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


Contact:
David B. Edelson
Chief Financial Officer
(212) 521-2439
 
Mary Skafidas
Investor and Public Relations
(212) 521-2788
 

  NEWS RELEASE


LOEWS CORPORATION REPORTS INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS OF
$303 MILLION FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2014

BOOK VALUE PER SHARE OF $51.85

 
NEW YORK, August 4, 2014—Loews Corporation (NYSE:L) today reported income from continuing operations for the 2014 second quarter of $303 million, or $0.79 per share, compared to $261 million, or $0.67 per share, in the 2013 second quarter. Income from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was $568 million, or $1.47 per share, compared to $583 million, or $1.49 per share in the prior year period.
 
Net income attributable to Loews for the three months ended June 30, 2014 includes a loss from discontinued operations of $187 million primarily consisting of an impairment loss of $167 million at HighMount Exploration & Production, LLC related to the excess carrying value over the estimated fair value, less costs to sell. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 includes a loss from discontinued operations of $393 million primarily related to the HighMount impairment loss and an impairment loss of $193 million at CNA Financial Corporation related to the sale of its annuity and pension deposit business.
 
Book value per share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) increased to $49.74 at June 30, 2014 from $49.38 at December 31, 2013 and $49.26 at June 30, 2013.

CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS


   
June 30,
 
   
Three Months
   
Six Months
 
(In millions, except per share data)
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
                         
Income before net investment gains (losses)
  $ 312     $ 269     $ 553     $ 579  
Net investment gains (losses)
    (9 )     (8 )     15       4  
Income from continuing operations
    303       261       568       583  
Discontinued operations, net (a) (b)
    (187 )     8       (393 )     (72 )
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 116     $ 269     $ 175     $ 511  
Net income per share:
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.79     $ 0.67     $ 1.47     $ 1.49  
Discontinued operations, net
    (0.49 )     0.02       (1.02 )     (0.18 )
Net income per share
  $ 0.30     $ 0.69     $ 0.45     $ 1.31  

   
June 30,
   
Year Ended
   
2014
   
2013
   
December 31, 2013
                   
Book value per share
  $ 51.85     $ 49.36     $ 50.25  
Book value per share excluding AOCI
    49.74       49.26       49.38  


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(a)
Includes an impairment loss of $167 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 related to the excess carrying value of HighMount over the estimated fair value, less costs to sell.
(b)
Includes an impairment loss of $193 million related to the sale of CNA’s annuity and pension deposit business for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2014 Compared to 2013
 
Income from continuing operations increased primarily due to higher earnings at CNA and increased parent company investment income as a result of improved performance of the trading portfolio. These increases were partially offset by lower earnings at Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
 
CNA’s earnings were impacted by improved current accident year underwriting results substantially offset by unfavorable net prior year development. Additionally, CNA’s earnings increased due to a curtailment gain of $50 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to the re-measurement of postretirement benefit obligations and improved results in the Life & Group Non-Core business. The 2013 results included a legal settlement benefit of $27 million (after tax and noncontrolling interests).
 
Diamond Offshore’s earnings decreased primarily due to lower utilization, higher contract drilling costs and increased interest expense as a result of higher debt levels. These declines were partially offset by higher dayrates earned.
 
Net income decreased primarily due to the loss from discontinued operations attributable mainly to the impairment loss at HighMount, partially offset by the increase in income from continuing operations as discussed above.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2014 Compared to 2013
 
Income from continuing operations decreased primarily due to lower earnings at Diamond Offshore and a $55 million charge (after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to the write-off of all previously capitalized costs incurred by the Company and Boardwalk Pipeline for the proposed Bluegrass project. These decreases were partially offset by higher earnings at CNA and increased parent company investment income as a result of improved performance of the trading portfolio.
 
CNA’s earnings increased primarily due to the reasons discussed in three month comparison above, partially offset by lower net investment income as a result of reduced limited partnership income, and higher catastrophe losses.
 
Diamond Offshore’s earnings decreased primarily due to the reasons discussed in three month comparison above.
 
Net income decreased primarily due to the loss from discontinued operations attributable mainly to the impairment losses at HighMount and CNA as well as the decrease in income from continuing operations as discussed above.

SHARE REPURCHASES
 
At June 30, 2014, there were 383.0 million shares of Loews common stock outstanding. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company repurchased 3.9 million and 4.5 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $171 million and $195 million. From July 1, 2014 to August 1, 2014, the Company repurchased an additional 2.5 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $107 million. Depending on market conditions, the Company may from time to time purchase shares of its and its subsidiaries’ outstanding common stock in the open market or otherwise.

 
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CONFERENCE CALLS
 
A conference call to discuss the second quarter results of Loews Corporation has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET, 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 68031976. An online replay will also be available on the Loews Corporation’s website following the call.
 
A conference call to discuss the second quarter results of CNA has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET, 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) 430-8705, or for international callers, (719) 325-2452. 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 second quarter results of Boardwalk Pipeline has been scheduled for 9:00 a.m. ET, today. A live webcast will be available at www.bwpmlp.com. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should dial (866) 318-8614 or for international callers, (617) 399-5133. The conference ID number is 59984967. 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 second quarter results of Diamond Offshore was held on Thursday, July 24, 2014. An online replay is available on Diamond Offshore’s website (www.diamondoffshore.com).

