Greenlight Re Announces Fourth Quarter and Year-Ended December 31, 2022 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLRE) reported a strong fourth quarter of 2022 with a net income of $34.8 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, up from $24.3 million in Q4 2021. Key metrics include a combined ratio of 94.2% versus 96.4% in the prior year, and total investment income rising to $32.5 million from $25.3 million. The full year saw gross premiums written at $563.2 million, a slight 0.4% decline, while net premiums earned decreased by 12.9% to $469.5 million, attributed to challenges from geopolitical events and natural disasters. The fully diluted book value per share increased 7.7% to $14.59.

Positive

• Net income increased to $34.8 million in Q4 2022 from $24.3 million in Q4 2021.
• Fully diluted book value per share rose 7.7% to $14.59.
• Combined ratio improved to 94.2%, indicating better underwriting performance.
• Total investment income increased to $32.5 million from $25.3 million year-over-year.

Negative

• Net premiums earned decreased by 12.9% to $469.5 million for 2022.
• Annual underwriting loss of $10.7 million, with a combined ratio of 102.3%.

Net income for the quarter of $34.8 million;

Fully diluted book value per share increased 7.7% in the quarter to $14.59

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLRE) (“Greenlight Re” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022. The results included:

• A net income of $34.8 million, or $0.91 per diluted ordinary share for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to a net income of $24.3 million, or $0.71 per diluted ordinary share, in the fourth quarter of 2021;
• A combined ratio of 94.2%, compared to a combined ratio of 96.4% in the fourth quarter of 2021;
• Total investment income of $32.5 million, compared to total investment income of $25.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2021; and
• An increase in fully diluted book value per share in the for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $1.04, or 7.7%, to $14.59.

The following summarizes the Company’s underwriting results for the fourth quarters and years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:

	Three months ended December 31,								Year ended December 31,
	2022				2021				2022				2021
	($ in thousands)
Gross premiums written	$	127,359			$	125,144			$	563,171			$	565,393
Net premiums earned		111,385				135,880				469,477				539,279
Underwriting income (loss)		6,519				4,810				(10,686	)			(5,196	)
Combined ratio		94.2	%			96.4	%			102.3	%			100.9	%

Simon Burton, Chief Executive Officer of Greenlight Re, stated, “The past twelve months represent a watershed for Greenlight Re. We grew book value in 2022 amidst volatile investment and reinsurance markets, and in 2023 we are experiencing some of the best underwriting conditions we have ever seen. Our near to medium term prospects are excellent.”

David Einhorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “Greenlight Re had a very strong fourth quarter, with gains in both underwriting and investing. The Solasglas fund returned 13.4% during the quarter and 25.3% in 2022, our second-best result ever. We are well-positioned going into 2023.”

Underwriting and Investment Results

Fourth Quarter of 2022

Gross premiums written in the fourth quarter of 2022 were $127.4 million, compared to $125.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. The $2.2 million increase, or 1.8%, relates primarily to growth in personal property, general liability, and other specialty business, including premiums underwritten by the Company’s Innovations partners. This increase was partially offset by the Company’s decision to reduce its exposure to personal motor and workers’ compensation risks.

Net premiums earned were $111.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2022, a decrease from $135.9 million in the comparable 2021 period.

The Company recognized net underwriting income of $6.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. By comparison, the equivalent period in 2021 reported net underwriting income of $4.8 million.

The Company’s total investment income during the fourth quarter of 2022 was $32.5 million. The Company’s Investment Portfolio, managed by DME Advisors, returned 13.4%, representing income of $30.4 million from the Solasglas fund. The Company reported $2.2 million of other investment income, primarily from interest earned on its restricted cash and cash equivalents.

The Company incurred other non-underwriting income of $1.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2022, due primarily to foreign exchange gains driven by the strengthening of the pound sterling.

Year ended December 31, 2022

Gross written premiums were $563.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, a decrease of $2.2 million, or 0.4%, compared to the comparable 2021 period. The reduction in personal motor premiums that drove the decrease was mostly offset by growth in personal property, marine and energy, and other specialty classes.

