SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 6-K
 
 
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
 
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the month of March, 2016


AVIVA PLC


(Translation of registrant's name into English)


ST HELEN’S, 1 UNDERSHAFT
LONDON EC3P 3DQ
(Address of principal executive offices)


 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 
 
Form 20-F X     Form 40-F


 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


 
Yes      No X


 
 
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-



 

 




Start part 2 of 5
 
Page 1
 
Contents
 
In this section
 
Page
 
Overview
 
Key financial metrics
 
2
 
1
Cash
3
i
Cash remitted to Group
3
ii
Excess centre cash flow
3
iii
Operating capital generation
3
iv
 
Free surplus emergence
 
5
 
2
 
Operating profit: IFRS basis
 
6
 
3
 
Expenses
 
7
 
4
 
Value of new business
 
8
 
5
 
Combined operating ratio
 
9
 
6
Business unit performance
10
i
United Kingdom and Ireland Life
10
ii
United Kingdom and Ireland general
insurance & health
11
iii
Europe
12
iv
Canada
14
v
Asia
15
vi
 
Fund management
 
16
 
7
Profit drivers: IFRS basis
17
i
Life business
17
ii
General insurance and health
20
iii
 
Fund flows
 
22
 
8
Capital & assets summary
23
i
Summary of assets
23
ii
Net asset value
25
iii
Return on equity
27
iv
European Insurance Groups Directive (IGD)
28
v
Economic capital
29
vi
Solvency II
30
 
Financial supplement
33
Income & expenses
34
 
IFRS financial statements
39
 
Capital & assets
93
Capital & liquidity
94
Analysis of assets
103
 
VNB & Sales analysis
125
 
MCEV financial statements
131
 
Other information
159
 
 
 
 
 
Page 2
 
Cash
 
 
Cash remitted to Group
Operating capital generation
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Sterling% change
2015
£m
2014
£m
Sterling% change
United Kingdom & Ireland Life
667
437
53%
1,465
888
65%
United Kingdom & Ireland General Insurance & Health1
358
294
22%
370
425
(13)%
Europe
431
473
(9)%
424
499
(15)%
Canada2
6
138
(96)%
154
136
13%
Asia and Other
45
89
(49)%
114
(8)
-
Total
1,507
1,431
5%
2,527
1,940
30%
Operating profit: IFRS basis
 
 
2015
£m
Restated3
2014
£m
Sterling% change
Life business
2,419
2,019
20%
General insurance and health4
765
808
(5)%
Fund management
106
86
23%
Other*
(625)
(700)
11%
Operating profit before tax4
2,665
2,213
20%
 
Operating earnings per share4 **
49.2p
48.3p
2%
 
* Includes other operations, corporate centre costs and group debt and other interest costs.
 
** Net of tax, non-controlling interests, preference dividends, coupon payments in respect of the direct capital instrument (DCI) and tier 1 notes (net of tax).
 
Expenses
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Sterling% change
Operating expenses
3,030
2,795
8%
Integration & restructuring costs
379
140
-
Expense base
3,409
2,935
16%
 
Operating expense ratio3
50.0%
51.1%
(1.1)pp
 
Value of new business
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Sterling %
change5
Constant currency %
change5
United Kingdom & Ireland
625
482
30%
30%
France
198
205
(4)%
7%
Poland6
65
64
2%
13%
Italy6
79
63
26%
40%
Spain6
31
30
5%
17%
Turkey
27
30
(10)%
4%
Asia6
151
122
23%
22%
Aviva Investors
16
9
79%
79%
Value of new business6
1,192
1,005
19%
24%
 
General insurance combined operating ratio
 
 
2015
2014
Change
United Kingdom & Ireland4
95.0%
94.9%
0.1pp
Europe
95.4%
97.7%
(2.3)pp
Canada
93.8%
96.1%
(2.3)pp
General insurance combined operating ratio4
94.6%
95.7%
(1.1)pp
 
IFRS profit after tax
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Sterling% change
IFRS profit after tax
1,079
1,738
(38)%
 
Dividend
 
 
2015
2014
Sterling% change
Final dividend per share
14.05p
12.25p
15%
Total dividend per share
20.80p
18.10p
15%
 
Capital position
 
 
2015
2014
Sterling% change
Estimated Solvency II cover ratio7
180%
   
Estimated economic capital surplus8
£11.6bn
£8.0bn
45%
Estimated IGD solvency surplus8
£6.0bn
£3.2bn
88%
IFRS net asset value per share
389p
340p
14%
MCEV net asset value per share9
515p
527p
(2)%
 
1 Cash remittances include amounts of £351 million received from UK & Ireland GI in February 2016 in respect of 2015 activity and £273 million received from UKGI in February 2015 in respect of 2014 activity.
2 CAD$230 million in respect of 2015 activity has been retained at the Canadian holding company in order to part-fund the proposed RBC General Insurance Company acquisition.
3 Operating profit has been restated to exclude amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business, which is now shown as a non-operating item. See note B2 for further details. There is no impact on the result or the total equity for any period presented as a result of this restatement.
4 Excludes the impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
5 Currency movements are calculated using unrounded numbers so minor rounding differences may exist.
6 Poland includes Lithuania, Italy excludes Eurovita, Spain excludes CxG and Asia excludes South Korea.
7 The estimated Solvency II ratio represents the shareholder view. This ratio excludes the contribution to Group Solvency Capital Requirement ('SCR') and Group Own Funds of fully ring-fenced with-profits funds (£2.7 billion) and staff pension schemes in surplus (£0.7 billion) - these exclusions have no impact on Solvency II surplus. The impact from internal reinsurance arrangements between UK Life, UK and Ireland General Insurance and Aviva International Insurance Limited and the securitisation of equity release mortgages held by UK Life, effective 1 January 2016, have also been reflected in the Solvency II position.
8 The economic capital and IGD solvency surpluses represent an estimated position. The economic capital requirement is based on Aviva's own internal assessment and capital management policies. The term 'economic capital' does not imply capital as required by regulators or other third parties.
9 In preparing the MCEV information, the directors have done so in accordance with the European Insurance CFO Forum MCEV Principles. No allowance for the impact of Solvency II has been made as permitted by the additional guidance issued in October 2015 by the European Insurance CFO Forum.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 3
 
1.i - Cash remitted to Group
The flow of sustainable cash remittances from the Group's businesses is a key financial priority. The cash remittances for FY15 were £1,507 million (FY14: £1,431 million) including dividends and interest remitted on internal loans. The 2015 totals include amounts received from Aviva Insurance Limited in February 2016 in respect of 2015 activity in that business and its subsidiaries.
 
   
2015
 
2014
 
Operating Capital Generation
£m
Cash Remittances
£m
Operating Capital Generation
£m
Cash Remittances
£m
United Kingdom & Ireland Life
1,465
667
888
437
United Kingdom & Ireland General Insurance & Health1
370
358
425
294
France
255
252
259
264
Poland
99
81
136
106
Italy
30
45
77
32
Spain
36
49
40
68
Other Europe
4
4
(13)
3
Europe
424
431
499
473
Canada2
154
6
136
138
Asia
65
21
23
23
Other3
49
24
(31)
66
Group
2,527
1,507
1,940
1,431
 
1 Cash remittances include amounts of £351 million received from UK & Ireland GI in February 2016 in respect of 2015 activity and £273 million in FY14 received from UKGI in February 2015 in respect of 2014 activity.
2 CAD$230 million in respect of 2015 activity has been retained at the Canadian holding company in order to part-fund the proposed RBC General Insurance Company acquisition.
3 Other includes Aviva Investors and Group Reinsurance.
 
Cash remitted to Group has increased primarily driven by the UK and Ireland life and general insurance businesses as a result of management actions during the year and the benefit from the internal interest received on Friends Life intercompany loans following its acquisition in April 2015. Cash generated in Canada was largely retained in the business to part-fund the proposed acquisition of Royal Bank of Canada General Insurance Company ('RBC General Insurance Company'), which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016. In addition, lower Europe cash remittances mainly reflect the impact of adverse foreign exchange movements.
 
1.ii - Excess centre cash flow
Excess centre cash flow represents cash remitted by business units to the Group centre less central operating expenses and debt financing costs. It is an important measure of the cash that is available to pay dividends, reduce debt, pay exceptional charges or invest back into our business units. It does not include non-operating cash movements such as disposal proceeds or capital injections.
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Dividends received1
1,378
1,412
Internal interest received
129
19
Cash remitted to Group
1,507
1,431
External interest paid
(554)
(425)
Internal interest paid
(138)
(170)
Central spend
(252)
(173)
Other operating cash flows2
136
29
Excess centre cash flow3
699
692
 
1 This excludes a £150 million dividend paid by Friends Life holdings prior to the acquisition.
2 Other operating cash flows include central investment income and group tax relief payments and other financial cash flows previously reported under central spend.
3 Before non-operating items and capital injections.
 
Excess centre cash flow of £699 million has remained broadly stable compared with the prior period. Increased internal interest received was driven by Friends Life intercompany loans and foreign exchange movement gains on Group centre holdings offset by an increase in external interest, largely due to the inclusion of Friends Life external debt, as well as higher central spend mainly relating to Friends Life and investment in our digital capability. In addition, the total excess centre cash flow is reduced as a result of the dividend payment retained in Canada to part-fund the proposed acquisition of RBC General Insurance Company.
 
1.iii - Operating capital generation
The active management of the generation and utilisation of capital is a primary Group focus, balancing new business investment and shareholder distribution to deliver our 'cash flow plus growth' investment thesis.
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Operating capital generation1
   
Life in-force business2
2,293
1,715
General insurance, fund management and other operations
552
544
Operating capital generated before investment in new business
2,845
2,259
Capital invested in new business
(318)
(319)
Operating capital generated after investment in new business - Group as reported
2,527
1,940
 
1 Operating capital generation comprises the following components:
- Operating free surplus emergence, including release of required capital, for the life in-force business (net of tax and non-controlling interests);
- Operating profits for the general insurance and other non-life businesses net of tax and non-controlling interests from non-covered business only, where non-covered business represents business which is outside the scope of Life MCEV methodology; and
- Capital invested in new business. For life business this is the impact of initial and required capital on free surplus. For general insurance business this reflects the movement in required capital, which has been assumed to equal the regulatory minimum multiplied by the local management target level. Where appropriate, movements in capital requirements exclude the impact of foreign exchange and other movements deemed to be non-operating in nature.The amount of operating capital remitted to Group depends on a number of factors including non-operating items and local regulatory requirements.
2 During 2014, internal reinsurance arrangements were undertaken by the UK Annuity business to reinsure an additional 10% to Aviva International Insurance Limited and an additional 12.5% to Aviva UK Life & Pensions. At FY14 these arrangements had an adverse impact on Group MCEV free surplus of £204 million. On an economic capital basis these transactions improved the UK Life position and as a result the adverse impact on MCEV free surplus was excluded from OCG to reflect the economic substance of the management action.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 4
 
 
1.iii - Operating capital generation continued
The analysis of OCG by market, product and service is set out below.
 
 
Life & Other Covered Business OCG
Non-life OCG
 
2015
£m
Free surplus emergence
New business strain
Other/ management actions
Life
OCG
General insurance and
health1
Fund
management1
Non-
insurance1
Non-life
Usage2
Non-life OCG
Total
OCG
United Kingdom & Ireland Life
830
19
618
1,467
-
-
(2)
-
(2)
1,465
United Kingdom & Ireland General Insurance & Health
-
-
-
-
300
-
27
43
370
370
Europe
579
(271)
62
370
66
-
(9)
(3)
54
424
Canada
-
-
-
-
157
-
(1)
(2)
154
154
Asia
131
(94)
40
77
2
1
(17)
2
(12)
65
Fund Management
19
(6)
7
20
-
32
-
(10)
22
42
Other
7
-
-
7
13
-
(17)
4
-
7
Total Group operating capital generation
1,566
(352)
727
1,941
538
33
(19)
34
586
2,527

 
 
Life & Other Covered Business OCG
Non-life OCG
 
2014
£m
Free surplus emergence
New business strain
Other/ management
actions3
Life
OCG
General insurance and
health1
Fund
management1
Non-
insurance1
Non-life
Usage2
Non-life
OCG
Total
OCG
United Kingdom & Ireland Life
462
(15)
441
888
-
-
(1)
1
-
888
United Kingdom & Ireland General Insurance & Health
-
-
-
-
384
-
-
41
425
425
Europe
693
(272)
32
453
67
-
(11)
(10)
46
499
Canada
-
-
-
-
140
-
-
(4)
136
136
Asia
98
(58)
(15)
25
1
1
(8)
4
(2)
23
Fund Management
14
(5)
(10)
(1)
-
9
-
(7)
2
1
Other
-
-
-
-
9
-
(47)
6
(32)
(32)
Total Group operating capital generation
1,267
(350)
448
1,365
601
10
(67)
31
575
1,940
 
1 Operating profit net of tax and non-controlling interests from non-covered businesses only, where non-covered business is that which is outside the scope of life MCEV methodology.
2 This reflects the movement in required capital, which has been assumed to equal the regulatory minimum multiplied by the local management target level. Where appropriate, movements in capital requirements exclude the impact of foreign exchange and other movements deemed to be non-operating in nature.
3 During 2014, internal reinsurance arrangements were undertaken by the UK Annuity business to reinsure an additional 10% to Aviva International Insurance Limited and an additional 12.5% to Aviva UK Life & Pensions. At FY14 these arrangements had an adverse impact on Group MCEV free surplus of £204 million. On an economic capital basis these transactions improved the UK Life position and as a result the adverse impact on MCEV free surplus was excluded from OCG to reflect the economic substance of the management action.
 
