23. Capital management

Capital management takes place with due regard to the regulatory and statutory requirements. After  II came into force on 1 January 2016, the definitions and methods used to calculate available own funds, as well as risk capital requirements and management standards, were replaced by standards.

The eligible own funds comprise the consolidated 1 capital, which essentially consisted of the subscribed share capital including the allocated share premium account and the reconciliation reserve. The Tier 2 capital consists entirely of . 3 own fund items are mainly deferred tax assets.

In the context of Group management, the appropriate coverage of the capital requirement in accordance with Solvency II on a consolidated basis is constantly monitored. Active capital management is implemented in order to ensure that the individual Group companies and the Group as a whole have a reasonable capital base at all times. Aside from the five-year planning, another objective of active capital management is also to actively guarantee UNIQA’s financial capacity, including under difficult economic conditions, in order to safeguard the continued existence of the insurance business.

In addition to the regulatory requirements to meet solvency capital/minimum capital requirements, UNIQA has also set itself a target capitalisation for the Group in the form of a solvency capital ratio – i.e. the eligible own funds in relation to the solvency capital requirement – of at least 170 per cent. The solvency capital ratio is managed using strategic measures which result in a reduction in the capital requirements and/or increase the amount of existing capital.

UNIQA also takes the potential impact on the rating by recognised rating agencies into account in the capital management process. Standard & Poor’s (S&P) currently applies a credit rating of “A–” to UNIQA Insurance Group AG. In the S&P capital model UNIQA achieves significant surplus coverage for the current level. UNIQA assumes that it will secure its surplus coverage of the AA level at a minimum in the long term and will also improve the rating in line with the corporate strategy as a result.

UNIQA Österreich Versicherungen AG and UNIQA Re AG each have a rating of “A”. The bond issued in 2013 (initially: €350.0 million, open amount remaining: €148.7 million, Tier 2, first call date: 31 July 2023), is rated “BBB” by S&P. In addition, the subordinated capital bond issued in 2015 (initially: €500.0 million, open amount remaining: €326.3 million, Tier 2, first call date: 27 July 2026), the bond issued in 2020 (€200.0 million, Tier 2, first call date: 9 July 2025) and the bond issued in 2021 (€375.0 million, Tier 2, first call date: 9 June 2031) are rated “BBB” by S&P. The agency rates the outlook for all companies as “stable”.

Solvency
An insurance company’s equity base.
Solvency II
European Union Directive on publication obligations and solvency rules for the equity base of an insurance company.
Tiers
Classification of the basic own fund components into Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 capital using the own funds list in accordance with the criteria specified in the EU implementing regulation. If a component of basic own funds is not included in the list, an entity must carry out its own assessment and decide on a classification.
Subordinated liabilities
Liabilities that can only be repaid following the rest of the liabilities in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy.
Tiers
Classification of the basic own fund components into Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 capital using the own funds list in accordance with the criteria specified in the EU implementing regulation. If a component of basic own funds is not included in the list, an entity must carry out its own assessment and decide on a classification.
Net
The part of risk which is assumed but that the insurer/reinsurer does not cede as reinsurance.
Solvency
An insurance company’s equity base.
Supplementary capital
Paid-in capital that is provided to the insurance company for a minimum of five years with a waiver of the right to cancel under the relevant agreement, and for which interest may only be paid provided that this is covered by the annual net profit.