Q3 2014 Results

LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED

GROWTH IN FULLY CONVERTED BOOK VALUE PER SHARE, ADJUSTED FOR
DIVIDENDS, OF 1.6% IN Q3 2014, 8.1% YEAR TO DATE
COMBINED RATIO OF 82.4% IN Q3 2014, 74.5% YEAR TO DATE
SPECIAL DIVIDEND OF $1.20 PER COMMON SHARE
FULLY CONVERTED BOOK VALUE PER SHARE OF $7.74 AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

London, UK

Lancashire Holdings Limited (“Lancashire” or “the Group”) today announces its results for the third quarter of 2014 and the nine month period ended 30 September 2014.

Financial highlights:

* Return on equity is defined as growth in fully converted book value per share, adjusted for dividends.
** See “Dividends” below for Record Date and Dividend Payment Date.

Financial highlights:

*** These amounts are attributable to Lancashire and exclude non-controlling interests.
**** Net return on investments includes internal FX hedges

Alex Maloney, Group Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“2014 has been a challenging year for the specialty insurance market as we are firmly in the soft phase of the underwriting cycle. But managing the cycle is one of the key skills of the Lancashire Group of companies. The market is probably the toughest it has been in Lancashire’s history, but we have the right people, the right strategy and the right platforms to manage the cycle. As a long-standing leader in the specialty insurance and reinsurance lines, the silver lining of the highly competitive market is the ability for Lancashire to maintain its core inwards portfolio while managing net exposures through greatly improved pricing, terms and conditions on the outward placements. Lancashire has always said that we focus on the risk-adjusted return, and our net risk for both catastrophe and non-catastrophe exposures is now at an historically low level.

The quarter has had some losses with a combined ratio of 82.4%, but overall the year to date combined ratio of 74.5% is a very strong result. Given the nature of the Lancashire portfolio, individual quarters can fluctuate on the basis of events that are not truly significant on an annual view. The key is that Lancashire, Cathedral and Kinesis are continuing to manage the soft cycle phase with excellent combined ratios, which we believe are the strongest correlator to increasing book value per share over time factoring in our dividend. We continue to focus our resources on our underwriting and the addition of the new Cathedral Aviation teams demonstrates our commitment to making sure we have the best people and platforms for our business.

The market is not without challenges, but the Lancashire business model was always designed in the knowledge that we have to cater for all phases of the cycle. The work we have done over the last couple of years in widening the base of our income, and adding to our underwriting resources, reinforces our ability to trade successfully through all conditions. We are continuing to match our capital to the available opportunity and the current repurchase of our shares, as well as the announcement of our special dividend, are a continuing demonstration of the active management of our business throughout the cycle.”

Elaine Whelan, Group Chief Financial Officer, commented:

“Performance for the quarter was fairly average, with an RoE of 1.6%, bringing us to 8.1% for the year. While the US wind season was quiet, we experienced a higher number of attritional risk losses in the quarter. With a combination of concerns around Federal Reserve actions and geopolitical fears, treasury yields rose and credit spreads widened. That, along with currency depreciation against the dollar, led to a small loss on our investment portfolio. With currency hedging in place, underlying portfolio performance was flat.

With no meaningful change in our outlook for the coming renewal season, we don’t need as much capital as we are currently carrying. The announcement of our special dividend and dividend equivalent payments of approximately $250 million brings our total capital return since inception to just under $2.2 billion, or 99.5% of total comprehensive income since inception. The special dividend represents a return of 173.3% of comprehensive income for the year to date.”

Lancashire Companies’ Renewal Price Index for major classes

The Lancashire Companies’ Renewal Price Index (“RPI”) is an internal methodology that management uses to track trends in premium rates on a portfolio of insurance and reinsurance contracts. The RPI is calculated on a per contract basis and reflects the Lancashire Companies’ assessment of relative changes in price, terms, conditions and limits on like for like renewals only, and is weighted by premium volume (see “Note Regarding RPI Methodology” at the end of this announcement for further guidance). The RPI does not include new business and only covers business written by the Lancashire Companies to offer a consistent basis for analysis and therefore does not include Cathedral’s Lloyd’s business. The following RPIs are expressed as an approximate percentage of pricing achieved on similar contracts written in 2013:

* There was no renewing Gulf of Mexico energy business written in Q3 2014.

Underwriting results

Gross premiums written

Gross premiums written increased by 21.7% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. In 2014 to date, gross premiums written increased by 43.4% compared to the first nine months of 2013. The increase in premiums is derived primarily from the new Lloyd’s segment following the acquisition of Cathedral in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Group’s five principal segments, and the key market factors impacting them, are discussed below.

