Glossary

Acquisition and administrative expenses

Acquisition and administrative expenses are broken down into acquisition expenses, administrative expenses less reinsurance commissions and profit commissions for reinsurance cessions. Expenses for claims investigation, loss prevention and claims processing (claims handling expenses) or for making insurance payments (settlement costs) are shown in the expenses for insurance benefits item.

Affiliated companies

The parent company and its subsidiaries are considered to be affiliated companies if the parent company is able to exert control over the business policies of the subsidiary. Examples of this are where the parent company can affect variable returns from the subsidiary, a controlling agreement exists or it is possible to appoint the majority of the Members of the Managing Board or other executive bodies of the subsidiary.

Asset and liability management (ALM)

ALM refers to taking both assets and liabilities into account when implementing strategic decisions in order to achieve optimal company results and is therefore needed for determining and managing the risk capital required, matching assets and liabilities (duration, cash flow and income matching) and optimising investments and reinsurance.

Austrian Commercial Code (UGB)

Austrian Commercial Code: Unternehmensgesetzbuch (UGB) as of 1 January 2007, Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB) until 31 December 2006.

Austrian Insurance Supervision Act (VAG)

The Austrian Insurance Supervision Act (Versicherungs-aufsichtsgesetz – VAG) includes provisions governing the organisation and supervision of insurance companies.

Baltic states

The Baltic states consist of the countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Cash flow

A key figure used in the analysis of shares and companies. It represents the inflow and outflow of liquid assets during a specific accounting period. Cash flow is essentially calculated by adding together the profit for the year, depreciation, changes in long-term provisions, and income taxes.

Cash flow statement

The cash flow statement presents the changes in cash and cash equivalents during a financial year, broken down into the three areas of ordinary activities, investing activities, and financing activities. The aim is to provide information on the financial strength of the company.

Ceded reinsurance premiums

Share of the premiums to which the reinsurer is entitled in return for covering certain risks.

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) or CEE markets

The definition of “CEE” includes all of the growth markets in Central and Eastern Europe in which VIG Insurance Group is operating. This includes Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. Note that differences may exist between this definition and the definition of CEE used by other companies, financial institutions (e.g. IMF, OECD, WIFO, IHS), etc.

Claims incurred but not reported

Losses that are reported in the current financial year but occurred in the previous year. Each year as of the balance sheet date, a reserve (= incurred but not reported reserve, IBNR) is formed for losses that relate to the financial statement year but are not reported until the following year.

Combined ratio (net)

When the total of all items in the income statement that contribute to the profit before taxes, except for income from capital assets, other non-underwriting income and expenses and the value of gross earned premiums itself, is divided by gross earned premiums, the result is called the combined ratio. If this ratio is less than 100%, the company is earning a profit from the underwriting portion of the business. This ratio is only calculated for property and casualty insurance. If the reinsurers’ share is taken into account in the calculation, the result is a net combined ratio.

Consolidation

The financial statements of the parent company and those of the subsidiaries are combined when the consolidated financial statements are prepared by the parent company. During this process, intragroup equity interests, interim results, receivables and payables and income and expenses are eliminated.

Deposits on assumed and ceded reinsurance business

Deposits on assumed reinsurance business are underwriting claims of the reinsurance company against the direct insurer. When business is ceded, the direct insurer retains a portion of the reinsurer’s share of premiums and claims as security. This security portion is shown as a deposit on assumed reinsurance business in the reinsurer’s balance sheet. The direct insurer recognises a deposit on ceded reinsurance business in the same amount.

Derivative financial instruments (derivatives)

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on the price of an underlying asset. Derivatives can be classified systematically according to the nature of the underlying asset (interest rates, share prices, currency rates or commodity prices). Options, futures, forwards and swaps are examples of derivative financial instruments.

Direct business

Insurance business where a direct legal relationship exists between the insurer and policyholder.

Earnings per share (undiluted/diluted)

The ratio of consolidated profit for the year divided by the average number of shares issued. The diluted earnings per share include convertible securities that have been exercised, or are still available for exercise, in the calculation of the number of shares and profit for the year. The convertible securities consist of convertible bonds and stock options.

Embedded value

The embedded value represents the economic value of the insurance business and is comprised of future profits from the insurance portfolio. Profits from future new business are not included. It therefore corresponds to the distributable profits after taxes and takes into account the risks contained in the business.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

The responsibilities of ERM are identification, assessment, analysis and management of opportunities and risks for the company.

Equity method

This method is used to account for shares in associated companies. As a rule, the value recognised corresponds to the Group’s proportional share of the equity in these companies or groups of companies within the Group. For current valuation, the value recognised is adjusted using a proportional share of changes to equity with the shares in the result for the year being allocated to the Group result and disbursed profit distributions deducted.

