EX-99.1 2 dp09725_ex9901.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
 
 News Release
 
 

PartnerRe Ltd. Reports First Quarter 2008 Results

§
First Quarter Net Income per share of $2.16; Operating Earnings per share of $1.98
§
Annualized Net Income ROE of 12.7%; Annualized Operating ROE of 11.6%
§
Book Value per share of $70.93, an increase of 4% for the quarter, and 21% year over year

PEMBROKE, Bermuda, April 28, 2008 -- PartnerRe Ltd. (NYSE:PRE) today reported net income of $129.0 million, or $2.16 per share, for the first quarter of 2008. This net income includes net realized gains on investments and earnings from the Company’s interest in the results of equity investments aggregating $10.2 million after-tax, or $0.18 per share. Net income for the first quarter of 2007 was $169.3 million or $2.76 per share, including $5.7 million after-tax, or $0.10 per share, in net realized gains on investments and earnings from the Company’s interest in the results of equity investments. Operating earnings for the first quarter of 2008 were $110.2 million or $1.98 per share. This compares to operating earnings of $154.9 million, or $2.66 per share, for the first quarter of 2007. Operating earnings exclude net after-tax realized investment gains and losses, and interest in results of equity investments, and are calculated after payment of preferred dividends. All references to per share amounts are on a fully diluted basis.

PartnerRe Ltd. President & CEO Patrick Thiele said, “PartnerRe continues to post solid results despite an increasingly competitive non-life reinsurance market. We were able to achieve net written premium growth of approximately 11% in a softening market because of the continuing weakness of the U.S. dollar, our acquisition last year of the renewal rights to the international reinsurance operations of the French Monceau Group, as well as significant growth in our agricultural book in the U.S. This new business helps to maintain the superior level of diversification we have built over the last cycle.”

Mr. Thiele added, “Our solid underwriting performance, combined with good results from our investment operations, allowed us to grow GAAP book value per share by $2.97 in the quarter, which represents a 4% increase in the quarter and 21% increase year over year.”

 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
Wellesley House South
90 Pitts Bay Road
Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08
Telephone +1 441 292 0888
Fax +1 441 292 6080
www.partnerre.com
 
 

 News Release
 


Summary unaudited consolidated financial data for the period is set out below.

U.S.$ thousands (except per share amounts and ratios)
Three months ended March 31
 
2008
2007
Net Premiums Written
$1,411,564
$1,270,573
Net Premiums Earned
$909,753
$842,042
Non-Life Combined Ratio
92.3%
84.8%
Net Income
$129,020
$169,266
Net Income per share (a)
$2.16
$2.76
Operating Earnings (a)
$110,211
$154,924
Operating Earnings per share (a)
$1.98
$2.66

(a)
Net income per share is defined as net income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of fully diluted shares outstanding for the period. Net income available to common shareholders is defined as net income less preferred dividends. Operating earnings is defined as net income available to common shareholders excluding after-tax net realized gains/losses on investments and interest in earnings/losses of equity investments. Operating earnings per share is defined as operating earnings divided by the weighted average number of fully diluted shares outstanding for the period.

Net premiums written for the first quarter of 2008 were $1.4 billion, compared to $1.3 billion for the first quarter of 2007. Total revenues for the quarter were $1.1 billion compared to $962 million for first quarter of 2007. Total revenues include $909.8 million of net premiums earned, net investment income of $137.0 million, and net realized investment gains of $25.1 million.

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company adopted FAS 159. As a result, the Company reclassified ‘available for sale securities’ as ‘trading securities’ which has the effect of recording market value movements of the Company’s investment portfolio through the net realized gains and losses line on the income statement.

Also during the first quarter of 2008, the Company repurchased 188,660 common shares at a total cost of approximately $15.0 million. There are approximately 4.3 million common shares remaining under the current repurchase authorization of November 2007.

Separately, the Company announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.46 per common share. The dividend will be payable on June 2,
 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
Wellesley House South
90 Pitts Bay Road
Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08
Telephone +1 441 292 0888
Fax +1 441 292 6080
www.partnerre.com
 
 
2

 News Release
 
 
 
2008, to common shareholders of record on May 23, 2008, with the stock trading ex-dividend commencing May 21, 2008.

Results by Segment

The Non-Life segment reported net premiums written of $1.2 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $1.1 billion for the prior year’s first quarter. The combined ratio was 92.3% for the first quarter of 2008, compared to 84.8% for the same period in 2007. The Non-Life technical result was $116 million for the first quarter of 2008. This compares to $159 million in the first quarter of 2007.

