Swiss Life continues to grow in the first nine months of 2023

“Swiss Life is continuing to grow both in its insurance business and in the fee business as a whole, even in an environment of subdued real estate markets,” says Patrick Frost, Group CEO of Swiss Life. “Fee income in our foreign insurance segments more than offset the decline in Asset Managers income, which underlines the resilience of Swiss Life’s business model even in the current interest rate environment. We expect the cycle of interest rate hikes to come to an end and real estate markets to normalise over the course of next year. With the ‘Swiss Life 2024’ Group-wide programme, we continue to be well on track to achieve or exceed all of the Group’s financial targets.”

The Swiss Life Group further expanded its fee business in the first three quarters of 2023 and generated fee income totalling CHF 1.79 billion (prior-year period: CHF 1.74 billion). The 5% growth in local currency is due to own and third-party products and services as well as the advisory business in Germany, while Asset Managers remained exposed to subdued real estate markets. The Group generated premiums of CHF 15.5 billion in the first three quarters (prior‑year period: CHF 15.0 billion), an increase of 5% in local currency.

In its home market of Switzerland, Swiss Life achieved premiums of CHF 8.0 billion, which represents an increase of 2%. The assets under management in the semi-autonomous business were CHF 6.9 billion as at the end of September 2023 (31 December 2022: CHF 6.2 billion). In the fee business, the market unit generated revenues of CHF 239 million, a decline of 1% compared to the same period in the previous year. In France, Swiss Life generated EUR 5.1 billion in premiums, a decline of 1%. In the life business, premiums fell by 3%, with the share of unit-linked solutions remaining significantly above the market at 63% (prior-year period: 62%). Fee income increased by 15% to EUR 359 million. In Germany, premiums amounted to EUR 1.0 billion, an increase of 3%. Fee income was up 15% to EUR 548 million mainly due to further growth in the advisory business. The International market unit posted premiums of EUR 1.6 billion, 63% above the first three quarters of 2022. In the fee business, income increased by 9% to EUR 293 million. Growth in the International market unit was supported in particular by the integration of elipsLife.

Swiss Life Asset Managers achieved net new assets in TPAM business of CHF 8.4 billion in the first three quarters of 2023 (prior-year period: CHF 6.0 billion). As at the end of September 2023, assets under management amounted to CHF 112.2 billion (31 December 2022: CHF 105.4 billion). In total, Swiss Life Asset Managers generated fee income of CHF 664 million in the first three quarters of 2023 (prior-year period: CHF 732 million). The 9% decline is due to the sale of a subsidiary in the fourth quarter of 2022, negative currency effects and subdued real estate markets. TPAM business contributed CHF 427 million (‑7%).

Swiss Life generated direct investment income of CHF 2.99 billion in the first three quarters of 2023 (prior-year period: CHF 2.88 billion). The non-annualised direct investment yield was 2.1% (prior-year period: 1.8%). Swiss Life estimates its SST ratio at around 205% as at 30 September 2023, based on the regulatory solvency model. The solvency ratio was thus above the ambition range of 140–190%.

As previously announced, Swiss Life started a new share buyback programme on 2 October 2023. The programme for CHF 300 million will run until the end of March 2024.

Telephone conference for analysts and investors
Matthias Aellig, Group CFO, will hold a telephone conference in English for financial analysts and investors today at 9 a.m. (CET). There is also an audio webcast on the website. All the documents relating to the financial statements are available online at www.swisslife.com.

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