EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE, DATED APRIL 24, 2007, REPORTING FIRST QUARTER RESULTS Press Release, dated April 24, 2007, reporting first quarter results

 

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ACE Limited

ACE Global Headquarters  

17 Woodbourne Avenue

Hamilton HM 08

Bermuda

 

 

PO Box HM 1015

Hamilton HM DX

Bermuda

 

441 295-5200 main                

441 292-8675 fax

  

News

Release

        
      www.acelimited.com   

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

  Investor Contact:        Helen M. Wilson
     (441) 299-9283
     helen.wilson@ace.bm
  Media Contact:    Robert T. Grieves
     (212) 827-4444
     robert.grieves@ace-ina.com

 

 

ACE LIMITED REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2007 NET INCOME OF $701 MILLION AND

OPERATING INCOME OF $663 MILLION

 

HAMILTON, Bermuda, April 24, 2007 — ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE) today reported net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007 of $701 million or $2.10 per ordinary share after payment of preferred dividends, compared with net income of $489 million or $1.46 per share for the same quarter last year. Income excluding net realized gains (losses) was $663 million, or $1.98 per share, compared with $477 million or $1.43 per share for the same quarter of last year. (1) The first quarter 2006 results included an $80 million pre-tax charge pertaining to the settlement with certain governmental agencies of their investigations of various insurance industry business practices. The combined ratio for the first quarter was 87.1%. Annualized return on average equity based on the first quarter was 18.5%.(3)

 

First Quarter Summary

(in millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

                    (Per Share - Diluted)
     2007    2006    Change         2007    2006    Change

Net income

   $ 701    $ 489    43%       $ 2.10    $ 1.46    44%

Net realized gains (losses), net of tax

     38      8    —           0.12      0.02    —  

Cumulative effect, net of tax(2)

     —        4    —           —        0.01    —  

Income excluding net realized gains (losses) and cumulative effect, net of tax(1)

     663      477    39%         1.98      1.43    38%

Investigation-related settlement charge, net of tax

     —        66    —           —        0.20    —  

Income excluding net realized gains (losses), investigation-related settlement charge and cumulative effect(1)

   $ 663    $ 543    22%       $ 1.98    $ 1.63    21%

Average shares outstanding

                 328.9      325.7   

 

 

Evan Greenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACE Limited, commented: “ACE had a very strong start to the year. We produced record net and operating income for the first quarter, and our tangible book value

 

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per share grew at a 22% annual pace. The quality of earnings was excellent, with strong contributions from both underwriting and investment income. Net written premium growth was in line with market conditions. Globally, we are maintaining underwriting discipline and avoiding business where prices and terms don’t meet our standards while driving for growth in those areas where we see opportunity.”

 

Other first quarter operating highlights were as follows:

 

   

P&C net premiums written decreased 2% over the prior year quarter. Insurance net premiums written increased 2% and reinsurance net premiums written decreased 21%.

   

P&C net premiums earned increased 9% over the prior year quarter. Insurance net premiums earned increased 12% and reinsurance net premiums earned decreased 8%.

   

The combined ratio was 87.1% for the first quarter compared with 90.6% for the prior year quarter which included an $80 million investigation settlement charge.

   

P&C underwriting income was $384 million for the first quarter.

   

Operating cash flow amounted to $1.2 billion for the first quarter.

   

Invested assets increased by $1.8 billion or 5% during the first quarter to $38.9 billion.

   

Net investment income in the first quarter increased 22% over the prior year quarter, to $451 million.

   

Shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2007 increased 5% from year-end 2006, to $14.9 billion.

 

 

Tangible equity (1) at March 31, 2007 rose to $12.2 billion, a gain of 6% from year-end 2006.

 

 

Return on average equity for the first quarter was 18.5%; excluding FAS 115, it was 19.4%(3).

 

 

Book value per share as of March 31, 2007 increased $1.84 from December 31, 2006 to $43.87(4).

 

 

Tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2007 increased 6% from December 31, 2006 to $35.55(1).

 

Details of our first quarter 2007 financial results for our business segments are available in the financial supplement. Key segment items include:

 

   

Insurance-North American: Net premiums written increased 1% over the prior year quarter. The combined ratio was 88.4%.

 

   

Insurance-Overseas General: Net premiums written increased 4% over the prior year quarter. The combined ratio was 85.4%.

 

   

Global Reinsurance: Net premiums written decreased 21% over the prior year quarter. The combined ratio was 78.0%.

 

 

 

Life Insurance and Reinsurance: Net premiums written increased 44% over the prior year quarter. Income excluding net realized gains (losses) increased 39% to $43 million over the prior year quarter(1).

 

Please refer to the ACE Limited Financial Supplement dated March 31, 2007, which is posted on the Company’s website in the Investor Information section, and access Financial Reports for more detailed information on individual segment performance, together with additional disclosure on reinsurance recoverables, loss reserves, investment portfolio and capital structure. The URL reference is: http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/nys/ace/reports/fin_supp_march_31_2007.xls. (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser’s URL address field.)

 

ACE will host its first quarter earnings conference call and webcast on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. The earnings conference call will be available via live and archived webcast at www.acelimited.com or by dialing 800-819-9193 (within the United States) or 913-981-4911 (international); passcode 1477658. Please refer to the ACE Limited website in the Investor Information section under Calendar of Events for details. A replay of the call will be available from approximately 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 until Friday, May 25, 2007. To listen to the replay, dial: 888-203-1112 (in the United States) or 719-457-0820 (international); passcode 1477658.