Net premiums earned were $469.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, a decrease of $69.8 million, or 12.9%, compared to the equivalent 2021 period.

The Company incurred a net underwriting loss for the year ended December 31, 2022, of $10.7 million, which equates to a combined ratio of 102.3%. The underwriting loss for the equivalent 2021 period was $5.2 million, representing a combined ratio of 100.9%. The underwriting loss for the year ended December 31, 2022, was driven primarily by $13.6 million of losses related to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and $25.7 million related to Hurricane Ian, Typhoon Nanmadol, and wildfires in Tennessee. By comparison, the underwriting loss for the equivalent 2021 period was driven by losses from Hurricane Ida, winter storm Uri, European floods and hailstorms, and South African riots.

Total investment income for the year ended December 31, 2022, was $69.0 million, compared to income of $50.2 million earned during the equivalent 2021 period. The investment income for the year ended December 31, 2022, included $9.9 million of gains recognized in connection with the Company’s Innovations-related investments. The Company’s investment in the Solasglas fund generated income of $54.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to income of $18.1 million during the equivalent 2021 period.

Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2022 Earnings Call

Greenlight Re will host a live conference call to discuss its financial results on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Dial-in details:

			U.S. toll free					1-877-407-9753
			International					1-201-493-6739

The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:

https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1592350&tp_key=f3e3ab288a

A telephone replay will be available following the call through March 14, 2023. The replay of the call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-660-6853 (U.S. toll free) or 1-201-612-7415 (international), access code 13735400. An audio file of the call will also be available on the Company’s website, www.greenlightre.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In presenting the Company’s results, management has included financial measures that are not calculated under standards or rules that comprise accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Such measures, including basic book value per share, fully diluted book value per share, and net underwriting income (loss), are referred to as non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. Management believes these measures allow for a more thorough understanding of the underlying business. These measures are used to monitor our results and should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of such measures to the most comparable GAAP figures are included in the attached financial information in accordance with Regulation G.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. Federal securities laws. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made on the Company’s behalf. These risks and uncertainties include the impact of general economic conditions and conditions affecting the insurance and reinsurance industry, the adequacy of our reserves, our ability to assess underwriting risk, trends in rates for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, competition, investment market fluctuations, trends in insured and paid losses, catastrophes, regulatory and legal uncertainties and other factors described in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on March 8, 2023. 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, except as provided by law.

About Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.

Greenlight Re (www.greenlightre.com) provides multiline property and casualty insurance and reinsurance through its licensed and regulated reinsurance entities in the Cayman Islands and Ireland, and its Lloyd’s platform, Greenlight Innovation Syndicate 3456. The Company complements its underwriting activities with a non-traditional investment approach designed to achieve higher rates of return over the long term than reinsurance companies that exclusively employ more traditional investment strategies. In 2018, the Company launched its Greenlight Re Innovations unit, which supports technology innovators in the (re)insurance space by providing investment capital, risk capacity, and access to a broad insurance network.

GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
	December 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
Assets
Investments
Investment in related party investment fund	$	178,197		$	183,591
Other investments		70,279			47,384
Total investments		248,476			230,975
Cash and cash equivalents		38,238			76,307
Restricted cash and cash equivalents		668,310			634,794
Reinsurance balances receivable (net of allowance for expected credit losses)		505,555			405,365
Loss and loss adjustment expenses recoverable (net of allowance for expected credit losses)		13,239			11,100
Deferred acquisition costs		82,391			63,026
Unearned premiums ceded		18,153			42
Other assets		6,019			5,885
Total assets	$	1,580,381		$	1,427,494
Liabilities and equity
Liabilities
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	$	555,468		$	524,010
Unearned premium reserves		307,820			227,584
Reinsurance balances payable		105,135			91,224
Funds withheld		21,907			3,792
Other liabilities		6,397			7,164
Convertible senior notes payable		80,534			98,057
Total liabilities		1,077,261			951,831
Shareholders' equity
Ordinary share capital (Class A: par value $0.10; authorized, 100,000,000; issued and outstanding, 28,569,346 (2021: 27,589,731): Class B: par value $0.10; authorized, 25,000,000; issued and outstanding, 6,254,715 (2021: 6,254,715))	$	3,482		$	3,384
Additional paid-in capital		478,439			481,784
Retained earnings (deficit)		21,199			(9,505	)
Total shareholders' equity		503,120			475,663
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,580,381		$	1,427,494

GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD. CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except percentages and per share amounts)
	Three months ended December 31								Year ended December 31
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Underwriting revenue
Gross premiums written	$	127,359			$	125,144			$	563,171			$	565,393
Gross premiums ceded		(11,456	)			(35	)			(33,429	)			(41	)
Net premiums written		115,903				125,109				529,742				565,352
Change in net unearned premium reserves		(4,518	)			10,771				(60,265	)			(26,073	)
Net premiums earned	$	111,385			$	135,880			$	469,477			$	539,279
Underwriting related expenses
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred
Current year	$	65,135			$	92,753			$	316,367			$	389,080
Prior year		(1,440	)			(12,851	)			118				(14,100	)
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred		63,696				79,902				316,485				374,980
Acquisition costs		37,047				38,900				143,148				144,960
Underwriting expenses		3,779				3,570				13,813				12,880
Deposit accounting and other reinsurance expense (income)		344				8,698				6,717				11,655
Net underwriting income (loss)	$	6,519			$	4,810			$	(10,686	)		$	(5,196	)
Income (loss) from investment in related party investment fund	$	30,370			$	22,283			$	54,844			$	18,087
Net investment income (loss)		2,161				3,066				14,139				32,065
Total investment income (loss)	$	32,531			$	25,349			$	68,983			$	50,152
Net underwriting and investment income (loss)	$	39,050			$	30,159			$	58,297			$	44,956
Corporate expenses	$	5,100			$	4,459			$	17,793			$	16,489
Other (income) expense, net		(1,597	)			(196	)			11,777				880
Interest expense		790				1,579				4,201				6,263
Income tax expense (benefit)		7				13				(816	)			3,746
Net income (loss)	$	34,750			$	24,304			$	25,342			$	17,578
Earnings (loss) per share (Class A and Class B)
Basic	$	1.02			$	0.72			$	0.75			$	0.51
Diluted	$	0.91			$	0.71			$	0.73			$	0.51
Underwriting ratios
Loss ratio - current year		58.5	%			68.3	%			67.4	%			72.1	%
Loss ratio - prior year		(1.3	)%			(9.5	)%			—	%			(2.6	)%
Loss ratio		57.2	%			58.8	%			67.4	%			69.5	%
Acquisition cost ratio		33.3	%			28.6	%			30.5	%			26.9	%
Composite ratio		90.5	%			87.4	%			97.9	%			96.4	%
Underwriting expense ratio		3.7	%			9.0	%			4.4	%			4.5	%
Combined ratio		94.2	%			96.4	%			102.3	%			100.9	%

The following tables present the Company’s net premiums earned and underwriting ratios by line of business:

	Three months ended December 31																Three months ended December 31
	2022																2021
	Property				Casualty				Other				Total				Property				Casualty				Other				Total
	($ in thousands except percentage)
Net premiums earned	$	14,820			$	64,498			$	32,067			$	111,385			$	12,415			$	90,649			$	32,816			$	135,880
Underwriting ratios
Loss ratio		82.6	%			70.9	%			17.9	%			57.2	%			99.2	%			63.1	%			31.7	%			58.8	%
Acquisition cost ratio		21.3				30.1				45.1				33.3				21.6				28.7				31.2				28.6
Composite ratio		103.9	%			101.0	%			63.0	%			90.5	%			120.8	%			91.8	%			62.9	%			87.4	%
Underwriting expense ratio														3.7																9.0
Combined ratio														94.2	%															96.4	%

	Year ended December 31																Year ended December 31
	2022																2021
	Property				Casualty				Other				Total				Property					Casualty				Other				Total
	($ in thousands except percentage)
Net premiums earned	$	52,397			$	289,820			$	127,260			$	469,477				$	56,075			$	351,390			$	131,814			$		539,279
Underwriting ratios
Loss ratio		78.0	%			71.0	%			55.0	%			67.4	%				82.0	%			73.1	%			54.7	%				69.5	%
Acquisition cost ratio		22.2				29.0				37.4				30.5					21.3				26.6				30.0					26.9
Composite ratio		100.2	%			100.0	%			92.4	%			97.9	%				103.3	%			99.7	%			84.7	%				96.4	%
Underwriting expense ratio														4.4																		4.5
Combined ratio														102.3	%																	100.9	%

GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.

