THESIS TITLE: Investment Practices and Financial Performance of Insurance Firms in Juba County, South Sudan

STUDENT’S NAME: Dhor Margaret Kuei

SUPERVISORS NAMES

1. Dr. Rashid R. Fwamba
2. Dr. Arnety N. Makokha

ABSTRACT

Insurance firms typically make a range of investments using their assets in order to generate extra income in the form of interest, dividends, and capital gains. The majority of underwriting efforts are geared towards collecting premiums by offering insurance policies to consumers who subsequently become policyholders and pay premiums to the insurance business in return, insurance companies make money on underwriting. The insurance provider invests the cash premium it receives from consumers who purchase insurance in the financial markets in order to make a profit by compiling a portfolio of their largest client claims in order to better manage their risks. The study specifically sought to determine the effect of financial innovations on financial performance of insurance firms in Juba county, examine the relationship between long term investment and the financial performance of insurance firms in Juba county, establish the relationship between equity investment and financial performance of insurance firms in Juba county and finally determine the moderating effect of asset base on the relationship between investment practices and financial performance of insurance firms in Juba county, South Sudan. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised of 316 employees who work in the 25 selected insurance firms with a sample size of 75 respondents.  Primary data was obtained directly from respondents using a closed-ended questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS 20 software. A regression analysis was used to determine the effect of investment practices on financial performance. The results showed that most of the firms were among the first to introduce and promote new innovative products to the market. Majority of the firms invested in long term investment. The results also showed that innovation practices significantly influenced financial performance by increasing the performance by 18%. Over-reliance on equity investments reported a significantly detrimental effect on financial performance. The asset base of insurance companies in South Sudan did report significant moderating effect on financial performance of insurance firms in Juba County.  The study recommended that the insurance firms should revise their equity investment to stimulate their financial returns and the government should embark on long term investment plans to achieve adequate infrastructural development which may contribute to the rise in the country’s economy.