PEMBROKE, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 2015-- RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR) (the “Company” or “RenaissanceRe”) today reported net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders of $75.5 million, or $1.66 per diluted common share, in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $67.8 million, or $1.70, respectively, in the third quarter of 2014. Operating income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders was $116.7 million, or $2.58 per diluted common share, in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $98.9 million, or $2.49, respectively, in the third quarter of 2014. The Company reported an annualized return on average common equity of 6.9% and an annualized operating return on average common equity of 10.7% in the third quarter of 2015, compared to 8.0% and 11.7%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2014. Book value per common share increased $0.98, or 1.0%, in the third quarter of 2015 to $97.41, compared to a 1.2% increase in the third quarter of 2014. Tangible book value per common share plus accumulated dividends increased 1.3% in the third quarter of 2015, compared to a 1.5% increase in the third quarter of 2014.

Kevin J. O'Donnell, CEO, commented: "I am pleased to report $116.7 million of operating income, an annualized operating ROE of 10.7% and 1.3% growth in tangible book value per share plus accumulated dividends for the quarter. Our results benefited from the absence of land falling U.S. hurricanes and favorable reserve development, offset in part by mark-to-market investment losses."

Mr. O'Donnell continued: "Our strategy of matching desirable risk with efficient capital within an integrated system continues to serve us well. We are a stronger company following the acquisition and integration of Platinum. We remain committed to generating superior returns for our shareholders and third party capital providers over the long term and look forward to meeting our customers’ needs during the upcoming renewal period."

THIRD QUARTER 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

• Gross premiums written of $369.6 million increased $168.7 million, or 83.9%, in the third quarter of 2015, compared to the third quarter of 2014, with the Company’s Specialty Reinsurance, Catastrophe Reinsurance and Lloyd’s segments experiencing increases of $145.5 million, or 211.2%, $13.4 million, or 19.7%, and $9.7 million, or 15.2%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2015.
• The Company generated underwriting income of $129.7 million and a combined ratio of 64.2% in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $104.8 million and 59.5%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2014. Favorable development on prior accident years claims and claim expenses totaled $70.4 million in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $25.3 million in the third quarter of 2014. Underwriting income in the third quarter of 2015 was impacted by $28.1 million of underwriting losses associated with the explosion in Tianjin, China (the “Tianjin Explosion”), which resulted in $26.0 million of net negative impact⁽¹⁾ to the Company.
• The Company’s total investment result, which includes the sum of net investment income and net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on investments, was negative $13.0 million in the third quarter of 2015, compared to negative $6.5 million in the third quarter of 2014. The total investment result during the third quarter of 2015 was primarily driven by net realized and unrealized losses in our portfolio of equity investments trading and other investments as a result of the broad downturn in the equity markets during the quarter and net realized and unrealized losses on investments-related derivatives due to the decreasing interest rate environment. Offsetting these items was an increase in net realized and unrealized gains, and net investment income, in the Company’s portfolio of fixed maturity investments, driven primarily by the decreasing interest rate environment at the long end of the yield curve in that portfolio, and an increase in average invested assets, respectively.
• During the third quarter of 2015, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 1.9 million common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $203.1 million and at an average share price of $104.49. Subsequent to September 30, 2015 and through the period ended November 3, 2015, the Company repurchased 286 thousand common shares in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of $30.6 million and at an average share price of $107.11.

Underwriting Results by Segment

Catastrophe Reinsurance Segment

Gross premiums written in the Catastrophe Reinsurance segment were $81.7 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $13.4 million, or 19.7%, compared to the third quarter of 2014. Market conditions remained challenging during the third quarter of 2015, and the Company continued to exercise underwriting discipline given prevailing terms and conditions. However, the Company was able to identify and underwrite certain new programs which provided opportunities for growth the Company believes to be attractive.

Managed catastrophe premiums increased $14.7 million, or 19.4%, to $90.2 million in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $75.6 million in the third quarter of 2014. For the first nine months of 2015, managed catastrophe premiums decreased $56.8 million, or 5.6%, to $952.7 million, compared to $1,009.5 million in the first nine months of 2014.

