‘AIICO Will Meet 1st Phase Recapitalisation Deadline’

AIICO Insurance Plc has restated its commitment in ensuring a deliberate and sustained collaborative partnership with members of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO) to actualise the company’s objectives, ensure the industry’s growth and contribute to the nation’s economy.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr Babatunde Fajemirokun, made the disclosure while giving opening remarks to flag-off a one-day training workshop organised by NAIPCO for its members in Lagos on Tuesday.
The AIICO MD/CEO who was represented at the occasion by the firm’s Head, Strategic Marketing and Corporate Communication Department, Mr. Segun Olalandu, commended the efforts of NAIPCO in creating awareness and educating the public on the benefits and advantages of insurance as a risk mitigating mechanism and a tool for poverty alleviation and wealth creation.
While stressing the prime place of the Media in nation building, he described NAIPCO as a “very important association and strategic” for the nation’s insurance industry.
Assuring NAIPCO of his company’s continued supports, Mr. Fajemirokun implored the journalists to redouble their efforts and remain committed to their professional ethics and conduct in order to take the industry to the next level.
On recapitalisation, he said the company is doing everything possible to meet the National Insurance Commission’s deadline of December 31, 2020 set for all insurance and reinsurance companies in the country to meet the first phase of the two-phase segmented recapitalisation plan.
Commenting on the firm’s 2020 third quarter operating results, Mr. Fajemirokun said it achieved a 27 per cent year-on-year growth in gross premiums written from N37.0 billion in Q3 2019 to N47.2 billion in Q3 2020, noting that the global and local macroeconomic headwinds have continued to test the resilience of the firm’s business, and operating models as well as its business continuity plans and the strength of its relationships with customers and partners.
According to him, “the increased contribution to profits from our general insurance and our asset management businesses highlight the strengths as a group. Our general business continues to enjoy the confidence and support of our customers, despite the effects of the pandemic. Our asset management business, AIICO Capital, continues to grow its client base while investing judiciously on behalf of its clients. Overall, profit before taxes reduced seven per cent year-on-year, from N5.0 billion in Q3 2019 to N4.7 billion in Q3 2020.
“Profit-after-taxes increased 17 per cent year-on-year to N5.2 billion for the interim period ended September 30, 2020 from N4.5 billion in the corresponding period in 2019,” he said. The total assets, he said increased 55 per cent year-to-date to N245.8 billion from N159.5 billion in December 2019 driven by an increase in financial assets, including cash and cash equivalents,” he added.
He noted that the financial assets increased because of the decline in investment yields and judicious investment of funds received for policies sold, maintaining that total liabilities increased 63 per cent to N212.6 billion from N130.6 billion in December 2019 driven mainly by increases in insurance contract liabilities (from the decline in yields and reserving for new businesses) and fixed income liabilities (3rd party funds under management) in our asset management business.
Total equity, he said grew 15 per cent year-to-date to N33.2 billion from N28.9 billion in December 2019.
“Our 3rd quarter results demonstrate that our business remains steady, despite the changing client preferences and risk exposures that have accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic. We have recorded strong top-line growth year-on-year as well as improved contribution from subsidiaries in our Group, especially our asset management business.
“In our core insurance business, we will continue to offer innovative products that help our customers create and protect their wealth while leveraging the latest technology to meet our clients where they are. In addition, strong asset-liability management remains a pillar of our operating model. As a diversified financial services group, we will continue to ensure that businesses across our Group offer attractive products that enable us create value for all stakeholders,” he said.