Global Indemnity plc Reports Fourth Quarter 2013 Financial Results

DUBLIN, Feb. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Indemnity plc (NASDAQ:GBLI) today reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2013 of $61.7 million or $2.45 per share. As of December 31st, book value per share was $34.65, an increase of 7.8% compared to book value per share of $32.15 at December 31, 2012.   

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Selected Operating and Balance Sheet Data (Dollars in millions, except per share data)

Various events occurred in 2013 and 2012 that the Company would consider infrequent or non-routine.  The table below reflects the Company's results excluding these non-routine charges and (benefits).  

See the notes following the "Summary of Operating Income" table for information regarding the presentation of income excluding non-routine events

Cynthia Y. Valko, Chief Executive Officer, commented:  "We are pleased with our final results for 2013. Global Indemnity's insurance and reinsurance premium volume grew 19% compared to 2012 and our calendar year combined ratio improved 8.2 points to 96%. Low catastrophes coupled with better pricing and underwriting were factors in improved year over year results. Our operating income results improved to $40.5 million for 2013 versus $29.3 million in 2012. Net income results were also enhanced by investment returns primarily driven by strong performance of the common stock portfolio. Overall, book value per share was $34.65, an increase of 7.8% compared to last year."

About Global Indemnity plc and its subsidiaries

Global Indemnity plc (NASDAQ:GBLI), through its several direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiary insurance and reinsurance companies, provides both admitted and non-admitted specialty property and casualty insurance coverages in the United States, as well as reinsurance worldwide.  Global Indemnity plc's two primary segments are:

• United States Based Insurance Operations
• Bermuda Based Reinsurance Operations

For more information, visit the Global Indemnity plc website at http://www.globalindemnity.ie.

Teleconference and Webcast for Interested Parties

Cynthia Valko, Chief Executive Officer of Global Indemnity plc, and Thomas McGeehan, Chief Financial Officer of Global Indemnity plc, will conduct a teleconference for interested parties on February 21, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the fourth quarter 2013 results. 

To participate in the teleconference, please telephone +1-877-260-8900 (U.S. and Canada) or +1-612-332-7516 (International) and you will be greeted by an operator.  Please reference Global Indemnity plc Earnings Release Call or the host Cynthia Valko.

The teleconference is being webcast by AT&T and can be accessed at the company's website at www.globalindemnity.ie.  Please access the site at least 15 minutes prior to the teleconference to register, click on the Webcast link, enter Conference ID number 319959 and click GO.  Please download and install any necessary software.    

The teleconference will be available for replay beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on February 21, 2014 until 11:59 p.m. February 21, 2015. To listen to the replay, please telephone +1-800-475-6701 (U.S. and Canada) or +1-320-365-3844 (International) then enter 319959.

Forward-Looking Information

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  We caution investors that our actual results may be materially different from the estimates expressed in, or implied, or projected by, the forward looking statements.  Please see our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of the risks and uncertainties which may affect us and for a more detailed discussion of our cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.    

Global Indemnity plc's Combined Ratio for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012

The combined ratio is a key measure of insurance profitability.  The components comprising the combined ratio are as follows:

(1)      Net premiums earned includes $6.0 million related to reinsurance treaties written in 2009 and 2010 that became due as a result of additional losses incurred on these treaties.  The impact of these premiums is included in the "Changes to Prior Accident Year" ratios.

For the twelve months ended December 31st, the calendar year loss ratio decreased by 10.8 points to 53.5 in 2013 from 64.3 in 2012.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, the current accident year loss ratio improved to 56.6 compared to 64.1 for the same period in 2012.  Total calendar year results in 2013 include a 3.1 point reduction in the loss ratio related to prior accident years, which was primarily driven by lower than expected severity in property lines. The property accident year loss ratio decreased 11.9 points to 43.9 in 2013 from 55.8 in 2012. 2012's results included $12 million related to Super Storm Sandy. The casualty loss ratio, excluding premium deficiency charges, increased 6.9 points from 74.0 to 80.9 in 2013, primarily due to poor performance in commercial auto lines. Other casualty lines in 2013 performed comparably to 2012. 

For the twelve months ended December 31st, the expense ratio increased from 39.9 in 2012 to 42.5 in 2013.

The expense ratio for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 42.0 and 41.4, respectively excluding premium deficiency charges. The increase is primarily due to an increase in profit commissions as a result of better than expected performance within Reinsurance Operations.

Global Indemnity plc's Gross and Net Premiums Written Results by Segment

Insurance Operations:  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, gross premiums written and net premiums written increased 15.2% and 20.2%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2012. Gross written premiums increased as a result of growth in small business binding authority lines as well as growth in the property brokerage, programs and other lines.  Growth was driven by new business, pricing increases, and increased agent relationships. Net written premiums increased as a result of an increase in gross premiums written and a reduction of ceded premiums written as a result of an increase in retention in property excess of loss and property catastrophe.  For the three months ended December 31, 2013, gross premiums written and net premiums written increased 18.4% and 20.6%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2012 for the same reasons as noted above.

Reinsurance Operations:  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, gross premiums written and net premiums written increased 38.1% and 39.7%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2012.  These increases were primarily due to several new treaties written during 2013.  For the three months ended December 31, 2013, gross premiums written and net premiums written decreased 72.7% and 69.7%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2012.  2012 included a premium increase of $6.0 million related to reinsurance treaties written in 2009 and 2010 that became due as a result of additional losses incurred on these treaties. 

Note: Tables Follow

(1)      The loss ratio, expense ratio and combined ratio are non-GAAP financial measures that are generally viewed in the insurance industry as indicators of underwriting profitability.  The loss ratio is the ratio of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net premiums earned.  The expense ratio is the ratio of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to net premiums earned.  The combined ratio is the sum of the loss and expense ratios.

(2)      Excluding the impact of the 2011 premium deficiency charges, the loss ratio was 65.5% and 66.0% for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2012, respectively.

(3)      Excluding the impact of 2011 and 2013 premium deficiency charges, the expense ratio was 41.2% and 40.6% for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Excluding the impact of 2011 and 2013 premium deficiency charges, the expense ratio was 42.0% and 41.4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

(4)      Excluding the impact of the 2011 and 2013 premium deficiency charges, the combined ratio was 85.5 and 106.1 for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Excluding the impact of the 2011 and 2013 premium deficiency charges, the combined ratio was 95.5% and 107.4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

(5)      Results for the quarter and year to date 2012 include the impact of an out-of-period adjustment which reduced net income by $1.6 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.

(a)      Amounts in this table are shown on a pre-tax basis.

(b)      Simple average of beginning and end of period, net of payable/receivable for securities.

(1)      Results for the quarter and year to date 2012 include the impact of an out-of-period adjustment which reduced net income and operating income by $1.6 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.

Note Regarding Operating Income

Operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, is equal to net income excluding after-tax net realized investment gains (losses) and after-tax gain on disposition of subsidiary. Operating income is not a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP, and investors should not place undue reliance on this measure.

Note Regarding Presentation of Income Excluding Non-Routine Events

The presentation of income excluding non-routine events, including adjusted net income, adjusted operating income and adjusted per share amounts metrics, is a non-GAAP financial measure. These metrics were presented to show comparable results between periods without the impact of non-routine events. It is not a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP, and investors should not place undue reliance on this measure.

Contact:
Media 
Linda Hohn
Associate General Counsel
+1-610-660-6862
lhohn@global-indemnity.com