Greenlight Re Announces First Quarter 2016 Financial Results


GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, May 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ:GLRE) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.  Greenlight Re reported net income of $28.7 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared to a net loss of $24.0 million for the same period in 2015.  The net income per share for the first quarter of 2016 was $0.77, compared to a net loss per share of $0.65 for the same period in 2015.

Fully diluted adjusted book value per share was $22.88 as of March 31, 2016, a 24.0% decrease from $30.09 per share as of March 31, 2015. 

“We are pleased to report positive performance from both our underwriting and investment operations during the quarter,” said Bart Hedges, Chief Executive Officer of Greenlight Re.  “We continue to be encouraged by our current underwriting portfolio as we grow our existing client relationships and selectively add new business in a competitive environment.”

Financial and operating highlights for Greenlight Re for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016 include:

  • Gross written premiums of $166.8 million, an increase from $129.7 million in the first quarter of 2015; net earned premiums were $138.1 million, an increase from $94.8 million reported in the prior-year period. 
     
  • Underwriting income of $3.7 million, compared to underwriting income of $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2015. 
     
  • Composite ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2016 of 93.8% compared to 95.0% for the prior year period.  The combined ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 97.3% compared to 99.8% for the prior year period. The Company has revised the methodology for calculating its combined ratio. In prior periods the combined ratio included all general and administrative expenses.  Effective January 1, 2016 the Company excludes corporate expenses that are not part of its underwriting activities. The Company has restated the prior period combined ratio accordingly.
     
  • Net investment income of $28.4 million, representing a gain of 2.5%, compared to a net investment loss of $24.8 million during the comparable period in 2015 when Greenlight Re reported a 1.8% loss.

“Our investment portfolio performed adequately during the quarter as our portfolio remained defensively positioned in an uncertain investment environment,” stated David Einhorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “We are pleased with the current growth and diversification of our underwriting portfolio.”

Conference Call Details

Greenlight Re will hold a live conference call to discuss its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016 on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.  The conference call title is Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. First Quarter 2016 Earnings Call.

To participate in the Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. First 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/10084465

The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:

http://services.choruscall.com/links/glre160503

A telephone replay of the call will be available from 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on May 3, 2016 until 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on May 10, 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 10084465. 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.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
    
 March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015
 (unaudited) (audited)
Assets   
Investments   
Debt instruments, trading, at fair value$73,879  $39,087 
Equity securities, trading, at fair value934,232  905,994 
Other investments, at fair value190,516  119,083 
Total investments1,198,627  1,064,164 
Cash and cash equivalents196,134  112,162 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents1,157,656  1,236,589 
Financial contracts receivable, at fair value13,286  13,215 
Reinsurance balances receivable246,862  187,940 
Loss and loss adjustment expenses recoverable3,548  3,368 
Deferred acquisition costs, net68,184  59,823 
Unearned premiums ceded2,805  3,251 
Notes receivable35,537  25,146 
Other assets7,189  6,864 
Total assets$2,929,828  $2,712,522 
Liabilities and equity   
Liabilities   
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value$876,248  $882,906 
Financial contracts payable, at fair value9,106  28,245 
Due to prime brokers544,481  396,453 
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves341,132  305,997 
Unearned premium reserves237,919  211,954 
Reinsurance balances payable19,704  18,326 
Funds withheld7,036  7,143 
Other liabilities12,146  12,725 
Performance compensation payable to related party3,081   
Total liabilities2,050,853  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, 30,977,642 (2015: 30,772,572): Class B: par value $0.10; authorized, 25,000,000; issued and outstanding, 6,254,895 (2015: 6,254,895))3,723  3,703 
Additional paid-in capital497,141  496,401 
Retained earnings353,956  325,287 
Shareholders’ equity attributable to shareholders854,820  825,391 
Non-controlling interest in joint venture24,155  23,382 
Total equity878,975  848,773 
Total liabilities and equity$2,929,828  $2,712,522 
        


GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
   
  Three months ended March 31
  2016 2015
Revenues    
Gross premiums written $166,792  $129,682 
Gross premiums ceded (2,107) (1,626)
Net premiums written 164,685  128,056 
Change in net unearned premium reserves (26,573) (33,263)
Net premiums earned 138,112  94,793 
Net investment income (loss) 28,435  (24,829)
Other income (expense), net (271) 1,588 
Total revenues 166,276  71,552 
Expenses    
Loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred, net 90,668  63,207 
Acquisition costs, net 38,963  26,841 
General and administrative expenses 6,999  6,160 
Total expenses 136,630  96,208 
Income (loss) before income tax 29,646  (24,656)
Income tax (expense) benefit (204) 215 
Net income (loss) including non-controlling interest 29,442  (24,441)
Loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest in joint venture (773) 394 
Net income (loss) $28,669  $(24,047)
Earnings (loss) per share    
Basic $0.77  $(0.65)
Diluted $0.77  $(0.65)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the determination of earnings and loss per share    
Basic 37,107,039  37,173,008 
Diluted 37,422,921  37,173,008 
       

The following table provides the ratios for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:

  
 Three months ended March 31
 2016
 2015
 Frequency Severity Total Frequency Severity Total
            
Loss ratio68.2% 31.8% 65.6% 69.4% 26.7% 66.7%
Acquisition cost ratio28.5% 24.4% 28.2% 29.0% 18.9% 28.3%
Composite ratio96.7% 56.2% 93.8% 98.4% 45.6% 95.0%
Underwriting expense ratio    3.5%     4.8%
Combined ratio    97.3%     99.8%
              

 


            

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