Chamwe Kaira
Momentum Metropolitan’s Africa operations delivered strong results, with Namibia recording higher corporate protection, new business volumes, and increased retail sales. Growth in Lesotho and Botswana also supported Africa’s overall performance.
The Group’s normalised headline earnings rose 41% to N$6.26 billion. Earnings per share grew 46% to 451 cents, reflecting the impact of share buybacks.
Operating profit increased 52% to N$5.48 billion, supported by higher contractual service margin releases, improved mortality and morbidity experience, and strong contributions from Momentum Retail, Metropolitan Life, Momentum Corporate, Momentum Insure, and Guardrisk.
Africa’s operating profit declined due to lower market variances, higher new business strain, and increased support costs. Namibia’s contribution helped offset weaker performance elsewhere.
The present value of new business premiums fell 3% to N$79.8 billion. Africa showed growth, but South Africa recorded weaker sales, particularly in life annuities and protection products.
The value of new business dropped to N$469 million, underscoring the need for more profitable product sales.
Return on equity increased to 21.2% from 15.5%. The Group continued its share buyback programme, completing N$2 billion in repurchases by September 2025, with a further N$1 billion approved.
It also revised its dividend policy to a payout range of 40% to 60% of normalised headline earnings, declaring a final dividend of 90 cents per share and a total dividend of 175 cents for the year.
Momentum said global uncertainty and fiscal challenges in South Africa remain risks, but lower inflation, easing interest rates, and better energy supply could support growth.
Momentum Metropolitan Namibia includes Momentum, Momentum Asset Management, Momentum Investments, Momentum Collective Investments, Momentum Wealth, Momentum Short-term Insurance, Metropolitan, and Methealth Namibia Administrators.
The parent company, Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited, is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, A2X Markets, and the Namibian Stock Exchange.
