2013: 6,254,949))
3,738

 
3,705

Additional paid-in capital
500,553

 
496,622

Retained earnings
660,860

 
551,268

Shareholders’ equity attributable to shareholders
1,165,151

 
1,051,595

Non-controlling interest in joint venture
28,890

 
34,709

Total equity
1,194,041

 
1,086,304

Total liabilities and equity
$
2,995,292

 
$
3,095,276








GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
Years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Gross premiums written
$
324,023

 
$
535,702

 
$
427,844

Gross premiums ceded
(13,493
)
 
(2,780
)
 
24,275

Net premiums written
310,530

 
532,922

 
452,119

Change in net unearned premium reserves
43,710

 
14,977

 
14,595

Net premiums earned
354,240

 
547,899

 
466,714

Net investment income
122,575

 
218,140

 
78,941

Other income (expense), net
413

 
(950
)
 
(259
)
Total revenues
477,228

 
765,089

 
545,396

Expenses

 

 
 
Loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred, net
234,986

 
338,493

 
366,601

Acquisition costs, net
107,665

 
171,872

 
142,721

General and administrative expenses
21,926

 
21,718

 
17,539

Total expenses
364,577

 
532,083

 
526,861

Income before income tax expense
112,651

 
233,006

 
18,535

Income tax (expense) benefit
624

 
(538
)
 
(86
)
Net income including non-controlling interest
113,275

 
232,468

 
18,449

Income attributable to non-controlling interest in joint venture
(3,683
)
 
(6,769
)
 
(3,851
)
Net income
$
109,592

 
$
225,699

 
$
14,598

Earnings per share
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
2.94

 
$
6.13

 
$
0.40

Diluted
$
2.89

 
$
6.01

 
$
0.39

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the determination of earnings and loss per share
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
37,242,687

 
36,838,128

 
36,702,128

Diluted
37,874,387

 
37,585,167

 
37,361,338




The following table provides the ratios for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
 
Year ended December 31
 
 
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
2012
 
 
 
Frequency
 
Severity
 
Total
 
Frequency
 
Severity
 
Total
 
Frequency
 
Severity
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio
69.9
%
 
16.1
%
 
66.3
%
 
65.5
%
 
(48.1
)%
 
61.8
%
 
77.4
%
 
101.2
%
 
78.5
%
Acquisition cost ratio
31.2
%
 
19.7
%
 
30.4
%
 
31.7
%
 
20.8
 %
 
31.4
%
 
31.4
%
 
14.0
%
 
30.6
%
Composite ratio
101.1
%
 
35.8
%
 
96.7
%
 
97.2
%
 
(27.3
)%
 
93.2
%
 
108.8
%
 
115.2
%
 
109.1
%
Internal expense ratio
 
 
 
 
6.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
3.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
2.8
%
Corporate expense ratio
 
 
 
 
0.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
0.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
1.0
%
Combined ratio
 
 
 
 
102.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
97.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
112.9
%