Global Indemnity Group LLC

NYSE:GBLI

Earnings Call Analysis

Investment Growth With Controlled Costs

In Q3 2023, the company grappled with restructuring impacts, leading to a 32% drop in gross written premium in the Targeted Specialty segment. However, they made strides with a 12% rise in Package Specialty and a 17% increase in InsurTech. Their combined ratio was stable at around 97.8%, but loss and loss expense ratio slightly lagged behind targets due to catastrophe losses and terminated businesses. Investment income more than doubled from the previous year, hitting $14.2 million, with a promising $800 million expected in cash flow over the next 5 quarters. Despite higher expenses from restructuring, a 6% growth in Package Specialty and cuts to catastrophe exposures and underperforming businesses hint at a refining underwriting strategy. Exited Lines continue to incur losses, but with significant reduction and a positive trend in core business returns, the company is redirecting investments into higher yield assets, boasting over 5% returns.

Earnings Highlight: Optimizing Performance Amid Restructuring

Global Indemnity's Q3 2023 reflects a company in transition, showing grit amidst a significant restructuring initiated at the start of the year. This overhaul makes year-over-year comparisons arduous but reveals a consistent focus on optimizing the core Commercial Specialty operations. Despite the challenges, the organization realized a minor increase in net income, going from $7.3 million in the previous year to $7.7 million currently. An encouraging sign is the uptick in book value per share, a small but positive jump from $46.03 to $46.27.

Robust Investment and Careful Portfolio Management

The financial stewardship has been commendable, especially in investments, with overall income from this stream hitting $14.2 million for the quarter, and $39.4 million year-to-date—a vast improvement over the $16.9 million in the same period last year. This jump is thanks to a strategic shift to a short-duration portfolio, resulting in almost doubled income from fixed investments. Global Indemnity's preparations for rising interest rates, by shortening portfolio duration to 1.2 years, have safeguarded it from significant unrealized losses, keeping them contained at a mere $0.9 million.

Commercial Specialty: A Mixed Bag with a Focus on Profitability and Long-Term Goals

The Commercial Specialty segment continues to be the beacon, although it is yet to hit its stride fully. A significant drop in gross written premiums by 32% in Targeted Specialty underscores a prioritization of profitability over volume. There is, however, solace in Package Specialty and InsurTech areas, which have seen commendable growth of 12% and 17%, respectively. These figures mirror the company's long-term growth trajectory, aiming for an average of 10%.

Underwriting Performance: A Peg Below Expectations

Underwriting results didn't totally match ambitions, settling for a near-target combined ratio of 97.6% for the 9-month period and 97.8% specifically for Q3, reflecting an acceptable performance given the company's adjustments and loss ratios above the mid-50s long-term target. While pricing remained robust—9% in Package Specialty and a stellar 10% in Targeted Specialty, aligning with and even surpassing anticipated loss trends—the path to the coveted low 90s combined ratio goal is still being paved. It's notable that year-over-year accident year underwriting profit saw a slight decrease, amounting to $2.7 million, compared to the $3 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

Outlook: Rising Yields and Purposeful Steps Toward Improved Results

The strategic decisions, particularly in investments, are expected to yield compounding benefits. With a current book yield of 4%, Global Indemnity is poised to ride the wave of increasing interest rates, with the anticipated cash flow from investments set to enhance profitability progressively. The company's targeted and patient approach embodies a commitment to long-term gain over short-term excitement, addressing past underperformance and creating a foundation for robust growth.

Earnings Call Transcript 2023-Q3

[Operator]

Thank you for standing by. My name is Danica, and I'll be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the GBLI Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Call.

[Operator Instructions]

Thank you. I would now like to turn the call over to Steve Ries, Head of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

[Stephen Ries, executive]

Thank you, Danica. Today's conference call is being recorded. GBLI's remarks may contain forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, without limitation, beliefs, expectations or estimates. We caution you that such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will, in fact, be achieved.

Please refer to our annual report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC for a description of the business environment in which we operate and the important factors that may materially affect our results. Global Indemnity Group, LLC is not under any obligation and expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

It is now my pleasure to turn the call over to Mr. Jay Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Global Indemnity.

[Joseph Brown, executive]

Thank you, Steve. Good morning, and thanks to everyone for joining us this morning for our third quarter results call. Before I provide some commentary on our 2023 results, let me address an obvious topic.

As we have previously disclosed, the company has been engaged in conversations that could potentially lead to a transaction to sell a portion of our insurance operations for the entire company. GBLI has now retained an investment banker, Tony Ursano of Insurance Advisory Partners to assist the company in evaluating the efficacy of any potential transaction. We expect this process will likely conclude in the next few months. Given where we are in the process, we will not say anything more today or respond to any questions on this during this call.

