Aspen Reports Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Exhibit 99.1
PRESS RELEASE
Aspen Reports Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders of
Our objective is to drive continuous improvement in all aspects of our business. It is encouraging to see our third quarter results add to the positive trends of the first half of 2023, achieving an adjusted combined ratio of 87.1% and annualized operating retuon average equity of 20.7% for the nine months ended
- Non-GAAPfinancial measures are used throughout this release, such as operating income, operating retuon average equity, adjusted underwriting income and adjusted combined ratio. These are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in SEC Regulation G. For additional information and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures, refer to the end of this press release. Refer to "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" at the end of this press release.
- Reflected in our underwriting result as a reduction to acquisition expense.
Consolidated Highlights for the Three and Nine Months Ended
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
||||||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
||||||||||
(in $ million, except percentages) |
(in $ million, except percentages) |
||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums |
$ |
982.7 |
$ |
1,110.5 |
(11.5)% |
$ |
3,107.9 |
$ |
3,461.8 |
(10.2)% |
|||||
Net written premiums |
$ |
628.6 |
$ |
784.1 |
(19.8)% |
$ |
1,979.1 |
$ |
2,290.2 |
(13.6)% |
|||||
Net earned premiums |
$ |
660.0 |
$ |
683.1 |
(3.4)% |
$ |
1,947.4 |
$ |
2,010.3 |
(3.1)% |
|||||
Underwriting income/(loss) |
$ |
47.9 |
$ |
(70.0) |
168.4 % |
$ |
256.3 |
$ |
86.5 |
196.3 % |
|||||
Adjusted underwriting income/(loss)(1) |
$ |
54.5 |
$ |
(41.4) |
231.6 % |
$ |
250.5 |
$ |
89.2 |
180.8 % |
|||||
Net investment income |
$ |
77.9 |
$ |
47.7 |
$ |
207.3 |
$ |
136.4 |
|||||||
Net realized and unrealized investment (losses)/gains |
(1.8) |
(61.7) |
16.2 |
(188.1) |
|||||||||||
Interest expense |
1.8 |
(14.5) |
(41.1) |
(23.6) |
|||||||||||
Corporate and other expenses |
(32.6) |
(27.9) |
(85.7) |
(71.2) |
|||||||||||
Non-operating expenses |
(0.2) |
(1.2) |
(10.8) |
(4.8) |
|||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized foreign exchange (losses)/gains |
(1.5) |
(27.5) |
4.4 |
(37.2) |
|||||||||||
Income tax expense |
(5.2) |
(6.1) |
(41.4) |
(10.8) |
|||||||||||
Net income/(loss) |
$ |
86.3 |
$ |
(161.2) |
$ |
305.2 |
$ |
(112.8) |
|||||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders |
$ |
72.5 |
$ |
(172.3) |
$ |
269.2 |
$ |
(146.1) |
|||||||
Loss ratio |
65.2 % |
80.1 % |
58.9 % |
65.4 % |
|||||||||||
Expense ratio |
27.5 |
30.2 |
27.9 |
30.3 |
|||||||||||
Combined ratio |
92.7 % |
110.3 % |
86.8 % |
95.7 % |
|||||||||||
Adjusted combined ratio (1) |
|||||||||||||||
91.7 % |
106.1 % |
87.1 % |
95.6 % |
||||||||||||
Operating income/(loss) (1) |
$ |
78.9 |
$ |
(43.3) |
$ |
270.0 |
$ |
86.7 |
|||||||
Annualized operating retuon average equity (1) |
17.6 % |
(11.2)% |
20.7 % |
6.7 % |
|||||||||||
Annualized total investment retu(1) |
1.7 % |
(7.9)% |
3.5 % |
(8.8)% |
- Operating income, annualized operating retuon average equity, adjusted combined ratio and annualized total investment retuare non-GAAP financial measures as defined in SEC Regulation G. The reconciliations to the most comparable
U.S. GAAP financial measures and a discussion of the rationale for the presentation of these items is provided later in this press release.
