| Press Release |
Euler Hermes maintains strong 2015 profitability in a more difficult environment
PARIS - 17 FEBRUARY 2016
- Revenues at €2,638 million, up 4.4%
- Operating income at €417 million, up 1.0%
- Net income stable at €302.5 million
- Solvency II internal model validated. Solid solvency ratio of 173%
- Proposed dividend unchanged at €4.40 per share
"In 2015 Euler Hermes maintained its overall profitability, demonstrating resilience and agility in the face of increased economic volatility and socio-political uncertainty," said Wilfried Verstraete, Chairman of the Euler Hermes Board of Management. "Collapsed commodity prices and growth deceleration in emerging markets formed a backdrop for the year. Euler Hermes faced a marked slowdown and increased insolvencies in these countries. Despite these factors, the Group delivered strong results due to its solid underwriting, efficient reinsurance protection, targeted cost-reductions actions and strong investment income performance. The Group's solidity is further illustrated by its first published solvency position after internal model validation in November:173%."
I. Results 2015
A. Key figures
| P&L information € million | 12M2015 | 12M2014 | Variation vs. 2014 | |
| Earned premiums | 2,205.4 | 2,125.9 | 3.7% | |
| Service revenues | 432.9 | 401.1 | 7.9% | |
| Turnover | 2,638.4 | 2,527.0 | 4.4% | |
| Net technical result | 301.4 | 351.1 | -14.1% | |
| Net investment income | 116.3 | 85.1 | 36.7% | |
| Ordinary operating income | 417.8 | 436.2 | -4.2% | |
| Non-ordinary operating income & expenses | -0.4 | -23.0 | -98.2% | |
| Operating income | 417.4 | 413.1 | 1.0% | |
| Net income, Group share | 302.5 | 302.1 | 0.1% | |
| Net claims ratio | 53.3% | 48.8% | 4.5 pt. | |
| Net expense ratio | 26.8% | 26.6% | 0.2 pt | |
| Net combined ratio | 80.1% | 75.4% | 4.7 pt. | |
| Balance sheet information € million | 31 December 2015 | 31 December 2014 | Variation vs. 31 December 2014 | |
| Total assets | 6,567.5 | 6,359.7 | 3.3% | |
| Shareholders' equity, Group share | 2,715.4 | 2,580.5 | 5.2% | |
| Total financial liabilities | 252.2 | 284.2 | -11.2% |
Shareholders' equity increased by €134.9 million in 2015, driven essentially by the retained earnings.
B. Turnover
Turnover was up +4.4% at the end of December at actual rates, and +0.9% at constant rates.
| Turnover € million | 12M2015 | 12M2014 (published) | Variation % | 12M2014 (1) | Variation % (1) |
| Regions | |||||
| Germany, Austria, Switzerland | 751.9 | 759.8 | -1.0% | 766.0 | -1.8% |
| France | 391.8 | 399.0 | -1.8% | 399.0 | -1.8% |
| Northern Europe | 557.5 | 550.7 | 1.2% | 569.5 | -2.1% |
| Mediterranean Countries, Middle East & Africa | 344.2 | 322.7 | 6.7% | 328.6 | 4.8% |
| Americas | 326.5 | 266.5 | 22.5% | 307.8 | 6.1% |
| Asia-Pacific | 143.3 | 108.2 | 32.4% | 121.3 | 18.2% |
| Inward from non-consolidated OE's and other (2) | 123.1 | 120.1 | 2.5% | 121.8 | 1.1% |
| Euler Hermes Group | 2,638.4 | 2,527.0 | 4.4% | 2,613.9 | 0.9% |
| Area contribution : After intra-region eliminations & before inter region eliminations | |||||
| (1) At constant exchange rates | |||||
| (2) Corporate entities + inter-region eliminations | |||||
At € 2,638.4 million at year-end, compared to € 2,527.0 million in 2014, the topline benefited from a strong increase in service revenues (+8% at actual FX rates) and from positive foreign exchange contributions from countries outside Europe.
Premiums were up 3.7%, also driven by foreign exchange, and by non-traditional business lines (bonding, transactional cover, excess of loss).
C. Operating income
Operating income increased by 1.0% compared to 2014, at € 417.4 million, with a lower net technical result being compensated by higher investment income and realized gains on the financial portfolio.
The net claims ratio reached 53.3%, 4.5 points higher year-on-year, in the wake of increasing claims activity over the last two quarters. The claims trend relates to emerging markets and the USA, while Europe further improved its loss ratio in 2015.
The net expense ratio stood at 26.8%, on par with 2014 (26.6%), despite upward pressure from negative topline growth in Western Europe and including the positive impacts of an improved service margin and targeted cost control actions.
As a result of the net loss ratio development, the combined ratio increased from 75.4% at the end of 2014 to 80.1% in 2015.
Net investment income grew to € 116.3 million vs. € 85.1 million in 2014 and contributed materially to the operating profit. This favorable financial income was mainly driven by a positive foreign exchange result and higher realized gains on bonds and equity markets.
D. Investment portfolio
At the end of 2015, the market value of the Group's investment portfolio increased by €160.2 million to €4,618.1 million, versus €4,457.9 million at 2014 year-end, driven by positive cash flows from operations.
E. Net income
Euler Hermes net income reached €302.5 million, ending the year comparable to 2014 (+0.1%).