As we have noticed in our previous calls this year, the significant restructuring that occurred at the beginning of 2023, continues to make direct comparisons to prior year overall results somewhat difficult. Our ongoing operating segments are primarily Commercial Specialty and, to a lesser extent, Reinsurance Operations. I will focus my comments on Commercial Specialty year-to-date accident year results, and then Tom will address all the financial aspects of our GAAP results.

As a reminder, the long-term operating metrics we are focused on for Commercial Specialty, our loss and loss expense ratios, consistent with our long-term average in the mid-50s, an expense ratio of below 38% for this year, trending to 36% in a couple of years and a combined ratio in the low 90s and growth averaging 10%.

Although we continue to make good progress against our growth objectives, we are still observing some continued negative effects from our restructuring efforts, primarily in our Targeted Specialty class specific segment, where our priority focus on profitability has caused a drop in gross written premium through the first 9 months of 32%. Offsetting these results were more than satisfactory growth of 12% in Package Specialty and 17% in InsurTech, both of which are consistent with our long-term growth objectives.

Turning to our 9-month accident year results for our Continuing Lines. We recorded a 97.6% combined ratio, comprised of a loss and loss expense ratio of 60.2% and expense ratio of 37.4%. Our third quarter results were similar with a combined ratio of 97.8% comprised of a loss and loss expense ratio of 59.3%, and an expense ratio of 38.5%. Although we are on target for expense dollars, the premium shortfall in targeted class specific means that going forward, we have a bit more work to do to achieve our long-term 36% expense ratio objective.

In terms of loss and loss expense ratio, the 60.2% ratio is falling short of our long-term target due to a combination of high catastrophe losses, about 2 points higher than expected year-to-date, and continued loss emergence for terminated casualty business in Package Specialty and Targeted Specialty class specific, causing another couple of points below target. We continue to achieve strong pricing of 9% in Package Speciality and 10% in Targeted Specialty class specific, which is in line with our expectation and exceeds expected loss trends.

Although Tom will report on all of our GAAP results, I will share the observation that the same terminated business that has hurt our 2023 accident year results, was the source of reserve strengthening that we have experienced this year in Commercial Specialty. The net effect on calendar year loss ratio was $12 million in the third quarter and $19 million through 9 months, which was -- translates into 10.7 points in the quarter and 5.3 points year-to-date.

Although this strengthening was offset by the release of some redundancy in Exited Lines, it reinforces the decisions we have made to exit these specific books of business. Tom will provide more details but our decision to play defense on interest rates by dramatically shortening the duration of our bond portfolio starting 21 months ago continues to pay dividends.

Our investment yield is rising every month with overall investment income coming in at $14 million for the quarter and $39 million year-to-date, more than double that from a year ago. With the current book yield of 4%, a duration of 1.2 years and $800 million of cash flow from the investment portfolio in the next 5 quarters, we fully expect that this number should keep rising every quarter. While we continue to make progress against our longer-term goals, both the overall accident year and calendar year underwriting results of our continuing operates -- operations were modestly short of our objectives. The underlying profitability of our continuing book of business commence my view that better results will be forthcoming in the future.

I will now turn it over to our CFO, Tom McGeehan before making -- before taking any questions.

[Thomas McGeehan, executive]

Thank you, Jay, and good morning, everyone. Net income for the third quarter of 2023 was $7.7 million compared to net income of $7.3 million in the comparable period of 2022. The $7.3 million in '22 excludes the net gain from the sale of the farm business in August 2022. Loss reserve releases were $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $3 million in the corresponding period last year.

Actions taken to focus on core business lines, reduce expenses, reduce catastrophe exposure, and reposition the investment portfolio are being realized. The company is moving in the right direction. Book value per share increased from $46.03 per share at June 30, 2023, to $46.27 per share at September 30, 2023. Investment income increased significantly in 2023 and underwriting income was positive.

I will now discuss some of the key drivers of net income starting with investment performance. Investment income was $14.2 million, $13.3 million was from fixed income, $900,000 was from alternatives. This is well ahead of the third quarter of last year, which had $8.4 million, comprised of $9.5 million of fixed income and a negative $1.1 million from alternatives.

On a year-to-date basis, investment income was $39.4 million, comprised of $37.3 million from fixed income investments and $2.1 million from alternative investments. This compares to $16.9 million in '22, comprised of $22.8 million from fixed income investments and negative investment income of $5.9 million from alternatives. Investment income from the fixed income portfolio is almost double what it was in 2022 due to the actions taken in early 2022 to sell longer-dated securities and short duration.

