- The SwissLife Group resolutely maintained its course of profitable growth during the first three months of 2014 and generated premium income of CHF6.9billion (-1% in local currency compared with the same period in the previous year).
- Fee and commission income climbed 9% to CHF298million over the same period.
- SwissLife Asset Managers increased assets under management for external customers during the first quarter to CHF28.6billion (+4% up on the end of 2013).
- In a persistently challenging environment, SwissLife generated a non-annualised net investment result of 1.0% (2013:1.4%) on the basis of a stable direct investment yield.
- The group solvency ratio as at 31 March 2014 rose by 16 percentage points from its end-2013 level to 226%.
Bruno Pfister, Group CEO, comments, "SwissLife got off to a good start in the first quarter of2014 and further expanded its market positioning in strategically important business areas. We maintained our focus on profitable growth and further improved premium quality. We are also on track with our Group-wide programme 'SwissLife2015': 80% of the planned cost savings have already been implemented and fee and commission income has significantly increased in all market units."
Business development in the first quarter of 2014
In the first three months of 2014, SwissLife generated premium income of CHF6.9billion compared to a very strong first quarter in the previous year of CHF7.0billion (-1% in local currency). In its home market of Switzerland, SwissLife grew premiums by 7% to CHF4.9billion. This was driven by continued strong demand for full-insurance solutions from the SwissSME sector and growth in individual life business. In France premiums amounted to CHF1.2billion, which corresponds to a 3% drop in local currency. With a high unit-linked share of more than 50% of new business, premium quality in life insurance business was further enhanced. SwissLife in Germany generated premium income of CHF422million in the first quarter of 2014. The decline of 14% in local currency is attributable to rate adjustments and the focus on profitable growth. The International market unit generated premium volume of CHF404million (2013: CHF686million). SwissLife AssetManagers posted net new assets of CHF0.5billion in external customer business. Overall SwissLife generated fee and commission income of CHF298 million in the first quarter of 2014. This 9% rise is driven by growth within SwissLife AssetManagers, in theowned IFAchannels in all market units and in unit-linked business in France.
Robust investment yield and strong group solvency ratio
Thanks to the high quality and resilience of its investment portfolio, SwissLife generated a stable non-annualised direct investment yield of 0.8% as at 31March 2014 (2013: 0.8%). The non-annualised net investment result in the first three months of 2014 corresponds to a yield of 1.0%, compared with 1.4% in the prior year period, which was positively impacted by the application of new accounting standards (IFRS13) and higher realised gains on bonds. The group solvency ratio as at 31March2014 rose by 16percentage points from its end-2013 level to 226%. Excluding unrealised gains and losses on bonds, the Group's solvency ratio remained on a par with year-end 2013 at 196%.
Further progress in the Group-wide programme "SwissLife2015"
SwissLife made further progress in its Group-wide programme "SwissLife2015". Under its strict cost management, 80% of the planned cost savings measures had already been implemented as at 31March2014. Thanks to the consistent focus on profitable growth, the product mix in new business remained on target.
Thomas Buess, Group CFO, will hold a telephone conference in English for financial analysts and investors at 10 a.m.(CET) today. Please dial in ten minutes before the conference begins.
Dial-in number for Europe +41 (0) 58 310 50 00
Dial-in number for the UK +44 (0) 203 059 58 62
Dial-in number for the USA +1 (1) 631 570 56 13
Gross written premiums, policy fees and deposits received as at 31 March 2014
CHF m | Q1/2014 | Q1/2013 | Change | Change |
IFRS basis, unaudited | ||||
Switzerland | 4930 | 4618 | +7% | +7% |
France | 1154 | 1197 | -4% | -3% |
Germany | 422 | 490 | -14% | -14% |
International | 404 | 686 | -41% | -41% |
Total (1) | 6896 | 6970 | -1% | -1% |
(1) | Total contains intersegment eliminations and reinsurance of CHF-14 million in Q1 2014, CHF -22 million in Q1 2013. |
Information
Media Relations
Phone +41 43 284 77 77
Investor Relations
Phone +41 43 284 52 76
investor.relations@swisslife.ch
Further information
All our media releases can be found at swisslife.com/mediareleases
Swiss Life in 3 minutes (video)
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information
This publication contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like “believe”, “assume”, “expect” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors. These may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, developments and expectations of Swiss Life and those explicitly or implicitly described in these forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, the reader is reminded that these statements are merely projections and should not be overvalued. Neither SwissLife nor its Members of the Board of Directors, executive managers, managers, employees or external advisors nor any other person associated with Swiss Life or with any other relationship to the company makes any express or implied representation or warranty as to the correctness or completeness of the information contained in this publication. SwissLife and the abovementioned persons shall not be liable under any circumstances for any direct or indirect loss resulting from the use of this information. Furthermore, Swiss Life undertakes no obligation to publicly update or change any of these forward-looking statements, or to adjust them to reflect new information, future events, developments or similar.
Swiss Life
The Swiss Life Group is one of Europe's leading comprehensive life and pensions and financial solutions providers. In its core markets of Switzerland, France and Germany, Swiss Life offers individuals and corporations comprehensive and individual advice plus a broad range of own and partner products through its sales force and distribution partners such as brokers and banks.
Swiss Life Select, tecis, HORBACH, Proventus and Chase de Vere advisors choose suitable products for customers from the market according to the Best Select approach. Swiss Life Asset Managers offers institutional and private investors access to investment and asset management solutions. Swiss Life provides multinational corporations with employee benefits solutions and high net worth individuals with structured life and pensions products.
Swiss Life Holding Ltd, registered in Zurich, was founded in 1857 as Schweizerische Rentenanstalt. The shares of Swiss Life Holding Ltd are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SLHN). The Swiss Life Group employs a workforce of around 7000, with approximately 4500 certified financial advisors.