Economy
AXA Mansard Insurance Grows Earnings by 12% After IFRS 17 Implementation
AXA Mansard Insurance plc, a member of the AXA Group, has recorded 12 per cent revenue growth for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, following the implementation of the IFRS17 and IFRS9 accounting standards.
The accounting standard became effective on January 1, 2023. consequently, gross earned premiums (Insurance revenues) become the principal revenue indicator given the change in accounting standard
The commercial activity of insurance operations will now be reported using insurance (earned) revenues as against gross written premiums (GWP). The reinsurance expenses will now also be reflected as “net expenses from reinsurance contracts held” with the main difference from what was previously reported being the netting of commissions received and claims recoveries from assumed reinsurance businesses. For asset management, commercial activity continues to be measured on revenues.
Commenting on the results, the Chief Financial Officer, Mrs Ngozi Ola-Israel, said, “In the first half of the year, we grew Gross Written premiums by 22%, delivering insurance revenue growth of 12% from N34.7 billion to N39.0 billion despite our challenging and evolving economic environment, particularly in the second quarter of the year.
“This performance further reinforces our resilience and capacity to produce sustainable results even in a challenging business environment. Our operating performance also improved significantly, with PBT growth of 528 per cent to 14.8 billion from 2.4 billion last year, owing to significant improvement in the P&C and L&S segments, net FX gains from devaluation effect as well as the significant recovery from the health segment.”
Commenting on AXA Mansard’s financials at the end of the first half of 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of AXA Mansard Insurance, Kunle Ahmed, said, “We are proud to retain the trust of customers, brokers, and partners despite the challenging economic environment.
According to him, “The outstanding performance demonstrates our dedication to ensuring sustainable growth in the face of this environment as we achieved improved revenue and operating performance in the first half of the year.
“With our focus on resilience, we will remain an exceptional insurer with great financial strength, excellent underwriting capabilities, and efficient claims management processes.
“However, looking forward to the second half of the year, we are optimistic about the opportunities for our business through improved processes with our technical and digital capabilities while prioritizing our customer-centricity, growth, and profitability.”
The underwriter said that the insurance revenues improved by 12 per cent YoY (39.0 billion vs 34.7 billion). Growth is driven by Health (+27%) and L&S (+23%), partly offset by a P&C decline of 5 per cent due to a change in the timing of booking of key business in the current period vs this time last year.
The life and health business recorded growth resulting from improved customer retention, increased share of existing business, and the acquisition of new businesses.
Gross revenues: grew 22 per cent YoY (N54.8 billion vs N45.0 billion).
Improved performance is due to our ability to acquire new businesses as well as our improving retention rates. Growth is spurred by Health (+26%), L&S (+20%), and P&C (+19%). P&C volumes performance is attributable to improved performance in the commercial lines growing by 19 per cent YoY.
Life volume acceleration is driven by the impacts of the new life savings product. Health volumes improve owing to increased premiums from re-pricing and renewal of key businesses.
P&C improves 19 per cent YoY due to strong performance in the Oil & Energy portfolio, which grows by 21% and is partially offset by declines in Aviation and Marine due to changes in the structure of key businesses.
Growth is also driven by improved performance in personal lines as well as increased premiums on strong renewals and new businesses. The focus remains on maintaining efficiency to ensure the growth and profitability of all our portfolios.
L&S segment grows 20 per cent YoY owing to improved performance in individual life business (+59%) which is partly offset by the 1% dip in group life due to delayed renewals of key businesses. Growth in the individual life portfolio is largely driven by the impact of the increase in customers onboarded and increased volumes from protection with the new life savings products. In addition, improved agent productivity has also contributed to the growth in revenues.
Total revenues improved 14% YoY, with higher management fees benefiting from improved 3rd party assets under management. Own AuMs improved by 25%, with 3rd party client count growing by 18%, leading to a 30% growth in 3rd party AuMs and a 28% growth in total AuMs.
Overall, PBT significantly improved by 528% YoY owing to 346% growth in P&C profits and significant growth in the health business, which is partly offset by a 37% dip in the life business. 346% growth in P&C is attributable to improved revenues and underwriting performance, as well as fair value gains. The dip in the life business is driven by increased claims experienced during the period compared to last year and partly offset by reduced underwriting expenses and higher investment margins. The health business continues with its recovery to deliver a N3.5bn profit owing to higher volumes, improved claims management, and operating efficiency.
Shareholder’s fund stood at N41.4 billion, growing by 40 per cent from N29.7bn in FY22 driven by profits in H1 and by fair value gains.
Return on Shareholder’s Equity (ROE) improved by 33.8 percentage points from 7.7 per cent prior year to 41.5% owing to the improved performance in the business. The operating performance of the group increased by 528% (N14.8bn from N2.4bn LY) while average shareholder’s equity also grew 16% (N35.6 from N30.7bn LY) owing to changes in fair value reserves. As a group, we remain committed to providing value to our shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA) improved by 9.9 percentage points up to 12.0% from 2.1% when compared with the prior year. The growth indicates efficient asset utilization towards improved PBT growth of 528% (N14.8bn from N2.4bn LY). The average asset has also increased by 10% (N123.0bn from N111.9bn LY) owing to an improved asset base (near cash and insurance contracts assets) as we continue to consolidate on financial strength during the year.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Brent futures climbed $1.06 or 1.3 per cent to $83.55 a barrel on Friday amid ongoing uncertainty about the negotiations in progress that determine control of and reopening of the key shipping artery of the Strait of Hormuz.
In the same vein, the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures finished at $78.18 a barrel after it chalked up 89 cents or 1.15 per cent.