Erste Group

An abbreviated version of the company name of Erste Group Bank AG.

ESG (Environment Social Governance)

ESG stands for the Environment, Social and (responsible) Governance sustainability criteria and describes the degree to which a company takes these factors into account, as well as an investment approach that can be used to select potential companies (investments).

Expenses for claims and insurance benefits

These are comprised of the payments for insurance claims, payments for claims investigation, claims settlement, and claims prevention, and from the change in the associated provisions.

Fair value

Value of a security calculated using a theoretical pricing model that takes into account factors on which the price depends.

Financial instruments available for sale

Available-for-sale financial instruments include securities that were not acquired with the intention of being held to maturity, or for short-term trading purposes. They are recognised at market value as of the balance sheet date. Fluctuations in market value are recognised directly in equity.

Financial result

The financial result consists of income and expenses for investments, interest expenses and other expenses. This includes, for example, income from securities, loans, real estate and participations, as well as bank interest and expenses incurred in the financial area, such as depreciation of owned real estate, write-downs of securities to listed market prices, bank fees or interest expenses for financing.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data entered into force on 25 May 2018 and was therefore immediately applicable in the European Union. The GDPR standardises the provisions applicable to the processing of personal data by private-sector companies and public bodies in the entire EU. The main objectives of the GDPR are data security and strengthening the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons. The GDPR was implemented in Austria by the Austrian Data Protection Amendment Act of 2018 (Datenschutz-Anpassungsgesetz 2018), which extensively amended the Austrian Data Protection Act of 2000 (Datenschutzgesetz 2000).

Gross domestic product (GDP)

GDP is a measure of the economic output of a country. All goods and services produced or provided within a country (by citizens or foreigners) during a specified period, are evaluated at current prices (market prices) or constant prices (prices in a certain base year). By using a constant price level in the calculations, price increases can be eliminated so that the figures presented over time are independent of inflation. GDP at constant prices is also known as real GDP.

Gross/Net

In insurance terminology, “gross/net” means before or after reinsurance has been deducted (“net” is also used to mean “for own account” or “retention”). In connection with income from participations, the term “net” is used when related expenses have already been deducted from income (e.g. write-offs and losses from disposals). Therefore, (net) income from participations equals the profit or loss from these interests.

IAS

International Accounting Standards.

Income from investments and interest income

Income from investments and interest income is comprised of income from participations (of which affiliated companies), income from land and buildings, income from other investments, income from write-ups, gains from the disposal of investments, and other income from investments and interest income.

Indirect business

Insurance business where the company acts as a reinsurer.

Insurance density

Annual per capita insurance premiums, used as an indicator for the state of development of a country’s insurance sector.

Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD)

Directive (EU) 2016/97 on insurance distribution has been applicable within the European Union since 1 October 2018. The IDD affects all aspects of the insurance business, including the recruiting of insurance distributors entailing training and advanced training, product development, the advisory process including wide-ranging duties to provide information, the distribution of standardised information sheets, the handling of conflicts of interest and remuneration.

Insurance payments (net)

(Net) insurance payments are expenses for claims and insurance benefits (after deducting reinsurance).

Insurance supervisory authority

The Austrian insurance supervisory authority is a part of the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) that was established as an independent authority in April 2002. Its supervision extends to private-sector insurance companies with registered offices in Austria.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

The IFRS are international financial reporting standards. Since 2002, the designation IFRS has stood for the overall framework of all standards adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Standards that were previously adopted, however, are still cited as IAS.

Loss reserve

A reserve for losses that have already been incurred but have not yet been settled. Claims and claims settlement expenses can be divided into two categories: reserves for reported but not yet settled claims (“RBNS”), and reserves for claims that have been incurred but have not yet been reported, or the correct amount has not been reported (“IBNR”, “IBNER”).

Market capitalisation (stock market value)

This equals the value of a stock corporation calculated by multiplying the current stock exchange price by the total number of shares issued.

Market value

The value of an asset on the balance sheet that can be realised by selling it in the market to a third party.

Mathematical reserve

A reserve calculated according to mathematical principles for future insurance payments in the life and health insurance balance sheet units. In the health insurance balance sheet unit, this is also referred to as an ageing reserve.

Net earned premiums

The portion of premiums written that is allocated to the reported financial year.

New Business Value (NBV)

The present value of profits in future years that can be generated from new policies concluded in the current financial year.

Non-life

Non-life insurance includes the property and casualty insurance and health insurance segments.

