Hastings 2016 full year results

DividendMax Ltd.

Hastings 2016 full year results

Highlights

Strong, profitable growth, with gross written premiums up by 25% to £769.0m (2015: £614.9m) and net revenue up by 23% to £590.3m (2015: £481.0m).

Sustained increase in adjusted operating profit up 21% to £152.1m before the impact of the Ogden rate change, or 5% to £132.1m (2015: £126.1m), after allowing for the £20.0m impact of the Ogden rate change.

Continuing increase in customers and market share, with live customer policies up by 15% to 2.35 million (2015: 2.04 million) and market share of UK private car insurance increased to 6.5% (2015: 5.8%).

Calendar year loss ratio for the year ended 31 December 2016 of 73.7%, before the impact of the Ogden rate change, or 77.7% after allowing for the impact of the Ogden rate change, within the target range of between 75% and 79% (2015: 75.4%).

Strong operational performance and lower financing costs increased net income by 27% to £96.9m (31 December 2015: £76.2m).

Significant increase in profit after tax of £76.1m to £78.4m (2015: £2.3m).

Ongoing cash generation and reduction in net debt leverage multiple, with retail cash generation up 21% to £98.1m (2015: £81.2m) and net debt leverage multiple reduced to 1.9x (2015: 2.1x) after the reduction in the Ogden rate.

Strong financial position, with Solvency II coverage ratio of 140% (2015: 156%) after the reduction in the Ogden rate.

Ongoing investment for growth, with Guidewire now handling all new claims, the Guidewire broking platform commencing roll-out and approaching 700 colleagues in Leicester providing significant capacity for further growth.

Strengthened Board, with Dr Teresa Robson-Capps and Alison Burns joining in July as independent Non-Executive Directors.

Final dividend proposed for 2016 of 6.6 pence per share (2015: 2.2 pence per share). Together with the interim dividend, this equates to 65.6% (2015: 56.5%) of adjusted profit after tax, above the target range set by the Board at IPO.

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