Helvetia erzielte 2018 ein IFRS-Ergebnis nach Steuern von CHF 431.0 Mio. Dieses lag über dem Vorjahresergebnis von CHF 402.9 Mio., jedoch unter dem Ergebnis aus Geschäftstätigkeit von CHF 502.4 Mio. im Jahre 2017. Die bereits erwähnten Bondabschreibungen belasteten das Ergebnis mit CHF 16.4 Mio. (nach Steuern und Überschussbeteiligungen). Nicht-Leben- und Lebengeschäft blieben unter dem Ergebnis aus Geschäftstätigkeit des Vorjahrs, während sich das Ergebnis des
Consolidated equity (without preferred securities) 5 834.1 5 097.1 14.5 %
Erfreulich ist nicht nur der aktuelle Jahresabschluss, sondern auch der Stand der Umsetzung unserer Strategie helvetia 20.20. Damit stärken wir das traditionelle Versicherungsgeschäft, erschliessen neue Ertragsquellen und fördern gezielt Innovationen. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf der Kundenzentrierung. Ein Beispiel hierfür aus dem Kerngeschäft ist die Behebung von Gebäudeschäden. Dabei arbeitet Helvetia mit der Online-Handwerkerplattform JAROWA zusammen und kann so im Schadenfall für Kunden direkt geeignete Handwerker suchen. Der Kunde muss nur noch einen Termin mit dem Handwerker vereinbaren. Das Einholen von Offerten oder die Klärung, welche Reparaturen gedeckt sind, entfällt. Versicherungsdienstleistungen sollen so einfach wie möglich sein.
Neue Ertragsquellen erschliesst Helvetia unter anderem mit Smile, dem führenden Schweizer Online- Versicherer. So hat Smile Ende 2018 die erste komplett digitalisierte Todesfallversicherung der Schweiz lanciert. Dabei ist der Abschluss mit wenigen Klicks und ohne Unterschrift online möglich. Zudem haben wir unser Eco-System «Home» weiter ausgebaut. Dabei bildet MoneyPark, der grösste unabhängige Schweizer Hypothekenvermittler, den zentralen Anker. Mit den Start-ups PriceHubble und Immoledo wurden zwei weitere Partner gewonnen. Innerhalb des Eco-Systems «Home» unterstützt PriceHubble kaufinteressierte Personen bei der Immobilienbewertung. Mit einer umfassenden Zustandsanalyse bietet Immoledo ein nützliches Hilfsmittel für Eigenheimbesitzer, um den Werterhalt ihrer Immobilie sicherzustellen.
Darüber hinaus setzt Helvetia gezielt die Möglichkeiten von neuen Interaktionsformen mit Kunden ein. So werden sogenannte Chatbots in der Schweiz bei der Meldung von Fahrraddiebstählen oder in Spanien für den Vertrieb von Sterbeversicherungen genutzt.
Diese Beispiele unterstreichen, dass wir unser Markenversprechen «einfach. klar. helvetia» erfolgreich umsetzen. Wir sind auch auf Kurs, unsere eigenen Ziele wie Profitabilität, Eigenkapitalrendite, ausgeschüttete Dividenden und Solvenz zu erreichen. Für das von Ihnen entgegengebrachte Vertrauen möchten wir uns ganz herzlich bedanken.
Helvetia can report a successful business performance for 2019: we were once again able to deliver on what we promised. Based on solid technical results as well as thanks to a tailwind on the capital markets and a one-off tax effect, our result has improved significantly. We have also recorded pleasing premium growth.
The implementation of the helvetia 20.20 strategy is progressing successfully and is on the home stretch. With the strategy, Helvetia is strengthening its core business, providing access to new business models and making targeted use of innovation. The associated projects and measures are on course.
You as shareholders should once again benefit from the good performance last year. The Board of Directors will propose to the Shareholders‘ Meeting that the dividend per share be increased by CHF 0.20 to CHF 5.00. The Shareholders‘ Meeting will also vote on the creation of new shares for the financing on the acquisition of Caser.
There were also various personnel changes last year: our previous Board member Hans-Jürg Bernet reached the statutory age limit of 70 in 2019 and thus left the Board of Directors. Ralph-Thomas Honegger, Chief Investment Officer and member of the Executive Management, took well-earned retirement at his own request on 1 April 2019 following more than 30 years of service for our company. With André Keller, we have gained a colleague as our new Chief Investment Officer who will provide renewed impetus for the management of our investments thanks to his rich experience. We would once again like to thank Hans-Jürg Bernet and Ralph-Thomas Honegger for the contribution they have made to the successful further development of Helvetia. The final change affects the future: during the first half of 2020, Martin Jara will start at Helvetia as new CEO Switzerland and as a member of the Executive Management.
22.1.2019 Together with MoneyPark, Helvetia now provides its customers with a mortgage offering that is unique on the market
6.3.2019 Impressive set of figures for 2018, higher dividend and on course with strategy implementation
Helvetia can look back on a successful financial year 2018. “I am very satisfied with the growth in the business volume as well as the unchanged good quality of our portfolio. Despite the difficult situation on the capital markets, we achieved a solid result”, comments Philipp Gmür, CEO of the Helvetia Group, with respect to the 2018 annual financial statements.
On 8 April 2019, Helvetia repays a bond from the year 2013 with a volume of CHF 150 million and thus reduces its debt ratio.
3.5.2019 Helvetia Share­ holders’ Meeting approves all proposals by the Board of Directors
30.4.2019 Helvetia with a strong SST ratio of 222 % and increase in divi­ dend potential
16.5.2019 Helvetia with a solid result in the area of occupa­ tional pension plans and measures aimed at securing full insurance
Helvetia Insurance acquires Helvetic Warranty GmbH, which offers tailored insurance solutions for electronic and electrical devices as an intermediary between distribution partners and insurers. The takeover will see Helvetia strengthen its B2B2C business. Helvetic Warranty continues to operate independently on the market.
The management structure of the Helvetia Group is adapted for the next strategy period. The operating Swiss units “Private Pensions”, “Occupational Pension Plans”, “Non-Life” and “Distribution” will be merged on 1 May 2020 under a single Switzerland management team. The Executive Management Switzerland will in future be headed by Martin Jara, a newcomer to Helvetia who will sit on the Executive Management.
Helvetia Insurance will in future work together with finovo, a subsidiary of MoneyPark, in the area of mortgage management. The objective is to develop Switzerland’s leading and most efficient mortgage manager under the finovo brand.
Helvetia follows a sustainable dividend policy with attractive and stable distributions. Through our long-term focus and efficient risk management, we optimise risks for investors and customers while growing consistently, maintaining sustainable profitability and minimising earnings volatility. It is the primary aim to pay out sustainable dividends to the shareholders, which increase in absolute terms each year, whereby the payout ratio should move within a range of 40 % to 50 %. Over the current strategy period, a cumulative total of more than CHF 1 billion should be distributed to shareholders.
Dividend yieldPayout ratio 6,802.5 Market capitalisation in CHF million 01/19 05/19 09/19 01/20
Helvetia Group Doris Oberhänsli P. O. Box, CH-9001 St. Gallen www.helvetia.com doris.oberhaensli@helvetia.ch
Important Dates 24 April 2020 Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting in St. Gallen 15 September 2020 Publication of half-year financial results for 2020 25 March 2021 Publication of financial results 2020
Cautionary note regarding forward­looking information This document is made by Helvetia Group and may not be copied, altered, offered, sold or otherwise distributed to any other person by any recipient without the consent of Helvetia Group. Although all reasonable effort has been made to ensure the facts stated herein are accurate and that the opinions contained herein are fair and reasonable, this document is selective in nature and is intended to provide an introduction to, and overview of, the business of Helvetia Group. Where any information and statistics are quoted from any external source, such information or statistics should not be interpreted as having been adopted or endorsed by Helvetia Group as being accurate. Neither Helvetia Group nor any of its directors, officers, employees and advisors nor any other person shall have any liability whatsoever for loss howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of this information. The facts and information contained herein are as up-to-date as is reasonably possible and may be subject to revision in the future. Neither Helvetia Group nor any of its directors, officers, employees or advisors nor any other person make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document.
The purpose of this document is to inform Helvetia Group’s shareholders and the public of Helvetia Group’s business activities for the year ended 31 December 2019. This document does not constitute an offer or a solicitation to exchange, buy or subscribe for securities and it does not constitute an offering circular within the meaning of Art. 652a of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of SIX Swiss Exchange. Should Helvetia Group make in the future one or more capital increases, investors should make their decision to buy or to subscribe for new shares or other securities solely based on the relevant offering circular.