Gross premiums written increased 18.0%
Net income of $13.5 million ($0.39 per diluted ordinary share)
Fully diluted book value per share increased 2.3% to $16.58
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Nov. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLRE) ("Greenlight Re" or the "Company") today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.
Third Quarter 2023 Highlights (all comparisons are to third quarter 2022 unless noted otherwise):
- Gross premiums written increased 18.0% to $183.1 million;
- Net premiums earned increased 33.8% to $163.1 million;
- Underwriting income of $14.4 million compared to an underwriting loss of $18.9 million;
- Net income of $13.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted ordinary share, compared to a net loss of $18.5 million, or $(0.56) per diluted ordinary share;
- Combined ratio of 91.2%, compared to a combined ratio of 115.4%;
- Total investment income of $5.1 million, compared to total investment income of $11.6 million; and
- Fully diluted book value per share increased $0.37, or 2.3%, to $16.58, from $16.21 at June 30, 2023.
Simon Burton, Chief Executive Officer of Greenlight Re, stated, "The underwriting result of 91.2% combined ratio led our performance in the third quarter as we grew book value by 2.3%. This result was impacted by approximately 4 combined ratio points of legacy reserve development, as inflationary pressure has persisted in discontinued areas of our business."
David Einhorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, "The third quarter was challenging period in the equity markets. A partial reversal of our gains in Green Brick Partners slightly more than offset good performance throughout the balance of the portfolio. Year-to-date through September 30, the Solasglas fund was up 9.1%."
Third Quarter 2023 Results
Gross premiums written in the third quarter of 2023 were $183.1 million, compared to $155.1 million in the third quarter of 2022. The $27.9 million increase, or 18.0%, relates primarily to new contracts bounds during 2023 related to property, general liability, and specialty business.
The Company recognized net underwriting income of $14.4 million in the third quarter of 2023. By comparison, the equivalent period in 2022 incurred a net underwriting loss of $18.9 million. The combined ratio for the third quarter of 2023 was 91.2%, compared to 115.4% for the equivalent period in 2022.
The following table summarizes the components of our combined ratio.
| Underwriting ratios | Third Quarter 2023 | Third Quarter 2022 | ||||
| Loss ratio - current year | 61.4 | % | 75.8 | % | ||
| Loss ratio - prior year | (2.0 | )% | 1.7 | % | ||
| Loss ratio | 59.4 | % | 77.5 | % | ||
| Acquisition cost ratio | 28.8 | % | 30.2 | % | ||
| Composite ratio | 88.2 | % | 107.7 | % | ||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 3.0 | % | 7.7 | % | ||
| Combined ratio | 91.2 | % | 115.4 | % | ||
The Company's total investment income during the third quarter of 2023 was $5.1 million. The Company's investment in the Solasglas fund, managed by DME Advisors, returned (0.6)%, representing a net loss of $1.9 million. The Company reported $7.0 million of other investment income, primarily from interest earned on its restricted cash and cash equivalents.
The Company reported other non-underwriting loss of $1.3 million during the third quarter of 2023, due primarily to foreign exchange losses driven by the weakening of the pound sterling, partially offset by investment income on the funds withheld by the Lloyd's syndicates.
The net income of $13.5 million contributed to the 2.3% increase in fully diluted book value per share for the quarter, which increased to $16.58 per share at September 30, 2023.
Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Call
Greenlight Re will host a live conference call to discuss its financial results on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Dial-in details:
| U.S. toll free | 1-877-407-9753 |
| International | 1-201-493-6739 |
The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:
https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1635367&tp_key=4b61cd0dfe
A telephone replay will be available following the call through November 14, 2023. The replay of the call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-660-6853 (U.S. toll free) or 1-201-612-7415 (international), access code 13741362. An audio file of the call will also be available on the Company's website, www.greenlightre.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In presenting the Company's results, management has included financial measures that are not calculated under standards or rules that comprise accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Such measures, including basic book value per share, fully diluted book value per share, and net underwriting income (loss), are referred to as non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. Management believes these measures allow for a more thorough understanding of the underlying business. These measures are used to monitor our results and should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of such measures to the most comparable GAAP figures are included in the attached financial information in accordance with Regulation G.
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 the Company's behalf. These risks and uncertainties include the fluctuation of our results of operations from period to period; the impact of general economic, capital and credit market conditions, including banking sector instability, financial market illiquidity and fluctuations in interest rates, equity securities' prices and/or foreign currency exchange rates; a downgrade or withdrawal of our A.M. Best ratings; any suspension or revocation of any of our licenses; the performance of Solasglas Investments, LP; the carry values of our investments made under our Greenlight Re Innovations pillar may differ significantly from those that would be used if we carried these investments at fair value; our level of debt and its adverse impact on our liquidity; impact of United States federal income taxes and legal uncertainties and other factors described in our most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as those factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic and other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as provided by law.
About Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.
Greenlight Re (www.greenlightre.com) provides multiline property and casualty insurance and reinsurance through its licensed and regulated reinsurance entities in the Cayman Islands and Ireland, and its Lloyd's platform, Greenlight Innovation Syndicate 3456. The Company complements its underwriting activities with a non-traditional investment approach designed to achieve higher rates of return over the long term than reinsurance companies that exclusively employ more traditional investment strategies. In 2018, the Company launched its Greenlight Re Innovations unit, which supports technology innovators in the (re)insurance space by providing investment capital, risk capacity, and access to a broad insurance network.
Investor Relations Contact
Karin Daly
Vice President, The Equity Group Inc.
(212) 836-9623
IR@greenlightre.ky
GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
UNAUDITED
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
| September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Investments | ||||||||
| Investment in related party investment fund | $ | 228,991 | $ | 178,197 | ||||
| Other investments | 67,648 | 70,279 | ||||||
| Total investments | 296,639 | 248,476 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 41,302 | 38,238 | ||||||
| Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 622,624 | 668,310 | ||||||
| Reinsurance balances receivable (net of allowance for expected credit losses) | 640,391 | 505,555 | ||||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expenses recoverable (net of allowance for expected credit losses) | 28,191 | 13,239 | ||||||
| Deferred acquisition costs | 85,102 | 82,391 | ||||||
| Unearned premiums ceded | 18,700 | 18,153 | ||||||
| Other assets | 6,680 | 6,019 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 1,739,629 | $ | 1,580,381 | ||||
| Liabilities and equity | ||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||
| Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves | $ | 658,234 | $ | 555,468 | ||||
| Unearned premium reserves | 340,582 | 307,820 | ||||||
| Reinsurance balances payable | 69,882 | 105,135 | ||||||
| Funds withheld | 13,406 | 21,907 | ||||||
| Other liabilities | 6,781 | 6,397 | ||||||
| Debt | 74,879 | 80,534 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 1,163,764 | 1,077,261 | ||||||
| Shareholders' equity | ||||||||
| Ordinary share capital (par value $0.10; authorized, 125,000,000; issued and outstanding, 35,337,407 (2022: Class A: par value $0.10; authorized, 100,000,000; issued and outstanding, 28,569,346: Class B: 2022: par value $0.10; authorized, 25,000,000; issued and outstanding, 6,254,715) | $ | 3,534 | $ | 3,482 | ||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 481,908 | 478,439 | ||||||
| Retained earnings | 90,423 | 21,199 | ||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 575,865 | 503,120 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 1,739,629 | $ | 1,580,381 | ||||
GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except percentages and per share amounts)
| Three months ended September 30 | Nine months ended September 30 | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Underwriting revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 183,074 | $ | 155,146 | $ | 524,472 | $ | 435,812 | ||||||||
| Gross premiums ceded | (14,789 | ) | (8,801 | ) | (35,740 | ) | (21,973 | ) | ||||||||
| Net premiums written | 168,285 | 146,345 | 488,732 | 413,839 | ||||||||||||
| Change in net unearned premium reserves | (5,175 | ) | (24,397 | ) | (43,030 | ) | (55,747 | ) | ||||||||
| Net premiums earned | $ | 163,110 | $ | 121,948 | $ | 445,702 | $ | 358,092 | ||||||||
| Underwriting related expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Current year | $ | 100,143 | $ | 92,444 | $ | 273,570 | $ | 251,231 | ||||||||
| Prior year | (3,300 | ) | 2,116 | 10,502 | 1,558 | |||||||||||
| Net loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred | 96,843 | 94,559 | 284,072 | 252,789 | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition costs | 46,933 | 36,821 | 126,702 | 106,101 | ||||||||||||
| Underwriting expenses | 4,639 | 3,285 | 14,046 | 10,034 | ||||||||||||
| Deposit interest expense | 278 | 6,148 | 645 | 6,373 | ||||||||||||
| Net underwriting income (loss) | $ | 14,417 | $ | (18,865 | ) | $ | 20,237 | $ | (17,205 | ) | ||||||
| Income (loss) from investment in related party investment fund | $ | (1,853 | ) | $ | 8,521 | $ | 27,791 | $ | 24,474 | |||||||
| Net investment income (loss) | 6,958 | 3,038 | 24,705 | 11,978 | ||||||||||||
| Total investment income (loss) | $ | 5,105 | $ | 11,559 | $ | 52,496 | $ | 36,452 | ||||||||
| Net underwriting and investment income (loss) | $ | 19,522 | $ | (7,306 | ) | $ | 72,733 | $ | 19,247 | |||||||
| Corporate expenses | $ | 3,266 | $ | 4,104 | $ | 13,820 | $ | 12,693 | ||||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | 1,293 | 6,784 | (13,399 | ) | 13,374 | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | 1,457 | 1,091 | 2,977 | 3,411 | ||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 29 | (816 | ) | 111 | (823 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 13,477 | $ | (18,469 | ) | $ | 69,224 | $ | (9,408 | ) | ||||||
