Annual Report
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Bank | Forsikring | Pension Annual Report Alm. Brand Take good care of what maers most ALM. BRAND CONTENTS OVERVIEW ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Contents 03 Alm. Brand in brief 04 Our business model 05 Management´s review 05 Overview of 2015 results 08 Introduction 10 5-year highlights 11 Outlook for 2016 13 Non-life Insurance 24 Life and Pension 33 Banking 44 Strategy 50 CSR 52 Capitalisation 56 Corporate governance 61 Shareholder information 65 Board of Directors 69 Management Board 70 Financial statements 71 Statement by the Management Board and the Board of Directors 72 Auditor’s report 74 Balance sheet 75 Income and comprehensive income statement 76 Statement of changes in equity 77 Cash flow statement 78 Segment reporting – balance sheet 79 Segment reporting – income statement 80 Overview of notes 81 Notes 143 Financial statements, parent company 153 Financial ratios 154 Group companies This is a translation of the Danish-language annual report for 2015. In case of any discrepancies, the Danish version prevails. 02 ALM. BRAND ALM. BRAND IN BRIEF OVERVIEW ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Alm. Brand in brief Alm. Brand is a Danish financial services group. We carry on business within banking, insurance and pension. Our values Ordinary common sense • We identify with the customer “We take • We keep our promises care of • We manage rules using common sense Mutual respect our customers • We listen to our customers • We respect our customers’ experiences • We draw on each other’s knowledge The vision – taking care of – implies and experience that we Holism and proximity • take an interest in our customers’ needs and help them • We care for our customers get the necessary understanding and decision-making • We take a holistic approach to the basis for choosing financial services customer’s situation • We are accessible • are attentive to our customers as part of our day-to-day routines so they know that we take an interest in them Will to succeed • We set ambitious and realistic goals • help and take care of our customers in the best possible • We develop professionally and personally way when they find themselves in a new or unexpected • We create results together situation Founded Employees Branches and offices Alm. Brand af 1792 fmba 1792 1,600 25 60% Alm. Brand was We are some 1,600 We have 25 branches Our largest shareholder founded by Royal employees working and offices across is Alm. Brand af 1792 Decree on 29 February at our head office in Denmark supplemented fmba, which holds about 1792 – 224 years ago. Copenhagen and in by digital platforms. 60% of the shares of our local offices and Alm. Brand A/S. branches. 03 ALM. BRAND OUR BUSINESS MODEL OVERVIEW ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Our business model We offer supreme customer service and high-quality products covering the full range of our customers’ financial needs. te custom Priva ers on si B n a e n k P i d n n g a e f i Alm. L Brand N e C o c n n s o -li ra r m fe Insu e m m o er st ci u al a al c nd agricultur Benefits Benefits for our customers Benefits for Alm. Brand Supportive group structure • All financial solutions consolidated in one • Many customer contact points • Strong brand place • Synergies in the form of shared functions • Synergies in the form of shared functions • Financial advisory services tailored to and knowledge sharing across the • Cost efficiency the needs of each individual customer organisation • High employee satisfaction • Nation-wide coverage with 25 branches • Long-term customer relations and offices as well as online services • In-depth knowledge of customer needs, • High quality and customer satisfaction solutions and risks • Extensive partnership network across Denmark 04 ALM. BRAND OVERVIEW OF 2015 RESULTS OVERVIEW ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Overview of 2015 results The performance was significantly better than expected at the beginning of 2015, and the 13% return on equity made the performance highly satisfactory. Performance of the group Alm. Brand posted consolidated profit of DKK 652 million before tax, which was slightly better compared with the most recent guidance. The profit was composed of a DKK 1,001 million profit on forward-looking activities and a DKK 349 million 174% loss on winding-up activities. Payout ratio The Board of Directors recommends payment of an ordinary dividend of DKK 1.50 An ordinary dividend of DKK 1.50 per per share and of an extraordinary dividend also in the amount of DKK 1.50 per share and an extraordinary dividend share. This corresponds to an ordinary dividend of DKK 260 million and an ex- of a similar amount. In addition, a traordinary dividend in the same amount. In addition, the existing share buyback total share buyback programme