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Travelers Reports First Quarter Net Income and Core Income1 per Diluted Share of $2.17 and $2.16, Respectively, Including Catastrophe Losses of $0.79 per Diluted ShareThe Travelers Companies, Inc. today reported net income of $617 million, or $2.17 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared to $691 million, or $2.30 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. Core income in the current quarter was $614 million, or $2.16 per diluted share, compared to $698 million, or $2.33 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. Net and core income in both the current and prior year quarters were impacted by significant catastrophe losses of $226 million after-tax ($347 million pre-tax) and $207 million after-tax ($318 million pre-tax), respectively. The decreases from the prior year quarter were primarily driven by lower net favorable prior year reserve development that included a $51 million after-tax ($62 million pre-tax) impact from the UK Ministry of Justice's recent "Ogden" discount rate adjustment, a lower underlying underwriting gain (i.e., excluding net favorable prior year reserve development and catastrophe losses) and higher catastrophe losses, partially offset by higher net investment income. The current quarter benefited from a $39 million resolution of prior year income tax matters, while the prior year quarter benefited modestly from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter. Per diluted share amounts benefited from the impact of share repurchases.
"Core income of $614 million and core return on equity of 10.8% reflected unusually high first quarter catastrophe losses that arose from a record number of tornado and hail events," commented Alan Schnitzer, Chief Executive Officer. "We were pleased with our underlying underwriting results and that loss trends were stable and consistent with our expectations for all of our businesses, including personal auto. We were also pleased with our investment results this quarter. Net investment income, which benefited from strong private equity returns, increased 9% on an after-tax basis over the prior year quarter. Our results enabled us to return $476 million to shareholders, including $286 million in share repurchases, while adding additional holding company liquidity to build flexibility for the funding of the Simply Business acquisition. In recognition of our strong financial position, the Board of Directors declared a 7.5% increase in our quarterly cash dividend to $0.72 per share and authorized an additional $5.0 billion of share repurchases. "Net written premiums grew 5% to a record level this quarter, with each business segment contributing to the growth. In our commercial businesses, the markets in which we operate remained stable. We continued to achieve historically high levels of retention, and renewal rate change remained positive and improved modestly from recent quarters. The improvement in renewal rate change reflects our focused efforts to seek rate selectively and thoughtfully on an account-by-account or class-by-class basis. While we always actively seek new business opportunities, new business was down modestly from the prior year quarter as we continued to maintain our disciplined approach to underwriting. In Personal Insurance, net written premiums increased by 12%, including the impact of auto rate increases that were consistent with our plans to improve profitability. We were also pleased that we were able to continue the momentum in growing our very profitable homeowners business. "With technology and innovation driving customer preferences and expectations, advancing our digital agenda to best serve customers and our distribution partners, now and in the future, is a key strategic priority. To that end, during the quarter we announced an agreement to purchase Simply Business, a leading digital provider of insurance to small businesses in the United Kingdom. Our investment in Simply Business will accelerate our digital agenda, building on the competitive advantages that have enabled us to deliver industry-leading returns."
