NU Online News Service, April 26, 2:14 p.m. EDT

Bermuda insurers and reinsurers reported strong first-quarter earnings relative to a year ago, with several swinging back into the black after reporting Q1 losses in 2011.

Aspen Insurance Holdings Inc. says Q1 net income was $78.7 million, compared to a net loss of $152.8 million a year ago.

Reinsurance results bolstered losses from severe weather and the Costa Concordia event in the insurance segment.

Aspen says it booked a $27 million loss, net of reinsurance recoveries and reinstatement premiums and taxes, during the first quarter due to the Costa Concordia wreck in Italy. Additionally, the Hamilton, Bermuda-based insurer reports $16.9 million in catastrophe losses from U.S. storms during February and March.

However, catastrophe losses were nowhere near the $255.9 million—net of reinsurance recoveries, reinstatement premiums and taxes—of losses suffered by Aspen during 2011's first quarter, which included the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, an earthquake in New Zealand, and flooding inAustralia.

Everest Re reported 2012 Q1 net income of $304.7 million, a dramatic swing from the company's $315.9 million net loss in 2011's first quarter.

Gross written premiums were down 2 percent to $1.05 billion, but Everest Re's loss ratio dropped to 60.4 percent from 123.6 percent a year ago.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph V. Taranto says, “Our underwriting portfolio, particularly for catastrophe-exposed risks, has seen strong upward rate momentum, which is adding meaningfully to the risk-adjusted returns we were able to achieve.

Montpelier Re Holdings says net income available to common shareholders was $107.1 million in the 2012 first quarter compared to a net loss of $104.3 million in 2011's first quarter.

The company generated underwriting income of $66 million compared to an underwriting loss of $131 million a year ago, and the combined ratio dropped to 58.9 compared to 178.8 in 2011's first quarter.

Arch Capital Group reports 2012 first-quarter net income available to common shareholders of $157.8 million compared to $19 million a year ago.

Current-year catastrophe losses were $23 million compared to $178.7 million a year ago, and the company's combined ratio dropped to 90.1 compared to 110.

Arch reports underwriting income of $67.2 million for the quarter compared to an underwriting loss of $64 million a year ago.

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Bermuda Companies Swing Back to Profits in Q1 Reports

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