UNIQA: Half-year result positive despite COVID-19
Premiums written rise 0.5%
Combined ratio improves significantly to 96.7%
Earnings before taxes: EUR 55.4 million in the first six months
Earnings before taxes strong at EUR 69 million in standalone second quarter
Acquisition of AXA companies in CEE proceeding according to plan
Forecast for year not possible due to COVID-19
“After good premium growth of 3.2% in the first quarter – the lockdown began on 16 March, already towards the end of the quarter – premium income declined sharply in the second quarter. Overall, this resulted in minor growth of 0.5% in total in the first six months,” said UNIQA CEO Andreas Brandstetter of the trend in premium income. “New business was down significantly by up to 70% in April and May, but began rising forcefully once again from June. Our growth has now almost returned to pre-COVID-19 levels,” said Brandstetter.
Expenses due to COVID-19 were at their highest in property and casualty insurance, at EUR 90 million in the first half of the year. Nonetheless, the combined ratio improved to a gratifying 96.7% (first half of 2019: 97.3%).
At EUR 215 million, the investment result is down by approximately 29% on the figure for the extraordinarily good prior-year period. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis was especially pronounced on the capital markets.
“Taking into account the negative developments on the capital markets and other COVID-19 repercussions, earnings before taxes in the second quarter alone were highly satisfactory at EUR 69 million,” said Brandstetter. Over the first half of the year, earnings before taxes amounted to EUR 55.4 million in total owing to the negative result in the first quarter (minus EUR 14 million). The renewed strong contribution by the Group’s international subsidiaries in CEE was very gratifying at EUR 46 million.
“UNIQA has a sound capital position among its international peers, and this remained stable in the first half of the year in spite of the effects of COVID-19,” said Brandstetter of the strong equity situation. At 204%, the solvency capital ratio is currently well in excess of the defined target corridor of 155% to 190%.
The acquisition of the AXA subsidiaries in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia is proceeding according to plan. The EU Commission has since approved the purchase without imposing any conditions. The financing for the acquisition was secured at the start of July 2020, partly by placing a senior bond and a tier 2 green bond. Regulatory approval in the countries concerned is still pending before the transaction can close, which is scheduled for the fourth quarter. After the acquisition is complete, UNIQA will grow by around five million customers, 2,100 employees and EUR 800 million in premiums per year, rising from number seven to number five in Central and Eastern Europe.
A reliable forecast for 2020 as a whole is not possible at this time on account of the uncertainty still entailed by COVID-19.
Key Group figures – January to June 2020 in detail
Premiums written by the UNIQA Group, including the savings portion of unit- and index-linked life insurance, rose slightl
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