Endurance Specialty : Reports Strong Underlying Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

PEMBROKE, Bermuda - August 1, 2016 - Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:ENH) today reported net income available to common shareholders of $76.6 million and $1.14 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2016 versus net income of $76.0 million and $1.68 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2015.

For the six months ended June 30, 2016, Endurance reported net income available to common shareholders of $183.0 million and $2.72 per diluted common share versus net income of $176.3 million and $3.91 per diluted common share for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Book value per diluted common share was $68.20 at June 30, 2016, up 4.2% from December 31, 2015.

John R. Charman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Endurance's second quarter results demonstrated strong underlying underwriting profitability as reflected by our combined ratio of 92.6%. Our embedded risk management practices aligned with our comprehensive reinsurance and retrocessional programs enabled us to achieve underwriting profitability in both business segments despite a number of severe global catastrophes and large risk losses across the industry. Our solid underwriting results benefited from our increased scalability and focused expense management resulting in a significantly improved general and administrative expense ratio." 

"Strategically, the second quarter reflected our continued focused and diversified core underwriting expansion as evidenced by the 32.0% growth in our gross written premiums. In addition to our targeted growth across our global businesses, our successful renewal of the Montpelier portfolio also helped drive our expansion. The quick, effective and successful integration of Montpelier has enabled us to exceed our expense and capital synergy objectives; those important benefits are now clearly visible in our financial results.  Endurance is well equipped and very well positioned to thrive in the current market, which is showing increasing signs of moderation."

Operating Highlights

Operating highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 were as follows:

• Gross premiums written of $1,136.9 million, an increase of 32.0% compared to the same period in 2015.
• Net premiums written of $717.8 million, an increase of 28.4% compared to the same period in 2015.
• Combined ratio of 92.6% compared to 85.5% for the same period in 2015.
• An overall net negative financial impact from catastrophe losses in the second quarter of 2016, including the Fort McMurray wildfires in Canada, the convective storms in Texas and Europe and the Kumamoto earthquake in Japan of $55.5 million, consisting of net loss expenses of $73.6 million partially offset by $11.1 million in net reinstatement premiums and $7.0 million of amounts attributable to non-controlling interests.
• Net loss ratio of 62.7% compared to 52.2% for the same period in 2015. The net loss ratio for the current quarter was impacted by 11.3 percentage points of catastrophe losses from second quarter 2016 events and also included favorable prior year loss reserve development of $58.6 million or 9.8 percentage points compared to $58.8 million or 12.8 percentage points for the second quarter of 2015.
• Net investment income of $44.0 million, an increase of $11.7 million from the same period in 2015.
• Net foreign exchange gains included in net income were $32.8 million, while foreign currency translation adjustments included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were losses of $37.7 million for the second quarter of 2016.
• Net income available to common shareholders of $76.6 million and $1.14 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2016 versus net income of $76.0 million and $1.68 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2015. Operating income of $54.8 million and $0.81 per diluted common share, a decrease of 31.1% and 54.0%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2015.
• Net income return on average common equity for the quarter of 1.7% or 6.7% on an annualized basis. Operating income return on average common equity for the quarter of 1.2% or 4.8% on an annualized basis.

Operating highlights for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were as follows:

• Gross premiums written of $2,748.6 million, an increase of 27.1% compared to the same period in 2015.
• Net premiums written of $1,656.6 million, an increase of 25.1% compared to the same period in 2015.
• Combined ratio of 85.5% compared to 84.1% for the same period in 2015.
• An overall net negative financial impact from catastrophe losses in 2016 of $61.6 million, consisting of net loss expenses of $79.9 million partially offset by $11.2 million in net reinstatement premiums and $7.1 million of amounts attributable to non-controlling interests.       
• Net loss ratio of 53.7% compared to 48.5% for the same period in 2015, which was impacted by 6.4 percentage points of catastrophe losses from 2016 events. The net loss ratio for the current period also included favorable prior year loss reserve development of $119.7 million or 10.4 percentage points compared to $116.0 million or 13.7 percentage points for the same period in 2015.
• Net investment income of $55.2 million, a decrease of $19.0 million over the same period in 2015.
• Net foreign exchange gains included in net income were $44.5 million, while foreign currency translation adjustments included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were losses of $50.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016.
• Net income available to common shareholders of $183.0 million and $2.72 per diluted common share versus net income of $176.3 million and $3.91 per diluted common share for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Operating income of $139.2 million and $2.07 per diluted common share, a decrease of 18.5% and 45.2% compared to the same period in 2015.

