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· Still high insurance claims, but positive effect from implemented measures
“We deliver strongly across the board - with double-digit growth in pensions,
asset management, banking and insurance. I am pleased that more customers choose
Storebrand. Growth is also important to reach the ambition of a group profit of
NOK 5 billion in 2025,” says CEO Odd Arild Grefstad.
“Despite some harsh weather in the quarter, the insurance business is on the
right track. We have been able to help many customers in the quarter and in
addition improved profitability with a combined ratio of 98%. We still follow
P&C insurance and disability trends closely, but I am happy to see that we are
on our way to the targeted combined ratio of 90-92% in 2025,” says Grefstad.
“Storebrand performs well and has a solid capital position. The introduction of
a flexible buffer fund for private defined benefit pensions allows us to take
more risk and increase expected returns for customers. Today we also initiate a
new share buyback program of NOK 1.1 billion, delivering on our ambition of
increasing dividends and NOK 1.5 billion in share buy-backs also in 2024,” says
Grefstad.
Group Profit
Group profit was NOK 1,082 million in the 1st quarter, compared to NOK 826
million in the same period last year. This reflects good underlying growth
across all business areas, satisfactory cost development and good financial
results.
Fee and administration income amounted to NOK 1,818 million in the 1st quarter.
This was an increase of 13 per cent compared to the same quarter last year.
Income growth is driven by strong growth in defined contribution pensions,
increased assets under management and growth in Storebrand Bank.
Total assets reached a new record level at the end of the 1st quarter with NOK
1,281 billion, representing growth of more than 15 per cent during the last
year. With this, Storebrand consolidates its position as Norway’s largest
private asset manager.
Improved Insurance Results
The insurance business delivered weak results in 2023, and the start of the year
was also challenging. Low temperatures and heavy snowfall in large parts of
Norway led to more frequent and higher claims in P&C insurance.
Disability levels in the Norwegian society are still high, and this also affects
Storebrand’s business. Profitability in group life and pension related
disability insurance has improved due to repricing, and the need for further
price measures are being assessed on an ongoing basis.
Improved Financial Result
The financial items and risk result ended at NOK 394 million in the 1st quarter,
up from NOK 255 million in the same quarter last year.
Higher interest rate levels have contributed to higher returns in the company
portfolios, together with increased profit sharing from the pension area in
Sweden.
ESA’s Preliminary Assessment
The Norwegian market for public occupational pensions totals NOK 800 billion,
but very few municipalities and hospital trusts have conducted tenders in recent
years.
Storebrand has asked the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) to assess whether the
lack of tenders is a breach of the EEA rules on public procurement. In April,
ESA sent its preliminary assessment in the procurement case to Norway. ESA
argues that public occupational pensions are covered by regulations for public
procurement and must be tendered. ESA estimates that 370 municipalities and
hospital trusts have breached these rules when extending contracts for pension
services.
Share Buybacks
Storebrand still has a strong capital position with a solvency ratio of 191%,
well above the overcapitalisation threshold of 175 percent.
Finanstilsynet has now approved the next phase of the share buyback program.
This means that Storebrand will buy back shares worth NOK 1.1 billion in the
period up to 20 December this year. The new buyback program starts today.
Storebrand’s long-term ambition is to conduct annual share buybacks of NOK 1.5
billion, totaling NOK 12 billion until 2030, in addition to increasing annual
dividends.
Key Figures in the Quarter: (Q1-2023 in brackets)
· Solvency ratio: 191% (179%)
· Earnings per share, adjusted for amortisation NOK 2.09 (NOK 1.82[2])
· Equity NOK 29,956m (NOK 30,266m)
· Assets under management NOK 1,281bn (NOK 1,111bn)
Activities Related to the 1st Quarter 2024
07:30: Release of stock exchange notification. Press release, quarterly report
and analyst presentation will be available on www.storebrand.no/ir
10:00: Live investor and analyst conference in English. A webcast will be
available at www.storebrand.no/ir The presentation will be available on demand
afterwards. Analysts who would like to ask questions at the end of the
presentation must register for and participate in the MS Teams Webinar.
Link: https://www.storebrand.no/en/investor-relations/quarterly
-reporting/programme
For further inquiries, please contact
Johannes Narum, Head of Investor Relations: johannes.narum@storebrand.no or
(+47) 993 33 569
Kjetil Ramberg Krøkje, Head of Strategy & Finance: kjetil.r.krokje@storebrand.no
or (+47) 934 12 155
Stig-Øyvind Blystad, Director of Communications: stig
-oyvind.blystad@storebrand.no or (+47) 918 47 226
About Storebrand
Storebrand is a Nordic financial group, delivering increased security and
financial wellness for people and companies. We offer sustainable solutions and
encourage our customers to take good economic decisions for the future. Our
purpose is clear: we create a brighter future.
Storebrand has about 55,000 corporate customers, 2.2 million individual
customers and manages NOK 1,281 billion. The Group is headquartered at Lysaker
outside of Oslo, Norway. Storebrand (STB) is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange.
Visit us on www.storebrand.no
This is information is pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and subject to
the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities
Trading Act.
This information is based on the Storebrand Group’s alternative income statement
and contains Alternative Performance Measures as defined by the European
Securities and Market Authority (ESMA). The alternative income statement is
based on reported IFRS results for the individual group companies. The statement
differs from the official accounts layout. An overview of APMs used in financial
reporting is available on storebrand.com/ ir.
[1] Cash equivalent earnings before amortisation and tax. www.storebrand.no/ir
provides an overview of APMs used in financial reporting.
[2] EPS for 2023 not adjusted for changed periodisation of performance-related
income from the first quarter 2024.
Kilde