 

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The ACE Group of Companies is a global leader in insurance and reinsurance serving a diverse group of clients. Headed by ACE Limited, a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index, the ACE Group conducts its business on a worldwide basis with operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries. Additional information can be found at: www.acelimited.com.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

 

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release reflect the Company’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. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. For example, the Company’s forward-looking statements could be affected by competition, pricing and policy term trends, the levels of new and renewal business achieved, market acceptance, changes in demand, the frequency of unpredictable catastrophic events, actual loss experience, uncertainties in the reserving or settlement process, new theories of liability, judicial, legislative, regulatory and other governmental developments, litigation tactics and developments, investigation developments and actual settlement terms, the amount and timing of reinsurance recoverable, credit developments among reinsurers, actual market developments, rating agency action, possible terrorism or the outbreak and effects of war and economic, political, regulatory, insurance and reinsurance business conditions, as well as management’s response to these factors, and other factors identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


1Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

Operating Income or Income excluding net realized gains (losses) and cumulative effect, net of tax is a common performance measurement for insurance companies. We believe this presentation enhances the understanding of our results of operations by highlighting the underlying profitability of our insurance business. We exclude net realized gains (losses) because the amount of these gains (losses) is heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in part according to, the availability of market opportunities. We exclude the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle net of tax because this amount resulted in a one-time adjustment to income.

Underwriting income is calculated by subtracting losses and loss expenses, life and annuity benefits, policy acquisition costs and administrative expenses from net premiums earned. We use underwriting income and operating ratios to monitor the results of our operations without the impact of certain factors, including net investment income, other (income) expense, interest and income tax expense and net realized gains (losses). We believe the use of these measures enhances the understanding of our results of operations by highlighting the underlying profitability of our insurance business.

Tangible shareholders’ equity is shareholders’ equity less goodwill. See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 20 in the financial supplement.

These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

2The cumulative effect is a benefit resulting from the inclusion of a forfeiture rate on restricted stock in our stock compensation expense calculations, as required under Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 123R.

3Calculated using income excluding net realized gains (losses).

4Book value per ordinary share is ordinary shareholders’ equity divided by the shares outstanding.

 

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ACE Limited

Summary Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)

 

     March 31
2007
   December 31
2006
     (Unaudited)     

Assets

     

Total investments

   $ 38,320    $ 36,601

Cash

     639      565

Insurance and reinsurance balances receivable

     3,689      3,580

Reinsurance recoverable

     14,374      14,580

Other assets

     12,752      11,809
             

Total assets

   $ 69,774    $ 67,135
             

Liabilities

     

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ 35,813    $ 35,517

Unearned premiums

     6,670      6,437

Other liabilities

     12,332      10,903
             

Total liabilities

   $ 54,815    $ 52,857
             

Shareholders’ equity

     

Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 14,959    $ 14,278
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 69,774    $ 67,135
             

Book value per ordinary share (4)

   $ 43.87    $ 42.03

 

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ACE Limited

Summary Consolidated Financial Data

(in millions of U.S. dollars, except share, per share data, and ratios)

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31

 
     2007        2006  

Gross premiums written

   $ 4,496        $ 4,511  

Net premiums written

     3,270          3,310  

Net premiums earned

     3,082          2,805  

Losses and loss expenses

     1,860          1,680  

Life and annuity benefits

     36          28  

Policy acquisition costs

     417          418  

Administrative expenses

     356          398  
                   

Underwriting income(1)

     413          281  

Net investment income

     451          369  

Net realized gains (losses)

     16          7  

Interest expense

     46          43  

Other (income) expense

     4          (5 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

     129          134  

Cumulative effect, net of tax

     —            4  
                   

Net income

     701          489  

Preference shares dividend

     (11 )        (11 )
                   

Net income available to holders of ordinary shares

   $ 690        $ 478  
                   

Diluted earnings per share:

       

Income excluding net realized gains (losses) and cumulative effect (1)

   $ 1.98        $ 1.43  

Net income

   $ 2.10        $ 1.46  

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

     328.9          325.7  

Loss and loss expense ratio

     62.1 %        61.2 %

Policy acquisition cost ratio

     13.5 %        15.1 %

Administrative expense ratio

     11.5 %        14.3 %

Combined ratio

     87.1 %        90.6 %

 

Ratios exclude life insurance and reinsurance business

 

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ACE Limited

Consolidated Supplemental Segment Information

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31

 
     2007     2006  
Gross Premiums Written     

Insurance - North American

   $ 2,269     $ 2,262  

Insurance - Overseas General

     1,659       1,584  

Global Reinsurance

     478       604  

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     90       61  
                

Total

   $ 4,496     $ 4,511  
                
Net Premiums Written     

Insurance - North American

   $ 1,514     $ 1,503  

Insurance - Overseas General

     1,192       1,146  

Global Reinsurance

     476       600  

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     88       61  
                

Total

   $ 3,270     $ 3,310  
                
Net Premiums Earned     

Insurance - North American

   $ 1,539     $ 1,334  

Insurance - Overseas General

     1,112       1,039  

Global Reinsurance

     343       371  

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     88       61  
                

Total

   $ 3,082     $ 2,805  
                
Income Excluding Net Realized Gains (Losses) and Cumulative Effect (1)     

Insurance - North American

   $ 298     $ 266  

Insurance - Overseas General

     215       159  

Global Reinsurance

     132       119  

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     43       31  

Corporate

     (25 )     (98 )
                

Total

   $ 663     $ 477  
                

 

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