Performance review of insurance industry in 3Q of 2017

Gross Written Premium

The insurance industry was able to achieve a growth of 15.53% (Q3, 2016: 16.97%) in terms of overall Gross Written Premium (GWP), at the end of third quarter of 2017, recording an increase of Rs. 15,862 million when compared to the same period in the year 2016.

The GWP for Long Term Insurance and General Insurance Businesses for the nine months ended on 30 September 2017 was Rs. 118,016 million compared with the same period in 2016 amounting to Rs. 102,155 million. The GWP of Long Term Insurance Business amounted to Rs. 51,893 million (Q3, 2016: Rs. 46,540 million) while the GWP of General Insurance Business amounted to Rs. 66,123 million (Q3, 2016: Rs. 55,615 million). Thus, Long Term Insurance Business and General Insurance Business witnessed a GWP growth of 11.50% and 18.89% respectively, when compared to the corresponding period of year 2016.

Total assets

The value of total assets of insurance companies has increased to Rs. 548,361 million as at 30 September 2017, when compared to Rs. 497,868 million recorded as at 30 September 2016, reflecting a growth of 10.14% (Q3, 2016: 13.41%). The assets of Long Term Insurance Business amounted to Rs. 387,461 million (Q3, 2016: Rs. 342,072 million) indicating a growth rate of 13.27% year-on-year. The assets of General Insurance Business amounted to Rs. 160,900 million (Q3, 2016: Rs. 155,796 million) depicting a growth rate of 3.28%.

Investment in Government Securities

The investment in Government Securities for the period of nine months amounted to Rs. 181,791 million representing 46.92% (Q3, 2016: Rs. 162,084; 47.38%) of the total assets of Long Term Insurance Business, while such investment of the total assets of General Insurance Business amounted to Rs. 29,598 million representing 18.40% (Q3, 2016: Rs. 33,503; 21.50%), Accordingly, the total investment of both Long Term Insurance Business and General Insurance Business in Government Securities amounted to Rs. 211,389 million (Q3, 2016: Rs. 195,587million). Thus, the investment in Government Securities of Long Term Insurance Business has increased by 12.16% and the investment in Government Securities of General Insurance Business has declined by 11.66%.

Profit (before tax) of insurance companies

The profit (before tax) of insurance companies in both Long Term Insurance Business and General Insurance Business for the nine months ended 30 September 2017 amounted to Rs. 10,854 million (Q3, 2016: Rs. 14,721 million) showing a decline in profit by 26.27%. The profit (before tax) of Long Term Insurance Business amounted to Rs. 5,110 million (Q3, 2016: Rs. 5,159 million) while the profit (before tax) of General Insurance Business amounted to Rs. 5,743 million (Q3, 2016: Rs. 9,562 million). Thus, profit (before tax) of General Insurance Business showed a significant decrease of Rs, 3,819 million (39.94%) when compared to the period ended 30 September 2016. This is mainly due to receipt of significant dividend income of an insurer during the year 2016. However, there was no significant declaration of dividend income for the period ended 30 September 2017. Apart from the General Insurance Business, no material deviation noted in respect of the profit (before tax) of Long Term Insurance Business for the period ended 30 September 2017.

Insurers

Out of 27 Insurance Companies (Insurers) in operation as at 30 September 2017, 12 are engaged in Long Term (Life) Insurance Business, 13 companies are carrying out only General

Insurance Business and two are composite companies (dealing in both Long Term and General Insurance Businesses).

Insurance brokers

60 insurance brokering companies, registered with the Board as at 30 September 2017, mainly concentrate in General Insurance Business. Total Assets of insurance brokering companies as at 30 September 2017 have increased to Rs. 4,148 million when compared to Rs. 3,961 million recorded as at 30 September 2016, reflecting a growth of 4.70% year-on-year.

Notes:

1) Figures published for 3rd quarter 2016 have been revised due to the changes in bases adopted in incorporating statistics of composite companies and rectifying errors.

2) Above analysis does not include information in respect of NITF.

3) Inter segment transactions (i.e. transactions between Long Term and General/Insurance segments) have not been considered

(Source: Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka)