Munich Re announces further share buy-back – profit guidance of €2.0–2.4bn for 2017

Chairman of the Board of Management, Nikolaus von Bomhard, said: “With a profit of €2.6bn for 2016, we have clearly met our most recent forecast of ‘well over €2.3bn’. On the basis of this result, we are able to propose that this year’s Annual General Meeting raise the dividend to €8.60. Our dividend policy thus remains shareholder-friendly.” Munich Re also announced another share buy-back programme: it will repurchase up to €1bn in shares by the Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2018.

On the outlook for 2017, von Bomhard said: “For the financial year 2017, Munich Re is aiming for a profit in the range of €2.0–2.4bn in what is set to be a challenging environment.”

Looking at the current challenges, von Bomhard stated: “Digitalisation is changing client demand, allows for the development of innovative business models, and requires us to set up partnerships that would previously not have been considered. More than ever, Munich Re is a company embracing change – as demonstrated by our innovation schemes, the ERGO Strategy Programme, and the recent decision to adopt a new set-up in the global health markets. My successor as Chairman of the Board of Management, Joachim Wenning, will continue to drive this change forward.”

At its meeting held yesterday, Munich Reinsurance Company’s Supervisory Board decided on its motions for submission to the Annual General Meeting on 26 April 2017.

The Supervisory Board recommends that the Annual General Meeting elect Renata Jungo Brüngger (55) as successor to Wolfgang Mayrhuber (69), who resigned his position on the Supervisory Board with effect from the end of 2016. Jungo Brüngger is already a member of the Supervisory Board, as she was appointed as a member of the Supervisory Board by the Amtsgericht (Local Court) in Munich at the beginning of January 2017. Jungo Brüngger is recommended for election to the Supervisory Board for the remainder of Mayrhuber’s term of office, namely until the end of the Annual General Meeting in 2019.

The Supervisory Board also approved the Board of Management’s recommendation to the Annual General Meeting with respect to the proposed dividend.

Following more than ten successful years at Munich Re, member of the Board of Management Ludger Arnoldussen is leaving the Company to seek new challenges. By mutual agreement, he will resign his position on the Board at Munich Re with effect from the end of 26 April 2017. The Board of Management and Supervisory Board of Munich Re would like to thank him for his great commitment and service to the Company, and wish him all the best for the future. Mr. Arnoldussen’s successor will be Hermann Pohlchristoph (51), who has been with the Company since 2002 and is presently the CFO of the reinsurance field of business. Pohlchristoph is taking on responsibility for the “Germany, Asia Pacific and Africa Division” as well as the central divisions “Central Procurement” and “Services”.

The Group achieved an operating result of €4,025m in 2016 (2015: €4,819m).

The lower technical result and the costs of the ERGO Strategy Programme were only partly offset by gratifying investment and currency translation results. Foreign exchange effects had a positive impact of €485m (previous year: negative impact of €213m) on the other non-operating result in 2016.

Equity increased by €819m in 2016 to €31,785m (31.12.2015: €30,966m). 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% (11.5%), while the return on equity (RoE) amounted to 8.1% (10.0%). In the 2016 financial year, the Group’s gross premiums written declined to €48,851m (50,374m), mainly because of reduced shares in large-volume treaties, the sale of ERGO Italia, and negative currency translation effects.

The solvency ratio calculated on the basis of Solvency II – which is determined using the internal model approved by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) – was a very high 267% as at 31 December 2016 (31.12.2015: 302%). Taking into account the Solvency II transitional measures applied for by ERGO Leben and Victoria Leben, the ratio increases to 316%.

The reinsurance field of business contributed €2,484m (3,261m) to the consolidated result. The operating result was down by €1,296m to €2,846m. Gross premiums written declined to €27,827m (28,216m).

Life reinsurance business contributed €459m (345m) to the consolidated result. At €487m (335m), the technical result was well above the target of €400m. Claims experience was impacted by high expenditure for single mortality claims with high sums insured, but was nevertheless within the overall range of normal volatility. Various one-off effects also had an overall positive impact on the result.

Property and casualty reinsurance generated a result of €2,025m (2,915m) over the year as a whole. The combined ratio for 2016 amounted to 95.7% (89.7%) of net earned premiums. A customary review of reserves  – adjusted for commissions – also resulted in a reduction in the provisions for claims from prior years of around €900m for the full year; this corresponds to around 5.5 percentage points of the combined ratio. Munich Re 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 €1,542m (1,046m). In terms of net earned premiums, major-loss expenditure amounted to 9.1% (6.2%), which was appreciably above the previous year, but still below the average expected figure of 12% for the full year. The cost of natural catastrophe losses for the full year was €929m (149m). At €404m, devastating forest fires in the Canadian province of Alberta in May 2016 were by far the biggest loss of the year for Munich Re. In November, an earthquake in New Zealand caused losses totalling around €251m. Matthew, the first Atlantic hurricane to reach the highest category 5 status in almost ten years, cost Munich Re €232m. Man-made major losses were below the level of the previous year, and totalled €613m (897m). This figure was marked by a variety of individual events, including fire, explosion, marine and liability losses.