Property gross premiums written decreased by 29.2% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and decreased by 18.0% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013. The decrease in the quarter is largely due to non-renewals in the property catastrophe and political risk books. In the property catastrophe class some multi-year deals written in the third quarter of 2013 were not up for renewal yet. Other contracts were non-renewed due to worsening terms and conditions. The political and sovereign risk classes tend to have less renewal business as policies often relate to specific one-off projects. The non-renewal of long term deals written in the political and sovereign risk classes in the third quarter of 2013 was offset to an extent by new business in these classes. For the year to date the decrease is driven primarily by reductions in the property retrocession book at the 01 January 2014 renewals, offset in part by the expansion of our property catastrophe excess of loss book. As property retrocession rates, terms and conditions continued to worsen, we redeployed capital to property catastrophe excess of loss, adding some new business and restructuring some existing programs for core clients, including writing some business on a multi-year basis.

Energy gross premiums written decreased by 4.3% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and increased by 18.6% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013. The third quarter of 2014 included the cancellation of a large multi-year contract in the Gulf of Mexico class plus some non-renewals of long term contracts in the energy construction class. These reductions were almost entirely offset by increases in the worldwide offshore energy book, largely due to non-annual contracts renewing. The increase for the year to date is driven primarily by the Gulf of Mexico book where a number of both new and renewing deals were written on a multi-year basis. Volumes across other energy lines are fairly flat on a year to date basis.

Marine gross premiums written increased by 7.9% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and increased by 13.5% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013. The dollar value of the increase in premiums quarter on quarter is minimal. The increase for year to date is largely due to non-annual contract renewals in the marine hull subclass in the second quarter of 2014.

Aviation gross premiums written decreased by 15.7% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and increased by 34.8% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013. The decrease in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 is due to the timing of satellite launches. The increase in aviation satellite for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same periods in 2013 is mainly due to further new satellite business plus additional satellite launches on contracts written in previous years. The small increase in AV52 premiums written in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013 is driven by adjustments to prior year contracts in addition to an increase in exposures.

The third quarter of 2014 reflects the third full quarter of gross premiums written attributable to the Lloyd’s segment since the Cathedral acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Lloyd’s segment gross premiums written in the third quarter were $50.3 million, $1.3 million or 2.5% lower than the corresponding quarter of 2013 (prior to the acquisition) and $240.5 million for the nine months to 30 September 2014, $13.5 million or 5.3% lower than the corresponding period in 2013. For both the quarter and year to date, while there have been decreases across the existing book of business due to declining rates, these have been offset by the new energy, terror and aviation classes of business being written by Syndicate 3010.

*******

Ceded reinsurance premiums increased by $11.1 million, or 326.5%, for the quarter and increased by $35.1 million, or 29.3%, for the nine month period to 30 September 2014, in each case compared to the same periods in 2013. The increase in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 is predominately due to the new Lloyd’s segment. In the nine month period to 30 September 2013, $47.7 million of premiums were ceded to the Accordion sidecar. The Accordion quota share contract was commuted in the first quarter of 2014 and no further premiums have been ceded to the facility this year. This reduction was more than offset by $61.1 million of ceded premiums in relation to the Lloyd’s segment. Lancashire also took advantage of lower reinsurance rates to purchase some new non-marine retrocession aggregate cover and to restructure and increase limits for the marine, energy and terror programmes.

*******

Net premiums earned as a proportion of net premiums written were 130.5% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to 110.2% for the same period in 2013 and 85.5% in the nine months to 30 September 2014, compared to 91.9% in the same period in 2013. The increase for the quarter to date compared to the same period in 2013 is largely due to the new Lloyd’s book where the majority of business is written in the first half of the year; earnings are therefore typically higher during the third quarter. The decreased percentage in premiums earned for the year to date compared to the same period in 2013 reflects the impact of increased multi-year premiums written in the property catastrophe and energy Gulf of Mexico classes in 2014.

*******

The Group’s net loss ratio for the third quarter of 2014 was 44.8% compared to 56.4% for the same period in 2013 and 37.9% for the nine month period to 30 September 2014 compared to 34.7% for the same period in 2013. While there were no significant losses in the third quarter or the first nine months of 2014, we experienced higher attritional losses in both our aviation and Lloyd’s segments. Other lines had relatively low reported losses, although there was some negative development on prior accident year mid-sized marine and energy claims in the first nine months of 2014. For the first nine months of 2013 attritional losses were exceptionally low and the first quarter of 2013 included the benefit of the settlement reached for our North East Industry Loss Warranty (“ILW”).