The Catastrophe Reinsurance segment generated underwriting income of $99.8 million and a combined ratio of 37.5% in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $104.1 million and 23.9% in the third quarter of 2014, respectively. The $4.3 million decrease in underwriting income in the third quarter of 2015, compared to the third quarter of 2014, was driven by a $26.6 million increase in current accident year net claims and claim expenses primarily due to $21.7 million of net claims and claim expenses related to the Tianjin Explosion, partially offset by a $22.9 million increase in net premiums earned. The Catastrophe Reinsurance segment recorded $19.1 million of net negative impact to its underwriting result in the third quarter of 2015 related to the Tianjin Explosion.

The Catastrophe Reinsurance segment experienced $13.9 million of favorable development on prior accident years net claims and claim expenses in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $10.3 million in the third quarter of 2014.

Specialty Reinsurance Segment

Gross premiums written in the Specialty Reinsurance segment were $214.4 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $145.5 million, or 211.2%, compared to the third quarter of 2014, primarily driven by increases across the Company’s casualty and specialty credit lines of business, principally driven by the acquisition of Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. on March 2, 2015, and new business opportunities. The Company’s Specialty Reinsurance segment premiums are prone to significant volatility as this business can be influenced by a relatively small number of relatively large transactions.

For the first nine months of 2015, gross premiums written in the Specialty Reinsurance segment increased $223.9 million, or 81.5%, to $498.7 million, compared to $274.7 million in the first nine months of 2014.

The Specialty Reinsurance segment generated underwriting income of $37.2 million and a combined ratio of 74.5% in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $5.7 million and 91.1%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2014. Impacting underwriting income in the Specialty Reinsurance segment for the third quarter of 2015, compared to the third quarter of 2014, was an $82.7 million increase in net premiums earned as a result of higher net premiums written during the preceding twelve months and a $41.0 million increase in favorable development on prior accident years net claims and claim expenses; partially offset by a $41.9 million increase in underwriting expenses and a $50.3 million increase in current accident year net claims and claim expenses primarily related to a higher level of attritional losses, each principally due to the increase in net premiums earned. Current accident year net claims and claim expenses included $7.7 million related to the Tianjin Explosion.

Also included in the Specialty Reinsurance segment’s underwriting results for the third quarter of 2015 is the restructure and renewal of a large multi-year transaction which increased gross premiums written by $39.5 million, reduced net claims and claim expenses by $13.0 million, including $10.4 million of favorable development on prior accident years net claims and claim expenses, and increased net acquisition expenses by $14.8 million. The corresponding impact on the Specialty Reinsurance segment’s net claims and claim expense ratio and underwriting expense ratio in the third quarter of 2015 was a decrease of 10.3 percentage points and an increase of 9.3 percentage points, respectively. The net impact on the Specialty Reinsurance segment’s underwriting result of the above transaction was $3.5 million of underwriting income for the third quarter of 2015.

The Specialty Reinsurance segment experienced $55.7 million of favorable development on prior accident years net claims and claim expenses in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $14.7 million in the third quarter of 2014, principally as a result of better than expected claims emergence.

Lloyd’s Segment

Gross premiums written in the Lloyd’s segment were $73.6 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $9.7 million, or 15.2%, compared to the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to Syndicate 1458 continuing to grow organically in the Lloyd’s marketplace, notwithstanding challenging market conditions.

For the first nine months of 2015, gross premiums written in the Lloyd’s segment increased $101.3 million, or 46.3%, to $320.3 million, compared to $219.0 million in the first nine months of 2014.

The Lloyd’s segment incurred an underwriting loss of $7.0 million and a combined ratio of 112.3% in the third quarter of 2015, compared to an underwriting loss of $5.3 million and a combined ratio of 109.1% in the third quarter of 2014. Impacting the underwriting loss in the Lloyd’s segment during the third quarter of 2015 was a $2.3 million decrease in net premiums earned driven by an increase in ceded premiums earned and a $1.0 million increase in acquisition expenses, partially offset by a $2.6 million decrease in net claims and claim expenses.

The Lloyd’s segment experienced $1.0 million of favorable development on prior accident years net claims and claim expenses in the third quarter of 2015, compared to adverse development of $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2014, principally due to reported claims activity coming in relatively in line with expectations on prior accident years.

