Awash Insurance, which celebrated its silver jubilee, has managed to boost its net profit by 31pc to 209.8 million Br during the past fiscal year. The firm also managed to reverse the decline in shareholder return.

Two years ago, Awash's earnings per share (EPS) slipped by 17pc despite the increase in profits; however, the return for its 1,384 shareholders has registered a marginal rise in the last fiscal year by 5.3pc to 200 Br. Yet the EPS is still lower than that of two years ago, which reached 230 Br.

The decline in EPS must have been caused by the injection of massive fresh capital, according to Abdulmenan Mohammed, a financial statement analyst with close to two decades of experience.

Awash's paid-up capital increased by 24pc to 528.6 million Br. During the firm's general assembly that was held on October 28, 2020, the shareholders agreed to boost the paid-up capital further to 1.2 billion Br before the end of this fiscal year. Awash is the first firm to hold a general assembly this year.

A surge in investment income is the main factor for the improved profit performance of Awash, which was established in 1994 by 456 shareholders. Interest earned on savings increased by 24pc to 90.7 million Br, and dividends earned on investments rose by 75pc to 97.3 million Br.

Expenses of Awash have also increased in line with total income. Awash’s salaries, benefits, and administrative costs increased by 15pc to 253.8 million Br.

During the year, the firm opened one full-fledged branch at Legetafo and two contact offices at Jigjiga and Aqaqi, pushing its total physical presence to 57 locations. It also hired 62 new staff members during the year, reaching a total of 588 employees.

The growth of expenses is reasonable considering the level of inflation and business expansion, according to the expert.

Coming to the main business stream of the firm, general insurance remained more or less the same. Its underwriting surplus increased by only two percent to 277.2 million Br.

Several factors contributed to this stagnant performance, including a reduction in retention rate and a moderate increase in gross written premiums, according to Abdulmenan.

Gudissa Legesse, the CEO of the firm for the past year who replaced long-serving CEO Tsegaye Kemisi, argues that the company's positive performance hinged on the quality of its underwriting.

"During the growth in premiums," said Gudissa, "we were careful to avoid concentration of risk in certain classes of insurance."

Awash's gross premium went up by 12pc to 893 million Br. Out of this total, 27pc was ceded to reinsurers. The retention rate decreased from last year’s rate of 77pc.

Gudissa attributes the new lines of business, such as political risk insurance policies, as a cause for the reduction in Awash's retention rate. Reinsurance companies require facultative reinsurance, coverage to a single risk, for such kinds of policies, according to Gudissa.

Usually, the company buys treaty insurance from reinsurers by transferring all the risks of a specific class of policies.

"For political risks, they're going through case by case," said Gudissa, "making us cede a higher value."

Awash earned commission from reinsurers of 58.9 million Br, an increase of 10pc. The commission paid to agents went up by 12pc to 43.6 million Br. The commission paid represents 4.9pc of gross written premium, which is the same as last year’s figure.

Claims paid and other provisions careened upward by 18pc to 380 million Br.