Note 17 Information on business segments

The Group provides reinsurance and insurance throughout the world through its business segments. The business segments are determined by the organisational structure and by the way in which management reviews the operating performance of the Group.

The Group adopted a new operational structure effective from 1 January 2012. As a result, the Group presents four core operating business segments: Property & Casualty Reinsurance, Life & Health Reinsurance, Corporate Solutions and Admin Re®. Asset Management activities are not disclosed as a separate operating segment. Invested assets managed by Asset Management and Group Treasury have been assigned to the new business segments according to risk profile, duration and further asset-liability management considerations. Actual returns on those assets are reported in the respective operating segments.

The presentation of each segment’s balance sheet is closely aligned to the segment legal entity structure. The assignment of assets and liabilities for entities that span more than one segment are determined by considering local statutory requirements, legal and other constraints, the economic view of duration and currency requirements of the reinsurance business written, and the capacity of the segments to absorb risks. These considerations determined each segment’s initial capital positions under the new structure.

Interest expense is incurred from the segment’s capital funding position. The tax position of the operating segments is derived from legal entity tax obligations, subject to Group tax considerations.

Accounting policies applied by the business segments are in line with those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (please refer to Note 1 to the Group’s annual consolidated financial statements). Comparative information for 2011 is presented according to the 2012 segments presentation basis.

The Group operating segments are outlined below.

Property & Casualty Reinsurance and Life & Health Reinsurance

Reinsurance consists of two segments, Property & Casualty and Life & Health. The Reinsurance Business Unit operates globally, both through brokers and directly with clients, and provides a large range of solutions for risk and capital management. Clients include insurance companies and mutual as well as public sector and governmental entities. In addition to traditional reinsurance solutions, the Business Unit offers insurance-linked securities and other insurance-related capital market products in both Property & Casualty and Life & Health.

Property & Casualty includes the business lines property, casualty including motor, and specialty. Life & Health includes the life and health sub-segments.

Corporate Solutions

Corporate Solutions offers innovative insurance capacity to mid-sized and large multinational corporations across the globe. Offerings range from standard risk transfer covers and multi-line programmes to customised solutions tailored to the needs of clients. Corporate Solutions serves customers from over 40 offices worldwide.

Admin Re®

Through Admin Re®, Swiss Re acquires closed blocks of in-force life and health insurance business, either through reinsurance or corporate acquisition, and typically assumes responsibility for administering the underlying policies. The administration of the business may be managed directly or, where appropriate, in partnership with a third party. Since 1998, Swiss Re has acquired more than 40 blocks of business spanning a range of product types. It currently operates in the UK, US and the Netherlands.

Admin Re® completed the sale of its Admin Re® US operations but retained certain blocks of the US business. For more details, please refer to Note 6.

Group items

Items not allocated to the business segments are included in the “Group items” column, which encompasses Swiss Re Ltd, the Group holding company, the former Legacy reinsurance business in run-off and certain Treasury units. The holding company charges trademark licence fees to the operating segments which are reported as other revenues. Certain administrative expenses of the corporate centre functions that are not recharged to the operating segments are reported as Group items.

Consolidation

Segment information is presented net of external and internal retrocession and other intra-group arrangements. The Group total is obtained after elimination of intra-group transactions in the “Consolidation” column. This includes significant intra-group reinsurance arrangements, recharge of trademark licence fees, and intersegmental funding.

a) Business segments – income statement

For the year ended 31 December

Download

2011
USD millions

Property & Casualty Reinsurance

Life & Health Reinsurance

Corporate Solutions

Admin Re®

Group items

Consoli-
dation

Total

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

10 135

8 317

1 929

897

22

 

21 300

Fee income from policyholders

 

87

 

789

 

 

876

Net investment income –
non-participating

1 307

1 544

104

1 611

135

–75

4 626

Net realised investment gains – non-participating

512

1 180

214

205

–477

 

1 634

Net investment result –
unit-linked and with-profit

 

–25

 

–378

 

 

–403

Other revenues

72

 

6

 

236

–264

50

Total revenues

12 026

11 103

2 253

3 124

–84

–339

28 083

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

–7 381

 

–1 461

 

2

30

–8 810

Life and health benefits

 

–6 280

 

–2 119

 

–15

–8 414

Return credited to policyholders

 

