Farmers to pick up bonus as NFU Mutual enjoys record profits

Company sees strong investment performance drive its profits higher

Farmers to pick up bonus as NFU Mutual enjoys record profits

Insurance News

By Paul Lucas

Sometimes when insurers announce record profits, policyholders shake their heads and wonder why such a good performance has coincided with their premiums rising. However, policyholders with NFU Mutual will doubtless be celebrating their insurer’s success.

The company has today announced record profits – scooping just over £1 billion compared to £359 million in 2015.

As a result, farmers who insure with the firm are in line to pick up a significant discount thanks to the Mutual Bonus scheme offered to members: this is a percentage of renewal premiums and is expected to be notably higher than previous years.

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A report by Farmers Weekly noted that customers picked up a 6% bonus during 2014 and an 8.5% bonus for 2015. The figure for 2016’s results should be announced in April and is expected to be sizeable.

Overall, the company was boosted by a strong investment performance with total funds under management climbing from £16.3 billion to £18.8 billion. However, underwriting profits fell back from £281 million to £151 million while the combined operation ratio was 88.3% compared to 77.5% a year earlier.

“All our general insurance customers – about a million people with farms, businesses, homes and cars insured with us – will see a significant increase in our Mutual Bonus payment, which comes in the form of a discount off renewal premiums,” commented Lindsay Sinclair, group chief executive.

“It’s a very important way of showing our appreciation of our customers’ loyalty to the business.”


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