Our strategy

Driving profitable growth by targeting 3 million live customer policies during 2019

Strategic Focus

Our simple, straightforward business model coupled with our digitally focused distribution ensures we are well positioned to benefit from increasing price comparison website (‘PCW’) penetration amongst customers. Capitalising on this natural momentum will drive sustainable, profitable growth in live customer policies (‘LCP’) whilst strong customer retention rates allow the business to benefit from a naturally maturing portfolio as it develops longstanding relationships with its customers.

Focus on prudent underwriting

Strategic focus

We have demonstrated our focus on prudent underwriting while growing the number of LCP. Combining our dynamic footprint selection, extensive use of data, advanced pricing process and rigorous fraud detection systems will support our current growth trajectory whilst maintaining our target through the cycle calendar year net loss ratio of between 75% and 79%.

Continued focus on cash generation and deleveraging

Strategic focus

We are strategically focused on the private car market, utilising our own sophisticated risk selection through the PCW digital distribution model. As the business maintains its growth trajectory, our focus remains on continuing to improve the cash efficiency of our model utilising our highly cash generative Retail business with the strategic use of reinsurance in Underwriting to deliver ongoing deleveraging.

Rapid reaction to market changes

Strategic focus

The Group’s agile and digital business model means it is well placed to respond to changing market conditions driving a significant competitive advantage. The separate structure of the Retail and Underwriting businesses coupled with the innovative use of data and continuous market analysis allows the business to benefit from being able to rapidly adjust pricing presented to customers to support market share growth.

KPI

No. 1 car insurance brand on price comparison websites for 2015.

Source: eBenchmarkers

Invest in digital capability and mobile distribution channels

Strategic focus

Hastings continues to invest in complementary digital and mobile channels to further support LCP growth. Applications are being developed for phone and tablet devices providing enhanced policy management functionality in order to improve the overall customer experience. Investment continues within our infrastructure through the end to end implementation of Guidewire for both our Claims and Broking platforms.

Expand our product offering and invest in our competitive proposition

Strategic focus

The Group sees significant opportunities to increase LCP volumes and overall profitability by increasing its footprint within in its core private car market with multi car and telematics two key areas of focus. In addition Hastings is set to continue its expansion into the home insurance market where its business model is well placed to benefit from increased PCW penetration.