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8-K - LOEWS CORPORATION FORM 8-K - LOEWS CORPlc_body.htm
Exhibit 99.1


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Contact:
Peter W. Keegan
Chief Financial Officer
(212) 521-2950
 
Mary Skafidas
Investor Relations
(212) 521-2788
 
Candace Leeds
Public Affairs
(212) 521-2416

LOEWS CORPORATION REPORTS
NET INCOME FOR 2011
 
NEW YORK, February 6, 2012—Loews Corporation (NYSE:L) today reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 of $268 million, or $0.67 per share, as compared to $466 million, or $1.12 per share in the 2010 fourth quarter. Net income for 2011 amounted to $1.1 billion, or $2.63 per share, as compared to $1.3 billion, or $3.07 per share, in 2010. Results in 2010 included a charge of $328 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to the previously reported Loss Portfolio Transfer agreement involving the Company’s CNA Financial Corporation subsidiary.
 
Book value per share increased to $47.49 at December 31, 2011 as compared to $44.51 at December 31, 2010.
 
Net income and earnings per share information attributable to Loews Corporation is summarized in the table below:

 
December 31,
 
Three Months
Years Ended
(In millions, except per share data)
2011
2010
2011
2010
                         
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation:
                       
Income before net investment gains (losses) (a)
  $ 308     $ 488     $ 1,095     $ 1,280     
Net investment gains (losses)
    (40 )     (22 )     (31 )     27     
  Income from continuing operations
    268       466       1,064       1,307     
  Discontinued operations, net (a)
                            (19  )  
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 268     $ 466     $ 1,064     $ 1,288     
Net income per share:
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.67     $ 1.12     $ 2.63     $ 3.11     
Discontinued operations, net
                            (0.04  )  
Net income per share
  $ 0.67     $ 1.12     $ 2.63     $ 3.07     
Book value per share at:
             
December 31, 2011
  $ 47.49        
December 31, 2010
  $ 44.51        

(a)
Includes losses of $309 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in continuing operations and $19 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 related to CNA’s Loss Portfolio Transfer transaction.

 
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Three Months Ended December 31, 2011 Compared with 2010
 
Net income in the fourth quarter of 2011 amounted to $268 million as compared to $466 million in the comparable period of 2010. The decrease is primarily due to lower investment income from limited partnership results of $57 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) at CNA in 2011 and a $104 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) increase in insurance reserves for its payout annuity business. The fourth quarter of 2011 also reflects lower earnings at Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. and decreased results from the parent company trading portfolio due to lower performance of equity investments.
 
Net income also included net investment losses of $40 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in the fourth quarter of 2011 as compared to net investment losses of $22 million in the prior year period. Losses in the fourth quarter of 2011 included a loss of $21 million related to the termination of interest rate swaps from refinancing of long term debt.

Year Ended December 31, 2011 Compared with 2010
 
Net income in 2011 amounted to $1.1 billion as compared to $1.3 billion in 2010. Excluding the prior year charge of $328 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to the Loss Portfolio Transfer transaction, net income for 2011 decreased $552 million primarily due to the reasons discussed above in the three month comparison as well as higher catastrophe losses and a lower level of favorable net prior year development recorded by CNA in 2011 than in 2010.
 
Net income also included net investment losses of $31 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) in 2011 as compared to net investment gains of $27 million in the prior year. Net investment losses in 2011 were primarily driven by lower gains on sales of securities partially offset by lower other-than-temporary impairment losses at CNA.

SHARE REPURCHASES
 
At December 31, 2011, there were 396.6 million shares of Loews common stock outstanding. During the three months and year ended December 31, 2011, the Company purchased 0.8 million and 18.2 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $28 million and $718 million. Depending on market conditions, the Company from time to time purchases shares of its and its subsidiaries’ outstanding common stock in the open market or otherwise.

# # #

CONFERENCE CALLS
 
A conference call to discuss the year end results of Loews Corporation has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EST, today. A live webcast of the call will be available online at the Loews Corporation website (www.loews.com). Please go to the website at least ten minutes before the event begins to register and to download and install any necessary audio software. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (877) 692-2592, or for international callers, (973) 582-2757. The conference ID number is 42159817. An online replay will also be available on the Loews Corporation’s website following the call.


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A conference call to discuss the year end results of CNA has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. EST, today. A live webcast will be available at http://investor.cna.com. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (888) 378-4353, or for international callers, (719) 457-2644. Please go to the website at least ten minutes before the event begins to register and to download and install any necessary audio software.
 
A conference call to discuss the year end results of Boardwalk Pipeline has been scheduled for 9:00 a.m. EST, today. A live webcast will be available at www.bwpmlp.com. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (800) 706-7745 or for international callers, (617) 614-3472. The conference ID number is 48469297. Please go to the website at least ten minutes before the event begins to register and to download and install any necessary audio software.
 
A conference call to discuss the year end results of Diamond Offshore was held on Thursday, February 2, 2012. An online replay is available on Diamond Offshore’s website (www.diamondoffshore.com).

# # #

ABOUT LOEWS CORPORATION
 
Loews Corporation, a holding company, is one of the largest diversified corporations in the United States. Its principal subsidiaries are CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA), a 90% owned subsidiary; Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO), a 50.4% owned subsidiary; HighMount Exploration & Production LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary; Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (NYSE: BWP), a 62% owned subsidiary; and Loews Hotels, a wholly owned subsidiary.