2
Aspen Group Consolidated Results
Significant improvement in underwriting and investment performance drove results for the Three and Nine Months Ended
Consolidated Highlights for the Three Months Ended
- Net income attributable to common shareholders increased by
$245 million to$73 million , driven by strong improvement in underwriting results, improved investment income and lower net realized and unrealized investment and foreign exchange gains/losses. - Operating income increased to
$79 million in the quarter, withAspen achieving an annualized operating retuon average equity of 17.6%. - Underwriting income increased to
$48 million , resulting in a 17.6 percentage point improvement in the combined ratio to 92.7%. - Adjusted underwriting income increased to
$55 million , resulting in a 14.3 percentage point improvement in the adjusted combined ratio to 91.7%. - Management's planned initiatives to mitigate exposure as part of our continued portfolio optimization, including our decision to reduce writing certain programs, partially offset by strong new business activity in continuing lines and rate increases, resulted in
$128 million lower gross written premiums. - Increased investment income reflects higher interest rates and reinvestment of maturing assets into higher yielding core fixed income assets.
Consolidated Highlights for the Nine Months Ended
- Net income attributable to common shareholders increased significantly to
$269 million , driven by strong improvement in underwriting results, improved investment income and lower net realized and unrealized investment and foreign exchange gains/losses. - Operating income increased to
$270 million in the period, withAspen achieving an annualized operating retuon average equity of 20.7%. - Underwriting income increased to
$256 million , resulting in an 8.9 percentage point improvement in the combined ratio to 86.8%. - Adjusted underwriting income increased to
$251 million resulting in an 8.5 percentage point improvement in the adjusted combined ratio to 87.1%. - Continued growth in capital sourced by
Aspen Capital Markets to$1.5 billion as atSeptember 30, 2023 resulted in a 25% increase in fee income to$92 million . - Corporate and other expenses increased by
$15 million due to higher letter of credit fees and non-recurring project costs associated with improving our operating model, partially offset by favorable general and administrative expenses allocated to underwriting activities. - Interest expense increased by
$18 million in the period, due to interest costs on the funds withheld account on the Loss Portfolio Transfer contract with an affiliate ofEnstar Group Limited ("Enstar") ("LPT" or the "LPT contract"). - Tax expense increased by
$31 million to$41 million in the period, driven by higher pre-tax profits in our taxable jurisdictions.
3
Insurance Segment
Operating highlights for the Three and Nine Months Ended
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
||||||||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
||||||||||||
($ in millions, except for percentages) |
($ in millions, except for percentages) |
||||||||||||||||
Underwriting Revenues |
|||||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums |
$ |
615.2 |
$ |
600.8 |
2.4 % |
$ |
1,864.7 |
$ |
1,906.5 |
(2.2)% |
|||||||
Net premiums written |
$ |
367.4 |
$ |
356.5 |
3.1 % |
$ |
1,112.9 |
$ |
1,078.9 |
3.2 % |
|||||||
Net premiums earned |
$ |
368.2 |
$ |
351.5 |
4.8 % |
$ |
1,083.6 |
$ |
1,077.9 |
0.5 % |
|||||||
Underwriting Expenses |
|||||||||||||||||
Current accident year net losses and loss expenses |
$ |
213.5 |
$ |
168.7 |
$ |
624.0 |
$ |
563.7 |
|||||||||
Catastrophe losses |
15.0 |
41.1 |
32.9 |
60.8 |
|||||||||||||
