OREANDA-NEWS. In the first half of 2016, SCOR continues to deliver strong results. The technical profitability and net income generation recorded by the Group demonstrate SCOR's capacity to absorb various shocks, such as a high number of natural catastrophe events, the UK referendum results leading to the announcement of Brexit, low and prolonged interest rates and a long-lasting P&C soft cycle.

Gross written premiums reach EUR 6,735 million at the end of the first six months of 2016, up 5.9% at constant exchange rates compared to 2015 (+3.7% at current exchange rates), with:
    • a strong contribution from SCOR Global Life, with gross written premiums reaching EUR 3,934 million over the semester (+10.2% at constant exchange rates and +8.3% at current exchange rates);
    • a 0.6% increase in SCOR Global P&C gross written premiums at constant exchange rates (-2.0% at current exchange rates), which stand at EUR 2,801 million in H1 2016, and excellent renewals in June and July 2016.
       
  • SCOR Global P&C records strong technical profitability with a robust net combined ratio of 93.8% in the first half of 2016, despite a high number of events in all perils and regions in the second quarter of 2016 and with reserve releases of EUR 40 million accounting for 1.6 pts of the H1 2016 combined ratio.
     
  • SCOR Global Life records a robust technical margin of 7.1% in the first half of 2016, continuing to deliver above the "Optimal Dynamics" assumption of 7.0%.
     
  • SCOR Global Investments achieves a solid 3.1% return on invested assets, above the "Optimal Dynamics" assumption, in an extremely low yield and uncertain environment, while maintaining its prudent portfolio positioning to face the current headwinds and high level of market volatility.
     
  • Group net income reaches EUR 275 million in H1 2016, down 15.9% compared to H1 2015 due to a high number of natural catastrophes and a challenging macroeconomic environment. The annualized return on equity (ROE) stands at 8.9% over the period, or 881 basis points above the risk-free rate[1].
     
  • Shareholders' equity stands at EUR 6,282 million at 30 June 2016, compared to EUR 6,363 million at 31 December 2015 after the payment of EUR 278 million of dividends for the year 2015. This translates into a book value per share of EUR 33.79 at 30 June 2016.
  • SCOR's financial leverage stands at 31.8% as at 30 June 2016, temporarily above the range indicated in "Optimal Dynamics", and will stand at 25.5%[2] after the redemption of the two debts callable in Q3 2016. This ratio also reflects the successful placement of a dated subordinated notes issue on the Euro market in the amount of EUR 500 million with a coupon set at 3.625% in May 2016.
     
  • SCOR's estimated solvency ratio at 30 June 2016, adjusted for the redemption of the two debts callable in Q3 2016, stands at 210%[3], within the optimal solvency range of 185%-220% as defined in the "Optimal Dynamics" plan.
Denis Kessler, Chairman & CEO of SCOR, comments: "In the first half of 2016, SCOR has proved its capacity to absorb shocks thanks to its high level of diversification. Despite numerous natural catastrophe events and the political uncertainty following the UK referendum, SCOR continues to post strong results. SCOR keeps on expanding its footprint in the first half of 2016, with both the Life and P&C divisions delivering strong technical profitability. SCOR Global Investments records a solid return on invested assets over the semester in a record low yield environment. With these half-year results, SCOR fully achieves the targets set out in "Optimal Dynamics". The Group is currently preparing to unveil its new strategic plan at SCOR's next Investor Day on 7 September".

Impact of Brexit

Concerning the consequences of the UK referendum, SCOR does not foresee any negative impact on its strategy. SCOR is a reinsurer with a global reach, whose strategy is based on the diversification of both its assets and activities. SCOR's global entity structure ensures that the Group will navigate any uncertainties that Brexit may present.

SCOR considers the financial risk to be very limited:

  • SCOR's hedging and capital management policies ensure strict IFRS congruency between its asset portfolio and its underwriting commitments totalling GBP 1.7 billion (i.e. 9% of total invested assets). Hence, any devaluation in the pound will not have a significant negative currency effect on the Group, with only 6% of its shareholders' equity denominated in GBP (i.e. GBP 300 million). The Group's only UK-based real estate is in a prime location and is occupied by SCOR[4].
  • On the asset side, the portion of assets denominated in pounds sterling has been positioned in a particularly prudent manner in preparation for the referendum on Brexit, being mostly invested in cash and cash equivalents and bonds with an immaterial exposure to UK equities[5], and with a very short duration (2.7 years).

