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Operational Update – June 2018
Sanlam Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number 1959/001562/06
JSE share code: SLM
A2X share code: SLM
NSX share code: SLA
ISIN: ZAE000070660
(“Sanlam” or “the Group”)
Operational Update – June 2018
Operating conditions remained challenging during the first four months of 2018 across a
number of markets where Sanlam operates. Despite these conditions, the Group’s well-
diversified profile enabled us to deliver a satisfactory operational performance for the
four months ended 30 April 2018.
Economic growth in many markets remains below longer-term potential, in particular in
our large South African and Namibian markets where only modest growth is expected
for 2018. In South Africa, business and consumer sentiment improved following the
political changes in December and early 2018. As anticipated, it will take some time for
the improved confidence to transpire into accelerated economic growth. Economic
conditions in Namibia continue to be impacted by liquidity constraints emanating from
its twin deficit, while the economies and currencies of Nigeria and Angola remained
under pressure. The economic outlook in the other Africa regions where the Group
operates is slowly improving, while conditions in India and Malaysia remain robust.
The first four months of 2018 were also characterised by significant volatility in South
African and international investment markets. Global stock markets reached record-
levels during 2017. The South African market also rallied into December 2017, finding
support from the global market performance as well as the favourable outcome of the
ruling party’s elective conference. Optimism improved further with the appointment of
Cyril Ramaphosa as South African president and the subsequent cabinet changes.
Indications were that the South African market would continue its rally following these
developments, but this was short lived as global markets were halted by fears of an
accelerated interest rate hiking cycle by the US Federal Reserve and heightened global
geopolitical risk. This spurred a global stock market sell-off and resulted in a decline
across investment markets at the end of Q1 2018. The South African equity market
recovered somewhat during April 2018, but still recorded negative returns for the first
four months of 2018 compared to positive returns in the comparable period, impacting
negatively on the investment return earned on the Group’s capital portfolio on a relative
basis. South African interest rate markets also reacted positively to the political
developments, with long term rates declining since 31 December 2017.
The sharp strengthening of the Rand exchange rate in 2017 and 2018 is reflecting in a
stronger average exchange rate in 2018 relative to the first four months of 2017,
suppressing the overall translated results of Sanlam Emerging Markets as well as
Sanlam Investments’ international operations.
The acquisition of the remaining interest in Saham Finances is progressing according to
plan. The first phase of funding for the transaction was concluded at the end of March
2018 through an accelerated book build equity issuance. An additional 5% equity
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raising is planned, with the intention to utilise it as an opportunity to further strengthen
the Group’s empowerment credentials (refer Capital section below).
Results
The constant currency information included in this operational update has been
presented to illustrate the impact of changes in currency exchange rates and is the
responsibility of the Group’s board of directors (“Board”). It is presented for illustrative
purposes only and because of its nature may not fairly present the Group’s financial
position, changes in equity, result of operations or cash flows. All references to constant
currency information are based on the translation of foreign currency results for the four
months to 30 April 2018 at the weighted average exchange rate for the four months to
30 April 2017, which is also applied for the translation of comparative information. The
major currencies contributing to the exchange rate movements are the British Pound,
United States Dollar, Indian Rupee, Botswana Pula, Moroccan Dirham, Angolan
Kwanza, and the Nigerian Naira (negative movements in the table below indicate a
strengthening in the rand exchange rate):
Currency Average rand Average rand Change in average
exchange rate – 4 exchange rate – 4 exchange rate
months to 30 April months to 30 April
2018 2017
British Pound 16.74 16.51 1.4%
United States 12.00 13.27 -9.6%
Dollar
Indian Rupee 0.186 0.200 -7.2%
Botswana Pula 1.266 1.282 -1.3%
Moroccan Dirham 1.308 1.388 -1.9%
Angolan Kwanza 0.059 0.081 -27.2%
Nigeria Naira 0.034 0.043 -20.9%
The constant currency information has not been audited or reviewed by Sanlam’s
external auditor.
