Exhibit 99.1
Press Release
Aspen Insurance Holdings Reports Results
For the Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
For the Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
Financial Highlights Include:
| • | Net income per diluted share of $0.23 for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 compared with $1.08 in the same quarter last year. | |
| • | Operating income per diluted share of $0.70 for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 compared with $0.79 in the same quarter last year. | |
| • | Diluted book value per share of $38.27, broadly in line with the third quarter of 2010 and up 2.2% from June 30, 2011. | |
| • | Annualized net income return on equity of 2.8% for the third quarter of 2011. | |
| • | Annualized operating return on equity of 8.4% for the third quarter of 2011. | |
| • | Combined ratio of 96.7%, or 85.5% excluding catastrophe losses for the third quarter of 2011, compared with a combined ratio of 94.4% or 89.9% excluding catastrophe losses for the third quarter of 2010. | |
| • | Gross written premium of $495.6 million for the third quarter of 2011, including $26.6 million of positive prior year premium adjustments mainly in the reinsurance segment, compared with $415.8 million for the third quarter of 2010. |
HAMILTON, BERMUDA, October 27, 2011 — Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (NYSE: AHL) today reported
net income after tax of $22.2 million or $0.23 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2011. Net
income included $55 million or $0.75 per diluted share, of net losses resulting from the natural
catastrophe events that occurred during the third quarter of 2011 and increases to loss estimates
for the U.S. severe weather related events that occurred in the second quarter of 2011 and the
Japan earthquake that occurred in the first quarter of 2011.
Operating income was $56.5 million or $0.70 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2011 compared
with $72.0 million or $0.79 per diluted share for the same period last year.
Diluted book value per share was $38.27 at September 30, 2011 compared to $38.22 at September 30,
2010.
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Financial Highlights, Quarter Ended September 30, 2011
($ in millions, except per share amounts and percentages)
(Unaudited)
($ in millions, except per share amounts and percentages)
(Unaudited)
| Q3 2011 | Q3 2010 | Change | ||||||||||
Gross written premium |
$ | 495.6 | $ | 415.8 | 19.2 | % | ||||||
Net earned premium |
$ | 486.9 | $ | 451.7 | 7.8 | % | ||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 57.3 | $ | 58.1 | (1.4 | )% | ||||||
Operating income after tax |
$ | 56.5 | $ | 72.0 | (21.5 | )% | ||||||
Net income after tax |
$ | 22.2 | $ | 92.8 | (76.1 | )% | ||||||
Diluted net income per share |
$ | 0.23 | $ | 1.08 | (78.7 | )% | ||||||
Diluted operating earnings per share |
$ | 0.70 | $ | 0.79 | (11.4 | )% | ||||||
Net income annualized return on equity |
2.8 | % | 13.2 | % | ||||||||
Annualized operating return on equity |
8.4 | % | 10.0 | % | ||||||||
Combined ratio |
96.7 | % | 94.4 | % | ||||||||
Book value per ordinary share |
$ | 39.62 | $ | 40.28 | (1.6 | )% | ||||||
Diluted book value per ordinary share |
$ | 38.27 | $ | 38.22 | 0.1 | % | ||||||
Financial Highlights, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
($ in millions, except per share amounts and percentages)
(Unaudited)
($ in millions, except per share amounts and percentages)
(Unaudited)
| YTD 2011 | YTD 2010 | Change | ||||||||||
Gross written premium |
$ | 1,749.1 | $ | 1,664.0 | 5.1 | % | ||||||
Net earned premium |
$ | 1,399.1 | $ | 1,399.2 | — | |||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 171.4 | $ | 175.0 | (2.1 | )% | ||||||
Operating income/(loss) after tax |
$ | (72.2 | ) | $ | 180.7 | (140.0 | )% | |||||
Net income/(loss) after tax |
$ | (119.3 | ) | $ | 220.0 | (154.2 | )% | |||||
Diluted net income/(loss) per share |
$ | (1.93 | ) | $ | 2.51 | (176.9 | )% | |||||
Diluted operating earnings/(loss) per share |
$ | (1.27 | ) | $ | 2.03 | (162.6 | )% | |||||
Net income/(loss) annualized return on equity |
(7.5 | %) | 10.4 | % | ||||||||
Annualized operating return/(loss) on equity |
(4.9 | %) | 8.4 | % | ||||||||
Combined ratio |
116.1 | % | 97.2 | % | ||||||||
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Chris O’Kane, Chief Executive Officer said, “This was a quarter dominated by macroeconomic issues
ranging from the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations in Washington to concerns over European sovereign
debt, the Eurozone and the future of the Euro. In addition, 2011 has continued to be a year of
exceptional frequency of catastrophe losses, which we now estimate at $95 billion of worldwide
industry insured losses year to date. Against this
backdrop, we are pleased to have increased book value per share by just over 2% to $38.27 in the
quarter. We also achieved an annualized operating return on equity of 8.4%, which we view as
further evidence of the robustness of our diversified model and vindication of our measured
appetite for underwriting risk.”
