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| ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED |
Basis of Presentation |
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Definitions and presentations: All financial information contained herein is unaudited except for information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. Unless otherwise noted, all data is in U.S. dollar millions, except for per share amounts, percentages and ratio information. |
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In presenting Aspen's results, management has included and discussed certain "non-GAAP financial measures", as such term is defined in Regulation G. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures, which may be defined differently by other companies, better explain Aspen's results of operations in a manner that allows for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in Aspen's business. However, these measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with GAAP. The reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measures to their respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in accordance with Regulation G is included in this financial supplement. |
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Operating income (a non-GAAP financial measure): Operating income is an internal performance measure used by Aspen in the management of its operations and represents after-tax operational results excluding, as applicable, after-tax net realized and unrealized gains or losses, including net realized and unrealized gains and losses on interest rate swaps, after-tax net foreign exchange gains or losses, including net realized and unrealized gains and losses from foreign exchange contracts and certain non-recurring items. |
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Aspen excludes these items above from its calculation of operating income because they are either not expected to recur and therefore are not reflective of underlying performance or the amount of these gains or losses is heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in part, according to the availability of market opportunities. Aspen believes these amounts are largely independent of its business and underwriting process and including them would distort the analysis of trends in its operations. In addition to presenting net income determined in accordance with GAAP, Aspen believes that showing operating income enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze Aspen's results of operations in a manner similar to how management analyzes Aspen's underlying business performance. Operating income should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP net income. Please see page 21 for a reconciliation of operating income to net income. |
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Annualized operating return on average equity (“Operating ROE”) (a non-GAAP financial measure): Operating ROE is calculated using operating income, as defined above, and average equity is calculated as the arithmetic average on a monthly basis for the stated periods of shareholders' equity excluding the aggregate value of the liquidation preferences of our preference shares net of issuance costs and the total amount of non-controlling interest. |
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Aspen presents Operating ROE as a measure that is commonly recognized as a standard of performance by investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information. See page 21 for a reconciliation of operating income to net income and page 7 for a reconciliation of average ordinary shareholders' equity to average shareholders' equity. |
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Diluted operating earnings per share and basic operating earnings per share (non-GAAP financial measures): Aspen believes that the presentation of diluted operating earnings per share and basic operating earnings per share supports meaningful comparison from period to period and the analysis of normal business operations. Diluted operating earnings per share and basic operating earnings per share are calculated by dividing operating income by the diluted or basic weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. See page 21 for a reconciliation of diluted and basic operating earnings per share to basic earnings per share. |
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Diluted book value per ordinary share (not a non-GAAP financial measure): Aspen has included diluted book value per ordinary share as it illustrates the effect on basic book value per share of dilutive securities thereby providing a better benchmark for comparison with other companies. Diluted book value per share is calculated using the treasury stock method as defined on page 20. |
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Accident year loss ratio excluding catastrophes (a non-GAAP financial measure): Aspen believes that the presentation of loss ratios excluding catastrophes and prior year reserve movements supports meaningful comparison from period to period of the underlying performance of the business. Accident year loss ratios excluding catastrophes are calculated by dividing net losses excluding catastrophe losses, net expenses and prior year reserve movements by net earned premiums excluding catastrophe-related reinstatement premiums. Aspen has defined catastrophe losses in the first quarter of 2016 as losses associated with weather-related events in the U.S. and an earthquake in Taiwan and in the first quarter of 2015 as losses predominantly associated with storms in Europe, Australia and the U.S. See pages 9 and 10 for a reconciliation of loss ratios to accident year loss ratios excluding catastrophes. |
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Underwriting ratios (GAAP financial measures): Aspen, along with others in the industry, uses underwriting ratios as measures of performance. The loss ratio is the ratio of net claims and claims adjustment expenses to net premiums earned. The acquisition expense ratio is the ratio of underwriting expenses (commissions, premium taxes, licenses and fees, as well as other underwriting expenses) to net premiums earned. The general and administrative expense ratio is the ratio of general and administrative expenses to net premiums earned. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio, the acquisition expense ratio and the general and administrative expense ratio. These ratios are relative measurements that describe for every $100 of net premiums earned, the cost of losses and expenses, respectively. The combined ratio presents the total cost per $100 of earned premium. A combined ratio below 100% demonstrates underwriting profit; a combined ratio above 100% demonstrates underwriting loss. |
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GAAP combined ratios differ from U.S. statutory combined ratios primarily due to the deferral of certain third-party acquisition expenses for GAAP reporting purposes and the use of net premiums earned rather than net premiums written in the denominator when calculating the acquisition expense and the general and administrative expense ratios. |