TIDM37PB

RNS Number : 0487B

Pension Insurance Corporation PLC

27 January 2020

PENSION INSURANCE CORPORATION GROUP

2019 TRADING UPDATE AND PROPOSED

GBP750 MILLION EQUITY RAISE

London, 27 January 2020 - Pension Insurance Corporation Group Limited(2) ("PICG" or the "Company"), ultimate parent company of Pension Insurance Corporation plc ("PIC"), the specialist insurer of defined benefit pension schemes, today provides a preliminary update on the Group's financial performance for 2019. PICG also announces that it is planning to issue up to GBP750 million of new equity to support the continued growth of PIC in the pension risk transfer market (the "Capital Raise").

PIC had an outstanding year in 2019, exceeding its previous new business record with GBP7.2 billion of new business concluded (2018: GBP7.1 billion), for clients including British American Tobacco, Marks & Spencer and Somerfield. The pension risk transfer market was, and remains, exceptionally buoyant, with total liabilities insured also reaching a new high in 2019. Strict underwriting discipline has ensured a very good set of financial results and the Group is well positioned to deliver for all our stakeholders.

PICG 2019 preliminary unaudited trading highlights:

- 15 new business transactions with total premiums of GBP7.2 billion (2018: GBP7.1 billion), a record for the period. PIC is in exclusivity on nearly GBP3 billion of pension de-risking transactions and there is a market-wide pipeline of new business amounting to more than GBP40 billion of pension scheme liabilities

   -     GBP40.9 billion in financial investments (FY2018: GBP31.4 billion) 
   -     Market Consistent Embedded Value (MCEV) of GBP3,874 million (FY2018: GBP3,638 million) 
   -     Adjusted Equity Own Funds(3) of GBP4,504 million (FY2018: GBP4,174 million) 
   -     IFRS Net Asset Value of GBP3,215 million (FY2018: GBP2,457 million) 
   -     Solvency Capital Ratio of 164% (FY2018: 167%) 
   -     81% of longevity exposure reinsured 
   -     225,000 pension fund members insured in total (2018: 192,100) 
   -     In February 2019, PIC was affirmed an Insurer Financial Strength credit rating of A+ by Fitch 

Business highlights:

- GBP1.9 billion invested in areas such as social housing, renewable energy and the UK's universities (2018: GBP2.5 billion)

- 99.5% of policyholders surveyed have indicated that they are satisfied or better with our customer service; 83.9% gave us maximum score

- PIC attained "Investor in People" status; won the "UK Customer Commitment" award from the Institute of Customer Service; was named "Insurer of the Year" at the Risk Awards; and won the "Risk Management Firm of the Year" award at the European Pensions Awards

Tracy Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer of PIC, said: "2019 was a year of rapid, profitable growth for PIC, building on an excellent 2018. Over the past two years our financial investments have grown by 60%, policyholder numbers by 35%, employee numbers by 50% and we have invested more than GBP4 billion in areas such as social housing, renewable energy and university education, whilst maintaining underwriting discipline and a robust balance sheet. There remains a significant opportunity in the UK's pension risk transfer market and this Capital Raise will position PIC well to help trustees de-risk their pension liabilities."

- ends -

Notes to Editors:

1) The 2019 numbers presented are preliminary and have not been audited. As such, there remains a risk that the final audited numbers are different, and potentially materially so. The Group expects to provide audited FY 2019 results in early March 2020

2) The Pension Insurance Corporation Group (the "Group") includes PICG, the group holding company; PIC, the group regulated insurer; and Pension Services Corporation Ltd, the group service company.

3) Adjusted Equity Own Funds is calculated as Solvency II own funds deducting hybrid debt (including Restricted Tier 1 debt) and removing the impact of the Risk Margin and the Transitional Measures on Technical Provisions (TMTP's)

   4)   These preliminary financials are presented excluding the benefit of the proposed capital raise 

5) Part of the funds are expected to be made available on issue of the shares which shall be partly paid up at the time of issue. PICG will be able to call for the unpaid amount as needed to meet market demand for pension risk transfer

6) The group issued GBP450m of Restricted Tier 1 debt in 2019 which is accounted for under IFRS as equity and therefore increases IFRS net assets by a similar amount.

   7)   Summary of preliminary, unaudited Key Financial Metrics for 2019 (GBP million where relevant): 
 
 PICG (unless indicated otherwise):    FY2019   FY2018 
 Embedded value (MCEV)                 3,874    3,638 
                                      -------  ------- 
 Own funds*                            4,844    3,917 
                                      -------  ------- 
 Adjusted Equity Own Funds*            4,504    4,174 
                                      -------  ------- 
 Solvency capital requirement*         2,954    2,343 
                                      -------  ------- 
 Solvency ratio*                       164%     167% 
                                      -------  ------- 
 New business premium                  7,186    7,150 
                                      -------  ------- 
 Financial investments                 40,886   31,371 
                                      -------  ------- 
 IFRS net asset value                  3,215    2,457 
                                      -------  ------- 
 

*Refers to PIC plc

For further information please contact:

PIC Jeremy Apfel +44 (0)20 7105 2140

apfel@pensioncorporation.com

Teneo Douglas Campbell +44 (0)20 3757 9247

douglas.campbell@teneo.com

About PIC

The purpose of PIC is to pay the pensions of its current and future policyholders. PIC provides secure and stable retirement incomes through leading customer service, comprehensive risk management and excellence in asset and liability management. At 31 December 2019, PIC had insured 225,000 pension scheme members and had GBP40.9 billion in financial investments, accumulated through the provision of tailored pension insurance buyouts and buy-ins to the trustees and sponsors of U.K. defined benefit pension schemes. Clients include FTSE 100 companies, multinationals and the public sector. PIC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (FRN 454345). For further information please visit www.pensioncorporation.com

No Offer or Invitation and Selling Restrictions

This announcement does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer or invitation to sell any securities, or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities, and nothing contained herein shall form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract, investment or commitment whatsoever.

This announcement is not intended for release, publication or distribution to a person located or resident in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful to release, distribute or publish this document. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an available exemption from registration.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

END

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January 27, 2020 11:30 ET (16:30 GMT)

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