E-L Financial Corporation Limited Announces March 31, 2013 Interim Financial Results

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 10, 2013) - E-L Financial Corporation Limited ("E-L Financial") (TSX:ELF)(TSX:ELF.PR.F)(TSX:ELF.PR.G)(TSX:ELF.PR.H) today reported for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, consolidated net operating income¹ of $21.4 million or $4.47 per share² compared with $45.1 million or $10.83 per share in 2012.

The $23.7 million decrease in net operating income in 2013 versus 2012 is principally attributable to the general insurance operation ("The Dominion") which reported a $17.4 million decrease in net operating income in the first quarter resulting mainly from higher claims expense for automobile and weather-related personal property losses, partly offset by lower claims expense for commercial property. The life insurance operation's ("Empire Life") net operating income decreased $4.4 million due to the unfavourable impact of long-term interest rate movements on the Individual Insurance product line in 2013 compared to a favourable impact in 2012.

Net income

E-L Financial earned consolidated net income of $146.0 million or $36.20 per share for the first three months of 2013 compared with $155.9 million or $39.02 per share in 2012.

In addition to the decrease in net operating income described above, income from associates decreased $28.6 million, as income from United Corporations Limited ("United") in 2013 is now reported on a consolidated basis versus as income from associates in 2012. Offsetting the declines for the period, fair value through profit or loss ("FVTPL") investments held at E-L Corporate increased $113.6 million compared to $70.3 million in 2012 reflecting an increase of $43.9 million in United's investments.

Comprehensive income

E-L Financial earned consolidated comprehensive income of $197.5 million or $49.30 per share for the first three months of 2013 compared to $165.7 million or $41.51 per share in 2012. Consolidated other comprehensive income ("OCI") was $51.4 million or $13.10 per share compared with $9.8 million or $2.49 per share in 2012. The improvement in OCI for the quarter reflected a larger unrealized fair value increase on available for sale investments compared to the prior period.

E-L Financial's net equity value per Common Share (1) at March 31, 2013 was $790.90.

"The first quarter reflected insurance operation results that were lower relative to the same period in the prior year, offset by an increase in the investment portfolio primarily driven by continued momentum in global equity markets," said Duncan Jackman, Chairman, President and CEO of E-L Financial.

CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

		Period ended March 31, 2013
(thousands of dollars)			E-L Corporate			The Dominion			Empire Life			Total
Net operating income		$	5,426		$	8,061		$	7,948		$	21,435
Realized gain on available for sale investments including impairment write downs			2,286			5,684			219			8,189
Share of income of associates			2,803			-			-			2,803
E-L Corporate's fair value change in fair value through profit or loss investments			113,611									113,611
Net income			124,126			13,745			8,167			146,038
Other comprehensive income			13,137			33,628			4,673			51,438
Comprehensive income		$	137,263		$	47,373		$	12,840		$	197,476
Restated 3			Period ended March 31, 2012
(thousands of dollars)			E-L Corporate			The Dominion			Empire Life			Total
Net operating income		$	7,241		$	25,491		$	12,342		$	45,074
Realized gain on available for sale investments including impairment write downs			528			7,099			1,485			9,112
Share of income of associates			31,370			-			-			31,370
E-L Corporate's fair value change in fair value through profit or loss investments			70,304									70,304
Net income			109,443			32,590			13,827			155,860
Other comprehensive income (loss)			8,072			4,110			(2,378)			9,804
Comprehensive income		$	117,515		$	36,700		$	11,449		$	165,664

1 Use of non-GAAP measures:

"net operating income" is net income excluding realized gain on available for sale investments including impairment write downs, the Company's share of income from associates and the fair value change in fair value through profit or loss investments in the E-L Corporate portfolio, all net of tax. The term net operating income does not have any standardized meaning according to GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

"net equity value per Common Share" provides an indication of the accumulated shareholder value, adjusting shareholders' equity to reflect investments in associates at fair value, net of tax, as opposed to their carrying value.

2 All earnings per share figures are net of dividends paid on First Preference shares.

3 Net operating income and other comprehensive income for March 31, 2012 have been restated to reflect the impact of the prior period adjustment related to the remeasurement of defined benefit plans resulting in a $132 increase in net operating income and a $3,049 decrease in other comprehensive income for the first quarter of 2012.