RenaissanceRe Reports Net Loss of $248.0 Million for the First Quarter of 2011 or $4.69 Per Diluted Common Share; Operating Loss of $242.9 Million or $4.59 Per Diluted Common Share
Net Negative Impact of $427.4 Million for the First Quarter of 2011 Related to the Australian Flooding, the February 2011 New Zealand Earthquake and the Tohoku Earthquake
Book Value per Common Share Decreased $5.57, or 8.9%, to $57.01 at March 31, 2011
PEMBROKE, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: RNR) today reported a net loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders of $248.0 million or $4.69 per diluted common share in the first quarter of 2011, compared to net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders of $165.0 million or $2.73 per diluted common share in the first quarter of 2010. Operating loss attributable to RenaissanceRe common shareholders was $242.9 million or $4.59 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2011, compared to operating income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders of $116.5 million or $1.91 per diluted common share in the first quarter of 2010. The Company reported an annualized return on average common equity of negative 31.3% and an annualized operating return on average common equity of negative 30.7% in the first quarter of 2011, compared to positive 20.9% and positive 14.8%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2010. See Comments on Regulation G for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.
Book value per common share decreased $5.57, or 8.9%, in the first quarter of 2011 to $57.01, compared to a 4.2% increase in the first quarter of 2010.
Neill A. Currie, CEO, commented: "This quarter's catastrophic events have caused enormous human tragedy, and we extend our sympathies to all those affected. As we have throughout the history of our Company, we are responding to the needs of our clients quickly, whether it is paying valid claims with industry leading speed, or providing additional coverage in the wake of these events."
Mr. Currie commented further: "In the aftermath of the large catastrophes that have occurred over the last year, and as our clients' view of risk evolves, we anticipate demand for our products will increase over time. Our experienced team has the tools and the capital necessary to respond to the needs of our clients."
FIRST QUARTER 2011 HIGHLIGHTS (1)
-- Gross premiums written increased $94.5 million, or 18.3%, to $610.5 million, primarily driven by reinstatement premiums written from the large catastrophes of the first quarter of 2011 and increases across most lines of business within the Lloyd's segment. Excluding the impact of $113.5 million and $27.0 million of reinstatement premiums written in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively, gross premiums written increased $8.0 million, or 1.6%. -- Underwriting loss of $397.2 million and a combined ratio of 230.0%, principally due to the Australian flooding, the February 2011 New Zealand earthquake and the Tohoku earthquake, as detailed in the table below, which had a net negative impact (2)of $427.4 million and added 212.3 percentage points to the combined ratio.
Three months ended March 31, 2011 February 2011 Australian New Zealand Tohoku (in thousands, Flooding Earthquake Earthquake Total except ratios) Net claims and claim expenses $ (46,118 ) $ (209,840 ) $ (402,045 ) $ (658,003 ) incurred Assumed reinstatement 8,050 23,375 82,041 113,466 premiums earned Ceded reinstatement - (2,140 ) (9,889 ) (12,029 ) premiums earned (Lost) earned (1,550 ) (8,452 ) 1,337 (8,665 ) profit commisions Net impact on underwriting (39,618 ) (197,057 ) (328,556 ) (565,231 ) result Equity in losses - (23,758 ) - (23,758 ) of Top Layer Re Recoveries from ceded reinsurance contracts - - 45,000 45,000 accounted for at fair value Redeemable noncontrolling 8,274 42,125 66,146 116,545 interest - DaVinciRe Net negative $ (31,344 ) $ (178,690 ) $ (217,410 ) $ (427,444 ) impact Percentage point impact on 9.8 59.6 100.6 212.3 consolidated combined ratio Net negative impact on Reinsurance $ (39,618 ) $ (191,103 ) $ (313,980 ) $ (544,701 ) segment underwriting result Net negative impact on Lloyd's segment - (5,954 ) (14,576 ) (20,530 ) underwriting result Net negative impact on $ (39,618 ) $ (197,057 ) $ (328,556 ) $ (565,231 ) underwriting result
Underwriting Results by Segment (1)
Reinsurance Segment
Gross premiums written in the Reinsurance segment were $573.7 million, an increase of $75.1 million, or 15.1%. The increase is primarily due to a $74.6 million increase in the catastrophe reinsurance unit as a result of reinstatement premiums written on the February 2011 New Zealand earthquake and the Tohoku earthquake, and partially offset by the then softening market conditions on a risk-adjusted basis in our core markets during the January 2011 renewals. Excluding the impact of $112.8 million and $27.0 million of reinstatement premiums written in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively, Reinsurance segment gross premiums written declined $10.7 million, or 2.3%, and managed catastrophe premiums written declined $13.0 million, or 3.0%.
