Profits for Sampo Group's insurance businesses increased, challenges faced in investment market

SAMPO PLC                   PRESS RELEASE               11 May 2016 at 9:35 am

Profits for Sampo Group's insurance businesses increased, challenges faced in investment market

Sampo Group's profit before taxes for January-March 2016 declined to EUR 416 million compared to EUR 487 million a year earlier. The total comprehensive income for the period, taking changes in the market value of assets into account, decreased to EUR 204 million (701).

- P&C and life insurance businesses improved their reported profits further but there were challenges in investment market pushing asset values down. Nordea already reported lower profits. Consequently, this was reflected negatively in Sampo Group's total comprehensive income taking changes in the market value of assets into account, says Kari Stadigh, Group CEO and President.

Profit before taxes for the P&C insurance segment increased from EUR 200 million to EUR 216 million. In life insurance operations profit before taxes rose from EUR 39 million to EUR 53 million. Sampo's share of Nordea's net profit for the first quarter of 2016 decreased from EUR 223 to EUR 159 million.

Other key figures

• Sampo Group's earnings per share was EUR 0.65 (0.78).
• The return on equity for the Group was 7.1 per cent (24.8).
• Net asset value per share on 31 March 2016 amounted to EUR 22.09 (23.79).
• Combined ratio for P&C insurance for January-March 2016 improved to 83.0 per cent (89.2) including a release from reserves. Excluding the release combined ratio was 89.8 per cent.

Outlook for 2016

Sampo Group's business areas are expected to report good operating results for 2016.

However, the mark-to-market results are, particularly in life insurance, highly dependent on capital market developments. The continuing low interest rate level also creates a challenging environment for reinvestment in fixed income instruments.

The P&C insurance operations are expected to reach a combined ratio of 88 - 91 per cent excluding the release from the Swedish MTPL reserves.

Nordea's contribution to the Group's profit is expected to be significant.

Please find the Interim Statement for January - March 2016 and the Supplementary Financial Information Package at www.sampo.com/result.

An English-language conference call will be arranged at 4 pm Finnish time (2 pm UK time). Please call tel. [phone] or [phone]. The conference call can also be followed live at www.sampo.com/result.

For more information, please contact:

Maria Silander, Communications Manager, tel. [phone]

Distribution:
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www.sampo.com

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Source: Sampo Oyj via Globenewswire

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