1st Quarter Results

Lancashire Holdings Limited 29 April 2008 LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED Fully converted book value per share grows 5.0% in Q1 2008 Combined ratio 61.2% Hamilton, Bermuda, 29 April 2008 Lancashire Holdings Limited ('Lancashire' or 'the Company') today announces its first quarter results for the three month period ended 31 March 2008. In a quarter with extensive industry insurance losses, softening rates and highly volatile investment markets, Lancashire has produced an excellent return for shareholders. Financial highlights for the first quarter of 2008: • Return on equity of 5.0%, measured as the growth in fully converted book value per share plus dividends. Compound annual return on equity since inception is 22.2%; • Gross written premiums of $186.7 million. Net written premiums of $141.9 million; • Loss ratio of 38.9% and a combined ratio of 61.2%; • Total annualised investment return of 5.2%, including net investment income, realised gains and losses, and unrealised gains and losses; • Net income after tax of $84.6 million, or $0.45 diluted earnings per share. The Company also announces that on 29 April 2008 its Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program which authorises the Company to repurchase its own shares by way of market purchases, tender offers, accelerated purchase programs or privately negotiated transactions, up to an aggregate purchase price of $100 million. Richard Brindle, Group Chief Executive Officer, commented: 'I am extremely pleased to report a very strong performance by Lancashire. In the first quarter the industry suffered a number of severe property risk losses. Lancashire is a major insurer in this sector. It is therefore a great testament to our underwriting team that Lancashire has produced a 39% loss ratio in such a challenging period. Our estimated loss from the property risk events in the first quarter is between $20 and $25 million, gross and net. In the context of losses in this sector estimated at up to six billion dollars, together with cat losses of approximately three to four billion dollars, this is solid evidence of our underwriting strength.' 'Losses from the credit crisis are accelerating. The investment markets are rightly cautious about the financial consequences for insurers writing D&O or E& O risks, or holding investment classes suffering material write-downs. Lancashire is not one of these companies. We do not write insurance classes exposed to credit crisis losses and we maintain a particularly unadventurous investment portfolio. We made the decision in late 2007 to exit all non-agency structured product sectors. The carnage of the first quarter confirmed that was absolutely the right thing to do. Investors should take great comfort that our balance sheet is stronger than ever.' Neil McConachie, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer, commented: 'Our investment strategy is conservative at the best of times, even more so in recent months. Rule number one is 'Don't lose your money'. Happily, we achieved that in the first quarter. The risk profile of our portfolio is unusually low right now. Thus, our down-side risk to further sudden market shocks is well-contained. An added bonus is that our short duration stance positions us well for the possibility of a weakening bond market in the remainder of 2008.' 'Capital requirements are continually assessed. Our stated aim is to maximise return within agreed tolerances of risk. The trading environment changes quickly and at this time we are reducing overall enterprise risk, not increasing it. Maintaining the flexibility to efficiently match capital to the existing environment is important. To enhance this flexibility, our board of directors have authorised a $100 million share repurchase.' Underwriting results Gross written premiums increased 3.3% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. The first quarter contains the majority of the retrocession renewals, a class where rates have held up relatively well. Subsequent quarters are expected to experience premium reductions. Lancashire is being highly selective when binding catastrophe-exposed deals. Many such contracts renew before June 30 and the second quarter 2008 written premiums will be materially lower than the second quarter of 2007. Many programs continue to offer an acceptable return on allocated capital. Nonetheless there are also a growing number of deals currently being placed in the market that don't meet our