Consolidated Highlights
Underwriting profit was $26.7 million for the third quarter compared with $39.6 million for the
equivalent period last year with both the insurance and reinsurance segments profitable. The
combined ratio was 96.7% compared with 94.4% for the third quarter of 2010.
Prior year net reserve releases were $15.6 million in the third quarter compared with $6.2 million
of net reserve strengthening in the comparable period in 2010.
Net earned premiums were $486.9 million in the third quarter, up 7.8% from the prior year.
The underwriting loss for the first nine months of 2011 was $193.8 million compared with an
underwriting profit of $74.6 million in 2010. The combined ratio for the first nine months of 2011
was 116.1%, and included $406 million or 29 percentage points of net losses from the significant
natural catastrophe losses that have occurred in 2011, compared with 97.2% for the same period in
2010, which included 10 percentage points of net losses from catastrophes.
Prior year net reserve releases were $70.3 million in the first nine months of 2011, compared with
$8.8 million of net reserve releases in the comparable period in 2010. The accident year loss
ratio, excluding the impact of catastrophe losses, of 59.8% through the nine months, compares with
59.6% for the prior year period.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, gross written premiums were $1,749.1 million, up 5.1%
from the prior year, principally in the insurance segment.
Segment Highlights
Reinsurance
Underwriting profit was $12.7 million for the third quarter compared with $53.0 million for the
equivalent period last year and reflects a combined ratio of 95.4% compared with 80.1% for the
third quarter of 2010. The combined ratio for the quarter included pre-tax losses, net of
reinsurance recoveries and reinstatement premiums, of $50 million or 18 percentage points from
natural catastrophe events that occurred in the third quarter of 2011, changes to estimates for the
U.S. severe weather-related events that occurred in the second quarter of 2011, as previously
announced. This also included a change to our aggregate estimate for the first quarter catastrophe
events due to information received in the past week from two Japanese
insurance companies.
Net favorable reserve development was $11.7 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared with $3.3
million for the same period in 2010.
Gross written premiums in the reinsurance segment of $276.1 million in the third quarter of 2011,
included $17.6 million of positive prior year premium adjustments
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mainly in casualty reinsurance. Gross written premium excluding premium adjustments of $258.5
million was up 9.5% compared with $236.0 million from the 2010 comparable period with moderate
increases in our property lines reflecting a more positive pricing environment in catastrophe
exposed business and specialty reinsurance, in particular, the credit and surety line of business.
The segment underwriting loss for the first nine months of 2011 was $213.1 million compared with an
underwriting profit of $79.9 million for the first nine months of 2010. The combined ratio for the
first nine months of 2011 was 125.9%, and included $393 million or 49 percentage points of pre-tax
losses, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums, from the significant natural catastrophe
losses in 2011, compared with 90.6% for the same period in 2010, which included 16 percentage
points of catastrophe losses. The accident year loss ratio, excluding the impact of catastrophe
events, was 58.7% compared with 53.3% for the same period in 2010. The increase in the current
accident year loss ratio is attributable primarily to the increase in reinsurance purchases when
compared to the prior year.
