ZURICH, Switzerland - April 27, 2009
HAMILTON, Bermuda, April 27, 2009 - XL Capital Ltd ("XL" or the "Company")(NYSE:XL) today reported its first quarter 2009results.
Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer, Michael S. McGavick,said: "I believe this first quarter performance demonstrates that XL is onsolid footing and remains on track to deliver long-term shareholder value.
"The P&C operations' combined ratio of 93.0% in the first quarter is animprovement over the same quarter last year, and for the full year 2008. Thisstrong result supports our intention to focus on those lines of businesswithin our insurance and reinsurance operations that provide the best returnon capital. While Gross Premiums Written have decreased this quarter, theyare within the range of our expectations and confirm our strict adherence tounderwriting discipline.
"During the quarter we have continued de-risking our investment portfolioby selling more than $1.3 billion, or 70%, of the securities related to ourfourth quarter restructuring charge and are making progress in transitioningthe portfolio to one that is more typical of a P&C focused operation. Whilecredit spreads widened, particularly in March, the Company's first quartermark-to-market losses of approximately one billion dollars included netrealized losses of $171 million in addition to $81 million that we chose torecognize from risk reduction efforts.
"At March 31, 2009, XL had $17.0 billion of its $30.5 billion fixed incomeportfolio in cash, government, government related and agency oragency-guaranteed securities.
"Also during the first quarter of 2009, XL retained valued customers andstaff retention levels remained strong, with voluntary staff turnover rates ator below last year's levels.
"In addition to this, XL remains on track in terms of reducing itsunderlying operating expenses and our two previously announced programs inthis regard are both on target. We recorded costs of $40.0 million in thequarter in connection with these programs."
He concluded: "This is another quarter of solid achievement for XL as wecontinue to demonstrate we have the wherewithal to navigate these troubledtimes and to deliver on our commitments to shareholders and to clients."
2009 First Quarter Summary Financial Results Three Months Ended March 31 (US Dollars in thousands except per share amounts) (Per Ordinary Share - Diluted) 2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change Net income available to ordinary shareholders $178,379 $211,873 -16% $0.53 $1.19 -55% Operating income(1) 212,442 276,867 -23% 0.63 1.55 -59% Annualized return on ordinary shareholders' equity - Operating income(2) 16.6% 12.9%
The Company produced net income available to ordinary shareholders for thefirst quarter of $178.4 million or $0.53 per ordinary share, compared to$211.9 million or $1.19 per ordinary share, for the first quarter of 2008.Included in net income available to ordinary shareholders in the first quarterof 2009 is a gain of $211.8 million due to the redemption of 12.7 millionSeries C preference ordinary shares.
Operating income was $212.4 million, or $0.63 per ordinary share, comparedwith $276.9 million, or $1.55 per ordinary share, for first quarter of 2008.While the performance from the Company's P&C operations this quarter wasstrong, the ongoing turbulence in the capital markets resulted in a loss of$42.4 million from the investment fund and investment management affiliatescompared to a profit of $24.7 million in the prior year quarter. The currentquarter's results were driven primarily by the impact of the fourth quarter2008 fair value adjustments in the Company's private fund investments offsetby positive returns from the Company's alternative fund affiliates.
Net investment income for the quarter was $348.0 million compared to$499.2 million in the prior year quarter. Net investment income from P&Coperations, excluding investment income from structured products, decreased21.4% from the prior year quarter to $242.2 million. This decrease wasprimarily due to lower investment yields, driven by higher allocations tolower yielding US Treasuries, agencies and cash as a result of the continuedde-risking of the investment portfolio and prudently holding more liquidity inthese turbulent markets, as well as a higher level of shorter durationfloating rate assets.