# # #

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Company. A discussion of the important risk factors and other considerations that could materially impact these matters as well as the Company’s overall business and financial performance can be found in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and readers of this release are urged to review those reports carefully when considering these forward-looking statements. Copies of these reports are available through the Company’s website (www.loews.com). Given these risk factors, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.


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Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries
Financial Review

 
     December 31,
 
                         Three Months
               Years Ended
 
2011
2010
        2011
2010
 
(In millions, except per share data)
                         
Revenues:
                       
Insurance premiums
  $ 1,661     $ 1,647     $ 6,603     $ 6,515  
Net investment income
    550       711       2,063       2,508  
Investment gains (losses)
    (67 )     (38 )     (52 )     56  
Contract drilling revenues
    734       825       3,254       3,230  
Other
    601       570       2,259       2,306  
                    Total
    3,479       3,715       14,127       14,615  
                                 
Expenses:
                               
Insurance claims & policyholders’ benefits
    1,358       1,187       5,489       4,985  
Contract drilling expenses
    407       382       1,549       1,391  
Other (a)
    1,233       1,201       4,857       5,337  
                    Total
    2,998       2,770       11,895       11,713  
                                 
Income before income tax
    481       945       2,232       2,902  
Income tax expense
    (72 )     (276 )     (536 )     (895 )
                                 
Income from continuing operations
    409       669       1,696       2,007  
                                 
Discontinued operations, net
            1               (20 )
Net income
    409       670       1,696       1,987  
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (141 )     (204 )     (632 )     (699 )
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 268     $ 466     $ 1,064     $ 1,288  
                                 
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation:
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 268     $ 466     $ 1,064     $ 1,307  
Discontinued operations, net (a)
                            (19 )
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 268     $ 466     $ 1,064     $ 1,288  
                                 
Income per share attributable to Loews Corporation:
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.67     $ 1.12     $ 2.63     $ 3.11  
Discontinued operations, net
                            (0.04 )
Diluted income per share attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 0.67     $ 1.12     $ 2.63     $ 3.07  
                                 
Weighted diluted number of shares
    397.31       416.70       405.32       419.52  

(a)
Includes a loss of $529 million ($309 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) and a $19 million loss from discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 related to CNA's transfer of legacy asbestos and environmental pollution liabilities to National Indemnity Company ("NICO").












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Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries
Additional Financial Information


 
December 31,
 
                     Three Months
               Years Ended
 
2011
2010
2011
2010
 
(In millions)
                         
Revenues:
                       
CNA Financial
  $ 2,292     $ 2,336     $ 8,980     $ 9,122  
Diamond Offshore
    752       843       3,334       3,361  
HighMount
    93       104       390       455  
Boardwalk Pipeline
    301       308       1,144       1,129  
Loews Hotels
    86       78       337       308  
Investment income (loss) and other
    22       84       (6 )     184  
      3,546       3,753       14,179       14,559  
Investment gains (losses):
                               
CNA Financial
    (33 )     (39 )     (19 )     86  
Corporate and other
    (34 )     1       (33 )     (30 )
      (67 )     (38 )     (52 )     56  
      Total
  $ 3,479     $ 3,715     $ 14,127     $ 14,615  
                                 
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax:
                               
CNA Financial (a)
  $ 273     $ 517     $ 904     $ 1,035  
Diamond Offshore
    203       310       1,177       1,333  
HighMount
    21       31       99       136  
Boardwalk Pipeline (b)
    70       87       211       283  
Loews Hotels
    4       (2 )     17       2  
Investment income (loss), net
    24       85       1       187  
Other (d)
    (47 )     (45 )     (125 )     (130 )
      548       983       2,284       2,846  
Investment gains (losses):
                               
CNA Financial
    (33 )     (39 )     (19 )     86  
Corporate and other
    (34 )     1       (33 )     (30 )
      (67 )     (38 )     (52 )     56  
     Total
  $ 481     $ 945     $ 2,232     $ 2,902  
                                 
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Loews Corporation:
                               
CNA Financial (a)
  $ 192     $ 297     $ 569     $ 609  
Diamond Offshore
    88       113       451       446  
HighMount
    12       21       62       77  
Boardwalk Pipeline (b) (c)
    21       34       77       114  
Loews Hotels
    5       -       13       1  
Investment income (loss), net
    16       56       3       123  
Other (d)
    (26 )     (33 )     (80 )     (90 )
      308       488       1,095       1,280  
                                 
Investment gains (losses):
                               
CNA Financial
    (19 )     (22 )     (10 )     46  
Corporate and other
    (21 )     -       (21 )     (19 )
      (40 )     (22 )     (31 )     27  
                                 
Income from continuing operations
    268       466       1,064       1,307  
Discontinued operations, net (a)
                            (19 )
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 268     $ 466     $ 1,064     $ 1,288  

(a)
Includes a loss of $529 million ($309 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) and a $19 million loss from discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 related to CNA's transfer of legacy asbestos and environmental pollution liabilities to NICO.
(b)
Includes an impairment charge of $29 million ($11 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the year ended December 31, 2011 related to the carrying value of certain steel pipe materials.
(c)
Represents a 64.0%, 65.9%, 64.0% and 66.7% ownership interest in Boardwalk Pipeline for the respective periods.
(d)
Consists primarily of corporate interest expense and other unallocated expenses.

 
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