The U.S. business, which represented approximately 24% of total net premiums written for the quarter, reported net premiums written of $332 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $295 million for the prior year’s first quarter. Net premiums earned were $266 million for the quarter, compared to $221 million in the same period in 2007. The technical ratio for this sub-segment was 89.1%, compared to 87.9% in the first quarter of 2007.

The Global (Non-U.S.) P&C business, which represented approximately 26% of total net premiums written for the quarter, reported net premiums written of $373 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $332 million for the same period in 2007. Net premiums earned during the quarter were $201 million, compared to $177 million in the prior year’s first quarter. The technical ratio for this sub-segment was 99.3% compared to 92.7% for the same period in 2007.

The Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty business, which represented approximately 24% of total net premiums written for the quarter, reported net premiums written of $333 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $284 million for the prior year period. Net premiums earned were $219 million for the quarter, flat with the same period in 2007. This sub-segment’s technical ratio was 92.3% compared to 71.0% for the first quarter of 2007.

The Catastrophe business, which represented approximately 14% of total net premiums written for the quarter, reported net premiums written of $198 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $212 million for the prior year period. Net premiums earned were $77 million for the current quarter, compared to $94 million for the same period in 2007. This sub-segment’s technical ratio was 11.1% for the quarter compared to 40.9% for the first quarter of 2007.

The Life segment, which writes business primarily in Europe, Canada and Latin America, and represented approximately 12% of total net premiums written for the quarter, reported
 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
Wellesley House South
90 Pitts Bay Road
Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08
Telephone +1 441 292 0888
Fax +1 441 292 6080
www.partnerre.com
 
 
3

 News Release
 
 
 
net premiums written of $170 million for the quarter, up 15% as compared with the first quarter of 2007. The allocated underwriting result for the quarter was $2 million, compared to $7 million for the comparable period in 2007.

The Company’s capital markets and investment activities are reported under the heading of “Corporate and Other”. Within Corporate and Other, capital markets and investment activities contributed $148 million to pre-tax income in the first quarter of 2008.

Balance Sheet Items

At March 31, 2008, total assets were $17.3 billion as compared to $16.0 billion at December 31, 2007. Over the trailing 12 month period, total investments and cash increased 11% to $12.2 billion. Gross Non-Life loss and loss expense reserves increased 9% year over year to $7.6 billion at March 31, 2008. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company’s estimate of Non-Life reserves for prior accident years developed favorably by $117 million. The overall first quarter prior year reserve development in the Non-Life segment includes net favorable development in all sub-segments, with $16 million in the U.S. sub-segment, $58 million in the Global (Non-U.S.) P&C sub-segment, $33 million in the Global (Non-U.S.) Specialty sub-segment, and $10 million in the Catastrophe sub-segment. In the first quarter of 2007, Non-Life reserves for prior years developed favorably by $122 million. Policy benefits for life and annuity contacts increased by 7% year over year to $1.6 billion at March 31, 2008. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company’s estimate of Life reserves for prior years developed adversely by $5 million, compared to favorable development of $7 million in 2007.

At March 31, 2008, total capital was $5.3 billion, and total shareholders’ equity was $4.5 billion. This compares to total capital of $5.2 billion, and total shareholders’ equity of $4.3 billion at December 31, 2007. Book value per common share at March 31, 2008 was $70.93 on a fully diluted basis compared to $67.96 per share at December 31, 2007.

For additional information, the Company has posted a first quarter 2008 financial supplement on its website www.partnerre.com in the Investor Relations section on the Financial Reports page under Supplementary Financial Data.

Commentary and Outlook

Mr. Thiele said, “We are experiencing a softening market in most of our lines of business as clients cut back on the size of their programs, competition increases, and prices decline. Inevitably, our underwriting profitability will decrease as these trends continue. However, we
 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
Wellesley House South
90 Pitts Bay Road
Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08
Telephone +1 441 292 0888
Fax +1 441 292 6080
www.partnerre.com
 
 
4

 News Release
 
 
 
are beginning to see opportunities in the capital markets and expect to deploy more capital in that area going forward.

