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Annual Report 2017

7 Investments

Investment income

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

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USD millions

2016

2017

Fixed income securities

2 806

2 778

Equity securities

98

79

Policy loans, mortgages and other loans

156

148

Investment real estate

184

200

Short-term investments

54

65

Other current investments

153

118

Share in earnings of equity-accounted investees

41

100

Cash and cash equivalents

28

25

Net result from deposit-accounted contracts

118

127

Deposits with ceding companies

441

457

Gross investment income

4 079

4 097

Investment expenses

–397

–380

Interest charged for funds held

–21

–9

Net investment income – non-participating business

3 661

3 708

Dividends received from investments accounted for using the equity method were USD 176 million and USD 170 million for 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Share in earnings of equity-accounted investees included impairments of the carrying amount of equity-accounted investees of USD 66 million and USD 46 million for 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Realised gains and losses

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

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USD millions

2016

2017

Fixed income securities available-for-sale:

 

 

Gross realised gains

789

748

Gross realised losses

–202

–148

Equity securities available-for-sale:

 

 

Gross realised gains

371

959

Gross realised losses

–122

–28

Other-than-temporary impairments

–88

–46

Net realised investment gains/losses on trading securities

110

27

Change in net unrealised investment gains/losses on trading securities

–14

3

Net realised/unrealised gains/losses on other investments

118

–8

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

344

99

Foreign exchange gains/losses

178

121

Net realised investment gains/losses – non-participating business

1 484

1 727

Net realised/unrealised gains/losses on insurance-related activities included impairments of USD 11 million for 2017.

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 downside 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:

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2016

2017

USD millions

Unit-linked

With-profit

Unit-linked

With-profit

Investment income – fixed income securities

100

134

69

120

Investment income – equity securities

735

69

705

69

Investment income – other

28

13

20

11

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

863

216

794

200

Realised gains/losses – fixed income securities

135

174

–12

12

Realised gains/losses – equity securities

3 631

321

2 094

191

Realised gains/losses – other

53

–11

28

8

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

3 819

484

2 110

211

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

4 682

700

2 904

411

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, 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:

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USD millions

2016

2017

Balance as of 1 January

136

97

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

13

14

Reductions for securities sold during the period

–48

–24

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

8

4

Impact of increase in cash flows expected to be collected

–7

–4

Impact of foreign exchange movements

–5

4

Balance as of 31 December

97

91

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:

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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

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2017
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

14 397

273

–152

 

14 518

US Agency securitised products

5 884

18

–66

 

5 836

States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states

1 620

108

–7

 

1 721

United Kingdom

8 699

1 378

–31

 

10 046

Canada

3 969

543

–30

 

4 482

Germany

3 193

239

–22

 

3 410

France

2 015

252

–10

 

2 257

Australia

2 065

16

–4

 

2 077

Other

7 655

318

–76

 

7 897

Total

49 497

3 145

–398

 

52 244

Corporate debt securities

39 510

3 218

–136

 

42 592

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

4 271

162

–19

–2

4 412

Fixed income securities available-for-sale

93 278

6 525

–553

–2

99 248

Equity securities available-for-sale

3 544

365

–47

 

3 862

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:

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USD millions

2016

2017

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies

2 538

2 414

Corporate debt securities

45

38

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

112

86

Fixed income securities trading – non-participating business

2 695

2 538

Equity securities trading – non-participating business

60

3

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:

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2016

2017

USD millions

Unit-linked

With-profit

Unit-linked

With-profit

Fixed income securities trading

2 379

2 774

2 105

3 104

Equity securities trading

23 859

1 948

26 582

2 201

Investment real estate

580

298

543

281

Other

265

75

286

64

Total investments for unit-linked and with-profit business

27 083

5 095

29 516

5 650

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 2016 and 2017, USD 14 640 million and USD 17 742 million, respectively, of fixed income securities available-for-sale were callable.

