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8-K - 8-K - RLI CORPrli-20170419x8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

Picture 1

RLI REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2017 RESULTS

PEORIA, ILLINOIS, April 19, 2017 -- RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) – RLI Corp. reported first quarter 2017 net earnings of $19.8 million ($0.45 per share), compared to $31.4 million ($0.71 per share) for the first quarter of 2016.  Operating earnings for the first quarter of 2017 were $19.4 million ($0.44 per share) compared to $24.0 million ($0.54 per share) for the same period in 2016. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

Earnings Per Diluted Share

2017

 

2016

Net earnings

$

0.45

 

$

0.71

Operating earnings (1)

$

0.44

 

$

0.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)  See discussion below of non-GAAP and performance measures.

 

Highlights for the quarter included:

·

Underwriting income of $13.1 million, resulting in a combined ratio of 92.9.

·

1% decline in gross premiums written.

·

Favorable development in prior years’ loss reserves resulting in a $4.7 million net increase in underwriting income.

·

Book value per share of $19.28, an increase of 4% from year end 2016, inclusive of dividends.

 

“Although our casualty segment posted a 106 combined ratio, primarily due to some lingering effects from elevated commercial auto loss experience, our property and surety segments delivered outstanding results with combined ratios of 76 and 64, respectively,” said RLI Corp. Chairman & CEO Jonathan E. Michael. “From a premium perspective, our casualty and surety segments posted modest top-line growth, which is a testament to our ability to meet customer needs and capitalize on newer products within our portfolio. Our property segment’s premium, however, continued to trend downward due to soft market conditions and previously announced reductions in select, smaller products. We remain confident that our underwriting discipline, claim expertise and superior service will continue to differentiate RLI in the markets we serve.”

 

Underwriting Income

RLI achieved $13.1 million of underwriting income in the first quarter of 2017 on a 92.9 combined ratio, compared to $21.3 million of underwriting income on an 88.0 combined ratio in the same quarter for 2016. Results for both years include favorable development in prior years’ loss reserves which totaled $4.7 million and $10.9 million for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The following table highlights underwriting income and combined ratios by segment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting Income (1)

 

First Quarter

 

Combined Ratio (1)

 

First Quarter

(in millions)

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

Casualty

 

$

(6.8)

 

$

9.1

 

Casualty

 

105.8

 

91.6

Property

 

 

8.8

 

 

6.2

 

Property

 

75.5

 

84.0

Surety

 

 

11.1

 

 

6.0

 

Surety

 

63.5

 

79.8

Total

 

$

13.1

 

$

21.3

 

Total

 

92.9

 

88.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)  See discussion below of non-GAAP and performance measures.

 

--more--

Picture 2


 

Other Income

RLI’s net investment income for the quarter fell 2.7% to $13.0 million, compared to the same period in 2016. The investment portfolio’s total return was 1.8% for the quarter. The bond portfolio’s return was 1.3% in the quarter, while the equity portfolio’s return was 4.1%. 

 

Comprehensive earnings, which include after-tax unrealized gains/losses from the investment portfolio, were $31.6 million for the quarter ($0.71 per share) compared to $53.2 million ($1.20 per share) for the same quarter in 2016.  

 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees was $4.9 million for the quarter compared to $3.8 million from the same period last year. These results are related to Maui Jim, Inc. ($4.3 million), a producer of premium sunglasses, and Prime Holdings Insurance Services, Inc. ($0.6 million), a specialty E&S insurance company. For the first quarter of 2016, equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees from Maui Jim and Prime was $3.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively. 

 

Dividends Paid in the First Quarter 2017

On March 20, 2017,  the company paid an ordinary dividend of $0.20 per share, the same amount as the prior quarter.  RLI’s cumulative dividends, including this recent payment, total more than $630 million paid over the last five years.

 

Non-GAAP and Performance Measures

Management has included certain non-generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) financial measures in presenting the Company’s results. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures better explain the Company’s results of operations and allow for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in the Company’s business. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). In addition, our definitions of these items may not be comparable to the definitions used by other companies.

 

Operating earnings and earnings per share (EPS) from operations consist of our GAAP net earnings adjusted by the net realized gains/(losses) and taxes related thereto. Net earnings and net earnings per share are the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to operating earnings and EPS from operations. A reconciliation of the operating earnings and EPS from operations to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included in the 2017 financial highlights below.  

 

Underwriting income or profit represents the pretax profitability of our insurance operations and is derived by subtracting loss and settlement expenses, policy acquisition costs and insurance operating expenses from net premium earned, which are all GAAP financial measures. The combined ratio, which is derived from components of underwriting income, is a performance measure commonly used by property and casualty insurance companies to help users of their financial information to better understand company performance.

 

Other News

At 10 a.m. central daylight time (CDT) tomorrow, April  20, 2017, RLI management will hold a conference call to discuss quarterly results with insurance industry analysts. Interested parties may listen to the discussion through the Internet at http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/e45non7z.