# # #

ABOUT LOEWS CORPORATION
 
Loews Corporation is a diversified company with three publicly-traded subsidiaries: CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA), Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (NYSE: BWP); and two wholly owned subsidiaries: Loews Hotels & Resorts and HighMount Exploration & Production LLC. For more information please visit www.loews.com.

# # #

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
Selected Financial Information

   
June 30,
 
(In millions)
 
Three Months
   
Six Months
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Revenues:
                       
CNA Financial
  $ 2,454     $ 2,464     $ 4,875     $ 4,900  
Diamond Offshore
    701       760       1,411       1,492  
Boardwalk Pipeline
    295       304       652       633  
Loews Hotels
    112       101       217       195  
Investment income and other
    45       1       98       9  
      3,607       3,630       7,253       7,229  
Investment gains (losses) – CNA Financial
    (14 )     (14 )     28       5  
Total
  $ 3,593     $ 3,616     $ 7,281     $ 7,234  
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax:
                               
CNA Financial (a)
  $ 379     $ 286     $ 638     $ 617  
Diamond Offshore
    112       257       280       462  
Boardwalk Pipeline (b)
    54       67       77       166  
Loews Hotels
    9       2       14       2  
Investment income, net
    46       1       97       8  
Other (c)
    (40 )     (33 )     (74 )     (57 )
      560       580       1,032       1,198  
Investment gains (losses) – CNA Financial
    (14 )     (14 )     28       5  
Total
  $ 546     $ 566     $ 1,060     $ 1,203  
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Loews Corporation:
                               
CNA Financial (a)
  $ 244     $ 180     $ 420     $ 386  
Diamond Offshore
    42       87       111       169  
Boardwalk Pipeline (b)
    17       22       (1 )     55  
Loews Hotels
    5       1       8       1  
Investment income, net
    30       1       64       6  
Other (c)
    (26 )     (22 )     (49 )     (38 )
      312       269       553       579  
Investment gains (losses) – CNA Financial
    (9 )     (8 )     15       4  
Income from continuing operations
    303       261       568       583  
Discontinued operations, net (d) (e)
    (187 )     8       (393 )     (72 )
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 116     $ 269     $ 175     $ 511  

(a)
Includes an $86 million  curtailment gain ($50 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to a negative plan amendment and the re-measurement of postretirement benefit obligations at CNA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.
(b)
Includes a loss of $94 million ($55 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the six months ended June 30, 2014 to write off all previously capitalized costs incurred related to the Bluegrass project.
(c)
Consists primarily of corporate interest expense and other unallocated expenses.
(d)
Includes an impairment loss of $167 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 related to the excess carrying value of HighMount over the estimated fair value, less costs to sell.
(e)
Includes an impairment loss of $193 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 related to the sale of CNA's annuity and pension deposit business.
 
 
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Loews Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Review

   
June 30,
 
(In millions, except per share data)
 
Three Months
   
Six Months
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Revenues:
                       
Insurance premiums
  $ 1,811     $ 1,800     $ 3,617     $ 3,564  
Net investment income
    597       535       1,174       1,134  
Investment gains
    (14 )     (14 )     28       5  
Contract drilling revenues
    650       745       1,335       1,445  
Other
    549       550       1,127       1,086  
Total
    3,593       3,616       7,281       7,234  
                                 
Expenses:
                               
Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits
    1,441       1,485       2,887       2,881  
Contract drilling expenses
    395       369       765       744  
Other (a) (b)
    1,211       1,196       2,569       2,406  
Total
    3,047       3,050       6,221       6,031  
                                 
Income before income tax
    546       566       1,060       1,203  
Income tax expense
    (145 )     (163 )     (248 )     (323 )
Income from continuing operations
    401       403       812       880  
Discontinued operations, net of income tax (c) (d)
    (186 )     9       (413 )     (70 )
Net income
    215       412       399       810  
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (99 )     (143 )     (224 )     (299 )
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 116     $ 269     $ 175     $ 511  
                                 
Net income attributable to Loews Corporation
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 303     $ 261     $ 568     $ 583  
Discontinued operations, net (c) (d)
    (187 )     8       (393 )     (72 )
Net income
  $ 116     $ 269     $ 175     $ 511  
                                 
Diluted income per share:
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.79     $ 0.67     $ 1.47     $ 1.49  
Discontinued operations, net
    (0.49 )     0.02       (1.02 )     (0.18 )
Diluted income per share attributable to Loews Corporation
  $ 0.30     $ 0.69     $ 0.45     $ 1.31  
                                 
Weighted diluted number of shares
    386.37       389.62       387.21       390.88  


(a)
Includes an $86 million curtailment gain ($50 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) related to a negative plan amendment and the re-measurement of postretirement benefit obligations at CNA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.
(b)
Includes a loss of $94 million ($55 million after tax and noncontrolling interests) for the six months ended June 30, 2014 to write off all previously capitalized costs incurred related to the Bluegrass project.
(c)
Includes an impairment loss of $167 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 related to the excess carrying value of HighMount over the estimated fair value, less costs to sell.
(d)
Includes an impairment loss of $193 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 related to the sale of CNA's annuity and pension deposit business.
 

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