Gross written premiums for the first nine months of 2011 were $1,001.2 million compared with
$1,009.4 million in 2010.
Insurance
The underwriting profit for the quarter of $14.0 million compares with an underwriting loss of
$13.4 million for the same period in 2010. The combined ratio for the third quarter of 93.2%
compares with 107.3% for the same period in 2010. Net favorable reserve development was $3.9
million compared with net reserve strengthening of $9.5 million in the third quarter last year.
Gross written premiums were $219.5 million in the third quarter of 2011, up 22.1% compared with
$179.8 million in 2010, with the increase primarily attributable to the financial and professional
lines, in particular the kidnap and ransom account and professional lines business written in the
U.S.
The underwriting profit for the first nine months of 2011 was $19.3 million compared with an
underwriting loss of $5.3 million in the 2010 comparable period. The combined ratio for the first
nine months of 2011 was 96.7%, compared with 101.0% for the same period in 2010. The accident year
loss ratio of 64.0% for the nine months improved from 68.8% for the prior year period.
Gross written premiums were $747.9 million for the first nine months of 2011, up 14.3% compared
with $654.6 million in 2010.
Investment Performance
Net investment income in the quarter was $57.3 million, compared with $58.1 million in the third
quarter of 2010. Net realized and unrealized investment losses included in net income for the
quarter were $32.9 million which includes $36.1 million of losses from the Company’s interest rate
swaps. This compares with $19.8 million of net realized and unrealized gains in the third quarter
of 2010.
Unrealized gains in the available-for-sale investment portfolio, including equity securities, at
the end of the third quarter of 2011 were $329.7 million, an increase of $71.6 million, pre-tax,
from the end of the second quarter of 2011, primarily due to persistent low interest rates
associated with expectations of a slower economic recovery, particularly in the US.
Book yield on the fixed income portfolio of 3.54% was down 10 basis points when compared to the
second quarter of 2011 and down from 3.91% at the end of the third quarter of 2010. The average
credit quality of the portfolio is AA with an average duration of 2.4 years, including the impact
of interest rate swaps.
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Capital Position
The Company’s balance sheet remained strong with $9.4 billion in total assets, $4.4 billion in
gross reserves and $3.2 billion of shareholders’ equity.
Outlook for 2011
In light of current market conditions and the significant level of natural catastrophe losses that
occurred during the first nine months of 2011, the Company currently anticipates gross written
premium for 2011 to be unchanged from its last guidance at $2.1 billion +/- 5%, with premium ceded
between 11% and 14% of gross earned premium and the full year combined ratio to be in the range of
108%-114% including a fourth quarter catastrophe load of $40 million, assuming normal loss
experience for the remainder of the year. The anticipated effective tax rate for 2011 remains
unchanged in the range of 8% to 12%.
Earnings Conference Call and Web Cast
Aspen will host a conference call on Friday, October 28, 2011, at 9:00AM Eastern Time to discuss
its third quarter financial results. The conference call can be accessed through a dial-in number
or through a live, listen-only web cast. To participate in the conference call, please dial (888)
459-5609 (US) or +1 (404) 665-9920 (International), with pass code ”ASPEN” or 98199862. The live,
listen-only webcast of the call will be available via the Investor Relations section of the
Company’s web site at www.aspen.co.
The earnings press release, a detailed financial supplement and brief slide presentation for
reference during the earnings call will also available in the Investor Relations section of the web
site. The web cast will be archived on Aspen’s website from approximately 11:00AM Eastern Time on
October 28, 2011, through midnight Eastern Time on November 11, 2011. A telephone replay of the
conference call will also be available for 14 days by dialing (855) 859-2056 (US) or +1 (404)
537-3406 (International), with pass code 98199862.
