Insurer settles N1.6 billion claims

Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc has said its net benefit and claims increased by 117 per cent, to N1.6 billion at the end of 2018 financial period, from N737 million in the corresponding period of 2017.

The Chairman of the company, Remi Babalola, disclosed this during the company’s 50th yearly general meeting in Lagos, saying: “We are pleased to be one of the top claim paying Insurance companies as our claim paid per premium earned is one of the highest in the industry.”

Based on the phenomenal increase in net benefits and claims, Babalola said that the company’s profit before tax fell by 55.4 per cent to N490 million from N1.099 billion recorded in 2017.

In furtherance of its commitment to continually enrich our shareholders, he said the board of directors recommended a cash dividend of two kobo per share for the 2018 financial year.

The chairman said that the company’s gross premium written rose slightly by 6.79 per cent from N4.252 billion achieved in 2017 to N4.54 billion

He added that underwriting profit however dropped significantly by 46.05 per cent to N638 million from N1.182 billion posted in the preceding year, he added.

Babalola said that the company had remained unrelenting in sustaining high corporate and ethical governance standards in its business, while the board had been at the forefront of ensuring total compliance with every directive from the National Insurance Commission.

“The company’s management went through a significant overhaul with the appointment of Mr Ademayowa Adeduro as the new managing director/chief executive officer,” he said.

Speaking on the future outlook of the company, Adeduro said: “While we anticipate an improved operating economy, our strategic initiatives for the year 2019 includes to begin sales in AutoReg-Courtville franchise that bundles our auto insurance with vehicles licence renewal.

“We will broaden the horizon of our financial institution/bancassurance and broker marketing groups; to have two sub-units under FI and three sub-units under brokers.”

He said that the company will develop a product for market women, campus and camp and “intensive attention to branches with a view to ensuring uptick in activities and meeting targets”.