Arch Capital Group Ltd. Reports 2021 First Quarter Results
PEMBROKE, Bermuda–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Arch Capital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACGL) announces its 2021 first quarter results. The results included:
- Net income available to Arch common shareholders of $427.8 million, or $1.05 per share, a 13.9% annualized return on average common equity, compared to $133.7 million, or $0.32 per share, for the 2020 first quarter;
- After-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders(1) of $239.8 million, or $0.59 per share, a 7.8% annualized return on average common equity, compared to $189.8 million, or $0.46 per share, for the 2020 first quarter;
- Pre-tax current accident year catastrophic losses for the Company’s insurance and reinsurance segments, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums(1) of $188.3 million, including $0.6 million of COVID-19 related losses;
- Favorable development in prior year loss reserves, net of related adjustments(1) of $41.7 million;
- Combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year development(1) of 81.0%, compared to 84.2% for the 2020 first quarter;
- The percentage of loans in default on U.S. primary mortgage business was 3.86% at March 31, 2021, compared to 4.19% at December 31, 2020;
- Results for the 2021 first quarter reflect a one-time gain of $74.5 million, or $0.18 per share, related to the purchase of a 29.5% stake in Coface. Such amount is reflected in income (loss) from operating affiliates and included in after-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders;
- Total return on investments(1) of -0.18%;
- Book value per common share of $30.54 at March 31, 2021, a 0.8% increase from December 31, 2020 and a 17.0% increase from March 31, 2020;
- 5.3 million shares repurchased at an aggregate cost of $179.3 million;
- Regulatory approvals are ongoing for the announced acquisition of Watford Holdings Ltd. Shareholder approval has been obtained. The Company expects the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2021.
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):
| (U.S. dollars in thousands) | Consolidated |
| Consolidated Excluding ‘Other’ Segment (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| % Change |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| % Change | ||||||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 3,397,206 |
|
| $ | 2,832,830 |
|
| 19.9 |
|
|
| $ | 3,277,293 |
|
| $ | 2,698,537 |
|
| 21.4 |
|
|
| Net premiums written | 2,508,457 |
|
| 2,137,246 |
|
| 17.4 |
|
|
| 2,329,146 |
|
| 1,950,546 |
|
| 19.4 |
|
| ||||
| Net premiums earned | 1,948,422 |
|
| 1,744,444 |
|
| 11.7 |
|
|
| 1,800,691 |
|
| 1,604,405 |
|
| 12.2 |
|
| ||||
| Underwriting income | 185,918 |
|
| 154,050 |
|
| 20.7 |
|
|
| 198,997 |
|
| 160,060 |
|
| 24.3 |
|
| ||||
| Underwriting Ratios |
|
|
|
| % Point |
|
|
|
|
| % Point | ||||||||||||
| Loss ratio | 61.7 | % |
| 63.9 | % |
| (2.2 | ) |
|
| 60.2 | % |
| 62.6 | % |
| (2.4 | ) |
| ||||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 29.0 | % |
| 27.6 | % |
| 1.4 |
|
|
| 29.0 | % |
| 27.9 | % |
| 1.1 |
|
| ||||
| Combined ratio | 90.7 | % |
| 91.5 | % |
| (0.8 | ) |
|
| 89.2 | % |
| 90.5 | % |
| (1.3 | ) |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| Combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year development (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 81.0 | % |
| 84.2 | % |
| (3.2 | ) |
| ||||||||
| (1) | Presentation represents a “non-GAAP” financial measure as defined in Regulation G. Such presentation excludes the results of Watford Holdings Ltd. (“Watford”). Pursuant to GAAP, the Company consolidates the results of Watford in its financial statements, although it only owns approximately 10% of Watford’s outstanding common equity as of March 31, 2021. 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 | ||||||||
|
| March 31, | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||||
| Net income available to Arch common shareholders | $ | 427,753 |
|
|
| $ | 133,714 |
|
|
| Net realized (gains) losses | (105,551 | ) |
|
| 109,364 |
|
| ||
| Equity in net (income) loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method | (71,686 | ) |
|
| 4,209 |
|
| ||
| Net foreign exchange (gains) losses | (21,332 | ) |
|
| (64,491 | ) |
| ||
| Transaction costs and other | 1,274 |
|
|
| 2,595 |
|
| ||
| Income tax expense (benefit) (1) | 9,311 |
|
|
| 4,365 |
|
| ||
| After-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders | $ | 239,769 |
|
|
| $ | 189,756 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
| Diluted per common share results: |
|
|
| ||||||
| Net income available to Arch common shareholders | $ | 1.05 |
|
|
| $ | 0.32 |
|
|
