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Allianz has reported an increase in its operating profit by almost a quarter to 3.7 billion Euros for the first quarter of 2023. Highlights of the recently released results include the following: 
- Total business volume rises 3.9 percent to 46.0 billion euros
- Operating profit increases 24.2 percent to 3.7 billion euros; strong performance particularly in Life/Health and Property-Casualty business segments
- Shareholders’ core net income strong at 2.2 billion euros
- Strong Solvency II capitalization ratio of 206 percent, compared with 201 percent at the end of 4Q 2022
- 2023 operating profit target confirmed at 14.2 billion euros, plus or minus 1 billion euros
- New share buy-back program of up to 1.5 billion euros announced
Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE. Oliver Bäte, said: “We can be proud of our operating profit and bottom line, a reflection of our strength, our skills, and consistent execution of our strategy. We once again benefited from our diversified business mix and delivered particularly strong performance in the Property-Casualty segment, driven by robust pricing, continued underwriting discipline and focus on further productivity gains. Our strong profitability and capitalization underscore our aspiration to remain the trusted partner for our clients to secure their futures as they continue to navigate a time of hesitation and uncertainty.”
Financial highlights
Total business volume
Total business volumes rose by 3.9 percent to 46.0 billion euros, driven by the Property-Casualty business segment which benefited from higher prices and volumes. This result was partly offset by lower business volumes in the Life/Health business segment, primarily due to softer single-premium volumes, and a decrease in AuM-driven revenues in our Asset Management business segment.
Internal growth, which adjusts for foreign currency translation and consolidation effects, was strong at 3.5 percent, driven by the Property-Casualty business segment.
Earnings
Operating profit jumped 24.2 percent to 3.7 (1Q 2022: 3.0) billion euros. This is due to a higher result of our US operations in the Life/Health business segment, and a stronger insurance service result in the Property-Casualty business segment. This was partly offset by the Asset Management business segment due to reduced AuM-driven revenues and a higher cost-income ratio.
Shareholders’ core net income was strong at 2.2 (1Q 2022: 0.4) billion euros due to both a higher operating profit and an improved non-operating result. Non-operating result in the prior year was impacted by a provision related to the AllianzGI US Structured Alpha matter.
Net income attributable to shareholders was 2.0 (1Q 2022: 0.5) billion euros, up substantially in part due to the aforementioned provision.
Core Earnings per Share (EPS) was 5.43 (1Q 2022: 1.02) euros.
The annualized Core Return on Equity (RoE) was 15.6 percent (full year 2022: 12.7 percent).
On May 10, 2023, Allianz has announced a new share buy-back program of up to 1.5 billion euros. The program shall start end-May 2023 and be finalized by December 31, 2023, at the latest.
Solvency II Capitalization Ratio
The Solvency II capitalization ratio was 206 percent at the end of 1Q 2023 compared with 201 percent at the end of 4Q 2022. Including the application of transitional measures for technical provisions, the Solvency II capitalization ratio was 232 percent at the end of the first quarter of 2023 compared with 230 percent at the end of 2022.
Segmental highlights
“Allianz’s first quarter results demonstrated strong performance and proven resilience across all segments. With the first-time application of IFRS 9 and 17, we delivered our results with even more clarity and transparency and proved our ability to create value.
- Our Property-Casualty business showed excellent internal growth, driven by healthy pricing that contributed to offset the impact of inflation. The significant increase in operating profit is due to our strict underwriting discipline and focus on productivity gains.
- Value creation in our Life/Health business is strong. Our profitability is well supported by the solidity of our in-force business as well as the robustness of new business value.
- Our active Asset Management recorded 14.9 billion euros net inflows and our third-party assets under management reached 1.7 trillion euros. This bodes well for a solid profitability development.
”We confirm our full-year outlook of operating profit of 14.2 billion euros, plus or minus 1 billion euros,” Giulio Terzariol, Chief Financial Officer of Allianz SE, said.
Property-Casualty insurance: Dynamic growth
Total business volume rose by 11.2 percent to 24.1 (21.7) billion euros. Adjusted for foreign currency translation and consolidation effects, internal growth was strong at 11.1 percent due to a volume effect of 5.0 percent, a price effect of 5.6 percent as well as a service effect of 0.5 percent. The main contributors to the increase were AGCS, Türkiye, Allianz Partners and Germany. AGCS Total Gross Premium Written (GPW) of EUR 3,736mn is EUR +618mn/+20% better than prior year (Q1 2022: €3.118 billion).
Operating profit surged by 22.7 percent to 1.9 (1.5) billion euros, due to a higher operating insurance service result that was partly offset by a slightly lower operating investment result. For AGCS, the operating profit for Q1 2023 of €202 million (Q1 2022: €182 million) is €20 million better than prior year mainly due to a better insurance service result.
The combined ratio improved by 1.9 percentage points to 91.9 percent (93.8 percent). The loss ratio benefited from a higher discounting effect and lower claims from natural catastrophes. This was partly offset by a lower run-off result. The expense ratio improved by 0.5 percentage points to 24.9 percent (25.4 percent).
Life/Health insurance: Excellent new business margin
PVNBP, the present value of new business premiums amounted to 18.5 (21.1) billion euros, driven primarily by lower single premium volumes in Germany and Italy, slightly offset by increased volumes in the United States as a result of a fixed index annuities sales promotion. Further decreases in Germany were driven by economic impacts, primarily higher discounting on recurring premiums.
Operating profit increased to 1.3 (0.8) billion euros and benefited in particular from a higher result in the United States. The release of the Contractual Service Margin (CSM) was stable and in line with expectations.
Contractual Service Margin (CSM) at 52.4 billion euros, up by 0.2 billion euros from the end of 2022. Healthy value of new business and the expected in-force return resulted in solid normalized growth of 1.1 percent in the first quarter.
The new business margin (NBM) increased to 5.5 percent (4.9 percent), driven by an improved business mix and higher interest rates. The value of new business (VNB) was stable at 1.0 (1.0) billion euros.
Asset Management: Positive net inflows
Operating revenues were 1.9 billion euros, down by 8.1 percent. Higher performance fees were more than offset by lower AuM-driven revenues.
Operating profit was 723 (832) million euros, down 13.2 percent from the prior-year period. Adjusted for foreign currency translation effects, operating profit decreased by 16.0 percent. The cost-income ratio (CIR) rose to 62.0 percent (59.7 percent).
Third-party assets under management were 1.668 trillion euros as of March 31, 2023, up by 33 billion euros from the end of 2022. Positive net inflows of 14.9 billion euros and favorable market impacts of 42.2 billion euros were partially offset by negative foreign currency translation effects of 23.4 billion euros.
Total assets under management were 2.174 trillion euros at the end of the first quarter of 2023, reflecting the trend in the third-party assets under management.