The Reinsurance segment incurred an underwriting loss of $368.1 million and a combined ratio of 227.2%, compared to underwriting income of $87.4 million and a combined ratio of 64.0%. Current accident year net claims and claim expenses in the Reinsurance segment of $667.4 million are comprised of $606.2 million and $61.1 million related to the catastrophe and specialty units, respectively. As detailed in the table below, the large catastrophes of the first quarter of 2011 had a net impact on the Reinsurance segment underwriting result of $544.7 million and added 220.9 percentage points to the Reinsurance segment's combined ratio.
Three months ended March 31, 2011 February 2011 Australian New Zealand Tohoku (in thousands, Flooding Earthquake Earthquake Total except ratios) Net claims and claim expenses $ (46,118 ) $ (203,886 ) $ (387,053 ) $ (637,057 ) incurred Assumed reinstatement 8,050 23,375 81,327 112,752 premiums earned Ceded reinstatement - (2,140 ) (9,591 ) (11,731 ) premiums earned (Lost) earned (1,550 ) (8,452 ) 1,337 (8,665 ) profit commissions Net impact on Reinsurance segment $ (39,618 ) $ (191,103 ) $ (313,980 ) $ (544,701 ) underwriting result Net negative impact on catastrophe unit $ (33,618 ) $ (178,603 ) $ (293,980 ) $ (506,201 ) underwriting result Net negative impact on specialty unit (6,000 ) (12,500 ) (20,000 ) (38,500 ) underwriting result Net impact on Reinsurance segment $ (39,618 ) $ (191,103 ) $ (313,980 ) $ (544,701 ) underwriting result Percentage point impact on Reinsurance 10.4 61.2 102.3 220.9 segment combined ratio
The Reinsurance segment experienced $72.0 million of favorable development on prior year reserves, including $19.7 million in the catastrophe unit due to reductions in estimated ultimate losses on certain specific events, and $52.3 million in the specialty unit, with $18.4 million related to lower than expected claims emergence, $26.8 million associated with actuarial assumption changes and the remainder due to reductions in ultimate losses on large events.
Lloyd's Segment
Gross premiums written in the Lloyd's segment increased by $22.6 million, or 161.1%, to $36.6 million, primarily due to Syndicate 1458 increasing its book of business across all lines of business, most notably in lines within its specialty business. The Lloyd's segment incurred an underwriting loss of $26.3 million and a combined ratio of 267.7%, compared to $2.9 million and 141.7%, respectively. Net claims and claim expenses are comprised primarily of $15.0 million related to the Tohoku earthquake and $6.0 million related to the February 2011 New Zealand earthquake, with the remainder due to incurred but not reported loss activity in the specialty lines of business.
Investments (1)
Total investment result, which includes net investment income, net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on investments, net other-than-temporary impairments and the change in net unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments available for sale, decreased $49.9 million, to $55.3 million, primarily due to the lower total returns on the fixed maturity investments portfolio and certain non-investment grade allocations included in other investments, and partially offset by improved returns on private equity investments. The average yield to maturity on the fixed maturity and short term investment portfolio was 2.1% at March 31, 2011.
Other Income (Loss) (1)
Other income improved $56.3 million to $50.1 million primarily due to:
-- ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for at fair value generating income of $43.5 million, compared to a loss of $1.5 million, as a result of net recoverables on the Tohoku earthquake which are included in the determination of net negative impact from the large catastrophes of the first quarter of 2011; -- a $3.0 million gain on the sale of the Platinum warrants, compared to a mark-to-market loss of $3.7 million; and -- an improvement of $5.1 million in other income from the Company's weather and energy risk management operations due to overall more favorable trading conditions experienced during the period.
Other Items (1)
-- Equity in losses of other ventures of $23.8 million declined $25.9 million from prior year primarily due to our equity in losses of Top Layer Re of $22.5 million as a result of net claims and claim expenses related to the February 2011 New Zealand earthquake recorded by Top Layer Re. -- Net loss attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests of $85.5 million deteriorated from net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $10.6 million, primarily due to the decreased profitability of DaVinciRe as a result of the large catastrophes of the first quarter of 2011 and an increase in the Company's ownership of DaVinciRe to 44.0% at March 31, 2011, compared to 41.2% at March 31, 2010. -- Approximately 2.7 million common shares were repurchased in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $174.8 million and at an average share price of $65.84. -- On April 1, 2011, DaVinciRe repaid in full the $200.0 million borrowed under the DaVinciRe Credit Agreement.
