Maiden Holdings: “Very Pleased With Results”
Bermuda’s Maiden Holdings, Ltd. today [Nov. 2] reported third quarter 2011 net income of $16.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share compared with $18.5 million or $0.26 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2010. Net operating earnings for the third quarter of 2011 were $21.4 million, or $0.29 per diluted share compared with $18.0 million, or $0.25 per diluted share in the comparative quarter in 2010.
Commenting on the company’s earnings, Art Raschbaum, CEO of Maiden Holdings, said: “We are very pleased with our third quarter results which reflect continued underwriting discipline, solid operating performance, and continued expansion of our underwriting portfolio.
“Our growth in the quarter is the result of our 2010 international acquisition, expansion of existing client relationships, and the addition of several new client relationships. In the quarter, we continued to leverage Maiden’s specialist focus on serving the non-catastrophe needs of regional and specialty insurers, our highly efficient operating platform, our unique collateral trust, and our focus on the needs of our clients.
“Importantly, reflecting our unique business model and careful risk management, the widespread catastrophe losses experienced by the industry in the third quarter of 2011 did not adversely impact Maiden’s results. We remain committed to delivering increasing value to our shareholders and customers.”
Results for the three months ended September 30, 2011
Net income was $16.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share compared to $18.5 million or $0.26 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2010. Net operating earnings of $21.4 million, or $0.29 per diluted share increased 18.9% compared with $18.0 million, or $0.25 per diluted share in the comparative quarter of 2010.
Net premiums written were up 56.7% or $155.2 million to $428.6 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared to 2010. This was attributable to increases in all three business segments, with the Diversified Reinsurance segment experiencing the largest gain, up 80.6%. The increase in the Diversified Reinsurance segment primarily resulted from international personal auto reinsurance premiums obtained through the acquisition of GMAC International Insurance Services, Ltd in the fourth quarter of 2010, as well as growth in premium from new and existing U.S. client relationships. The net premiums written in the AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance increased 57.3% due primarily to an increase in the amount of business AmTrust writes generally and to a lesser extent, the 40% quota share of AmTrust’s European hospital liability business that incepted during the second quarter of 2011. Net premium written from the 25% quota share with ACAC increased 13.2% reflecting growth in this segment.
Net premiums earned of $420.3 million, increased 35.8% or $110.7 million compared to the third quarter of 2010. Earned premiums increased across all business lines with Diversified Reinsurance up 38.9%, AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance up 32.2% and ACAC Quota Share up 35.3%.
Net investment income of $18.7 million increased 7.1% compared to the third quarter of 2010. Total investments increased $19.8 million to $1.90 billion or 1.1% versus December 31, 2010. The book yield on the fixed income portfolio [excluding cash] is 3.84% with an average duration of 2.78 years.
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses of $274.5 million were up $73.9 million. The loss ratio improved 0.2 percentage points to 64.6% versus the third quarter of 2010.
Commission and other acquisition expenses together with general and administrative expenses of $139.3 million increased $39.5 million from the year ago quarter and reflected a total expense ratio of 32.8% compared with 32.2%. General and administrative expenses for the quarter totaled $12.5 million compared with $10.8 million in the third quarter of 2010. These results reflected a general and administrative expense ratio(8) of 3.0% compared to 3.5% in the third quarter of 2010.
The combined ratio for the third quarter totaled 97.4% compared with 97.0% in the comparative quarter in 2010.
Total assets increased 9.2% to $3.26 billion compared to $2.98 billion at year-end 2010. Total cash on hand was $243.1 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $146.3 million, up 52% compared to $96.2 million at the end of last year, and restricted cash and cash equivalents of $96.8 million, an increase of 7.8% since the end of 2010. Shareholders’ equity was $767.2 million, an increase of 2.3% compared to December 31, 2010.
During the third quarter of 2011, the board of directors declared a dividend of $0.08 per share.
Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2011
Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $11.0 million compared to $50.7 million in the same period in 2010. Net operating earnings(1) of 52.4 million, or $0.72 per diluted share compared to $55.4 million or $0.78 per diluted share in the same period of 2010. Annualized operating return on equity was 9.2% compared to 10.3% in the first nine months of 2010.
Significant non-operating expenses during the first nine months of 2011 included charges related to the redemption of $107.5 million of junior subordinated debt with proceeds from the June 2011 Senior Notes offering. The year-to-date 2011 results include $15.1 million of junior subordinated debt repurchase expense and $20.3 million of accelerated amortization of subordinated debt discount and issuance costs. The 2011 results also include $9.5 million in losses related to thunderstorm and tornado activity across the US in the second quarter, net of the Company’s quarterly provisions for normalized catastrophe activity compared to no catastrophe losses in the same period in 2010.
Net premiums written rose 46.5% or $417.3 million to $1,315.1 million compared to the same period in 2010. All three business segments saw increases in excess of 30% with the largest increase coming from the AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance which was up 51.5% due to the growth of AmTrust’s business generally and the addition of the European hospital liability business as of the second quarter 2011.
The Diversified Reinsurance segment increased 48.0% due to the additional premium obtained from GMAC International Insurance Services, Ltd. and organic growth from current and new business. The net premiums written in the ACAC segment increased 30.6% compared to last year as 2011 is the first full year of that quota share, which incepted in March 2010.
Net premiums earned of $1,134.6 million, increased 32.3% or $277.3 million compared to the first nine months of 2010. Earned premiums increased across all business lines with Diversified Reinsurance up 19.0%, AmTrust Quota Share Reinsurance up 23.2% and ACAC Quota Share up 164.1%.
Net investment income of $57.7 million was up 7.0% compared to the same period in 2010.
Net loss and loss adjustment expenses of $746.3 million were up $200.0 million. The loss ratio(6) increased 1.4 percentage points to 65.1% versus the first nine months of 2010.
Commission and other acquisition expenses together with general and administrative expenses of $377.3 million increased $93.6 million from the year ago period and reflected a total expense ratio of 32.9% compared with 33.1%. General and administrative expenses for the nine months totaled $37.6 million compared with $28.9 million in the first nine months of 2010. These results reflected a general and administrative expense ratio of 3.3% in 2011 and 3.4% for the comparative period last year.
The combined ratio for first nine months of 2011 totaled 98.0% largely reflecting the impact of second quarter weather losses in the US compared with 96.8% for the same period in 2010.
Maiden Holdings, Ltd. is a Bermuda-based holding company formed in 2007. Through its subsidiaries, which are each A- rated (excellent) by A.M. Best, the Company is focused on providing non-catastrophic, customised reinsurance products and services to small and mid-size insurance companies in the United States and Europe. As of September 30, 2011, Maiden had $3.26 billion in assets and shareholders’ equity of $767.2 million.
