3. Other investments

UNIQA has applied the deferral approach for IFRS 9 since 1 January 2018. This enables UNIQA to postpone the date of first-time application of IFRS 9 until IFRS 17 comes into force.

Classification

UNIQA classifies non-derivative financial assets to the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables, and financial assets available for sale.

Non-derivative financial liabilities are classified as measured at amortised cost.

Derivatives are recognised as financial assets or liabilities at fair value through profit or loss.

Recognition and derecognition

Loans, receivables and issued debt securities are recognised from the date on which they arise. All other financial assets and liabilities are recognised for the first time on the settlement date. Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to cash flows from an asset expire or the rights to receive the cash flows in a transaction in which all major risks and opportunities connected with the ownership of the financial asset are transferred.

In securities lending transactions, the risks and rewards associated with the securities lent, such as the price risk, the credit risk and the income from dividends and other income from the securities lent, remain with the lender. As a result, the securities lent are not derecognised. The assets transferred are available-for-sale financial assets. Cash collateral in connection with securities lending transactions is reported under the item “Cash and cash equivalents”.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the contractual obligation is fulfilled, extinguished or expired.

Derivatives are also recognised from the date on which they arise.

Measurement

With the exception of loans, investments are listed at their fair value. The loans are accounted for at amortised cost.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets are recognised at fair value through profit or loss if the asset is either held for trading or is designated at fair value and recognised in profit and loss (fair value option). These include ABS bonds, structured bonds, hedge funds and investment certificates whose original classification fell within this category.

The fair value option is applied to structured products that are not split between the underlying transaction and the derivative but are accounted for as a unit. Unrealised gains and losses are recognised in profit/(loss) for the period.

Derivatives are used within the limits permitted under the Austrian Insurance Supervisory Act for hedging investments and for increasing earnings. All fluctuations in value are recognised in profit/(loss) for the period. Financial assets from derivative financial instruments are recognised under other investments. Financial liabilities from derivative financial instruments are recognised under financial liabilities.

Available-for-sale financial assets

are initially measured at fair value plus directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequently, available-for-sale financial assets are measured at fair value. Corresponding value changes are, with the exception of impairment and foreign exchange differences in the case of available-for-sale debt securities, recognised in the accumulated profits in equity. When an asset is derecognised, the accumulated other comprehensive income is reclassified to profit/(loss) for the period.

Loans and receivables

When first recognised, such assets are measured at their fair value plus directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Non-derivative financial liabilities

When first recognised, non-derivative financial liabilities are measured at fair value less directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequently, these financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Investments are broken down into the following classes and categories of financial instruments:

At 31 December 2018

In € thousand

Variable-income securities

Fixed-income securities

Loans and
other invest­ments

Derivative financial instruments

Investments under investment contracts

Total

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

24,538

308,029

0

20,804

56,395

409,767

Available-for-sale financial assets

840,857

15,702,491

0

0

0

16,543,348

Loans and receivables

0

172,985

507,715

0

0

680,701

Total

865,396

16,183,505

507,715

20,804

56,395

17,633,815

of which fair value option

24,538

308,029

0

0

0

332,567

At 31 December 2017 (adjusted)

In € thousand

Variable-income securities

Fixed-income securities

Loans and
other invest­ments

Derivative financial instru­ments

Invest­ments under invest­ment contracts

Total

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

29,415

315,968

0

165,037

60,419

570,840

Available-for-sale financial assets

856,090

16,149,214

0

0

0

17,005,304

Loans and receivables

0

216,459

471,723

0

0

688,182

Total

885,505

16,681,642

471,723

165,037

60,419

18,264,326

of which fair value option

29,415

315,968

0

0

0

345,384

Impairments

Non-derivative financial assets

Financial assets not designated at fair value through profit or loss are tested on every reporting date to determine whether there is any objective indication of impairment. For debt instruments and assets in the category “Loans and receivables”, this test is executed within the framework of an internal impairment process. If objective indicators suggest that the value currently attributed is not tenable, an impairment is recognised.

Objective indications that financial assets are impaired are:

  • the default or delay of a debtor,
  • the opening of bankruptcy proceedings for a debtor, or signs indicating that such proceedings are imminent,
  • adverse changes in the rating of borrowers or issuers,
  • changes in the market activity of a security, or
  • other observable data that indicate a significant decrease in the expected payments from a group of financial assets.