Insurance Segment

Operating highlights for Endurance's Insurance segment for the quarter ended June 30, 2016:

• Gross premiums written of $593.7 million, an increase of $124.8 million or 26.6% from the second quarter of 2015.
  • Non-agriculture lines of business, which include casualty and other specialty, professional lines and property, marine/energy and aviation lines of business grew 47.6% from a year ago driven by the expansion of the Company's underwriting capabilities by product and geography over the last three years as well as from the renewal and expansion of business written within the Company's Lloyd's syndicate acquired from Montpelier in 2015.
  • The agriculture insurance line of business declined 40.3% compared to a year ago as a result of lower commodity prices and the timing of premiums written.
• Net premiums written of $239.6 million, an increase of $49.3 million or 25.9% from the second quarter of 2015.
  • Non-agriculture lines of business increased 44.7% due to strong growth in gross premiums written combined with a similar percentage of premiums ceded to third party reinsurers compared to a year ago.
  • The agriculture line of business decreased 113.1% due to the timing of third party reinsurance contract placements year over year.
• Combined ratio of 93.2% compared to 95.2% for the same period in 2015.
  • The net loss ratio improved 3.8 percentage points to 68.4% compared to 72.2% for the same period in 2015. The current period's net loss ratio included favorable prior year loss reserve development of $24.2 million or 9.5 percentage points and catastrophe losses of $4.4 million or 1.7 percentage points from second quarter 2016 events. The current accident year net loss ratio of 77.9% improved 3.5 percentage points as lower losses within the agriculture, professional lines, and the property, marine/energy and aviation lines of business were partially offset by a higher current accident year net loss ratio within the casualty and other specialty line of business.
  • The general and administrative expense ratio decreased 2.4 percentage points, reflecting earned premium growth that outpaced the increase of the Company's expense base as a result of improved scale in the Company's expanding insurance business and a greater amount of ceding commissions received.
  • The acquisition expense ratio increased 4.2 percentage points in the current quarter as non-agriculture lines of business with higher acquisition costs accounted for a greater percentage of earned premiums compared to a year ago.

Operating highlights for Endurance's Insurance segment for the six months ended June 30, 2016:

• Gross premiums written of $1,428.8 million, an increase of $223.7 million or 18.6% over the same period in 2015.
• Net premiums written of $610.5 million, an increase of 23.5% over the same period in 2015.
• Combined ratio of 91.5% compared to 92.2% for the same period in 2015. The combined ratio was impacted by lower net loss and general and administrative expense ratios, partially offset by a higher acquisition expense ratio. The current period's net loss ratio included $47.4 million or 10.0 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development and catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, from 2016 events of $4.4 million or 0.9 percentage points.

Reinsurance Segment

Operating highlights for Endurance's Reinsurance segment for the quarter ended June 30, 2016:

• Gross premiums written of $543.2 million, an increase of $150.9 million or 38.5% from the second quarter of 2015.
  • The catastrophe and property lines of business increased $97.2 million, predominantly due to the successful targeted renewals of acquired Montpelier business, partially offset by non-renewals and line size reductions.
  • The specialty line of business increased $18.1 million largely due to growth in marine, agriculture and aviation, as global underwriting teams added over the past three years continue to identify profitable new opportunities.
  • The casualty line of business increased $34.1 million, predominantly driven by new business within the Company's international and U.S. offices partially offset by select non-renewals.
• Net premiums written of $478.2 million, an increase of $109.4 million or 29.7% from the second quarter of 2015. The increase in net premiums written was driven by increased gross written premiums, partially offset by greater third party retrocessional protection purchased for the catastrophe and  specialty lines of business.
• Combined ratio of 88.7% compared to 73.0% for the same period in 2015.
  • The current period's net loss ratio of 58.5% increased 22.0 percentage points compared to 2015.  Net catastrophe losses from second quarter 2016 events impacted the net loss ratio by 18.7 percentage points and were $69.1 million before reinstatement premiums of $11.1 million.  The increase in the current quarter accident year net loss ratio of 16.3 percentage points was predominantly due to catastrophe losses being 14.8 percentage points higher in the current quarter compared to a year ago.  The current period's net loss ratio included favorable prior year loss reserve development of $34.4 million or 10.0 percentage points.
  • The 3.3 percentage point improvement in the current quarter's acquisition expense ratio was largely due to the earning of premiums acquired from Montpelier that do not have related acquisition costs as these costs were written off on the acquisition date.
  • The general and administrative expense ratio declined 3.0 percentage points in the second quarter of 2016 primarily as a result of leveraging increased earned premiums on an expense base that benefited from increased ceding commissions received.

Operating highlights for Endurance's Reinsurance segment for the six months ended June 30, 2016:

• Gross premiums written of $1,319.8 million, an increase of $362.3 million or 37.8% over the same period in 2015.
• Net premiums written of $1,046.1 million, an increase of 26.1% over the same period in 2015.
• Combined ratio of 77.9%, compared to 73.8% for the same period in 2015. The combined ratio was impacted by a higher net loss ratio partially offset by lower acquisition and general and administrative expense ratios. The current period's net loss ratio included $72.4 million or 10.6 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development and 10.4 percentage points of net catastrophe losses from 2016 events, which amounted to $75.5 million before reinstatement premiums of $11.2 million.

Investments

Endurance's net investment income for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 was $44.0 million and $55.2 million, an increase of $11.7 million and decrease of $19.0 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2015. The total investment return of Endurance's investment portfolio was 1.14% and 2.07% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared to (0.39)% and 0.89% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively.

Net investment income benefited from increases in investment income generated from Endurance's trading and available for sale investments for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 due to an increase in invested assets. During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016, Endurance's net investment income on its alternative investment funds and high yield loan funds, which are included in other investments, included gains of $5.3 million and losses of $23.0 million, as compared to gains of $3.6 million and $16.0 million in the same periods in 2015. The ending book yield on Endurance's fixed maturity investments at June 30, 2016 was 2.27%, unchanged from June 30, 2015.

At June 30, 2016, Endurance's fixed maturity and short term investments, which comprises 82.7% of Endurance's investments, had an average credit quality of AA- and a duration of 2.57 years. Endurance's available for sale portfolio was in a net unrealized gain position of $104.0 million at June 30, 2016, an increase of $116.6 million from December 31, 2015. Endurance recorded net realized and unrealized investment losses, net of impairments, of $3.5 million and gains of $9.7 million during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016, compared to gains of $9.3 million and $26.8 million during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2015.

Endurance ended the second quarter of 2016 with cash and invested assets of $8.6 billion, which represents a 3.0% decrease from December 31, 2015. Net operating cash inflow was $34.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 versus $23.5 million for the same period in 2015.

Capitalization and Shareholders' Equity

At June 30, 2016, Endurance's shareholders' equity was $5.10 billion or $68.20 per diluted common share versus $5.12 billion or $65.48 per diluted common share at December 31, 2015. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016, Endurance declared and paid common dividends of $0.38 and $0.76 per share, respectively.

On June 1, 2016, Endurance redeemed all 9,200,000 shares outstanding of its 7.5% Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares, Series B, for $230.0 million.

Earnings Call

Endurance will host a conference call on August 2, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed via telephone by dialing (888) 417-8465 or (719) 325-2323 (international) and entering pass code: 181429. Those who intend to participate in the conference call should register at least ten minutes in advance to ensure access to the call. A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through August 16, 2016 by dialing (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820 (international) and entering the pass code: 181429.