First Quarter 2017 Results Net income of $617 million after-tax decreased $74 million due to lower core income, slightly offset by net realized investment gains in the current quarter as compared to net realized investment losses in the prior year quarter. Core income of $614 million after-tax decreased $84 million, primarily driven by lower net favorable prior year reserve development that included a $51 million after-tax ($62 million pre-tax) impact from the recent Ogden discount rate adjustment, a lower underlying underwriting gain as explained below and higher catastrophe losses, partially offset by higher net investment income. The current quarter benefited from a $39 million resolution of prior year income tax matters, while the prior year quarter benefited modestly from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter. Underwriting results
Net investment income of $610 million pre-tax ($480 million after-tax) increased 9% after-tax driven by higher private equity returns, partially offset by fixed income returns that declined in line with our expectations due to lower reinvestment rates available in the market. Other income/(expense) in the prior year quarter included proceeds from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter. Net written premiums of $6.495 billion, a record level, increased 5%, reflecting growth in all segments. Shareholders' Equity Shareholders' equity of $23.612 billion increased 2% from year-end 2016. After-tax net unrealized investment gains were $823 million ($1.255 billion pre-tax) compared to $730 million after-tax ($1.112 billion pre-tax) at year-end 2016. Book value per share of $84.51 and adjusted book value per share of $81.56 increased 2% and 1%, respectively, from year-end 2016. The Company repurchased 2.4 million shares during the first quarter at an average price of $120.68 per share for a total cost of $286 million, which was reduced from recent quarters to provide financing flexibility for the pending acquisition of Simply Business. At the end of first quarter 2017, statutory capital and surplus was $20.617 billion and the ratio of debt-to-capital was 21.4%. The ratio of debt-to-capital excluding after-tax net unrealized investment gains was 22.0%, well within the Company's target range of 15% to 25%. The Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.72 per share, an increase of 7.5%. This dividend is payable on June 30, 2017, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 9, 2017. The Board of Directors also authorized an additional $5.0 billion of share repurchases. This amount is in addition to the $709 million that remained from previous authorizations as of March 31, 2017. This authorization does not have a stated expiration date. The timing and actual number of shares to be repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the factors described below in the Forward-Looking Statement section.
2 As a result of recent SEC insurance industry guidance concerning terminology, what we previously referred to as "operating income (loss)" in our public disclosures when referring to business segment results is now labeled "segment income (loss)." There were no changes in the calculation of these amounts.
First Quarter 2017 Results Segment income for Business and International Insurance was $468 million after-tax, a decrease of $8 million, primarily driven by a decrease in net favorable prior year reserve development due to a $51 million after-tax ($62 million pre-tax) increase in reserves related to the recent Ogden discount rate adjustment, a lower underlying underwriting gain as explained below, partially offset by higher net investment income and modestly lower catastrophe losses as compared to a particularly high level of catastrophe losses in the prior year quarter. The current quarter benefited from a $15 million resolution of prior year income tax matters, while the prior year quarter benefited modestly from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter. Underwriting results
Other income in the prior year quarter included proceeds from the favorable settlement of a claims-related legal matter. Net written premiums of $4.027 billion, a record level, increased 3%, benefiting from continued strong retention and improved renewal premium changes.
First Quarter 2017 Results Segment income for Bond & Specialty Insurance was $129 million after-tax, a decrease of $15 million, due to lower net favorable prior year reserve development, partially offset by the current quarter benefit from a $17 million resolution of prior year income tax matters. Underwriting results
Net written premiums of $504 million grew 2% from the prior year quarter.
First Quarter 2017 Results Segment income for Personal Insurance was $79 million after-tax, a decrease of $60 million, primarily driven by a lower underlying underwriting gain as explained below, higher catastrophe losses and no net prior year reserve development compared to net favorable prior year reserve development in the prior year quarter, partially offset by higher net investment income. The current quarter benefited from a $7 million resolution of prior year income tax matters. Underwriting results
Net written premiums of $1.964 billion increased 12%. Agency Automobile net written premiums growth of 17% benefited from the impact of auto rate increases that were consistent with our plans to improve profitability and an increase in policies in force of 12% from the prior year quarter. Agency Homeowners & Other net written premiums grew 4%, with an increase in policies in force of 4% from the prior year quarter. Financial Supplement and Conference Call The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with a financial supplement that is available on our website at www.travelers.com. Travelers management will discuss the contents of this release and other relevant topics via webcast at 9 a.m. Eastern (8 a.m. Central) on Thursday, April 20, 2017. Investors can access the call via webcast at http://investor.travelers.com or by dialing 1-888-227-8942 within the U.S. and 1-303-223-4384 outside the U.S. (use passcode 14788 for both the U.S. and international calls). Prior to the webcast, a slide presentation pertaining to the quarterly earnings will be available on the Company's website. Following the live event, an audio playback of the webcast and the slide presentation will be available on the same website. An audio playback can also be accessed by phone at 1-800-633-8284 within the U.S. and 1-402-977-9140 outside the U.S. (use reservation 21847521 for both the U.S. and international calls). About Travelers The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $28 billion in 2016. For more information, visit www.travelers.com. Travelers may use its website and/or social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, as distribution channels of material Company information. Financial and other important information regarding the Company is routinely accessible through and posted on our website at http://investor.travelers.com, our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/travelers and our Twitter account (@Travelers) at https://twitter.com/travelers. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about Travelers when you enroll your email address by visiting the Email Notifications section at http://investor.travelers.com. For the periods presented in this earnings release, Travelers was organized into the following reportable business segments: Business and International Insurance - Business and International Insurance offers a broad array of property and casualty insurance and insurance related services to its clients, primarily in the United States and in Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, Colombia and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyd's of London. Bond & Specialty Insurance - Bond & Specialty Insurance provides surety, fidelity, crime, management and professional liability, and cyber risk coverages and related risk management services to a wide range of primarily domestic customers, utilizing various degrees of financially-based underwriting approaches. Personal Insurance - Personal Insurance writes a broad range of property and casualty insurance covering individuals' personal risks. The primary products of automobile and homeowners insurance are complemented by a broad suite of related coverages. Effective April 1, 2017, the Company's results will be reported in the following three business segments - Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance and Personal Insurance, reflecting a change in the manner in which the Company's businesses will be managed. While the segmentation of the Company's domestic businesses will be unchanged, the Company's international businesses, which were previously reported in total within the Business and International Insurance segment, will now be disaggregated among these three newly aligned business segments. The newly aligned segments will be presented in the Company's financial statements beginning with the period ending June 30, 2017 and prior periods presented therein will be reclassified to conform to the new presentation. * * * * * Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains, and management may make, certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements include, among other things, the Company's statements about:
The Company cautions investors that such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the Company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the following:
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release or as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see the information under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 16, 2017, as updated by our periodic filings with the SEC. ***** GLOSSARY OF FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES The following measures are used by the Company's management to evaluate financial performance against historical results and establish targets on a consolidated basis. In some cases, these measures are considered non-GAAP financial measures under applicable SEC rules because they are not displayed as separate line items in the consolidated financial statements or are not required to be disclosed in the notes to financial statements or, in some cases, include or exclude certain items not ordinarily included or excluded in the most comparable GAAP financial measure. Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures also follow. In the opinion of the Company's management, a discussion of these measures provides investors, financial analysts, rating agencies and other financial statement users with a better understanding of the significant factors that comprise the Company's periodic results of operations and how management evaluates the Company's financial performance. Internally, the Company's management uses these measures to evaluate performance against historical results, to establish financial targets on a consolidated basis and for other reasons, which are discussed below. Some of these measures exclude net realized investment gains (losses), net of tax, and/or net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax, which can be significantly impacted by both discretionary and other economic factors and are not necessarily indicative of operating trends. Other companies may calculate these measures differently, and, therefore, their measures may not be comparable to those used by the Company's management. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO CORE INCOME AND CERTAIN OTHER NON-GAAP MEASURES Core income (loss) is net income (loss) excluding the after-tax impact of net realized investment gains (losses), discontinued operations and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles when applicable. Segment income (loss) is comparable to core income (loss) on a segment basis. Management uses segment income (loss) to analyze each segment's performance and as a tool in making business decisions. Financial statement users also consider core income when analyzing the results and trends of insurance companies. Core income (loss) per share is core income (loss) on a per common share basis.
RECONCILIATION OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY TO ADJUSTED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND CALCULATION OF RETURN ON EQUITY AND CORE RETURN ON EQUITY Adjusted shareholders' equity is shareholders' equity excluding net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax, net realized investment gains (losses), net of tax, for the period presented, preferred stock and discontinued operations.
