GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / March 13, 2017 / Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited (OXBR), a provider of reinsurance solutions primarily to property and casualty insurers in the Gulf Coast region of the United States, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2016. Despite the company reporting a net loss of $(0.39) per basic and diluted common share for the fourth quarter due to Hurricane Matthew, overall the company was profitable for the year, and reported net income of $2.6 million or $0.43 per basic and diluted common share.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Results

Net loss totaled $2.3 million, or $(0.39) per basic and diluted common share, compared with net income of $0.4 million, or $0.06 per basic and diluted common share, in the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease in earnings was primarily due to net underwriting losses related to Hurricane Matthew, experienced during 2016.

Net premiums earned increased to $11.4 million, compared with $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase in net premiums earned was a result of the derecognition of approximately $9.6 million of loss experience refund reserve during the fourth quarter of 2016, as the company experienced losses under one of its retrospectively rated contracts.

Net investment income totaled $123,000 coupled with $298,000 of net realized investment gains. This compares with $75,000 of net investment income offset by $998,000 of net realized investment losses for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Total expenses, including losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs and underwriting expenses, and general and administrative expenses, were $14.2 million, compared with $496,000 in the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily as a result of losses from Hurricane Matthew during Q4 2016, compared with no weather-related losses during Q4 2015, offset by lower policy acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses.

During the fourth quarter of 2016, the company repurchased 65,464 common shares under the $2.0 million share repurchase plan approved by the board of directors in May 2016. These shares were repurchased at an average price of $5.25 per share, bringing the total repurchases to date to approximately $742,000.

Dividends paid per share were $0.12 for the fourth quarter of 2016, unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2015.

At Dec. 31, 2016, cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents, totaled $35.7 million, compared with $39.0 million at Dec. 31, 2015.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Ratios

Loss ratio, which measures underwriting profitability, is the ratio of losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred to net premiums earned. The loss ratio was 120.4% for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with 0.0% for the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase was wholly due to the financial impact of Hurricane Matthew occurring during the quarter that affected the company’s book of business.

Acquisition cost ratio, which measures operational efficiency, compares policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses with net premiums earned. The acquisition cost ratio was 0.7% for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with 4.7% for the same year-ago period. The decrease was due to the lower weighted-average acquisition costs on reinsurance contracts in force, as well as the impact of an adjustment to net premiums earned due to the derecognition of loss experience refund payable, mentioned above.

Expense ratio, which measures operating performance, compares policy acquisition costs, other underwriting expenses, and general and administrative expenses with net premiums earned. The expense ratio totaled 3.6% during the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with 27.7% for the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease is primarily due to the increase in net premiums earned as a result of the derecognition of loss experience refund payable coupled with lower policy acquisition costs.

Combined ratio, which is used to measure underwriting performance, is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. If the combined ratio is at or above 100%, underwriting is not profitable. The combined ratio totaled 124.0% for the fourth quarter of 2016 and 27.7% for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 Financial Results

Net income totaled $2.6 million, or $0.43 per basic and diluted common share, compared with $4.6 million, or $0.76 per basic and diluted common share in 2015. The decrease was primarily due to net underwriting losses related to Hurricane Matthew and other weather-related events experienced during 2016.

Net premiums earned totaled $18.1 million, compared with $6.8 million in 2015. The increase in net premiums earned was a result of the derecognition of approximately $11.3 million of loss experience refund payable during 201, as the company experienced losses under one of its retrospectively rated contracts. Such derecognition is recorded in the change in loss experience refund payable, a component of net premiums earned.

Net investment income totaled $450,000 coupled with $554,000 of net realized investment gains. This compares with $337,000 of net investment income offset by $325,000 of net realized investment losses and $399,000 of other-than-temporary impairment losses for 2015.

Total expenses, including losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs and underwriting expenses, and general and administrative expenses, were $16.5 million, compared with $1.8 million in 2015. The increase, a result of weather-related losses during 2016 compared with no weather-related losses during 2015, offset by lower policy acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses.

Dividends paid per share were $0.48 for 2016, unchanged from 2015.

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 Financial Ratios

The loss ratio was 81.8%, compared with no losses and a loss ratio of 0.0% during 2015. The increase was wholly due to weather-related events during 2016 that affected the company’s book of business.

The acquisition cost ratio was 1.6%, compared with 5.1% for the 2015. The decrease was due to the lower weighted-average acquisition costs on reinsurance contracts in force during 2016 compared with 2015, as well as the impact of an adjustment to net premiums earned due to the derecognition of loss experience refund payable mentioned above.

The expense ratio was 9.4%, compared with 26.3% for 2015. The decrease is primarily due to the increase in net premiums earned as a result of the derecognition of loss experience refund payable coupled with lower policy acquisition costs.

The combined ratio was 91.3%, compared with 26.3% for the year-ago period.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to the quarter end, the company declared its regular quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.12. The dividend will be paid on March 30, 2017 to shareholders of record on the close of business March 17, 2017.

Management Commentary

“Our diversified book of business produced $2.6 million of profit, despite paying out on losses for the year,” said Oxbridge Re Holdings President and CEO, Jay Madhu. “We believe our positive results for the year were a reflection of our conservative approach and stringent underwriting process.”

“We remain committed to our shareholders through the distribution of dividends and the continued repurchase of our common shares. “Looking forward, our strong capital position allows us to patiently evaluate the marketplace and seek opportunities to expand and diversify our business of writing fully collateralized reinsurance contracts.”

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call later today to discuss these financial results, followed by a question and answer session. President and CEO, Jay Madhu, and CFO, Wrendon Timothy, will host the call starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The live presentation can be accessed by dialing the number below, or by clicking the webcast link available on the Investor Information section of the company’s website at www.oxbridgere.com.

Date: Monday, March 13, 2017
Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern time
Listen-only toll-free number: 877-407-0782
Listen-only international number: 201-689-8567

Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes before the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Issuer Direct at 919-481-4000 or [email protected].

A replay of the call will be available by telephone after 8 p.m. Eastern time on the same day of the call and via the Investor Information section of Oxbridge’s website at www.oxbridgere.com until April 13, 2017.

Toll-free replay number: 877-481-4010
International replay number: 919-882-2331
Conference ID: 10257

About Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited

Oxbridge (www.oxbridgere.com) is a Cayman Islands exempted company that was organized in April 2013 to provide reinsurance business solutions primarily to property and casualty insurers in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Through Oxbridge’s licensed reinsurance subsidiary, Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited, it writes fully collateralized policies to cover property losses from specified catastrophes. Oxbridge specializes in underwriting medium frequency, high severity risks, where it believes sufficient data exists to analyze effectively the risk/return profile of reinsurance contracts. The company’s ordinary shares and warrants trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols “OXBR” and “OXBRW,” respectively, and the company’s common stock is included in the Russell Microcap Index.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the Company’s filings with the SEC. The occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release, even if the Company’s expectations or any related events, conditions or circumstances change.

OXBRIDGE RE HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars, except per share and share amounts)

Company Contact:
Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited
Jay Madhu, CEO
345-749-7570
[email protected]