| Earnings (loss) per share | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.40 | $ | (0.56 | ) | $ | 2.03 | $ | (0.28 | ) | ||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.39 | $ | (0.56 | ) | $ | 1.99 | $ | (0.28 | ) | ||||||
The following tables present the Company's net premiums earned and underwriting ratios by line of business:
| Three months ended September 30 | Three months ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property | Casualty | Other | Total | Property | Casualty | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands except percentage) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net premiums earned | $ | 24,362 | $ | 93,514 | $ | 45,234 | $ | 163,110 | $ | 10,951 | $ | 76,511 | $ | 34,486 | $ | 121,948 | |||||||||||||||
| Underwriting ratios | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss ratio | 54.1 | % | 67.4 | % | 45.6 | % | 59.4 | % | 120.1 | % | 79.6 | % | 59.4 | % | 77.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Acquisition cost ratio | 17.7 | 31.9 | 28.2 | 28.8 | 19.0 | 31.6 | 30.6 | 30.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Composite ratio | 71.8 | % | 99.3 | % | 73.8 | % | 88.2 | % | 139.1 | % | 111.2 | % | 90.0 | % | 107.7 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 3.0 | 7.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 91.2 | % | 115.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nine months ended September 30 | Nine months ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property | Casualty | Other | Total | Property | Casualty | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands except percentage) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net premiums earned | $ | 63,854 | $ | 259,075 | $ | 122,773 | $ | 445,702 | $ | 37,577 | $ | 225,322 | $ | 95,193 | $ | 358,092 | |||||||||||||||
| Underwriting ratios | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss ratio | 81.6 | % | 67.0 | % | 47.5 | % | 63.8 | % | 76.2 | % | 71.0 | % | 67.5 | % | 70.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Acquisition cost ratio | 18.5 | 31.0 | 28.2 | 28.4 | 22.6 | 28.6 | 34.8 | 29.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Composite ratio | 100.1 | % | 98.0 | % | 75.7 | % | 92.2 | % | 98.8 | % | 99.6 | % | 102.3 | % | 100.2 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 3.3 | 4.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined ratio | 95.5 | % | 104.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
KEY FINANCIAL MEASURES AND NON-GAAP MEASURES
Management uses certain key financial measures, some of which are not prescribed under U.S. GAAP rules and standards ("non-GAAP financial measures"), to evaluate our financial performance, financial position, and the change in shareholder value. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure, as defined in SEC Regulation G, is a numerical measure of a company's historical or future financial performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented under U.S. GAAP. We believe that these measures, which may be calculated or defined differently by other companies, provide consistent and comparable metrics of our business performance to help shareholders understand performance trends and facilitate a more thorough understanding of the Company's business. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed as substitutes for those determined under U.S. GAAP.
The non-GAAP financial measures used in this report are:
- Basic book value per share and fully diluted book value per share; and
- Net underwriting income (loss)
These non-GAAP financial measures are described below.
Basic Book Value Per Share and Fully Diluted Book Value Per Share
We believe that long-term growth in fully diluted book value per share is the most relevant measure of our financial performance because it provides management and investors a yardstick to monitor the shareholder value generated. Fully diluted book value per share may also help our investors, shareholders, and other interested parties form a basis of comparison with other companies within the property and casualty reinsurance industry. Basic book value per share and fully diluted book value per share should not be viewed as substitutes for the comparable U.S. GAAP measures.
We calculate basic book value per share as (a) ending shareholders' equity, divided by (b) aggregate of ordinary shares issued and outstanding, including all unvested service-based restricted shares, and the earned portion of performance-based restricted shares granted after December 31, 2021. We exclude shares potentially issuable in connection with convertible notes if the conversion price exceeds the share price. We repaid all outstanding convertible notes on August 1, 2023 without issuing any shares.
Fully diluted book value per share represents basic book value per share combined with any dilutive impact of in-the-money stock options, unvested service-based RSUs, and the earned portion of unvested performance-based RSUs granted. Fully diluted book value per share also includes the dilutive effect, if any, of ordinary shares expected to be issued upon settlement of the convertible notes.