Prior year reserve development, post LPT years |
10.4 |
36.5 |
15.1 |
32.8 |
|||||||||||||
Adjusted loss and loss adjustment expenses (1) |
238.9 |
246.3 |
672.0 |
657.3 |
|||||||||||||
Impact of the LPT and changes in retroactive reinsurance (2) |
36.9 |
63.4 |
23.7 |
51.1 |
|||||||||||||
Total net losses and loss expenses |
275.8 |
309.7 |
695.7 |
708.4 |
|||||||||||||
Acquisition costs |
39.4 |
48.6 |
126.6 |
141.0 |
|||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
57.6 |
60.5 |
168.2 |
177.3 |
|||||||||||||
Underwriting (loss)/income |
$ |
(4.6) |
$ |
(67.3) |
$ |
62.7 |
$ |
93.1 |
$ |
51.2 |
$ |
41.9 |
|||||
Adjusted underwriting income/(loss) (1) |
|||||||||||||||||
$ |
32.3 |
$ |
(3.9) |
$ |
116.8 |
$ |
102.3 |
||||||||||
Ratios |
|||||||||||||||||
Current accident year loss ratio, excluding catastrophe losses |
58.0 % |
48.0 % |
57.6 % |
52.3 % |
|||||||||||||
Catastrophe losses |
4.1 |
11.7 |
3.0 |
5.6 |
|||||||||||||
Current accident year loss ratio |
62.1 |
59.7 |
60.6 |
57.9 |
|||||||||||||
Prior year reserve development ratio, post LPT years |
2.8 |
10.4 |
1.4 |
3.1 |
|||||||||||||
Adjusted loss ratio (1) |
64.9 |
70.1 |
62.0 |
61.0 |
|||||||||||||
Impact of the LPT and changes in retroactive reinsurance |
10.0 |
18.0 |
2.2 |
4.7 |
|||||||||||||
Loss ratio |
74.9 |
88.1 |
64.2 |
65.7 |
|||||||||||||
Acquisition cost ratio |
10.7 |
13.8 |
11.7 |
13.1 |
|||||||||||||
General and administrative expense ratio |
15.6 |
17.2 |
15.5 |
16.4 |
|||||||||||||
Combined ratio |
101.2 % |
119.1 % |
91.4 % |
95.2 % |
|||||||||||||
Adjusted combined ratio (1) |
|||||||||||||||||
91.2 % |
101.1 % |
89.2 % |
90.5 % |
- Adjusted loss and loss adjustment expenses, adjusted underwriting income/(loss), adjusted loss ratio and adjusted combined ratio are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in SEC Regulation G. The reconciliations to the most comparable
U.S. GAAP financial measures are shown above and a discussion of the rationale for the presentation of these items is provided later in this press release. - Impact of the LPT and changes in retroactive reinsurance represents the net impact of changes in the deferral of a portion of loss recoveries on 2019 and prior accident year loss development as per accounting requirements for retroactive reinsurance under
U.S. GAAP.
4
Insurance Segment Results
During 2023,
Insurance Segment Highlights for the Three Months Ended
- Underwriting income increased by
$63 million to$(5) million (adjusted underwriting income increased by$36 million to$32 million ). - Gross written premiums increased by
$14 million or 2%, primarily due to strong new business activity within financial and professional lines, partially offset by our decision to reduce writing certain programs within our casualty and liability insurance portfolio. - The adjusted loss ratio improved by 5.2 percentage points, driven by reduced catastrophe losses and a reduction in adverse development on prior years' losses, partially offset by increased provisions in our current accident year loss ratios to proactively recognize the potential impact of higher economic uncertainty and inflation as well as the impact in business mix changes.
- The adverse impact of the LPT of
$37 million represents the net impact of changes in the deferral of a portion of loss recoveries on 2019 and prior accident year loss development as per accounting requirements for retroactive reinsurance underU.S. GAAP. - Increased cessions to
Aspen Capital Markets resulted in increased fee income which, combined with the exiting of programs with higher acquisition cost ratios, contributed to the 3.1 percentage point reduction of the insurance segment's acquisition cost ratio to 10.7%.
