The FINANCIAL — Swiss Re reported a Group net income of USD 1.0 billion for the first six months of 2018, benefiting from a moderate large loss experience and improved underwriting profitability.
The Group return on equity (ROE) was 6.3% for the first six months of 2018. Excluding the new US GAAP guidance, the estimated Group ROE would have been 7.7%. Gross premiums written increased 8.0% to USD 19.6 billion, mainly due to premium growth across the Group’s life and health businesses. Swiss Re maintained its very strong capital position and is well positioned to respond to market opportunities while continuing to focus on its capital management priorities.
Swiss Re’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Christian Mumenthaler, says: “It is positive to see that the market environment is gradually recovering. We improved our profitability and underwriting performance, especially in P&C, and our solid results show the value of our diversified book of business. I’m also pleased that we were able to grow as a Group overall.“
Swiss Re reports solid Group net income of USD 1.0 billion for the first six months of 2018
Swiss Re reported net income of USD 1.0 billion for the first six months of 2018, in spite of the adverse impact of the new US GAAP guidance on recognition and measurement of equity investments, which took effect as of 1 January 2018. This accounting change had an estimated negative impact on pre-tax earnings of USD 265 million for the first six months of 2018. Without the change, half-year net income would have been USD 1.2 billion. As the change is not retroactively applied, the implementation of the guidance at the start of this year limits the comparability of this year’s results with prior years. Half-year 2018 figures, excluding the estimated impact of the accounting guidance, are provided below as a reference.
The Group generated an ROE of 6.3% for the period and the Group’s ROI was 2.6%, both reflecting the impact of the accounting change in 2018. Excluding the impact of the new US GAAP guidance, the estimated ROE would have been 7.7% and the corresponding ROI 3.0%. The fixed income running yield, which is unaffected by the accounting change, was stable at 2.9%.
Gross premiums written for the half year increased 8.0% to USD 19.6 billion, driven by growth in the life and health businesses and tailored transactions.
Common shareholders’ equity decreased to USD 30.1 billion as of 30 June 2018. Book value per common share was – after distributing USD 2.3 billion to shareholders in the form of dividend payments and share buy-back programmes – CHF 97.21 or USD 97.92 at the end of June 2018, compared to CHF 103.37 or USD 106.09 at the end of December 2017.
Swiss Re’s capitalisation remains very strong and it is well positioned to weather any headwinds while continuing to focus on its capital management priorities and respond to market opportunities. The current share buy-back programme of up to CHF 1.0 billion purchase value, which started on 7 May 2018, is well on track.
Swiss Re’s Group Chief Financial Officer, John Dacey, says: “We continued to experience volatility in our results due to the US GAAP accounting change, as previously communicated. Adjusting for the change, our results clearly show that the quality of the earnings has improved, especially our P&C underwriting performance. In addition, our investment result shows that we maintain a high-quality portfolio, demonstrated by our stable running yield. We continue to be very well capitalised and are ready for any challenge that lies ahead.“
P&C Reinsurance results reflect stronger underwriting performance
Net income in the first six months of 2018 was USD 752 million, driven by a strong underwriting performance supported by benign large loss experience.
ROE for the first half of 2018 was 14.5% and the combined ratio improved to 92.9% in the first six months of 2018 from 97.4% for the same period in 2017, benefiting from the absence of large losses and favourable prior accident year development.
Gross premiums written increased by 1.8% to USD 9.6 billion for the first six months of 2018, reflecting positive foreign exchange rate development.
July P&C Reinsurance treaty renewals show volume and price increases
Following the July P&C Re treaty renewals, which focus mainly on the Americas, Swiss Re improved the quality of its portfolio. Price quality improved by 2% and rate increases were most pronounced in loss-affected property lines and moderate rate increases were seen in most other portfolios and regions. Year-to-date, the treaty premium volume increased by 9% to USD 14.4 billion. Swiss Re continued to allocate capital to those segments that generate attractive economic profit. The risk-adjusted price quality of the renewed portfolio improved to 104% for July and stands at 103% year-to-date.
L&H Reinsurance continues to deliver strong results and profitable growth; ROE 11.5%
Net income for the first six months of 2018 was USD 398 million, supported by an improved underwriting performance in Asia and EMEA, and despite the impact of a seasonal increase in the number of claims in the US. The prior year included a higher level of realised gains from equity sales. As a result, ROE for the first half was 11.5%. The fixed income running yield remained stable at 3.3% compared to 2017.
Gross premiums written in the first half increased 15.2% to USD 7.4 billion, a USD 1.0 billion increase compared to the first six months of 2017. These results reflect the positive impact of intra-group retrocession agreements and growth in Asia and EMEA, combined with favourable currency fluctuations. At constant exchange rates, the increase amounted to 11.2%.
