Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results
Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results
HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Primus Guaranty, Ltd. ("Primus Guaranty" or "the Company") (OTC PINK:PRSG) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.
GAAP net income available to common shares for the fourth quarter 2012 was $59.5 million, or $2.23 per diluted share, compared with GAAP net income available to common shares of $100.5 million, or $2.84 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter 2011.
GAAP net income available to common shares for the full year 2012 was $432.4 million, or $14.41 per diluted share, compared with a GAAP net loss available to common shares of $(36.8) million, or $(1.00) per diluted share, for the full year 2011. GAAP net income from continuing operations for the full year 2012 primarily was attributable to net credit swap revenue of $439.0 million, which included unrealized gains in the fair value of Primus Financial Products, LLC ("Primus Financial")'s credit swap portfolio of $415.0 million. GAAP net loss from continuing operations for the full year 2011 primarily was attributable to net credit swap revenue of $(39.0) million, which included unrealized losses in the fair value of Primus Financial's credit swap portfolio of $(64.8) million.
Economic Results for the fourth quarter 2012 were $6.3 million, or $0.25 per diluted share. Economic Results for the full year 2012 were $24.4 million, or $0.93 per diluted share. The primary difference between GAAP net income and Economic Results is that changes in the fair value of Primus Financial's credit swap portfolio are not included in Economic Results. Economic Results for the fourth quarter 2011 were $12.4 million, or $0.35 per diluted share. Economic Results for the full year 2011 were $36.8 million, or $1.00 per diluted share.
GAAP book value per common share was $8.83 at December 31, 2012, compared with GAAP book value per common share of $(4.18) at December 31, 2011.
Economic Results book value per common share was $10.19 at December 31, 2012, compared with Economic Results book value per common share of $8.60 at December 31, 2011.
At December 31, 2012, the notional principal of Primus Financial's consolidated credit swap portfolio totaled $4.1 billion, compared with $8.1 billion at December 31, 2011.
Buyback Update
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Primus Guaranty purchased approximately 1.3 million of its common shares for an aggregate cost of approximately $10.5 million.
During the fourth quarter of 2012, Primus Financial purchased $19.1 million (face value) of its Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes at a cost of approximately $17.8 million.
Subsequent Event
During the first quarter of 2013, Primus Financial redeemed the remaining $57.7 million (face value) of its Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes at par.
Additional Information
A copy of this press release, the Company's financial supplement, and details on Primus Financial's credit swap portfolio as of December 31, 2012, are available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's Web site at www.primusguaranty.com. Also available on the Web site is a letter dated February 14, 2013 to the shareholders from Richard Claiden, Chief Executive Officer, and separately, a communication with certain important U.S. tax considerations for shareholders and investors.
Economic Results
In managing its business and assessing its profitability from a strategic and financial planning perspective, the Company believes it is appropriate to consider both its U.S. GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares as well as certain non-GAAP financial measures called "Economic Results". We define Economic Results as GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares, adjusted as follows:
Unrealized gains (losses) on credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are excluded from GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares;
Realized gains from early termination of credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are excluded from GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares;
Realized gains from early termination of credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are amortized over the period that would have been the remaining life of the credit swap. The amortized gain is included in Economic Results;
A provision for credit default swaps on asset-backed securities ("CDS on ABS") credit events is included in Economic Results; and
A reduction in provision for CDS on ABS credit events, upon termination or principal write-down of credit swaps, is included in Economic Results.
The Company believes that quarterly fluctuations in the fair market value of Primus Financial's consolidated credit swap portfolio have little or no effect on the Company's business operations and that Economic Results provides a useful, alternative view of the Company's economic performance.
About Primus Guaranty
Primus Guaranty, Ltd. is a Bermuda company with offices in New York. Through its subsidiary, Primus Financial Products, LLC, the Company provides protection against the risk of default on primarily investment grade corporate reference entities. Its common shares trade on the OTC Pink Tier of the OTC market. Investors can find market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements included in this press release and other statements Primus Guaranty may make, particularly those anticipating future financial performance, business prospects, operating strategies and plans, market performance, valuations and similar matters, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Any such statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Primus Guaranty assumes no duty to, and does not undertake to, update any forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, and future results could differ materially from historical performance. For a discussion of the factors that could affect the Company's actual results please refer to the risk factors identified by the Company in, among other documents, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and other filings previously made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited) (in thousands except share amounts) | |||||||
December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 51,860 | $ | 87,247 | |||
Investments (includes $213,107 and $341,485 at fair value as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 213,107 | 341,656 | |||||
Restricted cash and investments | 144,077 | 137,759 | |||||
Accrued interest and premiums | 3,210 | 5,725 | |||||
Unrealized gain on credit swaps, at fair value | 721 | - | |||||