–34

 

–27

 

 

–61

Acquisition costs

–1 848

–1 745

–180

–233

–8

–7

–4 021

Other expenses

–1 318

–716

–442

–466

–372

263

–3 051

Interest expenses

–155

–579

–2

–61

–122

68

–851

Total expenses

–10 702

–9 354

–2 085

–2 906

–500

339

–25 208

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income/loss before income tax expense

1 324

1 749

168

218

–584

 

2 875

Income tax expense/benefit

–65

–85

–87

123

37

 

–77

Net income/loss before attribution of non-controlling interests

1 259

1 664

81

341

–547

0

2 798

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income attributable to non-controlling interests

–160

 

 

–12

 

 

–172

Net income/loss after attribution of non-controlling interests

1 099

1 664

81

329

–547

0

2 626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on contingent capital instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income/loss attributable to common shareholders

1 099

1 664

81

329

–547

0

2 626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims ratio in %

72.8

 

75.7

 

 

 

73.3

Expense ratio in %

31.2

 

32.2

 

 

 

31.4

Combined ratio in %

104.0

 

107.9

 

 

 

104.7

Management expense ratio in %

 

7.2

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit ratio in %

 

74.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012
USD millions

Property & Casualty Reinsurance

Life & Health Reinsurance

Corporate Solutions

Admin Re®

Group items

Consoli-
dation

Total

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

12 329

9 050

2 284

992

6

 

24 661

Fee income from policyholders

 

72

 

713

 

 

785

Net investment income –
non-participating

1 451

1 365

109

1 548

18

–18

4 473

Net realised investment gains – non-participating

259

562

142

–89

73

 

947

Net investment result –
unit-linked and with-profit

 

222

 

2 348

 

 

2 570

Other revenues

95

1

1

3

385

–297

188

Total revenues

14 134

11 272

2 536

5 515

482

–315

33 624

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

–6 306

 

–1 448

 

–14

5

–7 763

Life and health benefits

 

–6 787

 

–2 086

 

–5

–8 878

Return credited to policyholders

 

–271

 

–2 688

 

 

–2 959

Acquisition costs

–2 316

–1 787

–300

–142

–3

 

–4 548

Other expenses

–1 325

–833

–449

–457

–403

250

–3 217

Interest expenses

–111

–586

 

–53

–51

65

–736

Total expenses

–10 058

–10 264

–2 197

–5 426

–471

315

–28 101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income/loss before income tax expense

4 076

1 008

339

89

11

0

5 523

Income tax expense/benefit

–934

–231

–143

101

82

 

–1 125

Net income before attribution of non-controlling interests

3 142

777

196

190

93

0

4 398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income attributable to non-controlling interests

–134

 

 

–7

 

 

–141

Net income after attribution of non-controlling interests

3 008

777

196

183

93

0

4 257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on contingent capital instruments

–18

–38

 

 

 

 

–56

Net income attributable to common shareholders

2 990

739

196

183

93

0

4 201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claims ratio in %

51.2

 

63.4

 

 

 

53.1

Expense ratio in %

29.5

 

32.8

 

 

 

30.0

Combined ratio in %

80.7

 

96.2

 

 

 

83.1

Management expense ratio in %

 

7.9

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit ratio in %

 

75.5

 

 

 

 

 

Business segments – balance sheet

As of 31 December 2011 & 2012

Download

2011
USD millions

Property & Casualty Reinsurance

Life & Health Reinsurance

Corporate Solutions

Admin Re®

Group items

Consoli-
dation

Total

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

28 611

32 217

4 501

31 266

628

 

97 223

Equity securities

1 459

183

403

9

477

 

2 531

Other investments

18 791

3 691

213

5 439

2 819

–4 492

26 461

Short-term investments

7 004

3 368

973

1 096

1 219

 

13 660

Investments for unit-linked and with-profit business

 

719

 

21 630

 

 

22 349

Cash and cash equivalents

6 550

2 367

685

1 472

333

 

11 407

Deferred acquisition costs

1 247

2 663

–25

34

4

 

3 923

Acquired present value of future profits

 

1 674

 

2 552

 

 

4 226

Reinsurance recoverable

4 951

2 902

9 900

3 641

 