Return on equity is the ratio of annualized net income less preferred dividends to average shareholders' equity for the periods presented. Core return on equity is the ratio of annualized core income less preferred dividends to adjusted average shareholders' equity for the periods presented. In the opinion of the Company's management, these are important indicators of how well management creates value for its shareholders through its operating activities and its capital management. Average shareholders' equity is (a) the sum of total shareholders' equity excluding preferred stock at the beginning and end of each of the quarters for the period presented divided by (b) the number of quarters in the period presented times two. Adjusted average shareholders' equity is (a) the sum of adjusted shareholders' equity at the beginning and end of each of the quarters for the period presented divided by (b) the number of quarters in the period presented times two.
Average annual core return on equity over a period is the ratio
of:
RECONCILIATION OF PRE-TAX UNDERWRITING GAIN EXCLUDING CERTAIN ITEMS TO NET INCOME Underwriting gain is net earned premiums and fee income less claims and claim adjustment expenses and insurance-related expenses. In the opinion of the Company's management, it is important to measure the profitability of each segment excluding the results of investing activities, which are managed separately from the insurance business. This measure is used to assess each segment's business performance and as a tool in making business decisions. Pre-tax underwriting gain, excluding the impact of catastrophes and net favorable prior year loss reserve development, is the underwriting gain adjusted to exclude claims and claim adjustment expenses, reinstatement premiums and assessments related to catastrophes and loss reserve development related to time periods prior to the current year. In the opinion of the Company's management, this measure is meaningful to users of the financial statements to understand the Company's periodic earnings and the variability of earnings caused by the unpredictable nature (i.e., the timing and amount) of catastrophes and loss reserve development. This measure is also referred to as underlying underwriting margin or underlying underwriting gain. A catastrophe is a severe loss caused by various natural events, including, among others, hurricanes, tornadoes and other windstorms, earthquakes, hail, wildfires, severe winter weather, floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other naturally-occurring events, such as solar flares. Catastrophes can also be man-made, such as terrorist attacks and other intentionally destructive acts including those involving nuclear, biological, chemical, radiological, cyber-attacks, explosions and infrastructure failures. Each catastrophe has unique characteristics and catastrophes are not predictable as to timing or amount. Their effects are included in net and core income and claims and claim adjustment expense reserves upon occurrence. A catastrophe may result in the payment of reinsurance reinstatement premiums and assessments from various pools. Net favorable (unfavorable) prior year loss reserve development is the increase or decrease in incurred claims and claim adjustment expenses as a result of the re-estimation of claims and claim adjustment expense reserves at successive valuation dates for a given group of claims, which may be related to one or more prior years. In the opinion of the Company's management, a discussion of loss reserve development is meaningful to users of the financial statements as it allows them to assess the impact between prior and current year development on incurred claims and claim adjustment expenses, net and core income (loss), and changes in claims and claim adjustment expense reserve levels from period to period.
COMBINED RATIO AND ADJUSTMENTS FOR UNDERLYING COMBINED RATIO Combined ratio: For Statutory Accounting Practices (SAP), the combined ratio is the sum of the SAP loss and LAE ratio and the SAP underwriting expense ratio as defined in the statutory financial statements required by insurance regulators. The combined ratio as used in this earnings release is the equivalent of, and is calculated in the same manner as, the SAP combined ratio except that the SAP underwriting expense ratio is based on net written premiums and the underwriting expense ratio as used in this earnings release is based on net earned premiums. For SAP, the loss and LAE ratio is the ratio of incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses less certain administrative services fee income to net earned premiums as defined in the statutory financial statements required by insurance regulators. The loss and LAE ratio as used in this earnings release is calculated in the same manner as the SAP ratio. For SAP, the underwriting expense ratio is the ratio of underwriting expenses incurred (including commissions paid), less certain administrative services fee income and billing and policy fees, to net written premiums as defined in the statutory financial statements required by insurance regulators. The underwriting expense ratio as used in this earnings release, is the ratio of underwriting expenses (including the amortization of deferred acquisition costs), less certain administrative services fee income, billing and policy fees and other, to net earned premiums. The combined ratio, loss and LAE ratio, and underwriting expense ratio are used as indicators of the Company's underwriting discipline, efficiency in acquiring and servicing its business and overall underwriting profitability. A combined ratio under 100% generally indicates an underwriting profit. A combined ratio over 100% generally indicates an underwriting loss. Underlying combined ratio represents the combined ratio excluding the impact of net prior year reserve development and catastrophes. The underlying combined ratio is an indicator of the Company's underwriting discipline and underwriting profitability for the current accident year. Other companies' method of computing similarly titled measures may not be comparable to the Company's method of computing these ratios.