This Press Release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures including "operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders", "operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted", "operating return on average common equity - annualized" and "managed catastrophe premiums". A reconciliation of such measures to the most comparable GAAP figures in accordance with Regulation G is presented in the attached supplemental financial data.
Please refer to the "Investor Information - Financial Reports - Financial Supplements" section of the Company's website at www.renre.com for a copy of the Financial Supplement which includes additional information on the Company's financial performance.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss this release. Live broadcast of the conference call will be available through the "Investor Information - Company Webcasts" section of RenaissanceRe's website at www.renre.com.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. is a global provider of reinsurance and insurance. The Company's business consists of three segments: (1) Reinsurance, which includes catastrophe reinsurance, specialty reinsurance and certain property catastrophe and specialty joint ventures managed by the Company's ventures unit, (2) Lloyd's, which includes reinsurance and insurance business written through Syndicate 1458, and (3) Insurance, which principally includes the Company's Bermuda-based insurance operations.
Cautionary Statement under "Safe Harbor" Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements made in this earnings release contain information about the Company's future business prospects. These statements may be considered "forward-looking." These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. For further information regarding cautionary statements and factors affecting future results, please refer to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
(1) All comparisons are with the first quarter of 2010 unless specifically stated.
(2) Net negative impact includes the sum of estimates of net claims and claim expenses incurred, earned reinstatement premiums assumed and ceded, lost profit commissions, redeemable noncontrolling interest, equity in the net claims and claim expenses of Top Layer Re, and other income with respect of ceded reinsurance contracts accounted for at fair value. The Company's estimates are based on a review of its potential exposures, preliminary discussions with certain counterparties and catastrophe modeling techniques. Given the magnitude and recent occurrence of these events, delays in receiving claims data, the contingent nature of business interruption and other exposures, potential uncertainties relating to reinsurance recoveries and other uncertainties inherent in loss estimation, meaningful uncertainty remains regarding losses from these events. Accordingly, the Company's actual net negative impact from these events will vary from these preliminary estimates, perhaps materially so. Changes in these estimates will be recorded in the period in which they occur.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries Summary Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands of United States Dollars, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three months ended Revenues March 31, March 31, 2011 2010 Gross premiums written $ 610,505 $ 516,011 Net premiums written $ 452,575 $ 407,159 Increase in unearned premiums (147,034 ) (156,506 ) Net premiums earned 305,541 250,653 Net investment income 60,281 65,709 Net foreign exchange gains (losses) 660 (11,342 ) Equity in (losses) earnings of other ventures (23,753 ) 2,156 Other income (loss) 50,145 (6,191 ) Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on (5,214 ) 48,200 investments Total other-than-temporary impairments - (33 ) Portion recognized in other comprehensive - - income, before taxes Net other-than-temporary impairments - (33 ) Total revenues 387,660 349,152 Expenses Net claims and claim expenses incurred 628,537 97,340 Acquisition expenses 32,335 26,435 Operational expenses 41,830 45,150 Corporate expenses 2,064 5,309 Interest expense 6,195 3,156 Total expenses 710,961 177,390 (Loss) income from continuing operations before (323,301 ) 171,762 taxes Income tax benefit 52 2,963 (Loss) income from continuing operations (323,249 ) 174,725 (Loss) income from discontinued operations (1,526 ) 11,447 Net (loss) income (324,775 ) 186,172 Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling 85,492 (10,550 ) interests Net (loss) income attributable to RenaissanceRe (239,283 ) 175,622 Dividends on preference shares (8,750 ) (10,575 ) Net (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders $ (248,033 ) $ 165,047 Operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted $ (4.59 ) $ 1.91 (1) (Loss) income from continuing operations (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common $ (4.66 ) $ 2.55 share - basic (Loss) income from discontinued operations (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common (0.03 ) 0.20 share - basic Net (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - basic $ (4.69 ) $ 2.75 (Loss) income from continuing operations (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common $ (4.66 ) $ 2.54 share - diluted (2) (Loss) income from discontinued operations (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common (0.03 ) 0.19 share - diluted (2) Net (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted $ (4.69 ) $ 2.73 (2) Average shares outstanding - basic 51,504 58,407 Average shares outstanding - diluted (2) 51,504 58,887 Net claims and claim expense ratio 205.7 % 38.8 % Expense ratio 24.3 % 28.6 % Combined ratio 230.0 % 67.4 % Operating return on average common equity - (30.7 %) 14.8 % annualized (1)