–9 557

11 837

Other reinsurance assets

12 500

10 133

2 147

358

3

–4 636

20 505

Goodwill

2 006

2 028

17

 

 

 

4 051

Other

4 769

1 886

1 249

791

163

–1 132

7 726

Total assets

87 888

63 831

20 063

68 288

5 646

–19 817

225 899

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses

49 451

9 310

12 465

1 695

24

–8 067

64 878

Liabilities for life and health policy benefits

 

18 367

198

21 229

 

–750

39 044

Policyholder account balances

 

2 423

 

32 486

 

–747

34 162

Other reinsurance liabilities

11 334

2 056

4 654

2 143

14

–5 504

14 697

Short-term debt

856

797

230

963

2 674

–1 393

4 127

Long-term debt

3 376

12 930

 

 

235

 

16 541

Other

11 209

8 976

229

1 980

2 074

–3 305

21 163

Total liabilities

76 226

54 859

17 776

60 496

5 021

–19 766

194 612

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

10 389

8 972

2 277

7 378

625

–51

29 590

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interests

1 273

 

10

414

 

 

1 697

Total equity

11 662

8 972

2 287

7 792

625

–51

31 287

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

87 888

63 831

20 063

68 288

5 646

–19 817

225 899

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012
USD millions

Property & Casualty Reinsurance

Life & Health Reinsurance

Corporate Solutions

Admin Re®

Group items

Consoli-
dation

Total

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed income securities

31 115

31 366

4 616

21 608

143

 

88 848

Equity securities

2 360

303

578

3

530

 

3 774

Other investments

11 893

3 178

107

1 774

6 180

–7 088

16 044

Short-term investments

10 005

5 053

1 549

1 557

481

 

18 645

Investments for unit-linked and with-profit business

 

842

 

24 659

 

 

25 501

Cash and cash equivalents

6 904

1 412

978

1 472

71

 

10 837

Deferred acquisition costs

1 103

2 713

219

2

2

 

4 039

Acquired present value of future profits

 

1 358

 

1 665

 

 

3 023

Reinsurance recoverable

5 583

2 447

9 440

469

 

–7 830

10 109

Other reinsurance assets

12 419

8 631

2 901

3 459

3

–2 639

24 774

Goodwill

2 018

2 057

17

 

 

 

4 092

Other

7 352

2 170

640

612

345

–5 020

6 099

Total assets

90 752

61 530

21 045

57 280

7 755

–22 577

215 785

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses

48 465

9 505

12 258

1 247

21

–7 826

63 670

Liabilities for life and health policy benefits

 

17 439

216

18 469

 

–7

36 117

Policyholder account balances

 

1 466

 

27 883

 

 

29 349

Other reinsurance liabilities

12 543

1 709

4 913

713

8

–3 106

16 780

Short-term debt

3 799

1 529

 

634

1 245

–3 595

3 612

Long-term debt

3 779

12 461

 

 

46

 

16 286

Other

9 796

9 082

616

1 672

2 775

–7 996

15 945

Total liabilities

78 382

53 191

18 003

50 618

4 095

–22 530

181 759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

12 356

8 339

3 032

6 662

3 660

–47

34 002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interests

14

 

10

 

 

 

24

Total equity

12 370

8 339

3 042

6 662

3 660

–47

34 026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

90 752

61 530

21 045

57 280

7 755

–22 577

215 785

b) Property & Casualty Reinsurance business segment – by line of business

For the year ended 31 December

Download

2011
USD millions

Property

Casualty

Specialty

Total

Premiums earned

4 766

3 313

2 056

10 135

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

–4 502

–2 248

–631

–7 381

Acquisition costs

–612

–781

–455

–1 848

Other expenses

–617

–373

–328

–1 318

Total expenses before interest expenses

–5 731

–3 402

–1 414

–10 547

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting result

–965

–89

642

–412

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

 

 

1 307

Net realised investment gains/losses

 

 

 

512

Other revenues

 

 

 

72

Interest expenses

 

 

 

–155

Income before income tax expenses

 

 

 

1 324

 

 

 

 

 

