Arch Capital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACGL) announces its 2019 fourth
quarter results. The results included:
- Net income available to Arch common shareholders of $316.0
million, or $0.76 per share, a 12.0% annualized return on average
common equity, compared to $126.1 million, or $0.31 per share, for
the 2018 fourth quarter;
- After-tax operating income available to Arch common
shareholders, a non-GAAP measure, of $308.4 million, or $0.74 per
share, an 11.7% annualized return on average common equity,
compared to $189.2 million, or $0.46 per share, for the 2018 fourth
quarter;
- Pre-tax current accident year catastrophic losses, net of
reinsurance and reinstatement premiums(1) of $30.4 million;
- Favorable development in prior year loss reserves, net of
related adjustments(1) of $54.7 million;
- Combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year
development(1) of 81.4%;
- Book value per common share of $26.42 at December 31, 2019, a
3.2% increase in the 2019 fourth quarter and a 22.8% increase for
the year.
All earnings per share amounts discussed in this release are on
a diluted basis. The following table summarizes the Company’s
underwriting results, both (i) on a consolidated basis and (ii) on
a consolidated basis excluding the ‘other’ segment (i.e., results
of Watford, as defined below):
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Consolidated
Consolidated Excluding ‘Other’
Segment (1)
Three Months Ended December
31,
Three Months Ended December
31,
2019
2018
% Change
2019
2018
% Change
Gross premiums written
$
1,942,151
$
1,694,918
14.6
$
1,842,071
$
1,599,085
15.2
Net premiums written
1,455,453
1,301,754
11.8
1,343,100
1,169,394
14.9
Net premiums earned
1,515,882
1,369,435
10.7
1,382,437
1,222,462
13.1
Underwriting income
251,421
166,955
50.6
288,672
188,986
52.7
Underwriting Ratios
% Point Change
% Point Change
Loss ratio
55.7
%
60.4
%
(4.7
)
51.4
%
57.1
%
(5.7
)
Underwriting expense ratio
28.1
%
27.4
%
0.7
28.2
%
27.3
%
0.9
Combined ratio
83.8
%
87.8
%
(4.0
)
79.6
%
84.4
%
(4.8
)
Combined ratio excluding catastrophic
activity and prior year development
81.4
%
80.8
%
0.6
(1)
Excluding the ‘other’ segment. See
‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further details.
Pursuant to GAAP, the Company consolidates the results of
Watford Holdings Ltd. (“Watford”) in its financial statements,
although it only owns approximately 13% of Watford’s outstanding
common equity as of December 31, 2019. See ‘Comments on Regulation
G’ for further details.
The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated
financial data, including a reconciliation of net income or loss
available to Arch common shareholders to after-tax operating income
or loss available to Arch common shareholders and related diluted
per share results:
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share
data)
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2019
2018
2019
2018
Net income available to Arch common
shareholders
$
315,981
$
126,091
$
1,594,707
$
713,616
Net realized (gains) losses
(33,610
)
77,037
(353,013
)
297,755
Net impairment losses recognized in
earnings
644
1,705
3,165
2,829
Equity in net (income) loss of investment
funds accounted for using the equity method
(27,139
)
6,882
(123,672
)
(45,641
)
Net foreign exchange (gains) losses
39,832
(20,869
)
10,732
(59,890
)
Transaction costs and other
9,081
3,548
14,444
12,377
Loss on redemption of preferred shares
—
—
—
2,710
Income tax expense (benefit) (1)
3,568
(5,223
)
16,276
(14,566
)
After-tax operating income available to
Arch common shareholders
$
308,357
$
189,171
$
1,162,639
$
909,190
Diluted per common
share results:
Net income available to Arch common
shareholders
$
0.76
$
0.31
$
3.87
$
1.73
Net realized (gains) losses
(0.08
)
0.18
(0.87
)
0.72
Net impairment losses recognized in
earnings
0.00
0.00
0.01
0.01
Equity in net (income) loss of investment
funds accounted for using the equity method
(0.07
)
0.02
(0.30
)
(0.11
)
Net foreign exchange (gains) losses
0.10
(0.05
)
0.03
(0.15
)
Transaction costs and other
0.02
0.01
0.04
0.03
Loss on redemption of preferred shares
—
—
—
0.01
Income tax expense (benefit) (1)
0.01
(0.01
)
0.04
(0.04
)
After-tax operating income available to
Arch common shareholders
$
0.74
$
0.46
$
2.82
$
2.20
Weighted average common shares and common
share equivalents outstanding — diluted
414,124,920
410,112,097
411,609,478
412,906,478
Beginning common shareholders’ equity
$
10,378,096
$
8,575,148
$
8,659,827
$
8,324,047
Ending common shareholders’ equity
10,717,371
8,659,827
10,717,371
8,659,827
Average common shareholders’ equity
$
10,547,734
$
8,617,488
$
9,688,599
$
8,491,937
Annualized return on average common
equity
12.0
%
5.9
%
16.5
%
8.4
%
Annualized operating return on average
common equity
11.7
%
8.8
%
12.0
%
10.7
%
(1)
Income tax expense (benefit) on net
realized gains or losses, net impairment losses recognized in
earnings, equity in net income (loss) of investment funds accounted
for using the equity method, net foreign exchange gains or losses,
transaction costs and other and loss on redemption of preferred
shares reflects the relative mix reported by jurisdiction and the
varying tax rates in each jurisdiction.
