Arch Capital Group Ltd. Reports 2023 Fourth Quarter Results

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACGL; “Arch,” “our” or “the Company”) announces its 2023 fourth quarter results. The results included:

• Net income available to Arch common shareholders of $2.3 billion, or $6.12 per share, representing a 58.2% annualized net income return on average common equity, compared to net income available to Arch common shareholders of $849 million, or $2.26 per share, for the 2022 fourth quarter.
• Fourth quarter results were impacted by the establishment of a net deferred tax asset of $1.18 billion, or $3.10 per share, related to the enactment of Bermuda’s new corporate income tax.
• After-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders⁽¹⁾ of $945 million, or $2.49 per share, representing a 23.7% annualized operating return on average common equity⁽¹⁾, compared to $806 million, or $2.14 per share, for the 2022 fourth quarter.
• Pre-tax current accident year catastrophic losses for the Company’s insurance and reinsurance segments, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums⁽¹⁾, of $137 million.
• Favorable development in prior year loss reserves, net of related adjustments⁽¹⁾, of $135 million.
• Combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year development⁽¹⁾ of 78.9%, compared to 82.0% for the 2022 fourth quarter.
• Book value per common share of $46.94 at December 31, 2023, a 21.5% increase from September 30, 2023.

Marc Grandisson, Chief Executive Officer of ACGL commented: “We finished 2023 on an excellent note, closing the books with a stellar 21.6% operating return on equity for the year and growing our book value per share by 43.9%. We are bullish about our prospects for 2024 as our underwriters continue to lean into the excellent conditions prevalent in most of the markets where we operate.”

All earnings per share amounts discussed in this release are on a diluted basis. The following table summarizes the Company’s underwriting results:

The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated financial data, including a reconciliation of net income or loss available to Arch common shareholders to after-tax operating income or loss available to Arch common shareholders and related diluted per share results (see ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures):

Segment Information

The following section provides analysis on the Company’s 2023 fourth quarter performance by operating segment. For additional details regarding the Company’s operating segments, please refer to the Company’s Financial Supplement dated December 31, 2023. The Company’s segment information includes the use of underwriting income (loss) and a combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year development. Such items are non-GAAP financial measures (see ‘Comments on Regulation G’ for further details).

Insurance Segment

Gross premiums written by the insurance segment in the 2023 fourth quarter were 17.6% higher than in the 2022 fourth quarter, while net premiums written were 19.1% higher than in the 2022 fourth quarter. Growth in net premiums written reflected increases in most lines of business, due in part to new business opportunities, increases in existing accounts and rate changes. In addition, the insurance segment retained a higher portion of business written in the 2023 fourth quarter than in the 2022 fourth quarter. Net premiums earned in the 2023 fourth quarter were 16.5% higher than in the 2022 fourth quarter, and reflect changes in net premiums written over the previous five quarters.

The 2023 fourth quarter loss ratio reflected 3.8 points of current year catastrophic activity, spread across a series of global events, compared to 2.8 points of catastrophic activity in the 2022 fourth quarter. Estimated net favorable development of prior year loss reserves, before related adjustments, reduced the loss ratio by 0.6 points in the 2023 fourth quarter, compared to 0.5 points in the 2022 fourth quarter. The improvement in the 2023 fourth quarter loss ratio also reflected the impact of rate increases and changes in mix of business.

The underwriting expense ratio was 34.7% in the 2023 fourth quarter, compared to 33.4% in the 2022 fourth quarter, with the increase primarily related to higher incentive compensation costs.

Reinsurance Segment

Gross premiums written by the reinsurance segment in the 2023 fourth quarter were 9.7% higher than in the 2022 fourth quarter, while net premiums written were 0.9% higher than in the 2022 fourth quarter. The comparison of gross and net premiums written were affected by a few non-recurring transactions in the 2022 fourth quarter, primarily impacting the other specialty line of business. Absent these items, gross and net premiums written would have been higher than in the 2022 fourth quarter by 23.1% and 25.6%, respectively. The growth in net premiums written primarily reflected increases in property excluding property catastrophe and other specialty lines, due in part to rate increases, new business opportunities and growth in existing accounts. Net premiums earned in the 2023 fourth quarter were 32.2% higher than in the 2022 fourth quarter, and reflect changes in net premiums written over the previous five quarters.

