RE: Left behind...17 Dec 2020 11:30
Covid impact was called out in H1 results. There is absolute clarity on the impact at H1:
Our purpose is to provide financial stability to our customers and their dependents in good times and in bad: it is "what we do". The human cost of the pandemic has, regrettably, been high for many Legal & General customers, including holders of life insurance policies and annuitants who have lost their lives prematurely. We continue to pay all valid claims and we have prioritised giving a rapid but sensitive service to bereaved families. The economic impact of COVID-19 related claims for Legal & General has been £(80)m in LGI which includes a provision for future COVID-19 claims, although the tragically disproportionate impact of the pandemic on older people resulted in an offsetting £32m from UK mortality experience in LGR. Furthermore our reinsurance strategy, which reinsures virtually all of LGI's UK retail protection business, has substantially reduced the impact on LGI of higher claims. Further operational impacts included pausing LGC Build-to-Sell Housing operations for 3 months, reducing profits by an estimated £(60)m. Additionally, Group operational costs increased by £(21)m reflecting incremental expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19, including the provision of IT spend on remote working. In all, we estimate COVID-19 related events reduced operating profit by £(129)m.