Each line item in the table above reflects the impact of the
Company’s ownership of Watford’s outstanding common equity. See
‘Comments on Regulation G’ for a discussion of non-GAAP financial
measures.
Segment Information
The following section provides analysis on the Company’s 2019
fourth quarter performance by operating segment. For additional
details regarding the Company’s operating segments, please refer to
the Company’s Financial Supplement dated December 31, 2019. The
Company’s segment information includes the use of underwriting
income (loss) and a combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity
(if applicable for the segment) and prior year development. Such
items are non-GAAP financial measures (see ‘Comments on Regulation
G’ for further details).
The Company completed the acquisition of Barbican Group Holdings
Ltd. (“Barbican”) on November 29, 2019. As a result, the figures in
the Insurance Segment and Reinsurance Segment sections below, which
include only one month of underwriting activity from Barbican, were
not significantly impacted by the acquisition. Going forward in
2020, the Company’s segment results will fully reflect the
contributions from the Barbican acquisition.
Insurance Segment
Three Months Ended December
31,
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
2019
2018
% Change
Gross premiums written
$
1,040,240
$
832,762
24.9
Net premiums written
688,724
534,968
28.7
Net premiums earned
645,797
559,417
15.4
Underwriting income (loss)
$
(13,881
)
$
(15,644
)
n/m
Underwriting Ratios
% Point Change
Loss ratio
69.2
%
71.5
%
(2.3)
Underwriting expense ratio
32.9
%
31.3
%
1.6
Combined ratio
102.1
%
102.8
%
(0.7)
Catastrophic activity and prior year
development:
Current accident year catastrophic events,
net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums
0.9
%
6.0
%
(5.1)
Net (favorable) adverse development in
prior year loss reserves, net of related adjustments
(0.4
)%
(1.5
)%
1.1
Combined ratio excluding catastrophic
activity and prior year development (1)
101.6
%
98.3
%
3.3
(1)
See ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further
discussion.
Gross premiums written by the insurance segment in the 2019
fourth quarter were 24.9% higher than in the 2018 fourth quarter
while net premiums written were 28.7% higher than in the 2018
fourth quarter. Approximately one quarter of the increase from the
2018 fourth quarter resulted from new businesses acquired during
2019 or new business initiatives or product lines. The remaining
growth came from expansion in existing products and accounts, and
rate increases across most lines of business. Net premiums earned
in the 2019 fourth quarter were 15.4% higher than in the 2018
fourth quarter, and reflect changes in net premiums written over
the previous five quarters.
The 2019 fourth quarter loss ratio reflected 0.9 points of
current year catastrophic activity, compared to 6.0 points in the
2018 fourth quarter, which was impacted by Hurricane Michael and
the California wildfires. The 2019 fourth quarter loss ratio also
reflected a higher level of large attritional losses than in the
2018 fourth quarter. Estimated net favorable development of prior
year loss reserves, before related adjustments, reduced the loss
ratio by 0.7 points in the 2019 fourth quarter, compared to 1.8
points in the 2018 fourth quarter.
The underwriting expense ratio was 32.9% in the 2019 fourth
quarter, compared to 31.3% in the 2018 fourth quarter, with the
increase primarily resulting from acquisitions made by the Company
at the start of 2019.
