Property and Casualty insurance boosts profitability
In the Property and Casualty insurance segment, gross written premiums of 46.6 billion euros for 2013 were 0.7 percent below 46.9 billion euros the year before. Internal growth excluding the reduction from the restructured US crop business reached 2.5 percent.
The Allianz entities in Australia, France, Germany, Latin America and Turkey as well as Allianz Worldwide Partners recorded strong premium growth in their respective markets. There was strong demand for new products. These included the modular household cover “PrivatSchutz” in Germany and a motor insurance product in Italy supported by telematics to take driving behavior into account.
Operating profit in Property and Casualty insurance climbed to 5.3 billion euros for the year, 14.2 percent above 4.6 billion euros for 2012. This growth stemmed from a strong underwriting result, despite higher compensations for customers following natural catastrophes and despite a lower investment result.
Natural catastrophes, especially storms in Europe, contributed 2.9 percentage points to the loss ratio in 2013, up from 1.7 percentage points the year before. Nonetheless, the resulting combined ratio for 2013 improved by 1.9 percentage points to 94.3 percent from 96.2 percent in 2012. A favorable pricing and claims environment in Italy contributed to this improvement. In addition, Allianz benefited from efforts to turn around its business in the US.
“We provided quick support to tens of thousands of people hit by natural catastrophes such as the floods in Germany. We also introduced numerous new products and digital applications to help customers in today’s world,” said Dieter Wemmer, Chief Financial Officer of Allianz SE. “The result confirms our work in recent years – good profitability and growth in key markets.”
Life and Health insurance expands business further
Statutory premiums in the Life and Health insurance business grew year-on-year in 2013 by 8.5 percent to 56.8 billion euros from 52.3 billion euros. Adjusted for foreign currency exchange and consolidation effects, internal growth reached 9.1 percent.
Italy recorded strong growth, mainly due to the new unit-linked product “Progetto Reddito” that generated premiums of 1.3 billion euros. Premiums in Germany rose largely due to single-premium products, a sales initiative in the US for fixed indexed annuities lifted annual revenues, distribution partnerships in France helped to boost sales, and premiums also grew in Spain by 14.0 percent despite a generally shrinking market.
In 2013, currency and interest rate volatility led to a lower investment margin. This and the restructuring in South Korea were the main reasons operating profit declined 8.0 percent to 2.7 billion euros from 2.9 billion euros in 2012. The new business margin rose to 2.1 percent from 1.8 percent in 2012. The value of new business increased over the same period to 952 million euros from 790 million euros.
“Low interest rates will continue to be with us for some time. However, with our new products and the increase in the value of new business I am optimistic about our prospects,” said Dieter Wemmer. “Allianz sets a benchmark with its global investment management. It enables us to generate attractive returns across a broad range of products with a minimum of risk for our life insurance customers around the world.”
Asset Management successful amid turbulence
Capital market volatility and swings in interest rates in the second half of 2013 impacted the Asset Management business. However, due to a strong first six months, revenues in the segment increased overall by 5.9 percent to 7.1 billion euros for 2013 from 6.7 billion euros the previous year. Adjusted for foreign currency exchange effects, internal growth reached 8.8 percent. The improvement came from higher management and loading fees which more than offset lower performance fees.
Operating profit rose 7.0 percent to 3.2 billion euros for the year from 3.0 billion euros in 2012. The cost-income ratio improved to 55.9 percent in 2013 from 56.5 percent the year before.
Total assets under management reached 1,770 billion euros as of December 31, 2013, declining 4.4 percent from 1,852 billion euros at the end of 2012. Third-party assets under management declined over the same period to 1,361 billion euros from 1,438 billion euros. The decrease of 64 billion euros resulted mainly from negative foreign currency exchange effects of the weak US-dollar. Adjusted for these effects, the decline amounted to one percent. Asset Management saw third-party net outflows of 12.0 billion euros in 2013, compared to net inflows of 113.6 billion euros in the previous year.
“Our Asset Management has further diversified its products and geographic base. Thus, even though growth in assets under management went through a lull in 2013, I am optimistic about the continued strength of the segment,” said Dieter Wemmer.
