First quarter 2022 results: SCOR absorbs the combined impact of potential claims related to the conflict in Ukraine, a series of natural catastrophes and the continuation of the pandemic in the United States

In This Article:

SCOR
SCOR

First quarter 2022 results

SCOR absorbs the combined impact of potential claims related to the conflict in Ukraine, a series of natural catastrophes and the continuation of the pandemic in the United States

  • Gross written premiums of EUR 4,715 million in Q1 2022, up 9.7%1 compared with Q1 2021

  • Net loss of EUR 80 million in Q1 2022, compared with EUR 45 million net income in Q1 2021

  • Shareholders’ equity of EUR 6,064 million at the end of March 2022, implying a book value per share of EUR 33.89, down -3.9 % from December 31, 2021 (EUR 35.26)

  • Estimated solvency ratio of 240% at the end of March 2022 (up from 226% at the end of 2021)

  • Completion of the announced EUR 200 million share buy-back

SCOR SE’s Board of Directors met on May 5, 2022, under the chairmanship of Denis Kessler, to approve the Group’s Q1 2022 financial statements.

Key highlights:

Q1 2022 was marked by a combination of exceptional events that have impacted the global economy in general and the reinsurance industry in particular. Most notably, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to global geopolitical instability with wide ranging macroeconomic consequences, from energy prices and inflation to stock market volatility, interest rates and economic growth. The level of natural catastrophes remains very high with windstorms in Europe, floods in Australia and an earthquake in Japan. The industry has also been affected by other extraordinary events such as a severe drought in Brazil. At the same time, the Covid-19 pandemic continues with the spread of the Omicron variant and has led to significant excess mortality, especially in the United States.

In this challenging context, SCOR continued to accomplish its mission, honoring all its commitments to its clients and demonstrating its shock-absorbing capacity, while fully complying with international sanctions relating to the conflict in Ukraine. The combination of these events led to a quarterly net loss of EUR 80 million driven by the EUR 85 million provisioned by SCOR with respect to the conflict in Ukraine. Despite these negative developments, the Group remains well capitalized with a 240% solvency ratio estimated at the end of Q1 2022. SCOR PO (the subsidiary owned by SCOR in Russia) has stopped underwriting new business.

In Q1 2022, several signs of improvement can however be observed:

  • Market dynamics in P&C remain positive: SCOR has experienced gross written premium growth (up 9.7% at constant exchange rates), driven by P&C with strong growth of specialty insurance (gross written premiums up 28.7% at constant exchange rates in Q1). April 1 reinsurance renewals results were encouraging with gross written premiums up by 19.6%, benefitting from year-to-date price increase of 4.5% on average year-on-year;

  • The active steering of January 1 and April 1 renewals is leading to a reduction of exposures to climate-sensitive events, consistent with the commitments made in 2021;

  • Interest rates have started to increase, which should benefit SCOR as its portfolio is reinvested with a likely positive effect on the Group’s return on invested assets.