Reinsurance Segment
Three Months Ended December
31,
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
2019
2018
% Change
Gross premiums written
$
432,249
$
409,316
5.6
Net premiums written
338,869
325,048
4.3
Net premiums earned
388,985
348,453
11.6
Other underwriting income (loss)
2,051
(3,172
)
n/m
Underwriting income (loss)
$
26,039
$
(41,174
)
n/m
Underwriting Ratios
% Point Change
Loss ratio
66.9
%
83.8
%
(16.9)
Underwriting expense ratio
26.9
%
27.1
%
(0.2)
Combined ratio
93.8
%
110.9
%
(17.1)
Catastrophic activity and prior year
development:
Current accident year catastrophic events,
net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums
6.4
%
24.3
%
(17.9)
Net (favorable) adverse development in
prior year loss reserves, net of related adjustments
(4.9
)%
(9.6
)%
4.7
Combined ratio excluding catastrophic
activity and prior year development (1)
92.3
%
96.2
%
(3.9)
(1)
See ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further
discussion.
Gross premiums written by the reinsurance segment in the 2019
fourth quarter were 5.6% higher than in the 2018 fourth quarter,
while net premiums written were 4.3% higher than in 2018 fourth
quarter. The growth in net premiums written primarily reflected
increases in property lines from new business and growth in
existing accounts. In addition, the 2018 fourth quarter net
premiums written included a higher level of reinstatement premiums,
due to 2018 catastrophic events, as well as premium adjustments on
a multi-year casualty contract. Net premiums earned by the
reinsurance segment in the 2019 fourth quarter were 11.6% higher
than in the 2018 fourth quarter, and reflect changes in net
premiums written over the previous five quarters.
The 2019 fourth quarter loss ratio included 6.9 points of
current year catastrophic activity, primarily related to Typhoon
Hagibis, compared to 26.1 points of catastrophic activity in the
2018 fourth quarter primarily related to Hurricane Michael and the
California Wildfires. In addition, the 2018 fourth quarter included
a large attritional casualty loss arising from the California
wildfires that increased the loss ratio by 5.0 points. Estimated
net favorable development of prior year loss reserves, before
related adjustments, reduced the loss ratio by 5.2 points in the
2019 fourth quarter, compared to 9.9 points in the 2018 fourth
quarter.
Mortgage Segment
Three Months Ended December
31,
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
2019
2018
% Change
Gross premiums written
$
370,658
$
357,981
3.5
Net premiums written
315,507
309,378
2.0
Net premiums earned
347,655
314,592
10.5
Other underwriting income
4,138
2,569
61.1
Underwriting income
$
276,514
$
245,804
12.5
Underwriting Ratios
% Point Change
Loss ratio
0.9
%
2.1
%
(1.2
)
Underwriting expense ratio
20.7
%
20.5
%
0.2
Combined ratio
21.6
%
22.6
%
(1.0
)
Prior year development:
Net (favorable) adverse development in
prior year loss reserves, net of related adjustments
(9.4
)%
(10.4
)%
1.0
Combined ratio excluding prior year
development (1)
31.0
%
33.0
%
(2.0
)
(1)
See ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further
discussion.
Gross premiums written by the mortgage segment in the 2019
fourth quarter were 3.5% higher than in the 2018 fourth quarter,
while net premiums written were 2.0% higher. The growth in net
premiums written primarily reflected an increase in monthly premium
business due to growth in insurance in force. The increase in net
premiums earned for the 2019 fourth quarter reflected the growth in
insurance in force in the U.S. over the last twelve months combined
with higher single premium earned as a result of policy
terminations due to mortgage refinance activity. Insurance in force
increased to $418.3 billion at December 31, 2019, compared to
$383.7 billion at December 31, 2018.
Arch MI U.S. generated $24.1 billion of new insurance written
(“NIW”) in the 2019 fourth quarter, compared to $16.7 billion in
the 2018 fourth quarter, primarily reflecting a higher level of
mortgage refinance activity. Monthly premium policies contributed
94.4% of NIW in the 2019 fourth quarter, compared to 91.4% in the
2018 fourth quarter.
The loss ratio for the 2019 fourth quarter benefited from better
than expected claim experience. Estimated net favorable development
in prior year loss reserves, before related adjustments, improved
the 2019 fourth quarter loss ratio by 9.4 points, compared to 10.4
points in the 2018 fourth quarter, while estimated net favorable
development in current year loss reserves improved the 2019 fourth
quarter loss ratio by 5.1 points, compared to 4.1 points in the
2018 fourth quarter. This was driven by lower expected claim rates
on first lien business and, to a lesser extent, frequency
improvement and subrogation activity on second lien and student
loans. The percentage of loans in default on Arch MI U.S first lien
business was 1.54% at December 31, 2019, compared to 1.60% at
December 31, 2018.