(1) See Comments on Regulation G for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures. Earnings per share calculations use average common shares outstanding - (2) basic, when in a net loss position, as required by FASB ASC Topic Earnings per Share.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries Summary Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands of United States Dollars, except per share amounts) At Assets March 31, December 31, 2011 2010 Fixed maturity investments trading, at fair value $ 3,678,549 $ 3,871,780 Fixed maturity investments available for sale, at 232,320 244,917 fair value Total fixed maturity investments, at fair value 3,910,869 4,116,697 Short term investments, at fair value 1,518,542 1,110,364 Equity investments trading, at fair value 12,707 - Other investments, at fair value 782,325 787,548 Investments in other ventures, under equity method 78,623 85,603 Total investments 6,303,066 6,100,212 Cash and cash equivalents 252,631 277,738 Premiums receivable 574,547 322,080 Prepaid reinsurance premiums 125,722 60,643 Reinsurance recoverable 324,124 101,711 Accrued investment income 33,580 34,560 Deferred acquisition costs 56,656 35,648 Receivable for investments sold 136,943 99,226 Other secured assets 14,169 14,250 Other assets 176,644 205,373 Goodwill and other intangibles 14,537 14,690 Assets of discontinued operations held for sale 2,481 872,147 Total assets $ 8,015,100 $ 8,138,278 Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities Reserve for claims and claim expenses $ 2,070,095 $ 1,257,843 Unearned premiums 500,165 286,183 Debt 549,178 549,155 Reinsurance balances payable 256,663 318,024 Payable for investments purchased 417,257 195,383 Other secured liabilities 14,000 14,000 Other liabilities 165,717 222,310 Liabilities of discontinued operations held for 2,246 598,511 sale Total liabilities 3,975,321 3,441,409 Redeemable noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe 536,717 757,655 Shareholders' Equity Preference shares 550,000 550,000 Common shares 51,742 54,110 Accumulated other comprehensive income 19,845 19,823 Retained earnings 2,878,315 3,312,392 Total shareholders' equity attributable to 3,499,902 3,936,325 RenaissanceRe Noncontrolling interest 3,160 2,889 Total shareholders' equity 3,503,062 3,939,214 Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and $ 8,015,100 $ 8,138,278 shareholders' equity Book value per common share $ 57.01 $ 62.58
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Financial Data - Segment Information (in thousands of United States Dollars) (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2011 Reinsurance Lloyd's Insurance Eliminations Other Total (1) Gross premiums $ 573,682 $ 36,620 $ 280 $ (77) $ - $ 610,505 written Net premiums $ 423,566 $ 28,737 $ 272 - $ 452,575 written Net premiums $ 289,429 $ 15,674 $ 438 - $ 305,541 earned Net claims and claim expenses 595,404 30,523 2,610 - 628,537 incurred Acquisition 29,792 2,461 82 - 32,335 expenses Operational 32,363 8,972 495 - 41,830 expenses Underwriting $ (368,130) $ (26,282) $ (2,749) - (397,161) loss Net investment 60,281 60,281 income Net foreign 660 660 exchange gains Equity in losses of (23,753) (23,753) other ventures Other income 50,145 50,145 Net realized and unrealized (5,214) (5,214) losses on investments Corporate (2,064) (2,064) expenses Interest (6,195) (6,195) expense Loss from continuing (323,301) operations before taxes Income tax 52 52 benefit Loss from discontinued (1,526) (1,526) operations Net loss attributable to 85,492 85,492 noncontrolling interests Dividends on preference (8,750) (8,750) shares Net loss attributable to $ (248,033) RenaissanceRe common shareholders Net claims and claim expenses incurred - $ 667,362 $ 29,326 $ 9 $ 696,697 current accident year Net claims and claim expenses incurred - (71,958) 1,197 2,601 (68,160) prior accident years Net claims and claim expenses $ 595,404 $ 30,523 $ 2,610 $ 628,537 incurred - total Net claims and claim expense ratio - 230.6% 187.1% 2.1% 228.0% current accident year Net claims and claim expense (24.9%) 7.6% 593.8% (22.3%) ratio - prior accident years Net claims and claim expense 205.7% 194.7% 595.9% 205.7% ratio - calendar year Underwriting 21.5% 73.0% 131.7% 24.3% expense ratio Combined ratio 227.2% 267.7% 727.6% 230.0%
(1) Represents $0.1 million of gross premiums ceded from the Reinsurance segment to the Lloyd's segment.