| Net realized (gains) losses | (0.25 | ) |
|
| 0.27 |
|
| ||
| Equity in net (income) loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method | (0.18 | ) |
|
| 0.01 |
|
| ||
| Net foreign exchange (gains) losses | (0.05 | ) |
|
| (0.16 | ) |
| ||
| Transaction costs and other | 0.00 |
|
|
| 0.01 |
|
| ||
| Income tax expense (benefit) (1) | 0.02 |
|
|
| 0.01 |
|
| ||
| After-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders | $ | 0.59 |
|
|
| $ | 0.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
| Weighted average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding — diluted | 409,223,253 |
|
|
| 414,033,570 |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
| Beginning common shareholders’ equity | $ | 12,325,886 |
|
|
| $ | 10,717,371 |
|
|
| Ending common shareholders’ equity | 12,316,472 |
|
|
| 10,587,244 |
|
| ||
| Average common shareholders’ equity | $ | 12,321,179 |
|
|
| $ | 10,652,308 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
| Annualized return on average common equity | 13.9 |
| % |
| 5.0 |
| % | ||
| Annualized operating return on average common equity | 7.8 |
| % |
| 7.1 |
| % | ||
| (1) | Income tax expense (benefit) on net realized gains or losses, equity in net income (loss) of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net foreign exchange gains or losses and transaction costs and other 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 2021 first quarter performance by operating segment. For additional details regarding the Company’s operating segments, please refer to the Company’s Financial Supplement dated March 31, 2021. The Company’s segment information includes the use of underwriting income (loss) and a combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year development. Such items are non-GAAP financial measures (see ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further details).
Insurance Segment
|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| (U.S. dollars in thousands) | 2021 |
| 2020 |
| % Change | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 1,415,886 |
|
|
| $ | 1,207,645 |
|
|
| 17.2 |
|
|
| Net premiums written | 994,839 |
|
|
| 828,748 |
|
|
| 20.0 |
|
| ||
| Net premiums earned | 819,474 |
|
|
| 715,919 |
|
|
| 14.5 |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Underwriting income (loss) | $ | 18,392 |
|
|
| $ | (28,175 | ) |
|
| 165.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Underwriting Ratios |
|
|
|
| % Point | ||||||||
| Loss ratio | 65.4 |
| % |
| 70.8 |
| % |
| (5.4 | ) |
| ||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 32.3 |
| % |
| 33.1 |
| % |
| (0.8 | ) |
| ||
| Combined ratio | 97.7 |
| % |
| 103.9 |
| % |
| (6.2 | ) |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Catastrophic activity and prior year development: |
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Current accident year catastrophic events, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums | 5.1 |
| % |
| 6.9 |
| % |
| (1.8 | ) |
| ||
| Net (favorable) adverse development in prior year loss reserves, net of related adjustments | (0.7 | ) | % |
| (0.1 | ) | % |
| (0.6 | ) |
| ||
| Combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year development (1) | 93.3 |
| % |
| 97.1 |
| % |
| (3.8 | ) |
| ||
| (1) | See ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further discussion. |
Gross premiums written by the insurance segment in the 2021 first quarter were 17.2% higher than in the 2020 first quarter while net premiums written were 20.0% higher than in the 2020 first quarter. The higher level of net premiums written reflected increases across most lines of business, due in part to rate increases, new business opportunities and growth in existing accounts, partially offset by a decrease in travel business, reflecting the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Net premiums earned in the 2021 first quarter were 14.5% higher than in the 2020 first quarter, and reflect changes in net premiums written over the previous five quarters.
The 2021 first quarter loss ratio reflected 5.1 points of current year catastrophic activity, primarily from winter storms Uri and Viola, compared to 6.9 points in the 2020 first quarter. Estimated net favorable development of prior year loss reserves, before related adjustments, reduced the loss ratio by 0.5 points in the 2021 first quarter, compared to 0.2 points in the 2020 first quarter. The 2021 first quarter loss ratio also reflected the effect of rate increases, changes in mix of business and a lower level of attritional losses compared to the 2020 first quarter.
The underwriting expense ratio was 32.3% in the 2021 first quarter, compared to 33.1% in the 2020 first quarter, with the decrease primarily due to growth in net premiums earned.
