Chubb Limited

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. My name is Brent and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the CHUBB Limited first quarter 2023 earnings conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question at that time, simply press star followed by the number one on your telephone keypad. If you would like to withdraw your question, Again, press star 1. Thank you. It is now my pleasure to turn today's call over to Ms. Karen Beyer, Director of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Thank you, and welcome everyone to our March 31, 2023 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call. Our report today will contain forward-looking statements, including statements relating to company performance, pricing and business mix, growth opportunities, and economic and market conditions. which are subject to risk and uncertainty, and actual results differ materially. Please see our recent SEC filings, earnings release, and financial supplement, which are available on our website at investors.shub.com for more information on factors that could affect these matters. We will also refer today to non-GAAP financial measures, reconciliations of which to the most direct comparable GAAP measures and related details are provided in our earnings press release and financial supplement. Now I'd like to introduce our speakers. First, we have Evan Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, followed by Peter Enns, our Chief Financial Officer. And then we'll take your questions. Also with us to assist with your questions today are several members of our management. And now it's my pleasure to turn the call over to Evan.

Good morning. We had an excellent start to the year. highlighted by double-digit operating earnings growth that led to record results. We had double-digit premium revenue growth that was global, broad-based, and driven by strong results in our commercial and consumer P&C businesses and our international life business. World-class underwriting results with an 86-3 combined ratio, record net investment income, and life income that more than doubled. North America PNC rate and price increases re-accelerated in the quarter. It was, in a word, a standout performance that I expect will continue. We grew operating income almost 12% to $1.8 billion, and that drove a 15% increase to $4.41 per share, both records. In context, Of what was an active CAT quarter, our published combined ratio reflects simply outstanding underwriting performance from our PNC businesses. The 83.4 ex-CAT current accident year combined ratio was a record. On the investment income side, record adjusted net investment income of $1.2 billion was up over 30%. Our portfolio yield is now 3.8 versus 3% a year ago, with our reinvestment rate averaging 5.5%. Our investment income run rate will continue to grow as we reinvest cash flow at higher rates. Life insurance premium revenue more than doubled, while life earnings doubled to $244 million. Driven by our business in Asia, and predominantly the addition of the Cigna operations, which are mostly A&H and product makeup. In this time of economic and financial market volatility and uncertainty, Chubb is a safe haven. Our business model and the fundamentals of our business are very strong and broad-based. Our earnings and revenue are growing. We have an exceptionally strong capital position and a conservative level of leverage. and our operating cash flow of $11.22 billion and over $2.25 billion this quarter speaks to our strong liquidity. Our unrealized loss as a percentage of tangible equity is 17% and will amortize back to par over a short period. Rising interest rates are our friend, and most important, as you know, you can't have a run on the bank in our business. So again, This speaks to an attractive profile that distinguishes Chubb. Peter's going to have more to say about financial items, including CATS, prior period development, investment income, book value, and a rising ROE. Now turning to growth and the pricing and rate environment. Consolidated net written premiums for the company increased over 16.5% in the quarter on a published basis. or over 18% in constant dollars, comprised of 11% growth in our P&C business globally and 129% growth in life premiums. P&C premium growth in the quarter was balanced and broad-based. North America, Europe, and Asia all produced double-digit growth. Beginning with North America, commercial premiums were up almost 12%, or 6.2% excluding agriculture. Adjusted for the impact of one-off loss portfolio transfers in our major accounts division, year-over-year North America regular commercial flow grew 7.6%, which is representative of the minimum rate growth we expect for the balance of the year. And by the way, the 7.6% is broken down as 10% growth in P&C and minus 2% growth in financial lines. Our major accounts and specialty division grew 6.3% or 8.7 adjusted for the LPTs. And that was 11.4% P&C and minus 7% financial lines. In our middle market and small commercial business, premiums were up 6.5% or 7% in PNC and up 2% in financial lines. Renewal retention for our retail commercial businesses was 97%. On the consumer side in North America, our high net worth personal lines business was up almost 10%, an exceptionally strong result. And in fact, the strongest organic growth in over 15 years. Turning to our international general insurance operations, net premiums were up 10% in constant dollars, or 6% after FX impact, with commercial up 10.8 and consumer up over 8.5. Growth was led by our Asia-Pacific region, with premiums up over 18.5%, with commercial lines up about 15%, and consumer lines up over 22%. And Europe produced overall growth of over 10%. In terms of the commercial PNC rate environment, rates and price increases reaccelerated. Pricing for total North America commercial PNC, which includes rate of 6.4 and exposure change of 4.5, increased 11.2%. against a loss cost trend of 6.7. Pricing for commercial property and casualty, excluding financial lines and workers' comp, was up 16.9%. Property pricing was up 27%, with rates up 16.4 and exposure change of 9.1. Casualty pricing was up 9.9%, which includes 7.4 of rate and 2.3 of exposure. As I said last quarter, for professional lines and workers' comp, which includes risk management, the competitive environment is aggressive, and rates have continued to decline in recognition of favorable experience. In the quarter, rates and pricing for North America financial lines and aggregate were down about 2%. And in workers' comp, which includes both primary comp In risk management, pricing was up 6.4, with rates down 0.5% and exposure up about 6.8%. Internationally, we continued to achieve improved rate-to-exposure across our commercial portfolio. In our international retail business, pricing was up about 8%, with rates up 4.8%, an exposure change of about 2.9, while loss costs across our international commercial portfolio are trending at 6.5%. Turning to our consumer businesses, in North America, high net worth personal lines business, again, net written premiums were up almost 10%, with our true high net worth client segment up over 15%. Retentions were 104% on a premium basis and about 91% on an account basis. We continue to benefit from a flight to quality and capacity. In our homeowners business, we achieved pricing of about 13%, while the homeowners loss cost trend is running about 10.5%. International consumer lines premiums, again, grew over 8.5%. in the quarter in constant dollars. Our international A&H division had another strong quarter with premiums up about 20%. Asia Pacific was up 34 and a half, while the UK was up over 12%. Premiums in our international personal lines business were down a point and a half, and it was impacted by our business in Europe. In our international life insurance business, again, premiums and income overall more than doubled. Our business in Korea and the majority of Asia is off to a good start to the year. I was just in Korea two weeks ago. Our leadership, the franchise, the strategy, the execution, and the growth are all in really good shape. And this is a very large business for Chubb. In summary, we had an excellent quarter and have had a strong start to the year with a lot of momentum heading into the second quarter. Looking forward, we are confident in our ability to continue growing revenue and operating earnings, which in turn drive EPS through the three engines of P&C underwriting income, investment income, and life income. Add to that our business model. financial strength, stability, and liquidity, and I believe you, Evan Chubb, both the reassurance of safety and the attractive prospects of a long-term growth company. I'll turn the call over to Peter, and then we're going to come back and take your questions.