requirements. Consequently, Lancashire's gross and net exposure to U.S. windstorm risk will be materially lower heading into the 2008 hurricane season than it was in 2007. Net written premiums decreased 18.7% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. In the three months to 31 March 2008, we purchased a greater level of reinsurance protection than was purchased in the same period in 2007. In 2008, there is a material increase in reinsurance cover for programs not exposed to natural catastrophes compared to 2007, reducing potential earnings volatility from risk losses. Lancashire's gross exposure to natural catastrophes in general is significantly less than a year ago, particularly with respect to the U.S. wind and quake perils. This has lessened the need for reinsurance dedicated to natural catastrophes. In 2007, a significant amount of energy premium was ceded to Sirocco Re, the Lancashire sponsored sidecar which has not been renewed for 2008. As a result, ceded premium in the second quarter of 2008 will be lower than it was in the second quarter of 2007. Net earned premiums as a proportion of net written premiums were 119.1% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 80.3% in the same period in 2007. This difference is driven by a portfolio which is now mature compared to a book of business which was still in the growth phase one year earlier. The loss ratio of 38.9% for the three months to 31 March 2008 reflects a very good underwriting performance despite a high level of industry losses in classes written by Lancashire. $3.2 million of prior year net reserves were released in the quarter. Investments Net investment income was $17.7 million for the first quarter, an increase of 6.0% over the first quarter of 2007. The increase in investment income is due to an 18% increase in invested assets and cash year on year, offset by lower yields. Total investment return, incorporating net investment income, net realised gains and losses and net unrealised gains and losses, was $22.7 million in the quarter, a decrease of 0.9% compared to the first quarter of 2007. Total investment return was higher than net investment income due primarily to gains realised from the sale of fixed income assets. Equity markets were weak in the quarter. Lancashire's small equity portfolio declined 3.8%, performing well on a relative basis to the 9.5% fall in the S&P 500. Other operating expenses of $11.7 million in the first quarter of 2008 are $2.3 million lower than that of the first quarter in 2007 primarily due to a one off credit in the first quarter of 2008 of $2.9 million. Capital At 31 March 2008, total capital was $1.431 billion, comprising shareholders' equity of $1.296 billion and $134.9 million of long-term debt. Leverage was 9.4%. Total capital at 31 March 2007 was $1.362 billion. Outlook Lancashire aims to achieve a cross-cycle return of 13% above a risk free rate. This is unchanged from previous guidance. Further detail of our 2008 first quarter results can be obtained from our Financial Supplement. This can be accessed via our website www.lancashiregroup.com. Investor Presentation and Earnings Call There will be an investor conference call on the results at 12.00 UK time / 07: 00 EST on Wednesday 30 April 2008. This call will be hosted by Richard Brindle, Chief Executive Officer; Simon Burton, Deputy Chief Executive; and Neil McConachie, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer. The call can be accessed by dialing 0845 146 2004/+1 866 434 1089 with the passcode 42013256. The call can also be accessed via webcast, please go to our website (www.lancashiregroup.com) to access. A replay facility will be available for two weeks until Wednesday 14 May. The dial in number for the replay facility is 0845 146 2004/ +1 866 434 1089 and the passcode is 42013256. A replay facility can also be accessed at www.lancashiregroup.com . For further information, please contact: Lancashire Holdings +1 441 278 8950 Denise O'Donoghue Financial Dynamics +44 20 7269 7114 Robert Bailhache Nick Henderson Investor enquiries and questions can also be directed to investors@lancashiregroup.com or by accessing the Company's website www.lancashiregroup.com. consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) march 31, 2008 december 31, 2007 $m $m assets cash and cash equivalents 610.0 737.3 accrued interest receivable 6.8 9.8 investments - fixed income securities - available for sale 1,109.6 1,069.7 - at fair value through income 23.9 23.5 - equity