Sura 2018 results March 2019

Sura Full-Year 2018 Profits Rise 7.6% Year-on-Year

Medellin-based insurance and financial services giant Grupo Sura announced March 1, 2019 that full-year 2018 net income (excluding divestments) rose 7.6% year-on-year to COP$1.4 trillion (US$475.7 million) while fourth-quarter (4Q) 2018 profits rose 28% year-on-year, hitting US$101.8 million.

The “Suramericana” insurance division saw 2018 profits rise 3.6% year-on-year, to COP$524.8 billion (US$ million), while the “Sura Asset Management” division (pensios, savings and investment) saw revenues grow 6.1% year-on-year in Colombia’s “mandatory” pension contributions and 10.7% in the “voluntary” pension sector.

“In comparable [year-on-year] terms, the revenues of Suramericana grew in all its segments: general (13.3%), life (15.8%) and health (21.1%),” according to the company

Revenues in 2018 were trimmed by the divestment of the life-insurance annuity operation in Chile and a decision to not participate in the bidding for a pension insurance scheme in Colombia.

“The operating growth of the main lines of business of Suramericana and Sura Asset Management in 2018, as well as the higher efficiencies, allowed us to offset part of the impact that the high volatility of the financial markets had on the returns of our own investments throughout the year,” added David Bojanini, President of Grupo Sura.

“Under these conditions, the total consolidated revenues of Grupo Sura were COP$19.2 trillion (US$6.5 billion) and decreased 0.8%, during a year marked by the high volatility of the capital markets, which affected income from portfolio returns of pension funds and insurers.

“In addition, the strategic decisions mentioned in the insurance business and the devaluation of local currencies influenced results. Total expenses decreased 0.4%, to COP$17.6 trillion (US$5.94 billion), due to lower loss ratios and reserve adjustments, as well as greater control of expenses.

“As a result, earnings before accounting effects increased 7.6% to COP$1.41 trillion (US$475.7 million) and the net profit was COP$1.34 trillion (US$454.4 million), 7.7% less than in 2017, which reflects the lower income from yields and the accounting effects associated with the mentioned divestments, which do not impact the cash flow,” he added.

In the Suramericana division, “the good operating result contrasts with the 7.3% decrease in investment income and lower non-operating income. If the latter are excluded, the growth in net income is 27.2%. In addition, the retained loss ratio went from 54.8% to 51.5%,” according to Sura.

“In the last year we made important progress in consolidating Seguros SURA in the region, highlighting that we met our income and profit budgets,” added Suramericana president Gonzalo Pérez.

“Also in 2018 we evolved our value offer, for example, with the introduction of individual and patrimonial life-insurance solutions in countries other than Colombia,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sura Asset Management grew its commission income by 6.6%, which totaled COP$2.1 trillion (US706.6 million). The assets under management (AUM) increased 2.8%, for a total value of COP$418.6 trillion (US$128.8 billion), covering 19.6 million customers, up 4.1% year-on-year.

The normalized operating profit of the Asset Management subsidiary grew 0.4%, contrasted with a net profit that decreased 39.7% year-on-year, explained by an accounting loss due to the divestment of life annuities in Chile and lower income from reserves, the company added.