Corporate and Non-Underwriting
Corporate and non-underwriting results include net investment
income, other income (loss), corporate expenses, transaction costs
and other, amortization of intangible assets, interest expense,
items related to the Company’s non-cumulative preferred shares, net
realized gains or losses, net impairment losses included in
earnings, equity in net income or loss of investment funds
accounted for using the equity method, net foreign exchange gains
or losses and income taxes. Such amounts exclude the results of the
‘other’ segment.
Pre-tax net investment income for the 2019 fourth quarter was
$0.29 per share, or $119.9 million, compared to $0.28 per share, or
$115.6 million, for the 2018 fourth quarter. The growth in net
investment income primarily reflected a higher level of income on
fund investments. The annualized pre-tax investment income yield
was 2.36% for the 2019 fourth quarter, compared to 2.49% for the
2018 fourth quarter, primarily due to the effects of a lower
interest rate environment.
On a pre-tax basis, net foreign exchange losses for the 2019
fourth quarter were $38.0 million, compared to net foreign exchange
gains for the 2018 fourth quarter of $20.4 million. For both
periods, such amounts were primarily unrealized and resulted from
the effects of revaluing the Company’s net insurance liabilities
required to be settled in foreign currencies at each balance sheet
date. Changes in the value of available-for-sale investments held
in foreign currencies due to foreign currency rate movements are
reflected as a direct increase or decrease to shareholders’ equity
and are not included in the consolidated statements of income.
Although the Company generally attempts to match the currency of
its projected liabilities with investments in the same currencies,
the Company may elect to over or underweight one or more currencies
from time to time, which could increase the Company’s exposure to
foreign currency fluctuations and increase the volatility of the
Company’s shareholders’ equity.
The Company’s effective tax rate on income before income taxes
was 7.7% for the 2019 fourth quarter and 8.7% for the year ended
December 31, 2019, compared to 20.4% for the 2018 fourth quarter
and 13.1% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company’s
effective tax rate on pre-tax operating income available to Arch
common shareholders was 6.9% for the 2019 fourth quarter and 10.4%
for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 16.8% for the
2018 fourth quarter and 11.9% for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The 2019 fourth quarter effective tax rate on operating income
includes an adjustment to interim period taxes recorded at an
annualized rate. This adjustment increased the Company’s after-tax
results, on pre-tax operating income available to Arch common
shareholders, by $12.4 million, or $0.03 per share. The Company’s
effective tax rate may fluctuate from period to period based upon
the relative mix of income or loss reported by jurisdiction, the
level of catastrophic loss activity incurred, and the varying tax
rates in each jurisdiction.
Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call for investors and
analysts at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on February 12, 2020. A live
webcast of this call will be available via the Investors section of
the Company’s website at http://www.archcapgroup.com. A telephone replay of
the conference call also will be available beginning on February
12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time until February 19, 2020 at
midnight Eastern Time. To access the replay, domestic callers
should dial 855-859-2056, and international callers should dial
404-537-3406 (passcode 1182464 for all callers).
Please refer to the Company’s Financial Supplement dated
December 31, 2019, which is available via the Investors section of
the Company’s website at http://www.archcapgroup.com. The Financial
Supplement provides additional detail regarding the financial
performance of the Company. From time to time, the Company posts
additional financial information and presentations to its website,
including information with respect to its subsidiaries. Investors
and other recipients of this information are encouraged to check
the Company’s website regularly for additional information
regarding the Company.
Arch Capital Group Ltd., a Bermuda-based company with
approximately $13.23 billion in capital at December 31, 2019,
provides insurance, reinsurance and mortgage insurance on a
worldwide basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries.
Comments on Regulation G
Throughout this release, the Company presents its operations in
the way it believes will be the most meaningful and useful to
investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use the
Company’s financial information in evaluating the performance of
the Company and that investors and such other persons benefit from
having a consistent basis for comparison between quarters and for
comparison with other companies within the industry. These measures
may not, however, be comparable to similarly titled measures used
by companies outside of the insurance industry. Investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these non-GAAP financial
measures in assessing the Company’s overall financial
performance.