Corporate Solutions benefits from a moderately improving market environment; significant premium growth driven by Primary Lead business
The Business Unit generated a net income of USD 58 million in the first six months of 2018. The result benefited from lower large natural catastrophe losses and an improved prior-year result, partially offset by higher large man-made losses. The performance continues to be heavily influenced by business written in previous underwriting years and last year in particular, leading to a combined ratio of 101.7% for the first six months of 2018. ROE for the first six months of 2018 was 5.0%.
Gross premiums written2 increased by 18.5% to USD 2.0 billion, mainly driven by growth in the Primary Lead business, gradually realising the benefit from the strategic investment.
Rates, as well as terms and conditions, improved after last year’s natural catastrophe events, with high single-digit price increases in loss-affected accounts, but the rate environment remains challenging.
Corporate Solutions continued to invest in its Primary Lead capabilities in the first half of 2018. Through its proprietary technology platform, the Business Unit currently offers domestic insurance coverage to companies headquartered in 18 countries and, in 9 out of these 18 countries, Corporate Solutions can also offer international insurance programme coverage. Overall, the Corporate Solutions’ global network structure extends to over 80 countries.
The Business Unit continued to expand its footprint by opening an office in Hamburg, Germany, focusing on servicing large and upper-mid-sized companies. Corporate Solutions also enhanced its presence in Mexico – where it has operated since 2014 – by obtaining a license to provide direct insurance through a newly established local subsidiary.
Life Capital delivers exceptional gross cash generation and strong growth in gross premiums written
During the first six months of 2018, net income was USD 34 million, driven by net realised gains on sales of fixed income securities, mark to market impacts of equity securities as well as lower direct expenses. ROE was 1.1%.
The Business Unit generated exceptional gross cash of USD 848 million during the first six months of 2018, driven by strong underlying emerging surplus, the proceeds from the sale of an initial 5% stake in ReAssure to MS&AD and the finalisation of the 2017 Solvency II position.
Life Capital made a substantial dividend payment of USD 1.1 billion during the second quarter to the Swiss Re Group.
Gross premiums written increased significantly to USD 1.8 billion during the first half of 2018, due to growth in both the individual and group open book business, including a large medex transaction for iptiQ EMEA, combined with the impact of intra-group retrocession agreements.
Life Capital will continue to pursue selective acquisition opportunities within the closed book market in UK, while also growing its individual and group life and health business in Europe and the US. It aims to continue generating significant cash, while investing in its open book strategy.
The Legal & General transaction announced in December 2017 is reflected in Life Capital’s results for the first half of 2018 in the form of a risk transfer agreement. The Part VII transfer is expected to be completed in mid-2019 and is subject to regulatory approval.
Swiss Re to explore potential Initial Public Offering of ReAssure in 2019
Swiss Re is exploring a potential initial public offering (IPO) of its UK closed book business ReAssure in 2019. As Swiss Re has previously communicated, and demonstrated by the investment of MS&AD in ReAssure, securing third-party capital to pursue further closed book transactions is already part of Swiss Re’s strategy. Given the size of potential opportunities that are expected to come up in the market over the mid-term, it is important for ReAssure to have access to substantial new capital to acquire additional closed books. Under Swiss Re’s Swiss Solvency Test capital regime, ReAssure’s asset-intensive business is subject to significant asset risk charges. Nonetheless, the closed book consolidation market remains an attractive growth area for Swiss Re, which is expected to remain a significant investor in ReAssure.
There can be no assurance that the exploration will result in an IPO of ReAssure, and there is no certainty as to the timing of, or the details relating to any such IPO, including its terms, structure or the size of Swiss Re’s shareholding in ReAssure following any IPO.3 Further public statements will be made if and when appropriate.
Supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy
As a pioneer in the adoption of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment benchmarks in the re/insurance industry, Swiss Re announced in July 2017 that it will systematically integrate ESG criteria into its investment decisions. A year later, Swiss Re confirmed that ESG benchmarks make economic sense, and ESG criteria are now applied to close to 100% of its investment portfolio.
In addition, in July 2018, Swiss Re started to implement a thermal coal policy as an integral part of the Group’s Sustainability Risk Framework. Under the new policy, Swiss Re will discontinue providing re/insurance to businesses with more than 30% exposure to thermal coal, in alignment with the thresholds that had been established from an investment perspective. It is a further step in refining Swiss Re’s approach to managing carbon-related sustainability risks and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. The decision to develop a thermal coal policy was based on Swiss Re’s commitment to the Paris Pledge for Action in 2015, when Swiss Re affirmed its strong commitment to the effort to limit global warming to 1.5°C– 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Swiss Re’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Christian Mumenthaler, says: “These are exciting and transformative times for Swiss Re and the re/insurance industry in general. We see big opportunities ahead as risk pools around the world continue to grow alongside demographic changes. At the same time, we remain convinced that technology will fundamentally change the re/insurance value chain. Expanding our access to risk pools is key to our growth over the long term. We’re doing that by applying our risk knowledge, partnering with our clients and harnessing technology to develop solutions that help extend insurance coverage to more people.
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