Despite these crosscurrents, we believe that PartnerRe is well-positioned strategically and financially to continue to achieve our long-term targets for operating return on equity of 13% over the cycle, and average annual book value per share growth in excess of 10%.”
_____________________________________________

The Company uses operating earnings, diluted operating earnings per share and annualized operating return on beginning common shareholders’ equity to measure performance, as these measures focus on the underlying fundamentals of our operations without the impact of net realized gains/losses on investments, net of tax, nor the interest in earnings/losses of equity investments, net of tax, where the Company does not control the investee companies’ activities. The Company uses technical ratio and technical result as measures of underwriting performance. The technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss and acquisition ratios. These metrics exclude other operating expenses. The Company also uses combined ratio to measure results for the Non-Life segment. The combined ratio is the sum of the technical and other operating expense ratios. The Company uses total capital, which is defined as total shareholders’ equity, long-term debt and capital efficient notes, to manage the capital structure of the Company.
_____________________________________________

PartnerRe Ltd. is a leading global reinsurer, providing multi-line reinsurance to insurance companies. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, also offers alternative risk products that include weather and credit protection to financial, industrial and service companies. Risks reinsured include property, casualty, motor, agriculture, aviation/space, catastrophe, credit/surety, engineering, energy, marine, specialty property, specialty casualty, multiline and other lines, life/annuity and health, and alternative risk products. For the year ended December 31, 2007, total revenues were $4.2 billion. At March 31, 2008, total assets were $17.3 billion, total capital was $5.3 billion and total shareholders’ equity was $4.5 billion.

PartnerRe on the Internet: www.partnerre.com

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the Company’s assumptions and expectations concerning 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 are subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. PartnerRe’s forward-looking statements could be affected by numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events and developments such as exposure to catastrophe, or other large property and casualty losses, adequacy of reserves, risks associated with implementing business strategies, levels and pricing of new and renewal business achieved,
 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
Wellesley House South
90 Pitts Bay Road
Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08
Telephone +1 441 292 0888
Fax +1 441 292 6080
www.partnerre.com
 
 
5

 News Release
 
 
 
credit, interest, currency and other risks associated with the Company’s investment portfolio, changes in accounting policies, and other factors identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information contained herein, 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 disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
 

Contacts:
PartnerRe Ltd.
Sard Verbinnen & Co.
 
(441) 292-0888
(212) 687-8080
 
Investor Contact: Robin Sidders
Drew Brown/Jane Simmons
 
Media Contact: Celia Powell
 
 
 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
Wellesley House South
90 Pitts Bay Road
Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08
Telephone +1 441 292 0888
Fax +1 441 292 6080
www.partnerre.com
 
 
6

 
PartnerRe Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
   
For the three
   
For the three
 
   
months ended
   
months ended
 
   
March 31,
   
March 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Revenues
           
     Gross premiums written
  $ 1,439,332     $ 1,301,763  
                 
     Net premiums written
  $ 1,411,564     $ 1,270,573  
     Increase in unearned premiums
    (501,811 )     (428,531 )
     Net premiums earned
    909,753       842,042  
     Net investment income
    137,010       119,017  
     Net realized investment gains
    25,112       768  
     Other income
    1,639       517  
     Total revenues
    1,073,514       962,344  
                 
Expenses
               
     Losses and loss expenses and life policy benefits
    589,668       478,734  
     Acquisition costs
    204,238       200,724  
     Other operating expenses
    92,280       78,985  
     Interest expense
    11,896       13,510  
     Net foreign exchange losses
    4,798       4,246  
     Total expenses
    902,880       776,199  
                 
Income before taxes and interest in earnings of equity investments
    170,634       186,145  
     Income tax expense
    42,726       19,904  
     Interest in earnings of equity investments
    1,112       3,025  
Net income
  $ 129,020     $ 169,266  
                 
Preferred dividends
  $ 8,631     $ 8,631  
                 
Operating earnings available to common shareholders
  $ 110,211     $ 154,924  
                 
Comprehensive income, net of tax
  $ 190,197     $ 184,910  
                 
Per Share Data:
               
     Earnings per common share:
               
         Basic operating earnings
  $ 2.03     $ 2.72  
         Net realized investment gains, net of tax
    0.17       0.05  
         Interest in earnings of equity investments, net of tax
    0.02       0.05  
         Basic net income
  $ 2.22     $ 2.82  
                 
         Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    54,248.3       56,960.3  
                 
                 
         Diluted operating earnings
  $ 1.98     $ 2.66  
         Net realized investment gains, net of tax
    0.16       0.05  
         Interest in earnings of equity investments, net of tax
    0.02       0.05  
         Diluted net income
  $ 2.16     $ 2.76  
                 
         Weighted average number of common and  common share equivalents outstanding
    55,711.2       58,200.2  
 
 
7

 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share and parenthetical share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Assets
           
     Investments:
           
