7 Investments

Investment income

Net investment income by source (excluding unit-linked and with-profit business) was as follows:

Download

USD millions

2015

2016

Fixed income securities

2 553

2 806

Equity securities

105

98

Policy loans, mortgages and other loans

128

156

Investment real estate

158

184

Short-term investments

77

54

Other current investments

155

153

Share in earnings of equity-accounted investees

52

41

Cash and cash equivalents

35

28

Net result from deposit-accounted contracts

95

118

Deposits with ceding companies

462

441

Gross investment income

3 820

4 079

Investment expenses

–362

–397

Interest charged for funds held

–22

–21

Net investment income – non-participating business

3 436

3 661

Dividends received from investments accounted for using the equity method were USD 254 million and USD 176 million for 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Share in earnings of equity-accounted investees includes an impairment of the carrying amount of an equity-accounted investee of USD 83 million and USD 66 million for 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Realised gains and losses

Realised gains and losses for fixed income, equity securities and other investments (excluding unit-linked and with-profit business) were as follows:

Download

USD millions

2015

2016

Fixed income securities available-for-sale:

 

 

Gross realised gains

889

789

Gross realised losses

–283

–202

Equity securities available-for-sale:

 

 

Gross realised gains

372

371

Gross realised losses

–69

–122

Other-than-temporary impairments

–57

–88

Net realised investment gains/losses on trading securities

64

110

Change in net unrealised investment gains/losses on trading securities

–30

–14

Net realised/unrealised gains/losses on other investments

85

118

Net realised/unrealised gains/losses on insurance-related activities

152

344

Foreign exchange gains/losses

83

178

Net realised investment gains/losses – non-participating business

1 206

1 484

Investment result – unit-linked and with-profit business

For unit-linked contracts, the investment risk is borne by the policyholder. For with-profit contracts, the majority of the investment risk is also borne by the policyholder, although there are certain guarantees that limit the down-side risk for the policyholder, and a certain proportion of the returns may be retained by the Group (typically 10%).

Net investment result on unit-linked and with-profit business credited to policyholders was as follows:

Download

 

2015

2016

USD millions

Unit-linked

With-profit

Unit-linked

With-profit

Investment income – fixed income securities

90

77

100

134

Investment income – equity securities

556

28

735

69

Investment income – other

32

16

28

13

Total investment income – unit-linked and with-profit business

678

121

863

216

Realised gains/losses – fixed income securities

–75

–58

135

174

Realised gains/losses – equity securities

124

–19

3 631

321

Realised gains/losses – other

28

15

53

–11

Total realised gains/losses – unit-linked and with-profit business

77

–62

3 819

484

Total net investment result – unit-linked and with-profit business

755

59

4 682

700

Impairment on fixed income securities related to credit losses

Other-than-temporary impairments for debt securities are bifurcated between credit and non-credit components, with the credit component recognised through earnings and the non-credit component recognised in other comprehensive income. The credit component of other-than-temporary impairments is defined as the difference between a security’s amortised cost basis and the present value of expected cash flows. Methodologies for measuring the credit component of impairment are aligned to market observer forecasts of credit performance drivers. Management believes that these forecasts are representative of median market expectations.

For securitised products, a cash flow projection analysis is conducted by integrating forward-looking evaluation of collateral performance drivers, including default rates, prepayment rates and loss severities, and deal-level features, such as credit enhancement and prioritisation among tranches for payments of principal and interest. Analytics are differentiated by asset class, product type and security-level differences in historical and expected performance. For corporate bonds and hybrid debt instruments, an expected loss approach based on default probabilities and loss severities expected in the current and forecasted economic environment is used for securities identified as credit-impaired to project probability-weighted cash flows. Expected cash flows resulting from these analyses are discounted, and the present value is compared to the amortised cost basis to determine the credit component of other-than-temporary impairments.

