10. Deferred acquisition costs and value of business in force

Deferred acquisition costs related to insurance contracts

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. They are amortised over the term of the respective 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 the item “Operating expenses”.

Non-insurance deferred acquisition costs

Deferred acquisition costs not related to contracts are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 15. These are essentially contracts for the management of pension and investment funds. They recognise costs that would not have been incurred if the contract had not been concluded. The amortisation is carried out pro rata temporis over the term of the underlying contracts.

Value of business in force

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

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

Acquisition costs

In € thousand

Deferred acquisition costs

Value of
business in force

Total

At 1 January 2021

1,116,203

458,371

1,574,573

Currency translation

3,443

4,708

8,152

Disposals

0

–2,486

–2,486

Interest capitalised

9,290

0

9,290

Capitalisation

360,661

0

360,661

Amortisation

–306,587

0

–306,587

At 31 December 2021

1,183,011

460,593

1,643,603

At 1 January 2022

1,183,011

460,593

1,643,603

Currency translation

–5,754

–175

–5,929

Disposals

0

–25,277

–25,277

Interest capitalised

11,589

0

11,589

Capitalisation

398,284

0

398,284

Amortisation

–383,104

0

–383,104

At 31 December 2022

1,204,025

435,141

1,639,166

Accumulated amortisation and impairment losses

In € thousand

Deferred acquisition costs

Value of
business in force

Total

At 1 January 2021

 

–123,424

–123,424

Currency translation

 

208

208

Additions from amortisation

 

–58,832

–58,832

Disposals

 

532

532

At 31 December 2021

 

–181,516

–181,516

At 1 January 2022

 

–181,516

–181,516

Currency translation

 

345

345

Additions from amortisation

 

–42,033

–42,033

Disposals

 

25,277

25,277

At 31 December 2022

 

–197,927

–197,927

Carrying amounts

In € thousand

Deferred acquisition costs

Value of
business in force

Total

At 1 January 2021

1,116,203

334,947

1,451,149

At 31 December 2021

1,183,011

279,077

1,462,087

At 31 December 2022

1,204,025

237,213

1,441,238

Acquisition costs
The amount paid to acquire an asset in cash or cash equivalents or the fair value of another form of compensation at the time of acquisition.
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Deferred acquisition costs
These include the costs of the insurance company incurred in connection with the acquisition of new or the extension of existing contracts. Costs such as acquisition commissions as well as costs for processing applications and risk assessments are some of the items to be recorded here.
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Fair value
The fair value is the price that would be collected in an ordinary business transaction between market participants for the sale of an asset or that would be paid for transferring a liability.
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US GAAP
US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
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Unearned premiums
The part of the premiums that represents the compensation for the insurance period after the reporting date but which has not yet been earned as at the reporting date. Except in the case of life insurance, unearned premiums must be stated in the balance sheet as a separate item under the technical provisions.
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Value of business in force
Calculation of the value of business in-force (VBI). Designates the present value of future profits arising from life insurance contracts, less the present value of the costs arising from the capital to be held in connection with this business.
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