Find out the results of the insurance market in September 2024.
Ethias posts strong performance in H1 2024
- The net result amounts to 98 million euros, an increase of 25 million euros compared to the first half of 2023. This progress of 34% reflects the very good performance of both Life and Non-Life activities and a control of overhead costs.
- The operating result amounts to 117 million euros, compared to 83 million euros in June 2023, representing a growth of 41%. The Non-Life activity contributes 98 million euros to this performance, while the Life activity contributes 36 million euros to this operating result.
- As for total collections, they amount to 2.058 million euros, an increase of 6% compared to the end of June 2023, thanks in particular to the generation of new business.
- The Solvency II pillar 2 ratio stands at 193%. The regulatory Solvency II ratio is 185% and takes into account, on a pro-rata basis for 6 months, a projected dividend of 113 million euros for the 2024 financial year, a significant benefit for the public shareholders of the insurer, which include the federal government through SFPIM, the Walloon Region through WE, the Flemish Region, and EthiasCo. This adds to the 700 million euros that has been paid to them over the past 7 years.
Argenta's strategy on term and loyalty accounts hits margins despite strong performance
In the first half of the year, the Antwerp-based bancassurer recorded an adjusted net profit of 160 million euros, a decline of over 10% year-on-year. Its return on equity dropped to 8.7%, down from 10.6% a year ago.
Since the start of the year, Argenta has performed well, both on the asset side, with rising credit production in Belgium and the Netherlands, and on the liability side, with customer deposits increasing by nearly 2 billion euros. The savings bank’s balance sheet now approaches 55.8 billion euros.
- An adjusted net profit of 128 million euros and a return on equity of 9.4%.
- Net interest income of 337 million euros with a net interest margin of 1.23%, down from 1.45% for the 2023 financial year due to rising financing costs.
- Mortgage lending production was higher than last year, reaching 1.1 billion euros for Belgium and 1.4 billion euros for the Netherlands in the first half of 2024. Market share remained stable.
- Wealth management increased from 13.2 billion euros at the end of 2023 to 14.1 billion euros at the end of 2024. This portfolio growth translated into a return of 117 million euros in the first half of 2024, a rise of 12% compared to the first half of 2023.
- Operating costs decreased due to strict cost control and lower allocations in group costs. The cost-to-income ratio was 52%.
Ageas reports strong financial performance in first half of 2024
Ageas maintained its strong commercial momentum in the first half of 2024, surpassing the 10 billion euros mark in collections for the first time. This increase is primarily due to the remarkable growth in Non-Life activity, while maintaining the profitability set in the combined ratio target.
- The net operating result amounted to 613 million euros, representing a return on equity of 16.4%.
- The net result reached 642 million euros.
- The generation of operational capital amounted to 1.2 billion euros.
- The generation of free operational capital reached 934 million euros.
- The expanded equity increased to 15.9 billion euros, or 86.58 eurosper share.
- The solvency ratio slightly improved compared to the entire 2023 financial year, reaching 219%.
- The total liquid assets of the general account as of June 30, 2024, exceed 1.3 billion euros.
- Life liabilities, excluding UG/L, stand at 87.7 billion euros.
In Belgium, collections rose by 5%, driven by an 8% increase in Non-Life and a 3% recovery in Life collections. The strong performance in Non-Life came from new contracts and premium increases, while Life benefited from higher sales of unit-linked products and Group Life. The Life margin on guaranteed rate products reached 100 basis points, significantly exceeding targets. The Non-Life combined ratio stood at 91.2%. The net operating result for H1 2024 was 232 million euros, with operational capital generation at 326 million euros.
AXA Belgium & Luxembourg reports growth across all business lines
AXA Belgium & Luxembourg is displaying growth across all its lines of business: the revenue for the first half of 2024 amounts to 2,397 million euros, an increase of +9% compared to the first half of 2023. The operating result stands at 256 million euros, comparable to last year’s level.
- Revenue for the first half of 2024 by business line in Non-Life insurance, revenue increased by +7% to 1,417 million euros. Growth is particularly strong in the corporate market, especially in the independent and small business segments. Non-Life insurance for individuals is also experiencing growth.
- Revenue in Health insurance rose by +10% to reach 164 million euros.
- In Life insurance, there was a growth of +13%, reaching 817 million euros, driven by the success of unit-linked retirement products and returns on individual savings.
The operating result is 256 million euros, comparable to the level of the first half of 2023, despite increased charges related to natural disasters. Adjusted for this effect, the operating result shows an increase of +4%.
KBC Insurance services see mixed results in Q2 2024
The result of the insurance services (insurance activity revenues before reinsurance – insurance service expenses before reinsurance + net result from held reinsurance contracts) amounted to 113 million euros (compared to 134 million euros in the previous quarter and 121 million euros in the same quarter a year earlier), of which 76 million euros was from non-life insurance and 37 million euros from life insurance.
The combined ratio for non-life insurance for the first six months of 2024 stood at 87%, the same level as for the entire year of 2023. Non-life insurance sales increased by 8% year-on-year, while life insurance sales decreased by 19% and 15% compared to the high levels recorded in the previous quarter and the second quarter of 2023, primarily due to a decline in sales of life insurance products from branch 23.
Strong half-year results for Belfius
Non-Life premium collections (excluding Health) at the group level increased in the first half of 2024, reaching 451 million euros, a rise of 5.7% compared to the first six months of 2023. Furthermore, all sales channels of Belfius Insurance recorded growth in collected premiums: the bancassurance channel grew by 7.7%, DVV by 5.1%, and Belfius Direct Assurances by 4.6%. The number of new insurance policies subscribed in the first half via Belfius Direct Assurances increased by approximately 20%.
Products in branch 21 also performed well, with premium collections of 281.4 million euros, compared to 115.9 million euros for the first half of 2023. This increase of 142.9% is primarily attributed to the Belfius Invest Capital Safe investment insurance offered by Belfius Insurance. With 230 million euros in premium collections, this product significantly contributed to the success of branch 21. In total, Life premium collections reached 690 million euros, an increase of 27% compared to the first half of 2023. The total Life reserves also increased to reach 14.6 billion euros.