Reinsurance Segment
|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| (U.S. dollars in thousands) | 2021 |
| 2020 |
| % Change | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 1,471,060 |
|
|
| $ | 1,122,519 |
|
|
| 31.0 |
|
|
| Net premiums written | 999,112 |
|
|
| 797,180 |
|
|
| 25.3 |
|
| ||
| Net premiums earned | 644,900 |
|
|
| 543,460 |
|
|
| 18.7 |
|
| ||
| Other underwriting income (loss) | (1,198 | ) |
|
| 2,120 |
|
|
| (156.5 | ) |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Underwriting income (loss) | $ | (19,707 | ) |
|
| $ | (9,392 | ) |
|
| (109.8 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Underwriting Ratios |
|
|
|
| % Point | ||||||||
| Loss ratio | 75.2 |
| % |
| 79.1 |
| % |
| (3.9 | ) |
| ||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 27.7 |
| % |
| 22.9 |
| % |
| 4.8 |
|
| ||
| Combined ratio | 102.9 |
| % |
| 102.0 |
| % |
| 0.9 |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Catastrophic activity and prior year development: |
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Current accident year catastrophic events, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums | 22.7 |
| % |
| 12.7 |
| % |
| 10.0 |
|
| ||
| Net (favorable) adverse development in prior year loss reserves, net of related adjustments | (3.8 | ) | % |
| (2.0 | ) | % |
| (1.8 | ) |
| ||
| Combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year development (1) | 84.0 |
| % |
| 91.3 |
| % |
| (7.3 | ) |
| ||
| (1) | See ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further discussion. |
For comparability, premiums written for the reinsurance segment in the 2020 first quarter were affected by the presence of an $88 million loss portfolio transfer contract, written and fully earned in the period in the other specialty line of business. Absent this transaction, gross and net premiums written would have been higher than in the 2020 first quarter by 42.2% and 40.8%, respectively. The growth in net premiums written reflected increases in most lines of business, mainly due to rate increases and new business. Excluding the loss portfolio transfer contract, net premiums earned by the reinsurance segment in the 2021 first quarter were 41.5% higher than in the 2020 first quarter, and reflect changes in net premiums written over the previous five quarters.
The 2021 first quarter loss ratio reflected 24.7 points of current year catastrophic activity, including winter storms Uri and Viola as well as other minor global events. The corresponding impact on the 2020 first quarter results was 12.7 points. Estimated net favorable development of prior year loss reserves, before related adjustments, reduced the loss ratio by 4.2 points in the 2021 first quarter, compared to 2.1 points in the 2020 first quarter. The 2021 first quarter loss ratio also reflected the effect of rate increases, changes in the mix of business and a lower level of attritional losses compared to the 2020 first quarter. Absent the loss portfolio transfer contract noted above, the 2020 first quarter loss ratio would have been 3.9 points lower than reported.
The underwriting expense ratio was 27.7% in the 2021 first quarter, compared to 22.9% in the 2020 first quarter. The 2020 first quarter ratio reflected a 4.4 point benefit related to the loss portfolio transfer contract noted above and changes in mix of business.
Mortgage Segment
|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| (U.S. dollars in thousands) | 2021 |
| 2020 |
| % Change | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 391,246 |
|
|
| $ | 368,945 |
|
|
| 6.0 |
|
|
| Net premiums written | 335,195 |
|
|
| 324,618 |
|
|
| 3.3 |
|
| ||
| Net premiums earned | 336,317 |
|
|
| 345,026 |
|
|
| (2.5 | ) |
| ||
| Other underwriting income | 6,897 |
|
|
| 4,599 |
|
|
| 50.0 |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Underwriting income | $ | 200,312 |
|
|
| $ | 197,627 |
|
|
| 1.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Underwriting Ratios |
|
|
|
| % Point | ||||||||
| Loss ratio | 18.9 |
| % |
| 19.6 |
| % |
| (0.7 | ) |
| ||
| Underwriting expense ratio | 23.5 |
| % |
| 24.5 |
| % |
| (1.0 | ) |
| ||
| Combined ratio | 42.4 |
| % |
| 44.1 |
| % |
| (1.7 | ) |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Prior year development: |
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
| Net (favorable) adverse development in prior year loss reserves, net of related adjustments | (3.4 | ) | % |
| (1.8 | ) | % |
| (1.6 | ) |
| ||
| Combined ratio excluding prior year development (1) | 45.8 |
| % |
| 45.9 |
| % |
| (0.1 | ) |
| ||
| (1) | See ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further discussion. |
Gross premiums written by the mortgage segment in the 2021 first quarter were 6.0% higher than in the 2020 first quarter, while net premiums written were 3.3% higher. The growth in net premiums written primarily reflected growth in Australian single premium mortgage insurance, partially offset by a lower level of U.S. primary mortgage insurance in force on monthly premium policies. Net premiums earned in the 2021 first quarter were 2.5% lower than in the 2020 first quarter, reflecting the decrease in U.S. primary mortgage insurance in force, partially offset by an increase in earnings from Australian single premium policy terminations.