Our primary financial goal is to increase fully diluted book value per share over the long term. We use fully diluted book value per share as a financial measure in our annual incentive compensation.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures basic and fully diluted book value per share to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure:
| September 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except per share and share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Numerator for basic and fully diluted book value per share: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total equity (U.S. GAAP) (numerator for basic and fully diluted book value per share) | $ | 575,865 | $ | 561,121 | $ | 510,041 | $ | 503,120 | $ | 466,952 | ||||||||||
| Denominator for basic and fully diluted book value per share:(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares issued and outstanding as presented in the Company's consolidated balance sheets | 35,337,407 | 35,272,013 | 35,262,678 | 34,824,061 | 34,824,061 | |||||||||||||||
| Less: Unearned performance-based restricted shares granted after December 31, 2021 | (785,003 | ) | (820,156 | ) | (851,828 | ) | (516,489 | ) | (539,161 | ) | ||||||||||
| Denominator for basic book value per share | 34,552,404 | 34,451,857 | 34,410,850 | 34,307,572 | 34,284,900 | |||||||||||||||
| Add: In-the-money stock options, service-based RSUs granted, and earned performance-based RSUs granted | 171,150 | 164,116 | 157,431 | 187,750 | 183,790 | |||||||||||||||
| Denominator for fully diluted book value per share | 34,723,554 | 34,615,973 | 34,568,281 | 34,495,322 | 34,468,690 | |||||||||||||||
| Basic book value per share | $ | 16.67 | $ | 16.29 | $ | 14.82 | $ | 14.66 | $ | 13.62 | ||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in basic book value per share ($) | $ | 0.38 | $ | 1.47 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 1.04 | $ | (0.56 | ) | |||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in basic book value per share (%) | 2.3 | % | 9.9 | % | 1.1 | % | 7.6 | % | (3.9 | )% | ||||||||||
| Fully diluted book value per share | $ | 16.58 | $ | 16.21 | $ | 14.75 | $ | 14.59 | $ | 13.55 | ||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in fully diluted book value per share ($) | $ | 0.37 | $ | 1.46 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 1.04 | $ | (0.55 | ) | |||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in fully diluted book value per share (%) | 2.3 | % | 9.9 | % | 1.1 | % | 7.7 | % | (3.9 | )% | ||||||||||
(1) For periods prior to January 1, 2022, all unvested restricted shares are included in the "basic" and "fully diluted" denominators. Restricted shares with performance-based vesting conditions granted after December 31, 2021, are included in the "basic" and "fully diluted" denominators to the extent that the Company has recognized the corresponding share-based compensation expense. At September 30, 2023, the aggregate number of unearned restricted shares with performance conditions not included in the "basic" and "fully diluted" denominators was 947,492 (June 30, 2023: 982,645, March 31, 2023: 1,014,317, December 31, 2022: 709,638, September 30, 2022: 732,310).
Net Underwriting Income (Loss)
One way that we evaluate the Company's underwriting performance is by measuring net underwriting income (loss). We do not use premiums written as a measure of performance. Net underwriting income (loss) is a performance measure used by management to evaluate the fundamentals underlying the Company's underwriting operations. We believe that the use of net underwriting income (loss) enables investors and other users of the Company's financial information to analyze our performance in a manner similar to how management analyzes performance. Management also believes this measure follows industry practice and allows the users of financial information to compare the Company's performance with that of our industry peer group.
Net underwriting income (loss) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes items used to calculate net income before taxes under U.S. GAAP. We calculate net underwriting income (loss) as net premiums earned less net loss and loss adjustment expenses, acquisition costs, underwriting expenses, and deposit interest expense. The measure excludes, on a recurring basis: (1) investment income (loss); (2) other income (expense) not related to underwriting, including foreign exchange gains or losses, and Lloyd's interest income and expense; (3) corporate general and administrative expenses; and (4) interest expense. We exclude total investment income or loss, foreign exchange gains or losses, and Lloyd's interest income or expense as we believe these items are influenced by market conditions and other factors unrelated to underwriting decisions. Additionally, we exclude corporate and interest expenses because these costs are generally fixed and not incremental to or directly related to our underwriting operations. We believe all of these amounts are largely independent of our underwriting process, and including them could hinder the analysis of trends in our underwriting operations. Net underwriting income (loss) should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP net income before income taxes.
The reconciliations of net underwriting income (loss) to income (loss) before income taxes (the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) on a consolidated basis are shown below:
| Three months ended September 30 | Nine months ended September 30 | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax | $ | 13,506 | $ | (19,285 | ) | $ | 69,335 | $ | (10,231 | ) | ||||||
| Add (subtract): | ||||||||||||||||
| Total investment (income) loss | (5,105 | ) | (11,559 | ) | (52,496 | ) | (36,452 | ) | ||||||||
| Other non-underwriting (income) expense | 1,293 | 6,784 | (13,399 | ) | 13,374 | |||||||||||
| Corporate expenses | 3,266 | 4,104 | 13,820 | 12,693 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 1,457 | 1,091 | 2,977 | 3,411 | ||||||||||||
| Net underwriting income (loss) | $ | 14,417 | $ | (18,865 | ) | $ | 20,237 | $ | (17,205 | ) | ||||||