 

Except for historical information, this news release may include forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) including, without limitation, statements reflecting our current expectations about the future performance of our company or our business segments or about future market conditions. These statements are subject to certain risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Various risk factors that could affect future results are listed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

--more--

2

 


 

About RLI

RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) is a specialty insurer serving diverse, niche property, casualty and surety markets. The company provides deep underwriting expertise and superior service to commercial and personal lines customers nationwide. RLI’s products are offered through its insurance subsidiaries RLI Insurance Company, Mt. Hawley Insurance Company and Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company. All of RLI’s insurance subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company. RLI has paid and increased regular dividends for 41 consecutive years and delivered underwriting profits for 21 consecutive years. To learn more about RLI, visit www.rlicorp.com.  

 

Media Contact

Aaron Jacoby

Vice President, Corporate Development

309-693-5880

Aaron.Jacoby@rlicorp.com 

 

3

 


 

Supplemental disclosure regarding the earnings impact of specific items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Earnings Per Share

 

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

 

1st Qtr

 

1st Qtr

Operating Earnings Per Share (1)

$

0.44

 

$

0.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specific items included in operating earnings per share: (2) (3)

 

 

 

 

 

Favorable (unfavorable) development in casualty prior years' reserves

$

(0.05)

 

$

0.16

Favorable development in property prior years' reserves

$

0.03

 

$

 -

Favorable development in surety prior years' reserves

$

0.09

 

$

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

See discussion above of non-GAAP and performance measures.

(2)

Includes bonus and profit sharing-related impacts which affected other insurance and general corporate expenses.

(3)

Reserve development reflects changes from previously estimated losses.

 

4

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RLI CORP.

2017 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

% Change

SUMMARIZED INCOME STATEMENT DATA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

$

183,285

 

 

$

176,918

 

 

3.6

%

Net investment income

 

13,005

 

 

 

13,370

 

 

(2.7)

%

Net realized gains

 

624

 

 

 

11,400

 

 

(94.5)

%

  Consolidated revenue

 

$

196,914

 

 

$

201,688

 

 

(2.4)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss and settlement expenses

 

$

93,390

 

 

$

81,171

 

 

15.1

%

Policy acquisition costs

 

 

63,503

 

 

 

62,243

 

 

2.0

%

Insurance operating expenses

 

 

13,335

 

 

 

12,200

 

 

9.3

%

Interest expense on debt

 

 

1,856

 

 

 

1,857

 

 

(0.1)

%

General corporate expenses

 

 

3,325

 

 

 

2,375

 

 

40.0

%

  Total expenses

 

$

175,409

 

 

$

159,846

 

 

9.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in earnings of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 unconsolidated investees

 

 

4,938

 

 

 

3,751

 

 

31.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

$

26,443

 

 

$

45,593

 

 

(42.0)

%

Income tax expense

 

 

6,615

 

 

 

14,200

 

 

(53.4)

%

  Net earnings

 

$

19,828

 

 

$

31,393

 

 

(36.8)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive earnings, net of tax

 

 

11,769

 

 

 

21,763

 

 

(45.9)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive earnings

 

$

31,597

 

 

$

53,156

 

 

(40.6)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating earnings: (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

19,828

 

 

$

31,393

 

 

(36.8)

%

Less: Realized gains

 

 

(624)

 

 

 

(11,400)

 

 

(94.5)

%

Income tax on realized gains

 

 

219

 

 

 

3,990

 

 

(94.5)

%

Operating earnings

 

$

19,423

 

 

$

23,983

 

 

(19.0)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Net earnings (trailing four quarters)

 

 

11.8

%

 

 

16.1

%

 

 

 

 Comprehensive earnings (trailing four quarters)

 

 

10.5

%

 

 

13.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Share Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding (in 000's)

 

 

44,502

 

 

 

44,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings per share

 

$

0.45

 

 

$

0.71

 

 

(36.6)

%

Less: Realized gains

 

 

(0.01)

 

 

 

(0.26)

 

 

(96.2)

%

Income tax on realized gains

 

 

 -

 

 

 

0.09

 

 

(100.0)

%

EPS from operations (1)

 

$

0.44

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

(18.5)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive earnings per share

 

$

0.71

 

 

$

1.20

 

 

(40.8)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends per share

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

0.19

 

 

5.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Flow provided by Operations

 

$

11,265

 

 

$

21,266

 

 

(47.0)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) See discussion above of non-GAAP and performance measures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RLI CORP.