     Fixed maturities, trading securities, at fair value
  $ 10,375,881     $
-
 
     Short-term investments, trading securities, at fair value
    144,051      
-
 
     Equities, trading securities, at fair value
    1,100,212      
-
 
     Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value
   
-
      9,498,791  
     Short-term investments, available-for-sale, at fair value
   
-
      97,307  
     Equities, available-for-sale, at fair value
   
-
      871,762  
     Trading securities, at fair value
   
-
      399,280  
     Other invested assets
    70,894       50,201  
     Total investments
    11,691,038       10,917,341  
     Cash and cash equivalents, at fair value, which approximates amortized cost
    497,567       654,895  
     Accrued investment income
    179,611       176,386  
     Reinsurance balances receivable
    2,135,239       1,449,702  
     Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses
    190,730       158,494  
     Funds held by reinsured companies
    954,421       1,083,036  
     Deferred acquisition costs
    750,627       641,818  
     Deposit assets
    376,851       398,079  
     Goodwill
    429,519       429,519  
     Net receivable for securities sold
    -       50,065  
     Other assets
    85,316       77,614  
Total assets
  $ 17,290,919     $ 16,036,949  
                 
Liabilities
               
     Unpaid losses and loss expenses
  $ 7,573,371     $ 7,231,436  
     Policy benefits for life and annuity contracts
    1,600,447       1,541,687  
     Unearned premiums
    1,837,778       1,267,873  
     Reinsurance balances payable
    155,133       119,853  
     Ceded premiums payable
    33,155       14,617  
     Funds held under reinsurance treaties
    31,735       21,585  
     Deposit liabilities
    414,064       435,852  
     Net payable for securities purchased
    42,070      
-
 
     Net tax liabilities
    75,460       37,743  
     Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    177,497       167,141  
     Long-term debt
    620,000       620,000  
     Debt related to capital efficient notes
    257,605       257,605  
Total liabilities
    12,818,315       11,715,392  
                 
Shareholders’ Equity
               
     Common shares (par value $1.00, issued: 2008, 57,580,543; 2007, 57,379,516)
    57,581       57,380  
     Series C cumulative preferred shares (par value $1.00, issued and outstanding:
               
         2008 and 2007, 11,600,000; aggregate liquidation preference: 2008 and 2007, $290,000,000)
    11,600       11,600  
     Series D cumulative preferred shares (par value $1.00, issued and outstanding:
               
         2008 and 2007, 9,200,000; aggregate liquidation preference: 2008 and 2007, $230,000,000)
    9,200       9,200  
     Additional paid-in capital
    1,450,798       1,441,598  
     Accumulated other comprehensive income:
               
        Net unrealized (losses) gains on investments, net of tax
    (2,640 )     94,747  
        Currency translation adjustment
    250,783       197,777  
        Unfunded pension obligation, net of tax
    (3,677 )     (3,274 )
     Retained earnings
    2,955,214       2,753,784  
     Common shares held in treasury, at cost (2008, 3,317,668; 2007, 3,129,008)
    (256,255 )     (241,255 )
Total shareholders' equity
    4,472,604       4,321,557  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 17,290,919     $ 16,036,949  
                 
Shareholders’ Equity Per Common Share (excluding cumulative
               
     preferred shares: 2008 and 2007, $520,000,000)
  $ 72.84     $ 70.07  
Diluted Book Value Per Common and Common Share Equivalents
               
     Outstanding (assuming exercise of all stock-based awards)
  $ 70.93     $ 67.96  
                 
Number of Common and Common Share Equivalents Outstanding
    55,725.7       55,936.4  
 
 
8

 
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(in millions of U.S. dollars)
(Unaudited)
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2008
 
   
U.S.
     
Global
(Non-U.S.)
P&C
 
Global
(Non-U.S.)
Specialty
 
Catastrophe
 
Total
Non-Life
Segment
 
Life
Segment
   
Corporate
and Other
   
Total
 
                                                           
Gross premiums written
  $ 332       $ 375       $ 354       $ 198       $ 1,259       $ 174     $ 6     $ 1,439  
                                                                           
Net premiums written
  $ 332       $ 373       $ 333       $ 198       $ 1,236       $ 170     $ 6     $ 1,412  
Increase in unearned premiums
    (66 )       (172 )       (114 )       (121 )       (473 )       (25 )     (4 )     (502 )
Net premiums earned
  $ 266       $ 201       $ 219       $ 77       $ 763       $ 145     $ 2     $ 910  
Losses and loss expenses and
                                                                         
   life policy benefits
    (171 )       (147 )       (148 )       (2 )       (468 )       (122 )    
-
      (590 )
Acquisition costs
    (66 )       (52 )       (54 )       (7 )       (179 )       (25 )    
-
      (204 )
Technical result
  $ 29       $ 2       $ 17       $ 68       $ 116       $ (2 )   $ 2     $ 116  
                                                                           
