French reinsurer Scor Re says its lift in gross written premium (GWP) by 4.9% to €6.69 billion ($9.22 billion) in 2010 is the result of its strategy of significant business and geographical diversification.

The group increased net income by 13% to €418 million ($575.9 million).

Scor Re says its non-life reinsurance net combined ratio of 98.9% was higher than expected because of winter storm Xynthia in Europe, earthquakes in Chile, Haiti and NZ and floods in Australia.

The ratio would have been 95.3% if catastrophe losses were at the 6% level budgeted for the year.

The group’s GWP in property and casualty rose 12% to €3.66 billion ($5 billion) while GWP in life fell by 2.6% to €3 billion ($4.1 billion).