2017 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

% Change

SUMMARIZED BALANCE SHEET DATA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income

 

$

1,590,399

 

$

1,605,209

 

(0.9)

%

  (amortized cost - $1,572,909 at 3/31/17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (amortized cost - $1,596,227 at 12/31/16)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

 

 

383,929

 

 

369,219

 

4.0

%

  (cost - $192,340 at 3/31/17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (cost - $187,573 at 12/31/16)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other invested assets

 

 

47,823

 

 

24,115

 

98.3

%

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

41,146

 

 

23,284

 

76.7

%

  Total investments and cash

 

$

2,063,297

 

$

2,021,827

 

2.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums and reinsurance balances receivable

 

 

121,863

 

 

126,387

 

(3.6)

%

Ceded unearned premiums

 

 

48,804

 

 

52,173

 

(6.5)

%

Reinsurance balances recoverable on unpaid losses

 

 

271,346

 

 

288,224

 

(5.9)

%

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

 

71,995

 

 

73,147

 

(1.6)

%

Property and equipment

 

 

56,173

 

 

54,606

 

2.9

%

Investment in unconsolidated investees

 

 

76,833

 

 

72,240

 

6.4

%

Goodwill and intangibles

 

 

64,165

 

 

64,371

 

(0.3)

%

Other assets

 

 

26,666

 

 

24,658

 

8.1

%

  Total assets

 

$

2,801,142

 

$

2,777,633

 

0.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unpaid losses and settlement expenses

 

$

1,152,027

 

$

1,139,337

 

1.1

%

Unearned premiums

 

 

412,862

 

 

433,777

 

(4.8)

%

Reinsurance balances payable

 

 

16,612

 

 

17,928

 

(7.3)

%

Funds held

 

 

74,138

 

 

72,742

 

1.9

%

Income taxes - deferred

 

 

72,192

 

 

64,494

 

11.9

%

Bonds payable, long-term debt

 

 

148,788

 

 

148,741

 

0.0

%

Accrued expenses

 

 

27,791

 

 

51,992

 

(46.5)

%

Other liabilities

 

 

48,857

 

 

25,050

 

95.0

%

  Total liabilities

 

$

1,953,267

 

$

1,954,061

 

(0.0)

%

  Shareholders' equity

 

 

847,875

 

 

823,572

 

3.0

%

  Total liabilities & shareholders' equity

 

$

2,801,142

 

$

2,777,633

 

0.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER DATA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares outstanding (in 000's)

 

 

43,970

 

 

43,945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book value per share

 

$

19.28

 

$

18.74

 

2.9

%

Closing stock price per share

 

$

60.02

 

$

63.13

 

(4.9)

%

Cash dividends per share - ordinary (annualized)

 

$

0.80

 

$

0.79

 

1.3

%

Cash dividends per share - special

 

$

 -

 

$

2.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statutory Surplus

 

$

897,251

 

$

859,976

 

4.3

%

 

6

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RLI CORP.

2017 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

UNDERWRITING SEGMENT DATA

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

 

 

Casualty

 

Ratios

 

 

 

Property

 

Ratios

 

 

 

Surety

 

Ratios

 

 

 

Total

 

Ratios

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written

 

$

126,834

 

 

 

 

$

37,079

 

 

 

 

$

30,963

 

 

 

 

$

194,876

 

 

 

Net premiums written

 

 

107,191

 

 

 

 

 

28,999

 

 

 

 

 

29,548

 

 

 

 

 

165,738

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

 

 

116,984

 

 

 

 

 

35,805

 

 

 

 

 

30,496

 

 

 

 

 

183,285

 

 

 

Net loss & settlement expenses

 

 

82,401

 

70.4

%

 

 

10,333

 

28.9

%

 

 

656

 

2.2

%

 

 

93,390

 

51.0

%

Net operating expenses

 

 

41,464

 

35.4

%

 

 

16,668

 

46.6

%

 

 

18,706

 

61.3

%

 

 

76,838

 

41.9

%

 Underwriting income (loss) (1)

 

$

(6,881)

 

105.8

%

 

$

8,804

 

75.5

%

 

$

11,134

 

63.5

%

 

$

13,057

 

92.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written

 

$

124,051

 

 

 

 

$

41,645

 

 

 

 

$

30,553

 

 

 

 

$

196,249

 

 

 

Net premiums written

 

 

104,217

 

 

 

 

 

32,886

 

 

 

 

 

28,997

 

 

 

 

 

166,100

 

 

 

Net premiums earned

 

 

108,593

 

 

 

 

 

38,685

 

 

 

 

 

29,640

 

 

 

 

 

176,918

 

 

 

Net loss & settlement expenses

 

 

60,749

 

55.9

%

 

 

15,212

 

39.3

%

 

 

5,210

 

17.6

%

 

 

81,171

 

45.9

%

Net operating expenses

 

 

38,738

 

35.7

%

 

 

17,275

 

44.7

%

 

 

18,430

 

62.2

%

 

 

74,443

 

42.1

%

 Underwriting income (loss) (1)

 

$

9,106

 

91.6

%

 

$

6,198

 

84.0

%

 

$

6,000

 

79.8

%

 

$

21,304

 

88.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) See discussion above of non-GAAP and performance measures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7