Operating capital generation (OCG) is £2,527 million, £587 million higher than in the prior year (FY14: £1,940 million), with OCG from our life businesses generating £1,941 million (FY14: £1,365 million).
Free surplus emergence in the Life OCG was £1,566 million, £299 million higher than in the prior year (FY14: £1,267 million). This increase relates primarily to the acquisition of Friends Life which contributed £463 million in 2015, partially offset by a reduction in Europe of £114 million, reflecting adverse foreign exchange movements, the disposal of Eurovita and Caixa Galicia (CxG) in 2014 together with a one-off benefit in the prior year from regulatory pension changes in Poland. The expected free surplus emergence in future years is shown in note 1.iv.
New business strain of £352 million was broadly in line with the prior year (FY14: £350 million). Within this total, new business strain in Friends UK was £124 million, which offset improved new business strain in the rest of the UK and Ireland business reflecting strong performance from annuity and equity release business in 2015.
Other/management actions were £727 million (FY14: £448 million). This mainly reflects benefits of c.£370 million due to a release of longevity margins on the regulatory basis in our UK Life business and c.£200 million arising from the portfolio transfer of our Irish Life business, Aviva Life and Pensions Ireland Limited, to Aviva Life and Pensions UK Limited on 1 January 2015, which resulted in reduced regulatory capital requirements and reserve releases from alignment with the UK reserving basis. In addition, Asia benefitted from the acquisition of Friends Provident International and a change to the regulatory reserving basis for retail health business in Singapore to align with IFRS and Solvency II, partly offset by cessation of a quota share reinsurance arrangement.
Capital generation in our General Insurance and Health businesses was £538 million (FY14: £601 million). In the UK and Ireland capital generation decreased to £300 million (FY14: £384 million) reflecting a lower return on the intercompany loan balance, principally as a result of strategic actions to reduce the level of debt between Aviva Insurance Limited and Group. In Canada, capital generation of £157 million (FY14: £140 million) benefitted from the improvement in operating results and the decrease in capital requirements reflecting favourable changes to the local capital requirements rules effective from 1st January 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 5
 
 
1.iv - Free surplus emergence
Maturity profile of undiscounted free surplus emergence equivalent embedded value cash flows
Total in-force business
 
Release of future profits and required capital
2015
£m
2014
£m
Year 1
1,690
1,137
Year 2
1,490
1,059
Year 3
1,468
1,071
Year 4
1,542
1,204
Year 5
1,509
1,169
Year 6
1,462
1,157
Year 7
1,409
1,088
Year 8
1,455
1,060
Year 9
1,370
981
Year 10
1,336
922
Years 11-15
5,797
4,232
Years 16-20
4,503
3,547
Years 20+
8,118
7,583
Total net of non-controlling interests1,2
33,149
26,210
 
1 2015 includes £8,041 million of free surplus emergence related to the recently acquired Friends Life business.
2 Free surplus emergence is on a Solvency I basis (including allowances for Economic Capital), but not Solvency II.
 
The table above shows the expected future emergence of profits from the existing business implicit in the equivalent embedded value calculation for life covered in-force business. The cash flows have been split for the first ten years followed by five year tranches depending on the date when the profit is expected to emerge. These profits, which arise from the release of margins in the regulatory reserves as the business runs off over time, are expected to emerge through operating capital generation (OCG) in future years. The cash flows are real world cash flows, i.e. they are based on the non-economic assumptions used in the MCEV and normalised investment returns. Normalised investment returns are equal to the MCEV risk-free rates in addition to a risk premium to allow for the actual return expected to be achieved in the market.
For existing business, the cash flows will generally reduce over time due to lapses, maturities and other benefit payments. Each year new business will increase these profits, following the initial strain at point of sale. This table only includes the business currently in-force.
The total Group OCG for the Life business is £1,941 million (see note 1.iii). Excluding the recently acquired Friends Life business, the expected free surplus emergence in the OCG of £1,103 million is broadly equal to the year 1 cash flow from 31 December 2014 of £1,137 million. The FY15 total free surplus emergence (including the Friends Life business) of £1,566 million includes the expected transfers from the value of in-force (VIF) and required capital to free surplus of £1,558 million (MCEV - Note F5) and also the free surplus component of the expected return on net worth which equals £8 million.
The total real world cash flows, excluding the recently acquired Friends Life businesses have reduced by £1,102 million over 2015, largely reflecting the positive new business additions net of the run off of existing business, the impact from a reduction in PRA longevity margins in the UK, which has reduced VIF and increased free surplus, adverse investment returns in the UK and Europe and adverse foreign exchange movements in Europe of £518 million.
The 2015 cash flows above include an increase of £8,041 million as a result of the acquisition of the Friends Life business on 10 April 2015.
The free surplus emergence in the table above only includes business written in the RIEESA when conditions for its release to shareholders are expected to have been met.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 6
 
2 - Operating Profit: IFRS basis
Group operating profit: IFRS basis
For the year ended 31 December 2015
 
 
2015
£m
Restated1
2014
£m
Operating profit before tax attributable to shareholders' profits
   
Life business
   
United Kingdom & Ireland
1,432
1,049
France
395
412
Poland
129
183
Italy
139
148
Spain
92
126
Turkey
11
13
Europe
766
882
Asia
244
87
Other
(23)
1
Total life business (note 7.i)
2,419
2,019
General insurance and health
   
United Kingdom & Ireland2
430
499
Europe
114
113
Canada
214
189
Asia
(6)
(2)
Other
13
9
Total general insurance and health2 (note 7.ii)
765
808
Fund management
   
Aviva Investors3
105
79
United Kingdom3
-
6
Asia
1
1
Total fund management
106
86
Other
   
Other operations (note A1)
(84)
(105)
Market operating profit2
3,206
2,808
Corporate centre (note A2)
(180)
(132)
Group debt costs and other interest (note A3)
(361)
(463)
Operating profit before tax attributable to shareholders' profits2
2,665
2,213
Tax attributable to shareholders' profits
(598)
(563)
Non-controlling interests
(152)
(143)
Preference dividends and other4
(74)
(86)
Operating profit attributable to ordinary shareholders2
1,841
1,421
     
Operating earnings per share2,5
49.2p
48.3p
 
1 Operating profit has been restated to exclude amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business, which is now shown as a non-operating item. See note B2 for further details. There is no impact on the result or the total equity for any period presented as a result of this restatement.
2 Excludes the impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
3 The UK Retail fund management business was transferred from UK Life to Aviva Investors on 9 May 2014 and hence is included in Aviva Investors from 9 May 2014 onwards.
4 Other includes coupon payments in respect of the direct capital instrument (DCI) and tier 1 notes (net of tax).
5 Net of tax, non-controlling interests, preference dividends, coupon payments in respect of the direct capital instrument (DCI) and tier 1 notes (net of tax). The calculation of basic earnings per share uses a weighted average of 3,741 million (FY14: 2,943 million) ordinary shares in issue, after deducting treasury shares.
 
Overall operating profit was £2,665 million (FY14: £2,213 million). Excluding the contribution from the Friends Life businesses acquired in April 2015 of £554 million, adverse foreign exchange movements of £117 million, impact of disposals of £30 million and non-recurring items of c.£58 million, operating profit improved by £103 million.
The life business result was £2,419 million (FY14: 2,019 million), up 26% on a constant currency basis. The life result includes an adverse foreign exchange impact of £92 million. Friends Life contributed £358 million to UK Life and £151 million to Asia through Friends Provident International ('FPI'). UK Life, excluding Friends UK, includes a net benefit to operating profit of £259 million (FY14: £282 million) from non-recurring items relating to expense reserve releases following actions taken to reduce the current and future cost base. In Poland, FY14 operating profit included a non-recurring benefit of £35 million1 from a regulatory pension change.
The general insurance and health business result was £765 million (FY14: £808 million). Within this, overall LTIR reduced to £396 million (FY14: £477 million), with £41 million of this decrease due to the lower balance on the UKGI internal loan which is neutral at an overall Group level, while the remainder mainly reflects lower investment yields. The general insurance and health underwriting result was £374 million (FY14: £341 million) benefitting from broadly stable weather experience despite the December floods in the UK and higher positive prior year development of £236 million (FY14: £131 million benefit to operating profit).
Fund management operating profit was £106 million (FY14: £86 million) including a contribution of £9 million from Friends Life Investments ('FLI'). Excluding FLI, the increase was driven by increased performance fees partly offset by higher operating expenses incurred to support the growth and development of the business.
Operating earnings per share has increased to 49.2p (FY14: 48.3p), mainly driven by post tax operating profit growth partly offset by the increase in the weighted average number of shares following the Friends Life acquisition (3,741 million at FY15 compared to 2,943 million at FY14).
 
1 On a constant currency basis.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 7
 
3 - Expenses
a) Expenses
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
United Kingdom & Ireland Life
815
565
United Kingdom & Ireland General Insurance & Health
697
755
Europe
526
596
Canada
298
316
Asia
141
80
Aviva Investors
345
298
Other Group activities
208
185
Operating cost base
3,030
2,795
Integration & restructuring costs
379
140
Expense base
3,409
2,935
 
The table below shows the lines of the IFRS consolidated income statement in which operating expenses have been included:
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Claims handling costs1
303
345
Non-commission acquisition costs2
818
828
Other expenses
1,909
1,622
Operating cost base
3,030
2,795
 
1 As reported within net claims and benefits paid of £21,985 million (FY14: £19,474 million).
2 As reported within fee and commission expense of £3,347 million (FY14: £3,389 million).
 
Overall operating expenses for FY15 were £3,030 million (FY14: £2,795 million), including £350 million of expenses from Friends Life, following its acquisition in April 2015. Excluding Friends Life, operating expenses reduced by £115 million to £2,680 million (FY14: £2,795 million). Within this total, there was a £100 million benefit from foreign exchange movements, meaning that underlying expenses were slightly lower compared with FY14, with cost reductions (primarily in the UK) offset by investment to support growth (mainly in Aviva Investors and Asia).
     In the UK and Ireland, both the life and general insurance businesses have achieved savings by reducing headcount, mainly as a result of process automation and simplification and realised continued benefits from previous cost reduction initiatives. The total costs of £815 million in UK and Ireland Life included Friends UK operating expenses of £286 million in FY15.
     Total operating expenses of our European markets reduced to £526 million (FY14: £596 million) and remained broadly stable in constant currency. In Canada, operating expenses were £298 million (FY14: £316 million), an increase of 1% on a constant currency basis as a result of the continued investment in business growth.
     Total operating expenses for Asia increased by £61 million to £141 million (FY14: £80 million), with £46 million of this increase resulting from the inclusion of FPI in the current year, while the remainder was mostly driven by investment to support business growth in Singapore.
     In Aviva Investors, operating expenses increased to £345 million (FY14: £298 million), mainly due to higher expenses incurred to support the growth and further development of the business and the inclusion of Friends Life Investments (£11 million).
     Other Group activities, which include Group centre costs, were £208 million (FY14: £185 million). This includes centre costs relating to Friends Life and increased spending on digital initiatives across the Group.
 
Integration and restructuring costs were £379 million (FY14: £140 million), principally driven by transaction and integration activities in relation to the acquisition of Friends Life and Solvency II costs of £82 million (FY14: £94 million).
 
 
b) Operating expense ratios
 
 
2015
Restated1
2014
Life2
32.2%
29.7%
General insurance3
13.9%
14.8%
Health3
14.5%
15.7%
Fund management4
13bps
12bps
Group total5
50.0%
51.1%
 
1 Operating profit has been restated to exclude amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business, which is now shown as a non-operating item. See note B2 for further details. There is no impact on the result or the total equity for any period presented as a result of this restatement.
2 Life non-commission acquisition and administration expenses gross of DAC on new business expressed as a percentage of Life operating income.
3 Written expenses including claims handling costs expressed as a percentage of net written premiums.
4 Aviva Investors' operating expenses expressed as a percentage of average funds under management.
5 Group operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating profit before operating expenses and group debt costs.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 8
 
4 - Value of new business by market
 
Gross of tax and non-controlling interests
2015
£m
2014
£m
United Kingdom
609
473
Ireland
16
9
United Kingdom & Ireland
625
482
France
198
205
Poland
65
64
Italy - excluding Eurovita
79
63
Spain - excluding CxG
31
30
Turkey
27
30
Europe
400
392
Asia - excluding South Korea
151
122
Aviva Investors1
16
9
Value of new business - excluding Eurovita, CxG & South Korea
1,192
1,005
Eurovita, CxG & South Korea
-
4
Total value of new business
1,192
1,009
 
 
1 UK Retail fund management business was transferred from UK Life to Aviva Investors on 9 May 2014 and hence is included in Aviva Investors from 9 May 2014 onwards.
 
