MUNICH Re posts profit of EUR 2.6 billion for 2016; technical results affected by the major claims expedinture in the 4th quarter

8 February 2017 — Daniela GHETU
MUNICH Re posted a consolidated result of EUR 2.6 billion for 2016, thus meeting its profit target of "well over EUR 2.3 billion", the Group's representatives have recently stated. The operating result amounted to EUR 4.0 billion, less by EUR 0.8 billion as compared with the previous year. The lower technical result and the costs of the ERGO Strategy Programme were partly offset by gratifying investment and currency translation results.

Major-claims expenditure was high in the fourth quarter, also playing a part in lowering the technical result. The German Group has recorded claims costs of EUR 232 million for Hurricane Matthew and EUR 251 million for an earthquake in New Zealand. On a twelve-month basis, major losses were lower than expected, but nevertheless significantly higher than in the previous year.

Equity increased by around EUR 0.8 billion to EUR 31.8 billion in 2016. The return on risk-adjusted capital (RORAC) - which serves as the key performance indicator for profitability in terms of risk capital requirements - was 10.9%, whilst the return on equity (RoE) amounted to 8.1%.

In the 2016 financial year, the Group's GWP declined to EUR 48.9 billion from EUR 50.4 billion in 2015, mainly because of reduced shares in large-volume treaties and the sale of ERGO Italia.

With a carrying amount of EUR 219.4 billion (market value of EUR 236.2 billion), total investments (excluding insurance-related investments) as at 31 December 2016 were up on the year-end 2015 figure of EUR 215.1 billion (230.5 billion at market value). The Group's investment result (excluding insurance-related investments) remained nearly constant at EUR 7.6 billion (7.5 billion). Regular investment income declined, not least because of yield attrition. Gains on the disposal of government bonds, covered bonds and equities more than offset losses from hedging derivatives and impairment losses. Considering the situation in the capital markets, this investment result represents a relatively high overall return of 3.2% in relation to the average market value of the portfolio.

CFO Jorg SCHNEIDER said: "We are satisfied with the result for 2016. Thanks to our strong market position, client proximity and successful investment management, we were largely able to counter the effects of low interest rates and intense competition in the reinsurance markets."

On the results of the January renewals, Torsten JEWORREK, member of the Board of Management of MUNICH Re said: "Market conditions for the renewals were once again challenging, even though the trend towards price reductions had continued to slow. So skillful cycle management is still extremely important, and MUNICH Re was once again able to react with flexibility in relation to changes. We withdrew from business that no longer met profit expectations - for instance, in China - and built up or expanded profitable business, either through new acquisitions or by strengthening existing client relationships."

Reinsurance: Result of EUR 2.5 billion


The reinsurance field of business contributed EUR 2.5 billion (3.3 billion in 2015) to the consolidated result. The operating result was down by EUR 1.3 billion to EUR 2.8 billion. Gross premiums written declined to EUR 27.8 billion (28.2 billion).

Life reinsurance business contributed EUR 0.46 billion (0.35 billion) to the consolidated result. At EUR 0.49 billion (0.34 billion), the technical result was above the target of EUR 0.4 billion, with EUR 0.2 billion (0.1 billion) relating to the fourth quarter. The very pleasing result in life reinsurance benefited from positive reserving effects, especially in the USA.

Property and casualty reinsurance generated a good result of EUR 2.0 billion (2.9 billion) over the year as a whole. The combined ratio for 2016 amounted to 95.7% (89.7%) of net earned premiums, and totaled 101.9% (78.6%) for the fourth quarter. MUNICH Re was able to release loss reserves in the amount of EUR 1.1 billion for the full year, and EUR 0.4 billion for the fourth quarter. Adjusted for commission effects, this corresponds to 5.5 percentage points of the combined ratio for the full year, and 5.7 percentage points for the fourth quarter. Overall, MUNICH Re was able to raise the level of loss reserves again slightly in 2016. MUNICH Re also still aims to set the amount of provisions for newly emerging claims at the very top end of the estimation range, so that profits from the release of a portion of these reserves are possible at a later stage.

Total major-loss expenditure for 2016 amounted to EUR 1.5 billion (1.0 billion), of which EUR 0.6 billion (0.2 billion) was attributable to the fourth quarter. The major-loss burden amounted to 9.1% (6.2%) of net earned premiums, and thus remained below the average expected figure of 12% for the full year. However, this does not apply for the fourth quarter, when the ratio totaled 14.8% (4.7%). Natural catastrophe losses amounted to EUR 0.9 billion (0.1 billion) for the full year, while the figure for the fourth quarter was EUR 0.5 billion (0.0 billion). With a cost to MUNICH Re of EUR 404m, devastating forest fires in the Canadian province of Alberta in May 2016 were the biggest loss of the year. Man-made major losses were below the level of the previous year, and totaled EUR 0.6 billion (0.9 billion) - equivalent to 3.6% (5.3%) of net earned premiums. Development was marked by a variety of individual events, including fire, explosion and liability losses.

ERGO: Result of -EUR 0.04 billion

As was anticipated in the ERGO Strategy Programme, the ERGO field of business posted a marginal loss of EUR 0.04 billion in 2016 (previous year: loss of EUR 0.2 billion). But in the fourth quarter, ERGO generated a profit of EUR 0.07 billion, which largely benefited from a high investment result.

ERGO is making good progress in implementing the Strategy Programme presented in June 2016. The Management has agreed on a reconciliation of interests programme with the Co-determination Committee with respect to the staff reductions announced in June. An important milestone was thus achieved towards strengthening the ERGO group's competitiveness with consolidated structures and lower costs.

Gross premiums written declined to EUR 16.0 billion (16.5 billion). The combined ratio for German property-casualty insurance was 97.0% (97.9%) for the full year, and amounted to 100.0% (103.9%) in the fourth quarter. The largest loss events in German business were the storms Elvira and Marine/Neele, each of which impacted the result with around EUR 16m. The combined ratio for international property-casualty insurance was 99.0% (104.7%) for the full year, and 100.4% (115.3%) for the fourth quarter.

MUNICH Health: Result of EUR 0.14 billion

For the last time before being divided up on 1 February 2017, the MUNICH Health field of business contributed a very gratifying profit of EUR 0.14 billion (0.09 billion) to the consolidated result. At EUR 0.2 billion, the operating result was also above the previous year's figure (EUR 0.1 billion). MUNICH Health's premium income declined to EUR 5.0 billion (5.6 billion), due in particular to the reduction of its share in a large treaty. The combined ratio amounted to 98.5% (99.9%) in 2016.

Renewals of reinsurance treaties in property-casualty business at 1 January 2017

In the renewals of reinsurance treaties at 1 January 2017, prices fell only slightly in various markets, while demand for reinsurance cover and global capacity remained largely unchanged.

As at 1 January 2017, around half of MUNICH Re's non-life reinsurance business was up for renewal, representing premium volume of almost EUR 9 billion. Of this, 14% (around EUR 1.3 billion) was not renewed. By contrast, MUNICH Re wrote new business with a volume of approximately EUR 1.1 billion. The volume of business written at 1 January thus declined by 4.9% to around EUR 8.5 billion. Prices fell by about 0.5%, compared with price erosion of 1% in the previous year.

MUNICH Re is proceeding on the assumption that the market environment will not change significantly in the subsequent renewal rounds in 2017, unless extraordinary loss events occur. The renewal date of 1 April is mainly for reinsurance treaties in Japan, whereas 1 July is the renewal date for the USA, Australia and Latin America.

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