Sirius International Insurance Group, Ltd. Reports First Quarter 2019 Results

HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirius International Insurance Group, Ltd. (Nasdaq: SG) ("Sirius Group" or the "Company") today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The Company reported comprehensive income of $76 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to $30 million for the first quarter of 2018.  

Book value per common share was $15.38 as of March 31, 2019 compared to $14.80 as of December 31, 2018, an increase of 3.9%.  Book value per common share as of March 31, 2019 includes a charge of $8 million, or $0.07 per common share, related to the increase in redemption value of the Series B preference shares.

Adjusted book value per share⁽¹⁾, which assumes that the Series B preference shares will convert into common shares on a one-for-one basis, in addition to the effects of share-based compensation programs, was $15.82 as of March 31, 2019, compared to $15.24 as of December 31, 2018, an increase of 3.8% during the first quarter of 2019. 

"The first quarter was a strong one from a bottom line perspective, offering up a great start to the year," said Kip Oberting, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sirius Group.  "Our property segment benefited from low catastrophe loss activity and our accident and health operations continue to provide a meaningful return on our capital.  Our growth in book value was also driven by gains in our investment portfolio, mainly a result of favorable investment markets.  We also benefited from gains in the value of investment assets in our strategic investment portfolio."

• Net income attributable to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2019 was $95 million, a return on beginning shareholders' equity of 5.6% for the quarter. Basic earnings per common share was $0.75 and diluted earnings per common share was $0.74.  This compares to net income attributable to common shareholders of $41 million and basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.32 for the first quarter of 2018.  The first quarter of 2019 results reflect the $8 million charge related to the increase in redemption value of the Series B preference shares incurred. 
• For the first quarter of 2019, Operating income attributable to common shareholders was $13 million compared to $31 million for the first quarter of 2018. 

Chief Financial Officer, Ralph Salamone further commented, "After taking increases in the fourth quarter of 2018, our Typhoon Jebi reserves have held up well in the first quarter of 2019 and we are seeing rate increases on loss impacted accounts in Japan.  We did see loss increases on recent U.S. Hurricanes, namely Irma and Michael, where assignments of benefits seem to be taking their toll.  Still, our Global Property segment performed well with $33 million of underwriting income and a 76% combined ratio in the quarter."

⁽¹⁾ Adjusted book value, Adjusted book value per share and Operating income attributable to common shareholders are non-GAAP financial measures. See the accompanying Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures. 

First Quarter 2019 Summary

Underwriting

Sirius Group's combined ratio was 91% for the first quarter of 2019 compared to 87% for the first quarter of 2018.  The increase in the combined ratio was driven by higher net unfavorable prior year loss reserve development mainly in the Global Property segment.  The first quarter of 2019 included 5 points of net unfavorable prior year loss reserve development compared to 1 point of net favorable prior year loss reserve development for the first quarter of 2018.  Catastrophe losses were light for both periods; the first quarter of 2019 and 2018 combined ratios each included 1 point of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums.

• Gross written premiums for the quarter were $622 million, an increase of 1% compared to the first quarter of 2018.
• Pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums, amounted to $2 million in the quarter. Prior year catastrophe losses related to Hurricanes Irma, Michael, and Florence were increased by $17 million in the quarter.
• Highlights by reportable segment for the first quarter of 2019 included the following:
• Global Property produced $33 million of underwriting income for the quarter and a 76% combined ratio driven mainly by low current year catastrophe losses partially offset by net unfavorable prior year loss reserve development.
• Global A&H produced $12 million of underwriting income for the quarter, including net service fee income from IMG and Armada, and a combined ratio of 101%, which was primarily a result of net unfavorable prior year loss reserve development.
• Specialty & Casualty produced a $(3) million underwriting (loss) for the quarter and a combined ratio of 103%, mainly driven by poor Aviation results, mainly due to the Ethiopian Airlines flight crash.
• Runoff & Other produced $(5) million of underwriting (loss) for the quarter mainly from unfavorable prior year loss reserve development and operating expenses. 

Investments and Other

• The investment portfolio returned 2.0% in original currencies and 1.9% in U.S. Dollars.
• Net investment income increased $9 million or 82% for the first quarter of 2019 to $20 million, from $11 million for the first quarter of 2018, due to a higher interest rate environment.
• Net realized and unrealized investment gains were $83 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to net realized and unrealized investment gains of $12 million for the first quarter of 2018. The increase was driven by unrealized gains arising from investments consistent with overall market performance, which were somewhat offset by foreign currency translation losses recognized through other comprehensive income of $42 million.
• Common shareholders' equity ended the first quarter of 2019 at $1,773 million as compared to $1,705 million at December 31, 2018. The increase is primarily due to comprehensive income of $76 million. Adjusted book value ended the first quarter of 2019 at $2,014 million.

Conference Call
A conference call discussing the first quarter results will be held on May 8, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A live, listen-only webcast of the call will be available via the Investor Relations section of our website located at http://ir.siriusgroup.com.  A replay of the webcast will be available on the website shortly after the call and archived for 1 year.  The teleconference can be accessed by dialing (888) 317-6016 for U.S. callers and (412) 317-6016 for international callers.