Insurance Segment Highlights for the Nine Months Ended
- Underwriting income increased by
$42 million to$93 million (adjusted underwriting income increased by$15 million to$117 million ). - Increased cessions to
Aspen Capital Markets resulted in increased fee income which, combined with the exiting of programs with higher acquisition cost ratios, contributed to a 1.4 percentage point reduction in the insurance segment's acquisition cost ratio. - Our strategy to reduce property exposure in our insurance segment helped to limit the impact of industry catastrophe events during 2023, reducing the loss ratio by 2.6 percentage points with prior year heavily impacted by Hurricane Ian. This has been partially offset by increased provisions in our current accident year loss ratios to proactively recognize the potential impact of higher economic uncertainty and inflation, the impact of business mix changes and an increase in estimated claims handling costs.
5
Reinsurance Segment
Operating highlights for the Three and Nine Months Ended
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
||||||||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
2023 |
2022 |
Change |
||||||||||||
($ in millions, except for percentages) |
($ in millions, except for percentages) |
||||||||||||||||
Underwriting Revenues |
|||||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums |
$ |
367.5 |
$ |
509.7 |
(27.9)% |
$ |
1,243.2 |
$ |
1,555.3 |
(20.1)% |
|||||||
Net premiums written |
$ |
261.2 |
$ |
427.6 |
(38.9)% |
$ |
866.2 |
$ |
1,211.3 |
(28.5)% |
|||||||
Net premiums earned |
$ |
291.8 |
$ |
331.6 |
(12.0)% |
$ |
863.8 |
$ |
932.4 |
(7.4)% |
|||||||
Underwriting Expenses |
|||||||||||||||||
Current accident year net losses and loss expenses |
$ |
144.4 |
$ |
145.2 |
$ |
404.0 |
$ |
432.2 |
|||||||||
Catastrophe losses |
40.7 |
143.7 |
76.2 |
216.9 |
|||||||||||||
Prior year reserve development, post LPT years |
(0.1) |
(16.9) |
1.2 |
5.5 |
|||||||||||||
Adjusted loss and loss adjustment expenses (1) |
185.0 |
272.0 |
481.4 |
654.6 |
|||||||||||||
Impact of the LPT and changes in retroactive reinsurance (2) |
(30.3) |
(34.8) |
(29.5) |
(48.4) |
|||||||||||||
Total net losses and loss expenses |
154.7 |
237.2 |
451.9 |
606.2 |
|||||||||||||
Acquisition costs |
54.9 |
60.9 |
160.6 |
185.0 |
|||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses |
29.7 |
36.2 |
88.1 |
105.9 |
|||||||||||||
Underwriting income/(loss) |
$ |
52.5 |
$ |
(2.7) |
$ |
55.2 |
$ |
163.2 |
$ |
35.3 |
$ |
127.9 |
|||||
Adjusted underwriting income/(loss) (1) |
|||||||||||||||||
$ |
22.2 |
$ |
(37.5) |
$ |
133.7 |
$ |
(13.1) |
||||||||||
Ratios |
|||||||||||||||||
Current accident year loss ratio, excluding catastrophe losses |
49.5 % |
43.8 % |
46.8 % |
46.3 % |
|||||||||||||
Catastrophe losses |
13.9 |
43.3 |
8.8 |
23.3 |
|||||||||||||
Current accident year loss ratio |
63.4 |
87.1 |
55.6 |
69.6 |
|||||||||||||
Prior year reserve development ratio, post LPT years |
- |
(5.1) |
0.1 |
0.6 |
|||||||||||||
Adjusted loss ratio (1) |
63.4 |
82.0 |
55.7 |
70.2 |
|||||||||||||
Impact of the LPT and changes in retroactive reinsurance |
(10.4) |
(10.5) |
(3.4) |
(5.2) |
|||||||||||||
Loss ratio |
53.0 |
71.5 |
52.3 |
65.0 |
|||||||||||||
Acquisition cost ratio |
18.8 |
18.4 |
18.6 |
19.8 |
|||||||||||||
General and administrative expense ratio |
10.2 |
10.9 |
10.2 |
11.4 |
|||||||||||||
Combined ratio |
82.0 % |
100.8 % |
81.1 % |
96.2 % |
|||||||||||||
Adjusted combined ratio (1) |
|||||||||||||||||
92.4 % |
111.3 % |
84.5 % |
101.4 % |
- Adjusted loss and loss adjustment expenses, adjusted underwriting income/(loss), adjusted loss ratio and adjusted combined ratio are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in SEC Regulation G. The reconciliations to the most comparable
U.S. GAAP financial measures are shown above and a discussion of the rationale for the presentation of these items is provided later in this press release. - Impact of the LPT and changes in retroactive reinsurance represents the net impact of changes in the deferral of a portion of loss recoveries on 2019 and prior accident year loss development as per accounting requirements for retroactive reinsurance under
U.S. GAAP.