The public may access a live broadcast of the conference call at the "Investor Relations" section of Endurance's website, www.endurance.bm. Following the live broadcast, an archived version will continue to be available on Endurance's website.

A copy of Endurance's financial supplement for the second quarter of 2016 will be available on Endurance's website at www.endurance.bm shortly after the release of earnings.

Operating income, operating return on average common equity, operating income per diluted common share, operating income allocated to common shareholders and the combined ratio excluding prior year net loss reserve development are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of these measures to the appropriate GAAP measures are included in the attached tables.

About Endurance Specialty Holdings

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. is a global specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. Through its operating subsidiaries, Endurance writes agriculture, casualty and other specialty, professional lines and property, marine/energy and aviation lines of insurance and catastrophe, property, casualty, professional lines and specialty lines of reinsurance. We maintain excellent financial strength as evidenced by the ratings of A (Excellent) from A.M. Best (XV size category) and A (Strong) from Standard and Poor's on our principal operating subsidiaries. Endurance's headquarters are located at Waterloo House, 100 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda and its mailing address is Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., Suite No. 784, No. 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.  For more information about Endurance, please visit www.endurance.bm.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may include, and Endurance may make related oral forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such statements may include forward-looking statements both with respect to us in general and the insurance and reinsurance sectors specifically, both as to underwriting and investment matters. Statements which include the words "should," "would," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "target," "anticipate," "seek," "will," "deliver," and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements in this press release for purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or may be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effects of competitors' pricing policies, greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity, changes in market conditions in the agriculture insurance industry, termination of or changes in the terms of the U.S. multiple peril crop insurance program, a decreased demand for property and casualty insurance or reinsurance, changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance or retrocessional coverage, our inability to renew business previously underwritten or acquired, our inability to maintain our applicable financial strength ratings, our inability to effectively integrate acquired operations, uncertainties in our reserving process, changes to our tax status, changes in insurance regulations, reduced acceptance of our existing or new products and services, a loss of business from and credit risk related to our broker counterparties, assessments for high risk or otherwise uninsured individuals, possible terrorism or the outbreak of war, a loss of key personnel, political conditions, changes in insurance regulation, changes in accounting policies, our investment performance, the valuation of our invested assets, a breach of our investment guidelines, the unavailability of capital in the future, developments in the world's financial and capital markets and our access to such markets, government intervention in the insurance and reinsurance industry, illiquidity in the credit markets, changes in general economic conditions and other factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in Endurance's most recent Annual report on Form 10-K and other documents of Endurance on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made in this material are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Endurance will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Endurance or its business or operations. Except as required by law, Endurance undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

The contents of any website referenced in this press release are not incorporated by reference herein.

Contact:
Investor Relations
Phone: +1 441 278 0988
Email: investorrelations@endurance.bm

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of United States dollars, except share and per share amounts)

Note: All financial information contained herein is unaudited, except the balance sheet data for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was derived from Endurance's audited financial statements.
[a] Excludes the $230.0 million at June 30, 2016 (December 31, 2015 - $460.0 million) liquidation value of the preferred shares.
[b] The Company has included diluted book value per common share because it takes into account the effect of dilutive securities; therefore, the Company believes it is a better measure of calculating shareholder returns than book value per common share.
ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands of United States dollars, except share and per share amounts)

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
(in thousands of United States dollars, except ratios)

[a] The total general and administrative expense ratio includes general and administrative expenses and corporate expenses.

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
(in thousands of United States dollars, except ratios)

[a] The total general and administrative expense ratio includes general and administrative expenses and corporate expenses.

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
(in thousands of United States dollars, except ratios)

[a] General and administrative expense ratio includes general and administrative expenses and corporate expenses.

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
(in thousands of United States dollars, except ratios)

[a] General and administrative expense ratio includes general and administrative expenses and corporate expenses.