Torsten Jeworrek, member of Munich Re’s Board of Management, said: “Competition in reinsurance remains intense. Prices softened further in various markets during the January renewals, though to a much lesser extent than in the previous year. Munich Re was able to hold its own by means of skilful cycle management. It withdrew from business that no longer met profit expectations, but was able to expand on or write new profitable business. Overall, Munich Re was mostly able to retain the profitability of its renewed portfolio, and price erosion was only 0.5%. Customised, individual solutions and innovative business ideas allow Munich Re to successfully set itself apart from the competition.”

As anticipated, the ERGO field of business reported a loss of €40m in 2016 (previous year: loss of €227m). Despite restructuring expenses, the consolidated result improved – mostly because the previous year’s figure had been negatively impacted by impairment losses on goodwill. The investment result increased, which was mainly attributable to gains from interest-rate hedges and higher gains on disposals, especially of fixed-interest securities. Overall, this meant a higher operating result of €1,006m (598m).

Markus Rieß, the CEO of ERGO, commented: “For our company, 2016 was dominated by the ERGO Strategy Programme. We have made good progress in bringing ERGO back on track. As from 2021, ERGO will contribute around €600m to the consolidated result of Munich Re.” This slightly improved ambition takes account of the transfer of responsibility for health primary from Munich Health to ERGO International.

In 2016, gross premiums written declined to €16,034m (16,535m). Total premium income across all lines of business was down to €17,235m (17,867m). In the Life and Health Germany segment, gross premiums fell by 2.7% to €9,177m (9,426m). In the Property-casualty Germany segment, they improved slightly to €3,194m (3,162m). The International segment saw a fall to €3,664m (€3,947m).

The combined ratio for property-casualty primary insurance in Germany improved to 97.0% (97.9%) for the full year, and amounted to 99.0% (104.7%) for international business.

The Munich Health field of business posted a pleasing profit of €137m (88m) in 2016. The operating result climbed to €173m (80m). Improved results in health reinsurance derived mainly from the fact that high losses in the USA from the previous year were not repeated owing to the introduction of countermeasures. In other regions, there were also releases of reserves from previous years. In addition, there was an improvement in the result for primary insurance, especially at DKV Belgium and DKV Seguros in Spain.

Due to negative currency translation effects and the reduced share of a large-volume reinsurance treaty, gross premiums written by Munich Health declined by 11.3% to €4,990m (5,623m). In 2016, the combined ratio improved to 98.5% (99.9%).

The Group's investment result (excluding insurance-related investments) remained largely stable at €7,567m (7,536m). Changes in the value of derivatives had a negative effect of €713m (–1,226m) for the year. On the other hand, the balance of gains and losses on disposals excluding derivatives was positive at €2,603m (2,693m). Considering the situation in the capital markets, this investment result represents a relatively high annualised return of 3.2% (3.2%) in terms of the average market value of the portfolio. The reinvestment return was 1.8% (1.8%).

Munich Re's equity-backing ratio at 31 December 2016 rose to 5.0% (31 December 2015: 4.8%), including equity-linked derivatives. With a share of around 88% at market value, fixed-interest securities, loans and short-term fixed-interest investments continued to make up the largest portion of Munich Re's investments.

Chief Financial Officer, Jörg Schneider, commented on the investment result: “An investment return of 3.2% – the result of our balanced, prudent and long-term investment strategy – is most satisfactory in the current interest-rate environment.”

As the Group's asset manager, MEAG's assets under management as at 31 December 2016 (excluding insurance-related investments) had a carrying amount of €219bn (215bn) and a market value of €236bn (231bn). As well as the Group’s own investments, MEAG also managed segregated and retail funds totalling €19.2bn (14.1bn) for third parties.

Munich Re is aiming for a consolidated result of €2.0–2.4bn in 2017, subject to major losses being within normal bounds, and to its income statement not being impacted by severe currency or capital market developments, significant changes in tax parameters, or other exceptional factors.

The consolidated result in reinsurance is projected to be in the range of €1.8–2.2bn. In life and health reinsurance, the technical result – including the result from reinsurance treaties recognised in the non-technical result owing to insufficient risk transfer – should be at least €450m. In property-casualty reinsurance, Munich Re is aiming for a combined ratio of around 97% of net earned premiums in 2017, taking into account the relatively low incidence of major losses until the end of February. At the beginning of the year, Munich Re projects major losses in the order of around €2bn for 2017, corresponding to an unchanged 12% of net earned premiums.

Munich Re expects the ERGO field of business to contribute €150–200m to the consolidated result. The combined ratio for the ERGO Property-casualty Germany segment should be around 99% in 2017, provided that major losses remain within normal bounds. A combined ratio of around 98% is expected for the ERGO International segment if major losses are at a normal level.

On 1 February 2017, the Munich Health field of business was integrated into the two larger fields of business, reinsurance and ERGO. Thus the profit contribution of health reinsurance has been included in the profit target for reinsurance. Profits from international health primary insurance will be recognised under ERGO International.

Munich Re anticipates that interest rates will also remain very low overall in 2017, with correspondingly lower regular income from fixed-interest investments. Overall, Munich Re expects an investment result of around €7bn, representing a return on investments of about 3%.

Assuming exchange rates remain stable, the Group anticipates that its gross premiums written for the financial year 2017 will be in the range of €48–50bn. Gross premium should be in the range of €31–33bn for the reinsurance field of business, and €17–17.5bn for the ERGO field of business. Total premium income in the ERGO field of business (including the savings premiums of unit-linked life insurance and capitalisation products) should amount to €18–19bn in 2017.