6
Reinsurance Segment Results
Aspen Reinsurance offers a full suite of products organized around core products Property, Casualty and Specialty. Through our highly experienced underwriting teams which are supported by claims, modelling and actuarial functions, we have developed enduring relationships with our clients. We also provide innovative solutions to risk including utilizing
During 2023, Aspen Reinsurance has continued to focus on disciplined underwriting, reducing and repositioning our property catastrophe exposures.
Reinsurance Segment Highlights for the Three Months Ended
- Underwriting income increased by
$55 million to$53 million (adjusted underwriting income increased by$60 million to$22 million ) - Repositioning of the portfolio into higher attachment points and significant rate increase helped reduce the loss ratio which fell by 18.5 percentage points compared with prior year, with an improvement of 29.4 percentage points on the catastrophe loss ratio (note that the prior period was notably impacted by Hurricane Ian). This was partially offset by a higher attritional loss in the current year and lower favorable prior years' reserve development compared to the prior year.
- The favorable impact of the LPT of
$30 million represents the deferral of a portion of loss recoveries on 2019 and prior accident year loss development as per accounting requirements for retroactive reinsurance underU.S. GAAP. - Management's planned initiatives to reduce exposure as part of our continued portfolio optimization resulted in lower gross written premiums, primarily related to reductions in mortgage and property pro rata business as well as our previously announced exit from space, aviation, and bloodstock. These planned reductions were partially offset by strong rate increases.
Reinsurance Segment Highlights for the Nine Months Ended
- Underwriting income increased by
$128 million to$163 million (adjusted underwriting income increased by$147 million to$134 million ). - Management's planned initiatives to reduce exposure as part of our continued portfolio optimization led to a decrease in gross written premiums of
$312 million , or 20%, primarily related to reductions in mortgage and property pro rata business as well as our previously announced exit from space, aviation, and bloodstock. These planned reductions were partially offset by strong rate increases. - Net catastrophe exposure have been further reduced through increased cessions to
Aspen Capital Markets on our property reinsurance lines, with premiums ceded to reinsurers as a percentage of gross written premium in the period, increasing to 30% compared with 22% in the prior period. - The catastrophe loss ratio improved by 14.4 percentage points due to lower catastrophe losses in the period. The prior period catastrophe losses were adversely impacted, primarily due to Hurricane Ian, by
$102 million . - The acquisition cost ratio improved by 1.4 percentage points due to changes in business mix, partially offset by an increase in profit commissions due to favorable loss performance.