The salient features of the Group’s performance for the four months to 30 April 2018
are:
- New business volumes of R69 billion, down 3% on the first four months of the
2017 financial year largely due to lower inflows at Sanlam Investments.
o Sanlam Personal Finance achieved overall new business sales growth of 11%.
Strong growth in the recurring premium sub cluster was augmented by a good
recovery at Glacier, which benefited from the improved investor sentiment. This
was, however, partially offset by a decline at Safrican in the entry level market
from a high base in 2017.
Sanlam Sky’s more profitable individual life recurring premium risk business
achieved strong growth of 18% on the comparable 2017 period. Group life risk
business, however, declined by 59% due to lower new business sales at
Safrican. Safrican wrote two large new schemes in the first four months of 2017,
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which did not repeat in 2018. Overall risk business sales declined by 15% as a
result.
New business volumes in the recurring premium business cluster increased by
29% (16% excluding the structural contribution from BrighRock), the combined
effect of 35% and 20% growth in recurring and single premiums respectively.
Individual life risk business experienced pressure in the first four months of 2018,
increasing by only 1%. The mix within the individual life risk business, however,
changed to the more profitable lines of business. New savings business sales
grew by 21%, with most product lines contributing double digit growth.
As highlighted above, Glacier new business volumes benefited from renewed
investor sentiment and recorded growth of 11%, but with the mix of business
changing to the less profitable linked products as anticipated.
o Sanlam Emerging Markets recorded overall new business growth of 19%,
including the impact of structural activity (Saham Finances, Sanlam Investments
East Africa and Ghana disposal) in 2017. In constant currency, new business
volumes increased by 23% (up 17% in constant currency and excluding
structural activity). Notwithstanding the difficult economic environment, Namibia
had a solid start to the year with 18% new business growth in the first four
months of 2018. Strong growth of 31% in investment business was partially
offset by a 17% decline in new life business flows. The mix of life business,
however, changed favourable towards the higher margin entry-level market.
A recovery in annuity market share in Botswana supported overall growth of 13%
in new business volumes from this market (15% in constant currency).
Rest of Africa new business volumes increased by 34% (43% in constant
currency and 27% excluding structural activity in constant currency). Most
regions contributed to the growth in constant currency, apart from Malawi, which
had a slow start to the year. Saham Finances’ new business production was in
line with the business plan, with the Angola operations in particular holding up
well in a difficult environment.
The Indian operations delivered growth of 3% (11% in constant currency) with
double digit contributions from both the life and general insurance businesses in
constant currency. The life insurance business in Malaysia achieved some
traction and reported new business growth of 12% (10% in constant currency)
during the first four months of 2018. The Malaysian general insurance business
is still performing below its new business expectations, but its profitability
improved by more than 20%.
o Sanlam Investments experienced a 16% decline in new business volumes from a
high base in 2017. We anticipated that the improved investor sentiment will not
reflect in institutional inflows before the end of 2018.
o Sanlam Employee Benefits had a slow start to 2018, experiencing a decline in
both life recurring premium risk business and single premiums of some 20%. The
future pipeline of new business appears promising.
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o Net value of new life business (“VNB”) increased by 2% (broadly in line with
2017 excluding structural activity and on a constant economic and currency
basis). The relatively low level of growth is largely attributable to the change in
mix of business at Glacier and the lower new business volumes at Safrican and
Sanlam Employee Benefits, which resulted in a flat VNB performance from the
South African businesses. Sanlam Emerging Markets’ net VNB increased by
14% excluding structural activity and on a consistent economic and currency
basis. Namibia and Botswana experienced strong growth from a low base,
supported by improved contributions from Saham Finances, India, Malaysia and
Nigeria. VNB margins have been largely maintained on a per product basis.
o Overall net fund inflows of R10.1 billion were down on the R12 billion achieved in
the comparable four-month period in 2017, due to some large outflows from the
institutional business at Sanlam Investments. SPF achieved a marked
improvement, reflective of the new business growth at Glacier.
o Persistency experience trends remained in line with 2017.