securities, available for sale 75.8 71.6 - other investments 3.5 4.4 reinsurance assets - unearned premium on premium ceded 43.5 19.6 - reinsurance recoveries 4.9 3.6 - other receivables - 8.2 deferred acquisition costs 59.3 57.8 inwards premium receivable from insureds and cedants 207.5 198.2 investment in associate 3.6 22.9 other assets 21.3 8.1 total assets 2,169.7 2,234.7 liabilities insurance contracts - loss and loss adjustment expenses 236.0 179.6 - unearned premiums 378.6 381.9 - other payables 10.0 16.5 amounts payable to reinsurers 33.3 5.7 deferred acquisition costs ceded 3.8 3.0 other payables 76.8 300.1 long-term debt 134.9 132.3 total liabilities 873.4 1,019.1 shareholders' equity share capital 91.1 91.1 share premium 48.0 49.5 contributed surplus 754.8 754.8 fair value and other reserves 18.2 20.7 dividends 0.1 (239.1) retained earnings 384.1 538.6 total shareholders' equity attributable to equity shareholders 1,296.3 1,215.6 total liabilities and shareholders' equity 2,169.7 2,234.7 basic book value per share $7.11 $6.67 fully converted book value per share $6.70 $6.38 consolidated income statement (unaudited) quarter 1 quarter 1 2008 2007 $m $m gross premiums written 186.7 180.7 outwards reinsurance premiums (44.8) (6.1) net premiums written 141.9 174.6 change in unearned premiums 3.2 (27.6) change in unearned premiums on premium ceded 23.9 (6.8) net premiums earned 169.0 140.2 net investment income 17.7 16.7 net realised gains and impairments 7.5 1.8 share of profit (loss) of associate (0.1) 1.3 net foreign exchange gains 0.3 1.4 net other investment losses (1.2) (0.1) total net revenue 193.2 161.3 insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses 66.9 32.0 insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses recoverable (1.2) - net insurance acquisition expenses 26.0 20.3 equity based compensation (1.5) 3.7 other operating expenses 11.7 14.0 total expenses 101.9 70.0 profit before tax and finance costs 91.3 91.3 finance costs 4.9 3.0 profit before tax 86.4 88.3 tax 1.8 0.4 profit after tax 84.6 87.9 net loss ratio 38.9% 22.8% net acquisition cost ratio 15.4% 14.5% administrative expense ratio 6.9% 10.0% combined ratio 61.2% 47.3% basic earnings per share $0.46 $0.45 diluted earnings per share $0.45 $0.43 change in fully converted book value per share 5.0% 7.2% consolidated cash flow statement quarter 1 quarter 1 (unaudited) 2008 2007 $m $m cash flows from operating activities profit before tax 86.4 88.3 tax paid (0.5) - depreciation 0.3 0.3 interest expense 2.8 2.8 interest income (16.2) (16.6) dividend income (0.2) (0.2) amortisation of fixed income securities (0.3) (0.3) employee benefit expense (1.5) 3.7 foreign exchange 0.2 (1.1) share of loss (profit) of associate 0.1 (1.3) net unrealised losses on other investments 0.5 0.1 net realised gains and impairments on investments (7.5) (1.8) net fair value losses on investments at fair value 0.7 - through income unrealised loss on interest rate swaps 1.8 0.2 reinsurance assets - unearned premium on premium ceded (23.9) 6.9 - reinsurance recoveries (1.3) - - other receivables 8.2 - deferred acquisition costs (1.5) (4.2) other receivables (15.0) (6.4) inwards premium receivable from insureds and cedants (6.3) (6.5) insurance contracts - losses and loss adjustment expenses 54.5 30.9 - unearned premiums (3.2) 27.6 - other payables (6.1) 1.5 amounts payable to reinsurers 27.6 4.3 deferred acquisition costs ceded 0.8 - other payables 23.3 26.2 net cash flows from operating activities 123.7 154.4 cash flows used in investing activities interest received 19.3 14.6 dividends received 0.2 0.2 purchase of property, plant and equipment - (0.8) dividends received from associate 19.2 0.8 purchase of fixed income securities (886.2) (526.3) purchase of equity securities (9.3) (6.7) proceeds on maturity and disposal of debt securities 853.9 316.3 proceeds on disposal of equity securities 2.2 14.6 net proceeds on other investments 0.1 0.6 net cash flows used in investing activities (0.6) (186.7) cash flows used in financing activities interest paid (2.9) (2.8) dividends paid (238.2) - shares repurchased (10.5) - net cash flows used in financing activities (251.6) (2.8) net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (128.5) (35.1) cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 737.3 400.1 effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash 1.2 1.6 equivalents cash and cash equivalents at end of period 610.0 366.6 About Lancashire Lancashire, through its UK and