Market interest rates increased in the third quarter of 2023. Even though interest rates rose, the short-duration portfolio kept unrealized losses to $0.9 million net of tax during the quarter. Book yield on the portfolio was 4% at September 30, and duration is 1.2 years. The average credit quality of the fixed income portfolio is A+. As a comparison, at December 31, 2021, book-yield on the fixed income portfolio was 2.2% and duration was 3.2 years. Between September of this year and December 31, 2024, we expect the investment portfolio will generate approximately $800 million of cash flow as bonds mature and investment income is realized. In this higher interest rate environment, our portfolio is well positioned to increase book yield.

Moving to underwriting. In the third quarter of 2023, our Continuing Lines had -- the third quarter numbers. In the third quarter of 2023, our Continuing Lines had an accident year underwriting profit of $2.7 million, compared to an underwriting profit of $3 million in 2022. The $2.7 million accident year underwriting profit contains losses from the Maui fires of $2.5 million. The Continuing Lines accident year combined ratio for the third quarter of 2023 was 97.8%. Maui -- the Maui fires had a loss ratio of 2.3%, which are contained in the 97.8% number I just quoted.

Exited Lines had an accident year underwriting loss of $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2023. We expect the drag from this exit of business will decline as the business runs off and support for businesses sold in 2021 and 2022, is no longer required to be provided. Accident year underwriting income from our Continuing and Exited Lines was $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to underwriting income of $2 million in the third quarter of 2022.

On a consolidated basis, prior year loss reserve releases in the third quarter of 2023 were $0.1 million. 2022 had lost reserve releases of $3 million. In the third quarter of '23, Exited Lines had good development of approximately $11.9 million, primarily from property reserves. Within our Continuing Lines, loss reserves were strengthened by approximately $11.8 million, up approximately $7 million is related to Targeted Specialty business. The remainder is mainly related to accident years 2020 and prior. Booked reserves remain above actuarial indications.

In the third quarter of 2023, gross written premium in our Continuing Lines was $98.9 million compared to $139.1 million in 2022. Much of this decrease was planned. Reinsurance Operations wrote $11.9 million in 2023, compared to $43.1 million in 2022. This decline is mainly due to nonrenewing casualty treaty.

Within Commercial Specialty, there are 2 main product lines: Package Specialty and Targeted Specialty. Package Specialty, which is comprised of Penn-America business, the company's primary [Audio Gap]

Increased gross written premiums from $52.7 million to $53.5 million in '23. Excluding $2.3 million of underperforming business that was terminated from 2022, Package Specialty grew 6% during the quarter.

Targeted Specialty, which contains the remaining business in Commercial Specialty, had $33.5 million of premium in 2023, compared to $43.3 million in the third quarter of 2022. Within Targeted Specialty, several products grew. The Vacant Express product generated $8.5 million of premium in the third quarter of 2023, which is up 28% compared to the third quarter of 2022. Collectibles grew approximately 14% to $4.8 million. The decline in Targeted Specialty class specific was primarily due to actions to improve underwriting income by increasing rate, reducing exposures to catastrophe prone business and nonrenewing underperforming businesses.

Exited Lines include the farm business sold in August 2022. The Specialty property book that was sold in the fourth quarter of 2021 as well as other lines we have exited. Exited Lines are continuing to run down as expected. Net written premium for the quarter [Audio Gap]

were $5.3 million compared to $14.4 million in 2022. 2022 included $9.2 million of expenses related to the sale of the farm business, which occurred in August 2022.

We are pleased with the direction of our company. Our core business is providing positive returns compared to 2022, expenses are much lower due to actions taken in early 2023. Expenses are being managed to align with the business being written and supportive. 96% of the portfolio is invested in fixed maturity investments in cash. The portfolio is well positioned to generate cash flow that can be invested at higher yields. The funds that become available are currently being invested at yields higher than 5%.

Thank you, and we will now take your questions.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from David Schiff with Shift Insurance.

[David Schiff, analyst]

Jay, it's David. I just was asked -- wanted to ask one question, if you all are able to buy back stock at the present?

[Joseph Brown, executive]

We are -- we continue to entertain reverse inquiries given the small amount of business that's available in the market on a daily basis, we don't have any kind of an active repurchase program in the marketplace.

[Operator]

Our next question comes from Tom Kerr from Zacks Investment Research.

[Thomas Kerr, analyst]

Can you go back in more detail on the InsurTech growth? I think you mentioned Vacant and some other, what were sort of the drivers of those individual lines growing strongly?

