Annual Report 2022
6.11.3
Notes to the company financial statements

6.11.3.1 Accounting policies

The company financial statements are prepared in accordance with Title 9, Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code. The consolidated financial statements of a.s.r. for 2022 have been prepared in accordance with IFRS – including the IAS and Interpretations – as adopted by the EU (EU-IFRS), and with part 9 of the book of the Dutch Civil Code. In accordance with Section 362(8), Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, the same accounting policies for the recognition and measurement of assets and liabilities and determination of results applied to the company financial statements are applied to the consolidated financial statements.

Investments in group companies are recognised, using the equity method, in accordance with the accounting policies used in a.s.r.’s consolidated financial statements whereby the goodwill, if any, is presented separately. The share of profit of group companies is reported in conformity with the accounting policies used in a.s.r.’s consolidated financial statements.

Lease contracts are disclosed using IFRS 16 based on the option under RJ 292.1.

Unless stated otherwise, all amounts presented in these financial statements are in millions of €. Calculations in the tables are made using unrounded figures. As a result rounding differences can occur.

6.11.3.2 Intangible assets

Intangible assets
20222021
Goodwill1717
Intangible assets1721
Total intangible assets3538

The goodwill relates to the acquisition of BNG Vermogensbeheer in 2016 (4 million) and to the acquisition of Generali in 2018 (13 million). No impairments were deemed necessary. For more information see chapter 6.5.1.

The change in the amount of intangible assets relates to amortisation which is presented in the operating expenses.

6.11.3.3 Property and equipment

Property and equipment
20222021
Right-of-use assets:
Land and buildings owned by subsidiary209216
Vehicles710
Other33
Total property and equipment219229

The right-of-use assets includes property and equipment that is leased by a.s.r. Land and buildings owned by subsidiary relates mainly to the a.s.r. head office, which is owned by a.s.r. life.

Changes in property and equipment
20222021
At 1 January229272
Additions23
Depreciation-11-12
Remeasurement--33
Impairments--
Other changes--1
At 31 December219229
Gross carrying amount as at 31 December259260
Accumulated depreciation as at 31 December-40-31
Accumulated impairments as at 31 December--
Net carrying value as at 31 December219229

Depreciation of property and equipment is recorded in the operating expenses (see chapter 6.11.3.19).

6.11.3.4 Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries
20222021
At 1 January8,2937,572
Additions394
Share of result7771,109
Dividend received-753-683
Revaluations-2,091318
Other changes--27
At 31 December6,2658,293

The decrease in revaluations is mainly due to unrealised losses in a.s.r. life and a.s.r. non-life.

6.11.3.5 Investments

The investments consists of cash invested in government bonds with a maturity of less than one year to optimise the Solvency II ratio, see chapter 6.11.3.10.

6.11.3.6 Loans to group companies

Loans to group companies
20222021
At 1 January4541
Issues269
Repayments--5
At 31 December7145

The loans to group companies are 71 million (2021: 45 million) which are expected to be settled more than one year after the balance sheet date and an average interest rate of 5.90% (2021: 5.14%).

Interest income on loans to group companies amounts to 2 million (2021: 2 million).

6.11.3.7 Loans and deposits

Loans and deposits
20222021
At 1 January2018
Issues-1
Repayments-1-
Impairments19-
Other changes-381
At 31 December-20

An impairment in due from banks was reversed. Other changes mainly relates to the sale of a loan to a.s.r. life.

6.11.3.8 Deferred tax assets

The deferred tax assets mainly arises from the difference in commercial and fiscal valuation of employee benefits (including the assets resulting from the insurance contracts, which are administrated by a.s.r. life) amounting to -130 million (2021: 170 million). The deferred tax of the equalisation reserve amounts nil, due to the release of the equalisation reserve in 2022 (2021: 108 million).

6.11.3.9 Other receivables

The other receivables includes receivables from group companies, which include the receivable with respect to non-qualifying plan assets (see chapter 6.5.17) administered by a.s.r. life amounting to 3,193 million (2021: 3,308 million). The plan assets administered by a.s.r. life include the separate account to fund future inflation indexation amounting to 372 million as at 31 December 2022 (2021: 192 million). The remaining portion of the receivables from group companies is payable on demand.

