Awash Insurance consolidated its lead in the private insurance sector last year, registering vigorous profit growth that eclipsed its competitors — United Insurance, Nyala, and Oromia. Despite a challenging economic backdrop, Awash Insurance outperformed with a profit of 509.12 million Br, a 52.5pc increase from the previous year, outstripping United Insurance’s 327.02 million Br, Nyala’s 273.3 million Br, and Oromia’s 333.9 million Br in net profits.

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Although its earnings per share (EPS) grew modestly by 10 Br to 360, this growth was less pronounced than its contenders during the same period. Its EPS lagged behind Oromia’s 430 Br and United’s 479 Br, though slightly higher than Nyala’s 354 Br.

Awash’s acting CEO Jibat Faji, attributed the dampening EPS growth to its aggressive capitalisation strategy. The company raised its paid-up capital by 47.5pc to 1.41 billion Br, nearly threefold the half-billion regulatory minimum set by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) and almost double Nyala’s 830 million Br, United’s 840.5 million, and Oromia’s 870 million Br.

Abdulmenan Mohammed (PhD), a London-based financial analyst, noted that the substantial capital increase has impacted the company’s EPS. He urged the directors to consider a capitalisation policy beneficial to shareholders.

The Acting CEO, Jibat Faji, echoed this sentiment, citing the company’s strategy of bolstering its capital to align with profit growth. At the shareholders’ meeting, he stated: “We still have one of the highest EPS in the industry.”

However, at 36pc return, Awash posted an EPS four percentage points lower than United Insurance in the 2022/23 operation year.

The company’s profit surge was driven primarily by a substantial 64.1pc increase in investment returns, totalling 484.1 million Br, and a 35.4pc jump in underwriting profit to 548.88 million Br. This was supported by a 36.4pc increase in gross written premiums, which reached 2.4 billion Br. A 6.4pc drop in the amount ceded to reinsurers enhanced the company’s retention rate.

Abdulmenan praised Awash’s management for its adept handling of investments during this period.

Awash Insurance not only retained its lead among private insurers but also commands a 22.3pc market share in the life insurance segment, with nearly 60pc of its revenues stemming from motor insurance. Despite the insurance industry contributing less than one percent to the national GDP, it saw a collective net profit increase of 29pc from the previous year, reaching 3.6 billion Br.

Continuing its aggressive growth course despite losing its respected executive, Gudissa Legesse, Awash Insurance has rewarded its shareholders with returns almost 50pc higher than the banking industry offers. According to Board chairman Tadesse Gemeda, who addressed a shareholders’ assembly held at the Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel on Menelik II Avenue in October last year, the firm has maintained its strategic dominance in the general insurance market.

Awash Insurance’s gross written premium was nearly twice that of its closest competitors, with United at 1.5 billion Br, Oromia recording around 1.2 billion Br and Nyala slightly more at 1.3 billion Br. The insurance industry reported a 38pc increase in gross written premium to 22.9 billion Br, with general insurance accounting for 94pc of the premium income and life insurance generating the balance. The industry recorded a loss ratio of 59pc as net earned premiums reached 12.8 billion Br against substantial net claims of 7.5 billion Br.

Tsegaye Kemsi, one of the 456 founding shareholders, praised the company’s performance. Awash Insurance was incorporated in 1994 with a 4.9 million Br paid-up capital and appointed Tsegaye as its founding CEO before he was replaced by the late Gudina five years ago. He believes the company should focus on underwriting services in fire and life insurance, for they yield higher returns with modest risks. He argued that several motor insurance claims are either fraudulent or exaggerated.