Bermuda-based insurance subsidiaries, is a global provider of specialty insurance products. Its insurance subsidiaries carry the Lancashire group rating of A minus (Excellent) from A.M. Best with a stable outlook. Lancashire has capital in excess of $1 billion and its Common Shares trade on AIM under the ticker symbol LRE. Lancashire is headquartered at Mintflower Place, 8 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda. The mailing address is Lancashire Holdings Limited, P.O. Box HM 2358, Hamilton HM HX, Bermuda. For more information on Lancashire, visit the company's website at www.lancashiregroup.com NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: CERTAIN STATEMENTS AND INDICATIVE PROJECTIONS MADE IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ON THE CONFERENCE CALL THAT ARE NOT BASED ON CURRENT OR HISTORICAL FACTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING IN NATURE INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, STATEMENTS CONTAINING WORDS 'BELIEVES', 'ANTICIPATES', 'PLANS', 'PROJECTS', 'FORECASTS', 'GUIDANCE', 'INTENDS', 'EXPECTS', 'ESTIMATES', 'PREDICTS', 'MAY', 'CAN', 'WILL', 'SEEKS', 'SHOULD', OR, IN EACH CASE, THEIR NEGATIVE OR COMPARABLE TERMINOLOGY. ALL STATEMENTS OTHER THAN STATEMENTS OF HISTORICAL FACTS INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE REGARDING THE GROUP'S FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, LIQUIDITY, PROSPECTS, GROWTH, CAPITAL MANAGEMENT PLANS, BUSINESS STRATEGY, PLANS AND OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS (INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND OBJECTIVES RELATING TO THE GROUP'S INSURANCE BUSINESS) ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE GROUP TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE CONTRACTS THAT WE WRITE; THE PREMIUM RATES AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF SUCH RENEWALS WITHIN OUR TARGETED BUSINESS LINES; THE ABSENCE OF LARGE OR UNUSUALLY FREQUENT LOSS EVENTS; THE IMPACT THAT OUR FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS, CAPITAL POSITION AND RATING AGENCY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS HAVE ON THE EXECUTION OF ANY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES; THE POSSIBILITY OF GREATER FREQUENCY OR SEVERITY OF CLAIMS AND LOSS ACTIVITY THAN OUR UNDERWRITING, RESERVING OR INVESTMENT PRACTICES HAVE ANTICIPATED; THE RELIABILITY OF, AND CHANGES IN ASSUMPTIONS TO, CATASTROPHE PRICING, ACCUMULATION AND ESTIMATED LOSS MODELS; LOSS OF KEY PERSONNEL; A DECLINE IN OUR OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES' RATING WITH A.M. BEST COMPANY; INCREASED COMPETITION ON THE BASIS OF PRICING, CAPACITY, COVERAGE TERMS OR OTHER FACTORS; A CYCLICAL DOWNTURN OF THE INDUSTRY; THE IMPACT OF A DETERIORATING CREDIT ENVIRONMENT CREATED BY THE SUB-PRIME AND CREDIT CRISIS; A RATING DOWNGRADE OF, OR A MARKET DECLINE IN, SECURITES IN OUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO; CHANGES IN GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS OR TAX LAWS IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE LANCASHIRE CONDUCTS BUSINESS; LANCASHIRE OR ITS BERMUDIAN SUBSIDIARY BECOMING SUBJECT TO INCOME TAXES IN THE UNITED STATES OR THE UNITED KINGDOM; AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR LOSS LIMITATION METHODS. ANY ESTIMATES RELATING TO LOSS EVENTS INVOLVE THE EXERCISE OF CONSIDERABLE JUDGMENT AND REFLECT A COMBINATION OF GROUND-UP EVALUATIONS, INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO DATE FROM BROKERS AND INSUREDS, MARKET INTELLIGENCE, INITIAL TENTATIVE LOSS REPORTS AND OTHER SOURCES. JUDGMENTS IN RELATION TO FLOOD LOSSES INVOLVE COMPLEX FACTORS POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THIS TYPE OF LOSS, AND WE CAUTION AS TO THE PRELIMINARY NATURE OF THE INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE ANY SUCH ESTIMATES. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS AT THE DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THIS DOCUMENT. LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING (SAVE AS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH ANY LEGAL OR REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS (INCLUDING THE AIM RULES)) TO DISSEMINATE ANY UPDATES OR REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN THE GROUP'S EXPECTATIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH ANY SUCH STATEMENT IS BASED. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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