The Group's value of new business2,3 (VNB) increased to £1,192 million (FY14: £1,005 million), up 24% on a constant currency basis, primarily driven by strong performances in the UK, Italy and Asia. This includes a £96 million contribution to FY15 VNB from Friends Life, following the acquisition of this business in April 2015. Overall VNB3 excluding Friends Life grew by 9% to £1,096 million (FY14: £1,005 million), an increase of 14% on a constant currency basis.
In the UK, VNB was £609 million (FY14: £473 million). The current period benefitted from £91 million VNB from Friends UK, principally arising from sales of protection business as the individual annuities market continues to decline. Excluding Friends UK, VNB in the UK improved 10% to £518 million (FY14: £473 million), mainly reflecting higher margins on pension and health business, together with increased sales and improved margins on bulk purchase annuities. This increase was partly offset by the lower contribution from individual annuities compared to the prior period following the announcements made in the 2014 UK budget. Ireland's VNB almost doubled as a result of higher sales and improved margins on pensions and annuities, partially offset by lower volumes on protection business.
VNB in Europe increased 14%3,4 with improvement across all markets on a constant currency basis. VNB in France was up 7%4 mostly due to volume growth and an improved margin on protection business, partly offset by lower risk-free rates increasing the cost of guarantees on with-profits business. In Poland, VNB increased by 13%3,4. 2014 included an £8 million one-off benefit from regulatory pension changes in Lithuania. Excluding this, Polish VNB grew by 29%3,4 reflecting increased sales of higher margin protection business. VNB in Italy was up by 40%3,4 mainly driven by higher margins on with-profits products following management actions to reduce the cost of guarantees, together with an improved mix of business away from with-profits products towards protection business. In Spain, VNB increased by 17%3,4 mainly driven by an improved mix within protection business, partly offset by reduced sales of with-profits savings business following management actions to reduce guarantees available. In Turkey, VNB increased by 4%4 despite the impact of a reduction in our share of the business following the partial IPO in 2014. Excluding the effect of this dilution, VNB in Turkey grew 24%4 mainly driven by higher sales of pension products.
In Asia, VNB3 was £151 million (FY14: £122 million), reflecting a continued focus on sales of higher margin products, particularly protection products in China and Singapore as well as retail health business in Singapore. In addition, the current period includes a £5 million contribution from FPI.
VNB in Aviva Investors was £16 million (FY14: £9 million) following the transfer of the UK retail fund management business from UK Life in May 2014.
 
2 The trend analysis of VNB and present value of new business premiums (PVNBP) are included in Financial supplement, section E: VNB & sales analysis.
3 Poland includes Lithuania, Italy excludes Eurovita, Spain excludes CxG and Asia excludes South Korea.
4 On a constant currency basis.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 9
 
5 - General insurance combined operating ratio (COR)
 
 
Net written premiums
Claims ratio3
Commission and
expense ratio4
Combined operating ratio5
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
United Kingdom1,2
3,685
3,663
64.7
61.0
30.4
33.8
95.1
94.8
Ireland
282
272
67.9
67.1
26.7
29.5
94.6
96.6
United Kingdom & Ireland
3,967
3,935
64.9
61.4
30.1
33.5
95.0
94.9
Europe
1,200
1,313
66.2
69.7
29.2
28.0
95.4
97.7
Canada
1,992
2,104
63.3
65.5
30.5
30.6
93.8
96.1
Asia
12
13
62.6
65.3
39.0
32.5
101.6
97.8
Other6
-
7
           
Total2
7,171
7,372
64.5
64.0
30.1
31.7
94.6
95.7
 
1 United Kingdom excluding Aviva Re and agencies in run-off.
2 Excludes the impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
3 Claims ratio: incurred claims expressed as a percentage of net earned premiums.
4 Commission and expense ratio: written commissions and expenses expressed as a percentage of net written premiums.
5 Combined operating ratio: aggregate of claims ratio and commission and expense ratio.
6 Other includes Aviva Re.
 
Group combined operating ratio (COR) for the period was 94.6% (FY14: 95.7%) with improvements in Canada and Europe.
In the UK and Ireland, GI COR was broadly flat at 95.0% (FY14: 94.9%) reflecting an increase in the claims ratio, offset by a lower commission and expense ratio. In the UK, the claims ratio has increased to 64.7% (FY14: 61.0%) as the adverse impact of the December storms more than offset higher prior year reserve releases. The lower commission and expense ratio of 30.4% (FY14: 33.8%) reflected expense savings and lower sales commissions following selected exits from elements of personal lines and a shift in mix of business. In Ireland, the COR has improved to 94.6% (FY14: 96.6%), reflecting an improvement in the commission and expense ratio and the favourable weather experience, partly offset by lower prior year reserve releases.
Europe's GI COR has improved by 2.3pp to 95.4% (FY14: 97.7%) mostly driven by a lower claims ratio, partly offset by an adverse commission and expense ratio. Excluding the Turkish general insurance business disposed of in December 2014, Europe's GI COR was 0.6pp better (FY14: 96.0%). Improvements in the claims ratio were largely driven by better weather experience in France compared with the adverse weather events in the prior year and favourable prior year claims development in Italy. The commission and expense ratio was impacted by a shift in business mix in France and Italy and growth in higher commission lines in Poland.
In Canada GI COR has improved by 2.3pp to 93.8% (FY14: 96.1%), primarily driven by an overall improvement in the claims ratio. The claims ratio has improved by 2.2pp to 63.3% (FY14: 65.5%) primarily reflecting more benign weather conditions compared to last year and higher positive prior year development.
We continue to apply our reserving policy consistently and to focus on understanding the true cost of claims to ensure that reserves are maintained at an appropriate level. Prior year reserve movements will vary year to year but our business is predominantly short tail in nature and the loss development experience is generally stable. In FY15 we have had a positive prior year development in our GI & Health business benefitting operating profit by £236 million (FY14: £131 million benefit to operating profit), mainly in the UK and Canada.
 
Underlying combined operating ratio
 
 
UK & Ireland2
Europe
Canada
Total2
 
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
Underlying claims ratio1,2
67.1
64.2
69.0
67.2
68.4
67.0
67.8
65.4
Prior year reserve strengthening/(release)3
(2.4)
(1.4)
(2.7)
0.3
(4.4)
(3.5)
(3.2)
(1.6)
Weather over/(under) long-term average4
0.2
(1.4)
(0.1)
2.2
(0.7)
2.0
(0.1)
0.2
Claims ratio2
64.9
61.4
66.2
69.7
63.3
65.5
64.5
64.0
Commission and expense ratio5
30.1
33.5
29.2
28.0
30.5
30.6
30.1
31.7
Combined operating ratio2
95.0
94.9
95.4
97.7
93.8
96.1
94.6
95.7
 
1 Underlying claims ratio represents the claims ratio adjusted to exclude prior year claims development and weather variations vs. expectations, gross of the impact of profit sharing arrangements.
2 Excludes the impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
3 Prior year reserve strengthening/(release) represents the changes in the ultimate cost of the claims incurred in prior years, gross of the impact of profit sharing arrangements.
4 Weather over/(under) long-term average represents the difference between the reported net incurred cost of general insurance claims that have occurred as a result of weather events and the equivalent long-term average expected net costs, gross of the impact of profit sharing arrangements.
5 Commission and expense ratio includes the impact of profit sharing arrangements.
 
Group underlying claims ratio for the period has deteriorated by 2.4pp to 67.8% (FY14: 65.4%) with adverse movements across all markets. The underwriting actions to improve profitability in the UK were more than offset by the impact of personal motor rate reductions earning through into 2015 and adverse large losses, primarily in commercial property. Actions taken in Canada to improve underwriting in personal property and commercial SME business improved the underlying loss ratio however this was more than offset by higher large losses across the portfolio. In Europe, the underlying claims ratio was 69.0% (FY14: 67.2%). Excluding Turkey GI, the underlying claims ratio worsened by 1.3pp to 69.0% (FY14: 67.7%), mainly driven by higher large losses in France.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 10
 
6.i - United Kingdom and Ireland Life
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cash remitted to Group
667
437
Life operating profit: IFRS basis (restated)1
1,432
1,049
Expenses
   
Operating expenses
815
565
Integration and restructuring costs
215
28
 
1,030
593
Value of new business
625
482
 
1 Operating profit has been restated to exclude amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business, which is now shown as a non-operating item. See note B2 for further details. There is no impact on the result or the total equity for any period presented as a result of this restatement.
 
Cash
During the year total cash remitted to Group was £667 million, up 53% from 2014. This includes interest on internal loans in Friends UK of £101 million.
 
Operating profit: IFRS basis
UK and Ireland life operating profit was £1,432 million (FY14: £1,049 million), a £383 million increase compared with the prior year. This includes a contribution of £358 million from Friends UK following its acquisition in April 2015.
Overall UK Life operating profit was £1,408 million (FY14: £1,025 million). Excluding Friends UK, UK Life operating profit has increased 2% to £1,050 million (FY14: £1,025 million). FY15 included a £259 million benefit from expense reserve releases following actions taken to reduce the current and future cost base - this does not yet reflect the benefit of integration savings. 2014 benefitted from non-recurring items of £282 million, mainly relating to longevity assumption changes and expense reserve releases. Excluding these items, profit increased by 6% mainly due to a reduction in operating expenses as well as improved new business profitability.
 
In Ireland, life operating profit remained stable at £24 million (FY14: £24 million) but was up 14% in constant currency. This was largely due to the one-off benefit of the portfolio transfer to UK Life.
 
Expenses
Overall UK operating expenses were £788 million (FY14: £529 million), including £286 million of expenses from Friends UK in FY15 following its acquisition. Excluding Friends UK, UK operating expenses decreased by 5% to £502 million (FY14: £529 million) reflecting cost savings as a result of process automation and simplification. Overall UK integration and restructuring costs were £204 million (FY14: £21 million), including Solvency II costs and £113 million costs from integration activity.
Ireland operating expenses reduced to £27 million (FY14: £36 million) as a result of cost saving initiatives, while integration and restructuring costs increased to £11 million (FY14: £7 million).
 
Value of new business
Value of new business (VNB) was £625 million (FY14: £482 million).
 
In the UK, VNB was £609 million (FY14: £473 million). VNB in UK Life excluding Friends UK improved 10% to £518 million (FY14: £473 million), mainly reflecting higher margins on pension and health business, together with increased sales and improved margins on bulk purchase annuities. This increase was partly offset by the lower level of individual annuity volumes compared to the prior period following the announcements made in the 2014 UK budget. Friends UK VNB was £91 million since acquisition and is principally protection business as the individual annuities market continues to decline.
 
In Ireland, VNB increased to £16 million (FY14: £9 million) as a result of higher sales and improved margins on pensions and annuities, partially offset by lower volumes on protection business.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 11
 
6.ii - United Kingdom and Ireland general insurance & health
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cash remitted to Group1
358
294
Operating profit: IFRS basis2
430
499
Expenses
   
Operating expenses
697
755
Integration and restructuring costs
26
11
 
723
766
Combined operating ratio2,3
95.0%
94.9%
 
1 Cash remittances include amounts of £351 million received from UK & Ireland GI in February 2016 in respect of 2015 activity and £273 million received from UKGI in February 2015 in respect of 2014 activity.
2 Excludes the impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
3 General insurance business only.
 
Cash
Total cash remitted to Group was £358 million (FY14: £294 million), reflecting management actions during the year. Cash remittances include £351 million received in February 2016 relating to UK & Ireland general insurance in respect of 2015 activity.
 
Operating profit: IFRS basis
UK and Ireland general insurance and health operating profit was £430 million (FY14: £499 million).
In UK general insurance, operating profit was £368 million (FY14: £455 million). Within this, longer-term investment return (LTIR) reduced by £45 million to £215 million (FY14: £260 million) mainly as a result of the lower intercompany loan balance (which is neutral at an overall Group level).
The UK general insurance underwriting result was £154 million (FY14: £199 million) with the adverse weather experience due to the December floods being partly offset by the benefit of expense savings and more favourable prior year claims development. Our personal lines underwriting result remained stable at £97 million (FY14: £96 million). The underwriting result in commercial lines decreased to £57 million (FY14: £103 million), mainly reflecting the adverse impact from the December floods and higher large losses, partly offset by more favourable reserve releases. UKGI net written premium (NWP) increased 1% to £3,685 million (FY14: £3,663 million), primarily driven by growth in personal motor, partly offset by selected exits in personal property lines.
In Ireland, general insurance and health operating profit increased to £41 million (FY14: £33 million) mainly driven by favourable weather experience partly offset by lower prior year claims reserve releases.
In UK Health, operating profit was up £10 million to £21 million (FY14: £11 million) due to lower expenses and the benefit of pricing actions.
 