F. Solvency II capitalization
Euler Hermes' Solvency II internal model was approved by the Group's regulators at the end of 2015.
The Solvency II economic ratio for Euler Hermes Group is a strong 173% as of December 31, 2015.
G. Dividend
Based on a net result of €6.85 per share, the Euler Hermes Management Board will propose to distribute a dividend of €4.40 per share, maintaining the level of 2014. This corresponds to a payout ratio of 64.3%.
H. Outlook
Continuing market uncertainty and volatility in 2016 will require sustained selectivity and prudence in our business approach. We will remain disciplined on both pricing and risk underwriting, while ensuring quality service to our customers. Cost vigilance remains a priority, in mature markets and in our more recent investment areas. Euler Hermes has a proven record of agility and resilience and we are confident we will continue to deliver strong value for our clients and shareholders.
II. Results for the fourth quarter of 2015
| P&L € million | Q4 2015 | Q3 2015 | Q2 2015 | Q1 2015 | Q4 2014 | Variation vs. Q4 2014 | |
| Earned premiums | 545.3 | 537.8 | 558.0 | 564.3 | 537.3 | 8.0 | 1.5% |
| Service revenues | 108.1 | 109.4 | 109.4 | 106.0 | 96.1 | 12.0 | 12.5% |
| Turnover | 653.4 | 647.2 | 667.4 | 670.3 | 633.4 | 20.0 | 3.2% |
| Net technical result | 54.1 | 54.3 | 99.2 | 93.8 | 80.1 | -26.0 | -32.4% |
| Net investment income | 37.0 | 19.7 | 31.2 | 28.4 | 19.1 | 17.9 | 93.6% |
| Ordinary operating income | 91.1 | 74.0 | 130.5 | 122.2 | 99.2 | -8.1 | -8.2% |
| Non-ordinary operating income & expenses | 0.9 | 0.0 | -0.2 | -1.2 | -1.3 | 2.2 | |
| Operating income | 92.0 | 74.0 | 130.3 | 121.1 | 97.9 | -5.9 | -6.0% |
| Net income, Group share | 75.7 | 54.4 | 85.2 | 87.1 | 69.5 | 6.2 | 8.9% |
| Net claims ratio | 60.3% | 57.3% | 45.2% | 50.8% | 50.6% | 9.7 | pt. |
| Net expense ratio | 25.2% | 27.8% | 28.7% | 25.3% | 26.9% | -1.7 | pt. |
| Net combined ratio | 85.6% | 85.2% | 73.9% | 76.1% | 77.5% | 8.1 | pt. |
# # #
Financial and regulated information is available on Euler Hermes' website
http://www.eulerhermes.com/finance/
The financial documentation section includes the press release, the consolidated financial statements and the presentation of the full year results to analysts.
On Wednesday, 17 February 2016, the Group Management Board of Euler Hermes (ELE.PA), a worldwide leader in credit insurance and in the areas of bonding, surety and collections, presented its consolidated results as of 31 December 2015 to the Euler Hermes Supervisory Board. The accounts have been reviewed by the Audit Committee. The audit procedures for the consolidated accounts have been completed. The audit report will be issued following the completion of the remaining audit procedures.
CONTACTS
| Euler Hermes Group Finance Director and Investor Relations | |
| Loeiz Limon Duparcmeur +33 (0)1 84 11 39 19 | |
| loeiz.limonduparcmeur@eulerhermes.com | |
| Euler Hermes Group Media Relations | Publicis Consultants |
| Remi Calvet +33(0)1 84 11 61 41 remi.calvet@eulerhermes.com | Romain Sulpice +33 (0)1 44 82 46 21 romain.sulpice@mslfrance.com |
Euler Hermes is the global leader in trade credit insurance and a recognized specialist in the areas of bonding, guarantees and collections. With more than 100 years of experience, the company offers business-to-business (B2B) clients financial services to support cash and trade receivables management. Its proprietary intelligence network tracks and analyzes daily changes in corporate solvency among small, medium and multinational companies active in markets representing 92% of global GDP. Headquartered in Paris, the company is present in over 50 countries with 6,400+ employees. Euler Hermes is a subsidiary of Allianz, listed on Euronext Paris (ELE.PA) and rated AA- by Standard & Poor's and Dagong Europe. The company posted a consolidated turnover of over €2.6 billion in 2015 and insured global business transactions for €890 billion in exposure at the end of 2015.
Further information: www.eulerhermes.com, LinkedIn or Twitter @eulerhermes.
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. In addition to statements which are forward-looking by reason of context, the words "may", "will", "should", "expects", "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to, without limitation, (i) general economic conditions, including in particular economic conditions in the Euler Hermes Group's core business and core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, and including market volatility, liquidity and credit events (iii) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, including from natural catastrophes and including the development of loss expenses, (iv) persistency levels, (v) the extent of credit defaults, (vi) interest rate levels, (vii) currency exchange rates including the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate, (viii) changing levels of competition, (ix) changes in laws and regulations, including monetary convergence and the European Monetary Union, (x) changes in the policies of central banks and/or foreign governments, (xi) the impact of acquisitions, including related integration issues, (xii) reorganization measures, and (xiii) general competitive factors, in each case on a local, regional, national and/or global basis. Many of these factors may be more likely to occur, or more pronounced, as a result of terrorist activities and their consequences.
The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
