Lion Insurance’s steady growth in net profit from last year’s operation, slightly exceeding half of the industry’s average of the 17 private insurance firms, comes amidst a continued decline in earnings per share.

The company`s senior executives characterised the drop in earnings per share as "not significant," and capital and profits are on growth trajectories.

While the modest increase in profit was driven by the reduction in claims and increased incomes from commission and investments, Lion’s Insurance earnings per share (EPS) has been declining in the past few years, down by 0.52 Br last year to 8.52 Br the previous year. This has been attributed to an injection of capital not matched by the profit after tax.

Lion Insurance’s net profit grew by 7.4pc to 61.3 million Br, representing over half the industry’s average of 105.8 million Br.

“This calls for the attention of the management,” said Abdulmenan Mohammed, a financial statement analyst based in London.

The firm reported this result after writing a gross premium of 436.4 million Br, an increase of 9.6pc, accounting for 74.2pc of the industry’s average. The insurance companies retained 61pc of the total non-life gross written premium.  Lion's retention rate dropped by seven percentage points to 69pc, as Lion ceded 30.4pc to reinsurers. It is a trend the financial statement analyst cautions the firm’s executives that the decline undermines the gross written premium.

“The management should consider growing the retention rate,” he said.

Lion Insurance, incorporated in 2007 with 16 million Br paid-up capital, changed guards over a month ago, replacing the former CEO, Negasi Yoseph (PhD), with Aberham Mersha. The acting CEO, Kahsay Gebremicheal, has been running the company since Negasi left. Although the duration was not disclosed, the vacant position took a long time to fill with a thorough screening process, according to the Board Chairman, Abraham Gebreamlak.

Lion Insurance’s Board Chairman told Fortune the firm is optimising its retention capacity. He told shareholders met in October 2022 at the Elilly Hotel in the Casanchis neighbourhood that security concerns, the global pandemic, and the industry’s cut-throat competition were some of the year’s challenges. The insurance industry faces more profound challenges, such as low penetration, limited distribution channels, a weak regulatory framework, and constrained reinsurance capacity.

However, opportunities exist for the industry, with a largely untapped market of over 110 million people. The expanding middle class, rising disposable income, and increased awareness of insurance products provide opportunities for insurance companies to expand their customer base. The industry has experienced significant growth, with an aggregate premium reaching 10 billion Br in 2022. Motor insurance dominates the market, accounting for approximately 60pc of the total premium volume, while life insurance accounts for only five percent. Health insurance is gaining popularity, and property and casualty insurance is also growing, driven by increased demand from the construction and manufacturing industries.