Direct Line Insurance Group PLC (LSE:DLG) reported on Monday a collapse in annual operating profits after what it called “a tough year”.
For the 12 months to 31 December 2022, operating profit tumbled 95% to £32.1mln from £590.3mln, reflecting a volatile operating environment with elevated motor claims inflation, higher-than-expected weather event claims, new regulatory changes and challenging investment markets.
Loss per share of 4.3p compared to 24.5p in 2021 while the insurer’s solvency capital ratio fell to 147% from 176%. The dividend for the year was cut by 67% to 7.6p from 22.7p as previously announced.
The FTSE 250-listed insurer said claims inflation was most acute in Motor, where inflation of around 14% was above the levels assumed in the group's pricing.
Alongside disruption to supply chains causing delays in third-party claims, this led to a Motor combined operating ratio of 114.7% (2021: 92.4%). In other areas, pricing kept pace with claims inflation and combined operating ratios were broadly in line with expectations, when normalised for weather.
Direct Line added 2022 saw the highest weather-event costs since the group listed over a decade ago with £149mln of claims, double the £73mln level which was budgeted for.
The group’s combined operating ratio for ongoing operations was 105.8% and 103.3% when normalised for weather.
Acting CEO Jon Greenwood said: “We have taken pricing actions that will support restoration of margins in Motor and mitigate the impact of further claims inflation. We have also accelerated a range of other actions including deploying additional resources in Motor.”