Nordics

Nordics includes the countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. VIG Holding is represented by its own branches in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The EU freedom to provide services allows customers to also be served in Finland. Note that differences may exist between this definition and the definition of Nordics or Northern Europe used by other companies, financial institutions (e.g. IMF, OECD, WIFO, IHS), etc.

Options

Options are derivative financial instruments which entitle, but do not obligate the buyer to purchase (call option) or sell (put option) an underlying asset at a future point in time for a specified price. In contrast, the seller of the option is obligated to deliver or purchase the asset and receives a premium for providing the option.

Organic growth

Organic growth means the growth of a company resulting from the company’s own financial strength. Such growth is therefore not the result of purchasing other companies.

Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA)

Under Article 45 of Directive 2009/138/EC, every insurance company must perform the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) as part of its risk management system.

Personal insurance

Personal insurance includes all insurance that covers personal risks (such as life insurance, health insurance and accident insurance).

Premium

Agreed fee paid in exchange for assumption of risk by an insurance company.

Premiums written

Direct business premiums written are comprised of set premiums, plus policyholder collateral payments, but not including insurance or fire service taxes, reduced by premiums cancelled during the financial year. In indirect business, the premiums written correspond to the premiums that the ceding insurer has indicated for offset.

Present value

Current value of future cash flows, calculated by discounting with a certain discount rate.

Price-earnings ratio (PE ratio)

A financial ratio for evaluating shares. The price-earnings ratio is the ratio of the share price to the earnings per share in a reference period, or to the expected earnings per share in a future period. If the reference period is defined as one year, the price-earnings ratio is the end-of-year price divided by the earnings per share in that year.

Profit participation

See profit-related premium refunds.

Profit-related premium refunds

The policyholder’s profit participation in the profit of the insurance class in question (mandatory for traditional life insurance).

Profit-unrelated premium refunds

Contractually accorded refund of premiums to the policyholder.

Provision for unearned premiums

Unearned premiums are the portion of premiums written that were specified for the period following the balance sheet date and are therefore not included in the income for the financial year. These premiums are used to cover obligations arising after the balance sheet date.

Rating

A rating is an evaluation on a scale of the creditworthiness of a debtor (countries, companies, etc.) often carried out by a specialised rating agency. Also see Standard and Poor’s.

Reinsurance

Reinsurance is when an insurance company insures a portion of its risk with another insurance company.

Retained earnings

Retained earnings are the profits generated by the company that have not been distributed as dividends.

Return on equity (RoE)

Profit before taxes divided by average shareholders’ equity (less revaluation reserve), calculated using values at the beginning and end of the year.

Securities held to maturity

Held-to-maturity securities comprise debt securities that are intended to be held to maturity. They are measured initially at acquisition cost and are subsequently measured at amortised cost. In the case of permanent impairment, a write-down is recognised in profit or loss.

Single premium

A single premium is a special type of premium payment for life insurance in which a certain amount is paid as a single premium at the beginning of the policy.

Solvency II

Solvency II is a legal directive applicable in Europe for the capital adequacy of insurance companies. It concerns methods for risk-based management of the overall solvency of insurance companies and also includes qualitative elements (e.g. internal risk management).

Standard & Poor’s (S&P)

S&P is an internationally recognised rating agency. It analyses and evaluates companies, countries and bonds, among other things. It uses its own rating scale, which ranges from AAA for the highest category to CC for the lowest when rating the financial strength of insurance companies. The ratings can be modified by adding a plus or minus sign.

Stress test

Stress tests are a special form of scenario analysis. The objective is to arrive at a quantitative assessment of the potential losses incurred by portfolios in the event of extreme market fluctuations.

Underwriter

Underwriters are responsible for evaluating risks in the insurance industry, and have the authority to underwrite risks. An underwriter estimates the probability and size of a loss as precisely as possible, calculates insurance premiums and establishes policy terms.

Underwriting provisions

Underwriting provisions consist of the provision for outstanding claims, mathematical reserve, unearned premiums, provisions for profit-related and profit-unrelated premium refunds, the equalisation provision and other underwriting provisions.

Unit-linked and index-linked life insurance

Insurance policies where the investment is made at the policyholder’s risk. The investments in this area are valued at fair value, with the underwriting reserves shown at the value of the investments.

Value-at-risk (VaR)

The VaR concept is a procedure used to calculate potential losses arising from changes in the price of a trading position. This loss potential is expressed using a specific confidence limit (e.g. 98%), and is calculated based on market-related price changes.

VIG Insurance Group

As a rule, this term refers to all consolidated VIG (insurance) companies. If a statement refers exclusively to the activities of the Holding, the term VIG Holding is used.

Volatility

Volatility refers to the fluctuations in securities prices, currency prices and interest rates.