Corporate | 10 May 2016 07:00
Hannover Re makes good start to the 2016 financial year
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DGAP-News: Hannover Rück SE / Key word(s): Quarter Results
Press release Hannover Re makes good start to the 2016 financial year – Group net income rises by 12.7% to EUR 271.2 million (EUR 240.7 million) after elimination of a positive special effect from the previous year – Gross premium in line with expectations, -2.1% adjusted for exchange rate effects – Sharply improved underwriting result in property and casualty reinsurance – Combined ratio: 94.7% (95.7%) – Good business development in life and health reinsurance – Return on investment: 2.9% – Return on equity: 13.2% – Group net income guidance for the 2016 financial year confirmed Hannover, 10 May 2016: Hannover Re expressed considerable satisfaction with the development of the first quarter. “Factoring out a positive special effect recorded in the comparable quarter of 2015, we achieved a pleasing increase in our Group net income as at 31 March 2016. This was driven by a strong underwriting profit in property and casualty reinsurance as well as good results in life and health reinsurance and on the investment side”, Chief Executive Officer Ulrich Wallin stated. The gratifying quarterly result is a good first step towards achieving the full-year profit target of at least EUR 950 million.
Gross premium develops in line with expectations
Pleasing Group net income
Property and casualty reinsurance shows further substantial improvement after very good previous year
As had been the case in the corresponding period of the previous year, major loss expenditure for Hannover Re came in below the estimated quarterly budget at EUR 55.5 million (EUR 62.0 million). The largest single loss event for the company was an earthquake in Taiwan at EUR 15.6 million for net account. The underwriting result closed at a very pleasing EUR 100.3 million (EUR 76.6 million). The combined ratio once again improved on the previous year’s period at 94.7% (95.7%). Against this backdrop and supported by healthy investment income, the operating profit (EBIT) in property and casualty reinsurance rose by a very appreciable 17.4% to EUR 299.7 million (EUR 255.2 million). Group net income increased by 19.2% to EUR 204.3 million (EUR 171.4 million). Earnings per share stood at EUR 1.69 (EUR 1.42).
Life and health reinsurance posts good result
Highly satisfactory investment income
Realised gains amounted to EUR 43.6 million (EUR 45.0 million); they were on a normal level and can be attributed in large measure to regrouping activities as part of regular portfolio maintenance. Write-downs of just EUR 13.9 million (EUR 8.2 million) had to be taken in the reporting period. Income from assets under own management totalled EUR 282.7 million as at 31 March 2016, a decrease of 10.7% compared to the previous year’s quarter (EUR 316.6 million). The resulting annualised return on investment reached 2.9% (excluding ModCo derivatives), which is exactly the target for the full financial year. Net investment income including interest on funds withheld and contract deposits closed at EUR 366.2 million (EUR 415.7 million).
Shareholders’ equity remains very robust
Capital adequacy ratio comfortably in excess of requirements
Outlook for 2016
Based on constant exchange rates, the company anticipates stable or slightly lower gross premium as well as net income after tax of at least EUR 950 million for the full 2015 financial year. This is conditional on major loss expenditure not significantly exceeding the budgeted level of EUR 825 million and assumes that there are no unforeseen distortions on capital markets. In property and casualty reinsurance Hannover Re expects to post a good underwriting result for 2016 that should be roughly on the level of 2015. The company is aiming for a combined ratio of less than 96%. The EBIT margin for property and casualty reinsurance should be at least 10%. The competitive market conditions that still prevail in property and casualty reinsurance were further underlined by the treaty renewals as at 1 April, the traditional date on which business in Japan and – albeit on a smaller scale – treaties in the markets of Australia, New Zealand, Korea and North America are renewed. In view of its selective underwriting policy and the company’s concentration on existing business, Hannover Re was able to preserve the good quality of its property and casualty reinsurance portfolio. The premium volume booked from this round of treaty renewals increased by 9.1% due to profitable business opportunities. The company expects to see further improvement in the development of its life and health reinsurance business. This should be especially evident in emerging markets and – following the implementation of Solvency II – in Europe as well as in the area of longevity risks. While it is Hannover Re’s expectation that some large-volume treaties will be discontinued, the gross premium volume will likely remain broadly stable on the back of new business production. The value of new business should be in excess of EUR 220 million. The targeted EBIT margins remain unchanged at 2% for financial solutions and longevity business and 6% for mortality and morbidity business. The expected positive cash flow that Hannover Re generates from the technical account and its investments should – subject to stable exchange rates and yield levels – should lead to further growth in the asset portfolios. The company is targeting a return on investment of 2.9% for 2016. Hannover Re envisages a payout ratio for the dividend in the range of 35% to 40% of its IFRS Group net income. This figure could increase in light of capital management considerations if the company’s comfortable level of capitalisation remains unchanged. For further information please contact:
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Please visit: www.hannover-re.com Hannover Re, with gross premium of around EUR 17 billion, is the third-largest reinsurer in the world. It transacts all lines of property & casualty and life & health reinsurance and is present on all continents with around 2,500 staff. Established in 1966, the Hannover Re Group today has a network of more than 100 subsidiaries, branches and representative offices worldwide. The Group’s German business is written by the subsidiary E+S Rück. The rating agencies most relevant to the insurance industry have awarded both Hannover Re and E+S Rück very strong insurer financial strength ratings: Standard & Poor’s AA- “Very Strong” and A.M. Best A+ “Superior”. In 2016 Hannover Re celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.
Please note the disclaimer:
Key figures of the Hannover Re Group (IFRS basis)
1)
Operating result (EBIT)/net premium earned
2016-05-10 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a service of EQS Group AG.
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| Language: | English | |
| Company: | Hannover Rück SE | |
| Karl-Wiechert-Allee 50 | ||
| 30625 Hannover | ||
| Germany | ||
| Phone: | +49-(0)511-5604-1500 | |
| Fax: | +49-(0)511-5604-1648 | |
| E-mail: | info@hannover-re.com | |
| Internet: | www.hannover-re.com | |
| ISIN: | DE0008402215 | |
| WKN: | 840 221 | |
| Indices: | MDAX | |
| Listed: | Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hanover; Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart; Terminbörse EUREX; Luxemburg | |
| End of News | DGAP News Service |