Sampo Group’s results for January-September 2023

SAMPO PLC                        INTERIM STATEMENT                  8 November 2023 at 9:40 am  

Sampo Group’s results for January-September 2023

• Sampo Group achieved premium growth of 10 per cent on a currency adjusted basis in January-September 2023, supported by strong development in Private and the UK

• The underwriting result grew by 1 per cent on a currency adjusted basis and the combined ratio increased to 84.2 per cent (83.0) on elevated weather and large claims

• Underlying Nordic margin trends remained positive, with If achieving a 0.5 percentage points improvement in the adjusted risk ratio excluding discounting effects

• Profit before taxes increased to EUR 1,113 million after adjusting for IFRS 9 (627) but declined on a reported basis (1,857)

• The solvency ratio stood at 195 per cent, pro forma of the Mandatum spin-off and including dividend accrual, and pro forma financial leverage amounted to 26.3 per cent

• The listing of Mandatum on Nasdaq Helsinki was successfully completed on 2 October 2023

Key figures

The comparison figures for 2022 have been restated for IFRS 17 but not for IFRS 9, meaning some figures, such as investment income, are not fully comparable between the reporting periods. Net profit for the equity holders, EPS and return on equity figures include results from life operations. Mandatum is classified as discontinued operations as of 31 March 2023.
*) To enhance comparability, a Group profit before taxes (P&C operations) figure adjusted for IFRS 9, reflecting market value movements, has been provided for the prior year.

The figures in this report have not been audited.

Sampo Group key financial targets for 2021-2023

The pro forma figures reflect the partial demerger and related transactions.

GROUP CEO’S COMMENT

During the third quarter we saw a continuation of the trends observed earlier in 2023. We delivered excellent premium growth of 12 per cent on a currency adjusted basis, the pricing environment in the UK motor insurance market continued to improve and higher interest rates supported investment income. Profit before taxes increased to EUR 1,113 million (627), after adjusting for IFRS 9. Operationally, our focus was on supporting our customers, as rain and flooding led to severe weather claims of approximately EUR 90 million.

Private lines is the part of our business, together with SME, where we see the greatest potential to create value for our customers and shareholders through investments in digital capabilities. Over 2023, the benefits have been visible; digital sales in Nordic Private are up 9 per cent year-on-year, retention remains excellent at 90 per cent and the share of online claims increased to 60 per cent. Being the leading digital P&C insurer in the Nordics also supports growth – Private premiums grew by 6.3 per cent in the third quarter, on a currency adjusted basis, or 7.8 per cent excluding the Swedish mobility business. Private personal insurance was particularly strong, with growth of 12 per cent. Profitability remains very robust in Private as it delivered a nine-month combined ratio of 82.7 per cent, despite elevated weather claims.

Turning to Hastings, another of our digitally focused operations, the UK motor insurance market environment continued to improve over the third quarter. Monthly price increases were in the mid-single digits while claims inflation remained high, but stable. In this environment, Hastings continued to firmly prioritise profitability, but still managed to grow motor insurance customer count slightly. Combined with strong growth in home insurance, this enabled Hastings to grow nine-month currency adjusted GWP by 32 per cent year-on-year. With an operating ratio of 90.5 per cent for the first nine months, it is on track to reach the 88-90 per cent guidance range for 2023, while carrying strong operational momentum into 2024.

In the Nordics, the competitive environment continued to be broadly stable in Private and Commercial, while the Industrial market remained in the hard part of the underwriting cycle. Nordic claims inflation showed signs of moderation in the third quarter as it fell to the lower end of the 4-5 per cent range observed over 2023, while claims frequency developed in line with expectations. We continued to implement rate increases ahead of total claims cost development. The trend in underlying margins remained strong, as If P&C improved its nine-month undiscounted adjusted risk ratio by 0.5 percentage points year-on-year, and its cost ratio by 0.1 percentage points.

The third quarter saw elevated weather claims related to storm Hans, heavy rainfall in Oslo and other, smaller events across the Nordic region. As a large and well diversified insurer, with a strong balance sheet, we are able to help our customers through such events promptly and reliably. Although the occurrence of large weather events appears stochastic, shareholders can expect us to monitor related claims trends vigilantly and to underwrite and price the risk conservatively. It is important to remember that our policies provide coverage for periods of 12 months, allowing us to review price adequacy annually.

Looking to the asset side of the balance sheet, Sampo delivered a net investment income of nearly EUR 500 million in the first nine months. The short duration of our fixed income portfolio has allowed us to reinvest rapidly, pushing the running yield in If P&C to over 4 per cent from 1.5 per cent at the end of 2021.

On 2 October 2023, we completed the spin-off of Mandatum by listing it on Nasdaq Helsinki. I am pleased to see that the listing has been well received by the market and I am excited to take Sampo forward as a pure P&C insurance group.

Torbjörn Magnusson
Group CEO

OUTLOOK

Outlook for 2023

Sampo Group’s P&C insurance business is expected to achieve underwriting margins that meet the annual targets set for 2021–2023. At Group level, Sampo targets a combined ratio of below 86 per cent, while the targets set for its fully owned P&C insurance subsidiaries, If P&C and Hastings, are below 85 per cent and below 88 per cent, respectively.

The outlook for 2023 remains unchanged from that communicated with the Sampo Group Half-Year Financial Report; If P&C is expected to achieve a combined ratio of 81.5 – 83.5 per cent and Hastings an operating ratio of 88 – 90 per cent.

The combined and operating ratios of Sampo Group’s P&C insurance operations are subject to volatility driven by, among other factors, seasonal weather patterns, large claims and prior year development. These effects are particularly relevant for individual segments and business areas, such as the Danish and UK operations.

The net financial result will be significantly influenced by capital markets’ developments. With regard to Topdanmark, reference is made to the profit forecast model that the company publishes on a quarterly basis.

SAMPO PLC
Board of Directors

Sampo Group’s Interim statement for January–September 2023, Investor Presentation and a video review with Group CFO Knut Arne Alsaker are available at www.sampo.com/result.

A conference call for investors and analysts will be arranged at 2:30 pm Finnish time (12:30 pm UK time). Please call tel. +1 786 697 3501, +44 (0) 33 0551 0200, +46 (0) 8 5052 0424, or +358 9 2319 5437. 

Conference passcode: Sampo Q3

The conference call can also be followed live at www.sampo.com/result. A recorded version will later be available at the same address.

For more information, please contact

Knut Arne Alsaker, Group CFO, tel. +358 10 516 0010
Sami Taipalus, Head of Investor Relations, tel. +358 10 516 0030
Maria Silander, Communications Manager, Media Relations, tel. +358 10 516 0031

Sampo will publish the Financial Statement Release for 2023 on 8 February 2024.

Distribution:
Nasdaq Helsinki
Nasdaq Stockholm
London Stock Exchange
The principal media
FIN-FSA
www.sampo.com

Attachment

• Sampo Interim Statement Q3/2023