Expenses
UK general insurance operating expenses have reduced by 8% to £604 million (FY14: £658 million) reflecting the impact of a reduction in headcount and continued focus on cost control. In Ireland, operating expenses decreased to £93 million (FY14: £97 million).
UK and Ireland's integration and restructuring costs increased to £26 million (FY14: £11 million) as a result of operational restructuring to simplify the business and reduce property costs by focusing on a smaller number of core locations.
 
Combined operating ratio2,3
 
 
Claims ratio
Commission and
expense ratio
Combined operating ratio
United Kingdom & Ireland
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
Personal
65.8
62.4
28.8
33.9
94.6
96.3
Commercial
63.6
59.9
32.1
32.9
95.7
92.8
Total
64.9
61.4
30.1
33.5
95.0
94.9
 
2 Excludes the impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
3 General insurance business only.
 
The UK & Ireland general insurance combined operating ratio (COR) was broadly flat at 95.0% (FY14: 94.9%) reflecting an increase in the claims ratio, offset by a lower commission and expense ratio. In the UK, the claims ratio has increased to 64.7% (FY14: 61.0%) as higher prior year reserve releases were more than offset by the December storms and higher large losses, primarily in commercial property and the adverse impact of personal motor rate reductions earning through into 2015. The lower commission and expense ratio of 30.4% (FY14: 33.8%) resulted from expense savings and lower sales commissions following selected exits from elements of personal lines and a shift in mix of business. In Ireland, the COR has improved to 94.6% (FY14: 96.6%), reflecting an improvement in the commission and expense ratio and the favourable weather experience, partly offset by lower prior year reserve releases.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 12
 
6.iii - Europe1
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cash remitted to Group
431
473
Operating profit: IFRS basis (restated)2
   
Life (restated)2
766
882
General insurance & health
114
113
 
880
995
Expenses
   
Operating expenses
526
596
Integration and restructuring costs
22
17
 
548
613
Value of new business
   
Value of new business - excluding Eurovita & CxG
400
392
Effects of disposals/Assets held for sale (Eurovita & CxG)
-
(1)
 
400
391
Combined operating ratio3
95.4%
97.7%
Combined operating ratio3 - excluding Turkey
95.4%
96.0%
 
1 Our European business includes life and general insurance business written in France, Poland, Italy, and Turkey (GI business disposed of in December 2014), life business in Spain and health business in France.
2 Operating profit has been restated to exclude amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business, which is now shown as a non-operating item. See note B2 for further details. There is no impact on the result or the total equity for any period presented as a result of this restatement.
3 General insurance business only.
 
There has been a weakening of the euro, the Polish zloty and the Turkish lira by 11%, 11% and 16% respectively (average rate) over the year which has impacted all metrics except combined operating ratio.
 
Cash
Cash remitted to Group during the period was £431 million (FY14: £473 million), with remittances from all markets impacted by adverse foreign exchange movements. Excluding foreign exchange movements, remittances were up 1%.
 
Life operating profit: IFRS basis
Life operating profit was £766 million (FY14: £882 million), a reduction of £116 million, of which £90 million was due to adverse foreign exchange movements in the year. Excluding foreign exchange movements, the adverse impact of the disposals of Eurovita and CxG, as well as the one-off benefit in FY14 from regulatory pension changes in Poland, overall life operating profit improved by 6% despite continuing low interest rates.
In France, operating profit was 4% lower at £395 million (FY14: £412 million) but up 7% on a constant currency basis, mainly from portfolio growth and a continued improvement in mix towards unit-linked and protection products, together with strong results from UFF, our majority-owned broker business. Italy's operating profit4 increased to £139 million (FY14: £135 million), up 15% on a constant currency basis, mostly due to improved margins on with-profits business driven by management actions to reduce the costs of guarantees. Operating profit4 in Poland reduced to £129 million (FY14: £183 million), down 21% on a constant currency basis largely due to a £39 million one-off regulatory pension change which benefitted the prior period. In Spain, operating profit4 decreased to £92 million (FY14: £101 million) but was 2% higher on a constant currency basis. Operating profit5 in Turkey was broadly stable at £11 million despite a lower ownership share of the business following the partial IPO in the second half of 2014.
 
General insurance & health operating profit: IFRS basis
Operating profit was £114 million (FY14: £113 million), up 12% on a constant currency basis mainly driven by the disposal of the loss-making Turkey GI business in December 2014. Operating profit in Poland increased to £10 million (FY14: £8 million). Operating profit in France was £71 million (FY14: £78 million), up 2% in constant currency due to better weather experience compared with the prior year, partly offset by higher large losses and lower investment returns. Italy's operating profit was £33 million (FY14: £40 million), down 8% in constant currency mainly due to lower longer-term investment return reflecting market conditions.
 
Expenses
Operating expenses improved to £526 million (FY14: £596 million) and were broadly stable in constant currency. Integration and restructuring costs of £22 million (FY14: £17 million) relate largely to Solvency II costs.
 
Value of new business
Europe's value of new business4 (VNB) was £400 million (FY14: £392 million), an increase of 14% in constant currency, with improvement across all markets. VNB in France was up 7%5 mostly due to volume growth and an improved margin on protection business, partly offset by lower risk-free rates increasing the cost of guarantees on with-profits business. In Poland, excluding an £8 million one-off benefit in FY14 from regulatory pension changes in Lithuania, VNB was up 29%4,5 due to increased sales of higher margin protection business. VNB in Italy was up by 40%4,5 mainly driven by higher margins on with-profits products following management actions to reduce the cost of guarantees, together with an improved mix of business away from with-profits products towards protection business. In Spain, VNB increased by 17%4,5 mainly driven by an improved mix within protection business, partly offset by reduced sales of with-profits savings business following management actions to reduce guarantees available. In Turkey, VNB increased by 4%5 despite the impact of a reduction in our share of the business following the partial IPO in 2014. Excluding the effect of this dilution, VNB in Turkey grew 24%5 mainly driven by higher sales of pension products.
 
4 Poland includes Lithuania, Italy excludes Eurovita and Spain excludes CxG.
5 On a constant currency basis.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 13
 
6.iii - Europe continued
Combined operating ratio1
 
 
Claims ratio
Commission and
expense ratio
Combined operating ratio
Europe
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
France
67.8
70.1
27.9
26.8
95.7
96.9
Poland
54.4
57.6
40.3
38.4
94.7
96.0
Italy
64.1
66.6
30.2
27.4
94.3
94.0
Turkey
-
101.5
-
45.4
-
146.9
Total
66.2
69.7
29.2
28.0
95.4
97.7
 
1 General Insurance business only.
 
Combined operating ratio (COR) has improved to 95.4% (FY14: 97.7%), mostly driven by a lower claims ratio following the disposal of the Turkish general insurance business in December 2014. Excluding Turkey GI, COR improved 0.6pp (FY14: 96.0%). Improvements in the claims ratio were largely driven by better weather experience in France compared with the adverse weather events in the prior year and favourable prior year claims development in Italy. The commission and expense ratio was impacted by a shift in business mix in France and Italy and growth in higher commission lines in Poland.
Net written premiums (NWP) for the general insurance and health business were £1,410 million (FY14: £1,556 million), an increase of 1% in constant currency. Excluding Turkey GI, NWP improved 3% on a constant currency basis driven by growth in the motor and commercial property businesses in France and the creditor business in Italy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 14
 
 
6.iv - Canada
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cash remitted to Group
6
138
General Insurance operating profit: IFRS basis
214
189
Expenses
   
Operating expenses
298
316
Integration and restructuring costs
7
4
 
305
320
Combined operating ratio
93.8%
96.1%
 
Cash
Cash generated in 2015 was largely retained in order to part-fund the proposed acquisition of Royal Bank of Canada General Insurance Company, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016. The cash remittance of £6 million paid in 2015 reflects the interest incurred on internal debt.
 
Operating profit: IFRS basis
General insurance operating profit was £214 million (FY14: £189 million), an increase of £25 million (up 22% on a constant currency basis) compared with the prior year. Within this, the underwriting result of £120 million (FY14: £83 million) benefitted from more benign weather conditions compared to last year and higher positive prior year reserve development in personal lines. Longer-term investment return reduced 13% to £98 million (FY14: £112 million), primarily as a result of lower reinvestment yields.
 
Expenses
Operating expenses were £298 million (FY14: £316 million), a 1% increase on a constant currency basis driven by volume growth, with gross written premiums 4% higher in constant currency. Integration and restructuring costs were £7 million (FY14: £4 million).
 
Combined operating ratio
 
 
Claims ratio
Commission and
expense ratio
Combined operating ratio
Canada
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
2015
%
2014
%
Personal
66.8
68.1
27.8
28.3
94.6
96.4
Commercial
57.1
61.1
35.4
34.4
92.5
95.5
Total
63.3
65.5
30.5
30.6
93.8
96.1
 
Combined operating ratio has improved 2.3pp to 93.8% (FY14: 96.1%) driven by an overall improvement in the claims and commission and expense ratios. The commercial lines COR improved 3pp, principally due to improved risk selection in our SME business and improved weather, which reduced claims frequency. The personal lines COR of 94.6% (FY14: 96.4%) benefitted from higher reserve releases, principally in the motor segment as well as improved weather.
Net written premiums were £1,992 million (FY14: £2,104 million), up 1% on a constant currency basis. The increase predominantly reflects improved rates and retention on personal lines.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 15
 
 
6.v - Asia
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cash remitted to Group
21
23
Operating profit: IFRS basis
   
Life
244
87
General insurance & health
(6)
(2)
 
238
85
Expenses
   
Operating expenses
141
80
Integration and restructuring costs
7
1
 
148
81
Value of new business
   
Value of new business - excluding South Korea
151
122
Effects of disposals (South Korea)
-
5
 
151
127
Combined operating ratio1
101.6%
97.8%
 
1 General insurance business only.
 
Cash
Total cash remitted to Group was £21 million (FY14: £23 million) from the Singapore life business.
 
Operating profit: IFRS basis
Overall operating profit from life and general insurance and health business was £238 million (FY14: £85 million). Life operating profits were £244 million (FY14: £87 million). Within this, FPI contributed £151 million to the life operating result (£15 million operating profit net of amortisation of acquired value of in-force business) since its acquisition in April 2015. Excluding FPI, life operating profit in Asia grew to £93 million (FY14: £87 million), mainly reflecting higher new business contribution in Singapore and profit emergence from China's in-force business. The non-life business reported a £6 million loss (FY14: £2 million loss), largely driven by adverse claims experience in the Singapore health business.
 
Expenses
Overall operating expenses were £141 million (FY14: £80 million), including £46 million of expenses from FPI in FY15. Operating expenses excluding FPI increased 19% to £95 million (FY14: £80 million), mostly due to investment to support business growth across Asia.
 
Value of New Business
Value of new business2 (VNB) increased to £151 million (FY14: £122 million). Singapore's VNB increased £16 million to £103 million (FY14: £87 million), following higher sales of protection business. VNB in China improved by £11 million to £42 million (FY14: £31 million) largely driven by a continued shift towards higher margin protection products. The inclusion of FPI benefitted FY15 overall VNB by £5 million.
 
Combined Operating Ratio
Combined operating ratio for the general insurance business was 101.6% (FY14: 97.8%), mainly as a result of higher expenses. Net written premiums for the general insurance and health business increased to £107 million (FY14: £87 million), up 23% on a constant currency basis, as growth in the Singapore health business more than offset the adverse impact from a change in our shareholding of the Indonesian health business.
 
2 Asia excludes South Korea.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 16
 
 
 
6.vi - Fund management
 
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
Cash remitted to Group1
24
16
Fund management operating profit: IFRS basis
   
Aviva Investors
105
79
United Kingdom
-
6
Asia
1
1
 
106
86
Aviva Investors: Operating profit: IFRS basis
   
Fund management
105
79
Other operations
-
(18)
 
105
61
Expenses1
   
Operating expenses
345
298
Integration and restructuring costs
11
4
 
356
302
Value of new business1
16
9
 
1 Only includes Aviva Investors.
 
Cash
Cash remitted to Group was £24 million (FY14: £16 million), primarily reflecting a higher remittance by Aviva Investors France.
 
Operating profit: IFRS basis
Fund management operating profit generated by Aviva Investors was £105 million (FY14: £79 million), including a contribution of £9 million from Friends Life Investments (FLI). Excluding FLI, the increase of £17 million was mainly driven by increased performance fees partly offset by higher operating expenses.
 
Expenses
Operating expenses in Aviva Investors were £345 million (FY14: £298 million), including £11 million expenses from Friends Life Investments. Excluding Friends Life Investments, operating expenses increased by £36 million to £334 million, primarily due to investment to support the growth and further development of the business.
Integration and restructuring costs increased to £11 million (FY14: £4 million), largely relating to the Friends Life integration.
 
 
Value of New Business
Value of new business in Aviva Investors has increased by £7 million to £16 million (FY14: £9 million) following the transfer of the UK retail fund management business from UK Life in May 2014.
 
