Interim management Statement
Strong results underpinned by equity market growth with continued operational recovery in Movestic.
· Increase in EEV to £344.8m at 31 March 2013 from £311.1m at 31 December 2012 primarily driven by net of tax profit of £27.1m together with a £7.2m gain arising from appreciation of the Swedish Krona against Sterling over the period.
· EEV pre-tax profit (excluding modelling adjustments and exchange rate impacts) for the quarter ended 31 March 2013 of £28.5m (quarter ended 31 March 2012: £22.6m), predominantly due to £26.1m of pre-tax profit emerging as a direct result of investment market performance.
· Strong net cash generation of £12.2m for the quarter ended 31 March 2013 (full year 2012: £41.0m).
· Profit on an IFRS basis before tax for the quarter ended 31 March 2013 of £8.7m (quarter ended 31 March 2012: £13.0m) is underpinned by UK product-based surpluses which remain strong.
· A £5.7m release in the provision for S&P policy guarantees has contributed to the IFRS result, reflecting the positive impact of equity market growth.
· Solvency ratios remain strong, with Group (IGD) at 245% (31 December 2012: 244%), CA at 229% (31 December 2012: 199%) and Movestic 289% (31 December 2012: 280%).
· Movestic generated £8.2m of EEV pre-tax profit (excluding modelling adjustments and exchange rate impacts) in the quarter ended 31 March 2013 (quarter ended 31 March 2012: profit of £6.0m), primarily due to a recovery in Swedish equity markets.
· Continued return of IFA support for the Movestic business has resulted in a 42% increase in Pensions and Savings new contract premium income compared with the first quarter of 2012. The recovery in IFA support has continued post 31 March 2013.
· Shareholder equity on EEV basis of 300.2p per share (31 December 2012: 270.9p per share), both before allowance for the 2012 final dividend of 11.25p to be paid in May.
· Acquisition opportunities continue to be examined and there are signs of a general upturn in M&A activity.