Thank you for joining ClearView's half year result briefing. I'm here today with Athol Chiert, ClearView's Chief Financial Officer. In a moment, Athol will take you through the results in detail, but first I will provide an overview and business update. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end. ClearView has had another strong half year, with group underlying net profit after tax of AUD 17.3 million, representing a 37% increase on the previous corresponding period under the new AASB 17 accounting standard. The business is enjoying strong momentum against a backdrop of favorable market conditions. Our half year 2024 highlights include: new business market share rising to 10.9%, gross premiums of AUD 178 million, up 11% on the previous corresponding period, and life insurance underlying NPAT margin of 10.9%.
I'm also pleased that the board has declared a maiden half-year 2024 interim cash dividend of AUD 0.015 per share. Our key financial year 2026 goals, as previously communicated to the market, include increasing new business market share to 12% to 14% and in-force market share to circa 4%. We are also targeting gross premiums of AUD 400 million, an underlying NPAT margin of 11% to 13%, and a dividend payout ratio of between 40% to 60%. ClearView today is a simplified business focused solely on life insurance. We are in the late stages of finalizing our exit from wealth management and the sale of our interest in Centrepoint Alliance during the half-year sees ClearView exit its personal advice.
As a dedicated life insurance company, we exist to help our customers protect themselves and their loved ones against the financial risk of a major accident, or illness, or premature death. We do this by delivering high quality, fit-for-purpose life insurance solutions and excellent customer service in partnership with financial advisers . During the half, ClearView's new business sales increased 55% to AUD 17.5 million, pushing our market share of new business to 11.2% for the six-month period. This achievement reflects the strength of our flagship product, ClearView ClearChoice, and the breadth and depth of our growing distribution footprint. We also continue to invest in technology and transformation to ensure we meet the evolving needs of our customers and distribution partners. As previously flagged, during the half, ClearView increased its exposure to underwriting risk for new business from the first of October 2023.
We believe the time is right to make this move, given the increasing size and scale of our in-force portfolio, improved capital position, and the industry's improving profitability and outlook, given the product sustainability measures that have been implemented. The scale benefits, increased exposure to underwriting risk for new business, and the operational efficiency from the IT investment and transformation program supports margin accretion over time, with a target underlying NPAT margin of 11% to 13%. Pleasingly, the board has introduced a maiden half-year fully franked dividend of AUD 0.015 per share, representing 57% of underlying NPAT. This is towards the top end of our target payout ratio and highlights the group's transition to an underlying capital generation position. Overall, market conditions are improving, and ClearView is winning market share in a growing market.
Since the fourth quarter of financial year 2023, ClearView has experienced a step change in sales growth. This growth is being underpinned by favorable industry dynamics, including high adviser productivity and strong demand for life insurance, driven by population growth and increasing levels of household wealth and debt. Overall, the business has a strong balance sheet and capital position and is performing strongly. It is on track to achieve its financial year 2026 target. I will now hand over to Athol, who will take you through the results.
Thank you, Nadine. ClearView has adopted the new AASB 17 accounting standard for the first time in the half year period. While AASB 17 impacts the timing and pattern of when insurance earnings are recognized, it does not impact the total amount earned over the life of the policy. It also does not impact the economics of our business, ClearView's financial strength, product cash flows, or the ability to pay claims and/or dividends. The impacts of AASB 17 have been outlined on slide four of the presentation. The FY 2023 underlying NPAT has been restated on the AASB 17 basis, with the impacts driven by interest rate effects and the timing and pattern of profit release that remains unchanged over the life of the contract.
For the half year period, on a AASB 17 basis, group underlying NPAT from continuing operations increased 37% to AUD 17.3 million, with the life insurance underlying NPAT increasing 32% to AUD 19.4 million. The material growth in the half year 2024 result reflects increased rates, strong growth, inflation in premiums, and business momentum. This strong result also included a 55% increase in new business sales and solid growth in in-force premiums to AUD 359 million. The business has been able to achieve this by driving new business sales and winning market share in a growing market. The life insurance business performance is expected to continue to support double-digit underlying NPAT growth of the AASB 17 FY 2024 base year, as previously communicated to the market.
Looking ahead, the improved target margin over time is driven by scale benefits, the increased exposure to underwriting risk for new business from 1 October 2023, and the operational efficiency savings expected to be achieved from the IT investment from the end of financial year 2025. The half year 2024 results also included the sale of ClearView's stake in Centrepoint Alliance for AUD 15.2 million. Significant progress has also been made in the exit of the wealth management business in the half year period, with the retirement of our trustee and the sale of investment management business in January. ClearView has net assets of AUD 369.8 million, backed by cash and highly rated securities. The balance sheet provides strong downside protection due to its high level of net tangible assets.
Upon implementation and transition to AASB 17, for the in-force business, as at the transition date of 1 July 2022, the opening balance sheet has an initial net asset reduction of AUD 83.6 million after tax. This is then released back to profit over time, leading to a positive impact on future profit release. No capital benefit from the upfront tax deduction of AUD 36 million has as yet been taken into account in the accounts. ClearView continues to generate capital from its in-force portfolios prior to reinvestment in new business, with AUD 37.5 million being generated in the half year period. I'll now hand back to Nadine to wrap up before opening up for questions.
Thank you, Athol. The last slide I'll point to is page 21, and it reiterates the key focus areas for ClearView in financial year 2024 and our financial outlook. Business simplification, particularly finalizing our exit from wealth management, is a key strategic priority. We are also continuing to invest in technology and transformation to drive scale and efficiency benefits, with planning underway for the migration of the existing in-force onto the new platform from the end of financial year 2025. A number of initiatives are also underway to drive higher customer engagement, retention, and satisfaction. Underlying NPAT is targeted to continue to grow at double digits off the financial year 2024 base year, with a target financial year 2026 underlying NPAT margin of 11% to 13%. AASB 17 does not impact the economics of our business. There is no change to the business strategy or financial 2026 for financial goals.
As previously stated, we're also very pleased to announce our maiden interim, fully franked cash dividend of AUD 0.015 per share. I will now hand over to the operator to open up for questions. Thank you.
If you wish to ask a question, please press star followed by one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. That is star one if you wish to ask a question. Once again, if you do wish to ask a question, please press star followed by one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. Currently, there are no questions on the phone, so I'd like to hand back to our presenters.
Thank you very much. Thank you for dialing into the call, and we look forward to catching up with you in the second half of the year. Thank you.
That does conclude our conference for today. Thank you for participating. You may now all disconnect.