Net flows and funds under management - Aviva Investors
 
 
Internal
£m
External
£m
Total
£m
Aviva Investors
     
Funds under management at 1 January 2015
200,415
45,483
245,898
Gross Sales
17,231
5,946
23,177
Gross claims/redemptions
(21,995)
(6,255)
(28,250)
Market movements and other1
(3,556)
(1,438)
(4,994)
Acquisitions2
54,079
-
54,079
Funds under management at 31 December 2015
246,174
43,736
289,910
 
1 Market movements and other includes £3.0 billion of outflows within Internal for the Ark Life & Aviva Assicuration Vita mandates (disposals). Within external market movements are liquidity outflows of £890 million.
2 Acquisitions includes Friends Life, Real Estate Finance and France Real Estate.
 
Aviva Investors funds under management have increased by £44 billion to £289.9 billion (FY14: £245.9 billion) during the year. This was driven by acquisitions, partly offset by net outflows and adverse market and other movements including adverse euro exchange rate movements.
Acquisitions in 2015 include £22.3 billion of assets managed by FLI at acquisition, £22.8 billion of Friends Life assets transitioned to Aviva Investors, and £9.0 billion from the transfer of our Real Estate Finance and French Real Estate businesses.
Our flagship Aviva Investors multi-strategy (AIMS) fund range, which was launched in July 2014, has achieved net external inflows of £1 billion during the year and had £3.0 billion funds under management at the end of 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 17
 
7.i - Life business profit drivers
Life business operating profit before shareholder tax increased by 20% to £2,419 million (FY14: £2,019 million), including a contribution of £509 million from Friends Life. Excluding Friends Life, operating profit decreased by 5% to £1,910 million, with an adverse foreign exchange impact on the life business result of £92 million during the year largely driven by the weakening of the euro. On a constant currency basis excluding Friends Life businesses, life operating profit was largely stable.
 
 
United Kingdom & Ireland
Europe
Asia
Total
 
2015
£m
Restated1
2014
£m
2015
£m
Restated1
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
Restated1
2014
£m
New business income
708
462
228
227
152
126
1,088
815
Underwriting margin
279
175
208
230
82
58
569
463
Investment return
1,208
738
989
1,113
90
50
2,287
1,901
Total Income
2,195
1,375
1,425
1,570
324
234
3,944
3,179
Acquisition expenses
(405)
(278)
(243)
(263)
(127)
(96)
(775)
(637)
Administration expenses
(584)
(364)
(434)
(467)
(73)
(36)
(1,091)
(867)
Total Expenses
(989)
(642)
(677)
(730)
(200)
(132)
(1,866)
(1,504)
DAC and other
226
316
18
42
120
(15)
364
343
 
1,432
1,049
766
882
244
87
2,442
2,018
Other business2
           
(23)
1
Total
           
2,419
2,019
 
1 Operating profit has been restated to exclude amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business, which is now shown as a non-operating item. See note B2 for further details. There is no impact on total equity for any period presented as a result of this restatement.
2 Other business includes the total result for Aviva Investors Pooled Pensions and Aviva Life Reinsurance.
 
Income: New business income and underwriting margin
 
 
United Kingdom & Ireland
Europe
Asia
Total
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
New business income (£m)
708
462
228
227
152
126
1,088
815
APE (£m)1
2,075
1,409
947
1,071
356
285
3,378
2,765
As margin on APE (%)
34%
33%
24%
21%
43%
44%
32%
29%
Underwriting margin (£m)
279
175
208
230
82
58
569
463
Analysed by:
               
Expenses
65
44
44
55
39
30
148
129
Mortality and longevity
201
114
142
153
38
22
381
289
Persistency
13
17
22
22
5
6
40
45
 
1 APE excludes UK Retail Fund Management and Health business in UK & Ireland and Asia.
 
(a) New business income
New business income increased to £1,088 million (FY14: £815 million), mainly driven by the inclusion of the Friends Life contribution of £155 million.
The net contribution from new business is the new business income less associated acquisition expenses (see (g) below). This increased to a profit of £313 million (FY14: profit of £178 million).
In the UK & Ireland, excluding Friends UK, net contribution from new business increased to £304 million (FY14: £184 million) mainly driven by higher new Bulk Purchase Annuities (BPA) profit and lower acquisition expenses. Volumes based on APE (excluding Friends UK) decreased by 2% largely due to a decrease in individual annuities, partly offset by an increase in bulk purchase annuities. The net contribution from Friends UK new business was a loss of £1 million.
In Europe, net contribution improved to a loss of £15 million (FY14: loss of £36 million), up 54% on a constant currency basis. The increase is mainly driven by a change in business mix towards higher margin products and lower guarantees on with-profits products in Italy. Volumes based on APE decreased by 1% in constant currency, reflecting lower sales volumes in Italy and Spain (partly reflecting the disposal of Eurovita in June 2014 and CxG in December 2014), offset by an increase in volumes in France. New business margin on APE increased in Europe to 24% (FY14: 21%), driven by the change in business mix.
In Asia, net contribution decreased to a profit of £25 million (FY14: profit of £30 million) with the benefit of increased protection sales and cost control in Singapore offset by the inclusion of FPI which contributed a net loss of £13 million.
 
(b) Underwriting margin
The underwriting margin increased to £569 million (FY14: £463 million). In the UK & Ireland, underwriting margin increased to £279 million (FY14: £175 million) driven primarily by the inclusion of £106 million from Friends UK. In Europe, underwriting margin decreased to £208 million (FY14: £230 million) driven by adverse foreign currency movements (1% increase in constant currency).
In Asia, underwriting margin increased to £82 million (FY14: £58 million) mainly due to favourable expense margins in China driven by higher volumes and the inclusion of £15 million from FPI, partly offset by the sale of Korea at HY14.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 18
 
 
7.i - Life business profit drivers continued
Income: Investment return
 
 
United Kingdom & Ireland
Europe
Asia
Total
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
Unit-linked margin (£m)
763
434
435
439
70
13
1,268
886
As Annual management charge on average reserves (bps)
83
87
140
126
108
108
98
103
Average reserves (£bn)
92.4
49.8
31.0
34.8
6.5
1.2
129.9
85.8
Participating business (£m)
152
94
470
531
(3)
(1)
619
624
As bonus on average reserves (bps)
31
27
84
90
n/a
n/a
57
65
Average reserves (£bn)
49.5
34.4
55.9
59.3
2.7
1.7
108.1
95.4
Spread margin (£m)
198
136
7
25
10
26
215
187
As spread margin on average reserves (bps)
36
32
23
60
111
236
37
39
Average reserves (£bn)
54.6
42.1
3.1
4.2
0.9
1.1
58.6
47.4
Expected return on shareholder assets (£m)
95
74
77
118
13
12
185
204
Total (£m)
1,208
738
989
1,113
90
50
2,287
1,901
 
(c) Unit-linked margin
The unit-linked average reserves have increased to £130 billion (FY14: £86 billion), with the movement largely driven by the inclusion of total Friends Life reserves of £46 billion. The unit-linked margin increased to £1,268 million (FY14: £886 million) mainly driven by the acquisition of Friends Life businesses. The margin as a proportion of average unit-linked reserves decreased to 98 bps (FY14: 103 bps).
The improved unit-linked margin in UK & Ireland is driven by the inclusion of the Friends UK margin of £338 million. Unit-linked margin in Europe, on a constant currency basis, improved by 10% due to higher commission income and volumes in France. The increase in unit-linked margin in Asia is due to the inclusion of the FPI margin of £61 million.
 
(d) Participating business
The participating average reserves have increased to £108 billion (FY14: £95 billion), largely driven by the inclusion of total Friends Life reserves of £17 billion. Income from participating business reduced to £619 million (FY14: £624 million). In the UK & Ireland, the shareholder transfer from with-profits funds increased to £152 million (FY14: £94 million), including £57 million attributable to Friends UK. Excluding Friends UK, participating margin remained stable in the UK & Ireland. In Europe, income reduced to £470 million (FY14: £531 million) and was broadly stable on a constant currency basis. The majority of participating business income is earned in France, where there is a fixed management charge of around 50 bps on AFER business, which is the largest single component of this business.
 
(e) Spread margin
Spread business average reserves have increased to £59 billion (FY14: £47 billion), largely driven by the inclusion of total Friends Life reserves of £10 billion. Spread business income, which mainly relates to UK in-force immediate annuity and equity release business, improved to £215 million (FY14: £187 million). The spread margin was 37 bps (FY14: 39 bps). The increase in spread income in UK & Ireland is driven by the inclusion of Friends UK which contributed £60 million. Excluding Friends UK, spread income in UK & Ireland was stable. In Europe, spread income reduced by 7% on a constant currency basis largely due to lower reinvestment yields on assets in Spain. In Asia, spread business income reduced to £10 million (FY14: £26 million) mainly due to the disposal of South Korea in June 2014.
 
(f) Expected return on shareholder assets
Expected returns, representing investment income on surplus funds, reduced to £185 million (FY14: £204 million). Excluding Friends UK of £21 million, expected return in the UK and Ireland has remained stable. The reduction in Europe reflected lower investment yields.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 19
 
 
7.i - Life business profit drivers continued
Expenses
 
 
United Kingdom & Ireland
Europe
Asia
Total
 
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
2015
£m
2014
£m
Acquisition expenses (£m)
(405)
(278)
(243)
(263)
(127)
(96)
(775)
(637)
APE (£m)1
2,075
1,409
947
1,071
356
285
3,378
2,765
As acquisition expense ratio on APE (%)
20%
20%
26%
25%
36%
34%
23%
23%
Administration expenses (£m)
(584)
(364)
(434)
(467)
(73)
(36)
(1,091)
(867)
As existing business expense ratio on average reserves (bps)
30
29
48
48
72
90
37
38
Average reserves (£bn)
196.5
126.3
90.0
98.3
10.1
4.0
296.6
228.6
 
1 APE excludes UK Retail Fund Management and Health business in UK & Ireland and Asia.
 
(g) Acquisition expenses
Acquisition expenses increased to £775 million (FY14: £637 million) primarily reflecting the inclusion of total Friends Life expenses of £169 million. In UK & Ireland, excluding Friends UK expenses of £155 million, lower acquisition costs reflect cost saving initiatives. Europe acquisition expenses have improved driven by beneficial exchange rate movements of £27 million, offset by increased expenses in France reflecting higher new business volumes. The increase in Asia is largely due to higher volumes in Singapore and China and the inclusion of FPI expenses of £14 million. The overall group-wide ratio of acquisition expenses to APE remained stable at 23% (FY14: 23%).
 
(h) Administration expenses
Administration expenses increased to £1,091 million (FY14: £867 million). The expense ratio was 37 bps (FY14: 38 bps) on average reserves of £297 billion (FY14: £229 billion). The increase in UK & Ireland is driven by the inclusion of Friends UK expenses of £230 million. In Europe, administration expenses were £434 million (FY14: £467 million), an increase of 4% in constant currency driven by higher commission related expenses in France. Asia administration expenses increased due to the inclusion of FPI costs of £37 million partly offset by the sale of Korea in 2014.
The overall increase in life business acquisition and administration expenses was £362 million, with additional costs from Friends Life of £436 million partly offset by foreign exchange movements.
 
(i) DAC and other
DAC and other items amounted to an overall positive contribution of £364 million (FY14: £343 million), which was mainly driven by the UK. In FY15, the UK included non-recurring items of £259 million, relating to expense reserve releases following actions taken to reduce the current and future cost base, excluding any integration synergy benefits. In FY14, the UK included non-recurring items of £282 million mainly from longevity assumption changes and expense reserve releases, which were partially offset by increased DAC amortisation charges on pension business. Other items in FY14 also reflected a £39 million one-off benefit in Poland from a regulatory pension change.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 20
 
7.ii - General insurance and health
 
2015
UK
Personal
£m
UK Commercial
£m
Total
UK
£m
Ireland
£m
Total UK & Ireland
£m
Canada Personal
£m
Canada Commercial
£m
Total
Canada
£m
Europe
£m
Asia &
Other2
£m
Total
£m
General insurance
                     
Gross written premiums
2,253
1,719
3,972
291
4,263
1,324
785
2,109
1,263
12
7,647
Net written premiums1
2,168
1,517
3,685
282
3,967
1,282
710
1,992
1,200
12
7,171
Net earned premiums1
2,160
1,493
3,653
262
3,915
1,258
719
1,977
1,171
16
7,079
Net claims incurred1
(1,413)
(950)
(2,363)
(177)
(2,540)
(840)
(411)
(1,251)
(775)
1
(4,565)
Of which claims handling costs
   
(170)
(7)
(177)
   
(74)
(45)
-
(296)
Written commission
(479)
(307)
(786)
(36)
(822)
(248)
(147)
(395)
(245)
-
(1,462)
Written expenses3
(153)
(182)
(335)
(39)
(374)
(108)
(105)
(213)
(105)
(7)
(699)
Movement in DAC and other
(18)
3
(15)
(1)
(16)
5
(3)
2
13
-
(1)
Underwriting result1
97
57
154
9
163
67
53
120
59
10
352
Longer-term investment return4
   
215
21
236
   
98
53
3
390
Other5
   
(1)
-
(1)
   