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2016

2017

USD millions

Amortised cost or cost

Estimated fair value

Amortised cost or cost

Estimated fair value

Due in one year or less

6 607

6 650

7 399

7 410

Due after one year through five years

19 180

19 623

29 459

29 724

Due after five years through ten years

19 240

20 079

15 921

16 652

Due after ten years

35 564

39 562

36 550

41 370

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities with no fixed maturity

4 580

4 667

3 949

4 092

Total fixed income securities available-for-sale

85 171

90 581

93 278

99 248

Assets pledged

As of 31 December 2017, investments with a carrying value of USD 7 384 million were on deposit with regulatory agencies in accordance with local requirements, and investments with a carrying value of USD 12 209 million were placed on deposit or pledged to secure certain reinsurance liabilities, including pledged investments in subsidiaries.

As of 31 December 2016 and 2017, securities of USD 16 059 million and USD 15 740 million, respectively, were transferred to third parties under securities lending transactions and repurchase agreements on a fully collateralised basis. Corresponding liabilities of USD 1 010 million and USD 989 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 2017, a real estate portfolio with a carrying value of USD 192 million serves as collateral for a credit facility, allowing the Group to withdraw funds up to CHF 500 million.

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

As of 31 December 2016 and 2017, the fair value of the equity securities, government and corporate debt securities received as collateral was USD 7 666 million and USD 7 476 million, respectively. Of this, the amount that was sold or repledged as of 31 December 2016 and 2017 was USD 3 469 million and USD 1 981 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:

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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

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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 – 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

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2017
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

1 710

–1 176

534

 

534

Reverse repurchase agreements

6 053

–2 995

3 058

–3 058

0

Securities borrowing

1 589

–524

1 065

–1 065

0

Total

9 352

–4 695

4 657

–4 123

534

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2017
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 – liabilities

–1 924

1 342

–582

49

–533

Repurchase agreements

–2 631

2 471

–160

160

0

Securities lending

–1 878

1 049

–829

765

–64

Total

–6 433

4 862

–1 571

974

–597

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 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 2016 and 2017, 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.

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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

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Remaining contractual maturity of the agreements

2017
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

31

2 091

354

139

2 615

Corporate debt securities

 

16

 

 

16

Total repurchase agreements

31

2 107

354

139

2 631

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities lending

 

 

 

 

 

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies

244

567

614

442

1 867

Corporate debt securities

6

 

 

 

6

Equity securities

5

 

 

 

5

Total securities lending

255

567

614

442

1 878

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amount of recognised liabilities for repurchase agreements and securities lending

 

 

 

 

4 509

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 2016 and 2017. As of 31 December 2016 and 2017, USD 62 million and USD 40 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 21 million and USD 7 million, respectively, to declines in value for more than 12 months.

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Less than 12 months

 

12 months or more

 

Total

2016
USD millions

Fair value

Unrealised losses

 

Fair value

Unrealised losses

 

Fair value

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

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Less than 12 months

 

12 months or more

 

Total

2017
USD millions

Fair value

Unrealised losses

 

Fair value

Unrealised losses

 

Fair value

losses

Debt securities issued by governments and government agencies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury and other US government corporations and agencies

9 742

113

 

1 825

39

 

11 567

152

US Agency securitised products

3 773

37

 

1 029

29

 

4 802

66

States of the United States and political subdivisions of the states

304

4

 

120

3

 

424

7

United Kingdom

1 161

18

 

301

13

 

1 462

31

Canada

1 766

29

 

276

1

 

2 042

30

Germany

722

19

 

44

3

 

766

22

France

214

8

 

7

2

 

221

10

Australia

1 118

3

 

74

1

 

1 192

4

Other

2 813

54

 

451

22

 

3 264

76

Total

21 613

285

 

4 127

113

 

25 740

398

Corporate debt securities

6 299

102

 

1 040

34

 

7 339

136

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

1 617

14

 

421

7

 

2 038

21

Total

29 529

401

 

5 588

154

 

35 117

555

Mortgages, loans and real estate

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

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USD millions

Carrying value

2016
Fair value

Carrying value

2017
Fair value

Policy loans

95

95

94

94

Mortgage loans

2 401

2 411

2 665

2 674

Other loans

1 186

1 202

1 351

1 367

Investment real estate

1 925

3 576

2 220

4 099

Depreciation expense related to income-producing properties was USD 42 million and USD 49 million for 2016 and 2017, respectively. Accumulated depreciation on investment real estate totalled USD 525 million and USD 585 million as of 31 December 2016 and 2017, respectively.

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