Investor Contact:
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
Kerry Calaiaro, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
(646) 502-1076
Email: kerry.calaiaro@aspen.co
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
Kerry Calaiaro, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
(646) 502-1076
Email: kerry.calaiaro@aspen.co
North American Press Contact:
Abernathy MacGregor
Carina Davidson/Allyson Morris
(212) 371-5999
Abernathy MacGregor
Carina Davidson/Allyson Morris
(212) 371-5999
European Press Contact:
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Justin Griffiths
+44 (0) 20 7638 9571
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Justin Griffiths
+44 (0) 20 7638 9571
-5-
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
Summary Consolidated Balance Sheet
($ in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Summary Consolidated Balance Sheet
($ in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
| (in US$ millions) | As at September | As at December | ||||||
| 30, 2011 | 31, 2010 | |||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Total investments |
$6,484.8 | $6,086.3 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
1,038.8 | 1,179.1 | ||||||
Reinsurance recoverables |
487.6 | 342.3 | ||||||
Premiums receivable |
957.2 | 821.7 | ||||||
Other assets |
451.3 | 402.7 | ||||||
Total assets |
$9,419.7 | $8,832.1 | ||||||
LIABILITIES |
||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses |
$4,399.4 | $3,820.5 | ||||||
Unearned premiums |
1,014.5 | 859.0 | ||||||
Other payables |
356.4 | 411.9 | ||||||
Long-term debt |
498.9 | 498.8 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
6,269.2 | 5,590.2 | ||||||
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity |
3,150.5 | 3,241.9 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
$9,419.7 | $8,832.1 | ||||||
Book value per share |
$39.62 | $40.96 | ||||||
Diluted book value per share (treasury stock method) |
$38.27 | $38.90 | ||||||
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Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
Summary Consolidated Statement of Income
($ in millions, except share, per share data and ratios)
(Unaudited)
Summary Consolidated Statement of Income
($ in millions, except share, per share data and ratios)
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||||||
| (in US$ millions) | September 30, 2011 | September 30, 2010 | ||||||
UNDERWRITING REVENUES |
||||||||
Gross written premiums |
$ 495.6 | $ 415.8 | ||||||
Premiums ceded |
(33.0) | (38.8) | ||||||
Net written premiums |
462.6 | 377.0 | ||||||
Change in unearned premiums |
24.3 | 74.7 | ||||||
Net earned premiums |
486.9 | 451.7 | ||||||
UNDERWRITING EXPENSES |
||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses |
306.2 | 285.8 | ||||||
Policy acquisition expenses |
93.4 | 75.6 | ||||||
General, administrative and corporate expenses |
71.0 | 65.0 | ||||||
Total underwriting expenses |
470.6 | 426.4 | ||||||
Underwriting income including corporate expenses |
16.3 | 25.3 | ||||||
OTHER OPERATING REVENUE |
||||||||
Net investment income |
57.3 | 58.1 | ||||||
Interest expense |
(7.7) | (3.9) | ||||||
Total other operating revenue |
49.6 | 54.2 | ||||||
Other income/(expense) |
(9.1) | 0.4 | ||||||
OPERATING INCOME BEFORE TAX |
56.8 | 79.9 | ||||||
OTHER |
||||||||
Net realized and unrealized exchange gains |
0.3 | 3.4 | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized investment gains/(losses) |
(32.9) | 19.8 | ||||||
INCOME BEFORE TAX |
24.2 | 103.1 | ||||||
Income taxes expense |
(2.0) | (10.3) | ||||||
NET INCOME AFTER TAX |
22.2 | 92.8 | ||||||
Dividends paid on ordinary shares |
(10.6) | (11.5) | ||||||
Dividend paid on preference shares |
(5.7) | (5.7) | ||||||
Proportion of net profit/(loss) due to non-controlling interest |
(0.3) | 0.1 | ||||||
Retained income |
$ 5.6 | $ 75.7 | ||||||
Components of net income (after tax) |
||||||||
Operating income |
$ 56.5 | $ 72.0 | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized exchange
gains/(losses) after tax |
(0.8) | 3.0 | ||||||
Net realized investment gains/(losses) after tax |
(33.5) | 17.8 | ||||||
NET INCOME AFTER TAX |
$ 22.2 | $ 92.8 | ||||||
Loss ratio |
62.9% | 63.3% | ||||||
Policy acquisition expense ratio |
19.2% | 16.7% | ||||||
General, administrative and corporate expense ratio |
14.6% | 14.4% | ||||||
Expense ratio |
33.8% | 31.1% | ||||||
Combined ratio |
96.7% | 94.4% | ||||||
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Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
Summary Consolidated Financial Data
($ in millions, except share, per share data and ratios)
(Unaudited)
Summary Consolidated Financial Data
($ in millions, except share, per share data and ratios)
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| (in US$ except for number of shares) | September 30, 2011 |
September 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2011 |
September 30, 2010 |
||||||||||||
Basic earnings per ordinary share |