U.S. primary mortgage insurance business generated $27.0 billion of new insurance written (“NIW”) in the 2021 first quarter, compared to $16.8 billion in the 2020 first quarter, with the growth primarily the result of the significant increase in mortgage originations in the market. Monthly premium policies contributed 92.5% of NIW in the 2021 first quarter, compared to 93.5% in the 2020 first quarter.
The 2021 first quarter loss ratio reflected continued elevated delinquency rates, primarily due to financial stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The percentage of loans in default on U.S. primary mortgage insurance business was 3.86% at March 31, 2021, compared to 4.19% at December 31, 2020, which reflects continued improvement in new delinquencies received. Estimated net favorable development in prior year loss reserves, before related adjustments, reduced the 2021 first quarter loss ratio by 3.2 points, compared to 1.8 points in the 2020 first quarter.
The underwriting expense ratio was 23.5% in the 2021 first quarter, compared to 24.5% in the 2020 first quarter, with the decrease reflecting lower acquisition expenses on U.S. primary mortgage insurance and to a lesser extent international business.
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 (which includes changes in the allowance for credit losses on financial assets and 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, income or loss from operating affiliates and income taxes. Such amounts exclude the results of the ‘other’ segment.
Pre-tax net investment income for the 2021 first quarter was $0.19 per share, or $78.7 million, compared to $0.27 per share, or $113.0 million, for the 2020 first quarter. The annualized pre-tax investment income yield was 1.31% for the 2021 first quarter, compared to 2.20% for the 2020 first quarter, with the decrease primarily due to lower yields available in the financial markets. Total return, a non-GAAP measure, was -0.18% for the 2021 first quarter, compared to -0.86% for the 2020 first quarter. See ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures.
Interest expense for the 2021 first quarter was $34.2 million, compared to $25.2 million for the 2020 first quarter. The higher level of interest expense mainly resulted from the issuance of $1.0 billion of 3.635% senior notes in June 2020.
On a pre-tax basis, net foreign exchange gains for the 2021 first quarter were $21.5 million, compared to net foreign exchange gains for the 2020 first quarter of $63.3 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 (based on the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate) was 8.1% for the 2021 first quarter, compared to 16.2% for the 2020 first quarter. The Company’s effective tax rate on pre-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders was 10.6% for the 2021 first quarter, consistent with 10.5% for the 2020 first quarter. 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.
During the 2021 first quarter, the Company changed its presentation of ‘income (loss) from operating affiliates’ on its consolidated statements of income for all periods presented to reclass such item from ‘other income (loss)’. The Company also changed its presentation of ‘investment in operating affiliates’ on its consolidated balance sheet for all periods presented to reclass such item from ‘other assets’. Income from operating affiliates for the 2021 first quarter was $75.5 million, or $0.18 per share, compared to $8.5 million, or $0.02 per share, for the 2020 first quarter. Results for the 2021 first quarter reflected a one-time gain of $74.5 million realized from the Company’s recent acquisition of 29.5% stake in Coface, a global trade credit insurer. As a result of equity method accounting rules, approximately $36 million of additional gain was deferred and will be recognized generally over the next five years.
Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call for investors and analysts at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 28, 2021. 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 April 28, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time until May 5, 2021 at midnight Eastern Time. To access the replay, domestic callers should dial 855-859-2056, and international callers should dial 404-537-3406 (passcode 8299092 for all callers).
Please refer to the Company’s Financial Supplement dated March 31, 2021, 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 publicly listed Bermuda exempted company with approximately $15.8 billion in capital at March 31, 2021, 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 (which includes changes in the allowance for credit losses on financial assets and 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 and transaction costs and other, 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 page 2 of this release.
The Company believes that net realized gains or losses, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net foreign exchange gains or losses and transaction costs and other 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, 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 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, changes in the allowance for credit losses and 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).
Contacts
Arch Capital Group Ltd.
François Morin: (441) 278-9250
Investor Relations
Donald Watson: (914) 872-3616; [email protected]
