Aviva announces sale of Aviva Poland

RNS Number : 5693T

Aviva PLC

26 March 2021

 

26 March 2021

Aviva announces sale of Aviva Poland for €2.5 billion*

Aviva plc ("Aviva") has reached a significant milestone in the execution of strategy, with the agreement to sell its entire shareholding in Aviva Poland¹ to Allianz for a cash consideration of €2.5 billion, valuing the acquired business² at €2.7 billion.  Aviva will now focus on its strongest businesses in the UK, Ireland and Canada where it has leading market positions and strong growth potential.  The divestment of Aviva Poland is the eighth transaction Aviva has announced in the past eight months, and this successfully concludes the planned refocus of the Group's portfolio.

Key highlights:

· Realises significant value for shareholders: all cash consideration at 16.9x IFRS profit after tax³, 5.7x IFRS net asset value³ and 2.3x Solvency II Own Funds³

· Significantly improves Aviva's financial strength with an increase in excess capital^3,4 of £1.5 billion and Solvency II cover ratio^3,4,5 by c. 13 percentage points

· Uplift in IFRS net asset value^3,4 of £1.8 billion, representing a 46 pence per share increase from 31 December 2020 IFRS net asset value per share of 493 pence

Amanda Blanc, Chief Executive Officer of Aviva, said:

"The sale of our Polish business is an excellent conclusion to the refocusing of our portfolio announced just eight months ago. The sale of our eight non-core businesses will generate total cash proceeds of £7.5 billion. We have made significant progress with our debt reduction plan and in due course we will make a substantial return of capital to shareholders. Our strategic focus is now on our strongest businesses in the UK, Ireland and Canada where we have leading market positions and strong growth potential ."

"This transaction delivers excellent value for Aviva shareholders. It is also a very positive outcome for our customers, employees and distribution partners and we are confident that Aviva Poland will continue to prosper under Allianz ownership."

There will be no impact on customers' policies as a result of this announcement. Customers and distribution partners of Aviva Poland will continue to receive the same high-quality service from the business. The management and employees of Aviva Poland will transfer with the business. 

Aviva expects to use the increased capital and cash to support its previously communicated capital framework of debt reduction, investment for long-term growth and return of excess capital to shareholders.  The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory and anti-trust approvals, and is expected to complete within 12 months.

In 2020, Aviva Poland's IFRS profit after tax was £130 million⁶. The IFRS gross assets and net assets value of Aviva Poland were £3.9 billion⁴ and £0.4 billion⁴ respectively as at 31 December 2020.  Aviva Investors Poland, which manages funds of Aviva Poland, will be part of the transaction. The assets under management of Aviva Investors Poland was £3.7 billion⁴ at 31 December 2020 and IFRS profit after tax in 2020 was £4 million⁶.

Notes

1.  Aviva Poland comprises Aviva's interests in life insurance business in Poland and Lithuania, and its Polish general insurance, asset management and pensions businesses, including a portfolio of financial advice, digital distribution and price comparison businesses.  The Aviva Poland business to be sold also includes Aviva's 51% shareholding in life and general insurance joint ventures with Santander (Santander Aviva TUnZ and Santander Aviva TU, respectively).

2.  Comprises Aviva Poland as defined above, plus Santander's minority shareholding in the life, general insurance and pensions businesses which is also being acquired by Allianz. This excludes the value of Santander's 49% shareholding in the life and general insurance joint ventures, which they will retain.

3.  Estimated financial impact of the transaction on Aviva as at 31 December 2020, presented in isolation from impacts of other announced transactions.

4.  Using 31 December 2020 GBP/PLN FX rate of £1/5.09 and GBP/EUR FX rate of £1/€1.12.

5.  As reported on a shareholder basis.

6.  Using 2020 average GBP/PLN FX rate of £1/5.01 and average GBP/EUR FX rate of £1/€1.13.

*This announcement contains inside information. The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of the Group is Kirstine Cooper (Group Company Secretary).

-ends-

Enquiries :

Media:

Andrew Reid  [phone]

Sarah Swailes  [phone]

Analysts:

Jakub Rosochowski  [phone]

Notes to editors :

· For information on how Aviva is helping our people, customers and communities impacted by COVID-19 visit: www.aviva.com/covid-19-our-response/  

· We exist to be with people when it really matters, throughout their lives - to help them make the most of life. We have been taking care of people for more than 320 years, in line with our purpose of being 'with you today, for a better tomorrow'.

· In 2020, we paid £30.6 billion in claims and benefits to our customers.

· Aviva is invested in our people, our customers, our communities and our planet. In 2021, we announced our plan to become a Net Zero carbon emissions company by 2040, the most demanding target of any major insurance company in the world. This plan means Net Zero carbon emissions from our investments by 2040; setting out a clear pathway to get there with a cut of 25% in the carbon intensity of our investments by 2025 and of 60% by 2030; and Net Zero carbon emissions from our own operations and supply chain by 2030. Aviva has been leading this agenda for decades: Aviva was the first international insurer to go operationally carbon neutral in 2006 and we are champions of renewable energy and energy storage at our offices, allowing us to achieve our 2030 carbon reduction target (70% reduction on 2010 levels) 10 years early. Find out more about our climate goals at www.aviva.com/climate-goals and our sustainability ambition at www.aviva.com/sustainability .

· Aviva is a Living Wage and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at www.aviva.com/social-purpose  

· We are focused on the UK, Ireland and Canada where we have leading market positions and significant potential. We will invest for growth in these markets. Our international businesses in Europe and Asia will be managed for long-term shareholder value. We will also transform our performance and improve our efficiency. Our transformation will be underpinned by managing our balance sheet prudently, reducing debt and increasing our financial resilience.

· Total group assets under management at Aviva group are £535 billion and our Solvency II capital surplus is £13.0 billion (FY20). Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index.

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