This presentation includes the use of “after-tax operating
income or loss available to Arch common shareholders,” which is
defined as net income available to Arch common shareholders,
excluding net realized gains or losses, net impairment losses
recognized in earnings, equity in net income or loss of investment
funds accounted for using the equity method, net foreign exchange
gains or losses, transaction costs and other and loss on redemption
of preferred shares, net of income taxes, and the use of annualized
operating return on average common equity. The presentation of
after-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders
and annualized operating return on average common equity are
non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G. The
reconciliation of such measures to net income available to Arch
common shareholders and annualized return on average common equity
(the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures) in
accordance with Regulation G is included on the following page of
this release.
The Company believes that net realized gains or losses, net
impairment losses recognized in earnings, equity in net income or
loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net
foreign exchange gains or losses, transaction costs and other and
loss on redemption of preferred shares in any particular period are
not indicative of the performance of, or trends in, the Company’s
business performance. Although net realized gains or losses, net
impairment losses recognized in earnings, equity in net income or
loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and
net foreign exchange gains or losses are an integral part of the
Company’s operations, the decision to realize investment gains or
losses, the recognition of the change in the carrying value of
investments accounted for using the fair value option in net
realized gains or losses, the recognition of net impairment losses,
the recognition of equity in net income or loss of investment funds
accounted for using the equity method and the recognition of
foreign exchange gains or losses are independent of the insurance
underwriting process and result, in large part, from general
economic and financial market conditions. Furthermore, certain
users of the Company’s financial information believe that, for many
companies, the timing of the realization of investment gains or
losses is largely opportunistic. In addition, net impairment losses
recognized in earnings on the Company’s investments represent
other-than-temporary declines in expected recovery values on
securities without actual realization. The use of the equity method
on certain of the Company’s investments in certain funds that
invest in fixed maturity securities is driven by the ownership
structure of such funds (either limited partnerships or limited
liability companies). In applying the equity method, these
investments are initially recorded at cost and are subsequently
adjusted based on the Company’s proportionate share of the net
income or loss of the funds (which include changes in the fair
value of the underlying securities in the funds). This method of
accounting is different from the way the Company accounts for its
other fixed maturity securities and the timing of the recognition
of equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for
using the equity method may differ from gains or losses in the
future upon sale or maturity of such investments. Transaction costs
and other include advisory, financing, legal, severance, incentive
compensation and other costs related to acquisitions and Watford’s
non-recurring listing expenses. The Company believes that
transaction costs and other, due to their non-recurring nature, are
not indicative of the performance of, or trends in, the Company’s
business performance. The loss on redemption of preferred shares
related to the redemption of the Company's Series C preferred
shares in January 2018 and had no impact on shareholders' equity or
cash flows. Due to these reasons, the Company excludes net realized
gains or losses, net impairment losses recognized in earnings,
equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for
using the equity method, net foreign exchange gains or losses,
transaction costs and other and loss on redemption of preferred
shares from the calculation of after-tax operating income or loss
available to Arch common shareholders.
The Company believes that showing net income available to Arch
common shareholders exclusive of the items referred to above
reflects the underlying fundamentals of the Company’s business
since the Company evaluates the performance of and manages its
business to produce an underwriting profit. In addition to
presenting net income available to Arch common shareholders, the
Company believes that this presentation enables investors and other
users of the Company’s financial information to analyze the
Company’s performance in a manner similar to how the Company’s
management analyzes performance. The Company also believes that
this measure follows industry practice and, therefore, allows the
users of the Company’s financial information to compare the
Company’s performance with its industry peer group. The Company
believes that the equity analysts and certain rating agencies which
follow the Company and the insurance industry as a whole generally
exclude these items from their analyses for the same reasons.
The Company’s segment information includes the presentation of
consolidated underwriting income or loss and a subtotal of
underwriting income or loss before the contribution from the
‘other’ segment. Such measures represent the pre-tax profitability
of its underwriting operations and include net premiums earned plus
other underwriting income, less losses and loss adjustment
expenses, acquisition expenses and other operating expenses. Other
operating expenses include those operating expenses that are
incremental and/or directly attributable to the Company’s
individual underwriting operations. Underwriting income or loss
does not incorporate items included in the Company’s corporate
(non-underwriting) segment. While these measures are presented in
the Segment Information footnote to the Company’s Consolidated
Financial Statements, they are considered non-GAAP financial
measures when presented elsewhere on a consolidated basis. The
reconciliations of underwriting income or loss to income before
income taxes (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure)
on a consolidated basis and a subtotal before the contribution from
the ‘other’ segment, in accordance with Regulation G, is shown on
the following pages.