7
Investment performance
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
|||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||
(in $ |
million, except percentages) |
(in $ |
million, except percentages) |
|||||||||
Net investment income |
$ |
77.9 |
$ |
47.7 |
$ |
207.3 |
$ |
136.4 |
||||
Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) from trading portfolios recognized in net income (1) |
(1.8) |
(61.7) |
16.2 |
(188.1) |
||||||||
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) on available for sale investments (gross of tax) (2) |
(45.0) |
(129.8) |
(32.7) |
(445.8) |
||||||||
Total return/(loss) on investments |
$ |
31.1 |
$ |
(143.8) |
$ |
190.8 |
$ |
(497.5) |
||||
Average cash and investments |
$ |
7,312.9 |
$ |
7,311.0 |
$ |
7,168.5 |
$ |
7,519.5 |
||||
Total annualized retuon average cash and investments, pre-tax |
1.7 % |
(7.9)% |
3.5 % |
(8.8)% |
||||||||
Fixed Income Portfolio Characteristics |
As at |
|||||||||||
Book yield |
3.7 % |
3.2 % |
||||||||||
Average duration |
2.6 years |
3.0 years |
||||||||||
Average credit rating |
A+ |
AA- |
- Includes net unrealized gains of
$6.8 million for the quarter (2022 -$(52.0) million ), and$28.6 million gains for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2023 (2022 -$(142.9) million ). - The tax impact of the change in unrealized gains/(losses) on available for sale investments was an expense of
$0.2 million for the quarter (2022 -$24.9 million ), and an expense of$1.8 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2023 (2022 - benefit of$4.6 million ). -
- Net investment income of
$78 million in the quarter, increased by$30 million , or 63%, compared to the third quarter of 2022, as a result of active repositioning of our investments to take advantage of higher interest rates. - Net unrealized gains/(losses) on available for sale investments recognized as other comprehensive income was a loss of
$45 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2023 . The change in net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses is a result of valuation changes, predominantly driven by the higher interest rates in the quarter. - The total return, pre-tax, on
Aspen's cash and investments was 1.7% in the quarter, compared to (7.9)% in the third quarter of 2022, and reflects the increase in net investment income and the impact of changes in net realized and unrealized gains and losses. - The sovereign downgrade of the
U.S. Government by Fitch Ratings inAugust 2023 , affected approximately 40% of the core fixed income portfolio. As a result,Aspen's average credit rating of the fixed income securities reduced to "A+" as ofSeptember 30, 2023 .
- Net investment income of
8
Shareholders' equity and debt
- Total shareholders' equity was
$2,535 million as ofSeptember 30, 2023 , an increase of$197 million , compared with$2,358 million as ofDecember 31, 2022 . This is primarily due to net income of$305 million , partially offset by ordinary and preference dividends totaling$76 million and other comprehensive loss of$52 million primarily in relation to valuation changes related to investments classified as available for sale. - On
November 9, 2023 ,Aspen drew down on the$300 million term loan facility and the proceeds were used to settle the$300 million 4.65% Senior Notes dueNovember 15, 2023 .
Earnings materials
The earnings press release for the three and nine months ended
For further information please contact
+44 20 7184 8455
9
Summary condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) $ in millions
As at September |
As at December |
||||
30, 2023 |
31, 2022 |
||||
ASSETS |
|||||
Total investments |
$ |
6,303.2 |
$ |
6,085.8 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
988.8 |
959.2 |
|||
Reinsurance recoverables |
5,429.9 |
5,635.0 |
|||
Premiums receivable |
1,760.7 |
1,661.8 |
|||
Other assets |
708.3 |
815.5 |
|||
Total assets |
$ |
15,190.9 |
$ |
15,157.3 |
|
LIABILITIES |
|||||
Losses and loss adjustment expenses reserves |
$ |
7,770.8 |
$ |
7,710.9 |
|
Unearned premiums |
2,592.6 |
2,457.5 |
|||
Other payables |
1,992.5 |
2,331.0 |
|||
Short-term debt |
299.9 |
299.9 |
|||
Total liabilities |
$ |
12,655.8 |
$ |
12,799.3 |
|
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|||||
Ordinary shares |
$ |
0.6 |
$ |
0.6 |
|
Preference shares |
753.5 |
753.5 |
|||
Additional paid-in capital |
761.2 |
761.2 |
|||
Retained earnings |
1,578.2 |
1,349.0 |
|||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax |
(558.4) |
(506.3) |
|||
Total shareholders' equity |
2,535.1 |
2,358.0 |
|||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
$ |
15,190.9 |
$ |
15,157.3 |
|
10
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