Genworth MI Canada Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2015 And Full Year Results

Net Premiums Written: $213 million in Q4, up 20% Y/Y; $809 million for 2015, up 26% Y/Y
Loss Ratio: 23% in Q4, down 3 points Y/Y; 21% for 2015, up one point Y/Y
Net Operating Income: $95 million in Q4, up 14% Y/Y; $375 million for 2015, up 3% Y/Y
Fully Diluted Operating EPS:  $1.03 in Q4, up 16% Y/Y; $4.05 for 2015, up 5% Y/Y

TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2016 /CNW/ – Genworth MI Canada Inc. (the “Company”) (TSX: MIC) today reported fourth quarter 2015 net income of $98 million or $1.03 earnings per fully diluted common share, and net operating income of $95 million or $1.03 operating earnings per fully diluted common share.

On a full year basis, the Company reported $375 million of total net operating income, as compared to $366 million in the prior year.  This represents a $9 million or 3% increase in net operating income.  Full year operating earnings per diluted common share were $4.05, as compared to $3.86 in the prior year, representing a 5% increase.  The Company paid ordinary dividends of $1.59 per common share in 2015. The Company also delivered an operating return on equity of 12% during the quarter and 12% on a full year basis.

“Our proven business model continues to serve us well as we delivered another year of solid performance,” said Stuart Levings, President and CEO. “We are well-positioned to manage through current economic pressures and remain focused on maintaining a strong and balanced portfolio through prudent underwriting and strong lender relationships.”

Key 2015 Annual Financial Results And Operational Metrics:

• Net premiums written were $809 million, representing an increase of $169 million, or 26% higher than 2014.  Transactional insurance generated $705 million in premiums written, representing an increase of $148 million compared to 2014. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the average premium rate, improved market penetration, and higher volumes of mortgage originations.  Portfolio insurance contributed $104 million in premiums written, representing an increase of $21 million from 2014, driven by higher demand from lenders.
• Net premiums earned were $586 million, representing an increase of $21 million or 4%, when compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher premiums written in recent book years. 
• The full year loss ratio of 21% was at the lower end of the Company’s anticipated 2015 range of 20-30%.  The loss ratio was higher by one percentage point when compared to 2014. 
• The expense ratio of 18% was lower by one percentage point when compared to 2014 and remained consistent with the Company’s expected operating range of 18% to 20%. 
• Net investment income, excluding realized gains, of $169 million was lower by $4 million as compared to 2014, primarily due to the impact of lower reinvestment rates, partially offset by an increase in the amount of invested assets. 
• Net operating income was $375 million, representing an increase of $9 million or 3% from the prior year.
• Book value (including accumulated other comprehensive income) was $36.82 per diluted common share, representing an increase of $1.80 per common share or 5% relative to 2014. 
• Operating return on equity was 12%, consistent with the prior year.

Key Fourth Quarter 2015 Financial Results And Operational Metrics:

• New insurance written from transactional insurance was $6.2 billion, consistent with the same quarter in the prior year. As a result of typical seasonality that resulted in lower mortgage originations, transactional new insurance written decreased by $2.1 billion, or 25%, as compared to the prior quarter.
• Premiums written from the transactional insurance business line were $181 million.  This represents an increase of $16 million, or 9%, from the prior year’s period, primarily due to a higher average premium rate resulting from the May 2014 and June 2015 premium rate increases. Compared to the prior quarter, this represented a decrease of $55 million, or 23%, primarily due to seasonality.
• New insurance written from portfolio insurance on low loan-to-value mortgages was $9.6 billion, an increase of $7.0 billion, compared to the same quarter in the prior year. Compared to the prior quarter, new insurance written from portfolio insurance increased by $3.5 billion, or 57%. The volume and mix of portfolio insurance varies from quarter to quarter based on lender demand. 
• Premiums written from portfolio insurance were $32 million, representing an increase of $20 million, as compared to the same quarter in the prior year. Compared to the prior quarter, premiums written increased by $9 million or 36% while the average premium rate declined by 13% primarily due to a shift to a more favourable product mix.
• Net premiums earned of $151 million were $9 million, or 6%, higher, than the same quarter in the prior year due to the higher level of premiums written in recent years. When compared to the prior quarter, net premiums earned were $4 million, or 3% higher.  The unearned premiums reserve was $2.0 billion at the end of the quarter, up over $200 million from December 31, 2014, reflecting the higher level of premiums written in 2015. These unearned premiums will be recognized as premiums earned over time in accordance with the Company’s historical pattern of loss emergence.
• Losses on claims of $35 million were $2 million lower than the same quarter in the prior year. Losses on claims represented an increase of $4 million or 13% from the prior quarter, primarily due to an increase in new delinquencies, net of cures, at a level consistent with typical seasonality.  The loss ratio was 23% for the quarter, as compared to 21% in the prior quarter and 26% in the same quarter in the prior year period.
• The number of delinquencies outstanding was 1,829, an increase of 114 as compared to the prior quarter including an increase of 46 in Alberta. This increase primarily reflects seasonality and the current economic conditions in oil-producing regions. Compared to the same quarter in the prior year, this represented an increase of 73 delinquencies.
• New delinquencies, net of cures, of 487 in the quarter were relatively consistent compared to the same quarter in the prior year. Compared to the prior quarter, there was an increase of 47 delinquencies primarily due to an increase of 40 delinquencies in Quebec and 14 in Alberta, partially offset by a decrease in Ontario and Pacific.
• Expenses were $27 million during the quarter resulting in an expense ratio of 18%, as a percentage of net premiums earned.  This ratio was three percentage points lower than the same quarter in the prior year and one percentage point lower than the prior quarter. The expense ratio remained consistent with the Company’s expected operating range of 18% to 20%.
• Net Investment income, excluding investment gains, of $44 million was $1 million higher than the same quarter in the prior year primarily due to an increase in the amount of invested assets partially offset by the impact of lower reinvestment rates. Net investment income, excluding investment gains, was $2 million higher than the prior quarter.
• The Company’s investment portfolio had a market value of $5.9 billion at the end of the quarter.  The portfolio had a pre-tax equivalent book yield of 3.3% and duration of 3.8 years as at December 31, 2015.
• Net operating income of $95 million was $11 million higher relative to the same quarter in the prior year primarily as a result of higher earned premium, lower losses and lower expenses. Net operating income was $3 million higher than the prior quarter primarily as a result of higher earned premium, higher investment income and lower expenses, which was partially offset by higher losses.
• Operating return on equity was 12% for the quarter, a modest increase from the same quarter in the prior year and consistent with the prior quarter.
• The regulatory capital ratio or Minimum Capital Test (“MCT”) ratio was approximately 233%, 48 percentage points higher than the Company’s internal target MCT ratio of 185% and 13 percentage points higher than the Company’s holding target MCT ratio of 220%.  The Company intends to operate with a MCT ratio modestly above its holding target.
• The Company estimates that its outstanding balance of insured mortgages as at September 30, 2015, was approximately $184 billion, which is approximately 47% of the original insured amount. The outstanding balance of insured mortgages are reported on a one quarter lag.

Dividends

On November 27, 2015, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per common share. This dividend represented an increase of $0.03 or 8% over the Company’s prior quarterly dividend.

Shareholders’ Equity

As at December 31, 2015, shareholders’ equity was $3.4 billion, representing a book value including accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) of $36.82 per common share on a fully diluted basis. Excluding AOCI, shareholders’ equity was $3.3 billion, representing a book value of $35.46 per common share on a fully diluted basis.  

Credit and Debt Ratings

The Company’s issuer credit rating by DBRS Ratings Limited is ‘AA’ low (stable) and the financial strength rating of the Company’s primary operating subsidiary is ‘AA’ (stable).  The Company’s credit rating by Standard & Poor’s is ‘BBB+’ (stable) and the financial strength of the Company’s primary operating subsidiary is ‘A+’ (stable). 

Detailed Operating Results and Financial Supplement

For more information on the Company’s operating results, please refer to the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis as posted on SEDAR and available at www.sedar.com.

This Press Release, as well as the Company’s full year 2015 consolidated Financial Statements, Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Financial Supplement are also posted on the Investor section of the Company’s website (http://investor.genworthmicanada.ca).  Investors are encouraged to review all of these materials. 

Earnings Call

The Company’s fourth quarter earnings call will be held on February 5, 2016 at 10:00 am ET (Local: 416-260-0113, Toll free: 1-800-524-8950, Conference ID: 9234301).  The call is accessible via telephone and by audio webcast on the Company’s website.  If listening via webcast, participants are encouraged to pre-register for the webcast through the Company’s website.  Slides to accompany the call will be posted just prior to its start.  A replay of the call will be available until March 5, 2016 (Local: 647-436-0148, Toll-free 1-888-203-1112, Replay Passcode 9234301).  The webcast will also be available for replay on the Company’s website for a period of at least 45 days following the conference call.                       

About Genworth MI Canada Inc.

Genworth MI Canada Inc. (TSX: MIC) through its subsidiary, Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Company Canada (Genworth Canada), is the largest private residential mortgage insurer in Canada.  The Company provides mortgage default insurance to Canadian residential mortgage lenders, making homeownership more accessible to first-time homebuyers. Genworth Canada differentiates itself through customer service excellence, innovative processing technology, and a robust risk management framework. For more than two decades, Genworth Canada has supported the housing market by providing thought leadership and a focus on the safety and soundness of the mortgage finance system.  As at December 31, 2015, the Company had $6.2 billion total assets and $3.4 billion shareholders’ equity. Find out more at www.genworth.ca.