The 2023 fourth quarter loss ratio reflected 5.4 points of current year catastrophic activity, spread across a series of global events, compared to minimal catastrophic activity in the 2022 fourth quarter. Estimated net favorable development of prior year loss reserves, before related adjustments, reduced the loss ratio by 1.6 points in the 2023 fourth quarter, compared to 5.2 points in the 2022 fourth quarter. The improvement in the 2023 fourth quarter loss ratio also reflected the impact of rate increases and changes in mix of business.

The underwriting expense ratio was 27.7% in the 2023 fourth quarter, compared to 25.5% in the 2022 fourth quarter, with the increase primarily related to the non-recurring transactions in the 2022 fourth quarter noted above and a higher level of incentive compensation costs in the 2023 fourth quarter.

Mortgage Segment

Gross premiums written by the mortgage segment in the 2023 fourth quarter were 1.7% lower than in the 2022 fourth quarter, while net premiums written were 7.3% lower. The reduction in net premiums written in the 2023 fourth quarter primarily reflected a higher level of premiums ceded, with $17 million of one-time payments related to the termination of eight Bellemeade agreements. Net premiums earned in the 2023 fourth quarter were 5.8% lower than in the 2022 fourth quarter, primarily due to termination of the Bellemeade agreements.

Estimated net favorable development of prior year loss reserves, before related adjustments, decreased the loss ratio by 36.6 points, primarily related to the 2022 accident year from the U.S. first lien portfolio and to a lesser extent the 2020 and 2021 accident years, compared to 71.1 points in the 2022 fourth quarter. Such amounts were primarily related to better than expected cure rates. The 2023 fourth quarter loss ratio, excluding net favorable development, was down compared to the 2022 fourth quarter, reflecting lower estimated claim rates partially offset by slightly higher new delinquencies.

The underwriting expense ratio was 17.3% in the 2023 fourth quarter, compared to 19.8% in the 2022 fourth quarter. The decrease was primarily due to higher level of ceding and profit commissions on ceded U.S. primary business.

Corporate Segment

The corporate segment results include net investment income, net realized gains or losses (which includes realized and unrealized changes in the fair value of equity securities and assets accounted for using the fair value option, realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments and changes in the allowance for credit losses on financial assets), equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, other income (loss), corporate expenses, transaction costs and other, amortization of intangible assets, interest expense, net foreign exchange gains or losses, income tax items (which for the 2023 fourth quarter reflects the establishment of a net deferred tax asset related to the enactment of Bermuda’s new corporate income tax), income or loss from operating affiliates and items related to the Company’s non-cumulative preferred shares.

Investment returns were as follows:

The growth in net investment income in the 2023 fourth quarter primarily reflected the effects of higher interest rates available in the market, along with growth in invested assets due in part to strong operating cash flows. Net realized gains were $189 million for the 2023 fourth quarter, compared to net realized gains of $80 million in the 2022 fourth quarter, and reflected sales of investments as well as the impact of financial market movements on the Company’s derivatives, equity securities and investments accounted for under the fair value option method.

On a pre-tax basis, net foreign exchange losses for the 2023 fourth quarter were $59 million, compared to net foreign exchange losses of $81 million for the 2022 fourth quarter. For both periods, such amounts were primarily unrealized and resulted from the effects of revaluing the Company’s net insurance liabilities required to be settled in foreign currencies at each balance sheet date. Changes in the value of available-for-sale investments held in foreign currencies due to foreign currency rate movements are reflected as a direct increase or decrease to shareholders’ equity and are not included in the consolidated statements of income.