||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) adjusted for preference share dividend |
$0.23 | $1.14 | $(1.93 | ) | $2.63 | |||||||||||
Operating income/(loss) adjusted for preference dividend |
$0.71 | $0.84 | $(1.27 | ) | $2.12 | |||||||||||
Diluted earnings per ordinary share |
||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) adjusted for preference share dividend |
$0.23 | $1.08 | $(1.93 | ) | $2.51 | |||||||||||
Operating income/(loss) adjusted for preference dividend |
$0.70 | $0.79 | $(1.27 | ) | $2.03 | |||||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (in millions) |
70.699 | 76.723 | 70.682 | 77.133 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding and dilutive potential ordinary
shares (in millions) |
73.300 | 80.363 | 70.682 | 80.782 | ||||||||||||
Book value per ordinary share |
$39.62 | $40.28 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted book value (treasury stock method) |
$38.27 | $38.22 | ||||||||||||||
Ordinary shares outstanding at end of the period (in millions) |
70.595 | 76.642 | ||||||||||||||
Ordinary shares outstanding and dilutive potential ordinary shares at end of the period
(treasury stock method) (in millions) |
73.079 | 80.809 | ||||||||||||||
The basic and diluted number of ordinary shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is the
same, as the inclusion of dilutive securities in a loss-making period would be anti-dilutive.
-8-
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
Summary Consolidated Segment Information
($ in millions except ratios)
(Unaudited)
Summary Consolidated Segment Information
($ in millions except ratios)
(Unaudited)
| (in US$ millions except for ratios) | Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 | Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance | Insurance | Total | Reinsurance | Insurance | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Gross written premium |
$276.1 | $219.5 | $495.6 | $236.0 | $179.8 | $415.8 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net written premium |
270.5 | 192.1 | 462.6 | 229.6 | 147.4 | 377.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross earned premium |
303.2 | 246.7 | 549.9 | 277.9 | 225.4 | 503.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net earned premium |
279.6 | 207.3 | 486.9 | 267.5 | 184.2 | 451.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses |
188.8 | 117.4 | 306.2 | 143.5 | 142.3 | 285.8 | ||||||||||||||||||
Policy acquisition expenses |
51.8 | 41.6 | 93.4 | 43.9 | 31.7 | 75.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
26.3 | 34.3 | 60.6 | 27.1 | 23.6 | 50.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting income/(loss) |
$12.7 | $14.0 | 26.7 | $53.0 | $(13.4 | ) | 39.6 | |||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
57.3 | 58.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment gains/(losses) (2) |
(32.9 | ) | 19.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate expenses |
(10.4 | ) | (14.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other (expenses)/income |
(9.1 | ) | 0.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expenses |
(7.7 | ) | (3.9 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net foreign exchange gains (3) |
0.3 | 3.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Income before tax |
24.2 | 103.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
(2.0 | ) | (10.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
$22.2 | $92.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss ratio |
67.5% | 56.6% | 62.9% | 53.6% | 77.3% | 63.3% | ||||||||||||||||||
Policy acquisition expense ratio |
18.5% | 20.1% | 19.2% | 16.4% | 17.2% | 16.7% | ||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative
expense ratio (1) |
9.4% | 16.5% | 14.6% | 10.1% | 12.8% | 14.4% | ||||||||||||||||||
Expense ratio |
27.9% | 36.6% | 33.8% | 26.5% | 30.0% | 31.1% | ||||||||||||||||||
Combined ratio |
95.4% | 93.2% | 96.7% | 80.1% | 107.3% | 94.4% | ||||||||||||||||||
| (1) The total group general and administrative expense ratio includes the impact from corporate expenses. | ||
| (2) Includes realized and unrealized capital gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on interest rate swaps. | ||
| (3) Includes realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange contracts. |
-9-
About Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
Aspen provides reinsurance and insurance coverage to clients in various domestic and global markets
through wholly-owned subsidiaries and offices in Bermuda, France, Ireland, Singapore, the United
States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany. For the year ended December 31, 2010, Aspen
reported gross written premiums of $2,076.8 million, net income of $312.7 million and total assets
of $8.8 billion. Its operating subsidiaries have been assigned a rating of “A” (“Strong”) by
Standard & Poor’s, an “A” (“Excellent”) by A.M. Best and an “A2” (“Good”) by Moody’s Investors
Service. For more information about Aspen, please visit www.aspen.co.
