The African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) has posted a premium income of $583.68 million at the end of the third quarter of 2020, a decline of 5.41 percent. The decline was largely driven by the weakening of some of the major underlying currencies (Nigeria Naira and South Africa Rand) as well as declines occasioned by deliberate portfolio actions to improve underwriting performance.
Technical expense ratios recorded some significant improvements with the Loss Ratio improving by 424 basis points to stand at 62.33 percent from 66.57 percent reported in the previous year. The actions taken on the underwriting portfolio, though negative on premium income, had a positive impact technical expense ratio.
Overall, the net underwriting profit at September 2020 recorded significant improvements to stand at $12.52 million, up from an underwriting loss of $11.13 million during the same period in 2019.
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The Covid-19 pandemic induced global downturn in the financial markets affected the Corporation firstly by the interest rate cuts and secondly by the significant fall in all equity market indices. Hence, Investment income at the end of the third quarter of 2020 stood at $33.95million, down from $47.56million in the corresponding period in September 2019.
The Net profit at the end of the reporting period was $41.77 million, outperforming previous year result of $33.65 million by 24.13 percent.
Corneille Karekezi, group managing director/CEO of Africa Re, in his remarks on the performance noted that: “The very good performance recorded in the 9 months is the result of swift implementation of the existing robust business continuity plan, cumulative Management actions taken on the underwriting portfolio, as well as very balanced approach to investment management. These three blunted the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are optimistic of sustaining the tempo till the end of the year barring any unforeseen major losses”.
