The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released its quarterly general insurance statistics for the June 2022 quarter, covering performance and institution-level data.
APRA's quarterly general insurance performance data summarises the industry's financial performance, financial position, capital adequacy, and key ratios. It also includes detailed statistics at a class-of-business level, a breakdown of operating income and expenses, and more granular solvency information.
APRA found that the Australian general insurance industry had a net profit after tax of $924 million and a return on net assets of 3.1% during the year ended June 30, 2022 – with the slight increase in net profit driven by stronger underwriting results, reflecting the impact of premiums increases across certain classes of business.
The report also found that gross claims experience during the same period was higher due to the catastrophic flooding in Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) in February and March 2022. In addition, the industry reported a $2.8 billion investment loss, driven by unrealised losses on interest-bearing investments due to increased bond yields during the March and June quarters.
Other key performance statistics for the Australian general insurance industry in the year ended June 30, 2022:
APRA's quarterly general insurance industry-level data includes individual insurer information about financial performance, financial position, capital adequacy, and key ratios – which can be found on the APRA website. However, the regulator pointed out that the latest data might be impacted by factors outside insurers' control, such as natural catastrophes and internal processes' impacts, such as the timing of actuarial valuations.
In addition to releasing the latest Australian general insurance numbers, APRA has published its private health insurance (PHI) statistics for the year to June 30, 2022. It also released its final reporting standards for general insurers to support the operation of the government's cyclone and related flood damage reinsurance pool to be administered by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC).
The new standards clarify that reinsurance recoverables are not subject to a capital charge and include the ARPC in the definition of an “APRA-authorised reinsurer.” The regulator's letter to the industry and the final reporting standards are available on the APRA website.