KEY FINANCIAL MEASURES AND NON-GAAP MEASURES

Management uses certain key financial measures, some of which are not prescribed under U.S. GAAP rules and standards (“non-GAAP financial measures”), to evaluate our financial performance, financial position, and the change in shareholder value. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure, as defined in SEC Regulation G, is a numerical measure of a company’s historical or future financial performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented under U.S. GAAP. We believe that these measures, which may be calculated or defined differently by other companies, provide consistent and comparable metrics of our business performance to help shareholders understand performance trends and facilitate a more thorough understanding of the Company’s business. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed as substitutes for those determined under U.S. GAAP.

The key non-GAAP financial measures used in this report are:

• Basic book value per share and fully diluted book value per share; and
• Net underwriting income (loss)

These non-GAAP measures are described below.

Basic Book Value Per Share and Fully Diluted Book Value Per Share

We believe that long-term growth in fully diluted book value per share is the most relevant measure of our financial performance because it provides management and investors a yardstick to monitor the shareholder value generated. Fully diluted book value per share may also help our investors, shareholders, and other interested parties form a basis of comparison with other companies within the property and casualty reinsurance industry. Basic book value per share and fully diluted book value per share should not be viewed as substitutes for the comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

We calculate basic book value per share as (a) ending shareholders' equity, divided by (b) aggregate of Class A and Class B Ordinary shares issued and outstanding, including all unvested service-based restricted shares, and the earned portion of performance-based restricted shares granted after December 31, 2021. We exclude shares potentially issuable in connection with convertible notes if the conversion price exceeds the share price.

Fully diluted book value per share represents basic book value per share combined with any dilutive impact of in-the-money stock options, unvested service-based RSUs, and the earned portion of unvested performance-based RSUs granted. Fully diluted book value per share also includes the dilutive effect, if any, of ordinary shares expected to be issued upon settlement of the convertible notes.

Our primary financial goal is to increase fully diluted book value per share over the long term. We use fully diluted book value per share as a financial measure in our annual incentive compensation.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures basic and fully diluted book value per share to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure:

	December 31, 2022				September 30, 2022				June 30, 2022				March 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
	($ in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
Numerator for basic and fully diluted book value per share:
Total equity (U.S. GAAP) (numerator for basic and fully diluted book value per share)	$	503,120			$	466,952			$	484,293			$	468,407			$	475,663
Denominator for basic and fully diluted book value per share: (1)
Ordinary shares issued and outstanding as presented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets		34,824,061				34,824,061				34,721,231				34,721,231				33,844,446
Less: Unearned performance-based restricted shares granted after December 31, 2021		(516,489	)			(539,161	)			(560,927	)			-581,593				—
Denominator for basic book value per share		34,307,572				34,284,900				34,160,304				34,139,638				33,844,446
Add: In-the-money stock options, service-based RSUs granted, and earned performance-based RSUs granted		187,750				183,790				179,988				176,379				154,134
Denominator for fully diluted book value per share		34,495,322				34,468,690				34,340,292				34,316,017				33,998,580
Basic book value per share	$	14.66			$	13.62			$	14.18			$	13.72			$	14.05
Increase (decrease) in basic book value per share ($)	$	1.04			$	(0.56	)		$	0.46			$	(0.33	)		$	0.74
Increase (decrease) in basic book value per share (%)		7.6	%			(3.9	) %			3.4	%			(2.3	) %			5.6	%
Fully diluted book value per share	$	14.59			$	13.55			$	14.10			$	13.65			$	13.99
Increase (decrease) in fully diluted book value per share ($)	$	1.04			$	(0.55	)		$	0.45			$	(0.34	)		$	0.74
Increase (decrease) in fully diluted book value per share (%)		7.7	%			(3.9	) %			3.3	%			(2.4	) %			5.6	%