Iran is reviewing a bill to ban American and Israeli vessels from the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally passed before the war began at the end of February.
Market analysts noted that while this week’s signals on a potential deal have sent a roller-coaster ride in market sentiment, the market remains in the dark as to what needs to happen for the agreement to be clinched.
Part of the question being asked is whether the Iran-Oman agreement would allow a US-flagged vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz or allow a vessel headed for an American port to go through.
Shipping through Hormuz remains heavily constrained as Middle East oil production is still well below pre-war levels while attacks on commercial vessels have continued even as negotiators discuss possible arrangements for the waterway.
Some also said that this week’s developments have signalled that hostilities between Iran and the US are not yet over. This is because the proposed deal is not easily workable because of sanctions and restrictive insurance clauses on any payments by the US government.
Iran is seeking fees of between 5 per cent and 7 per cent of the price of cargoes from ships using the strait, while Oman is discussing fees of about 3 per cent, while the Donald Trump administration wants no fees at all.
Citi has raised its third-quarter Brent crude forecast to $80 per barrel from $75 as the war drags on and repeated attempts at a deal fail to restore normal oil flows through the strait.
The bank still expects the conflict to be resolved, but the five-month war has lasted longer than Citi anticipated and kept more geopolitical risk in crude prices. Citi left its fourth-quarter Brent forecast unchanged at $70 per barrel and still sees the benchmark averaging $65 in 2027.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian businessman and chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Aliko Dangote, has unveiled plans for a new phase of investments and acquisitions as the conglomerate pushes towards its target of generating $100 billion in annual revenue by 2030.
Mr Dangote disclosed this while receiving a delegation of senior executives from global investment banking and financial services firm Goldman Sachs, led by co-chief executive of Goldman Sachs International and Global Co-Head of Investment Banking, Mr Anthony Gutman, during a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex in Lagos.
Speaking after the visit, Mr Dangote said the refinery and associated industrial facilities underscore the transformative impact of long-term investment in Africa, stressing that the group’s ambitions extend beyond its current strategic plan.
“No matter how we try to explain what we have built, you cannot fully appreciate it until you see it. But this is only the beginning. We need to look beyond 2030.
“The next phase of our journey will include new investments and acquisitions as we continue to scale the business,” he said.
He added that detailed internal modelling had reinforced management’s confidence that the Group’s target of generating $100 billion in annual revenue by 2030 was achievable.
According to him, the projections were based on conservative assumptions and had strengthened the company’s conviction to pursue an even more ambitious long-term growth strategy.
Mr Dangote also revealed that the strong participation of employees in the refinery’s recent private placement reflected growing internal confidence in the company’s long-term strategy and future prospects.
The Goldman Sachs delegation, after an extensive tour of the 700,000 barrels-per-day refinery, described the project as an extraordinary achievement.
“It is extraordinary what Mr Dangote and the whole organisation have achieved. The ambition, the scale of the project, the quality of the project and the culture of the people is very impressive,” the executives said.
According to a statement issued by Dangote Group on Friday, the delegation was led by Mr Anthony Gutman and included Mr Adib N. Zouein, Co-Head of EMEA Emerging Markets Regional Sales and Head of the Middle East and North Africa region for Global Banking & Markets Public; Mr Ryad Yousuf, Global Head of FICC Sales Strats and Structuring; and Mr Jimi Adesanya, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Sales (excluding South Africa).
The visitors were received by Dangote; Group Vice President, Oil & Gas, Mr Devakumar Edwin; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, Mr David Bird; Group Executive Director, Oil & Gas, Ms Fatima Aliko Dangote; Chief of Staff to the President/CEO, Ibrahim Dikko; Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Mr Anthony Chiejina; Group Chief Economist, Mr Hassan Mahmud; Group Chief Strategy Officer, Mr Aliyu Suleiman; and Head of Administration, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, Mr Musa Bala, among other senior executives.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate Public Accounts Committee has heard that Nigeria spent N1.16 trillion on fuel subsidy in 2021, while N1.20 trillion was deducted from federation crude oil sales proceeds during the same period.
The disclosure came from the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr Mohammed Bello Shehu, during the committee’s ongoing investigation into the 2021 to 2023 Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit reports on the oil and gas sector.
According to the commission, crude and petroleum product losses cost N16.2 billion, pipeline repairs accounted for N22.05 billion, while strategic stock holding attracted N6.75 billion.
The revelations come against the backdrop of Nigeria’s long-running fuel subsidy regime, which successive governments maintained to keep the pump price of petrol artificially low despite mounting fiscal pressures.
Over the years, subsidy payments consumed trillions of Naira, significantly reducing revenues available to the three tiers of government and contributing to widening budget deficits.
The issue reached a turning point in May 2023 when President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy during his inauguration speech, declaring that “fuel subsidy is gone.” The decision followed years of concerns over the rising cost of the programme, allegations of fraud, and repeated recommendations by fiscal authorities and international financial institutions that the subsidy had become unsustainable.
The removal triggered a sharp increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), leading to higher transportation and living costs across the country. In response, the federal government introduced a series of palliative measures, including cash transfers, support for mass transit, and wage-related interventions, while arguing that savings from the subsidy would be redirected to infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other critical sectors of the economy.
The commission also argued that the current method of calculating the 13 per cent derivation fund undermines the constitutional intention of the policy.
Meanwhile, the committee stood down the Niger Delta Development Commission’s presentation until next Wednesday to allow lawmakers review its submission.
The committee also expressed displeasure over the absence of the Auditor-General of the Federation, warning that he must appear before lawmakers next Tuesday or face compulsory appearance through the constitutional powers of the National Assembly.
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