On December 27, 2023, the Government of Bermuda enacted the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023, which will apply a 15% corporate income tax to certain Bermuda businesses in fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The act includes a provision referred to as the economic transition adjustment, which is intended to provide a fair and equitable transition into the tax regime. Pursuant to this legislation, the Company recorded a $1.18 billion net deferred tax asset in the fourth quarter of 2023, expected to be utilized predominantly over a 10-year period. The Company expects to incur and pay increased taxes in Bermuda beginning in 2025.

The Company’s effective tax rate on income before income taxes was a benefit of 85.6% for the 2023 fourth quarter and a benefit of 24.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to an expense of 6.6% for the 2022 fourth quarter and an expense of 5.1% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s effective tax rate on income before income taxes included the one-time deferred tax benefit mentioned above. The Company’s effective tax rate on pre-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders was 7.3% for the 2023 fourth quarter and 8.0% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 7.5% for the 2022 fourth quarter and 6.2% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The effective tax rate may fluctuate from period to period based upon the relative mix of income or loss reported by jurisdiction, the level of catastrophic loss activity incurred, and the varying tax rates in each jurisdiction.

Income from operating affiliates for the 2023 fourth quarter was $69 million, or $0.18 per share, compared to $36 million, or $0.10 per share, for the 2022 fourth quarter, and primarily reflects amounts related to the Company’s investment in Somers Group Holdings Ltd. and Coface SA.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call for investors and analysts at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on February 15, 2024. A live webcast of this call will be available via the Investors section of the Company’s website at http://www.archgroup.com/investors. A recording of the webcast will be available in the Investors section of the Company’s website approximately two hours after the event concludes and will be archived on the site for one year.

Please refer to the Company’s Financial Supplement dated December 31, 2023, which is available via the Investors section of the Company’s website at http://www.archgroup.com/investors. The Financial Supplement provides additional detail regarding the financial performance of the Company. From time to time, the Company posts additional financial information and presentations to its website, including information with respect to its subsidiaries. Investors and other recipients of this information are encouraged to check the Company’s website regularly for additional information regarding the Company.

Arch Capital Group Ltd., is a publicly listed Bermuda exempted company with approximately $21.1 billion in capital at December 31, 2023. Arch, which is part of the S&P 500 index, provides insurance, reinsurance and mortgage insurance on a worldwide basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries.

Comments on Regulation G

Throughout this release, the Company presents its operations in the way it believes will be the most meaningful and useful to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use the Company’s financial information in evaluating the performance of the Company and that investors and such other persons benefit from having a consistent basis for comparison between quarters and for comparison with other companies within the industry. These measures may not, however, be comparable to similarly titled measures used by companies outside of the insurance industry. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s overall financial performance.

This presentation includes the use of “after-tax operating income or loss available to Arch common shareholders,” which is defined as net income available to Arch common shareholders, excluding net realized gains or losses (which includes changes in the allowance for credit losses on financial assets and net impairment losses recognized in earnings), equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net foreign exchange gains or losses, transaction costs and other, net of income taxes (which for the 2023 fourth quarter reflects the establishment of a net deferred tax asset related to the enactment of Bermuda’s new corporate income tax), and the use of annualized operating return on average common equity. The presentation of after-tax operating income available to Arch common shareholders and annualized operating return on average common equity are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G. The reconciliation of such measures to net income available to Arch common shareholders and annualized net income return on average common equity (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures) in accordance with Regulation G is included on page 2 of this release.

The Company believes that net realized gains or losses, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net foreign exchange gains or losses and transaction costs and other, in any particular period are not indicative of the performance of, or trends in, the Company’s business performance. Although net realized gains or losses, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method and net foreign exchange gains or losses are an integral part of the Company’s operations, the decision to realize these items are independent of the insurance underwriting process and result, in large part, from general economic and financial market conditions. Furthermore, certain users of the Company’s financial information believe that, for many companies, the timing of the realization of investment gains or losses is largely opportunistic. In addition, changes in the allowance for credit losses and net impairment losses recognized in earnings on the Company’s investments represent other-than-temporary declines in expected recovery values on securities without actual realization.