⁽¹⁾ For periods prior to January 1, 2022, all unvested restricted shares are included in the “basic” and “fully diluted” denominators. Restricted shares with performance-based vesting conditions granted after December 31, 2021, are included in the “basic” and “fully diluted” denominators to the extent that the Company has recognized the corresponding share-based compensation expense. At December 31, 2022, the aggregate number of unearned restricted shares with performance conditions not included in the “basic” and “fully diluted” denominators was 709,638 (September 30, 2022: 732,310, June 30, 2022: 754,076, March 31, 2022: 774,742, December 31, 2021: 193,149).

Net Underwriting Income (Loss)

One way that we evaluate the Company’s underwriting performance is by measuring net underwriting income (loss). We do not use premiums written as a measure of performance. Net underwriting income (loss) is a performance measure used by management to evaluate the fundamentals underlying the Company’s underwriting operations. We believe that the use of net underwriting income (loss) enables investors and other users of the Company’s financial information to analyze our performance in a manner similar to how management analyzes performance. Management also believes that this measure follows industry practice and allows the users of financial information to compare the Company’s performance with that of our industry peer group.

Net underwriting income (loss) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes items used to calculate net income before taxes under U.S. GAAP. We calculate net underwriting income (loss) as net premiums earned, plus other income relating to reinsurance and deposit-accounted contracts, less deposit interest expense, less net loss and loss adjustment expenses, acquisition costs, and underwriting expenses. The measure excludes, on a recurring basis: (1) investment income (loss); (2) other income (expense) not related to underwriting, including foreign exchange gains or losses, Lloyd’s interest income or expense and adjustments to the allowance for expected credit losses; (3) corporate general and administrative expenses; and (4) interest expense. We exclude total investment income or loss, foreign exchange gains or losses, Lloyd’s interest income or expense and expected credit losses as we believe these items are influenced by market conditions and other factors not related to underwriting decisions. We exclude corporate and interest expenses because these costs are generally fixed and not incremental to or directly related to our underwriting operations. We believe all of these amounts are largely independent of our underwriting process, and including them could hinder the analysis of trends in our underwriting operations. Net underwriting income (loss) should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP net income before income taxes.

The reconciliations of net underwriting income (loss) to income (loss) before income taxes (the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) on a consolidated basis are shown below:

	Three months ended December 31								Year ended December 31
		2022				2021				2022				2021
	($ in thousands)
Income (loss) before income tax	$	34,757			$	24,317			$	24,526			$	21,324
Add (subtract):
Total investment (income) loss		(32,531	)			(25,349	)			(68,983	)			(50,152	)
Other non-underwriting (income) expense		(1,597	)			(196	)			11,777				880
Corporate expenses		5,100				4,459				17,793				16,489
Interest expense		790				1,579				4,201				6,263
Net underwriting income (loss)	$	6,519			$	4,810			$	(10,686	)		$	(5,196	)

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230308005726/en/

Investor Relations

Karin Daly

Vice President, The Equity Group Inc.

(212) 836-9623

IR@greenlightre.ky

Source: Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.

FAQ

What were Greenlight Re's net income and earnings per share for Q4 2022?

Greenlight Re reported a net income of $34.8 million or $0.91 per diluted share for Q4 2022.

How did Greenlight Re's combined ratio perform in Q4 2022?

The combined ratio for Q4 2022 was 94.2%, an improvement from 96.4% in Q4 2021.

What was the change in fully diluted book value per share for Greenlight Re?

The fully diluted book value per share increased by 7.7% to $14.59 in Q4 2022.

What challenges did Greenlight Re face in 2022 regarding net premiums earned?

Greenlight Re faced a 12.9% decrease in net premiums earned for 2022, which fell to $469.5 million.

What were the primary losses reported by Greenlight Re in 2022?

The company reported a net underwriting loss of $10.7 million for 2022, influenced by geopolitical conflicts and natural disasters.