RECONCILIATION OF BOOK VALUE PER SHARE AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY TO CERTAIN NON-GAAP MEASURES Book value per share is total common shareholders' equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding. Adjusted book value per share is total common shareholders' equity excluding the after-tax impact of net unrealized investment gains and losses, divided by the number of common shares outstanding. In the opinion of the Company's management, adjusted book value per share is useful in an analysis of a property casualty company's book value per share as it removes the effect of changing prices on invested assets (i.e., net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax), which do not have an equivalent impact on unpaid claims and claim adjustment expense reserves. Tangible book value per share is adjusted book value per share excluding the after-tax value of goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the number of common shares outstanding. In the opinion of the Company's management, tangible book value per share is useful in an analysis of a property casualty company's book value on a nominal basis as it removes certain effects of purchase accounting (i.e., goodwill and other intangible assets), in addition to the effect of changing prices on invested assets. Reconciliation of Shareholders' Equity to Tangible Shareholders' Equity, excluding Net Unrealized Investment Gains, Net of Tax
RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL CAPITALIZATION TO TOTAL CAPITALIZATION EXCLUDING NET UNREALIZED INVESTMENT GAINS, NET OF TAX Total capitalization is the sum of total shareholders' equity and debt. Debt-to-capital ratio excluding net unrealized gain on investments is the ratio of debt to total capitalization excluding the after-tax impact of net unrealized investment gains and losses. In the opinion of the Company's management, the debt to capital ratio is useful in an analysis of the Company's financial leverage.
OTHER DEFINITIONS Gross written premiums reflect the direct and assumed contractually determined amounts charged to policyholders for the effective period of the contract based on the terms and conditions of the insurance contract. Net written premiums reflect gross written premiums less premiums ceded to reinsurers. For Business and International Insurance and Bond & Specialty Insurance, retention is the amount of premium available for renewal that was retained, excluding rate and exposure changes. For Personal Insurance, retention is the ratio of the expected number of renewal policies that will be retained throughout the annual policy period to the number of available renewal base policies. For all of the segments, renewal rate change represents the estimated change in average premium on policies that renew, excluding exposure changes. Exposure is the measure of risk used in the pricing of an insurance product. The change in exposure is the amount of change in premium on policies that renew attributable to the change in portfolio risk. Renewal premium change represents the estimated change in average premium on policies that renew, including rate and exposure changes. New business is the amount of written premium related to new policyholders and additional products sold to existing policyholders. These are operating statistics, which are in part dependent on the use of estimates and are therefore subject to change. For Business and International Insurance, retention, renewal premium change and new business exclude National Accounts and surety. For Bond & Specialty Insurance, retention, renewal premium change and new business exclude surety. Statutory capital and surplus represents the excess of an insurance company's admitted assets over its liabilities, including loss reserves, as determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices. Holding company liquidity is the total funds available at the holding company level to fund general corporate purposes, primarily the payment of shareholder dividends and debt service. These funds consist of total cash, short-term invested assets and other readily marketable securities held by the holding company. For a glossary of other financial terms used in this press release, we refer you to the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 16, 2017, as updated by our Form 10-Q filed on April 20, 2017, and subsequent periodic filings with the SEC.
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