Supplemental Materials
In addition to this press release, we have provided supplemental financial information relating to first quarter results.  Recipients are encouraged to visit the "Financial Information" section of Sirius Group's website located at http://ir.siriusgroup.com to view the supplemental financial information.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In presenting Sirius Group's results, management has included and discussed non-GAAP financial measures:  Adjusted book value, Adjusted book value per share and Operating income attributable to common shareholders.  The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, which may be defined and calculated differently by other companies, better explain and enhance the understanding of the Company's results of operations.  However, these measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (''GAAP'').  A reconciliation of Adjusted book value, Adjusted book value per share and Operating income attributable to common shareholders to the most comparable GAAP measures is included in the attached financial information in accordance with Regulation G.

About Sirius Group
Sirius Group, with roots back to 1945 in Stockholm, is a global multi-line (re)insurer that utilizes its unique global branch network to provide solutions to approximately 2,000 clients in over 150 countries, with approximately 7,200 treaties in force.  The primary (re)insurance operating subsidiaries are located in Bermuda, Stockholm, New York, and London.  Sirius Group provides a fully diversified set of health and travel products to consumers through its two managing general underwriters, ArmadaGlobal and International Medical Group.  Sirius Group has been publicly traded since November 2018.  Additional information is available at Sirius Group's website located at www.siriusgroup.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
We have made statements in this document that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about our capital position and the impact of rate and loss changes.   You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "target," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "will," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would," "seeks," "likely," and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Sirius Group and speak only as of the date of this document. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Sirius Group's exposure to unpredictable catastrophic and casualty events and unexpected accumulations of attritional losses; increased competition from existing insurers and reinsurers and from alternative capital providers, such as insurance-linked funds and collateralized special purpose insurers; decreased demand for Sirius Group's insurance or reinsurance products, consolidation and cyclical changes in the insurance and reinsurance industry; the inherent uncertainty of estimating loss and loss adjustment expenses reserves, including asbestos and environmental reserves, and the possibility that such reserves may be inadequate to cover Sirius Group's ultimate liability for losses; a decline in Sirius Group's operating subsidiaries' ratings with rating agencies; the exposure of Sirius Group's investments to interest rate, credit, equity risks and market volatility, which may limit Sirius Group's net income and may affect the adequacy of its capital and liquidity; the impact of various risks associated with transacting business in foreign countries, including foreign currency exchange-rate risk and political risks on investments in, and revenues from, Sirius Group's operations outside the U.S.; the possibility that Sirius Group may become subject to additional onerous governmental or regulatory requirements or fail to comply with applicable regulatory and solvency requirements;  Sirius Group's significant deferred tax assets may become materially impaired as a result of insufficient taxable income or a reduction in applicable corporate tax rates or other change in applicable tax law; a decrease in the fair value of Global A&H and/or Sirius Group's intangible assets may result in future impairments; the limited liquidity and trading of Sirius Group's securities; CMIG International Holding Pte. Ltd.'s status as a controlling shareholder; Sirius Group's status as a publicly traded company, foreign private issuer and controlled company; and other factors identified in Sirius Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions made by the management of Sirius Group prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, or new information, data or methods, future events or other changes.

Sirius International Insurance Group, Ltd.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted book value per share

Adjusted book value and Adjusted book value per share are non-GAAP financial measures used to show the Company's total worth on a per-share basis and is useful to management and investors in analyzing the intrinsic value of the Company.

Adjusted shares outstanding is derived by summing Common shares outstanding, Series B preference shares outstanding (which were issued to the cornerstone investors), and the Earned portion of share-based compensation awards.  Adjusted book value is derived by summing Total common shareholders' equity, the Series B preference share amount reflected in mezzanine equity, and the Earned portion of future proceeds from stock option awards.  Outstanding warrants are excluded as they are anti-dilutive as of the respective reporting dates. 

At March 31, 2019, Adjusted book value and Adjusted book value per share include the earned effects of share-based compensation awards issued during 2019. 

Adjusted book value per share is derived by dividing the Adjusted book value by the Adjusted shares outstanding. The reconciliation to Total common shareholders' equity and Book value per common share, the most directly comparable GAAP measures, are presented in the table below. 

Operating income attributable to common shareholders

The Company uses Operating income attributable to common shareholders as a measure to evaluate the underlying fundamentals of its operations and believes it to be a useful measure of its core performance. Operating income attributable to common shareholders as used herein differs from net income attributable to common shareholders, which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, by the exclusion of net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, net foreign exchange gains (losses) and the associated income tax expense or benefit. The Company's management believes that Operating income attributable to common shareholders is useful to investors because it is more reflective of the Company's core business, as it removes the variability arising from fluctuations in the Company's fixed maturity investment portfolio, equity investments trading, investments-related derivatives, and net foreign exchange gains (losses) and the associated income tax expense or benefit of those fluctuations.  The following is a reconciliation of net income attributable to common shareholders to Operating income attributable to common shareholders:

SOURCE Sirius International Insurance Group, Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.siriusgroup.com