Management

Overall capital management is administered at group level. a.s.r. currently intends to consider investing capital above the management target Solvency II ratio (calculated based on the standard formula) of 160% with the objective of creating value for its shareholders. If and when a.s.r. operates at a certain level (which may change over time) that is considerably above the management target, and it assesses that it cannot invest this capital in value-creating opportunities for a prolonged period of time, a.s.r. may decide, but is not obliged, to return (part of this) capital to its shareholders.

If a.s.r. chooses to return capital, it plans to do so in a form that is efficient for shareholders at that time. a.s.r. actively manages its in-force business, which is expected to result in free capital generation over time. Additionally, business improvement and balance sheet restructuring should improve the capital generation capacity while advancing the risk profile of the company. The legal entities are individually capitalised and excess capital over management’s targets for the legal entities is intended to be upstreamed to the holding company as far as is needed for amongst others covering external dividend, coupon payments on hybrids / senior financing instruments and holding costs and in so far the local regulations and the internal risk appetite statement allow. Excess capital that is upstreamed to the holding company is added to and managed in the holding cash buffer until it is further distributed and used to cover dividends, coupons and other holding expenses. The capital and cash attribution to the holding is closely monitored and managed on a continuous basis.

Objectives

The group is committed to maintain a strong capital position in order to be a robust and sustainable insurer for its policyholders and other stakeholders. The objective is to maintain a solvency ratio well above the minimum levels as defined in the risk appetite statements and above the relevant management threshold levels. Sensitivities are periodically performed for principal risks and annual stress tests are performed to test a.s.r.’s robustness to withstand moderate to severe scenarios. An additional objective is to achieve a combination of a capital position and a risk profile that is at least in line with a 'single A' rating by Standard & Poor’s.

The SCR is reported on a quarterly basis and proxies are made on both a monthly and weekly basis. The internal minimum solvency ratio for a.s.r. as formulated in the risk appetite statement is 120%. The lower limit solvency target is 140%. The management threshold level for the solvency ratio is above 160%. The solvency ratio stood at 196% at 31 December 2021 after final dividend, which was comfortably above the internal requirement of 120% and the management threshold level of 160%.

In accordance with a.s.r.’s dividend policy, the liquidity of the underlying entities is not taken into account for the liquidity position of the group. However, the capital is recognised in the capital position of the group, since a.s.r. has the ability to realise the capital of this OTSO, for example by selling the entity. Specifically regarding a.s.r. health basic in 2021, no dividend or capital withdrawals have taken place.

The table below shows how the eligible own funds of a.s.r. relate to the different capital targets.

Market value own funds under SCR