(4)
-
-
(5)
Operating profit1
   
368
30
398
   
214
112
13
737
Health insurance
                     
Underwriting result
       
27
   
-
1
(6)
22
Longer-term investment return
       
5
   
-
1
-
6
Operating profit
       
32
   
-
2
(6)
28
Total operating profit1
       
430
   
214
114
7
765
General insurance combined operating ratio1
                     
Claims ratio1
65.4%
63.6%
64.7%
67.9%
64.9%
66.8%
57.1%
63.3%
66.2%
 
64.5%
Commission ratio
22.1%
20.2%
21.3%
12.8%
20.7%
19.3%
20.7%
19.8%
20.4%
 
20.4%
Expense ratio
7.0%
12.0%
9.1%
13.9%
9.4%
8.5%
14.7%
10.7%
8.8%
 
9.7%
Combined operating ratio1,6
94.5%
95.8%
95.1%
94.6%
95.0%
94.6%
92.5%
93.8%
95.4%
 
94.6%
Assets supporting general insurance and health business
                     
Debt securities
   
3,993
470
4,463
   
2,999
1,937
209
9,608
Equity securities
   
8
-
8
   
188
21
-
217
Investment property
   
198
-
198
   
-
137
-
335
Cash and cash equivalents
   
639
79
718
   
107
118
26
969
Other7
   
2,559
104
2,663
   
135
209
1
3,008
Assets at 31 December 2015
   
7,397
653
8,050
   
3,429
2,422
236
14,137
Debt securities
   
4,429
825
5,254
   
3,261
2,140
203
10,858
Equity securities
   
7
-
7
   
222
22
-
251
Investment property
   
91
4
95
   
-
128
-
223
Cash and cash equivalents
   
865
79
944
   
123
185
48
1,300
Other7
   
3,372
101
3,473
   
122
172
-
3,767
Assets at 31 December 2014
   
8,764
1,009
9,773
   
3,728
2,647
251
16,399
Average assets
   
8,080
831
8,911
   
3,578
2,535
244
15,268
LTIR as % of average assets
   
2.7%
2.5%
2.7%
   
2.7%
2.1%
1.2%
2.6%
 
1 Excludes the impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
2 Asia & Other includes Aviva Re.
3 Operating expenses shown in note 3 includes claims handling costs and written expenses included in general insurance COR above, plus operating expenses of other non-insurance operations.
4 The UK & Ireland LTIR includes £115 million (FY14: £156 million) relating to the internal loan. This is lower than 2014 primarily as a result of the reduction in the balance of this loan during 2015.
5 Includes unwind of discount and pension scheme net finance costs.
6 COR is calculated as incurred claims expressed as a percentage of net earned premiums, plus written commissions and written expenses expressed as a percentage of net written premiums. COR is calculated using unrounded numbers so minor rounding differences may exist.
7 Includes loans and other financial investments.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 21
 
7.ii - General insurance and health continued
 
2014
UK
Personal
£m
UK Commercial
£m
Total
UK
£m
Ireland
£m
Total
UK & Ireland
£m
Canada Personal
£m
Canada Commercial
£m
Total
Canada
£m
Europe
£m
Asia &
Other1
£m
Total
£m
General insurance
                     
Gross written premiums
2,239
1,694
3,933
285
4,218
1,344
832
2,176
1,389
15
7,798
Net written premiums
2,152
1,511
3,663
272
3,935
1,325
779
2,104
1,313
20
7,372
Net earned premiums
2,202
1,511
3,713
267
3,980
1,280
770
2,050
1,308
23
7,361
Net claims incurred
(1,359)
(905)
(2,264)
(179)
(2,443)
(872)
(471)
(1,343)
(912)
(13)
(4,711)
Of which claims handling costs
   
(193)
(6)
(199)
   
(79)
(59)
-
(337)
Written commission
(564)
(309)
(873)
(36)
(909)
(259)
(157)
(416)
(250)
(1)
(1,576)
Written expenses2
(175)
(189)
(364)
(44)
(408)
(115)
(111)
(226)
(117)
(5)
(756)
Movement in DAC and other
(8)
(5)
(13)
(3)
(16)
15
3
18
1
-
3
Underwriting result
96
103
199
5
204
49
34
83
30
4
321
Longer-term investment return3
   
260
18
278
   
112
74
6
470
Other4
   
(4)
-
(4)
   
(6)
-
-
(10)
Operating profit
   
455
23
478
   
189
104
10
781
Health insurance
                     
Underwriting result
       
15
   
-
8
(3)
20
Longer-term investment return
       
6
   
-
1
-
7
Operating profit
       
21
   
-
9
(3)
27
Total operating profit
       
499
   
189
113
7
808
General insurance combined operating ratio
                     
Claims ratio
61.7%
59.9%
61.0%
67.1%
61.4%
68.1%
61.1%
65.5%
69.7%
 
64.0%
Commission ratio
26.2%
20.4%
23.8%
13.4%
23.1%
19.6%
20.2%
19.8%
19.1%
 
21.4%
Expense ratio
8.1%
12.5%
10.0%
16.1%
10.4%
8.7%
14.2%
10.8%
8.9%
 
10.3%
Combined operating ratio5
96.0%
92.8%
94.8%
96.6%
94.9%
96.4%
95.5%
96.1%
97.7%
 
95.7%
Assets supporting general insurance and health business
                     
Debt securities
   
4,429
825
5,254
   
3,261
2,140
203
10,858
Equity securities
   
7
-
7
   
222
22
-
251
Investment property
   
91
4
95
   
-
128
-
223
Cash and cash equivalents
   
865
79
944
   
123
185
48
1,300
Other6
   
3,372
101
3,473
   
122
172
-
3,767
Assets at 31 December 2014
   
8,764
1,009
9,773
   
3,728
2,647
251
16,399
Debt securities
   
3,515
994
4,509
   
3,098
2,255
243
10,105
Equity securities
   
15
-
15
   
301
23
-
339
Investment property
   
1
6
7
   
-
133
-
140
Cash and cash equivalents
   
1,490
194
1,684
   
95
152
51
1,982
Other6
   
5,088
109
5,197
   
79
159
-
5,435
Assets at 31 December 2013
   
10,109
1,303
11,412
   
3,573
2,722
294
18,001
Average assets
   
9,436
1,156
10,592
   
3,650
2,685
273
17,200
LTIR as % of average assets
   
2.8%
1.6%
2.7%
   
3.1%
2.8%
2.2%
2.8%
 
1 Asia & Other includes Aviva Re.
2 Operating expenses shown in note 3 includes claims handling costs and written expenses included in general insurance COR above, plus operating expenses of other non-insurance operations.
3 The UK & Ireland LTIR includes £156 million (FY13: £221 million) relating to the internal loan. This is lower than 2013 primarily as a result of a reduction in the balance of this loan during 2014.
4 Includes unwind of discount and pension scheme net finance costs.
5 COR is calculated as incurred claims expressed as a percentage of net earned premiums, plus written commissions and written expenses expressed as a percentage of net written premiums. COR is calculated using unrounded numbers so minor rounding differences may exist.
6 Includes loans and other financial investments.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 22
 
7.iii - Fund flows
 
 
Managed assets at
1 January 2015
£m
Acquisitions1
£m
Premiums and deposits,
net of reinsurance
£m
Claims and redemptions, net of reinsurance
£m
Net flows2
£m
Effect of disposals, market
and other movements
£m
Managed assets at
31 December 2015
£m
Life and platform business
             
UK - non-profit - platform
5,282
-
3,695
(461)
3,234
(140)
8,376
UK - non-profit - other
83,731
63,810
8,019
(10,799)
(2,780)
(1,231)
143,530
Ireland
5,518
-
515
(589)
(74)
(292)
5,152
United Kingdom & Ireland (excluding UK with-profits)
94,531
63,810
12,229
(11,849)
380
(1,663)
157,058
Europe
96,602
-
7,877
(6,868)
1,009
(2,979)
94,632
Asia
4,240
7,505
1,496
(1,231)
265
(526)
11,484
Other
1,862
-
28
(257)
(229)
119
1,752
 
197,235
71,315
21,630
(20,205)
1,425
(5,049)
264,926
UK - with-profits and other
46,677
         
62,067
Total life and platform business
243,912
         
326,993
 
1 For further details on the acquisition of Friends Life see note B4.
2 Life business net flows in the table above are net of reinsurance and exclude flows related to UK equity release products.
 
United Kingdom & Ireland (excluding UK with-profits)
During 2015, net inflows in UK Life platform were £3,234 million reflecting growing market presence. Over the period, platform assets under management have increased by 59% to £8,376 million.
Other UK non-profit outflows were £2,780 million. Positive net flows in group pensions have been more than offset by higher claims and redemptions in traditional pension and savings products due to customers switching to adviser and consumer platforms, including the UK Life Platform, and taking advantage of pension freedom. Other movements mainly reflect unfavourable market movements driven by an increase in interest rates and fall in equities.
In Ireland, net outflows were £74 million reflecting reduced new business inflows due to the strategic withdrawal from unprofitable product lines. In addition, claims exceeded premiums in the Irish with-profits fund which is closed to new business.
 
Europe
Net inflows were £1,009 million. This was mainly driven by France reflecting increased AFER inflows plus increased unit-linked and protection sales. Other movements in Europe include unfavourable foreign exchange movement of £4.8 billion partially offset by favourable market and other movements.
 
Asia and other
Net inflows in Asia were £265 million arising mainly in Singapore and reflect increased sales volumes including through DBS Bank Ltd, where the bancassurance distribution agreement has now ceased. Market and other movements reflect adverse foreign exchange rate and market movements. Other business net outflows of £229 million primarily relate to Aviva Investors' Pooled Pensions business.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 23
 
8.i - Summary of assets
The Group asset portfolio is invested to generate competitive investment returns for both policyholders and shareholders whilst remaining within the Group's appetite for market and credit risk.
The Group has a low appetite for interest rate risk and currency risk which means that the asset portfolios are well matched by duration and currency to the liabilities they cover. The Group also runs a low level of liquidity risk which results in a high proportion of income generating assets and a preference for more liquid assets where there is the potential need to realise those assets before maturity.
The Group seeks to diversify its asset portfolio in order to reduce risk and provide more attractive risk-adjusted returns. In order to achieve this there is a comprehensive risk limit framework in place. There is an allowance for diversification in our economic capital model, actions have been taken to reduce our exposure to the eurozone periphery, and we are broadening the investment portfolio in individual businesses.
Asset allocation decisions are taken at legal entity level and in many cases by fund within a legal entity in order to reflect the nature of the liabilities, customer expectations, the local accounting and regulatory treatment, and any local constraints. These asset allocation decisions are made in accordance with a group-wide framework that takes into account consensus investment views across the Group, prioritised Group objectives and metrics and Group risk limits and constraints. This framework is overseen by the Group Asset Liability Committee (ALCO) and facilitates a consistent approach to asset allocation across the business units in line with Group risk appetite and shareholder objectives.
The asset allocation as at 31 December 2015 across the Group, split according to the type of liability the assets are covering, is shown in the table below. This includes the acquisition of Friends Life on 10 April 2015 which has significantly increased the total assets across the Group compared with the prior year. Further information on these assets is given in the Analysis of Assets Section.
 
 
Shareholder business assets
 
Participating fund assets
 
Carrying value in the statement of financial position
General Insurance & health &
other1
£m
Annuity and non-profit
£m
Policyholder (unit-linked assets)
£m
UK style with-profits
£m
Continental European-style Participating funds
£m
Carrying value in the statement of financial position
£m
Debt securities
           
Government bonds
5,956
12,799
13,018
19,553
24,635
75,961
Corporate bonds
4,036
22,366
8,221
14,393
24,994
74,010
Other
198
2,581
2,783
2,311
5,120
12,993
 
10,190
37,746
24,022
36,257
54,749
162,964
Loans
           
Mortgage loans
-
16,954
-
305
1
17,260
Other loans
142
1,868
83
2,355
725
5,173
 
142
18,822
83
2,660
726
22,433
Equity securities
227
310
47,394
12,168
3,459
63,558
Investment property
366
172
6,647
3,139
977
11,301
Other investments
625
1,536
39,795
3,284
2,455
47,695
Total as at 31 December 2015
11,550
58,586
117,941
57,508
62,366
307,951
Total as at 31 December 2014
12,463
46,820
71,454
42,077
64,009
236,823
 
1 Of the £11.6 billion of assets 7% relates to other shareholder business assets.
 
There is an internal loan between Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL) and Aviva Group Holdings Limited (AGH) that has a net value of zero at a consolidated level.
 
General insurance and health
All the investment risk is borne by shareholders and the portfolio held to cover these liabilities contains a high proportion of fixed and variable income securities, of which 84% are rated A or above. The assets are relatively short duration reflecting the short average duration of the liabilities. Liquidity, interest rate and FX risks are maintained at a low level.
 