6.11.3.10 Cash and cash equivalents

In 2022, cash is invested in short-term government bonds, see chapter 6.11.3.5.

Cash and cash equivalents are fully and freely available.

6.11.3.11 Equity

Equity
Share capitalShare premium reserveLegal reservesActuarial gains and lossesRetained earningsTreasury sharesUnappropriated resultOther equity instrumentsEquity
At 1 January 2022229562,445-1,0553,247-838301,0047,366
Appropriation of the result previous year----830--830--
Net result for the year------732-732
Dividend paid-----214--131--346
Remeasurement of post-employment benefit obligation---887----887
Unrealised change in value---2,091--292----2,383
Change in reserves required by law---327-327----
Discretionary interest on other equity instruments-----48----48
Treasury shares acquired (-) / sold-----0-71---71
Increase (decrease) in capital2577---6875--586
Other movements----1---1
At 31 December 2022241,53327-1683,783-796011,0046,725
Share capitalShare premium reserveLegal reservesActuarial gains and lossesRetained earningsTreasury sharesUnappropriated resultOther equity instrumentsEquity
At 1 January 2021239761,995-1,2533,099-825521,0046,313
Appropriation of the result previous year----552--552--
Net result for the year------942-942
Dividend paid-----174--111--285
Remeasurement of post-employment benefit obligation---198----198
Unrealised change in value--318-7---325
Change in reserves required by law--133--133----
Discretionary interest on other equity instruments-----48----48
Treasury shares acquired (-) / sold-----1-78---79
Increase (decrease) in capital--20---5778---
Other movements----1---1
At 31 December 2021229562,445-1,0553,247-838301,0047,366

Share capital

For a breakdown of the share capital, see chapter 6.5.13.1.

Legal reserves

The legal reserves relate to the revaluation of investments in group companies. The legal reserves are maintained in relation to the (not yet received as dividend) share in the result (and other additions to equity) of group companies accounted for using the equity method since initial recognition reduced with the amount of dividend that a.s.r. is able to distribute without restrictions. The legal reserves are not freely distributable. See chapter 6.9 for more information on the regulatory restrictions.

Other equity instruments

The other equity instruments relate to two (2021: two) different hybrid Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruments classified as equity, see chapter 6.5.13.6.

Freely distributable items

The part of equity attributable to shareholders that is available for dividend distributions is limited by the Dutch Civil Code and the Dutch Supervisory Rules and Regulations (Solvency II requirements). The distribution of capital is restricted in accordance with the Dutch Civil Code for share capital and statutory reserves. The Solvency II requirements stipulate that a.s.r. must maintain a minimum amount of capital.

The freely distributable items is based on the lowest outcome of the restrictions from the Dutch Civil Code and the Solvency II requirements. This is further explained in the table below:

Distributable items
20222021
Equity attributable to shareholders5,7226,363
Non distributable items
- Share capital12422
- Legal reserves272,445
Distributable items based on the Dutch Civil Code5,6713,896
Reserves available for financial supervision purposes7,4418,270
Solvency II requirement under the Financial Supervision Act3,3604,233
Distributable items based on the Solvency II requirements4,0814,037
Freely distributable items (lower of the values above)4,0813,896
  • 1 Less the nominal value of treasury shares if applicable

For more information on Solvency II capital management objectives see chapter 6.9.1.

6.11.3.12 Employee benefits

Employee benefits can be broken down as follows (see chapter 6.5.17 for further details):

Employee benefits
20222021
Post-employment benefits pensions2,7223,990
Post-employment benefits other than pensions79
Post-employment benefit obligation2,7303,999
Other long-term employee benefits1214
Total2,7424,013

6.11.3.13 Other provisions

Changes in provisions
20222021
At 1 January818
Additional provisions44
Reversal of unused amounts-2-1
Utilised in course of year-6-13
At 31 December38

Provisions primarily relate to provisions for employee restructuring and retained disability risk.

The timing of the outflow of resources related to these provisions is uncertain because of the unpredictability of the outcome and time required for the settlement of disputes.