Three months ended March 31, 2010 Reinsurance Lloyd's Insurance Eliminations Other Total (1) Gross premiums $ 498,585 $ 14,024 $ 4,427 $ (1,025) $ - $ 516,011 written Net premiums written $ 388,658 $ 13,651 $ 4,850 - $ 407,159 Net premiums earned $ 243,069 $ 6,971 $ 613 - $ 250,653 Net claims and claim 98,947 2,587 (4,194) - 97,340 expenses incurred Acquisition expenses 22,659 1,159 2,617 - 26,435 Operational expenses 34,017 6,134 4,999 - 45,150 Underwriting income $ 87,446 $ (2,909 ) $ (2,809) - 81,728 (loss) Net investment 65,709 65,709 income Net foreign exchange (11,342) (11,342) losses Equity in earnings 2,156 2,156 of other ventures Other loss (6,191) (6,191) Net realized and unrealized gains on 48,200 48,200 fixed maturity investments Net other-than-temporary (33) (33) impairments Corporate expenses (5,309) (5,309) Interest expense (3,156) (3,156) Income from continuing 171,762 operations before taxes Income tax benefit 2,963 2,963 Income from discontinued 11,447 11,447 operations Net income attributable to redeemable (10,550) (10,550) noncontrolling interest - DaVinciRe Dividends on (10,575) (10,575) preference shares Net income available to RenaissanceRe $ 165,047 common shareholders Net claims and claim expenses incurred - $ 204,065 $ 2,686 $ 2,859 $ 209,610 current accident year Net claims and claim expenses incurred - (105,118) (99) (7,053) (112,270) prior accident years Net claims and claim expenses incurred - $ 98,947 $ 2,587 $ (4,194) $ 97,340 total Net claims and claim expense ratio - 84.0% 38.5% 466.4% 83.6% current accident year Net claims and claim expense ratio - (43.3%) (1.4%) (1,150.6%) (44.8%) prior accident years Net claims and claim expense ratio - 40.7% 37.1% (684.2%) 38.8% calendar year Underwriting expense 23.3% 104.6% 1,242.4% 28.6% ratio Combined ratio 64.0% 141.7% 558.2% 67.4%
Represents $0.8 million and $0.2 million of gross premiums ceded from the (1) Insurance segment to the Reinsurance segment and from the Reinsurance segment to the Lloyd's segment, respectively.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Financial Data - Gross Premiums Written and Managed Premiums Analysis (in thousands of United States Dollars) (Unaudited) Three months ended Reinsurance segment March 31, March 31, 2011 2010 Renaissance catastrophe premiums $ 311,642 $ 268,294 Renaissance specialty premiums 74,395 72,449 Total Renaissance premiums 386,037 340,743 DaVinci catastrophe premiums 187,036 155,826 DaVinci specialty premiums 609 2,016 Total DaVinci premiums 187,645 157,842 Total catastrophe unit premiums 498,678 424,120 Total specialty unit premiums 75,004 74,465 Total Reinsurance segment gross premiums written $ 573,682 $ 498,585 Lloyd's segment Specialty $ 29,235 $ 7,723 Catastrophe 7,385 5,669 Insurance - 632 Total Lloyd's segment gross premiums written $ 36,620 $ 14,024 Insurance Segment Commercial property $ 280 $ 1,097 Personal lines property - 3,330 Total Insurance segment gross premiums written $ 280 $ 4,427 Three months ended March 31, March 31, Managed Premiums (1) 2011 2010 Total catastrophe unit gross premiums written $ 498,678 $ 424,120 Catastrophe premiums written on behalf of our 22,528 26,186 joint venture, Top Layer Re (2) Catastrophe premiums written in the Lloyd's 7,385 5,669 segment Catastrophe premiums assumed from the Insurance - (175 ) segment Total managed catastrophe premiums (1) $ 528,591 $ 455,800
(1) See Comments on Regulation G for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures. (2) Top Layer Re is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Financial Data - Total Investment Result (in thousands of United States Dollars) (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, March 31, 2011 2010 Fixed maturity investments $ 27,913 $ 28,875 Short term investments 595 486 Equity investments trading 14 - Other investments Hedge funds and private equity investments 23,507 17,536 Other 10,827 21,218 Cash and cash equivalents 41 61 62,897 68,176 Investment expenses (2,616 ) (2,467 ) Net investment income 60,281 65,709 Gross realized gains 10,562 48,848 Gross realized losses (12,617 ) (5,170 ) Net realized (losses) gains on fixed maturity (2,055 ) 43,678 investments Net unrealized (losses) gains on fixed maturity (3,758 ) 4,522 investments trading Net unrealized gains on equity investments trading 599 - Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on (5,214 ) 48,200 investments Total other-than-temporary impairments - (33 ) Portion recognized in other comprehensive income, - - before taxes Net other-than-temporary impairments - (33 ) Change in net unrealized gains on fixed maturity 252 (8,641 ) investment available for sale Total investment result $ 55,319 $ 105,235
Comments on Regulation G