In the case of an investment in an equity instrument, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value below its cost is also objective evidence of impairment. A significant decrease is a decrease of 20 per cent, and a prolonged decline is one that lasts for at least nine months.

Financial assets measured at amortised cost

Impairment is calculated as the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate of the asset. Losses are recognised in profit/ (loss) for the period. If there are no realistic chances of recovering the asset, an impairment has to be recognised. In case of an event that causes a reversal of impairment losses, this is recognised in profit/(loss) for the period. In the event of a definitive non-performance, the asset is derecognised.

Available-for-sale financial assets

Impairment of available-for-sale financial assets is recognised in profit/(loss) for the period by reclassifying the losses accumulated in equity. The accumulated loss that is reclassified from equity to profit/(loss) for the period is the difference between the acquisition cost, net of any redemptions and amortisations and current fair value, less any impairment loss previously recognised in profit or loss. If the fair value of an impaired, available-for-sale debt instrument increases in a subsequent period and the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed, with the amount of the reversal recognised in profit or loss. Reversals of impairment losses of equity instruments held at fair value cannot be recognised in profit/(loss) for the period.

Determination of fair value

A range of accounting policies and disclosures requires the determination of the fair value of financial and non- financial assets and liabilities. UNIQA has defined a control framework with regard to the determination of fair value. This includes a measurement team, which bears general responsibility for monitoring all major measurements of fair value, including Level 3 fair values, and reports directly to the respective Member of the Management Board.

A regular review is carried out of the major unobservable inputs and the measurement adjustments. If information from third parties (e.g. price quotations from brokers or price information services) is used to determine fair values, the evidence obtained from third parties is examined in order to see whether such measurements meet the requirements of . The level in the fair value hierarchy to which these measurements are attributable is also tested. Major items in the measurement are reported to the Audit Committee.

As far as possible, UNIQA uses data that are observable on the market when determining the fair value of an asset or a liability. Based on the inputs used in the valuation techniques, the fair values are assigned to different levels in the fair value hierarchy.

  • Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. At UNIQA, these primarily involve quoted shares, quoted bonds and quoted investment funds.
  • Level 2: valuation parameters that are not quoted prices included in Level 1 but which can be observed for the asset or liability either directly (i.e. as a price) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices), or are based on prices on markets that have been classified as inactive. The parameters that can be observed here include, for example, exchange rates, yield curves and volatilities. At UNIQA, these include in particular quoted bonds that do not fulfil the conditions under Level 1, along with structured products.
  • Level 3: valuation parameters for assets or liabilities that are not based or are only partly based on observable market data. The valuations here primarily involve application of the discounted cash flow method, comparative procedures with instruments for which there are observable prices and other procedures. As there are no observable parameters here in many cases, the estimates used can have a significant impact on the result of the valuation. At UNIQA, it is primarily other equity investments, private equity and hedge funds, ABS and structured products that do not fulfil the conditions under Level 2 that are assigned to Level 3.

If the inputs used to determine the fair value of an asset or a liability can be assigned to different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the entire fair value measurement is assigned to the respective level of the fair value hierarchy that corresponds to the lowest input significant for the measurement overall.

UNIQA recognises reclassifications between different levels of the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period in which the change occurred.

The valuation processes and methods are as follows:

Financial instruments measured at fair value

For the valuation of capital investments, techniques best suited for the establishment of corresponding value are applied. The following standard valuation techniques are applied for financial instruments which come under levels 2 and 3:

  • Market approach
    The valuation method in the market approach is based on prices or other applicable information from market transactions which involve identical or comparable assets and liabilities.
  • Income approach
    The income approach corresponds to the method whereby the future (expected) payment flows or earnings are inferred on a current amount.
  • Cost approach
    The cost approach generally corresponds to the value which would have to be applied in order to procure the asset once again.

Non-financial assets and loans

The fair value of investment property is determined within the scope of the impairment test.

The loans are accounted for at amortised cost. Any required impairment is determined with due regard to the collateral and the debtor’s creditworthiness.

Financial liabilities

The fair value of financial liabilities and subordinated liabilities is determined using the discounted cash flow method. Yield curves and CDS spreads are used as inputs.

Valuation techniques and inputs in the determination of fair values

Assets

Price method

Input factors

Price model

Fixed-income securities

 

 

 

Listed bonds

Listed price

Unlisted bonds

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves

Present value method

Unquoted asset backed securities

Theoretical price

Discounted cash flow, single deal review, peer

Infrastructure financing

Theoretical price

Discounted cash flow

Variable-income securities

 

 

 

Listed shares/investment funds

Listed price

Private equities

Theoretical price

Certified net asset values

Net asset value method

Hedge funds

Theoretical price

Certified net asset values

Net asset value method

Other shares

Theoretical value

WACC, (long-term) revenue growth rate, (long-term) profit margins, control premium

Expert opinion

Derivative financial instruments

 

 

 

Equity basket certificate

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves, volatilities (FX, cap/floor, swaption, constant maturity swap, shares)

Black-Scholes Monte Carlo N-DIM

CMS floating rate note

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves, volatilities (FX, cap/floor, swaption, constant maturity swap, shares)

LIBOR market model, Hull-White-Garman-Kohlhagen Monte Carlo

CMS spread certificate

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves, volatilities (FX, cap/floor, swaption, constant maturity swap, shares)

Contract specific model

FX (Binary) option

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves, volatilities (FX, cap/floor, swaption, constant maturity swap, shares)

Black-Scholes-Garman-Kohlhagen Monte Carlo N-DIM

Option (Inflation, OTC, OTC FX options)

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves, volatilities (FX, cap/floor, swaption, constant maturity swap, shares)

Black-Scholes Monte Carlo N-DIM, contract specific model, inflation market model NKIS

Structured bonds

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves, volatilities (FX, cap/floor, swaption, constant maturity swap, shares)

Black-Scholes-Garman-Kohlhagen Monte Carlo N-DIM, LMM

Swap, cross currency swap

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves, volatilities (FX, cap/floor, swaption, constant maturity swap, shares)

Black-Scholes-Garman-Kohlhagen Monte Carlo N-DIM, Black–76-model, LIBOR market model, contract specific model

Swaption, total return swaption

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves, volatilities (FX, cap/floor, swaption, constant maturity swap, shares)

Black - basis point volatility, contract specific model

Investments under investment contracts

 

 

 

Listed shares/investment funds

Listed price

Unlisted investment funds

Theoretical price

CDS spread, yield curves

Present value method

Valuation hierarchy

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value

In € thousand

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

Available-for-sale financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable-income securities

695,196

727,791

1,135

125

144,526

128,173

840,857

856,090

Fixed-income securities

12,567,999

13,287,001

2,633,039

2,553,636

501,453

308,578

15,702,491

16,149,214

Total

13,263,195

14,014,792

2,634,175

2,553,761

645,979

436,751

16,543,348

17,005,304

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable-income securities

0

0

14,445

17,684

10,094

11,732

24,538

29,415

Fixed-income securities

197,100

175,635

48,235

78,774

62,694

61,560

308,029

315,968

Derivative financial instruments

12

20

5,205

84,249

15,587

80,767

20,804

165,037

Investments under investment contracts

49,008

56,630

932

971

6,456

2,818

56,395

60,419

Total

246,120

232,285

68,816

181,678

94,830

156,876

409,767

570,840

In € thousand

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

31/12/2018

31/12/2017

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

31/12/2018

31/12/2017

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

Financial liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments

0

0

13,345

24,208

0

2,307

13,345

26,514

Total

0

0

13,345

24,208

0

2,307

13,345

26,514

Fair values of assets and liabilities measured at amortised cost

In € thousand

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

Investment property

0

0

0

0

2,086,093

2,217,627

2,086,093

2,217,627

Loans and receivables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans and other investments

0

0

395,016

328,323

112,700

143,400

507,715

471,723

Fixed-income securities

30,789

51,579

123,862

155,378

31,443

32,768

186,094

239,724

Total

30,789

51,579

518,878

483,701

144,143

176,168

693,809

711,447

In € thousand

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

31/12/2018

31/12/2017

31/12/2018

31/12/2017

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

Financial liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities from collateral received for securities lending

0

0

0

0

772,196

0

772,196

0

Liabilities from loans

0

0

0

0

12,943

13,837

12,943

13,837

Total

0

0

0

0

785,139

13,837

785,139

13,837

Subordinated liabilities

959,400

1,088,161

0

0

0

0

959,400

1,088,161

Transfers between levels 1 and 2

In the reporting period transfers from Level 1 to Level 2 were made in the amount of €443,997 thousand (2017: €202,399 thousand) and from Level 2 to Level 1 in the amount of €234,586 thousand (2017: €1,508,494 thousand). These are attributable primarily to changes in trading frequency and trading activity.

Level 3 financial instruments

The following table shows the changes to the fair values of financial instruments whose valuation techniques are not based on observable inputs.

In € thousand

RZB shares

Fixed-income securities

Other

Total

 

2018

2017

2018

2017
adjusted

2018

2017
adjusted

2018

2017
adjusted

At 1 January

0

126,071

308,578

427,840

282,743

286,039

591,321

839,950

Transfers from Level 3 to Level 1

0

–126,071

–24

0

–6

0

–29

–126,071

Transfers to Level 3

0

0

772

107,276

0

1,741

772

109,017

Gains and losses recognised in profit or loss

0

0

1,630

–24,697

–12,527

9,579

–10,897

–15,119

Gains and losses recognised in other comprehensive income

0

0

–14,445

–1,573

3,290

2,178

–11,155

605

Additions

0

0

217,244

101,253

43,676

11,929

260,920

113,182

Disposals

0

0

–12,273

–301,521

–77,814

–24,514

–90,087

–326,035

Changes from currency translation

0

0

–29

0

–6

–7

–35

–7

Change in basis of consolidation

0

0

0

0

0

–4,202

0

–4,202

At 31 December

0

0

501,453

308,578

239,356

282,743

740,809

591,321

Sensitivities

For the most important financial instruments in Level 3, an increase in the discount rate by 100 basis points results in a 5.7 per cent reduction in the value (2017: 3.7 per cent). A reduction in the discount rate by 100 basis points results in a 6.4 per cent increase in value (2017: 3.7 per cent).

Transfer of financial assets

 

Fair value

In € thousand

31/12/2018

31/12/2017

Transferred financial assets from securities lending

772,406

0

Liabilities from collateral received for securities lending

772,196

0

Net position

210

0

The carrying amounts of the transferred financial assets of the securities lending transactions and the liabilities from collateral received for securities lending transactions correspond to the fair values.

Carrying amounts for loans and other investments

In € thousand

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

Loans

 

 

Loans to affiliated unconsolidated companies

4,382

0

Mortgage loans

14,100

17,151

Loans and advance payments on policies

13,481

8,409

Other loans

54,986

7,589

Total

86,950

33,148

Other investments

 

 

Bank deposits

395,016

328,323

Deposits retained on assumed reinsurance

25,750

110,252

Total

420,766

438,575

Total sum

507,715

471,723

The carrying amounts of the loans and other investments correspond to their fair values. The measurement is based on collateral and the creditworthiness of the debtor; for deposits with banks it is based on quoted prices.

Impairment of loans

In € thousand

31/12/2018

31/12/2017

At 1 January

–6,339

–25,832

Allocation

–114

–1,025

Use

1,870

19,056

Reversal

933

1,502

Currency translation

–7

–39

At 31 December

–3,657

–6,339

Contractual maturities for fair values of loans

In € thousand

31/12/2018

31/12/2017
adjusted

Up to 1 year

4,227

2,639

More than 1 year and up to 5 years

16,703

8,575

More than 5 years up to 10 years

56,240

12,377

More than 10 years

9,780

9,558

Total

86,950

33,148

Available-for-sale financial assets
The available-for-sale financial assets include financial assets that are neither due to be held to maturity, nor have they been acquired for short-term trading purposes. Available-for-sale financial assets are measured at fair value. Fluctuations in value are recognised in other comprehensive income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
IFRSs
International Financial Reporting Standards. Since 2002 the term IFRSs has applied to the overall concept of standards adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board. Standards already adopted beforehand continue to be referred to as International Accounting Standards (IASs).