Pre-tax net realized investment losses for the quarter were $251.9 millioncompared to $102.3 million in the first quarter of 2008. The loss for thefirst quarter of 2009 included other than temporary impairments totaling$285.0 million, of which $80.6 million was associated with the Company'sdecision to participate in the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds HBOS Tier Iand Tier II hybrid exchange offers, partially offset by realized gains onsecurities sales of $33.1 million. The realized loss in the first quarter of2008 included other than temporary impairments of $114.8 million.
The annualized return on ordinary shareholders' equity, based on operatingincome, was 16.6% for the quarter compared to 12.9% in 2008.
P&C Operations Three Months Ended March 31 (US Dollars in thousands) 2009 2008 Gross Premiums Written $1,878,228 $2,700,894 Net Premiums Written 1,505,311 2,136,553 Net Premiums Earned 1,321,687 1,552,780 Underwriting Income 104,903 108,071 Loss Ratio 59.8% 64.5% Expense Ratio 33.2% 29.1% Combined Ratio 93.0% 93.6%
-- P&C Gross and Net Premiums Written across most lines of business wereadversely impacted by general market and economic conditions. The majority ofthe variance to the prior year quarter was driven by lower insured values,foreign exchange movements, lower levels of long-term agreements, and changesin retention rates, limits and attachment points.
-- P&C Net Premiums Earned included $910.1 million from the Insurancesegment and $411.6 million from the Reinsurance segment.
-- The loss ratio for the quarter was 59.8% compared to 64.5% for thefirst quarter of 2008. Included in the current quarter loss ratio was priorperiod favorable development of $90.2 million compared to $67.0 million in thefirst quarter of 2008.
-- Natural Catastrophe losses, net of reinstatement premiums, of$27.3 million were modest during the first quarter of 2009 compared with$61.6 million in the first quarter of 2008.
-- The expense ratio during the quarter included charges of approximately$35.1 million relating to the previously announced cost reduction programs, ofwhich $30.9 million and $4.2 million related to the Insurance and Reinsurancesegments, respectively.
-- The P&C combined ratio for the quarter was 93.0% compared to 93.6% forthe quarter ended March 31, 2008. Excluding the charges for the costreduction programs, the current quarter combined ratio would have been 90.3%.
Capital Position
Book value per ordinary share was $15.02 as compared to $15.46 atDecember 31, 2008.
Net unrealized losses on investments, net of tax, were $4.0 billion atMarch 31, 2009 compared with net unrealized losses, net of tax of $3.2 billionat December 31, 2008. The increase in net unrealized losses of $0.8 billionfor the quarter was substantially due to continuing widening credit spreads onnon-agency residential mortgage products and increasing US interest rates,primarily impacting the Company's P&C operations, as well as the impact ofwidening credit spreads on hybrid corporate financials, which primarilyimpacted the Company's Life operations.
The Company did not choose to adopt either of the new FASB Staff Positionsissued in April 2009 relating to investment valuation and impairment andcontinues to use independent pricing services to value its available for saleinvestments with the exception of the core CLO portfolio.
On February 17, 2009, the Company completed the remarketing and retirementof the 5.25% Senior Notes due in 2011 in aggregate principal amount of$745 million, comprising part of its 7.00% Equity Security Units ("ESU's") andsettled the associated forward contracts. As previously announced, thesettlement of the contracts resulted in the sale by the Company of 11,461,080Class A Ordinary Shares, thereby increasing ordinary shareholders equity by$745 million during the first quarter of 2009.
Further details of the results for the quarter and of the Company's fixedincome investment portfolio may be found in the Company's Financial Supplementand Fixed Income Portfolio Data Supplement, respectively. These documents areboth dated April 27, 2009 and are available from the Investor Relationssection of the XL Capital Group website.