Consolidated Financial Highlights

¹ This is a financial measure not calculated based on International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).  See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section of this press release for additional information. The MCT ratio as at December 31, 2015 is based on the Company’s estimate.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with IFRS, the Company uses non-IFRS financial measures to analyze performance. Non-IFRS financial measures include net operating income, interest and dividend income, net of investment expenses, operating earnings per common share (basic), operating earnings per common share (diluted), shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI, operating return on equity and underwriting ratios such as loss ratio, expense ratio and combined ratio. Non-IFRS measures used by the Company to analyze performance include insurance in-force, new insurance written, MCT ratio, delinquency ratio, severity on claims paid, investment yield, book value per common share (basic) including AOCI, book value per common share (basic) excluding AOCI, book value per common share (diluted) including AOCI, book value per common share (diluted) excluding AOCI, and dividends paid per common share. The Company believes that these non-IFRS financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and may be useful to investors because they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. Non-IFRS financial measures do not have standardized meanings and are unlikely to be comparable to any similar measures presented by other companies.

See the “Non-IFRS financial measures” section at the end of the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015 (“MD&A”) for a reconciliation of net operating income to net income, total net investment income to interest and dividend income, net of investment expenses, operating earnings per common share (basic) to earnings per common share (basic), operating earnings per common share (diluted) to earnings per common share (diluted), and shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI to shareholders’ equity. Definitions of key non-IFRS financial measures and explanations of why these measures are useful to investors and management can be found in the Company’s “Glossary”, in the “Non-IFRS financial measures” section at the end of the MD&A.  The MD&A, along with the Company’s most recent financial statements, are available on the Company’s website and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”).  When used in this press release, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “seek”, “propose”, “estimate”, “expect”, and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company’s expectations regarding the impact of guideline changes by OSFI, and the effect of changes to the government guarantee mortgage eligibility rules, and the Company’s beliefs as to housing demand and home price appreciation, unemployment rates, the Company’s future operating and financial results, sales expectations regarding premiums written, capital expenditure plans, dividend policy and the ability to execute on its future operating, investing and financial strategies.

The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions, certain of which appear proximate to the applicable forward-looking statements contained herein.  Inherent in the forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company’s business or in its industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Actual results or developments may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements.

The Company’s actual results and performance could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of both known and unknown risks, including the continued availability of the Canadian government’s guarantee of private mortgage insurance on terms satisfactory to the Company; the Company’s expectations regarding its revenues, expenses and operations; the Company’s plans to implement its strategy and operate its business; the Company’s expectations regarding the redemption of its existing debentures; Company’s expectations regarding the compensation of directors and officers; the Company’s anticipated cash needs and its estimates regarding its capital expenditures, capital requirements, reserves and its needs for additional financing; the Company’s plans for and timing of expansion of service and products; the Company’s ability to accurately assess and manage risks associated with the policies that are written; the Company’s ability to accurately manage market, interest and credit risks; the Company’s ability to maintain ratings, which may be affected by the ratings of its majority shareholder, Genworth Financial, Inc.; interest rate fluctuations; a decrease in the volume of high loan-to-value mortgage orientations; the cyclical nature of the mortgage insurance industry; changes in government regulations and laws mandating mortgage insurance; the acceptance by the Company’s lenders of new technologies and products; the Company’s ability to attract lenders and develop and maintain lender relationships; the Company’s competitive position and its expectations regarding competition from other providers of mortgage insurance in Canada; anticipated trends and challenges in the Company’s business and the markets in which it operates; changes in the global or Canadian economies; a decline in the Company’s regulatory capital or an increase in its regulatory capital requirements; loss of members of the Company’s senior management team; potential legal, tax and regulatory investigations and actions; the failure of the Company’s computer systems; and potential conflicts of interest between the Company and its majority shareholder, Genworth Financial, Inc.

This is not an exhaustive list of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements.  Some of these and other factors are discussed in more detail in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2015.  Investors and others should carefully consider these and other factors and not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.  Further information regarding these and other risk factors is included in the Company’s public filings with provincial and territorial securities regulatory authorities (including the Company’s AIF) and can be found on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date hereof.  Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management’s current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions and the assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions may change, and therefore are presented for the purpose of assisting the Company’s security holders in understanding management’s current views regarding those future outcomes and may not be appropriate for other purposes.  While the Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause the Company’s views to change, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Genworth MI Canada