Other income
                                            1        
-
     
-
      1  
Other operating expenses
                                            (57 )       (9 )     (26 )     (92 )
Underwriting result
                                          $ 60       $ (11 )     n/a     $ 25  
                                                                           
Net investment income
                                                      13       124       137  
Allocated underwriting result (1)
                                                    $ 2       n/a       n/a  
                                                                           
Net realized investment gains
                                                              25       25  
Interest expense
                                                              (12 )     (12 )
Net foreign exchange losses
                                                              (4 )     (4 )
Income tax expense
                                                              (43 )     (43 )
Interest in earnings of equity investments
                                                              1       1  
Net income
                                                              n/a     $ 129  
                                                                           
Loss ratio (2)
    64.2
%
 
    73.4
%
 
    67.7
%
 
    2.0
%
 
    61.3
%
 
                       
Acquisition ratio (3)
    24.9         25.9         24.6         9.1         23.5                            
Technical ratio (4)
    89.1
%
 
    99.3
%
 
    92.3
%
 
    11.1
%
 
    84.8
%
 
                       
Other operating expense ratio (5)
                                            7.5                            
Combined ratio (6)
                                            92.3
%
 
                       
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2007
 
   
U.S.
     
Global
(Non-U.S.)
P&C
 
Global
(Non-U.S.)
Specialty
 
Catastrophe
 
Total
Non-Life
Segment
 
Life
Segment
   
Corporate
and Other (A)
   
Total
 
                                                           
Gross premiums written
  $ 296       $ 332       $ 305       $ 212       $ 1,145       $ 157     $
-
    $ 1,302  
                                                                           
Net premiums written
  $ 295       $ 332       $ 284       $ 212       $ 1,123       $ 148     $
-
    $ 1,271  
Increase in unearned premiums
    (74 )       (155 )       (64 )       (118 )       (411 )       (18 )    
-
      (429 )
Net premiums earned
  $ 221       $ 177       $ 220       $ 94       $ 712       $ 130     $
-
    $ 842  
Losses and loss expenses and
                                                                         
   life policy benefits
    (137 )       (118 )       (99 )       (29 )       (383 )       (96 )    
-
      (479 )
Acquisition costs
    (57 )       (46 )       (57 )       (10 )       (170 )       (31 )    
-
      (201 )
Technical result
  $ 27       $ 13       $ 64       $ 55       $ 159       $ 3     $
-
    $ 162  
                                                                           
Other income (loss)
                                            2        
-
      (1 )     1  
Other operating expenses
                                            (51 )       (7 )     (21 )     (79 )
Underwriting result
                                          $ 110       $ (4 )     n/a     $ 84  
                                                                           
Net investment income
                                                      11       108       119  
Allocated underwriting result (1)
                                                    $ 7       n/a       n/a  
                                                                           
Net realized investment gains
                                                              1       1  
Interest expense
                                                              (14 )     (14 )
Net foreign exchange losses
                                                              (4 )     (4 )
Income tax expense
                                                              (20 )     (20 )
Interest in earnings of equity investments
                                                              3       3  
Net income
                                                              n/a     $ 169  
                                                                           
Loss ratio (2)
    62.0
%
 
    66.8
%
 
    45.1
%
 
    30.6
%
 
    53.8
%
 
                       
Acquisition ratio (3)
    25.9         25.9         25.9         10.3         23.8                            
Technical ratio (4)
    87.9
%
 
    92.7
%
 
    71.0
%
 
    40.9
%
 
    77.6
%
 
                       
Other operating expense ratio (5)
                                            7.2                            
Combined ratio (6)
                                            84.8
%
 
                       
 
(A) The Company reports the results of ChannelRe on a one-quarter lag. The 2007 period includes the Company’s share of ChannelRe’s net income in the amount of $3.0 million.
 
(1) Allocated underwriting result is defined as net premiums earned, other income or loss and allocated net investment income less life policy benefits, acquisition costs and other operating expenses.
(2) Loss ratio is obtained by dividing losses and loss expenses by net premiums earned.
(3) Acquisition ratio is obtained by dividing acquisition costs by net premiums earned.
(4) Technical ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the acquisition ratio.
(5) Other operating expense ratio is obtained by dividing other operating expenses by net premiums earned.
(6) Combined ratio is defined as the sum of the technical ratio and the other operating expense ratio.
 
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