A reconciliation of other-than-temporary impairments related to credit losses recognised in earnings was as follows:

Download

USD millions

2015

2016

Balance as of 1 January

137

136

Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognised

30

13

Reductions for securities sold during the period

–23

–48

Increase of credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment has been recognised previously, when the Group does not intend to sell, or more likely than not will not be required to sell before recovery

7

8

Impact of increase in cash flows expected to be collected

–10

–7

Impact of foreign exchange movements

–5

–5

Balance as of 31 December

136

97

Investments available-for-sale

Amortised cost or cost, estimated fair values and other-than-temporary impairments of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale as of 31 December were as follows:

Download

2015
USD millions

Amortised cost or cost

Gross unrealised gains

Gross unrealised losses

Other-than-temporary impairments
recognised in other comprehensive income

Estimated
fair value

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies:

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury and other US government corporations and agencies

12 212

612

–92

 

12 732

US Agency securitised products

2 937

29

–28

 

2 938

States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states

1 236

55

–10

 

1 281

United Kingdom

7 514

773

–54

 

8 233

Canada

3 943

520

–38

 

4 425

Germany

2 920

239

–31

 

3 128

France

2 065

223

–18

 

2 270

Australia

1 590

20

–4

 

1 606

Other

6 228

242

–142

 

6 328

Total

40 645

2 713

–417

 

42 941

Corporate debt securities

30 540

1 448

–530

–11

31 447

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

4 970

118

–38

–3

5 047

Fixed income securities available-for-sale

76 155

4 279

–985

–14

79 435

Equity securities available-for-sale

4 294

632

–207

 

4 719

Download

2016
USD millions

Amortised cost or cost

Gross unrealised gains

Gross unrealised losses

Other-than-temporary impairments
recognised in other comprehensive income

Estimated
fair value

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies:

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury and other US government corporations and agencies

13 162

481

–179

 

13 464

US Agency securitised products

3 415

22

–53

 

3 384

States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states

1 411

59

–20

 

1 450

United Kingdom

8 005

1 293

–97

 

9 201

Canada

3 916

517

–35

 

4 398

Germany

2 906

325

–15

 

3 216

France

1 931

277

–10

 

2 198

Australia

1 967

17

–5

 

1 979

Other

6 355

287

–96

 

6 546

Total

43 068

3 278

–510

 

45 836

Corporate debt securities

37 203

2 733

–181

 

39 755

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

4 900

125

–30

–5

4 990

Fixed income securities available-for-sale

85 171

6 136

–721

–5

90 581

Equity securities available-for-sale

2 897

561

–83

 

3 375

The “Other-than-temporary impairments recognised in other comprehensive income” column includes only securities with a credit-related loss recognised in earnings. Subsequent recovery in fair value of securities previously impaired in other comprehensive income is also presented in the “Other-than-temporary impairments recognised in other comprehensive income” column.

Investments trading

The carrying amounts of fixed income securities and equity securities classified as trading (excluding unit-linked and with-profit business) as of 31 December were as follows:

Download

USD millions

2015

2016

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies

2 710

2 538

Corporate debt securities

52

45

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

134

112

Fixed income securities trading – non-participating business

2 896

2 695

Equity securities trading – non-participating business

68

60

Investments held for unit-linked and with-profit business

The carrying amounts of investments held for unit-linked and with-profit business as of 31 December were as follows:

Download

 

2015

2016

USD millions

Unit-linked

With-profit

Unit-linked

With-profit

Fixed income securities trading

2 410

1 659

2 379

2 774

Equity securities trading

21 894

889

23 859

1 948

Investment real estate

691

366

580

298

Other

332

 

265

75

Total investments for unit-linked and with-profit business

25 327

2 914

27 083

5 095

Maturity of fixed income securities available-for-sale

The amortised cost or cost and estimated fair values of investments in fixed income securities available-for-sale by remaining maturity are shown below. Fixed maturity investments are assumed not to be called for redemption prior to the stated maturity date. As of 31 December 2015 and 2016, USD 12 725 million and USD 14 640 million, respectively, of fixed income securities available-for-sale were callable.

Download

 

2015

2016

USD millions

Amortised cost or cost

Estimated
fair value

Amortised cost or cost

Estimated
fair value

Due in one year or less

4 874

4 911

6 607

6 650

Due after one year through five years

19 370

19 671

19 180

19 623

Due after five years through ten years

16 577

17 101

19 240

20 079

Due after ten years

30 611

32 952

35 564

39 562

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities with no fixed maturity

4 723

4 800

4 580

4 667

Total fixed income securities available-for-sale

76 155

79 435

85 171

90 581

Assets pledged

As of 31 December 2016, investments with a carrying value of USD 7 249 million were on deposit with regulatory agencies in accordance with local requirements, and investments with a carrying value of USD 14 005 million were placed on deposit or pledged to secure certain reinsurance liabilities, including pledged investments in subsidiaries.