Prior year favourable development for the third quarter of 2014 was $11.3 million, compared to $0.4 million for the third quarter of 2013. Favourable development was $9.4 million for the nine months to 30 September 2014, compared to favourable development of $7.7 million for the same period in 2013, which included the ILW settlement mentioned above.

The following tables show the impact of prior year development on the Group’s loss ratio:

Note: Adjusted losses and ratio excludes prior year development.

Note: Adjusted loss ratio excludes large losses and prior year development.

The table below provides further detail of the prior year’s loss development by class, excluding the impact of foreign exchange revaluations.

Note: Positive numbers denote favourable development.

The accident year loss ratio for the third quarter of 2014, including the impact of foreign exchange revaluations, was 50.1% compared to 57.4% for the same period in 2013. The year to date accident year loss ratio was 39.4% compared to 36.8% for the nine months to 30 September 2013. The 2014 accident year loss ratio for the quarter and nine months ended 30 September 2014 did not include any significant large losses. The corresponding periods of 2013 also included low levels of current accident year losses.

Excluding the impact of foreign exchange revaluations, previous accident years’ ultimate losses developed as follows during 2014 and 2013:

Note: Positive numbers denote favourable development.

The ratio of IBNR to total net loss reserves was 29.9% at 30 September 2014 compared to 31.5% at 30 September 2013.

Investments

Net investment income was $6.7 million for the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 9.8% from the third quarter of 2013. Net investment income was $21.4 million for the nine months ended 30 September 2014, an increase of 14.4% compared to the same period in 2013. The increase for both the quarter and year to date compared to the same periods of 2013 is mainly due to the increased size of the investment portfolio resulting from the acquisition of Cathedral. Total investment return, including net investment income, net other investment income, net realised gains and losses, impairments and net change in unrealised gains and losses, was a loss of $1.8 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to a gain of $8.4 million for the third quarter of 2013, and was a gain of $18.3 million for the nine months ended 30 September 2014 compared to $0.3 million for the same period in 2013. Increasing treasury yields combined with widening credit spreads led to negative returns in the Group’s fixed income portfolio for the quarter. This partly reduced gains from the first half of 2014 from decreasing treasury yields and narrowing credit spreads. In the corresponding period of 2013, strong returns in our bank loan and emerging market debt portfolios in the third quarter offset the losses of the first half of 2013 with resulting portfolio performance flat for the year to date.

The corporate bond allocation represents 29.1% of managed invested assets at 30 September 2014 compared to 26.0% at 30 September 2013. At 30 September 2014 the Group’s allocation to bank loans represents 5.6% of the portfolio compared to 3.5% at 30 September 2013. The Group’s portfolio also includes a 4.0% allocation to a diversified portfolio of low volatility hedge funds.

The managed portfolio was as follows:

Key investment portfolio statistics are:

Lancashire Capital Management

The $1.8 million and $4.3 million share of profit of associates for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, respectively, mostly reflects Lancashire’s 10% equity interest in the Kinesis vehicle. The share of profit of associates of $2.5 million for the third quarter of 2013 and $8.7 million for the nine months to 30 September 2013 was related to the Accordion and Saltire vehicles.

Other income recorded in the third quarter reflects the underwriting fee of $2.9 million that Kinesis Capital Management earned for providing underwriting services to the Kinesis vehicle, and $0.4 million of profit commission and managing agency fees relating to the Lloyd’s segment. For the nine months to 30 September 2014 other income includes $4.3 million for underwriting services to the Kinesis vehicle, $3.9 million of profit commission and managing agency fees relating to the Lloyd’s segment and $3.0 million of final profit commission from the Saltire vehicle. During the first quarter of 2014 final profit commission of $6.7 million was also received from the Accordion vehicle; this was recorded in net insurance acquisition costs.