Application of the Safe Harbor of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This press release contains, and Aspen’s earnings conference call will contain, written or oral
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These
statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to
historical or current facts, and can be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “intend,”
“plan,” “believe,” “do not believe,” “aim,” “project,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “will,” “estimate,”
“may,” “continue,” “guidance,” and similar expressions of a future or forward-looking nature.
All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly,
there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those indicated in these statements. Aspen believes these factors include, but are not limited to:
the possibility of greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity, including as a result
of natural or man-made (including economic and political risks) catastrophic or material loss
events, than our underwriting, reserving, reinsurance purchasing or investment practices have
anticipated; the reliability of, and changes in assumptions to, natural and man-made catastrophe
pricing, accumulation and estimated loss models; evolving issues with respect to interpretation of
coverage after major loss events and any intervening legislative or governmental action; the
effectiveness of our loss limitation methods; changes in the total industry losses, or our share of
total industry losses, resulting from past events and, with respect to such events, our reliance on
loss reports received from cedants and loss adjustors, our reliance on industry loss estimates and
those generated by modeling techniques, changes in rulings on flood damage or other exclusions as a
result of prevailing lawsuits and case law; the impact of acts of terrorism and related legislation
and acts of war; decreased demand for our insurance or reinsurance products and cyclical changes in
the insurance and reinsurance sectors; any changes in our reinsurers’ credit quality and the amount
and timing of reinsurance recoverables; changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance
or retrocessional coverage; the continuing and uncertain impact of the current depressed economic
environment in many of the countries in which we operate; the level of inflation in repair costs
due to limited availability of labor and materials after catastrophes; changes in insurance and
reinsurance market conditions; increased competition on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage
terms or other factors and the related demand and supply dynamics as contracts come up for renewal;
a decline in our operating subsidiaries’ ratings with Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), A.M. Best or
Moody’s Investor Service (“Moody’s”); our ability to execute our business plan to enter new
markets, introduce new products and develop new distribution channels, including their integration
into our existing operations; changes in general economic conditions, including inflation, foreign
currency exchange rates, interest rates and other factors that could affect our investment
portfolio; the risk of a material decline in the value or liquidity of all or parts of our
investment portfolio; changes in our ability to exercise capital management initiatives or to
arrange banking facilities as a result of prevailing market changes or changes in our financial
position; changes in government regulations or tax laws in jurisdictions where we conduct business;
Aspen Holdings or Aspen Bermuda becoming subject to income taxes in the United States or the United
Kingdom; loss of key personnel; and increased counterparty risk due to the credit impairment of
financial institutions. For a more detailed description of these uncertainties and other factors,
please see the “Risk Factors” section in Aspen’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2011. Aspen undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made.