Management measures segment performance for its three
underwriting segments based on underwriting income or loss. The
Company does not manage its assets by underwriting segment and,
accordingly, investment income and other non-underwriting related
items are not allocated to each underwriting segment. As noted
earlier, the ‘other’ segment includes the results of Watford.
Watford has its own management and board of directors that is
responsible for its own results and profitability. For the ‘other’
segment, performance is measured based on net income or loss. The
Company does not guarantee or provide credit support for Watford,
and the Company’s financial exposure to Watford is limited to its
investment in Watford’s senior notes, common and preferred shares
and counterparty credit risk (mitigated by collateral) arising from
reinsurance transactions.
Along with consolidated underwriting income, the Company
provides a subtotal of underwriting income or loss before the
contribution from the ‘other’ segment and believes that this
presentation enables investors and other users of the Company’s
financial information to analyze the Company’s underwriting
performance in a manner similar to how the Company’s management
analyzes performance.
In addition, the Company’s segment information includes the use
of a combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity (if applicable
for the segment) and prior year development. These ratios are
non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G. The
reconciliation of such measures to the combined ratio (the most
directly comparable GAAP financial measure) in accordance with
Regulation G are shown on the individual segment pages. The
Company’s management utilizes the adjusted combined ratio excluding
current accident year catastrophic events and favorable or adverse
development in prior year loss reserves in its analysis of the
underwriting performance of each of its underwriting segments.
Total return on investments includes investment income, equity
in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the
equity method, net realized gains and losses and the change in
unrealized gains and losses generated by Arch’s investment
portfolio. Total return is calculated on a pre-tax basis and before
investment expenses, excludes amounts reflected in the ‘other’
segment, and reflects the effect of financial market conditions
along with foreign currency fluctuations. Management uses total
return on investments as a key measure of the return generated to
Arch common shareholders on the capital held in its business, and
compares the return generated by the Company’s investment portfolio
against benchmark returns which it measures portfolio returns
against during the periods presented.
The following tables summarize the Company’s results by segment
for the 2019 fourth quarter and 2018 fourth quarter and a
reconciliation of underwriting income or loss to income or loss
before income taxes and net income or loss available to Arch common
shareholders:
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2019
Insurance
Reinsurance
Mortgage
Sub-total
Other
Total
Gross premiums written (1)
$
1,040,240
$
432,249
$
370,658
$
1,842,071
$
156,254
$
1,942,151
Premiums ceded
(351,516
)
(93,380
)
(55,151
)
(498,971
)
(43,901
)
(486,698
)
Net premiums written
688,724
338,869
315,507
1,343,100
112,353
1,455,453
Change in unearned premiums
(42,927
)
50,116
32,148
39,337
21,092
60,429
Net premiums earned
645,797
388,985
347,655
1,382,437
133,445
1,515,882
Other underwriting income
—
2,051
4,138
6,189
568
6,757
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
(446,798
)
(260,182
)
(3,287
)
(710,267
)
(134,655
)
(844,922
)
Acquisition expenses
(96,437
)
(65,528
)
(35,597
)
(197,562
)
(24,326
)
(221,888
)
Other operating expenses
(116,443
)
(39,287
)
(36,395
)
(192,125
)
(12,283
)
(204,408
)
Underwriting income (loss)
$
(13,881
)
$
26,039
$
276,514
288,672
(37,251
)
251,421
Net investment income
119,906
34,357
154,263
Net realized gains (losses)
32,480
8,994
41,474
Net impairment losses recognized in
earnings
(644
)
—
(644
)
Equity in net income (loss) of investment
funds accounted for using the equity method
27,139
—
27,139
Other income
(1,317
)
—
(1,317
)
Corporate expenses
(17,756
)
—
(17,756
)
Transaction costs and other
(9,081
)
—
(9,081
)
Amortization of intangible assets
(21,890
)
—
(21,890
)
Interest expense
(23,641
)
(7,558
)
(31,199
)
Net foreign exchange gains (losses)
(38,031
)
(14,275
)
(52,306
)
Income (loss) before income
taxes
355,837
(15,733
)
340,104
Income tax expense
(27,336
)
—
(27,336
)
Net income (loss)
328,501
(15,733
)
312,768
Dividends attributable to redeemable
noncontrolling interests
—
(1,131
)
(1,131
)
Amounts attributable to nonredeemable
noncontrolling interests
—
14,747
14,747
Net income (loss) available to
Arch
328,501
(2,117
)
326,384
Preferred dividends
(10,403
)
—
(10,403
)
Net income (loss) available to Arch
common shareholders
$
318,098
$
(2,117
)
$
315,981
Underwriting Ratios
Loss ratio
69.2
%
66.9
%
0.9
%
51.4
%
100.9
%
55.7
%
Acquisition expense ratio
14.9
%
16.8
%
10.2
%
14.3
%
18.2
%
14.6
%
Other operating expense ratio
18.0
%
10.1
%
10.5
%
13.9
%
9.2
%
13.5
%
Combined ratio
102.1
%
93.8
%
21.6
%
79.6
%
128.3
%
83.8
%
Net premiums written to gross premiums
written
66.2
%
78.4
%
85.1
%
72.9
%
71.9
%
74.9
%
(1)
Certain amounts included in the gross
premiums written of each segment are related to intersegment
transactions and are included in the gross premiums written of each
segment. Accordingly, the sum of gross premiums written for each
segment does not agree to the total gross premiums written as shown
in the table above due to the elimination of intersegment
transactions in the total.