The use of the equity method on certain of the Company’s investments in certain funds that invest in fixed maturity securities is driven by the ownership structure of such funds (either limited partnerships or limited liability companies). In applying the equity method, these investments are initially recorded at cost and are subsequently adjusted based on the Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of the funds (which include changes in the fair value of the underlying securities in the funds). This method of accounting is different from the way the Company accounts for its other fixed maturity securities and the timing of the recognition of equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method may differ from gains or losses in the future upon sale or maturity of such investments.

Transaction costs and other include advisory, financing, legal, severance, incentive compensation and other costs related to acquisitions. The Company believes that transaction costs and other, due to their non-recurring nature, are not indicative of the performance of, or trends in, the Company’s business performance.

In the 2023 fourth quarter, the Company established a net deferred tax benefit of $1.18 billion consistent with the transition provisions specified in the Bermuda Corporate Income Tax Act of 2023. Due to the non-recurring nature of this one-time item, the Company believes that excluding this item from after-tax operating income or loss available to common shareholders provides the user with a better evaluation of the Company’s ongoing business performance.

The Company believes that showing net income available to Arch common shareholders exclusive of the items referred to above reflects the underlying fundamentals of the Company’s business since the Company evaluates the performance of and manages its business to produce an underwriting profit. In addition to presenting net income available to Arch common shareholders, the Company believes that this presentation enables investors and other users of the Company’s financial information to analyze the Company’s performance in a manner similar to how the Company’s management analyzes performance. The Company also believes that this measure follows industry practice and, therefore, allows the users of the Company’s financial information to compare the Company’s performance with its industry peer group. The Company believes that the equity analysts and certain rating agencies that follow the Company and the insurance industry as a whole generally exclude these items from their analyses for the same reasons.

The Company’s segment information includes the presentation of consolidated underwriting income or loss and a subtotal of underwriting income or loss. Such measures represent the pre-tax profitability of its underwriting operations and include net premiums earned plus other underwriting income, less losses and loss adjustment expenses, acquisition expenses and other operating expenses. Other operating expenses include those operating expenses that are incremental and/or directly attributable to the Company’s individual underwriting operations. Underwriting income or loss does not incorporate items included in the Company’s corporate segment. While these measures are presented in the Segment Information footnote to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, they are considered non-GAAP financial measures when presented elsewhere on a consolidated basis. The reconciliations of underwriting income or loss to income before income taxes (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) on a consolidated basis, in accordance with Regulation G, is shown on the following pages.

Management measures segment performance for its three underwriting segments based on underwriting income or loss. The Company does not manage its assets by underwriting segment and, accordingly, investment income, income from operating affiliates and other corporate segment related items are not allocated to each underwriting segment.

In addition, the Company’s segment information includes the use of a combined ratio excluding catastrophic activity and prior year development, for the insurance and reinsurance segments, and a combined ratio excluding prior year development, for the mortgage segment. These ratios are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G. The reconciliation of such measures to the combined ratio (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) in accordance with Regulation G are shown on the individual segment pages. The Company’s management utilizes the adjusted combined ratios excluding current accident year catastrophic events and favorable or adverse development in prior year loss reserves in its analysis of the underwriting performance of each of its underwriting segments.

Total return on investments includes investment income, equity in net income or loss of investment funds accounted for using the equity method, net realized gains and losses (excluding changes in the allowance for credit losses on non-investment related financial assets) and the change in unrealized gains and losses generated by Arch’s investment portfolio. Total return is calculated on a pre-tax basis and before investment expenses and reflects the effect of financial market conditions along with foreign currency fluctuations. Management uses total return on investments as a key measure of the return generated to Arch common shareholders, and compares the return generated by the Company’s investment portfolio against benchmark returns during the periods presented.

The following tables summarize the Company’s results by segment for the 2023 fourth quarter and 2022 fourth quarter and a reconciliation of underwriting income or loss to income or loss before income taxes and net income or loss available to Arch common shareholders:

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. This release or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company may include forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, for purposes of the PSLRA or otherwise, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “continue” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature or their negative or variations or similar terminology.