Other Items

• During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded $3.4 million and $51.9 million, respectively, of corporate expenses associated with the acquisition and integration of Platinum.

This Press Release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures including “operating income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders”, “operating income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted”, “operating return on average common equity - annualized”, “managed catastrophe premiums”, “tangible book value per common share” and “tangible book value per common share plus accumulated dividends.” 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 Thursday, November 5, 2015 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 reportable segments: (1) Catastrophe Reinsurance, which includes catastrophe reinsurance and certain property catastrophe joint ventures managed by the Company’s ventures unit; (2) Specialty Reinsurance, which includes specialty reinsurance and certain specialty joint ventures managed by the Company’s ventures unit; and (3) Lloyd’s, which includes reinsurance and insurance business written through RenaissanceRe Syndicate 1458.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Any forward-looking statements made in this Press Release reflect RenaissanceRe’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to numerous factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the following: the frequency and severity of catastrophic and other events; uncertainties in RenaissanceRe’s reserving processes; the lowering or loss of any of the financial strength, claims paying or enterprise wide risk management ratings of RenaissanceRe, its subsidiaries or joint ventures; risks associated with appropriately modeling, pricing for, and contractually addressing new or potential factors in loss emergence; risks that RenaissanceRe or its subsidiaries might be bound to policyholder obligations beyond their underwriting intent; the ability to recognize the benefits of the acquisition of Platinum; additional risks relating to RenaissanceRe’s acquisition of Platinum, including risks that RenaissanceRe’s future financial performance may differ from projections, risks relating to integration challenges and costs, and other risks that RenaissanceRe may not be able to effectively manage its expanded operations; risks due to RenaissanceRe’s reliance on a small and decreasing number of reinsurance brokers and other distribution services; risks relating to operating in a highly competitive environment; risks relating to deteriorating market conditions; the risk that customers may fail to make premium payments due to RenaissanceRe; the risk of failures of reinsurers, brokers or other counterparties to honor their obligations to RenaissanceRe; a contention by the United States Internal Revenue Service that Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd., Platinum Underwriters Bermuda, Ltd. or any of RenaissanceRe’s other Bermuda, or non-U.S., subsidiaries, is subject to U.S. taxation; other risks relating to potential adverse tax developments, including the risk that operating subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe could be deemed to be passive foreign investment companies under future rules, regulations or laws; risks relating to adverse legislative developments; risks associated with RenaissanceRe’s investment portfolios; changes in economic conditions or inflation; and other factors affecting future results disclosed in RenaissanceRe’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

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 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 income 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 income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders” as used herein differs from “net income 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. The Company’s management believes that “operating income 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 income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders” to calculate “operating income 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 income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders to operating income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders; 2) net income available to RenaissanceRe common shareholders per common share - diluted to operating income 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:

The Company has also included in this Press Release “managed catastrophe premiums”. “Managed catastrophe premiums” is defined as gross catastrophe premiums written by the Company and its related joint ventures. “Managed catastrophe premiums” differs from total Catastrophe Reinsurance segment 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, and the inclusion of catastrophe premiums written on behalf of the Company’s Lloyd’s 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 assumed by the Company through its consolidated subsidiaries and related joint ventures.

The Company has also included in this Press Release “tangible book value per common share” and “tangible book value per common share plus accumulated dividends”. “Tangible book value per common share” is defined as book value per common share excluding goodwill and intangible assets per share. “Tangible book value per common share plus accumulated dividends” is defined as book value per common share excluding goodwill and intangible assets per share, plus accumulated dividends. “Tangible book value per common share” differs from book value per common share, which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, due to the exclusion of goodwill and intangible assets per share. The Company’s management believes “tangible book value per common share” and “tangible book value per common share plus accumulated dividends” are useful to investors because they provide a more accurate measure of the realizable value of shareholder returns, excluding the impact of goodwill and intangible assets.

The following is a reconciliation of book value per common share to tangible book value per common share and tangible book value per common share plus accumulated dividends:

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151104006801/en/

Source: RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

INVESTOR CONTACT:
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
Rohan Pai
Director - Corporate Finance
441-295-4513
or
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kekst and Company
Peter Hill or Dawn Dover
212-521-4800