[Thomas McGeehan, executive]

Yes. No, it's marketing efforts. One, on the Vacant side, a number of new agents have been appointed. We've also introduced a new monoline liability product. Both of those things are driving a lot of growth there. And on [ collect ], it's very focused marketing efforts, which are driving a lot of business to our portals.

[Thomas Kerr, analyst]

Okay. Great. And then you guys mentioned the 9% average pricing increase. Was that across all Commercial Specialty or just Package or just where that kind of came from?

[Thomas McGeehan, executive]

Yes. Package.

[Thomas Kerr, analyst]

So the whole Package. Okay. And are there other problematic books of business like the restaurant out there? Or is that pretty much the worst? Or is that just an ongoing process to get rid of these problem books of business?

[Joseph Brown, executive]

In terms of where we were about 9 or 10 months ago, we went through a pretty thorough review when I got here. We made some very quick decisions to exit a combination of products or books of business that weren't profitable. We also made a decision to exit some lines of business that we weren't in a position to have proper expense ratios. All of that was done at the beginning of the year. And obviously, we're in a continuous process of underwriting and looking at individual risks and individual books of business. But at this point in time, we're very satisfied with the book of business that we're underwriting.

[Thomas Kerr, analyst]

Okay. Two more quick ones. And then what's left in the cat losses? Is that being eliminated or reduced? Or how do you sort of measure how much cat exposure you have or what in the future?

[Thomas McGeehan, executive]

No, it's been significantly reduced. Our reinsurance buy has been able to come down significantly. The upper limit of our cat tower now is $75 million, which still provides protection north of a 102 -- of 1 in 250-year event. Our losses -- our Continuing Lines cat losses for the quarter were only $5.2 million, $2.5 million of that was Maui. There were no other really big losses during the quarter. It was just several little ones. So we're very, very happy with the actions that we've taken to reduce [Audio Gap] for this company.

[Thomas Kerr, analyst]

That's great. One more quick one on the book yield. Is there a sort of timing path to go from 4% to 5%? I mean is that a 12- or 18-month process? Or any color you can give on how that looks?

[Thomas McGeehan, executive]

Well, I'll let you figure it out to some degree, not to be coy. We have $800 million of cash flow coming off between now and the end of next year. That is being invested at close to -- literally, you can get yields very -- treasury close to 5.5% today. So it's -- we have full expectations that the bulk yield of our portfolio will continue to increase. And if rates stay at the levels they are today, I mean yields in that range will eventually be realized. [indiscernible] range.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from Anthony Mottolese from Dowling & Partners.

[Anthony Mottolese, analyst]

I'm just hoping to get a little bit more color on the reserve strengthening in the Continuing Lines. I understand you mentioned it was $7 million in Targeted Specialty and then just the remainder was years 2020 and prior. Are there -- any specific years there? And could any color on exactly what you were seeing in Targeted Specialty certain areas or geographies? Anything would be helpful there.

[Joseph Brown, executive]

Sure. When we did our review of the business at the end of last year, we made some decisions that created an Exited Line or a Discontinued Line, certain books of business because of the way they were coded stayed inside, Package Specialty, for example. So we have a runoff significant reduction, probably going to be about 75%, 80% in a target -- in a small book of business in New York habitational.

So it affected current accident year because that business is running off to the tune of about $7 million. And that was the $7 million that Tom referred to very specifically. The rest of the reserve strengthening primarily occurred in the year 2020 or prior. Part of the reason that 2020 continues to be a little bit of an animus is because of COVID. We had a big slowdown in reported claims and then a backlog in certain litigation environments. And obviously, we've tried to estimate that precisely as we've gone through '21, '22 and '23, but there has been some lag effect. And so what we did was some corrections during the course of the quarter there for 2020 and prior.

[Thomas McGeehan, executive]

Yes. I'm just going to add one thing to Jay -- to what Jay said also, is within Targeted specialty, there was also an underperforming program that was terminated in the first quarter of this year. There is no more premium after the first quarter but we did have some earned from that program this year, and we continue to see some adverse development related to that program, which is included in the reserve strengthening numbers that we noted.

[Operator]

Our next question comes from Tony Polak with Aegis.

[Anthony Polak, analyst]

My questions were answered.

[Operator]

Great. Thank you. That concludes our Q&A session. I will now turn the call back over to Steve Ries for closing remarks.

[Stephen Ries, executive]

Thank you, Danica. Thank you for joining us and your continued interest in investment in Global Indemnity. We look forward to speaking with you after 2023 results release.

[Operator]

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. That concludes today's call. You may now disconnect.