Forward-looking statements involve the Company’s current assessment of risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Important factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements are discussed below and elsewhere in this release and in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and include:

• the Company’s ability to successfully implement its business strategy during “soft” as well as “hard” markets;
• acceptance of the Company’s business strategy, security and financial condition by rating agencies and regulators, as well as by brokers and its insureds and reinsureds;
• the Company’s ability to consummate acquisitions and integrate any businesses it has acquired or may acquire into its existing operations;
• the Company’s ability to maintain or improve its ratings, which may be affected by its ability to raise additional equity or debt financings, by ratings agencies’ existing or new policies and practices, as well as other factors described herein;
• general economic and market conditions (including inflation, interest rates, unemployment, housing prices, foreign currency exchange rates, prevailing credit terms and the depth and duration of a recession, including those resulting from COVID-19) and conditions specific to the reinsurance and insurance markets in which the Company operates;
• competition, including increased competition, on the basis of pricing, capacity (including alternative sources of capital), coverage terms or other factors;
• developments in the world’s financial and capital markets and the Company’s access to such markets;
• the Company’s ability to successfully enhance, integrate and maintain operating procedures (including information technology) to effectively support its current and new business;
• the loss and addition of key personnel;
• material differences between actual and expected assessments for guaranty funds and mandatory pooling arrangements;
• accuracy of those estimates and judgments utilized in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including those related to revenue recognition, insurance and other reserves, reinsurance recoverables, investment valuations, intangible assets, bad debts, income taxes, deferred tax assets, contingencies and litigation, and any determination to use the deposit method of accounting;
• greater than expected loss ratios on business written by the Company and adverse development on claim and/or claim expense liabilities related to business written by its insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries;
• the adequacy of the Company’s loss reserves;
• severity and/or frequency of losses;
• greater frequency or severity of unpredictable natural and man-made catastrophic events;
• claims resulting from natural or man-made catastrophic events or severe economic events in the Company’s insurance, reinsurance and mortgage businesses could cause large losses and substantial volatility in the Company’s results of operations;
• the effect of climate change on the Company’s business;
• the effect of contagious diseases (including COVID-19) on the Company’s business;
• acts of terrorism, geopolitical political unrest and other regional and global hostilities or other unforecasted and unpredictable events;
• availability to the Company of reinsurance to manage its gross and net exposures and the cost of such reinsurance;
• the failure of reinsurers, managing general agents, third party administrators or others to meet their obligations to the Company;
• the timing of loss payments being faster or the receipt of reinsurance recoverables being slower than anticipated by the Company;
• the Company’s investment performance, including legislative or regulatory developments that may adversely affect the fair value of the Company’s investments;
• changes in general economic conditions, including new or continued sovereign debt concerns or downgrades of U.S. securities by credit rating agencies, which could affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations;
• the volatility of the Company’s shareholders’ equity from foreign currency fluctuations, which could increase due to us not matching portions of the Company’s projected liabilities in foreign currencies with investments in the same currencies;
• changes in accounting principles or policies or in the Company’s application of such accounting principles or policies;
• changes in the political environment of certain countries in which the Company operates, underwrites business or invests;
• an incident, disruption in operations or other cyber event caused by cyber attacks, the use of artificial intelligence technologies or other technology on the Company’s systems or those of the Company’s business partners and service providers, which could negatively impact the Company’s business and/or expose the Company to litigation;
• statutory or regulatory developments, including as to tax matters and insurance and other regulatory matters such as the adoption of legislation that affects Bermuda-headquartered companies and/or Bermuda-based insurers or reinsurers and/or changes in regulations or tax laws applicable to the Company, its subsidiaries, brokers or customers, including the implementation of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) Pillar I and Pillar II initiative and the enactment of the Bermuda corporate income tax; and
• the other matters set forth under Item 1A “Risk Factors”, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the other factors set forth in the Company’s other documents on file with the SEC, and management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other cautionary statements that are included herein or elsewhere. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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