31^st May 2023                                                   

Helios Underwriting plc

('Helios' or 'the Company')

Quarterly Syndicate Mid-Point Forecasts

Indicative underwriting profits of 20p per share to be recognised in the future

Helios, the investment vehicle which builds shareholder value through exposure to Lloyd's, announces the current mid-point forecasts in respect of its portfolio of syndicate capacity for the 2021 and 2022 years of account based on 1^st quarter 2023 mid-point estimates.

Martin Reith, Chief Executive, commented:

"Helios' proposition as the investment vehicle which builds shareholder value through exposure to Lloyd's, is well positioned to benefit from the Lloyd's market's recently announced mid-point forecasts including the first announcement in respect of the 2022 year of account. Helios has built and curated an outstanding portfolio of the better performing syndicates and, as a consequence of underwriting discipline and judicious capital deployment, we are delighted to see improved underwriting profitability in the Lloyd's market especially for the 2022 underwriting year.

The initial mid-point profit forecast for 2022 of 5.7% of capacity recognises the stronger market conditions. This, compounded by Helios' increased retained capacity, £177m for the 2022 year of account, results in the recognition of additional after tax underwriting profits to be earned of 20p per share in the future.

Commentary

The 2021 mid-point estimate continues to improve partially as the investment returns on syndicate assets are expected to improve substantially.

The 2022 initial mid-point forecast at 5.7% profit on capacity, after the impact of the loss from Hurricane Ian, will make a significant contribution to the earned underwriting profits in the future as this underwriting year recognised a loss in the first 12 months of 4.0%. 

The future retained after tax underwriting profits that are currently expected to be recognised over the next two years could increase the NTA per share by 20p to 172p per share.

Notes

1)    The table above shows the capacity as at 30^th May 2023, splitting the capacity retained by Helios and the capacity that is ceded to quota share reinsurers. 

2)    The mid-point forecasts for 2021 and 2022 years of account as at 1^st quarter 2023 have been aggregated at syndicate level from estimates supplied by Managing Agents.

3)    The potential increase in net tangible asset value per share could be impacted by future underwriting losses, operating and reinsurance costs.

4)    The impact on Helios will be as follows:

a.    The underwriting profits to be recognised after 1 January 2023 on the retained capacity from the indications provided by the mid-point forecasts will be earned in calendar years 2023 and 2024.

b.    The overall change in the syndicate results will be recognised by Helios in cash at the close of the year of account.

For further information, please contact:

Helios Underwriting plc

Helios Underwriting plc

Martin Reith - Chief Executive                                                    +44(0)7720 292 505

Nigel Hanbury - Executive Deputy Chairman                       +44(0)7787 530 404

Arthur Manners - Chief Financial Officer                                               +44(0)7754 965 917

Numis (Nomad and Broker)                                       

Giles Rolls / Charles Farquhar                                                     +44 (0)20 7260 1000

Buchanan (PR)

Helen Tarbet / George Beale                                                      +44 (0)7872 604 453

                                                                                                +44 (0)20 7466 5111

 About Helios

Helios provides a limited liability direct investment into the Lloyd's insurance market and is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker: HUW). Helios trades within the Lloyd's insurance market writing approximately £297m of capacity for the 2023 account. The portfolio provides a good spread of business being concentrated in property & casualty insurance and reinsurance. For further information please visit www.huwplc.com.