Annuity and other non-profit
All the investment risk is borne by shareholders. The annuity liabilities have a long duration but are also illiquid as customers cannot surrender their policies. The assets are chosen to provide stable income with a good cash flow, FX and interest rate match to the liabilities. We are able to invest part of the portfolio in less liquid assets in order to improve risk-adjusted returns given the illiquid nature of the liabilities. The asset portfolio is principally comprised of long maturity bonds and loans including a material book of commercial mortgage loans. As at 31 December 2015, unrealised losses and impairments on the bond portfolio of £37.7 billion amounted to £1.8 billion or 5% of the portfolio. The equivalent figure for 31 December 2014 was 0.3%. Unrealised gains on the portfolio were £3.5 billion as at 31 December 2015 or 9% of the portfolio. The equivalent unrealised gains figure for 31 December 2014 was 17%. The other non-profit business assets are a smaller proportion of this portfolio and are generally shorter in duration and have a high proportion invested in fixed income.
£10.6 billion of Shareholder loan assets are backing annuity liabilities and comprise of commercial mortgage loans (£6.3 billion), Healthcare, Infrastructure and PFI loans (£3.2 billion) and Primary Healthcare, Infrastructure and PFI other loans (£1.1 billion). The Group carries a valuation allowance within the liabilities against the risk of default of commercial mortgages, including Healthcare and PFI mortgages, of £0.6 billion which equates to 59bps at 31 December 2015 (FY14: 87bps). Commercial mortgages decreased during 2015 as a result of UK Life's commercial mortgage loans restructure and recovery programme which completed with the sale of £2.2 billion of commercial mortgage loans to Lone Star.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 24
 
 
8.i - Summary of assets continued
Policyholder assets
These assets are invested in line with the fund choices made by our unit-linked policyholders and the investment risk is borne by the policyholder. This results in a high allocation to growth assets such as equity and property. Aviva's shareholder exposure to these assets arises from the fact that the income we receive is a proportion of the assets under management.
 
UK style with-profits (WP)
UK style with-profits funds hold relatively long-term contracts with policyholders participating in pooled investment performance subject to some minimum guarantees. Smoothed returns are used to declare bonuses to policyholders which increase the level of the guarantees through time. The part of the portfolio to which policyholder bonuses are linked is invested in line with their expectations and includes growth assets such as equity and property as well as fixed income. The remainder of the portfolio is invested to mitigate the resultant shareholder risk. This leads us to an overall investment portfolio that holds a higher proportion of growth assets (such as equity and property) than our other business lines although there are still material allocations to fixed income assets.
 
Continental European style participating funds
Continental European style participating funds hold relatively long-term contracts with policyholders participating in pooled investment performance subject to some minimum guarantees. Smoothed returns are used to declare bonuses to policyholders.
Certain of the guarantees are subject to annual discretion declared at the start of the year. Other guarantees are subject to revision downwards at contractual dates. The investment portfolio holds a higher proportion of fixed income assets than the UK style equivalent. Fixed income assets also give rise to less volatility on the local statutory balance sheet than growth assets.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 25
 
8.ii - Net asset value
At the end of 2015, IFRS net asset value per share was 389 pence (FY14: 340 pence). This increase was driven by a benefit from the acquisition of Friends Life of 55 pence per share (£5,975 million) and operating profits. This was partly offset by the dividend payment to shareholders, amortisation of acquired value of in-force business following the Friends Life acquisition, integration and restructuring costs principally driven by transaction and integration activities in relation to the Friends Life acquisition, adverse foreign exchange movements, adverse investment variances, remeasurements of pension schemes and the adverse impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL).
Total investment variances and economic assumption changes were £170 million adverse. This included a £184 million adverse variance in the non-life businesses, reflecting unfavourable short-term fluctuations in investment values and adverse economic assumption changes. This was principally driven by an increase in risk-free rates reducing fixed income security market values mainly in the UK, higher expected future inflation rates used to calculate reserves for periodic payment orders and the adverse impact of lower discount rates, partly offset by foreign exchange gains on Group Centre holdings.
In the life businesses, investment return variances were £14 million positive mainly driven by realised bond gains and equity outperformance in France and higher interest rates in Singapore, which have reduced liabilities by more than asset values. This was partially offset by widening credit spreads in Italy. The investment variance in the UK was broadly neutral.
The adverse movement on the Group's staff pension schemes of £142 million post tax is principally due to the main UK staff pension scheme. The surplus has decreased over the period largely as a result of a rise in interest rates and narrowing credit spreads.
The adverse foreign exchange movement of £325 million is due to the strengthening of sterling, particularly compared with the euro and Canadian dollar.
 
IFRS
31 December 2015
£m
pence per
share2
31 December 2014
£m
pence per
share2
Equity attributable to shareholders of Aviva plc at 1 January1
10,018
340p
7,964
270p
Operating profit (restated)3
2,665
66p
2,173
74p
Investment return variances and economic assumption changes on life and non-life business
(170)
(4)p
188
6p
Profit/(loss) on the disposal and remeasurements of subsidiaries and associates
2
-
232
8p
Goodwill impairment and amortisation of intangibles
(177)
(4)p
(114)
(4)p
Amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business
(498)
(12)p
-
-
Integration and restructuring costs
(379)
(9)p
(140)
(5)p
Other4
(53)
(1)p
-
-
Tax on operating profit and on other activities
(311)
(8)p
(601)
(20)p
Non-controlling interests
(161)
(4)p
(169)
(6)p
Profit after tax attributable to shareholders of Aviva plc
918
24p
1,569
53p
AFS securities (fair value) & other reserve movements
10
-
62
2p
Ordinary dividends
(635)
(16)p
(446)
(15)p
Direct capital instrument and tier 1 notes interest and preference share dividend
(74)
(2)p
(86)
(3)p
Foreign exchange rate movements
(325)
(8)p
(317)
(11)p
Remeasurements of pension schemes
(142)
(4)p
1,315
45p
Friends Life acquisition5
5,975
55p
-
-
Other net equity movements
19
-
(43)
(1)p
Equity attributable to shareholders of Aviva plc at 31 December1
15,764
389p
10,018
340p
 
1 Excluding preference shares.
2 Number of shares as at 31 December 2015: 4,048 million (31 December 2014: 2,950 million).
3 Operating profit has been restated to exclude amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business, which is now shown as a non-operating item. See note B2 for further details. There is no impact on the result or the total equity for any period presented as a result of this restatement. Amortisation and impairment of AVIF has been added as a separate line item outside of operating profit.
4 Comprises the impact from an outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
5 Includes the dilution effect on IFRS NAV per share of the increase in number of shares arising as a result of the acquisition of Friends Life.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 26
 
 
8.ii - Net asset value continued
MCEV net asset value per share reduced to 515 pence (FY14: 527 pence) over the period. This movement is driven by the operating benefits from the acquisition of Friends Life and operating profits, more than offset by adverse investment variances, adverse foreign exchange rate movements, the dividend payment to shareholders and the integration and restructuring costs following the acquisition of Friends Life.
Total MCEV investment variances were £926 million adverse. This comprises adverse variances of £743 million in the Group's life businesses and adverse investment variances in the non-life businesses of £183 million.
The adverse life investment variances are largely driven by the UK, reflecting widening corporate bond spreads on annuity business, partially offset by increases in liquidity premiums. In addition, equity market underperformance has reduced expected future unit-linked fund charges and shareholder transfers from with-profits funds. Adverse variances in Asia are mainly driven by falling interest rates in China increasing the cost of guarantees. Positive variances in France are mainly due to an increase in risk-free rates and falling swaption volatilities resulting in a reduction in the cost of guarantees. Economic assumption changes relating to capital and dividend apportionment for equity returns further added to the positive variance in France.
 
MCEV1
31 December 2015
£m
pence per
share3
31 December 2014
£m
pence per
share3
Equity attributable to shareholders of Aviva plc at 1 January2
15,547
527p
13,643
463p
Operating profit
2,582
64p
2,885
98p
Investment return variances and economic assumption changes on life and non-life business
(926)
(23)p
(36)
(1)p
Profit/(loss) on the disposal and remeasurements of subsidiaries and associates
-
-
178
6p
Goodwill impairment and amortisation of intangibles
(181)
(4)p
(130)
(4)p
Amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business
-
-
-
-
Integration and restructuring costs
(382)
(9)p
(159)
(6)p
Other
174
4p
(198)
(7)p
Tax on operating profit and on other activities
(485)
(12)p
(674)
(23)p
Non-controlling interests
(161)
(4)p
(208)
(7)p
Profit after tax attributable to shareholders of Aviva plc
621
16p
1,658
56p
AFS securities (fair value) & other reserve movements
(1)
-
(1)
-
Ordinary dividends
(635)
(16)p
(446)
(15)p
Direct capital instruments and tier 1 notes interest and preference share dividend
(74)
(2)p
(86)
(3)p
Foreign exchange rate movements
(463)
(11)p
(546)
(19)p
Remeasurements of pension schemes
(142)
(4)p
1,315
45p
Friends Life acquisition4
5,975
5p
-
-
Other net equity movements
19
-
10
-
Equity attributable to shareholders of Aviva plc at 31 December2
20,847
515p
15,547
527p
 
1 In preparing the MCEV information, the directors have done so in accordance with the European Insurance CFO Forum MCEV Principles. No allowance for the impact of Solvency II has been made as permitted by the additional guidance issued in October 2015 by the European Insurance CFO Forum.
2 Excluding preference shares.
3 Number of shares as at 31 December 2015: 4,048 million (31 December 2014: 2,950 million).
4 Includes the dilution effect on MCEV NAV per share of the increase in number of shares arising as a result of the acquisition of Friends Life. As the opening MCEV is greater than the opening IFRS, the dilution effect is more significant under MCEV. As a result the acquisition leads to a 5p increase in pence per share under MCEV compared to 55p under IFRS.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 27
 
8.iii - Return on equity
Following the acquisition of Friends Life, management has changed the calculation of return on equity which is now calculated as net operating return on an IFRS basis expressed as a percentage of weighted average ordinary shareholders' equity (rather than opening ordinary shareholders' equity). Comparatives have been restated accordingly.
During 2015, return on equity has decreased to 14.0% (FY14: 16.2% restated), primarily reflecting the impact of the acquisition of Friends Life on weighted average shareholders' equity.
 
 
2015
%
Restated1
2014
%
United Kingdom & Ireland Life
14.2%
16.1%
United Kingdom & Ireland General Insurance and Health
7.9%
9.0%
Europe
12.7%
13.0%
Canada
16.9%
14.2%
Asia
22.0%
9.4%
Fund management
30.1%
23.2%
Corporate and Other Business
n/a
n/a
Return on total capital employed
10.7%
11.4%
Subordinated debt
4.4%
5.3%
Senior debt
3.5%
2.1%
Return on total equity
13.3%
14.2%
Less: Non-controlling interest
12.2%
10.5%
Direct capital instrument and tier 1 notes
6.6%
5.5%
Preference capital
8.5%
8.5%
Return on equity shareholders' funds2
14.0%
16.2%
 
1 Operating profit has been restated to exclude amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business, which is now shown as a non-operating item. See note B2 for further details. There is no impact on total equity for any period presented as a result of this restatement. The combined impact of the operating profit restatement and the change to the calculation of return on equity has decreased the FY14 return on equity shareholders' funds from 17.4% to 16.2%.
2 Return on equity including the impact of amortisation and impairment of acquired value of in-force business would be 10.5% (FY14: 15.8%).
 
 
 
 
 
Page 28
 
8.iv - European Insurance Groups Directive (IGD)
 
 
UK life funds
£bn
Other business
£bn
31 December 2015
£bn
31 December 2014
£bn
Insurance Groups Directive (IGD) capital resources
11.8
10.8
22.6
14.4
Less: capital resources requirement
(11.8)
(4.8)
(16.6)
(11.2)
Insurance Group Directive (IGD) excess solvency
-
6.0
6.0
3.2
Cover over EU minimum (calculated excluding UK life funds)
   
2.2 times
1.6 times
 
The EU Insurance Groups Directive (IGD) regulatory capital solvency surplus has increased by £2.8 billion since FY14 to £6.0 billion. The key drivers of the increase are the acquisition of Friends Life (£1.6 billion), operating profits (£1.6 billion) and the net issue of hybrid debt (£0.4 billion), offset by dividend payments and pension scheme funding (£0.5 billion).
 
The key movements over the period are set out in the following table:
 
 
£bn
IGD solvency surplus at 31 December 2014
3.2
Acquisition of Friends Life
1.6
Operating profits net of integration and restructuring costs
1.6
Net hybrid debt issue1
0.4
Dividends and appropriations
(0.3)
Pension scheme funding
(0.2)
Outward reinsurance of latent reserves2
0.2
Increase in capital resources requirement
(0.1)
Other regulatory adjustments
(0.4)
Estimated IGD solvency surplus at 31 December 2015
6.0
 
1 Net hybrid debt issue includes £1 billion benefit of two new Tier 2 subordinated debt instruments issued on 4 June 2015; offset by £(0.6) billion derecognition of two instruments redeemed in the second half of 2015.
2 Outward quota share reinsurance agreement completed in 2015 in Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL). See note A10 for further details.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 29
 
 
8.v - Economic capital
The estimated economic capital surplus represents the excess of Available Economic Capital over Required Economic Capital. Available Economic Capital is based on MCEV net assets, adjusted for items to convert to an economic basis. Required Economic Capital is based on Aviva's own internal assessment and capital management policies. The term 'economic capital' does not imply capital as required by regulators or other third parties.
 
