Everest Re Group Reports Second Quarter Results; 36% Growth in Net Income EPS

Everest Re Group Reports Second Quarter Results; 36% Growth in Net Income EPS

HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Everest Re Group, Ltd. (NYS: RE) today reported second quarter 2013 net income of $275.6 million, or $5.56 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $214.6 million, or $4.08 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2012. After-tax operating income¹, excluding realized capital gains and losses, was $253.2 million, or $5.10 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2013, compared to after-tax operating income¹ of $223.0 million, or $4.25 per diluted common share, for the same period last year.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, net income was $660.0 million, or $13.09 per diluted common share, compared to $519.3 million, or $9.79 per diluted common share, for the first six months of 2012. After-tax operating income¹, excluding realized capital gains and losses, was $554.2 million, or $10.99 per diluted common share, compared to $462.9 million or $8.72 per diluted common share, for the same period in 2012.

Commenting on the Company's results, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph V. Taranto said, "Through six months, our annualized net income return on shareholders' equity is 21%. We returned $500 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends and grew book value per share, adjusted for dividends, by 5% despite falling bond prices and catastrophes. We believe we are well positioned to continue to increase shareholder value."

Operating highlights for the second quarter of 2013 included the following:

• Gross written premiums increased 39% to $1.26 billion compared to the second quarter of 2012, largely driven by one large Florida quota share reinsurance contract. Excluding the total impact of this contract, gross written premiums were up 11%. On this same basis, worldwide reinsurance premiums were up 7% reflecting new business growth. Insurance premiums were up 24% primarily driven by growth on its California workers' compensation and non-standard automobile business.

• The combined ratio for the quarter was 87.6% compared to 89.0% in the second quarter of 2012. Excluding catastrophe losses, reinstatement premiums, and prior period loss development, the current quarter attritional combined ratio improved 6.6 points to 80.2%.

• Catastrophe losses amounted to $90.0 million in the quarter, arising from tornadoes and hailstorms in the U.S. and flooding in Central Europe and Canada. The net impact of these losses, after reinstatement premiums and taxes, is $73.2 million.

• Net investment income for the quarter was $148.7 million, including limited partnership income of $19.6 million.

• Net after-tax realized capital gains totaled $22.5 million. There was $274.4 million of unrealized losses, net of tax, on the fixed income portfolio as rising interest rates reduced the market value of those securities.

• Cash flow from operations was $170.2 million compared to $138.8 million for the same period in 2012.

• For the quarter, the annualized after-tax operating income¹ return on average adjusted shareholders' equity² was 16.1% compared to 15.3% in 2012.

• During the quarter, the Company repurchased 1.6 million of its common shares at an average price of $133.16 and a total cost of $211.3 million. For the year, the Company repurchased 3.5 million of its common shares for a total cost of $450.0 million. The repurchases were made pursuant to a share repurchase authorization, provided by the Company's Board of Directors, under which there remains 5.8 million shares available.

• Shareholders' equity ended the quarter at $6.6 billion. Book value per share increased 4.1% from $130.96 at December 31, 2012 to $136.31 at June 30, 2013.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws.We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. Federal securities laws. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made on behalf of the Company.These risks and uncertainties include the impact of general economic conditions and conditions affecting the insurance and reinsurance industry, the adequacy of our reserves, our ability to assess underwriting risk, trends in rates for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, competition, investment market fluctuations, trends in insured and paid losses, catastrophes, regulatory and legal uncertainties and other factors described in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Everest Re Group, Ltd. is a Bermuda holding company that operates through the following subsidiaries: Everest Reinsurance Company provides reinsurance to property and casualty insurers in both the U.S. and international markets. Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd., including through its branch in the United Kingdom, provides reinsurance and insurance to worldwide property and casualty markets and reinsurance to life insurers. Everest Reinsurance Company (Ireland), Limited provides reinsurance to non-life insurers in Europe. Everest National Insurance Company and Everest Security Insurance Company provide property and casualty insurance to policyholders in the U.S. Everest Indemnity Insurance Company offers excess and surplus lines insurance in the U.S. Everest Insurance Company of Canada provides property and casualty insurance to policyholders in Canada. Additional information on Everest Re Group companies can be found at the Group's web site at www.everestregroup.com.

A conference call discussing the second quarter results will be held at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on July 24, 2013. The call will be available on the Internet through the Company's web site or at www.streetevents.com.

Recipients are encouraged to visit the Company's web site to view supplemental financial information on the Company's results. The supplemental information is located at www.everestregroup.com in the "Financial Reports" section of the "Investor Center". The supplemental financial information may also be obtained by contacting the Company directly.

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¹The Company generally uses after-tax operating income (loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, to evaluate its performance. After-tax operating income (loss) consists of net income (loss) excluding after-tax net realized capital gains (losses) as the following reconciliation displays:

Although net realized capital gains (losses) are an integral part of the Company's insurance operations, the determination of net realized capital gains (losses) is independent of the insurance underwriting process. The Company believes that the level of net realized capital gains (losses) for any particular period is not indicative of the performance of the underlying business in that particular period. Providing only a GAAP presentation of net income (loss) makes it more difficult for users of the financial information to evaluate the Company's success or failure in its basic business, and may lead to incorrect or misleading assumptions and conclusions. The Company understands that the equity analysts who follow the Company focus on after-tax operating income (loss) in their analyses for the reasons discussed above. The Company provides after-tax operating income (loss) to investors so that they have what management believes to be a useful supplement to GAAP information concerning the Company's performance.

²Adjusted shareholders' equity excludes net after-tax unrealized (appreciation) depreciation of investments.

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