EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.
Wessex House, 45 Reid Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton HM DX, Bermuda
Contact: Elizabeth B. Farrell
Vice President, Investor Relations
Everest Global Services, Inc.
908.604.3169
For Immediate Release
Everest Re Group Reports Third Quarter Results with 14% Growth in Premium,
85.7% Combined Ratio and 17% Net Income Return on Equity
HAMILTON, Bermuda – October 22, 2014 -- Everest Re Group, Ltd. (NYSE: RE) today reported third quarter 2014 net income available to common shareholders of $274.9 million, or $6.00 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $234.8 million, or $4.81 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2013. After-tax operating income1available to common shareholders, excluding realized capital gains and losses, was $280.5 million, or $6.12 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2014, compared to after-tax operating income1 of $205.0 million, or $4.20 per diluted common share, for the same period last year.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, net income available to common shareholders was $859.0 million, or $18.47 per diluted common share, compared to $894.7 million, or $17.94 per diluted common share, for the first nine months of 2013. After-tax operating income1available to common shareholders, excluding realized capital gains and losses, was $812.2 million, or $17.46 per diluted common share, compared to $759.2 million or $15.22 per diluted common share, for the same period in 2013.
Commenting on the Company’s results, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dominic J. Addesso said, “We enjoyed another strong quarter with double digit growth in premium and a 16% annualized operating return on equity. Adjusted for dividends, book value per share has grown by 13% since the end of the year. Everest has distinguished itself in this challenging marketplace as a global leader with the demonstrable ability to leverage our resources and create opportunities that add value for both our clients and our shareholders.”
Operating highlights for the third quarter of 2014 included the following:
| · | Gross written premiums were $1.7 billion, an increase of 14% compared to the third quarter of 2013. Worldwide reinsurance premiums, including the Mt. Logan Re segment, were up 19.5% to $1.3 billion driven by growth opportunities in U.S. property and specialty lines business as well as strategic opportunities in Latin America. Insurance premiums were down 3% for the quarter primarily due to lower premium on crop business. |
| · | The combined ratio for the quarter was 85.7% compared to 88.0% in the third quarter of 2013. Excluding catastrophe losses, reinstatement premiums, and prior period loss development, the current quarter attritional combined ratio was 83.7% compared to 82.3% for the same period last year. |
| · | Catastrophe losses were $30.0 million for the quarter arising from Hurricane Odile, which affected the Baja peninsula, and an increase in estimated losses for the second quarter Chile earthquake event. The net impact of these losses in the quarter, after reinstatement premiums, taxes and non-controlling interest, was $23.2 million, or $0.51 per diluted common share. |
| · | Net investment income for the quarter was $142.1 million and includes $21.7 million of limited partnership income. |
| · | Net after-tax realized and unrealized capital losses amounted to $5.6 million and $79.8 million, respectively, for the quarter. |
| · | Cash flow from operations was $335.5 million compared to $386.0 million for the same period in 2013. |
| · | The year-to-date effective tax rate on operating income decreased from 14.4% at June 30, 2014 to 12.3% at September 30, 2014 resulting in a $12.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted common share, benefit and an effective tax rate of 8.1% for the quarter. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to additional foreign tax credits. |
| · | Through nine months, the annualized after-tax operating income1 return on average adjusted shareholders’ equity2 was 15.6% compared to 16.1% in 2013. For this same period, the annualized net income return on average adjusted shareholders’ equity2 was 16.5% compared to 19.0% in 2013. |
| · | During the quarter, the Company repurchased 470,807 of its common shares at an average price of $159.26 and a total cost of $75.0 million. For the year, the Company repurchased 2.6 million of its common shares for a total cost of $400.0 million. The repurchases were made pursuant to a share repurchase authorization, provided by the Company’s Board of Directors, under which there remains 1.9 million shares available. |
| · | Shareholders’ equity ended the quarter at $7.4 billion. Book value per share increased 11.3% from $146.57 at December 31, 2013 to $163.14 at September 30, 2014. |
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 latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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.
Everest Re Group, Ltd. is a Bermuda holding company that operates through the following subsidiaries: Everest Reinsurance Company provides reinsurance to property and casualty insurers in both the U.S. and international markets. Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd., including through its branch in the United Kingdom, provides reinsurance and insurance to worldwide property and casualty markets and reinsurance to life insurers. Everest Reinsurance Company (Ireland), Limited provides reinsurance to non-life insurers in Europe. Mt. Logan Re, a segregated cell company, capitalized by the Company and third party investors, is a specialty reinsurer of catastrophe risks. Everest National Insurance Company and Everest Security Insurance Company provide property and casualty insurance to policyholders in the U.S. Everest Indemnity Insurance Company offers excess and surplus lines insurance in the U.S. Everest Insurance Company of Canada provides property and casualty insurance to policyholders in Canada. Additional information on Everest Re Group companies can be found at the Group’s web site at www.everestregroup.com.
A conference call discussing the third quarter results will be held at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on October 23, 2014. The call will be available on the Internet through the Company’s web site or at www.streetevents.com.
Recipients are encouraged to visit the Company’s web site to view supplemental financial information on the Company’s results. The supplemental information is located at www.everestregroup.com in the “Financial Reports” section of the “Investor Center”. The supplemental financial information may also be obtained by contacting the Company directly.
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1The Company generally uses after-tax operating income (loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, to evaluate its performance. After-tax operating income (loss) consists of net income (loss) excluding after-tax net realized capital gains (losses) as the following reconciliation displays:
| | | Three Months Ended | | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
| (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | (unaudited) | | | | | | | | | (unaudited) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Per Diluted | | | | | | Per Diluted | | | | | | Per Diluted | | | | | | Per Diluted | |
| | | | | | Common | | | | | | Common | | | | | | Common | | | | | | Common | |
| | | Amount | | | Share | | | Amount | | | Share | | | Amount | | | Share | | | Amount | | | Share | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net income (loss)* | | $ | 274,916 | | | $ | 6.00 | | | $ | 234,759 | | | $ | 4.81 | | | $ | 859,033 | | | $ | 18.47 | | | $ | 894,744 | | | $ | 17.94 | |
| After-tax net realized capital gains (losses) | | | (5,563 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | 29,781 | | | | 0.61 | | | | 46,814 | | | | 1.01 | | | | 135,544 | | | | 2.72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| After-tax operating income (loss)* | | $ | 280,479 | | | $ | 6.12 | | | $ | 204,978 | | | $ | 4.20 | | | $ | 812,219 | | | $ | 17.46 | | | $ | 759,200 | | | $ | 15.22 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| * attributable to common shareholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Although net realized capital gains (losses) are an integral part of the Company’s insurance operations, the determination of net realized capital gains (losses) is independent of the insurance underwriting process. The Company believes that the level of net realized capital gains (losses) for any particular period is not indicative of the performance of the underlying business in that particular period. Providing only a GAAP presentation of net income (loss) makes it more difficult for users of the financial information to evaluate the Company’s success or failure in its basic business, and may lead to incorrect or misleading assumptions and conclusions. The Company understands that the equity analysts who follow the Company focus on after-tax operating income (loss) in their analyses for the reasons discussed above. The Company provides after-tax operating income (loss) to investors so that they have what management believes to be a useful supplement to GAAP information concerning the Company’s performance.
2Adjusted shareholders’ equity excludes net after-tax unrealized (appreciation) depreciation of investments.
--Financial Details Follow--