Other operating expenses

Operating expenses consist of the following items:

Employee remuneration costs were higher in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in the prior year largely due to the retirement of the CEO. A slight increase in headcount also contributed to increased employee remuneration costs for both the third quarter of 2014 and the nine months to 30 September 2014 compared to the same periods in 2013. The third quarter of 2014 and the nine months to 30 September 2014 included reversals of employee national insurance accruals in relation to equity compensation exercises driven by both the timing of exercises and fluctuations in the share price. Other operating expenses included $1.5 million for the third quarter of 2014 and $8.4 million for the nine months to 30 September 2014 relating to the amortisation of intangible assets arising on the acquisition of Cathedral in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The Lloyd’s segment in the third quarter includes $4.8 million of employee remuneration costs and $3.3 million of other operating expenses. The employee remuneration costs and other operating expenses for the corresponding quarter of 2013 (prior to the acquisition) were $1.3 million and $2.7 million, respectively. For the nine months to 30 September 2014 the Lloyd’s segment includes $12.8 million of employee remuneration costs and $8.4 million of other operating expenses compared to $14.4 million and $8.0 million, respectively, for the same period in 2013 (prior to the acquisition). Cathedral employee remuneration costs include profit related pay provisions, which are accrued on a results basis and can vary from quarter to quarter.

Equity based compensation was $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to $4.6 million in the same period last year. For the nine months to 30 September 2014 and 2013 the charge was $14.4 million and $11.8 million, respectively.

Capital

At 30 September 2014, total capital available to Lancashire was $1.858 billion, comprising shareholders’ equity of $1.530 billion and $328 million of long-term debt. Tangible capital was $1.705 billion. Leverage was 17.7% on total capital and 19.3% on total tangible capital. Total capital and total tangible capital at 30 September 2013 was $1.749 billion.

Repurchase program

During the third quarter of 2014, under the current Repurchase Program ratified at the Annual General Meeting on 30 April 2014, the Group commenced the repurchase of its own shares by way of market purchases. $8.4 million of shares were repurchased during the third quarter of 2014 compared to $nil in the same period in the prior year.

Warrants

The outstanding warrants to purchase the Company’s common shares were issued on 16 December 2005 and expire on 16 December 2015. We saw a higher volume of warrant exercises during 2014, relative to prior year, and would expect this trend to continue until expiry. Warrant exercises during the quarter were as follows:

Dividends

During the third quarter of 2014, the Lancashire Board of Directors declared an interim dividend for 2014 of $0.05 (£0.03) per common share. The dividends and dividend equivalent payments, totaling $10.4 million in aggregate, were paid on 24 September 2014 to shareholders of record on 29 August 2014.

Special Dividend

Lancashire today announces that its Board of Directors has declared a special dividend for 2014 of $1.20 per common share (approximately £0.75 per common share at the current exchange rate), which will result in an aggregate payment of approximately $226.4 million. The dividend will be paid in Pounds Sterling on 19 December 2014 (the “Dividend Payment Date”) to shareholders of record on 28 November 2014 (the “Record Date”) using the £ / $ spot market exchange rate at 12 Noon London time on the Record Date.

Shareholders interested in participating in the dividend reinvestment plan (“DRIP”) or other services including international payment, are encouraged to contact the Group registrars, Capita Registrars for more details at: http://www.capitaassetservices.com/products-and-services/shareholders-investors.cshtml

In addition to the interim dividend payment to shareholders, a dividend equivalent payment of approximately $22.7 million in aggregate will be paid on the Dividend Payment Date to holders of share warrants issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of the warrants.

The Group will continue to review the appropriate level and composition of capital for the Group with the intention of managing capital to enhance risk-adjusted returns on equity.

Note: In this release the term “Cathedral” means Cathedral Capital Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Lancashire) and its subsidiaries and the term “Lancashire Companies” means the subsidiaries of Lancashire excluding Cathedral.

Financial information

Further details of our 2014 third quarter results can be obtained from our Financial Supplement. This can be accessed via our website www.lancashiregroup.com.

Analyst and Investor Earnings Conference Call

There will be an analyst and investor conference call on the results at 1:00pm UK time / 8:00am EST on Wednesday, 05 November 2014. The conference call will be hosted by Lancashire management.

The call can be accessed by dialling +44 (0) 203 139 4830 / + 1 718 873 9077 (Toll Free UK +44 (0) 808 237 0030 / Toll Free US + 1 866 928 7517) all with the confirmation code 66200845#. The call can also be accessed via webcast, please go to our website (www.lancashiregroup.com) to access.

A replay facility will be available until Thursday, 04 December 2014. The dial in number for the replay facility is Toll +44 (0) 203 426 2807 or Toll Free UK +44 (0) 808 237 0026 with passcode 650753#. The replay facility will also be accessible at www.lancashiregroup.com

For further information, please contact:

Investor enquiries and questions can also be directed to [email protected] or by accessing the Group's website at www.lancashiregroup.com.