- Net result from financial services increased by 11% on the first four months of the
2017 financial year (up 6% in constant currency and excluding structural activity as
well as the de-monetisation related provision in India in 2017).
o Sanlam Personal Finance’s net result from financial services declined by 2%.
This is due to increased new business strain, the first-time inclusion of
BrightRock’s operational losses, costs associated with the MiWay Life and Indie
new initiatives and lower market-related fee income in Glacier from products
where shareholders share in the underlying portfolio investment returns.
Excluding these, Sanlam Personal Finance achieved net operating profit growth
of 7% on the first four months of 2017.
o Sanlam Emerging Markets’ net result from financial services increased by 34%,
with good growth from most key regions. Namibia was the exception, impacted
by new business strain from the strong entry-level market new business
performance and persistent high risk claims experience in the group life and
affluent markets. The comparative 2017 period included provisions of R110
million (SEM’s share net of tax) relating to de-monetisation in India, which
supported the overall growth. Saham Finances delivered good growth in
operating earnings and remains in line with the business plan.
o Sanlam Investments’ contribution to net result from financial services decreased
by 4%, attributable to lower performance fees, the impact of the stronger
average rand exchange rate and a high comparative base in the capital markets
business.
The current status of the Group’s exposure to Steinhoff International is as
follows:
1. The local bonds held by the Group were redeemed in full, reversing the
unrealised marked-to-market losses incurred in 2017. These realised gains in
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2018 are recognised against the spread risk reserve (SRR) in line with the
treatment of the 2017 unrealised losses.
2. The pricing of the foreign bonds improved significantly during 2018. We
utilised this as an opportunity to substantially exit the EUR26 million exposure
by the end of May 2018. The bonds were sold at a realised loss of some R14
million (R10 million after tax) relative to the original cost price. The reversal of
the unrealised losses incurred in 2017 was recognised against the SRR in
line with the treatment of the local bonds. The realised loss compared to the
original cost prices is recognised in net result from financial services, the
majority of which was included in the April results.
3. Collateralised lending granted by Sanlam Capital Markets to the Mayfair
group:
a. We obtained possession of the 20.7 million Steinhoff shares held as
direct pledge for the R804 million loan in 2017. This reduced the
outstanding balance of the loan to R655 million (R472 million after
tax). 7.2 million of the Steinhoff shares were sold at a profit of R28
million in 2018. Unrealised losses of R37 million have been incurred in
respect of the remaining 13.5 million Steinhoff shares based on a
share price of R1.92. The net after-tax loss of R7 million has been
recognised in net result from financial services.
b. We are party to the S155 processes initiated with creditors of Mayfair
Holdings and Mayfair Speculators to recover the remaining loan
balance. This process to date indicates that the value of net assets
held by these entities will be sufficient to repay the Sanlam Capital
Markets loan.
o Santam experienced a particularly benign claims environment, compared to the
first four months of 2017 that included a number of large catastrophe claims.
This resulted in a substantial increase in its underwriting margin for the four-
month period to above the 4% to 8% target range. Premium growth was
acceptable in a tough economic environment.
o Sanlam Employee Benefits and Sanlam Healthcare achieved strong growth in
net result from financial services, supporting overall growth of 22% for the
Sanlam Corporate Cluster. Sanlam Employee Benefits benefited from lower new
business strain due to lower new business levels.
- Normalised headline earnings per share increased by 5% compared to the first four
months of the 2017 financial year. A relatively weaker investment market
performance in 2018 supressed the solid growth in net result from financial
services.
- Diluted headline earnings per share, which include fund transfers recognised in
respect of Sanlam shares held in policyholder portfolios, increased by 7%
compared to the first four months of the 2017 financial year. The additional share
issuance in April 2018 had a marginal impact on earnings per share due to the
weighting applied in the year of issuance.