The Company will host a conference call to discuss its first quarterresults on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conferencecall can be accessed through a listen-only dial-in number or through a livewebcast. To listen to the conference call, please dial (877) 422-4657 or(706) 679-0474, Conference ID# 89921296. The webcast will be available atwww.xlgroup.com and will be archived on XL's website from approximately12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 28, 2009, through midnight Eastern Time onMay 28, 2009. A telephone replay of the conference call will also be availablebeginning at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 28, 2009, until midnight EasternTime on May 19, 2009, by dialing (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291, ConferenceID# 89921296.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements thatare not historical facts, including statements about XL's beliefs, plans orexpectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based oncurrent plans, estimates, and expectations. Actual results may differmaterially from those included in such forward-looking statements andtherefore you should not place undue reliance on them. A non-exclusive list ofthe important factors that could cause actual results to differ materiallyfrom those in such forward-looking statements includes (a) changes in ratings,rating agency policies or practices; (b) greater frequency or severity ofclaims and loss activity than XL's underwriting, reserving or investmentpractices anticipate based on historical experience or industry data;(c) trends in rates for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance;(d) developments, including future volatility, in the world's credit,financial and capital markets that adversely affect the performance andvaluation of XL's investments or access to such markets; (e) other changes ingeneral economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, creditspreads, foreign currency exchange rates, inflation and other factors; (f) thepotential for changes to methodologies; estimations and assumptions thatunderlie the valuation of the Company's financial instruments that couldresult in changes to investment valuations; (g) changes to the Company'sassumptions as to whether it has the ability and intent to hold available-for-sale securities to recovery; (h) the potential effect of domestic and foreignregulatory developments, including those which could impact the financialmarkets or increase XL's business costs and required capital levels; (i) theability of XL's subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company; (j) changes inthe size of XL's claims relating to natural catastrophe losses due to thepreliminary nature of some reports and estimates of loss and damage to dateand (k) the other factors set forth in XL's reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q,and other documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, aswell as management's response to any of the aforementioned factors. XLundertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-lookingstatement, whether as a result of new information, future developments orotherwise.
XL Capital Ltd SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (U.S. dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended Income Statement Data: March 31 (Unaudited) 2009 2008 Revenues: Gross premiums written: - P&C operations $ 1,878,228 $ 2,700,894 - Life operations 135,112 234,958 - Financial operations - - Net premiums written: - P&C operations 1,505,311 2,136,553 - Life operations 121,585 224,213 - Financial operations - - Net premiums earned: - P&C operations 1,321,687 1,552,780 - Life operations 129,834 159,582 - Financial operations - - Net investment income 347,966 499,229 Net realized (losses) gains on investments (251,937) (102,251) Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments (1,407) 44,682 Net (loss) income from investment affiliates (26,893) 11,799 Fee and other income 12,158 8,291 Total revenues $ 1,531,408 $ 2,174,112 Expenses: Net losses and loss expenses incurred $790,283 $1,000,893 Claims and policy benefits 157,959 196,299 Acquisition costs 218,219 266,297 Operating expenses 268,387 263,824 Exchange (gains) losses (24,624) 67,745 Interest expense 61,341 124,112 Amortization of intangible assets 465 420 Total expenses $ 1,472,030 $ 1,919,590 Net income before income tax and net income from operating affiliates $ 59,378 $ 254,522 Income tax 45,953 30,702 Net loss (income) from operating affiliates 10,328 (20,553) Net income $ 3,097 $ 244,373 Preference share dividends (36,534) (32,500) Gain on repurchase of Series C preference ordinary shares 211,816 - Net income available to ordinary shareholders $ 178,379 $ 211,873 XL Capital Ltd SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (U.S. dollars in thousands) Balance Sheet Data: As at As at March 31, 2009 December 31, 2008 (Unaudited) Total investments available for sale $25,512,503 $27,464,510 Cash and cash equivalents 5,066,187 4,353,826 Investments in affiliates 1,244,497 1,552,789 Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable 3,779,211 3,997,722 Total assets 43,971,837 45,682,005 Unpaid losses and loss expenses 21,019,206 21,650,315 Deposit liabilities 2,577,281 2,710,987 Future policy benefit reserves 5,309,261 5,452,865 Unearned premiums 4,328,689 4,217,931 Notes payable and debt 2,444,981 3,189,734 Redeemable Series C preference ordinary shares 182,673 500,000 Total shareholders' equity 6,141,278 6,116,831 Diluted book value per ordinary share $15.02 $15.46 Basic book value per ordinary share $15.02 $15.46 XL Capital Ltd RECONCILIATION
The following is a reconciliation of the Company's (i) net income (loss)available to ordinary shareholders to operating income (loss) (Note 1) and(ii) annualized return on ordinary shareholders' equity (based on operatingincome (loss)) to average ordinary shareholders' equity for the three monthsended March 31, 2009 and 2008.