of programme will be extended until end-February 2017 and increased by DKK 100 DKK 400 million. million to up to DKK 400 million. The increase of the share buyback programme is subject to the approval of the Danish FSA. This means that Alm. Brand will distribute a total of DKK 920 million based on the 2015 results. The total dividend payout ratio equals 174% of the profit for the year. Non-life Insurance The group’s non-life insurance activities reported a highly satisfactory pre-tax profit of DKK 959 million in 2015. At a combined ratio of 80.8, the technical result was significantly better than ex- pected. However, the result was lifted by substantial run-off gains, which improved the combined ratio by 8.6 percentage points. Major claims expenses continued to be significantly better than expected in 2015, while weather-related expenses were higher than expected, especially in the fourth quarter. The performance of the underlying operations was satisfactory, but it was not as good as in 2014, reflecting in particular the declining average premiums in a more competitive market. The expense ratio was 16.0, up 0.4 of a percentage point on 2014. Costs were impacted by investments in the group’s new CRM system. Premiums declined by 0.3%, which was more than expected and due to a more competitive market. Premium income declined in the private customer segment and increased slightly in the commercial customer segment. 05 ALM. BRAND OVERVIEW OF 2015 RESULTS OVERVIEW ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Life and Pension Major events Life insurance and pension activities generated a satisfactory Share buyback profit of DKK 79 million before tax. On 2 December 2015, Alm. Brand launched a share buyback programme of up to DKK 300 million, which will expire at Pension scheme contributions rose by 5.8%. Regular pre- the end of 2016. mium payments increased by 3.8%, which was in line with the target. Moreover, single payments remained at a high In connection with the financial statements, this programme level, increasing by 7.3%. is extended until end-February 2017 and increased by DKK 100 million to up to DKK 400 million. The increase is subject Overall, the technical result was satisfactory. The expense to the approval of the Danish FSA. result was impacted by higher costs related to growth. The investment return on assets allocated to shareholders’ The principal shareholder, Alm. Brand af 1792 fmba, will equity was adversely affected by the financial market turmoil. be participating proportionately in the programme, thereby maintaining its current ownership interest. The financial markets were very turbulent in 2015, but Life and Pension nevertheless succeeded in increasing the cus- Investing in a new CRM system tomers’ collective bonus potential while still offering a high In 2015, Alm. Brand decided to invest in a new CRM system rate on policyholders’ savings. At 31 December 2015, the to be provided by Salesforce. bonus potential had increased by DKK 30 million to DKK 942 million, equivalent to a bonus rate of 9.7%. Through an investment of about DKK 100 million scheduled to be made over the next couple of years, Alm. Brand plans The rate on policyholders’ savings for 2016 remains at to collect, coordinate and use customer data in one com- 4.00% for new customers and continues to be among the bined IT solution that will optimise the service provided to best rates offered in the market. the group’s customers within and across the fields of insu- rance, banking and pension. Banking The bank’s forward-looking activities reported a pre-tax The goal is for Alm. Brand to retain existing customers and profit of DKK 18 million, which was consistent with the most attract more customers by providing even better individual recent guidance. The results were adversely affected by the advice and service at a pace and of a quality second to none financial market turmoil. Among other things, the extremely in the Danish market. The CRM system supports the group’s low level of interest rates with negative short-term interest continued focus on customer relations by providing an even rates was a challenge given the bank’s considerable excess better understanding of the customer’s individual needs liquidity. and preferences. Improved knowledge about customers will enable Alm. Brand to provide even better service. The underlying level of activity in the bank is high and sa- tisfactory in spite of fierce competition in the banking mar- Approval of partial internal model ket as well. The bank increased the number of Pluskunder In mid-May 2015, Alm. Brand Forsikring submitted an by 13%, lending to private customers grew by almost DKK application to the Danish FSA for approval of the compa- 200 million, and the portfolio of Totalkredit loans increased ny’s partial internal model to be used under the Solvency II by more than DKK 1 billion.