Summary of estimated economic capital position
 
 
2015
£bn
2014
£bn
Available economic capital
25.9
18.6
Standalone required economic capital
(21.2)
(16.1)
Diversification benefit
6.9
5.9
Diversified required economic capital
(14.3)
(10.2)
Estimated economic capital position at 31 December before foreseeable dividend accrual
11.6
8.4
Cover Ratio
181%
182%
Foreseeable dividend accrual
-
(0.4)
Estimated economic capital position at 31 December
11.6
8.0
Cover Ratio
181%
178%
 
Analysis of change in economic capital
 
 
2015
£bn
2014
£bn
Economic capital surplus position at 1 January
8.0
8.3
MCEV operating earnings
1.7
1.6
Economic variances (including FX)
(1.3)
(0.5)
Other non-operating items
(0.3)
(0.4)
Dividends and appropriations, and shares issued in lieu of dividends
(0.3)
(0.5)
Net hybrid debt issuance
0.4
(0.3)
Acquisition of Friends Life
7.3
-
Available capital benefits from acquisitions and disposals
-
0.2
Other
0.2
0.1
Change in available economic capital
7.7
0.2
Impact of trading operations and other
1.5
0.3
Other changes in methodology
(2.0)
(0.6)
Acquisition of Friends Life
(3.6)
-
Capital requirement impact from acquisitions and disposals
-
0.2
Change in diversified required economic capital
(4.1)
(0.1)
Estimated economic capital surplus position at 31 December before foreseeable dividend accrual
11.6
8.4
Foreseeable dividend accrual
-
(0.4)
Estimated economic capital surplus position at 31 December
11.6
8.0
 
The estimated economic capital position has increased by £3.6 billion to £11.6 billion at 31 December 2015 with a cover ratio of 181%. The change in available economic capital position is driven by the acquisition of Friends Life, operating profits and net issue of hybrid debt instruments, offset by economic variances and other non-operating items. The change in required economic capital position is driven by the acquisition of Friends Life and strengthening of correlations and calibration assumptions to align with Solvency II.
 
Diversified required economic capital
 
 
2015
£bn
2014
£bn
Credit risk1
3.3
2.4
Equity risk2
1.6
1.5
Interest rate risk3
0.7
0.6
Other market risk4
1.6
1.4
Life insurance risk5
2.7
1.3
General insurance risk6
0.7
0.8
Operational Risk
1.0
0.7
Other risk7
2.7
1.5
Total
14.3
10.2
 
1 Capital held in respect of credit risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to changes in the market value of assets and defaults.
2 Capital held in respect of equity risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to changes in the market value of assets.
3 Capital held in respect of interest rate risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to changes in the market value of assets. A range of specific stresses are applied reflecting the difference in assumed risk relative to investment grade and duration.
4 Capital held in respect of other market risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to changes in the market value of commercial mortgages and property, but also captures risk in association with inflation and foreign exchange.
5 Capital held in respect of life insurance risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to life insurance specific risks, such as longevity and lapse.
6 Capital held in respect of general insurance risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to general insurance specific risks, such as claims volatility and catastrophe.
7 Capital held in respect of other risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to specific risks unique to particular business units and other items.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 30
 
8.vi - Solvency II
The estimated coverage ratio on a Solvency II basis is 180%. Solvency II, the new prudential regulatory framework, came into force on 1 January 2016 with the objective of introducing a consistent solvency framework for insurers across Europe. Aviva's Solvency II Partial Internal Model Application was formally approved by the Prudential Regulation Authority in December 2015.
 
Summary of Solvency II position
 
 
2015
£bn
Own Funds
21.8
Solvency Capital Requirement before diversification
(16.3)
Diversification benefit
4.2
Diversified Solvency Capital Requirement
(12.1)
Estimated Solvency II position at 31 December1
9.7
Cover Ratio
180%
 
1 The estimated Solvency II ratio represents the shareholder view. This ratio excludes the contribution to Group SCR and Group Own Funds of fully ring-fenced with-profits funds (£2.7 billion) and staff pension schemes in surplus (£0.7 billion) - these exclusions have no impact on Solvency II surplus. The impact from internal reinsurance arrangements between UK Life, UK and Ireland General Insurance and Aviva International Insurance Limited and the securitisation of equity release mortgages held by UK Life, effective 1 January 2016, have also been reflected in the Solvency II position.
 
 
Summary of analysis of diversified Solvency Capital Requirement
 
 
2015
£bn
Credit risk1
2.5
Equity risk2
1.1
Interest rate risk3
0.7
Other market risk4
1.3
Life insurance risk5
3.4
General insurance risk6
0.8
Operational risk
1.1
Other risk7
1.2
Total
12.1
 
1 Capital held in respect of credit risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to changes in the market value of assets and defaults.
2 Capital held in respect of equity risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to changes in the market value of assets.
3 Capital held in respect of interest rate risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to changes in the market value of assets. A range of specific stresses are applied reflecting the difference in assumed risk relative to investment grade and duration.
4 Capital held in respect of other market risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to changes in the market value of commercial mortgages and property, but also captures risk in association with inflation and foreign exchange.
5 Capital held in respect of life insurance risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to life insurance specific risks, such as longevity and lapse.
6 Capital held in respect of general insurance risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to general insurance specific risks, such as claims volatility and catastrophe.
7 Capital held in respect of other risk recognises the Group's shareholder exposure to specific risks unique to particular business units and other items.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 31
 
8.vi - Solvency II continued
Sensitivity analysis of Solvency II surplus
The following table shows the sensitivity of the Group's Solvency II surplus to:
 
Economic assumptions:
· 25 basis point increase and decrease in the risk-free rate, including all consequential changes (including assumed investment returns for all asset classes, market values of fixed interest assets, risk discount rates);
· 50 basis point increase and decrease in credit spreads for corporate bonds with credit rating A at 10 year duration, with the other ratings and durations stressed by the same proportion relative to the stressed capital requirement;
· 10% increase and decrease in market values of equity assets.
 
Non-Economic assumptions:
· 10% increase in maintenance expenses and investment expenses (a 10% sensitivity on a base expense assumption of £10 p.a. would represent an expense assumption of £11 p.a.);
· 10% increase in lapse rates (a 10% sensitivity on a base assumption of 5% p.a. would represent a lapse rate of 5.5% p.a.);
· 5% increase in both mortality and morbidity rates for life assurance;
· 5% decrease in mortality rates for annuity business;
· 5% increase in gross loss ratios for general insurance and health business.
 
All other assumptions remain unchanged for each sensitivity, except where these are directly affected by the revised economic conditions or where a management action that is allowed for in the Solvency Capital Requirement calculation is applicable for that sensitivity. For example, future bonus rates are automatically adjusted to reflect sensitivity changes to future investment returns.
Transitional relief on technical provisions is assumed to be recalculated in the interest rate sensitivities. The credit spread sensitivities assume that the fundamental spreads remain unchanged.
The table below shows the absolute change in cover ratio under each sensitivity, e.g. a 3% positive impact would result in a cover ratio of 183%.
 
Sensitivities
 
Impact on cover ratio
%
Changes in Economic assumptions
25bps increase in interest rate
3%
 
25bps decrease in interest rate
(4%)
 
50bps increase in corporate bond spread
(1%)
 
50bps decrease in corporate bond spread
1%
 
10% increase in market value of equity
1%
 
10% decrease in market value of equity1
0%
Changes in Non-Economic assumptions
10% increase in maintenance and investment expenses
(6%)
 
10% increase in lapse rates
(2%)
 
5% increase in mortality/morbidity rates - Life assurance
(1%)
 
5% decrease in mortality rates - annuity business
(8%)
 
5% increase in gross loss ratios
(2%)
 
 
1 A 10% fall in equities results in a proportionate decrease in Group Own Funds and Group SCR with no overall impact on the rounded Group cover ratio.
 
Limitations of sensitivity analysis
The table above demonstrates the effect of a change in a key assumption while other assumptions remain unchanged. In reality, there is a correlation between the assumptions and other factors. It should also be noted that these sensitivities are non-linear, and larger or smaller impacts should not be interpolated or extrapolated from these results.
The sensitivity analysis does not take into consideration that the Group's assets and liabilities are actively managed. Additionally, the Solvency II position of the Group may vary at the time that any actual market movement occurs. For example, the Group's financial risk management strategy aims to manage the exposure to market fluctuations.
As investment markets move past various trigger levels, management actions could include selling investments, changing investment portfolio allocation, adjusting bonuses credited to policyholders, and taking other protective action.
Other limitations in the above sensitivity analysis includes the use of hypothetical market movements to demonstrate potential risk that only represent the Group's view of possible near-term market changes that cannot be predicted with any certainty, and the assumption that all interest rates move in an identical fashion.
 
 
 
 
 
Page 32
 
 
8.vi - Solvency II continued
Reconciliation of IFRS total equity to Solvency II Own Funds
The reconciliation from total Group equity on an IFRS basis to Solvency II Own Funds is presented below. The valuation differences reflect moving from IFRS valuations to a Solvency II regulatory basis. The Solvency II Own Funds represents a shareholder view, excluding the impact of ring-fenced with-profits funds, and staff pension schemes in surplus.
 
 
2015
£bn
Total Group equity on an IFRS basis
18.2
Elimination of goodwill and other intangible assets1
(9.9)
Liability valuation differences (net of transitional deductions)
20.5
Inclusion of risk margin (net of transitional deductions)
(4.0)
Net deferred tax2
(1.3)
Revaluation of subordinated liabilities
(0.7)
Solvency II Net Assets (gross of non-controlling interests)
22.8
Difference between Solvency II Net Assets and Own Funds3
(1.0)
Solvency II Own Funds4
21.8
 
1 Includes £1.9 billion of goodwill and £8.0 billion of other intangible assets comprising acquired value of in-force business of £4.4 billion, deferred acquisition costs (net of deferred income) of £2.3 billion and other intangibles of £1.3 billion.
2 Net deferred tax includes the tax effect of all other reconciling items in the table above which are shown gross of tax.
3 Regulatory adjustments to bridge from Solvency II Net Assets to Own Funds include recognition of subordinated debt capital and non-available non-controlling interests.
4 The estimated Solvency II position represents the shareholder view. It excludes the contribution to Group SCR and Group Own Funds of fully ring-fenced with-profits funds (£2.7 billion) and staff pension schemes in surplus (£0.7 billion) - these exclusions have no impact on Solvency II surplus. The impact from internal reinsurance arrangements between UK Life, UK and Ireland General Insurance and Aviva International Insurance Limited and the securitisation of equity release mortgages held by UK Life, effective 1 January 2016, have also been reflected in the Solvency II position.
 
Reconciliation of Group MCEV to Solvency II Own Funds
 
 
2015
£bn
Total Group equity on a MCEV basis (net of tax and gross of non-controlling interests)
23.9
Removal of MCEV frictional costs1
0.5
Removal of MCEV cost of non-hedgeable risks1
1.4
Elimination of goodwill and other intangible assets
(3.6)
Liability valuation differences (net of transitional deductions)
5.2
Inclusion of risk margin (net of transitional deductions)
(4.0)
Net deferred tax2
0.1
Revaluation of subordinated liabilities
(0.7)
Solvency II Net Assets (net of tax and gross of non-controlling interests)
22.8
Difference between Solvency II Net Assets and Own Funds3
(1.0)
Solvency II Own Funds4
21.8
 
1 The frictional cost and cost of non-hedgeable risks are shown gross of non-controlling interests. The numbers shown in disclosure F9 are net of non-controlling interests.
2 Net deferred tax includes the tax effect of all other reconciling items in the table above which are shown gross of tax.
3 Regulatory adjustments to bridge from Solvency II Net Assets to Own Funds include recognition of subordinated debt capital and non-available non-controlling interests.
4 The estimated Solvency II position represents the shareholder view. It excludes the contribution to Group SCR and Group Own Funds of fully ring-fenced with-profits funds (£2.7 billion) and staff pension schemes in surplus (£0.7 billion) - these exclusions have no impact on Solvency II surplus. The impact from internal reinsurance arrangements between UK Life, UK and Ireland General Insurance and Aviva International Insurance Limited and the securitisation of equity release mortgages held by UK Life, effective 1 January 2016, have also been reflected in the Solvency II position.
 
Reconciliation from estimated economic capital surplus to estimated Solvency II surplus1
 
 
2015
£bn
Estimated economic capital surplus
11.6
Liability valuation differences (net of transitional deductions)
1.5
Inclusion of risk margin (net of transitional deductions)
(3.3)
Other valuation differences
(0.1)
Estimated Solvency II surplus
9.7
 
1 The reconciliation items in the bridge above are presented on a net of tax basis.
 
End part 2 of 2
 

 



 
 
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.




 
 
Date 10 March, 2016
 
AVIVA PLC
   
 
By: /s/ K.A. Cooper
   
 
K.A. Cooper
 
Group Company Secretary