As of 31 December 2015 and 2016, securities of USD 15 828 million and USD 16 059 million, respectively, were transferred to third parties under securities lending transactions and repurchase agreements on a fully collateralised basis. Corresponding liabilities of USD 995 million and USD 1 010 million, respectively, were recognised in accrued expenses and other liabilities for the obligation to return collateral that the Group has the right to sell or repledge.

As of 31 December 2016, a real estate portfolio with a carrying value of USD 219 million serves as collateral for a credit facility allowing the Group to withdraw funds up to CHF 650 million.

Collateral accepted which the Group has the right to sell or repledge

As of 31 December 2015 and 2016, the fair value of the equity securities, government and corporate debt securities received as collateral was USD 7 030 million and USD 7 666 million, respectively. Of this, the amount that was sold or repledged as of 31 December 2015 and 2016 was USD 2 429 million and USD 3 469 million, respectively. The sources of the collateral are securities borrowing, reverse repurchase agreements and derivative transactions.

Offsetting of derivatives, financial assets and financial liabilities

Offsetting of derivatives, financial assets and financial liabilities as of 31 December was as follows:

Download

2015
USD millions

Gross amounts of recognised financial assets

Collateral set off in the balance sheet

Net amounts of financial assets presented in the balance sheet

Related financial instruments not set off in the balance sheet

Net amount

Derivative financial instruments – assets

2 713

–1 953

760

–13

747

Reverse repurchase agreements

6 401

–3 000

3 401

–3 394

7

Securities borrowing

452

 

452

–452

0

Total

9 566

–4 953

4 613

–3 859

754

Download

2015
USD millions

Gross amounts of recognised financial liabilities

Collateral set off in the balance sheet

Net amounts of financial liabilities presented in the balance sheet

Related financial instruments not set off in the balance sheet

Net amount

Derivative financial instruments – liabilities

–2 179

1 477

–702

81

–621

Repurchase agreements

–2 844

2 475

–369

369

0

Securities lending

–1 151

525

–626

582

–44

Total

–6 174

4 477

–1 697

1 032

–665

Download

2016
USD millions

Gross amounts of recognised financial assets

Collateral set off in the balance sheet

Net amounts of financial assets presented in the balance sheet

Related financial instruments not set off in the balance sheet

Net amount

Derivative financial instruments – assets

2 801

–1 580

1 221

 

1 221

Reverse repurchase agreements

7 040

–3 986

3 054

–3 054

0

Securities borrowing

483

–314

169

–169

0

Total

10 324

–5 880

4 444

–3 223

1 221

Download

2016
USD millions

Gross amounts of recognised financial liabilities

Collateral set off in the balance sheet

Net amounts of financial liabilities presented in the balance sheet

Related financial instruments not set off in the balance sheet

Net amount

Derivative financial instruments – liabilities

–2 610

1 568

–1 042

8

–1 034

Repurchase agreements

–3 991

3 461

–530

527

–3

Securities lending

–1 319

839

–480

454

–26

Total

–7 920

5 868

–2 052

989

–1 063

Collateral pledged or received between two counterparties with a master netting arrangement in place, but not subject to balance sheet netting is disclosed at fair value. The fair values represent the gross carrying value amounts at the reporting date for each financial instrument received or pledged by the Group. Management believes that master netting agreements provide for legally enforceable set-off in the event of default, which substantially reduces credit exposure. Upon occurrence of an event of default the non-defaulting party may set off the obligation against collateral received regardless if it has been offset on the balance sheet prior to the defaulting event. The net amounts of the financial assets and liabilities presented on the balance sheet were recognised in “Other invested assets”, “Investments for unit-linked and with-profit business” and “Accrued expenses and other liabilities”.

Recognised gross liability for the obligation to return collateral that the Group has the right to sell or repledge

As of 31 December 2015 and 2016, the gross amounts of liabilities related to repurchase agreements and securities lending by the class of securities transferred to third parties and by the remaining maturity are shown below. The liabilities are recognised for the obligation to return collateral that the Group has the right to sell or repledge.