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Capital
All of the Group operations remain well capitalised. Sanlam Life Insurance’s statutory
capital covered its Capital Adequacy Requirements under the current solvency regime
5.4 times on 31 March 2018 after allowing for the annual dividend payment to Sanlam
Limited. Under the new Solvency Assessment and Management (SAM) regime being
implemented in South Africa, Sanlam Life Insurance’s Solvency Capital Requirement
cover ratio amounted to 2.85 times on 31 March 2018 after the dividend payment to
Sanlam Limited.
The Group had excess capital of R2 billion available for redeployment at the end of
December 2017 after allowing for the acquisition of Absa Consultants and Actuaries,
which was finalised in the first four months of 2018. No other significant transactions
were concluded during the period.
The Saham Finances acquisition remains subject to regulatory approvals, which is
expected in the second half of the year.
The discretionary capital portfolio was augmented in the first four months of 2018 by the
new share issuance in April (R5.5 billion after allowing for the dividend payable in
respect of the new shares), the excess dividend cover relating to the dividend payment
in April 2018 (R690 million) and the release of R1.5 billion from the capital allocated to
the South African life insurance operations (as indicated in the 2017 results
announcement). This increased the level of available discretionary capital to R9.6 billion
at 30 April 2018. This capital has been earmarked for the Saham Finances acquisition,
which will require cash resources of R13.9 billion based on the average hedged rate of
$1/R13.24. The deficit will be funded from short term debt facilities as previously
communicated to the market. A second share issuance of some 5% is planned for the
second half of the year, with the intention to use it as an opportunity to further enhance
the Group’s empowerment credentials. Proceeds from this issuance will be used to
redeem the short term debt facilities and to augment the discretionary capital pool. We
intend proposing the planned share issuance to shareholders for approval in the fourth
quarter of 2018.
Outlook
We expect that the economic and operating environment will remain subdued in our
largest markets for the remainder of 2018 with a resulting impact on the Group’s key
operational performance indicators. The improved investor sentiment in South Africa is,
however, expected to support new business growth in Glacier and Sanlam Investments
during the remainder of the year.
The change in mix to less profitable lines of business in Glacier is expected to continue.
Sanlam Personal Finance’s new business volumes and VNB will benefit from the newly
concluded funeral and credit life underwriting arrangements with Capitec, an exciting
new growth initiative. Sanlam Employee Benefits’ VNB performance will similarly benefit
from the new business pipeline referred to above.
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Average investment market levels, the relative strength of the Rand exchange rate and
the level of long-term interest rates are key factors that may have an impact on the
growth in net result from financial services, normalised headline earnings and Group
Equity Value to be reported for the first half of the 2018 financial year.
The information in this operational update has not been reviewed and reported on by
Sanlam's external auditors. Sanlam’s interim financial results for the six months ending
30 June 2018 are due to be released on 5 September 2018. Shareholders are advised
that this is not a trading statement as per paragraph 3.4(b) of the JSE Limited Listings
Requirements.
Conference call
A conference call for analysts, investors and the media will take place at 17h00 (South
African time) today. Investors and media who wish to participate in the conference call
should register as indicated below.
Audio dial-in facility
A toll free dial-in facility will be available. Please register at
http://services.choruscall.za.com/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumb
er=2850131&linkSecurityString=f1bda05d for the call. Registered participants will
receive their dial-in number upon registration. For assistance, please contact Sanlam
Investors Relations at +2721 947 8455.
Recorded playback will be available for three days after the conference call.
Access Numbers for Recorded Playback:
Access code for recorded playback: 13609
South Africa Toll 010 500 4108
USA and Canada Toll-free 1 412 317 0088
UK Toll-free 0 203 608 8021
Other Countries Toll +27 10 500 4108
For further information on Sanlam, please visit our website at www.sanlam.com
Cape Town
6 June 2018
Sponsor
Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited
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