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Life & Health

Performance

Net income decreased to USD 739 million in 2012 from USD 1.7 billion in 2011. The decrease was primarily the result of lower investment income driven by significantly lower realised gains on investments and lower yields, a continuation of the negative performance of business written in the US prior to 2004, tax benefits realised in 2011 not repeated in 2012 and higher administrative expenses.

Life & Health results

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USD millions

2011

2012

Change in %

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

8 317

9 050

9

Fee income from policyholders

87

72

–17

Net investment income – non-participating

1 544

1 365

–12

Net realised investment gains/losses – non-participating

1 180

562

–52

Net investment result – unit-linked and with-profit

–25

222

Other revenues

 

1

Total revenues

11 103

11 272

2

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

Life and health benefits

–6 280

–6 787

8

Return credited to policyholders

–34

–271

697

Acquisition costs

–1 745

–1 787

2

Other expenses

–1 295

–1 419

10

Total expenses

–9 354

–10 264

10

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax expenses

1 749

1 008

–42

Income tax expense

–85

–231

172

Interest on contingent capital instruments

 

–38

Net income attributable to common shareholders

1 664

739

–56

 

 

 

 

Management expense ratio in %

7.2

7.9

 

Benefit ratio1 in %

74.5

75.5

 

Net premiums earned

Premiums earned by L & H segment, 2011–2012

(USD millions)

Premiums earned by L & H segment, 2011–2012 (bar chart)

Premiums earned and fee income increased 9% to USD 9.1 billion in 2012, compared to USD 8.4 billion in 2011. The increase was primarily a result of increased health premiums due to business growth in Europe and Asia, new longevity transactions, and higher rates related to the Americas business.

Benefit ratio

The benefit ratio increased slightly to 75.5% in 2012, compared to 74.5% in 2011, mainly due to higher claims and continued lapses from the pre-2004 US business.

Expense ratio

The management expense ratio increased to 7.9% in 2012 from 7.2% in 2011. The increase was primarily due to higher costs related to strategic initiatives and an increase in central expenses being charged to the business segment.

Lines of business

A diversified geographical business mix and a continued disciplined pricing approach provided for a stable result; however, volatile financial markets and changes in the interest rate environment impacted the Life and Health results.

Operating income for traditional life business decreased to USD 415 million in 2012 from USD 543 million in the previous year. The decrease was driven primarily by lower investment income, unfavourable experience from pre-2004 US business, and unfavourable variable annuities results, partly offset by favourable mortality experience and favourable market movements relating to the embedded B36 derivatives.

Operating income for the traditional health business decreased to USD 470 million in 2012, compared to USD 633 million in 2011. The decrease was driven by lower investment income, unfavourable morbidity experience, and higher administrative expenses, partly offset by positive recapture experience.

Investment result

The return on investments was 4.7% in 2012, compared to 6.8% in 2011. Realised investment gains were USD 709 million in 2012, compared to USD 1.2 billion in 2011. The decrease was primarily due to less favourable foreign exchange movements in the current year. Net investment income was USD 1.4 billion in 2012, compared to USD 1.5 billion in 2011. The decrease is primarily due to lower yields.

Return on equity

The return on equity was 8.9% in 2012, compared to 21.2% in 2011. The very high return on equity in the prior year was primarily due to exceptionally high realised gains on government bonds and foreign exchange.

Outlook

Life and health primary markets are expected to continue to face the dual challenges of weak economic growth and very low interest rates that limit the attractiveness of some products. In addition, clients may seek to retain more mortality risk. Flow business will therefore continue to be under pressure; however, there are opportunities for large transactions to support clients, such as those with solvency issues or those undertaking mergers and acquisitions. In the medium term we aim to generate an increased contribution from high growth markets, particularly in health. We will also continue to diversify into longevity risk.

We see strong longer-term growth prospects for life and health protection markets and we estimate that there is a protection gap of approximately USD 80 trillion worldwide. We will continue to work with clients and distributors to develop consumer-friendly products and processes (eg, using our in-house predictive underwriting analytics) to address this gap.