The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Insurer L&G welcomes ‘favourable mortality’ as it reports record profits
Insurer Legal & General has reported record annual profits, helped by changes in life expectancy rates and a strong performance in its retirement division.
The group posted a 32% increase in operating profit to £2.1 billion in 2017, as it again pointed to a “favourable mortality experience”, which allowed it to release £332 million of reserves.
Customers are not living as long as expected, which helps life insurers such as L&G, who pay out bigger sums the longer an individual lives.
Boss Nigel Wilson said: “Legal & General’s strategic focus, alignment to global growth drivers and excellent execution allowed us to deliver a record £2.1bn operating profit in 2017.
“Customer focus and good value made us market leaders in our chosen UK business segments, while successfully expanding in the US, where L&G Retirement broke new ground.
“We remain confident that our unique business model, strong management team, collaborative culture, and strategic focus can deliver further growth in 2018 and beyond.”
Profits at L&G’S retirement arm rose 54% to £1.24bn, thanks to strong performances in the UK and US pension markets.
L&G’S investment arm saw record external net inflows of £43.5bn, which drove operating profit up 9% to £400m.
But general insurance posted a 29% fall in operating profit to £37m, due to higher than expected “non-weather related household claims” in the first quarter of 2017.