HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) have both been reaffirmed by Fitch Ratings with an ‘A-(lka)’ rating indicating an outlook which is stable, signaling confidence in the companies’ financial health and future growth potential.
Fitch highlighted that HNBA and HNBGI have strengthened their investment portfolios and maintained healthy liquidity as the Sri Lankan economy recovered. A major part of their investments is in government securities, term deposits and corporate bonds, making them well-poised to venture forward.
Sharing his thoughts, HNBA’s CEO, Lasitha Wimalaratne, commented, “Even though we’ve faced many challenges recently, we remained focused on building a steady and sustainable business while putting our customer’s interests at the heart of everything we do. By effectively managing the factors within our control, we successfully strengthened our position, which includes growing our advisor network, enhancing our bancassurance partnerships and being innovative with our product offering. These efforts have enabled us to grow faster than the industry average, showcasing the strength and adaptability of our approach. This reaffirmed rating is not just a measure of our financial stability, it is also a strong endorsement of the trust our policyholders have in us. As we move forward, we do so with renewed confidence, ensuring our customers can rely on us for stability and support.”
According to Fitch, HNBGI continued to expand its non-motor segments and implemented enhanced claim management systems to better manage its position. This has led to lowered claims ratios and an improvement in HNBGI’s underwriting profitability in the first half of 2024.
“Expanding beyond motor insurance has helped us remain resilient in an unpredictable and challenging market” stated, Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNBGI. “By diversifying our portfolio, we are better equipped to meet the evolving needs of our customers, which has led us to achieve a balance between our motor and non-motor segments. This balance has been key to our growth strategy, helping us reach new customer segments and reduce reliance on a single line of business. Further, our investments in technology and innovative systems that streamline claims management, enhance customer service and improve overall efficiency have allowed us to develop and deliver tailored solutions to our customers more quickly."
The Group’s CFO, Punsirini Perera, stated, “This rating highlights our disciplined approach to managing finances and strengthening our capital, which gives a reassurance to our policyholders that we are well-prepared for the future. Both HNBA and HNBGI maintain strong Risk-Based Capital levels that exceed regulatory requirements and our close association with our parent company, Hatton National Bank, one of Sri Lanka’s leading banks, has helped us amplify our reach and influence in the market, positioning us uniquely to offer greater security and peace of mind to our customers.”
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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