Results for the first six months of the year from insurer FBD showed profits almost cut in half to €14.8m when compared to the same period in 2024. The drop in earnings had been well flagged by the company as it dealt with claims arising from the damage caused by storm Éowyn in January.

The company said that it had settled around 90% of claims from the storm, with the remainder progressing towards finalisation.

Average premiums charged by FBD increased by 6.1%, with farm insurance policies 10% more expensive. The insurer said the increase was mostly a reflection of the increases in property sums insured, due to inflation and the increase in rebuilding costs.

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FBD has paid generous dividends to shareholders recently, paying a final dividend of €1/share in each of the last four years, topped up by an additional special dividend of €1/share in 2023 and 2024. There is another special dividend coming in 2025, but it will be paid out at a smaller 75c/share.

With the company’s share price holding at around €14/share, this dividend payment means the dividend yield for this year comes in at 12.5%.

The company also said that it would buy back €4m of its own shares before the end of the year, which it said would offset the dilution from the vesting of awards under the employee share scheme.