EX-99.1 2 quarterlypressreleaseq22017.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 - PRESS RELEASE Exhibit


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GREENLIGHT RE ANNOUNCES
SECOND QUARTER 2017 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Appoints Hope Taitz to its Board of Directors


GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands - July 31, 2017 - Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLRE) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Greenlight Re reported a net loss of $35.5 million for the second quarter of 2017, compared to a net loss of $63.0 million for the same period in 2016. The net loss per share for the second quarter of 2017 was $0.96, compared to $1.69 for the same period in 2016.

Fully diluted adjusted book value per share was $22.64 as of June 30, 2017, a 6.8% increase from $21.20 per share as of June 30, 2016.

“We are pleased with our underwriting results thus far in 2017 as reflected in our combined ratio of 98.5% for the first half of the year,” said Simon Burton, Chief Executive Officer of Greenlight Re. “We continue to develop and evolve our underwriting strategy as we move forward in a very competitive underwriting environment.”

Financial and operating highlights for Greenlight Re for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 include:

Gross written premiums of $174.9 million, an increase from $92.2 million in the second quarter of 2016. Net earned premiums were $160.3 million, an increase from $125.6 million reported in the prior-year period.

Underwriting income of $4.8 million, compared to an underwriting loss of $24.5 million in the second quarter of 2016.

A composite ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2017 of 95.9%, compared to 104.8% for the prior-year period. The combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was 98.5%, compared to 107.8% for the prior-year period.

Net investment loss of $27.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a loss of 2.5%, compared to a net investment loss of $9.6 million during the comparable period in 2016 when Greenlight Re reported a 1.0% loss.

During the second quarter and in July 2017, Greenlight Re repurchased 136,312 Class A ordinary shares at an average price of $20.66 per share. Greenlight Re can repurchase up to an additional 1,863,688 Class A ordinary shares in the open market under its current share repurchase plan which expires on June 30, 2018.






“The investing environment was challenging for our value oriented strategy,” stated David Einhorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “We believe that there is a great deal of latent intrinsic value in our current portfolio.”

Hope Taitz Appointed to Board of Directors
 
Additionally, Greenlight Re announced today that Hope Schefler Taitz has been appointed to the Board of Directors as an independent director, effective July 25, 2017. The appointment increases the Board size from eight directors to nine. Ms. Taitz will serve as a member of Greenlight Re’s Nomination and Governance Committee, and brings to the Board an extensive financial background leading teams and making investments in a wide range of industries. She has broad experience in both public and private companies, along with in-depth experience in technology, digital and social media and engaging with the millennial generation.

Ms. Taitz is currently the CEO of ELY Capital. Previously, she served as Managing Partner of Catalyst Partners, a long-short hedge fund. Prior to Catalyst Partners, Ms. Taitz was portfolio manager at Crystal Asset Management, where she managed a $1 billion high-yield portfolio. Ms. Taitz has also previously held positions at The Argosy Group (now part of CIBC) and Drexel Burnham Lambert. She currently sits on the boards of Athene Holding Ltd., MidCap FinCo and Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. She received her B.A. in economics with honors and a concentration in marketing from the University of Pennsylvania.


Conference Call Details

Greenlight Re will hold a live conference call to discuss its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.  The conference call title is Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Second Quarter 2017 Earnings Call.

To participate in the Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Second Quarter 2017 Earnings Call, please dial in to the conference call at:
    
U.S. toll free             1-888-336-7152
International            1-412-902-4178

Telephone participants may avoid any delays by pre-registering for the call using the following link to receive a special dial-in number and PIN.
Conference Call registration link: http://dpregister.com/10110508

The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:

http://services.choruscall.com/links/glre170801.html

A telephone replay of the call will be available from 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on August 1, 2017 until 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on August 8, 2017.  The replay of the call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S. toll free) or 1-412-317-0088 (international), access code 10110508. An audio file of the call will also be available on the Company’s website, www.greenlightre.ky .

###









Regulation G
Fully diluted adjusted book value per share is considered a non-GAAP measure and represents basic adjusted book value per share combined with the impact from dilution of share based compensation including in-the-money stock options and RSUs as of any period end. Book value is adjusted by subtracting the amount of the non-controlling interest in joint venture from total shareholders’ equity to calculate adjusted book value. We believe that long term growth in fully diluted adjusted book value per share is the most relevant measure of our financial performance because it provides management and investors a yardstick by which to monitor the shareholder value generated. In addition, fully diluted adjusted book value per share may be of benefit to our investors, shareholders and other interested parties to form a basis of comparison with other companies within the property and casualty reinsurance industry.

Net underwriting income (loss) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes items used in the calculation of net income before taxes under U.S. GAAP. The measure includes underwriting expenses which are directly related to underwriting activities as well as an allocation of other general and administrative expenses. Net underwriting income (loss) is calculated as net premiums earned, less net loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred, less, acquisition costs and less underwriting expenses. The measure excludes, on a recurring basis: (1) net investment income; (2) any foreign exchange gains or losses; (3) corporate general and administrative expenses; (4) other income (expense) not related to underwriting, and (5) income taxes and income attributable to non-controlling interest. We exclude net investment income and foreign exchange gains or losses as we believe these are influenced by market conditions and other factors not related to underwriting decisions. We exclude corporate general and administrative expenses because these expenses 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 distorts the analysis of trends in our underwriting operations. Net underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP net income.

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 behalf of the Company. 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 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission. 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.


About Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.
Greenlight Re (www.greenlightre.ky) is a NASDAQ listed company with specialist property and casualty reinsurance companies based in the Cayman Islands and Ireland.  Greenlight Re provides a variety of custom-tailored reinsurance solutions to the insurance, risk retention group, captive and financial marketplaces.  Established in 2004, Greenlight Re selectively offers customized reinsurance solutions in markets where capacity and alternatives are limited.  With a focus on deriving superior returns from both sides of the balance sheet, Greenlight Re’s assets are managed according to a value-oriented equity-focused strategy that complements the Company’s business goal of long-term growth in book value per share.


Contact:

Investor Relations:
Garrett Edson
ICR
(203) 682-8331
IR@greenlightre.ky

Public Relations/Media:
Mairi Mallon





Rein4ce
+44 (0)203 786 1160
mairi.mallon@rein4ce.co.uk






GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
(unaudited)
 
(audited)
Assets
 
 
 
Investments
 
 
 
Debt instruments, trading, at fair value
$
6,271

 
$
22,473

Equity securities, trading, at fair value
1,053,640

 
844,001

Other investments, at fair value
138,190

 
156,063

Total investments
1,198,101

 
1,022,537

Cash and cash equivalents
41,661

 
39,858

Restricted cash and cash equivalents
1,352,839

 
1,202,651

Financial contracts receivable, at fair value
29,166

 
76,381

Reinsurance balances receivable
266,747

 
219,126

Loss and loss adjustment expenses recoverable
2,661

 
2,704

Deferred acquisition costs, net
78,216

 
61,022

Unearned premiums ceded
2,979

 
2,377

Notes receivable, net
33,627

 
33,734

Other assets
6,247

 
4,303

Total assets
$
3,012,244

 
$
2,664,693

Liabilities and equity
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
$
878,714

 
$
859,902

Financial contracts payable, at fair value
15,355

 
2,237

Due to prime brokers
543,559

 
319,830

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves
359,355

 
306,641

Unearned premium reserves
277,349

 
222,527

Reinsurance balances payable
55,369

 
41,415

Funds withheld
7,031

 
5,927

Other liabilities
11,628

 
14,527

Performance compensation payable to related party

 

Total liabilities
2,148,360

 
1,773,006

Equity
 
 
 
Preferred share capital (par value $0.10; authorized, 50,000,000; none issued)

 

Ordinary share capital (Class A: par value $0.10; authorized, 100,000,000; issued and outstanding, 31,112,199 (2016: 31,111,432): Class B: par value $0.10; authorized, 25,000,000; issued and outstanding, 6,254,895 (2016: 6,254,895))
3,737

 
3,737

Additional paid-in capital
500,682

 
500,337

Retained earnings
342,318

 
370,168

Shareholders’ equity attributable to shareholders
846,737

 
874,242

Non-controlling interest in joint venture
17,147

 
17,445

Total equity
863,884

 
891,687

Total liabilities and equity
$
3,012,244

 
$
2,664,693







GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
 
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts)
 
Three months ended June 30
 
Six months ended June 30
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross premiums written
$
174,889

 
$
92,237

 
$
372,103

 
$
259,029

Gross premiums ceded
(2,523
)
 
(3,522
)
 
(5,949
)
 
(5,629
)
Net premiums written
172,366

 
88,715

 
366,154

 
253,400

Change in net unearned premium reserves
(12,042
)
 
36,867

 
(53,928
)
 
10,294

Net premiums earned
160,324

 
125,582

 
312,226

 
263,694

Net investment income (loss)
(39,149
)
 
(38,054
)
 
(27,531
)
 
(9,619
)
Other income (expense), net
303

 
282

 
296

 
11

Total revenues
121,478

 
87,810

 
284,991

 
254,086

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred, net
106,016

 
111,376

 
210,828

 
202,044

Acquisition costs, net
45,429

 
35,484

 
88,640

 
74,447

General and administrative expenses
6,347

 
4,994

 
13,090

 
11,993

Total expenses
157,792

 
151,854

 
312,558

 
288,484

Income (loss) before income tax
(36,314
)
 
(64,044
)
 
(27,567
)
 
(34,398
)
Income tax benefit
295

 
258

 
174

 
54

Net income (loss) including non-controlling interest
(36,019
)
 
(63,786
)
 
(27,393
)
 
(34,344
)
Loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest in joint venture
550

 
791

 
298

 
18

Net income (loss)
$
(35,469
)
 
$
(62,995
)
 
$
(27,095
)
 
$
(34,326
)
Earnings (loss) per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.96
)
 
$
(1.69
)
 
$
(0.73
)
 
$
(0.92
)
Diluted
$
(0.96
)
 
$
(1.69
)
 
$
(0.73
)
 
$
(0.92
)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the determination of earnings and loss per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
37,025,703

 
37,281,392

 
37,009,539

 
37,194,428

Diluted
37,042,506

 
37,281,392

 
37,035,236

 
37,194,428




The following table provides the ratios for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
 
Six months ended June 30
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
Frequency
 
Severity
 
Total
 
Frequency
 
Severity
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss ratio
69.4
%
 
36.0
%
 
67.5
%
 
76.7
%
 
75.6
%
 
76.6
%
Acquisition cost ratio
28.4
%
 
28.0
%
 
28.4
%
 
28.8
%
 
22.0
%
 
28.2
%
Composite ratio
97.8
%
 
64.0
%
 
95.9
%
 
105.5
%
 
97.6
%
 
104.8
%
Underwriting expense ratio
 
 
 
 
2.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
3.0
%
Combined ratio
 
 
 
 
98.5
%
 
 
 
 
 
107.8
%