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018
Insurance
Reinsurance
Mortgage
Sub-total
Other
Total
Gross premiums written (1)
$
832,762
$
409,316
$
357,981
$
1,599,085
$
160,937
$
1,694,918
Premiums ceded
(297,794
)
(84,268
)
(48,603
)
(429,691
)
(28,577
)
(393,164
)
Net premiums written
534,968
325,048
309,378
1,169,394
132,360
1,301,754
Change in unearned premiums
24,449
23,405
5,214
53,068
14,613
67,681
Net premiums earned
559,417
348,453
314,592
1,222,462
146,973
1,369,435
Other underwriting income (loss)
—
(3,172
)
2,569
(603
)
630
27
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
(400,050
)
(291,838
)
(6,617
)
(698,505
)
(129,168
)
(827,673
)
Acquisition expenses
(85,608
)
(62,452
)
(30,930
)
(178,990
)
(30,329
)
(209,319
)
Other operating expenses
(89,403
)
(32,165
)
(33,810
)
(155,378
)
(10,137
)
(165,515
)
Underwriting income (loss)
$
(15,644
)
$
(41,174
)
$
245,804
188,986
(22,031
)
166,955
Net investment income
115,626
41,591
157,217
Net realized gains (losses)
(66,015
)
(100,015
)
(166,030
)
Net impairment losses recognized in
earnings
(1,705
)
—
(1,705
)
Equity in net income (loss) of investment
funds accounted for using the equity method
(6,882
)
—
(6,882
)
Other income
(42
)
—
(42
)
Corporate expenses
(15,278
)
—
(15,278
)
Transaction costs and other
(2,557
)
(9,000
)
(11,557
)
Amortization of intangible assets
(26,147
)
—
(26,147
)
Interest expense
(24,388
)
(5,386
)
(29,774
)
Net foreign exchange gains (losses)
20,409
4,170
24,579
Income (loss) before income
taxes
182,007
(90,671
)
91,336
Income tax expense
(35,012
)
—
(35,012
)
Net income (loss)
146,995
(90,671
)
56,324
Dividends attributable to redeemable
noncontrolling interests
—
(4,588
)
(4,588
)
Amounts attributable to nonredeemable
noncontrolling interests
—
84,758
84,758
Net income (loss) available to
Arch
146,995
(10,501
)
136,494
Preferred dividends
(10,403
)
—
(10,403
)
Net income (loss) available to Arch
common shareholders
$
136,592
$
(10,501
)
$
126,091
Underwriting Ratios
Loss ratio
71.5
%
83.8
%
2.1
%
57.1
%
87.9
%
60.4
%
Acquisition expense ratio
15.3
%
17.9
%
9.8
%
14.6
%
20.6
%
15.3
%
Other operating expense ratio
16.0
%
9.2
%
10.7
%
12.7
%
6.9
%
12.1
%
Combined ratio
102.8
%
110.9
%
22.6
%
84.4
%
115.4
%
87.8
%
Net premiums written to gross premiums
written
64.2
%
79.4
%
86.4
%
73.1
%
82.2
%
76.8
%
(1)
Certain amounts included in the gross
premiums written of each segment are related to intersegment
transactions and are included in the gross premiums written of each
segment. Accordingly, the sum of gross premiums written for each
segment does not agree to the total gross premiums written as shown
in the table above due to the elimination of intersegment
transactions in the total.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”)
provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. This
release or any other written or oral statements made by or on
behalf of the Company may include forward-looking statements, which
reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events
and financial performance. All statements other than statements of
historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this
release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements,
for purposes of the PSLRA or otherwise, can generally be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,”
“expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or
“continue” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking
nature or their negative or variations or similar terminology.
