OREANDA-NEWS. Improved underwriting performance and higher investment returns supported a 32% increase in the Arig Group’s half - year net profit of US\\$ 6.2 million (half - year 2014: US\\$ 4.7 million). Earnings from the conventional reinsurance book contributed wit h a net income of US\\$ 9.2 million (half - year 2014: US\\$ 7.4 million), whereas Takaful Re, the Group’s Islamic subsidiary, produced a loss of US\\$ 2.7 million over the period (half - year 2014: a loss of US\\$ 2.6 million). Results include exchange rate effects a nd an impairment provision of US\\$ 4.9 million taken over the office property held by Takaful Re.

The Group’s net result for the second quarter alone was US\\$ 2.7 million (Q 2 2014: US\\$ 1.9 million).

Gross premiums written during the first half - year decreased by 21% to US\\$ 186.1 million for the Group (half - year 2014: US \\$ 236.8 million), reflecting Arig’s selective underwriting policy in a soft market environment, shifts in its Lloyd’s portfolio and exchange rate effects. The Group’s combined ratio wa s 90.2% after the second quarter (half - year 2014: 90.8%).

Yassir Albaharna, CEO of Arig, commented: “Arig significantly improved its half - year result despite losses from the Nepal earthquake and the Far East, an increase in our technical provisions and a one - off impairment taken on our subsidiary’s property holding. I am pleased to say that the Group continues to operate on very solid financials.”

Arig’s shareholders’ equity stood at US\\$ 262.1 million on 30 June 2015 (end of 2014: US\\$ 264.5 million) after the distribution of dividend US\\$ 0.05 per share. Book value per share was US\\$ 1.32 at the end of the second financial quarter 2015 (end of 2014: US\\$ 1.3 4).

About Arig

Arig is one of the largest Arab - owned, professional reinsurance providers in the Middle East and Africa. Arig is listed on the stock exchanges in Bahrain and Dubai and offers a wide range of reinsurance products and services. Arig’s subsidiaries include Ta kaful Re (Dubai), Gulf Warranties (Bahrain) and Arig Capital Ltd. (UK)