SCOR expects the operational risks to be minimal as the Group's platform is global and multi-centred, and will continue to efficiently serve clients worldwide, including in the United Kingdom. Moreover, SCOR is headquartered in Europe, which facilitates cross-border transactions, and its strong capital management framework will enable it to deal efficiently with any potential future regulatory changes.

The Group also foresees minimal business risks as pressures from Brexit will be focused on cross-border direct business, which is marginal for SCOR.

SCOR Global P&C H1 2016 technical results bring "Optimal Dynamics" to a successful close

SCOR Global P&C key figures:

In EUR millions (unaudited, rounded, at current exchange rates) YTD QTD
H1 2016 H1 2015 Variation Q2 2016 Q2 2015 Variation
Gross written premiums 2,801 2,859 -2.0% 1,425 1,461 -2.5%
Combined ratio 93.8% 90.9% 2.9 pts 97.5% 92.6% 4.9 pts

In the first half of 2016, SCOR Global P&C gross written premiums stand at EUR 2,801. At constant exchange rates, gross written premiums increase by 0.6% (-2.0% at current exchange rates). SCOR Global P&C expects full-year 2016 gross written premium growth to reach between 3% and 4% at constant exchange rates.

In the first six months of 2016, SCOR Global P&C records strong technical profitability with a net combined ratio of 93.8%, including:

  • A high level of natural catastrophe events across various perils and regions, with a 12-pt impact on the Q2 2016 combined ratio, leading to a net natural catastrophe ratio of 6.9 pts in H1 2016. Preliminary net pre-tax estimates for these events include, in particular, the Fort McMurray fires in Canada for EUR 65 million, earthquakes in Japan, Ecuador and Taiwan, storms in Germany and floods in Sri Lanka, as well as a late June hailstorm in the Netherlands;
     
  • A net attritional and commission ratio of 79.9% for the first six months of 2016, compared to 82.4% in the first half of 2015, benefitting from the 1.6-pt positive impact of Q2 reserve releases of EUR 40 million in long-tail lines of business, which have mitigated the significant impact of Q2 2016 natural catastrophe activity on a year-to-date basis.

The normalized net combined ratio (with a natural catastrophe budget of 6% and without the 1.6 pts of reserve releases) stands at 94.5% in H1 2016, in line with the latest assumptions communicated at the beginning of the year[6].

In the first half of 2016, SCOR Global Investments has maintained its prudent investment strategy to face the high level of market volatility.

Ahead of the Brexit referendum, a defensive positioning of the GBP-denominated portfolio has been maintained, which represents 9% of total invested assets and is mostly invested in cash and high grade fixed income securities, with an average rating of AA-, a short duration of 2.7 years and an immaterial exposure to UK equities[7] as at 30 June 2016.

During the period, SCOR Global Investments has proactively decreased its exposure to the financial sector and has no remaining exposure to UK, Italian or Spanish bank debt.

The stable average rating of AA- bears witness to the quality of the fixed income portfolio. Its duration is broadly stable at 4.0 years at 30 June 2016, compared to 3.9 years at 31 March 2016. Moreover, SCOR Global Investments continues to exclude any exposure to sovereign debt from the GIIPS countries[8].

As at 30 June 2016, the expected financial cash flow over the next 24 months stands at EUR 7.3 billion (including cash, coupons and redemptions), which represents 39% of the invested assets.

In the first half of 2016, invested assets generate a financial contribution of EUR 285 million. The active asset management policy executed by SCOR Global Investments has enabled the Group to record capital gains of EUR 128 million over the period, coming mainly from the real estate and fixed income portfolios.

The return on invested assets stands at 3.1% for the first half of 2016, in an extremely low yield and uncertain environment, compared to 3.4% in the first half of 2016. On average, throughout "Optimal Dynamics", SCOR Global Investments has delivered a 3.0% return on invested assets. Taking account of funds withheld by cedants, the net rate of return on investments stands at 2.6% in the first half of 2016. The reinvestment yield stands at 1.8%[9] at 30 June 2016.

Invested assets (excluding funds withheld by cedants) stand at EUR 18,775 million as at 30 June 2016, and are composed as follows: 11% cash, 76% fixed income (of which 3% are short-term investments), 4% loans, 2% equities, 4% real estate and 3% other investments. Total investments, including EUR 8,828 million of funds withheld, stand at EUR 27,603 million at 30 June 2016, compared to EUR 27,552 million at 31 December 2015.