Forward-looking statements involve the Company’s current
assessment of risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results
may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these
statements. Important factors that could cause actual events or
results to differ materially from those indicated in such
statements are discussed below and elsewhere in this release and in
the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and include:
- the Company’s ability to successfully implement its business
strategy during “soft” as well as “hard” markets;
- acceptance of the Company’s business strategy, security and
financial condition by rating agencies and regulators, as well as
by brokers and its insureds and reinsureds;
- the integration of any businesses the Company has acquired or
may acquire into its existing operations;
- the Company’s ability to maintain or improve its ratings, which
may be affected by its ability to raise additional equity or debt
financings, by ratings agencies’ existing or new policies and
practices, as well as other factors described herein;
- general economic and market conditions (including inflation,
interest rates, unemployment, housing prices, foreign currency
exchange rates, prevailing credit terms and the depth and duration
of a recession) and conditions specific to the reinsurance and
insurance markets (including the length and magnitude of the
current “soft” market) in which the Company operates;
- competition, including increased competition, on the basis of
pricing, capacity (including alternative sources of capital),
coverage terms or other factors;
- developments in the world’s financial and capital markets and
the Company’s access to such markets;
- the Company’s ability to successfully enhance, integrate and
maintain operating procedures (including information technology) to
effectively support its current and new business;
- the loss of key personnel;
- accuracy of those estimates and judgments utilized in the
preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including those
related to revenue recognition, insurance and other reserves,
reinsurance recoverables, investment valuations, intangible assets,
bad debts, income taxes, contingencies and litigation, and any
determination to use the deposit method of accounting, which for a
relatively new insurance and reinsurance company, like the Company,
are even more difficult to make than those made in a mature company
since relatively limited historical information has been reported
to the Company through December 31, 2019;
- greater than expected loss ratios on business written by the
Company and adverse development on claim and/or claim expense
liabilities related to business written by its insurance and
reinsurance subsidiaries;
- severity and/or frequency of losses;
- claims resulting from natural or man-made catastrophic events
or severe economic events in the Company’s insurance, reinsurance
and mortgage businesses could cause large losses and substantial
volatility in the Company’s results of operations;
- the effect of climate change on the Company’s business;
- acts of terrorism, political unrest and other hostilities or
other unforecasted and unpredictable events;
- availability to the Company of reinsurance to manage its gross
and net exposures and the cost of such reinsurance;
- the failure of reinsurers, managing general agents, third party
administrators or others to meet their obligations to the
Company;
- the timing of loss payments being faster or the receipt of
reinsurance recoverables being slower than anticipated by the
Company;
- the Company’s investment performance, including legislative or
regulatory developments that may adversely affect the fair value of
the Company’s investments;
- changes in general economic conditions, including new or
continued sovereign debt concerns in Eurozone countries or
downgrades of U.S. securities by credit rating agencies, which
could affect the Company’s business, financial condition and
results of operations;
- the volatility of the Company’s shareholders’ equity from
foreign currency fluctuations, which could increase due to us not
matching portions of the Company’s projected liabilities in foreign
currencies with investments in the same currencies;
- changes in accounting principles or policies or in the
Company’s application of such accounting principles or
policies;
- changes in the political environment of certain countries in
which the Company operates, underwrites business or invests;
- a disruption caused by cyber-attacks or other technology
breaches or failures on the Company or the Company’s business
partners and service providers, which could negatively impact the
Company’s business and/or expose the Company to litigation;
- statutory or regulatory developments, including as to tax
policy matters and insurance and other regulatory matters such as
the adoption of proposed legislation that would affect
Bermuda-headquartered companies and/or Bermuda-based insurers or
reinsurers and/or changes in regulations or tax laws applicable to
the Company, its subsidiaries, brokers or customers, including the
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; and
- the other matters set forth under Item 1A “Risk Factors”, Item
7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” and other sections of the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K, as well as the other factors set forth in the
Company’s other documents on file with the SEC, and management’s
response to any of the aforementioned factors.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary
statements. The foregoing review of important factors should not be
construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with
other cautionary statements that are included herein or elsewhere.
The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200211006038/en/
Arch Capital Group Ltd. François Morin: (441)
278-9250
Investor Relations Donald Watson: (914) 872-3616;
dwatson@archcapservices.com
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