HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI), recorded outstanding financial results for the first half of 2024. Both companies demonstrated remarkable resilience, leveraging strategic foresight to deliver sustained growth within the competitive insurance landscape. The Group recorded an impressive Gross Written Premium (GWP) of LKR 10.9Bn, which is a 20% growth when compared to the corresponding period last year.
Reflecting on the Group’s financial accomplishments, Mr. Stuart Chapman – Chairman of HNBA and HNBGI, expressed his confidence in the organization’s direction, stating, “Our continued financial success is a direct result of our strategic focus on technology, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction. With so much going on around us, it is easy to lose focus, so we as a team have remained steadfast in our commitment and continue to deliver value to all our stakeholders and the results speak for themselves. The Group’s overall GWP growth of 20% and PAT growth of 14%, certainly reflect this. We honored claims and maturities exceeding LKR 3.3Bn as a Group, further solidifying the trust our policyholders have placed in us. This trust we’ve earned is a key driver, helping us continuously improve and achieve substantial growth in our Group assets, which have risen to LKR 56.5Bn from LKR 51Bn over the past six months. Additionally, our earnings per share increased by 14% and our investments grew from LKR 43.8Bn to LKR 48.7Bn during the same period positioning us well to capitalize on opportunity that lie ahead.”
“Starting the year with the prestigious title of ‘Best Life Insurance Provider’ from the Indian Chamber of Commerce, we embraced the approach of ‘being the best in all we do’ guided by the principles of Protection, Persistency and Productivity. Thus, this recognition has been a catalyst for us to not only maintain but elevate our standards across all facets of our operations, which was evident by our financials during the first half of 2024, stated, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, CEO of HNB Assurance PLC. “I'm proud of how our team has turned our goals into real achievements. We have continued to maintain our growth way ahead of the industry growth rate achieving a total GWP of LKR 6.4Bn which is a 24% increase when compared to the same period last year. Additionally, our life fund grew significantly, rising from LKR 30.6Bn to LKR 35.2Bn. We also paid out maturities and claims totaling LKR 1.5Bn. Our new business premium increased by 39%, long-term endowment grew by 24% while our total assets reached LKR 47.6 Bn.”
With an ambitious goal of achieving a 10% market share by 2026, HNB Assurance places a strong emphasis on the development of its people. “I must also make mention of the several honors we have received during the year which includes the SLITAD People Development Award, acknowledgment as a Company with Great Managers, a mom-Inclusive Workplace and recognition from the National Convention on Quality and Productivity highlight our commitment to our people who also play a vital role on the growth of our organization. These achievements in addition to our business-related accolades along with us recently being recognized as finalists for our marketing efforts at the Drum Awards and MobEx Awards certainly validate our efforts and execution.” added, Mr. Wimalaratne.
HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) also experienced significant growth, with a substantial increase in its total GWP. Amidst a dynamic and complex market environment, HNBGI has demonstrated agility, not only adapting to changes but also seizing new opportunities.
CEO of HNB General Insurance, Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, emphasized the importance of agility in driving the company’s success. “In today’s rapidly changing world, it is crucial to remain agile and responsive to market trends. At HNBGI, we continue to adjust our product offerings and invest in technology to meet the requirements of our customers. This, coupled with our focus on transformational initiatives, has significantly contributed to our business success, enabling us to achieve a GWP of LKR 4.6Bn which represents a growth of 14% from last year and a three time increase when compared to the current industry growth rate.
The company also saw significant growth in non-motor; fire and engineering, medical and marine insurance segments, outpacing the industry growth rate by a considerable margin. “The challenges with managing motor insurance due to rising costs is no secret, but our team has effectively leveraged on the non-motor segment, achieving growth more than 10 times the industry average and contributing LKR 2.3 Bn to our total GWP. Additionally, we have paid out net insurance claims and benefits of LKR 2 Bn, providing crucial support to our policyholders at their hour of need."