In addition to the GAAP financial measures set forth in this Press Release, the Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this Press Release within the meaning of Regulation G. The Company has provided these financial measurements in previous investor communications and the Company's management believes that these measurements are important to investors and other interested persons, and that investors and such other persons benefit from having a consistent basis for comparison between quarters and for the 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 measures in assessing the Company's overall financial performance.
The Company uses "operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders" as a measure to evaluate the underlying fundamentals of its operations and believes it to be a useful measure of its corporate performance. "Operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders" as used herein differs from "net (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders," which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, by the exclusion of net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments from continuing and discontinued operations and net other-than-temporary impairments from continuing and discontinued operations. The Company's management believes that "operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders" is useful to investors because it more accurately measures and predicts the Company's results of operations by removing the variability arising from fluctuations in the Company's fixed maturity investment portfolio and equity investments trading. The Company also uses "operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders" to calculate "operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted" and "operating return on average common equity - annualized". The following is a reconciliation of: 1) net (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders to operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders; 2) net (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted to operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted; and 3) return on average common equity - annualized to operating return on average common equity - annualized:
Three months ended (in thousands of United States dollars, except March 31, March 31, for per share amounts) 2011 2010 Net (loss) income (attributable) available to $ (248,033 ) $ 165,047 RenaissanceRe common shareholders Adjustment for net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments of continuing operations 5,214 (48,200 ) Adjustment for net other-than-temporary - 33 impairments of continuing operations Adjustment for net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments and net other-than-temporary impairments of (42 ) (398 ) discontinued operations Operating (loss) income (attributable) available $ (242,861 ) $ 116,482 to RenaissanceRe common shareholders Net (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted (1) $ (4.69 ) $ 2.73 Adjustment for net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments of continuing operations 0.10 (0.82 ) Adjustment for net other-than-temporary - - impairments of continuing operations Adjustment for net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments and net other-than-temporary impairments of - - discontinued operations Operating (loss) income (attributable) available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted (1) $ (4.59 ) $ 1.91 Return on average common equity - annualized (31.3 %) 20.9 % Adjustment for net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments of continuing operations 0.6 % (6.1 %) Adjustment for net other-than-temporary - - impairments of continuing operations Adjustment for net realized and unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments and net other-than-temporary impairments of - - discontinued operations Operating return on average common equity - (30.7 %) 14.8 % annualized
Earnings per share calculations use average common shares outstanding - (1) basic, when in a net loss position, as required by FASB ASC Topic Earnings per Share.
The Company has also included in this Press Release "managed catastrophe premiums". "Managed catastrophe premiums" is defined as gross catastrophe premiums written by Renaissance Reinsurance and its related joint ventures, excluding catastrophe premiums assumed from the Company's Insurance segment. "Managed catastrophe premiums" differs from total catastrophe unit gross premiums written, which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, due to the inclusion of catastrophe premiums written on behalf of the Company's joint venture Top Layer Re, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting, the inclusion of catastrophe premiums written on behalf of the Company's Lloyd's segment, and the exclusion of catastrophe premiums assumed from the Company's Insurance segment. The Company's management believes "managed catastrophe premiums" is useful to investors and other interested parties because it provides a measure of total catastrophe premiums, as applicable, assumed by the Company through its consolidated subsidiaries and related joint ventures.
Source: RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
Released April 26, 2011