Business: As the pandemic takes its toll, RMI records a 49% slump in headline earnings

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:22 am

JSE-listed funding maintaining agency Rand Merchant Investment (RMI) stated on Friday that its headline profits fell with the aid of nearly 50percent for the yr to end June, generally due to the big provisions raised in Discovery and Momentum Metropolitan Holdings for the anticipated consequences of Covid-19.

This comes after Discovery made provision of R3.4billion for future claims and lapses in the year to stop June, whilst Momentum raised additional provisions with a internet bad have an effect on of R983million for potentially unfavourable Covid-19 associated claims, policyholder lapses and withdrawals.

As a result, RMI suggested a 49percent droop in headline profits to R1.96bn for the year to end June, down from last year’s R3.8bn.RMI has a 25percent stake in Discovery and a 27.3percent stake in Momentum.

RMI’s different investments encompass stakes in Hastings, OUTsurance, AlphaCode and RMI Investment Managers.

The fall in salary of 26percent in Discovery and 51percent in Momentum Metropolitan resulted in both businesses no longer declaring a dividend at their year-end.

RMI stated on Friday that the heightened medium-term monetary and insurance-related uncertainty had necessitated a revision of its dividend policy.

“The board has determined that RMI will no longer be declaring a closing dividend for the 12 months to end-June. This role will be dynamically assessed over the coming months,” the crew said.

Last year, RMI declared a final dividend of 65cents a share.RMI’s normalised profits declined 24percent to R3.09bn.

Headline income per share from continuing operations fell 49percent to 127.8c, whilst profits per share from persevering with operations declined 63percent to 98.9c.

Discovery’s normalised earnings declined 26percent to R3.75bn, and Momentum Metropolitan’s normalised salary fell 51percent to R1.52bn.

OUTsurance stated an 8percent decline in normalised profits to R2.4bn together with its stake in Hastings.

“Excluding its share in Hastings, OUTsurance’s normalised income diminished by way of 7percent to R2.2bn, on the whole attributable to the unrealised investment losses on the group’s equity portfolio, the affect of the bushfires and herbal catastrophes in Australia and business interruption claims of R198m paid and supplied for in OUTsurance business,” the crew said.

(IOL)