In addition, any estimates relating to loss events involve the exercise of considerable judgment
and reflect a combination of ground-up evaluations, information available to date from brokers and
cedants, market intelligence, initial tentative loss reports and other sources. Due to the
complexity of factors contributing to the losses and the preliminary nature of the information used
to prepare these estimates, there can be no assurance that Aspen’s ultimate losses will remain
within the stated amount.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In presenting Aspen’s results, management has included and discussed certain “non-GAAP financial
measures” as such term is defined in Regulation G. Management believes that these non-GAAP
measures, which may be defined differently by other companies, better explain Aspen’s results of
operations in a manner that allows for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in
Aspen’s business. However, these measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined
in accordance with GAAP. The reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measures to their respective
most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in accordance with Regulation G is included in the
financial supplement, which can be obtained from the Investor Relations section of Aspen’s website
at www.aspen.co.
(1) Annualized Operating Return on Average Equity (“Operating ROE”) is a non-GAAP financial
measure. Annualized Operating Return on Average Equity 1) is calculated using operating income, as
defined below and 2) excludes from average equity, the average after-tax unrealized appreciation or
depreciation on investments and the average after-tax unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses
and the aggregate value of the liquidation preferences of our preference shares. Unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) on investments is primarily the result of interest rate movements and
the resultant impact on fixed income securities, and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on
foreign exchange is the result of exchange rate movements between the U.S. dollar and the British
pound. Such appreciation (depreciation) is not related to management actions or operational
performance (nor is it likely to be realized). Therefore, Aspen believes that excluding these
unrealized appreciations (depreciations) provides a more consistent and useful measurement of
operating performance, which supplements GAAP information. Average equity is calculated as the
arithmetic average on a monthly basis for the stated periods.
Aspen presents Operating ROE as a measure that is commonly recognized as a standard of performance
by investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information.
See page 27 of Aspen’s financial supplement for a reconciliation of operating income to net income
and page 7 for a reconciliation of average equity.
(2) Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure. Operating income is an internal performance
measure used by Aspen in the management of its operations and represents after-tax operational
results excluding, as applicable, after-tax net realized and unrealized capital gains or
losses, including realized and unrealized gains or losses on interest rate swaps, and
after-tax net foreign exchange gains or losses including net realised and unrealised gains and
losses from foreign exchange contracts.
Aspen excludes after-tax net realized and unrealized investment gains or losses, including
realized and unrealized gains or losses on interest rate swaps, and after-tax net foreign exchange
gains or losses including net realised and unrealised gains and losses from foreign exchange
contracts from its calculation of operating income because the amount of these gains or losses is
heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in part, according to the availability of market
opportunities. Aspen believes these amounts are largely independent of its business and
underwriting process and including them distorts the analysis of trends in its operations. In
addition to presenting net income determined in accordance with GAAP, Aspen believes that showing
operating income enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial
information to more easily analyze Aspen’s results of operations in a manner similar to how
management analyzes Aspen’s underlying business performance. Operating income should not be viewed
as a substitute for GAAP net income. Please see above and page 27 of Aspen’s financial supplement
for a reconciliation of operating income to net income. Aspen’s financial supplement can be
obtained from the Investor Relations section of Aspen’s website at www.aspen.co.
(3) Diluted book value per ordinary share is a non-GAAP financial measure. Aspen has included
diluted book value per ordinary share because it takes into account the effect of dilutive
securities; therefore, Aspen believes it is a better measure of calculating shareholder returns
than book value per share. Please see page 25 of Aspen’s financial supplement for a reconciliation
of diluted book value per share to basic book value per share. Aspen’s financial supplement can be
obtained from the Investor Relations section of Aspen’s website at www.aspen.co.
(4) Diluted Operating Earnings Per Share and Basic Operating Earnings Per Share is a non-GAAP
financial measure. Aspen believes that the presentation of diluted operating earnings per share and
basic operating earnings per share supports meaningful comparison from period to period and the
analysis of normal business operations. Diluted operating earnings per share and basic operating
earnings per share are calculated by dividing operating income by the diluted or basic weighted
average number of shares outstanding for the period. See page 27 for a reconciliation of diluted
and basic operating earnings per share to basic earnings per share. Aspen’s financial supplement
can be obtained from the Investor Relations section of Aspen’s website at www.aspen.co.
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