Claims ratio in %

94.4

67.9

30.7

72.8

Expense ratio in %

25.8

34.8

38.1

31.2

Combined ratio in %

120.2

102.7

68.8

104.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012
USD millions

Property

Casualty

Specialty

Total

Premiums earned

5 795

4 630

1 904

12 329

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

Claims and claim adjustment expenses

–2 832

–2 818

–656

–6 306

Acquisition costs

–781

–1 128

–407

–2 316

Other expenses

–687

–406

–232

–1 325

Total expenses before interest expenses

–4 300

–4 352

–1 295

–9 947

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting result

1 495

278

609

2 382

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

 

 

1 451

Net realised investment gains/losses

 

 

 

259

Other revenues

 

 

 

95

Interest expenses

 

 

 

–111

Income before income tax expenses

 

 

 

4 076

 

 

 

 

 

Claims ratio in %

48.9

60.9

34.4

51.2

Expense ratio in %

25.3

33.1

33.6

29.5

Combined ratio in %

74.2

94.0

68.0

80.7

c) Life & Health Reinsurance business segment – by line of business

For the year ended 31 December

Download

2011
USD millions

Life

Health

Total

1

The benefit ratio is calculated as life and health benefits in relation to premiums earned, both of which exclude unit-linked and with-profit business. Additionally, the impact of guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) products is excluded, as this ratio is not indicative of the operating performance of such products.

Revenues

 

 

 

Premiums earned

5 977

2 340

8 317

Fee income from policyholders

87

 

87

Net investment income – non-participating

1 004

540

1 544

Net investment income – unit-linked and with-profit

30

 

30

Net realised investment gains/losses – unit-linked and with-profit

–55

 

–55

Net realised investment gains/losses – insurance-related derivatives

36

–8

28

Other revenues

 

 

0

Total revenues before non-participating realised gains/losses

7 079

2 872

9 951

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

Life and health benefits

–4 647

–1 633

–6 280

Return credited to policyholders

–34

 

–34

Acquisition costs

–1 286

–459

–1 745

Other expenses

–569

–147

–716

Total expenses before interest expenses

–6 536

–2 239

–8 775

 

 

 

 

Operating income

543

633

1 176

 

 

 

 

Net realised investment gains/losses – non-participating and excluding insurance-related derivatives

 

 

1 152

Interest expenses

 

 

–579

Income before income tax expenses

 

 

1 749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management expense ratio in %

8.1

5.1

7.2

Benefit ratio1 in %

76.3

69.8

74.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012
USD millions

Life

Health

Total

Revenues

 

 

 

Premiums earned

6 176

2 874

9 050

Fee income from policyholders

72

 

72

Net investment income – non-participating

899

466

1 365

Net investment income – unit-linked and with-profit

32

 

32

Net realised investment gains/losses – unit-linked and with-profit

190

 

190

Net realised investment gains/losses – insurance-related derivatives

–147

 

–147

Other revenues

1

 

1

Total revenues before non-participating realised gains/losses

7 223

3 340

10 563

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

Life and health benefits

–4 625

–2 162

–6 787

Return credited to policyholders

–271

 

–271

Acquisition costs

–1 299

–488

–1 787

Other expenses

–613

–220

–833

Total expenses before interest expenses

–6 808

–2 870

–9 678

 

 

 

 

Operating income

415

470

885

 

 

 

 

Net realised investment gains/losses – non-participating and excluding insurance-related derivatives

 

 

709

Interest expenses

 

 

–586

Income before income tax expenses

 

 

1 008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management expense ratio in %

8.6

6.6

7.9

Benefit ratio1 in %

75.7

75.2

75.5

d) Net premiums earned and fee income from policyholders by geography

Net premiums earned and fee income from policyholders by regions for the years ended 31 December

Download

USD millions

2011

2012

Europe (including Middle East and Africa)

8 613

10 686

Americas

9 275

9 579

Asia-Pacific

4 288

5 181

Total

22 176

25 446

Net premiums earned and fee income from policyholders by country for the years ended 31 December

Download

USD millions

2011

2012

United States

7 205

7 493

United Kingdom

2 925

3 316

France

770

2 110

China

1 383

1 880

Australia

1 511

1 705

Canada

1 237

1 196

Germany

1 109

1 063

Japan

643

714

Ireland

244

591

Netherlands

458

448

Italy

504

439

Other

4 187

4 491

Total

22 176

25 446

Net premiums earned and fee income from policyholders are allocated by country based on the underlying contract.