UK: Record profits for mutual insurer and savings group LV=

MUTUAL insurance and savings group LV= posted a record profits haul today after shrugging off a £25million hit from last year’s adverse weather.

The Bournemouth-based group, which is the UK’s largest friendly society and has 10 other offices around the ground, including one in Ipswich, said it overcame a “challenging year” to report a 19% increase in underlying operating profits.

Its general insurance arm delivered a 53% leap in underlying earnings to £117.1m in 2012 despite a surge in weather-related claims, which impacted profits by around £25m, as well as increases in personal injury claims.

This saw underwriting profits slump to £5m from £30m in 2011, but this was offset by a more than doubling in investment returns thanks to the stock market recovery, while premium income also edged 2% higher to £1.49billion last year.

The group, which serves over five million customers and has three million motor insurance policies, reported overall underlying group operating profits of £126.2m for 2012.

It announced a record £20.9m bonus for its 650,000 with profits members, which is up 12% on the year before and will be added to policies on payout.

Life and pensions earnings rose 7% to £26.3m after a 15% increase in sales and a boost from buoyant financial markets.

Mike Rogers, group chief executive, hailed an “excellent achievement” after five years in a row of increasing underlying profits.