Debt issuance costs, net | 510 | 3,444 | |||||
Other assets (includes $2,701 and $7,424 at fair value as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 4,019 | 9,993 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 417,504 | $ | 585,824 | |||
Liabilities and Equity (deficit) | |||||||
Liabilities | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 5,202 | $ | 5,847 | |||
Unrealized loss on credit swaps, at fair value | 43,682 | 457,939 | |||||
Payable for credit events | 1,280 | 1,985 | |||||
Long-term debt | 57,700 | 172,334 | |||||
Other liabilities | 2,721 | 3,211 | |||||
Total liabilities | $ | 110,585 | $ | 641,316 | |||
Equity (deficit) | |||||||
Common shares, $0.08 par value, 62,500,000 shares authorized, 26,125,564 and 34,838,420 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively | 2,090 | 2,787 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 203,232 | 260,258 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 2,723 | 1,086 | |||||
Retained earnings (deficit) | 22,619 | (409,769 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders' equity (deficit) of Primus Guaranty, Ltd | 230,664 | (145,638 | ) | ||||
Preferred securities of subsidiary | 76,255 | 90,146 | |||||
Total equity (deficit) | 306,919 | (55,492 | ) | ||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 417,504 | $ | 585,824 | |||
Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (in thousands except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||||
Net credit swap revenue (loss) | $ | 59,521 | $ | 97,268 | $ | 438,961 | $ | (39,029 | ) | ||||
Interest income | 2,140 | 2,178 | 9,497 | 9,794 | |||||||||
Gain on retirement of long-term debt | 1,056 | 4,324 | 2,638 | 9,145 | |||||||||
Other income | 424 | 837 | 1,429 | 1,608 | |||||||||
Total revenues | 63,141 | 104,607 | 452,525 | (18,482 | ) | ||||||||
Expenses | |||||||||||||
Compensation and employee benefits | 1,797 | 1,392 | 7,117 | 6,527 | |||||||||
Professional and legal fees | 344 | 517 | 1,501 | 2,719 | |||||||||
Interest expense | 638 | 1,440 | 9,587 | 5,998 | |||||||||
Other | 1,061 | 769 | 3,497 | 4,156 | |||||||||
Total expenses | 3,840 | 4,118 | 21,702 | 19,400 | |||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision | |||||||||||||
(benefit) for income taxes | 59,301 | 100,489 | 430,823 | (37,882 | ) | ||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | - | 5 | 97 | 16 | |||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax | 59,301 | 100,484 | 430,726 | (37,898 | ) | ||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | 830 | 676 | 4,388 | 4,133 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) | 60,131 | 101,160 | 435,114 | (33,765 | ) | ||||||||
Less: | |||||||||||||
Distributions on preferred securities of subsidiary | 595 | 692 | 2,726 | 3,035 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) available to common shares | $ | 59,536 | $ | 100,468 | $ | 432,388 | $ | (36,800 | ) | ||||
Income (loss) per common share: | |||||||||||||
Basic: | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 2.21 | $ | 2.84 | $ | 14.30 | $ | (1.11 | ) | ||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.02 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 0.11 | |||||
Net income (loss) available to common shares | $ | 2.24 | $ | 2.86 | $ | 14.45 | $ | (1.00 | ) | ||||
Diluted: | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 2.20 | $ | 2.82 | $ | 14.26 | $ | (1.11 | ) | ||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.02 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 0.11 | |||||
Net income (loss) available to common shares | $ | 2.23 | $ | 2.84 | $ | 14.41 | $ | (1.00 | ) | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||
Basic | 26,766 | 35,163 | 30,189 | 36,849 | |||||||||
Diluted | 26,849 | 35,430 | 30,277 | 36,849 | |||||||||
Note: Basic and diluted net income (loss) available to common shares for the year ended December 31, 2012 includes the impact of a $3.8 million gain that resulted from the purchase of $14.1 million (face value) Primus Financial preferred securities. |
Primus Guaranty, Ltd. |
Regulation G and Other Disclosure |
Economic Results |
December 31, 2012 |
(Unaudited) |
In managing its business and assessing its profitability from a strategic and financial planning perspective, the Company believes it is appropriate to consider both its U.S. GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares as well as certain non-GAAP financial measures called "Economic Results". We define Economic Results as GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares, adjusted as follows:
Unrealized gains (losses) on credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are excluded from GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares;
Realized gains from early termination of credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are excluded from GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares;
Realized gains from early termination of credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are amortized over the period that would have been the remaining life of the credit swap. The amortized gain is included in Economic Results;
A provision for CDS on ABS credit events is included in Economic Results; and
A reduction in provision for CDS on ABS credit events, upon termination or principal write-down of credit swaps, is included in Economic Results.
The Company believes that quarterly fluctuations in the fair market value of Primus Financial's consolidated credit swap portfolio have little or no effect on the Company's business operations and that Economic Results provides a useful, alternative view of the Company's economic performance.
Economic Results per GAAP Diluted Share | ||||||||||||||||
(in 000's except per share amounts) | Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
GAAP Net income (loss) available to common shares | $ | 59,536 | $ | 100,468 | $ | 432,388 | $ | (36,800 | ) | |||||||
Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized fair value of credit swaps sold (gain) loss by Primus Financial | (54,479 | ) | (88,327 | ) | (414,978 | ) | 64,781 | |||||||||
Amortization of realized gains from the early termination of credit swaps sold by Primus Financial | 2 | 23 | 7 | 117 | ||||||||||||
Provision for CDS on ABS credit events | (79 | ) | (39 | ) | (667 | ) | (1,437 | ) | ||||||||
Reduction in provision for CDS on ABS credit events upon termination or principal write-down of credit swaps | 1,297 | 292 | 7,631 | 10,133 | ||||||||||||
Economic Results | $ | 6,277 | $ | 12,417 | $ | 24,381 | $ | 36,794 | ||||||||
Economic Results earnings (loss) per GAAP diluted share | $ | 0.25 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.93 | $ | 1.00 | ||||||||
Economic Results weighted average common shares - GAAP diluted | ||||||||||||||||
