MAPFRE Malta registers Group profit of €14.29 million after tax in 2020

MAPFRE Middlesea p.l.c., as a standalone Company, registered a turnover of €75.12 million in gross premium written, a 1.0% increase over FY2019 registering a marginal increase in its market leadership share. In a year dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, premium growth was severely depressed, with the market only marginally increasing in volume as economic activity slowed down. Technical results improved over previous year as the near lockdown months and the lack of tourist visiting the island affected favourably the claim frequency particularly in Motor. Fewer large losses occurred during the year with a lower effect on results compared to the previous year.

Investment income was subdued as property income and lower gains mitigated the low or negative yields registered in financial instruments including an impairment of available-for-sale equities. Dividends from Group companies were limited to those received from the associate company Middlesea Assist Ltd as in view of the effects of the pandemic on financial markets and its subsequent consequences on its Solvency Ratio led MAPFRE MSV Life to cancel the dividend that was previously proposed. In FY 2019 €18.03 million had been received by way of Group dividends.

The Company registered a profit before tax for FY 2020 amounting to €6.39 million, compared to a profit of €23.82 million in FY 2019. Profit after tax dropped from €21.68 million in FY 2019 to €4.12 million in FY 2020.

The Company maintained a strong balance sheet, with its Shareholders’ equity amounting to €77.05 million still maintaining a strong regulatory solvency position as at 31 December 2020 under the Solvency II regime.

A final gross dividend in respect of year ended 31 December 2020 of €0.052434 per share amounting to a total dividend of €4,823,996 (2019: nil) is to be proposed by the directors at the forthcoming annual general meeting. This is equivalent to a net dividend of €0.034782 per share amounting to a total net dividend of €3,200,000 (2019: nil).

Commenting on the Board’s outlook for 2021 Chairman Martin Galea said “We expect that with the vaccine rollout gaining traction and the pandemic spread restrained the economy starts heading to the much-needed growth. We expect the demand for general business to grow at a lower rate than that experienced in recent years, while that for the protection savings and investments products in life to remain strong.”

The Company will continue forging ahead on the Group Strategic plan of “Transforming to grow and improve profitably”. The Client Orientation, the Excellence in Technical and Operational Management, and the promotion of our Excellence in Culture and Talent remain our main driving forces”said outgoing CEO Felipe Navarro.

The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on the 30th April 2021 and it will be streamed live on its website on www.middlesea.com

MAPFRE refers to MAPFRE Middlesea p.l.c. (C-5553) and MAPFRE MSV Life p.l.c. (C-15722). Both entities are authorised under the Insurance Business Act, Cap 403 of the Laws of Malta and are regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority.