Munich Re Group Annual Report 2006 (PDF, 1.8

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Munich Re Group Annual Report 2006 Notes_Equity and liabilities Unearned premiums are accrued premiums already written for future risk periods. For primary insurance, these premiums are calculated separately for each insurance policy pro rata temporis; for reinsurance, nominal percentages are used in some cases where the data for a calculation pro rata temporis is not available. The posting of unearned premiums is restricted to short-term underwriting business, i.e. property-casualty and health business in both primary insurance and reinsurance. The provision for future policy benefits in long-term insurance business is posted for the actuarially calculated value of obligations arising from policyholders’ guaranteed entitlements. As well as life insurance, this concerns portions of health and personal accident insurance, insofar as the business is conducted like life insurance. Measurement is usually based on the prospective method, by determining the difference between the present values of future benefits and future premiums. The actuarial assumptions used for their calculation include, in particular, assumptions relating to mortality, disablement and morbidity, as well as assumptions regarding interestrate development, lapses and costs. These are estimated on a realistic basis at the time the insurance contracts are concluded and they include adequate provision for adverse deviation to make allowance for the risks of change, error and random fluctuations. The actuarial assumptions are adjusted if this is shown to be necessary by a liability adequacy test in accordance with IFRS 4. The measurement of the provisions for future policy benefits depends on the type of contract, being based either on FAS 60 (life primary insurance without performance-related participation in surplus, health primary insurance and the bulk of reinsurance), on FAS 97 (life primary insurance with limited premium payment, life primary insurance on the universal life model, unit-linked life insurance and life reinsurance for assumed policies based on FAS 97) or on FAS 120 (life primary insurance with performance-related participation in surplus). For contracts in accordance with FAS 60, the provision for future policy benefits is calculated from the present value of estimated future policy benefits (including claims adjustment expenses) less the present value of future net level premiums. Net level premium is that part of the gross premium that is needed to finance future policy benefits. Life primary insurance contracts with limited premium payment as per FAS 97 are generally valued in the same way as contracts falling under FAS 60. For all other contracts as per FAS 97, an account is kept to which net level premiums and interest earnings are credited and from which risk premiums and administration expenses are debited, not all credits and debits being contractually fixed at the time the contracts are concluded. The provision for future policy benefits for life primary insurance where policyholders bear the investment risk themselves (unit-linked life insurance) is shown separately under equity and liabilities item D. In the case of contracts 162 as per FAS 120, the provision for future policy benefits comprises the net level premium reserve and liabilities for terminal dividends. The net level premium reserve is calculated from the present value of guaranteed policy benefits (including acquired bonuses but excluding claims adjustment expenses) less the present value of future net level premiums. The net level premium is the net premium less the portion of the premium envisaged for covering claims adjustment expenses. The actuarial assumptions are generally the same as those used for premium calculation. The provisions for terminal dividends is built up proportionally with a fixed share of the expected gross profit margins. The same method is used for this as for determining the amortisation of the deferred acquisition costs. The provision for outstanding claims is for payment obligations arising from insurance contracts in primary insurance and reinsurance at the balance sheet date. Part of the provision is for known claims for which individually calculated provisions are posted. Another part is for expenses for claims whose occurrence are not yet known (e.g. because they have not been reported yet or have not yet manifested themselves). A third class of provisions covers claims which are known but whose extent has turned out to be greater than originally foreseen. All these provisions include expenses for internal and external loss adjustment expenses. The provision for outstanding claims is based on estimates: the actual payments may be higher or lower. The amounts posted are the realistically estimated future amounts to be paid; they are calculated on the basis of past experience and assumptions about future developments (e.g. social, economic or technological parameters). Future payment obligations are generally not discounted; exceptions are some provisions for occupational disability pensions and annuities in workers’ compensation and other lines of property-casualty business, which we discount. For determining the provision for outstanding claims, the Munich Re Group uses a range of actuarial projection methods. They include the chain ladder method and the Bornhuetter-Ferguson method. In applying the statistical methods, we regard large exposures separately. The standard actuarial methods we use are applied both to the run-off triangles for the payments and to the run-off triangles for the reported claims, so that we obtain a range of estimates for the ultimate loss. Within this range, a realistic estimated value for the ultimate loss is determined for the balance sheet date. By deducting the payments already made, we arrive at the provision for outstanding claims recognised in balance sheet. Other technical provisions mainly include the provision for premium refunds in primary insurance and the provision for profit commission in reinsurance. Provisions for premium refunds are posted in life and health primary insurance for obligations involving policyholder bonuses and rebates that have not yet been irrevocably allocated to individual contracts at the balance sheet date. Where
Munich Re Group Annual Report 2006 Notes_Equity and liabilities these provisions are posted on the basis of national regulations, a retrospective approach is usually taken based on supervisory or individual contract regulations. Besides this, there are provisions for deferred premium refunds, which are posted for the amounts apportionable to policyholders from the valuation differences between IFRS and local GAAP on the basis of the expected future participation quotas. For unrealised gains and losses on investments available for sale, which are recognised directly in equity (see assets item B), the resultant provision for deferred premium refunds is also posted without impact on profit or loss; otherwise, changes in the provision for deferred premium refunds are recognised in the income statement. All technical provisions are regularly subjected to a liability adequacy test in accordance with IFRS 4. If current experience shows that the provisions posted on the basis of the original assumptions – less the related deferred acquisition costs and the present value of the related premiums – is inadequate to cover the expected future benefits, we adjust the technical provisions with recognition in profit or loss. The appropriateness of unearned premiums and of the provision for outstanding claims is assessed in relation to the realistically estimated future amount to be paid. The appropriateness of the provision for future policy benefits is assessed on the basis of realistic estimates of the actuarial assumptions, the proportional investment result and, for contracts with participation in surplus, the future profit sharing. D Gross technical provisions for life insurance policies where the investment risk is borne by the policyholders This item includes the provision for future policy benefits in life primary insurance where policyholders bear the investment risk themselves (unit-linked life insurance). The value of the provision for future policy benefits essentially corresponds to the market value of the relevant investments shown under assets item C. Besides this, as under the provision for future policy benefits as per FAS 97, they may include additional premium components; cf. the notes on assets item C. Changes in this provision are fully recognised in the underwriting result. Insofar as these changes derive from unrealised gains and losses from alterations in the fair values of the related investments, they are matched by opposite changes of the same amount in the investment result. E Other accrued liabilities This item includes provisions for post-employment benefits. The companies in the Munich Re Group generally give commitments to their staff in the form of defined contribution plans or defined benefit plans. The type and amount of the pension obligations are determined by the conditions of the respective pension plan. In general, they are based on the staff member’s length of service and salary. Under defined contribution plans, the companies pay fixed contributions to an insurer or a pension fund. This fully covers the companies’ obligations. Under defined benefit plans, the staff member is promised a particular level of retirement benefit either by the companies or by a pension fund. The companies’ contributions needed to finance this are not fixed in advance. If pension obligations are covered by assets held by a legally separate entity (e.g. a fund or a contractual trust agreement in the form of a two-way trust) – assets that may only be used to cover the pension commitments given and are not accessible to creditors – the pension obligations are shown less the amount of these plan assets. If the fair value of the plan assets exceeds the related outsourced pension obligations, this repayment claim is shown under “other receivables”. Pension obligations are recognised in accordance with IAS 19 (Employee Benefits) using the projected unit credit method and based on actuarial studies. The calculation includes not only the pension entitlements and current pensions known on the balance sheet date but also their expected future development. The interest rate at which the pension obligations are discounted is based on the yields for long-term high-quality bonds (e.g. government bonds). Actuarial gains or losses from pension obligations and plan assets result from the deviation of actual risk experience from estimated risk experience. They are recognised directly in equity, without impact on profit or loss. Tax provisions for current taxes are posted – without discounting – in accordance with the probable tax payments for the year under review or previous years. Other provisions are established in the amount of the probable requirement; such amounts are not discounted if the interest-rate effect is insignificant. F Liabilities This item comprises bonds and notes issued, deposits retained on ceded business and other liabilities. Financial liabilities are recognised at amortised cost. The value of the option components of ERGO International AG’s exchangeable bonds converted or redeemed in the financial year was determined as the difference between the market price of the exchangeable bonds and the value of the bond components calculated on the basis of current market yields. Direct minority interests in special funds are measured at fair value. G Deferred tax liabilities Under IAS 12, deferred tax liabilities must be recognised if asset items have to be valued higher, or liabilities items lower, in the consolidated balance sheet than in the tax accounts of the reporting company and these differences will be eliminated at a later date with a corresponding impact on taxable income (temporary differences); cf. notes on assets item H. 163
Page 1 and 2:
Munich Re Group Annual Report 2006
Page 3 and 4:
The Munich Re Group Our operations
Page 5:
Munich Re Group in 2006 Tireless an
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Notable events in 2006 / Letter to
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Munich Re Group / Parameters / Busi
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117: Munich Re Group Annual Report 2006
Page 144 and 145: Consolidated financial statements a
Page 216 and 217:
Page 218 and 219:
Page 220 and 221:
Page 222 and 223:
Glossary / Index of key terms / Imp
Page 224 and 225:
Page 226 and 227:
Page 228 and 229:
Page 230 and 231:
Page 232 and 233:
Page 234 and 235:
Page 236 and 237:
Quarterly figures Balance sheet 31.
Page 238:
© 2007 Münchener Rückversicherun
show all

Munich Re Group Annual Report 2006 (PDF, 1.8

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?