Looking ahead, HNB General Insurance is poised to continue their growth trajectory expecting its investments in the new core system to take shape, “We are excited about the future as our new core system begins to take effect. This investment is improving our efficiency and service capabilities, allowing us to better meet the needs of our customers while capitalizing on emerging trends and sustaining our growth momentum.
Further, throughout this year, we have actively pursued strategic partnerships to enhance our reach and provide additional value to our customers. Additionally, we launched HNBGI Loyalty Rewards collaborating with various partners to offer exclusive discounts to our policyholders, further delivering added value. We also introduced the short code '1303' to access our 24/7 dedicated hotline anytime, anywhere.” Added, Mr. Jayasundara.
During the first half of the year, HNBGI earned significant local and international accolades, including the ‘Runner-up in the General Insurance category at the prestigious National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA) 2024’, ‘Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024’ from the Global Banking and Finance Review - UK, the ‘Takaful Window/Unit of the Year 2023/2024’ award from the Sri Lanka Islamic Banking & Finance Industry (SLIBFI), and the Silver Award at the SLITAD People Development Awards 2023/24.
Nov
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) continued to build on their impressive performance, recording strong financial growth and achieving impressive operational success during the third quarter of 2024. With a focus on innovation, customer-centricity and expanding their market presence, both companies for the nine months ending September 30, 2024, reported a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of LKR 16.6 billion, a 22% increase when compared to the same period last year. This growth was fueled by HNBA’s GWP of LKR 9.9 billion, reflecting a 27% increase, and HNBGI’s GWP of LKR 6.7 billion, marking a 14% increase. Additionally, the Group’s PAT saw a notable growth of 26%, rising from LKR 583 million to LKR 734 million when compared to the same period last year. These exceptional financial performances were further fortified by the affirmation of Insurer Financial Strength ratings of HNBA and HNBGI as ‘A-’ (lka) from Fitch, with a stable outlook."Our robust performance this quarter speaks to the strength of our team and the focus we’ve maintained in expanding our reach," commented Mr. Stuart Chapman, Chairman of HNBA and HNBGI. “The year 2024, we navigated with careful optimism, mindful of the elections and the unpredictability they could bring. Despite these uncertainties, our teams not only anticipated the challenges but surpassed expectations, achieving outstanding growth targets. The Group's GWP saw a substantial increase of 22% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Group’s Assets grew by almost 15%, rising to LKR 58.9 billion, during the first nine months. Additionally, our total equity touched LKR. 10.6 billion and our life fund reached LKR 37.6 billion, a noteworthy increase of 23%, during the first 03 quarters of the year. These achievements reflect our commitment to sustainable growth, positioning us strongly for the future as we continue to create value for our stakeholders.” Added, Mr. Chapman.“I am delighted to note that we have continued to maintain our remarkable financial performance during the third quarter and maintain our position as the only fitch A- rated life insurance provider in Sri Lanka.” Stated Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, CEO of HNB Assurance. “Our Gross Written Premium has grown by 27%, reaching LKR 9.9 billion from LKR 7.8 billion when compared to the same period last year. The company posted a 6% growth in profitability by recording Rs. 550 million as profit after tax. It must be noted that the company is yet to recognize surplus from the Life fund which will be at the end of the year. An achievement which highlights the success of our strategic focus in offering accessible and innovative insurance solutions that truly resonate with the needs of our customers, through collaborations and new partnerships.”For HNBGI, the Q3 performance highlights its proactive stance in navigating challenges while seizing growth opportunities. Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNBGI, commented, “Our commitment to improved underwriting and efficient claims management has been instrumental to our success. We continue to make considerable strides in offering tailored insurance solutions that resonate with our clients, which has helped us achieve a GWP of LKR 6.7billion, a 14% increase when compared to the same period last year. Our business and efficiency improvements allowed us to increase our profit after tax threefold, to reach a 187% growth when compared to the same period last year. Notably, our focus on diversifying our portfolio beyond motor insurance has yielded significant growth, with our non-motor segment growing by 22% when compared to the same period last year. Within this category, we saw remarkable performances in marine, fire, and engineering insurance lines, which have grown by 121% and 27%, respectively, highlighting our proactive strategy to expand into areas of high demand.”