(U.S. dollars in thousands except per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31 (Unaudited) 2009 2008 Net income available to ordinary shareholders $178,379 $211,873 Net realized losses on investments, net of tax 242,864 98,377 Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investment derivatives, net of tax 1,480 (34,120) Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on credit and structured financial derivatives, net of tax 1,412 57 Net realized and unrealized (gains) on investments and derivatives of the Company's other insurance company operating affiliates 123 680 Gain on repurchase of Series C preference ordinary shares (211,816) - Operating income (Notes 1, 2, and 3) $212,442 $276,867 Per ordinary share results: (Note 2) Net income (loss) available to ordinary shareholders $0.53 $1.19 Operating income (Note 1) $0.63 $1.55 Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding: Basic 336,217,431 178,356,949 Diluted 336,218,306 178,357,200 Return on Ordinary Shareholders' Equity: Average ordinary shareholders' equity $5,127,454 $8,601,747 Operating income (Note 1) $212,442 $276,867 Annualized Operating income (Note 1) $849,768 $1,107,468 Annualized Return on Ordinary Shareholders' Equity - Operating income (Note 1) 16.6% 12.9%
Note 1: Operating income is defined as net income (loss) available toordinary shareholders excluding net realized gains and losses on investments,goodwill impairment charges, net realized and unrealized gains and losses oncredit, structured financial and investment derivatives, net of tax for theCompany and its share of these items for Syncora and the Company's otherinsurance company affiliates and charges in respect of guarantees relating tosubsidiaries of Syncora, as well as the gain recognized on the repurchase ofthe Company's Series C preference ordinary shares
Note 2: Diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares outstandingare used to calculate per share data except where they are anti-dilutive toearnings per share or where there is a net loss.
Note 3: Diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding for thequarter ended March 31, 2009 include the impact of the Company's 2008 EquitySecurity units ("ESU") on an "if converted" basis for the period January 1,2009 to February 17, 2009 when they were converted into class A ordinaryshares. Net income and Operating income per share for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2009 have been adjusted to exclude $4,829 of ESU interest fromJanuary 1, 2009 to February 17, 2009.
Comment on Regulation G
This press release contains the presentation of (i) operating income(loss), which is defined as net income (loss) excluding net realized gains andlosses on investments, goodwill impairment charges, net realized andunrealized gains and losses on credit, structured financial and investmentderivatives, net of tax, for the Company and its share of these items forSyncora and the Company's other insurance company affiliates for the periodspresented and charges in respect of guarantees relating to subsidiaries ofSyncora, as well as the gain recognized on the repurchase of the Company'sSeries C preference ordinary shares and (ii) annualized return on ordinaryshareholders' equity (based on operating income (loss)) to average ordinaryshareholders' equity. These items are "non-GAAP financial measures" asdefined in Regulation G. The reconciliation of such measures to the mostdirectly comparable GAAP financial measures in accordance with Regulation G isincluded above.
XL presents its operations in the way it believes will be most meaningfuland useful to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use XL'sfinancial information in evaluating XL's performance. This presentationincludes the use of 'operating income (loss)'. Investment derivatives includeall derivatives entered into by XL other than weather and energy and creditderivatives (discussed further below).
