GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, March 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Indemnity Limited (NASDAQ:GBLI) today reported a net loss of $56.7 million, a decrease of $47.1 million from 2017. Gross written premiums for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased 6.1%. Investment income for the year ended 2018 was $46.3 million, an increase of 17.8% compared to 2017. The combined ratio for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 112.3%. The Company declared and paid dividends of $1.00 per share during 2018.

Selected Operating and Balance Sheet Data (Dollars in millions, except per share data)

	For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,									As of December 31,				As of December 31,
	2018				2017					2018				2017
Gross premiums written	$	547.9			$	516.3			Book value per share	$	44.21			$	50.57
Net premiums written	$	472.5			$	450.2			Shareholders’ equity	$	629.1			$	718.4
Net premiums earned	$	467.8			$	438.0			Cash and invested assets (1)	$	1,510.2			$	1,535.4
Net investment income	$	46.3			$	39.3			(1) Including receivable/(payable) for securities sold/(purchased)
Net loss	$	(56.7	)		$	(9.6	)

About Global Indemnity Limited and its subsidiaries

Global Indemnity Limited (NASDAQ:GBLI), through its several direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiary insurance and reinsurance companies, provides both admitted and non-admitted specialty property and casualty insurance coverages and individual policyholder coverages in the United States, as well as reinsurance worldwide. Global Indemnity Limited’s three primary segments are:

• United States Based Commercial Lines Operations
   
• United States Based Personal Lines Operations
   
• Bermuda Based Reinsurance Operations

For more information, visit the Global Indemnity Limited’s website at http://www.globalindemnity.ky.

Forward-Looking Information

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release [1] do not address a number of risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned that Global Indemnity’s actual results may be materially different from the estimates expressed in, or implied, or projected by, the forward looking statements. These statements are based on estimates and information available to us at the time of this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Global Indemnity as of the date hereof. The foregoing review of factors that could cause actual financial or operating performance to differ materially from expectations is not exhaustive. Please see Global Indemnity’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could impact the company and for a more detailed explication regarding forward-looking statements. Global Indemnity does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

[1] Disseminated pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Security Exchange Act of 1934.

Global Indemnity Limited’s Combined Ratio for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

The combined ratio was 112.3% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 compared to 103.4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. Excluding hurricane Michael and the California wildfires, the combined ratio would have been 99.3%.

Calendar year results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 include $28.8 million in favorable development, which was driven by lower than expected claims severity experienced across multiple prior accident years within Commercial Lines and Personal Lines as well as a reduction related to the Company’s property treaties for multiple prior accident years within the Reinsurance Operations. 

Global Indemnity Limited’s Gross and Net Premiums Written Results by Segment for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	Gross Premiums Written								Net Premiums Written
		2018				2017				2018				2017
Commercial Lines Operations	$	249,931			$	212,471			$	226,820			$	186,322
Personal Lines Operations		250,957				250,044				196,952				208,776
Reinsurance Operations		48,043				53,887				48,033				53,933
Runoff		1,028				1,270				742				1,149
Fronted Business		(2,062	)			(1,338	)			-				-
Total	$	547,897			$	516,334			$	472,547			$	450,180

Commercial Lines Operations: Gross premiums written and net premiums written increased 17.6% and 21.7%, respectively, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. This increase is driven by rate increases and new products.

Personal Lines Operations: Gross premiums written increased by 0.4% and net premiums written decreased by 5.7% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017.

Reinsurance Operations: Gross premiums written and net premiums written decreased 10.8% and 10.9% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, as compared to the same period in 2017 due primarily to the non-renewal of a treaty offset in part by growth in other treaties.

Note: Tables Follow

GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

	For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2018				2017
Gross premiums written	$	547,897			$	516,334
Net premiums written	$	472,547			$	450,180
Net premiums earned	$	467,775			$	438,034
Net investment income		46,342				39,323
Net realized investment gains (losses)		(16,907	)			1,576
Other income		1,728				6,582
Total revenues		498,938				485,515
Net losses and loss adjustment expenses		334,625				269,212
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses		190,778				183,733
Corporate and other operating expenses		29,766				25,714
Interest expense		19,694				16,906
Loss before income taxes		(75,925	)			(10,050	)
Income tax benefit		(19,229	)			(499	)
Net loss	$	(56,696	)		$	(9,551	)
Weighted average shares outstanding–basic		14,089				17,309
Weighted average shares outstanding–diluted		14,089				17,309
Net loss per share – basic	$	(4.02	)		$	(0.55	)
Net loss per share – diluted	$	(4.02	)		$	(0.55	)
Combined ratio analysis: (1)
Loss ratio		71.5	%			61.5	%
Expense ratio		40.8	%			41.9	%
Combined ratio		112.3	%			103.4	%

(1) The loss ratio, expense ratio and combined ratio are GAAP financial measures that are generally viewed in the insurance industry as indicators of underwriting profitability. The loss ratio is the ratio of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net premiums earned. The expense ratio is the ratio of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses to net premiums earned. The combined ratio is the sum of the loss and expense ratios.

GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 (Dollars in thousands)

ASSETS		December 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Fixed Maturities:
Available for sale securities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2018 - $1,257,830 and 2017 - $1,243,144)		$	1,235,155			$	1,241,437
Equity securities, at fair value			124,747				140,229
Other invested assets			50,753				77,820
Total investments			1,410,655				1,459,486
Cash and cash equivalents			99,497				74,414
Premiums receivable, net			87,679				84,386
Reinsurance receivables, net			114,418				105,060
Funds held by ceding insurers			49,206				45,300
Federal income taxes receivable			10,866				10,332
Receivable for securities sold			15				1,543
Deferred federal income taxes			48,589				26,196
Deferred acquisition costs			61,676				61,647
Intangible assets			22,020				22,549
Goodwill			6,521				6,521
Prepaid reinsurance premiums			20,594				28,851
Other assets			28,530				75,384
Total assets		$	1,960,266			$	2,001,669
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses		$	680,031			$	634,664
Unearned premiums			281,912				285,397
Ceded balances payable			14,994				10,851
Contingent commissions			10,636				7,984
Debt			288,565				294,713
Other liabilities			55,069				49,666
Total liabilities			1,331,207				1,283,275
Shareholders’ equity:
Ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 900,000,000 ordinary shares authorized; A ordinary shares issued: 10,171,954 and 10,102,927 respectively; A ordinary shares outstanding: 10,095,312 and 10,073,376 respectively; B ordinary shares issued and outstanding: 4,133,366 and 4,133,366, respectively			2				2
Additional paid-in capital			438,182				434,730
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes			(21,231	)			8,983
Retained earnings			215,132				275,838
A ordinary shares in treasury, at cost: 76,642 and 29,551 shares, respectively			(3,026	)			(1,159	)
Total shareholders’ equity			629,059				718,394
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	1,960,266			$	2,001,669

GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED
SELECTED INVESTMENT DATA
 (Dollars in millions)

		Market Value as of
		December 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Fixed maturities		$	1,235.2			$	1,241.4
Cash and cash equivalents			99.5				74.4
Total bonds and cash and cash equivalents			1,334.7				1,315.8
Equities and other invested assets			175.5				218.1
Total cash and invested assets, gross			1,510.2				1,533.9
Receivable (payable) for securities sold/(purchased)			-				1.5
Total cash and invested assets, net		$	1,510.2			$	1,535.4

		Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018 (a)
Net investment income		$	46.3
Net realized investment losses			(16.9	)
Net change in unrealized investment losses			(22.9	)
Net realized and unrealized investment returns			(39.8	)
Total investment return		$	6.5
Average total cash and invested assets		$	1,522.8
Total investment return %			0.4	%

(a) Amounts in this table are shown on a pre-tax basis.

GLOBAL INDEMNITY LIMITED
SUMMARY OF ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
 (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

	For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2018				2017
Adjusted operating income (loss), net of tax	$	(31,316	)		$	7,173
Adjustments:
Net realized investment gains (losses)		(13,497	)			800
Expenses related to the restructuring of debt		(11,883	)			-
Deferred Tax writedown due to enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017		-				(17,524		)
Net loss	$	(56,696	)		$	(9,551		)
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic		14,089				17,309
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted		14,089				17,680
Adjusted operating income (loss) per share – basic	$	(2.22	)		$	0.41
Adjusted operating income (loss) per share – diluted	$	(2.22	)		$	0.41

Note Regarding Adjusted Operating Income (loss)

Adjusted Operating income (loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, is equal to net loss excluding after-tax net realized investment gains (losses) and other unique charges not related to operations. Adjusted operating income (loss) is not a substitute for net income (loss) determined in accordance with GAAP, and investors should not place undue reliance on this measure.

Contact:
Media
Stephen W. Ries
Senior Corporate Counsel
(610) 668-3270
sries@global-indemnity.com

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