An amount of 3 million (2021: 8 million) of the provisions is expected to be settled within twelve months after the balance sheet date.

6.11.3.14 Subordinated liabilities

For information regarding the subordinated liabilities see chapter 6.5.14.

6.11.3.15 Borrowings

Borrowings
20222021
Lease liabilities226234
Total borrowings226234

The lease liabilities consist primarily (216 million, 2021: 221 million) of the lease of the a.s.r. head office from a.s.r. life. The interest rate for the lease of the head office is 1.5% (2021: 1.5%). The maturity of this contract is 33 years, which includes the total of five extension options of five years each.

An amount of 12 million (2021: 13 million) of the lease liabilities is expected to be settled within twelve months after the balance sheet date.

6.11.3.16 Due to banks

In 2022 due to banks amounted to 78 million (2021: 105 million). The entire amount of due to banks is expected to be settled less than or equal to one year after the balance sheet date.

6.11.3.17 Other liabilities

Other liabilities
20222021
Accrued interest2619
Short-term employee benefits1620
Tax payables131-
Other liabilities4438
Total other liabilities21677

The carrying amount of other liabilities is a good approximation of their fair value.

6.11.3.18 Operating expenses

The operating expenses of 141 million (2021: 135 million) are operating expenses relating to holding activities. The increase in the operating expenses is mainly a result of an increase in staff expenses. See chapter 6.6.8 for the total operating expenses of the group. Operating expenses also include depreciation of the right-of-use assets owned by subsidiaries of 11 million (2021: 12 million).

6.11.3.19 Other expenses

The decrease of 98 million relates for 90 million to the reassessment of the past service costs related to the defined benefit obligation in 2021 (2022: nil), see chapter 6.5.17.1.

6.11.3.20 Investment income

The investment income of 106 million (2021: 51 million) mainly increased as a result from an increase in interest income relating to the employee benefits obligation allocated to the Holding.

6.11.3.21 Interest expense

The interest expense relates primarily to the interest on subordinated liabilities, interest on employee benefits, interest owed to credit institutions and to the interest on the lease liabilities.

6.11.3.22 Auditor’s fees

The following fees for the financial years have been charged by KPMG Accountants N.V. to a.s.r., its subsidiaries and other consolidated entities, on an accrual basis.

Auditor’s fee
Amounts in thousands20222021
Audit of the financial statements6,5485,635
Other audit engagements1,324829
Total audit fees7,8726,464

Fees for audit engagements include fees paid for the audit of the consolidated and company financial statements, quarterly reports and other reports.

In the above mentioned years no fees were paid for tax-related advisory services to KPMG Accountants N.V. and no fees were paid to other KPMG networks, other than KPMG Accountants N.V.

6.11.3.23 Related parties

A related party is a person or entity that has significant influence over another entity, or has the ability to affect the financial and operating policies of the other party. Parties related to a.s.r. include associates, joint ventures, members of the EB, members of the SB, close family members of any person referred to above, entities controlled or significantly influenced by any person referred to above and any other affiliated entity.

The group regularly enters into transactions with related parties during the conduct of its business. These transactions mainly involve loans, deposits and commissions, and are conducted on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm’s length transactions. These disclosures related to these transactions are included in the relevant note in the company financial statements and in the consolidated financial statements (see primarily chapters 6.7.4 and 6.7.9).

The remuneration of the EB and SB members of a.s.r. is disclosed in chapter 6.7.5.

6.11.3.24 Contingent liabilities

Joint and several liability

a.s.r. forms a fiscal unity for corporate income tax and VAT with nearly all of its subsidiaries. The company and its subsidiaries that form part of the fiscal unity are jointly and separately liable for taxation payable by the fiscal entity.

A statement of joint and several liability under section 403, Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code has been issued by a.s.r. for the companies identified in chapter 6.7.9.

Investment obligations and guarantees

As in 2021, a.s.r. has issued no investment obligations or guarantees to third parties.

Utrecht, 21 March 2023

Executive Board

Jos Baeten

Ewout Hollegien

Ingrid de Swart

Supervisory Board

Joop Wijn

Herman Hintzen

Sonja Barendregt

Gisella van Vollenhoven

Gerard van Olphen