Download

 

Remaining contractual maturity of the agreements

2015
USD millions

Overnight and continuous

Up to 30 days

30–90 days

Greater than 90 days

Total

Repurchase agreements

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies

370

2 136

176

135

2 817

Corporate debt securities

3

24

 

 

27

Total repurchase agreements

373

2 160

176

135

2 844

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities lending

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies

217

 

501

433

1 151

Total securities lending

217

0

501

433

1 151

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amount of recognised liabilities for repurchase agreements and securities lending

 

 

 

 

3 995

Download

 

Remaining contractual maturity of the agreements

2016
USD millions

Overnight and continuous

Up to 30 days

30–90 days

Greater than 90 days

Total

Repurchase agreements

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies

219

3 023

415

334

3 991

Total repurchase agreements

219

3 023

415

334

3 991

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities lending

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies

237

367

258

426

1 288

Corporate debt securities

13

 

 

 

13

Equity securities

18

 

 

 

18

Total securities lending

268

367

258

426

1 319

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amount of recognised liabilities for repurchase agreements and securities lending

 

 

 

 

5 310

The programme is structured in a conservative manner within a clearly defined risk framework. Yield enhancement is conducted on a non-cash basis, thereby taking no re-investment risk.

Unrealised losses on securities available-for-sale

The following table shows the fair value and unrealised losses of the Group’s fixed income securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities were in a continuous unrealised loss position as of 31 December 2015 and 2016. As of 31 December 2015 and 2016, USD 161 million and USD 62 million, respectively, of the gross unrealised loss on equity securities available-for-sale relates to declines in value for less than 12 months and USD 46 million and USD 21 million, respectively, to declines in value for more than 12 months.

Download

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or more

 

Total

2015
USD millions

Fair value

Unrealised losses

 

Fair value

Unrealised losses

 

Fair value

Unrealised losses

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury and other US government corporations and agencies

5 993

91

 

11

1

 

6 004

92

US Agency securitised products

1 503

23

 

223

5

 

1 726

28

States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states

325

9

 

6

1

 

331

10

United Kingdom

1 551

52

 

56

2

 

1 607

54

Canada

976

14

 

96

24

 

1 072

38

Germany

860

25

 

131

6

 

991

31

France

502

13

 

23

5

 

525

18

Australia

1 085

3

 

9

1

 

1 094

4

Other

2 028

108

 

193

34

 

2 221

142

Total

14 823

338

 

748

79

 

15 571

417

Corporate debt securities

11 246

481

 

365

60

 

11 611

541

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

2 419

32

 

225

9

 

2 644

41

Total

28 488

851

 

1 338

148

 

29 826

999

Download

 

Less than 12 months

 

12 months or more

 

Total

2016
USD millions

Fair value

Unrealised losses

 

Fair value

Unrealised losses

 

Fair value

Unrealised losses

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury and other US government corporations and agencies

6 709

179

 

 

 

 

6 709

179

US Agency securitised products

2 594

53

 

14

0

 

2 608

53

States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states

494

18

 

8

2

 

502

20

United Kingdom

1 762

87

 

56

10

 

1 818

97

Canada

1 759

26

 

40

9

 

1 799

35

Germany

1 337

15

 

100

0

 

1 437

15

France

703

10

 

 

 

 

703

10

Australia

461

2

 

132

3

 

593

5

Other

2 554

78

 

247

18

 

2 801

96

Total

18 373

468

 

597

42

 

18 970

510

Corporate debt securities

6 859

172

 

143

9

 

7 002

181

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

1 599

26

 

147

9

 

1 746

35

Total

26 831

666

 

887

60

 

27 718

726

Mortgages, loans and real estate

As of 31 December, the carrying values of investments in mortgages, policy and other loans, and real estate (excluding unit-linked and with-profit business) were as follows:

Download

USD millions

2015

2016

Policy loans

91

95

Mortgage loans

1 946

2 401

Other loans

1 086

1 186

Investment real estate

1 556

1 925

The fair value of mortgage loans as of 31 December 2015 and 2016 was USD 1 946 million and USD 2 411 million, respectively. The fair value of other loans as of 31 December 2015 and 2016 was USD 1 086 million and USD 1 202 million, respectively. The fair value of the real estate as of 31 December 2015 and 2016 was USD 3 211 million and USD 3 576 million, respectively. The carrying value of policy loans approximates fair value.

Depreciation expense related to income-producing properties was USD 36 million and USD 42 million for 2015 and 2016, respectively. Accumulated depreciation on investment real estate totalled USD 504 million and USD 525 million as of 31 December 2015 and 2016, respectively.


Substantially all mortgages, policy loans and other loan receivables are secured by buildings, land or the underlying policies.