Although the investment of premiums to generate income (or loss) andrealized capital gains (or losses) is an integral part of XL's operations andthose of Syncora and the Company's other insurance company operatingaffiliates, the determination to realize capital gains (or losses) isindependent of the underwriting process. In addition, under applicable GAAPaccounting requirements, losses can be created as the result of other thantemporary declines in value and from goodwill impairment charges withoutactual realization. In this regard, certain users of XL's financialinformation, including certain rating agencies, evaluate earnings before taxand capital gains to understand the profitability of the recurring sources ofincome without the effects of these two variables. Furthermore, these usersbelieve that, for many companies, the timing of the realization of capitalgains and the recognition of goodwill impairment charges are largelyopportunistic and are a function of economic and interest rate conditions.
In addition, with respect to credit derivatives, because XL and itsinsurance company operating affiliates generally hold financial guarantycontracts written in credit default derivative form to maturity, the neteffects of the changes in fair value of these credit derivatives are excluded(similar with other companies' treatment of such contracts) as the changes infair value each quarter are not indicative of underlying business performance.Unlike these credit derivatives, XL's weather and energy derivatives areactively traded (i.e., they are not held to maturity) and are, therefore, notexcluded from net income as any gains or losses from this business areconsidered by management when evaluating and managing the underlying business.
Charges in respect of guarantees issued by XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd, inrespect of subsidiaries of Syncora, as well as the gain recognized on therepurchase of the Company's Series C preference ordinary shares, are excludedas these transactions were capital in nature and outside the scope of theCompany's underlying business.
In summary, XL evaluates the performance of and manages its business toproduce an underwriting profit. In addition to presenting net income (loss),XL believes that showing operating income (loss) enables investors and otherusers of XL's financial information to analyze XL's performance in a mannersimilar to how management of XL analyzes performance. In this regard, XLbelieves that providing only a GAAP presentation of net income (loss) makes itmuch more difficult for users of XL's financial information to evaluate XL'sunderlying business. Also, as stated above, XL believes that the equityanalysts and certain rating agencies that follow XL (and the insuranceindustry as a whole) exclude these items from their analyses for the samereasons and they request that XL provide this non-GAAP financial informationon a regular basis.
Return on average ordinary shareholder's equity ("ROE") excluding netrealized gains and losses on investments, goodwill impairment charges and netrealized and unrealized gains and losses on credit and investment derivativeinstruments, net of tax, for the Company and its share of these items forSyncora and the Company's other insurance company operating affiliates (the"Exclusions"), is a widely used measure of any company's profitability.Annualized return on average ordinary shareholders' equity (minus theExclusions) is calculated by dividing annualized net income minus theExclusions for any period by the average of the opening and closing ordinaryshareholders' equity. The Company establishes target ROEs (minus theExclusions) for its total operations, segments and lines of business. If theCompany's ROE (minus the Exclusions) return targets are not met with respectto any line of business over time, the Company seeks to re-evaluate theselines. In addition, the Company's compensation of its senior officers isdependant upon, among other things, the achievement of the Company'sperformance goals to enhance shareholder value which include ROE (minus theExclusions).
(1) Defined as net income (loss) available to ordinary shareholdersexcluding net realized gains and losses on investments, goodwill impairmentcharges, net realized and unrealized gains and losses on credit, structuredfinancial and investment derivatives, net of tax for the Company and its shareof these items for Syncora Holdings Ltd. ("Syncora") and the Company'sinsurance company affiliates and charges in respect of guarantees relating tosubsidiaries of Syncora, as well as the gain recognized on the repurchase ofthe Company's Series C preference ordinary shares, herein referred to as"operating income". "Operating income" is a non-GAAP measure. See theschedule entitled "Reconciliation" at the end of this release for areconciliation of "operating income" to net income available to ordinaryshareholders.
(2) "Annualized return on ordinary shareholders' equity" is a non-GAAPmeasure. See the schedule entitled "Reconciliation" at the end of thisrelease for further information.
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