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Nov
HNB Assurance recently hosted its annual staff conference, bringing together team members from all over the island for a day of celebration, recognition and fellowship. It was a night to honor the amazing people who are at the heart of HNB Assurances’ incredible growth, with awards for long service, excellence and standout achievements.Among the highlights of the evening were the Long Service Awards, recognizing employees who have been part of the HNB Assurance family for over 15 years. The Chairman’s Award, the night’s top honor, went to those who have truly gone above and beyond in their roles. The In.she Woman Empowerment Award celebrated women making an impact and the CEO’s Special Recognition award acknowledged employees achieving outstanding milestones outside their day-to-day work, especially in the field of sports.HNB Assurance CEO, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, sharing his views during the event, stated, “There’s no denying that our success as a company is built on the dedication, talent and heart of our team. It is no small feat that HNB Assurance has been growing at double the rate of the industry for the past three years. This growth is a testament to the efforts of our people who don’t just fulfill their roles but go above and beyond every single day, shaping the very future of HNB Assurance. What I find particularly inspiring is how our people have stepped up to meet every challenge and opportunity that has come with our rapid growth. I couldn’t be prouder of all our award recipients tonight, congratulations and thank you for your hard work.”Head of HR / AGM, Mr. Navin Rupasinghe, highlighted the significance of HNB Assurance’s achievements, stating, “This conference is about celebrating our people and recognizing the values that make HNB Assurance what it is. Every award recipient has contributed in their unique way, and they continue to inspire us all to reach new heights. Our theme this year alludes to challenges that enable us to grow. Hence, this event is a testament to how HNBA continues to embrace challenges, remain resilient and reach ambitious heights.”Additionally, he went on to emphasize the importance of HNBA’s culture and the accolades that reflect it “We are proud to have been recognized as a Great Place to Work this year, a Company with Great Managers, one of the Most Mom-Friendly Workplaces and the recipient of the SLITAD People Development Award. As we look to the future, we want every member of our team to feel inspired to take on new challenges and reach their fullest potential. Hence why this year’s conference theme is, “Challenging You to Grow”, because when our people grow, HNB Assurance grows.” Added, Mr. Rupasinghe.
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Nov
HNB Assurance received two Bronze awards at the prestigious Dragons of Sri Lanka 2024 Awards, held in Malaysia. The company's innovative Dola Duka campaign and Independence Day campaign were celebrated in the Small Budget, Big Impact category and Best Brand Building and/or Awareness Campaign category, respectively. This prestigious international award shows the company’s commitment to keeping up with trends and effectively sharing its message with the public.Commenting on the company’s latest achievement, Lasitha Wimalarathne, CEO of HNB Assurance, stated, “We are truly happy and proud to receive these accolades as they serve as a testament to the creativity, strategic thinking and collaborative effort that goes into every campaign we run at HNB Assurance. Our focus has always been to create meaningful and impactful campaigns that can resonate with our audience and the results we’ve seen along with such recognitions reaffirm our approach and strategy. I’d like to take a moment to commend and extend my gratitude to both our internal teams and partners for their efforts in bringing these ideas to life and driving these accomplishments on an international stage.”Dinesh Yogaratnam, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer/General Manager of HNB Assurance, also shared his thoughts on this remarkable achievement: “This is a proud moment for us at HNB Assurance as we take home not just one but two Dragons at this year’s awards. Winning at last year’s Dragons of Asia Awards set the bar high for us, but our team’s continued focus on meaningful storytelling has proven to be a winning formula. In a competitive landscape, we had to also be innovative with our communications mix, finding fresh ways to break through the clutter and make a memorable impact. I would like to thank Dentsu Communications Sri Lanka and Kites Global for their partnership, which have been integral to our campaign’s success.”
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