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RATIOS

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RATIOS

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
GROSS AND NET PREMIUMS WRITTEN BY SEGMENT
(in thousands of United States dollars)

The following tables show Endurance's gross and net premiums written for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
GROSS AND NET PREMIUMS WRITTEN BY SEGMENT
(in thousands of United States dollars)

The following tables show Endurance's gross and net premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

In presenting the Company's results, management has included and discussed certain non-GAAP measures. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures, which may be defined differently by other companies, better explain the Company's results of operations in a manner that allows for a more complete understanding of the underlying trends in the Company's business. However, these measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with GAAP.

Operating income is an internal performance measure used by the Company in the management of its operations. Operating income represents operational results excluding, as applicable, net realized and unrealized gains, net impairment losses recognized in earnings and net foreign exchange gains because the amount of these gains or losses is heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in part, according to the availability of market opportunities. The Company believes these amounts are largely independent of its business and underwriting process and including them distorts the analysis of trends in its operations. In addition to presenting net income determined in accordance with GAAP, the Company believes that showing operating income enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze the Company's results of operations in a manner similar to to that used by management to analyze the Company's underlying business performance. Operating income should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP net income.

Operating income per diluted common share are internal performance measures used by Endurance in the management of its operations. Operating income allocated to common shareholders (which excludes unvested restricted shares outstanding which are considered participating) per diluted common share represents operating income divided by weighted average dilutive common shares, which has been calculated in accordance with the two-class method under U.S. GAAP.  Endurance believes that showing operating income per dilutive common share enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze Endurance's results of operations in a manner similar to that used by management to analyze the Company's underlying business performance. Operating income per dilutive common share should not be viewed as substitutes for GAAP net income per dilutive common share.

Return on Average Equity (ROAE) is comprised using the average common equity calculated as the arithmetic average of the beginning and ending common equity balances by quarter for stated periods. Return on Beginning Equity (ROBE) is comprised using the beginning common equity for stated periods. The Company presents various measures of Return on Equity that are commonly recognized as a standard of performance by investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information.

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

The following is a reconciliation of Endurance's net income, net income per diluted common share, net income allocated to common shareholders under the two-class method and annualized return on average common equity to operating income, operating income per diluted common share, operating income allocated to common shareholders under the two-class method and annualized operating return on average common equity (all non-GAAP measures) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

[a] Average common equity is calculated as the quarterly weighted average of the beginning and ending common equity balances for the stated period, which excludes the $230.0 million at June 30, 2016 (December 31, 2015 - $460.0 million; June 30, 2015 - $430.0 million) liquidation value of the preferred shares.
[b] Represents diluted income per share calculated under the two-class method which was the lower of the treasury stock method and the two-class method.

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.
RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

Net negative financial impact includes the sum of net losses and loss expenses, reinstatement premiums assumed and ceded and non-controlling interests related to specific catastrophe events occurring in the current periods.  The Company believes that showing the net negative financial impact of the catastrophe related events enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze the Company's results of operations in a manner similar to that used by management to analyze the Company's underlying business performance.

The following is a reconciliation of Endurance's net losses and loss expenses, net reinstatement premiums and non-controlling interest related to catastrophe events occurring in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 to the net negative financial impact (non-GAAP measure) of these events on net income available to the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016:

Total investment return is calculated by dividing net investment income, net realized and unrealized gains, net impairment losses recognized in earnings, and net increase in unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income before deferred tax offsets by average invested assets at fair value. The Company utilizes and presents the total investment return in order to better disclose the performance of the Company's investments and to show the components of the Company's ROE.

The following is a reconciliation of Endurance's net investment income, net realized and unrealized gains, net impairment losses recognized in earnings and net increase in unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income before deferred tax offsets to total investment income and total investment return (non-GAAP measures) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016:

[a] Average invested assets and cash at fair value includes total trading, available for sale and other investments, cash and cash equivalents, net receivable on sales of investments and net payable on purchase of investments.

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