OneBeacon Reports $10.92 Book Value Per Share

HAMILTON, Bermuda, July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: OB) today reported book value per share of $10.92, a decrease of 0.2% for the second quarter and an increase of 6.7% through six months, including dividends.

Mike Miller, CEO of OneBeacon, said, "We are pleased with our results, reporting a flat book value for the quarter, including dividends, in a rising interest rate environment. Good underwriting offset investment losses, which benefited from our short duration. Year-to-date we grew book value by 6.7%, including dividends. Our continuing specialty businesses grew premiums by 9% in the quarter, helped by positive renewal price increases in all business units. I am pleased to report that we have entered into a long-term partnership with an MGA, The Climate Corporation, a firm that specializes in the crop business. We recently received approval to participate in the federal crop insurance program and will start writing business in the fall. We are very focused on closing the sale of the runoff business soon after the third-party actuarial review is completed later this year. Our balance sheet remains strong, and we continue to see opportunities to grow our specialty businesses."

For the second quarter of 2013, the company reported a comprehensive loss of $3 million compared to comprehensive income of $12 million for the second quarter of 2012. Second quarter 2013 operating income was $14 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to $20 million, or $0.21 per share for the second quarter of last year.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the company reported $66 million of comprehensive income, compared to $57 million for the first six months of 2012. Operating income was $64 million or $0.67 per share for the first six months of 2013, compared to $54 million or $0.57 per share through the first half of 2012. Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is explained later in this release.

During the quarter, the company received approval to provide multiperil crop insurance through the federal crop insurance program administered by the Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency. OneBeacon has entered into an exclusive agreement with a managing general agency, The Climate Corporation, a firm that specializes in the crop business, to provide coverages through the federal program, and expects to begin writing business for the 2013-2014 winter growing season. OneBeacon and The Climate Corporation will also offer crop-hail coverages to supplement the federal crop insurance program.

Insurance Operations: OneBeacon's combined ratio was 94.1% for the second quarter of 2013 compared to 94.0% for the second quarter of 2012, and 91.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to 91.6% for the first six months of 2012. The combined ratios for the second quarter and first six months of 2013 reflected slightly higher current accident year loss ratios and lower expense ratios. Favorable loss reserve development for the second quarter of 2013 was 0.4 point versus 1.2 points for the second quarter of 2012, and 0.7 and 0.9 points for the first six months of 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Net written premiums were $247 million for the second quarter of 2013 and $512 million through six months, a decrease of 16% and 14% compared to the second quarter and first six months of 2012, respectively. These variances were driven by the company's exit from the collector car and boat and energy businesses announced in 2012. Excluding the $67 million and $107 million of net written premiums in the second quarter and first six months related to the exited businesses, 2013 net written premiums increased by 9% and 5%, respectively.

Investment Results:  OneBeacon's second quarter total return on averaged invested assets was (0.5%) compared to 0.1% for the second quarter of 2012. These pre-tax results included net realized and unrealized investment losses of $26 million and net investment income of $11 million, compared to net realized and unrealized investment losses of $12 million and net investment income of $14 million for the second quarter of 2012. The average market value of invested assets was $2.6 billion in the second quarter of 2013 as compared to $2.7 billion in the second quarter of 2012.

Through the first six months of the year, the total return on invested assets was 1.1% compared to 1.8% through June 30, 2012. These results included net realized and unrealized investment gains of $3 million and net investment income of $21 million, compared to net realized and unrealized investment gains of $18 million and net investment income of $29 million for the first six months of 2012. The average market value of invested assets was $2.6 billion through the first six months of 2013 as compared to $2.7 billion through June 30, 2012.                     

About OneBeacon: OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. is a Bermuda-domiciled holding company that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OB." OneBeacon's underwriting companies offer a range of specialty insurance products sold through independent agencies, regional and national brokers, wholesalers and managing general agencies. Each business is managed by an experienced team of specialty insurance professionals focused on a specific customer group or industry segment, and providing distinct products and tailored coverages and services. OneBeacon's solutions target ocean and inland marine; entertainment, sports and leisure; group accident; crop; public entities; technology; tuition refund; professional liability; environmental; excess property; programs; and commercial surety. For further information about our products and services visit: www.onebeacon.com and to remain up to date on OneBeacon's news, follow us on Twitter @OneBeaconIns or visit our online newsroom: www.onebeacon.com/newsroom.

Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This earnings release includes non-GAAP financial measures that have been reconciled to their most comparable GAAP financial measures. OneBeacon believes these measures to be useful supplements to the comparable GAAP measures in evaluating OneBeacon's financial performance.

Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes net realized and change in unrealized investment gains, income (loss) from discontinued operations, loss from sale of discontinued operations, and the related tax effects, from net income (loss) attributable to OneBeacon's common shareholders. OneBeacon believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides a useful alternative picture of the underlying operating activities of the company to the GAAP measure of net income (loss) attributable to OneBeacon's common shareholders, as it removes variability in the timing of realized and change in unrealized investment gains which may be heavily influenced by investment market conditions and also removes the impact related to discontinued operations. Although key to the company's overall financial performance, OneBeacon believes that net realized and change in unrealized investment gains are largely independent of the underwriting decision-making process. Management also believes that the impact of operations that have been discontinued are not relevant to evaluating financial performance on a comparative basis.

Operating income per share is calculated by dividing operating income (a non-GAAP financial measure described above) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Management believes that operating income per share is a useful alternative picture of the underlying operating activities of the company as it removes variability in the timing of investment gains and losses which may be heavily influenced by investment market conditions. Management also believes that the impact of operations that have been discontinued are not relevant to evaluating financial performance on a comparative basis. Net income (loss) attributable to OneBeacon's common shareholders per share is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Adjusted OneBeacon's common shareholders' equity excluding net unrealized investment gains, after-tax, and accumulated other comprehensive income/loss (AOCI/L), the average of which is used in calculating operating returns, is derived by excluding net unrealized gains and net foreign currency gains and losses on investments, after tax, and AOCI/L, after tax, from OneBeacon's common shareholders' equity. For the reasons described above, OneBeacon believes that it is appropriate to remove the variability in net unrealized gains and net foreign currency gains and losses on investments and other comprehensive income and loss items when analyzing certain performance measures.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or referenced in this release which address activities, events or developments which we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "believe," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "predict" and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to OneBeacon's:

• change in book value per share or return on equity;
• business strategy;
• financial and operating targets or plans;
• incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses and the adequacy of its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance;
• projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per share, dividends, market share or other financial forecasts;
• expansion and growth of our business and operations; and
• future capital expenditures.

These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by OneBeacon in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including:

• claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, floods, or terrorist attacks;
• recorded loss and loss adjustment expense reserves subsequently proving to have been inadequate;
• the continued availability and cost of reinsurance coverage;
• the continued availability of capital and financing;
• general economic, market or business conditions;
• business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to it and pursued;
• competitive forces, including the conduct of other property and casualty insurers and agents;
• changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretation, applicable to OneBeacon, its competitors, its agents or its customers;
• an economic downturn or other economic conditions adversely affecting its financial position including stock market volatility;
• actions taken by ratings agencies from time to time, such as financial strength or credit ratings downgrades or placing ratings on negative watch;
• the risks that are described from time to time in OneBeacon's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to OneBeacon's Annual Report on the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed February 28, 2013.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by OneBeacon will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, OneBeacon or its business or operations. OneBeacon assumes no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd.