11. Intangible assets

Deferred acquisition costs

Based on US GAAP, deferred acquisition costs are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 4. In the case of property and casualty insurance contracts, costs directly attributable to the acquisition are deferred and distributed over the expected contract term or according to the unearned premiums. In life insurance, the deferred acquisition costs are amortised in line with the pattern of expected gross profits or margins. Deferred acquisition costs for insurance activities that are directly related to new business and/or to extensions of existing policies and that vary in line with that business are capitalised and amortised over the term of the related insurance contracts. If they are attributable to property and casualty insurance, they are amortised over the probable contractual term. For long-term health insurance contracts, the amortisation of acquisition costs is measured in line with the proportionate share of earned premiums in the present value of expected future premium income. In life insurance, the acquisition costs are amortised over the duration of the contract in the same proportion as the actuarial profit margin of each individual year is realised in comparison to the total margin to be expected from the contracts. The changes in deferred acquisition costs are recognised as part of profit/(loss) for the period under operating expenses.

Insurance contract portfolio

Values of life, property and casualty insurance policies relate to expected future margins from purchased operations. They are recognised at the fair value at the acquisition date.

The amortisation of the current value of insurance contracts follows the progression of the estimated gross margins. The amortisation of the value of insurance contracts is recognised in the profit/(loss) for the period under “Amortisation of goodwill and impairment losses”.

Goodwill

Goodwill is valued at cost less accumulated impairment losses. The impairment of goodwill is recognised in profit/(loss) for the period under the item “Amortisation of goodwill and impairment losses”.

Ascertainment and allocation of goodwill

For the purpose of the impairment test, UNIQA has allocated the goodwill to cash-generating units (CGUs). The impairment test involves a comparison between the amount that can be generated by selling or using each CGU, the present value of future cash flows with its value to be covered, consisting of goodwill, the proportional net assets and any capital increases. If the resulting value exceeds the realisable value of the unit based on the discounted cash flow method, an impairment loss is recognised.

The impairment test was carried out in the fourth quarter of 2018. UNIQA has allocated goodwill to the CGUs listed below, which coincide with the countries in which UNIQA operates. An exception to this was the SIGAL Group, in which the three countries of Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia were combined as one CGU due to their similar development and organisational connection:

• UNIQA Austria
• UNIQA Re
• Albania/Kosovo/North Macedonia as subgroup of the “SIGAL Group” (SEE)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (SEE)
• Bulgaria (SEE)
• Croatia (SEE)
• Liechtenstein (WE)
• Poland (CE)
• Romania (EE)
• Russia (RU)
• Switzerland (WE)
• Serbia (SEE)
• Montenegro (SEE)
• Slovakia (CE)
• Czech Republic (CE)
• Ukraine (EE)
• Hungary (CE)

Determining the capitalisation rate

The assumptions with regard to risk-free interest rate, market risk premium and business line betas made for determining the capitalisation rate are consistent with the parameters used in the UNIQA planning and controlling process. They are based on the capital asset pricing model.

In order to depict the economic situation of income values as accurately as possible, considering the volatility on the markets, the capitalisation rate was calculated as follows: a uniform, risk-free interest rate according to the Svensson method (German treasury bonds with 30-year maturities) was used as a base interest rate.

The beta factor was determined on the basis of the monthly betas over the last five years for a defined peer group. The betas for the non-life, life and health insurance segments were determined using the revenues in the relevant segments of the individual peer group companies. The health insurance segment, which is strongly focused on the Austrian market, is operated in a manner similar to life insurance. A uniform beta factor for personal insurance is therefore used in relation to the health and life insurance lines.

The determination of the market risk premium was adjusted according to the recommendation of the Chamber of Tax Consultants and Auditors. It was derived from a dividend discount model. The necessary market data is retrieved from Bloomberg. The growth factor is derived in the same manner as the growth in the profit from ordinary activities in the impairment test.

An additional country risk premium was defined in accordance with Professor Damodaran’s models (NYU Stern). The basic principles for calculation of the country risk premium in accordance with the Damodaran method are as follows: the spread of credit default swap spreads in a rating class of “risk-free” US government bonds is determined starting from the rating of the country concerned (Moody’s). Then the spread is adjusted by the amount of the volatility difference between equity and bond markets.

The calculation also factored in the inflation differential for countries outside the eurozone. In general, the inflation differential represents inflation trends in different countries and is used as a key indicator in assessing competitiveness. In order to calculate the inflation differential, the deviation of the inflation forecast for the country of the CGU in question in relation to the inflation forecast for a risk-free environment (Germany, in this case) was used. This is adjusted annually in the detailed planning by the expected inflation, and is subsequently applied for perpetuity with the value of the last year of the detailed planning phase.

Impairment test for goodwill – ascertainment of the recoverable amount

UNIQA calculates the recoverable amount of the CGUs with goodwill allocated on the basis of value in use by applying generally accepted valuation principles by means of the discounted cash-flow method (DCF). The budget projections (detailed planning phase) of the CGUs, the estimate of the long-term net profits achievable by the CGUs and long-term growth rates (perpetuity) are used as the starting point for determination of the capitalised value.

The capitalised value is determined by discounting the future profits with a suitable capitalisation rate after assumed retention to strengthen the capital base. In the process, the capitalised values are separated by business line, which are then totalled to yield the value for the entire company.

Cash flow forecast (multi-phase model)

Phase 1: five-year company planning

The detailed company planning generally encompasses a period of five years. The company plans used for the calculation are the result of a structured and standardised management dialogue, in combination with the reporting and documentation process integrated into this dialogue. The plans are formally approved by the Group Management Board and also include material assumptions regarding the combined ratio, capital earnings, market shares and the like.

Phase 2: perpetuity growth rate

The last year of the detailed planning phase is used as the basis for determining cash flows in phase 2. The growth in the start-up phase leading up to phase 2 was determined using a projection of the growth in insurance markets. This start-up phase denotes a period that is required for the insurance market to achieve a penetration rate equal to the Austrian level. It was assumed that the insurance markets would come into line with the Austrian level in terms of density and penetration in 40 to 60 years.

Uncertainty and sensitivity

Various studies and statistical analyses were used as sources to provide a basis for determining the growth rates in order to consistently and realistically reflect the market situation and macroeconomic development.

The reference sources included the following studies and materials:

• Internal research
• Damodaran – country risks, growth rate estimations, multiples

Sensitivity analyses of financial instruments

In order to substantiate the results of the calculation and estimation of the value in use, random sensitivity analyses with regard to the capitalisation rate and the main value drivers are performed.

These analyses show that sustained surpluses on the part of the individual CGUs are highly dependent on the actual development of these assumptions within the individual national or regional economies (GDP, insurance density, purchasing power parities), particularly in the CEE markets, as well as the associated implementation of the individual profit goals. These forecasts and the related assessment of how the situation in the markets will develop in the future, under the influence of the continuing financial crisis in individual markets, are the largest uncertainties in connection with measurement results.

In the event that the insurance market trends differ entirely from the assumptions made in those business plans and forecasts, the individual goodwill amounts may incur impairment losses. Despite slower economic growth, income expectations have not changed significantly compared to previous years.

A sensitivity analysis shows that if there is a rise in interest rates of 50 basis points or a change in the underlying cash flow by 5 per cent for Bosnia and for Montenegro, there could be a convergence between the value in use and the carrying amount or a value in use that is lower than the carrying amount. In the event of a change to the underlying cash flows by –10 per cent, there will also be a risk in Romania of a convergence or a value in use that is lower than the carrying amount.

There was an impairment amounting to €35 thousand in the financial year on account of the assumed development of cash flows for the CGU of Bosnia.

Backtesting

Backtesting is regularly carried out on the planning for the individual countries. The objective is to obtain information for internal purposes on the extent to which the operating units plan their profits accurately and on the extent to which details useful with regard to subsequent development are highlighted. Backtesting is intended to help draw conclusions that can be applied to the latest round of planning, in order to enhance the planning accuracy of forthcoming financial plans.

Other intangible assets

Other intangible assets include both purchased and internally developed software, which is depreciated on a straight-line basis over its useful economic life of 2 to 40 years.

Costs that are incurred at the research stage for internally generated software are recognised through profit or loss for the period in which they were incurred. Costs that are incurred in the development phase are deferred provided that it is foreseeable that the software will be completed, there is the intention and ability for future internal use, and this will result in a future economic benefit.

The amortisation of the other intangible assets is recognised in profit/(loss) for the period on the basis of allocated operating expenses under the items “Insurance benefits”, “Operating expenses” and “Net investment income”.

Measurement of non-financial assets

The carrying amounts of UNIQA’s non-financial assets – excluding deferred tax assets – are reviewed at every reporting date to determine whether there is an indication of impairment. If this is the case, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated. The goodwill and intangible assets under construction are tested for impairment annually.

An impairment loss on goodwill is not reversed. In the case of other assets, an impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that it does not increase the carrying amount of the asset above the carrying amount that would have been determined net of depreciation or amortisation had no impairment loss been recognised.

Other intangible assets mainly comprise software.