Aviva plc Q3 2021 Trading Update

Nov 11, 2021 (London, UK) - To read this update in full, click here.
 

Growth and strategic execution drive strong year-to-date performance at Aviva

Remain on track to meet or exceed cash remittance and cost saving targets

Strong solvency and liquidity positions. Capital return of at least £4bn underway with c.£450m of the £750m share buyback completed

Amanda Blanc, Group Chief Executive Officer, said:

“Aviva has delivered strong performance in the first nine months. Record inflows in Savings & Retirement and excellent growth in General Insurance support our confidence in Aviva’s growth potential. Savings & Retirement net flows were up 21% year-to-date, continuing the strong first half performance. Bulk annuity volumes accelerated sharply in the third quarter. General Insurance premiums¹ grew 5% year-to-date reflecting solid customer retention and new business wins, particularly in commercial lines.

“We continue to make excellent and rapid strategic progress, right across Aviva. The completion of disposals in France and Italy GI since the half year are significant milestones as we deliver a radically simplified and refocused Aviva. We are delivering our commitment to return at least £4bn of capital to shareholders, with c.£450m of the £750m share buyback already successfully completed.

“Aviva is targeting Net Zero by 2040 and we welcome the Government's plan, mandating financial institutions to publish transition plans. This will help to ensure that every firm making a Net Zero commitment - whether an insurer, a bank or an asset manager - is doing so in a robust and consistent way.

"We look forward with confidence. We expect the good trading momentum to continue in the fourth quarter, and we remain on track to meet or exceed our cash and cost saving targets.”

Strong growth in Life sales² and GI premiums

• UK&I life sales of £25.3bn (9M20: £21.8bn) with strong growth in Savings & Retirement. Improved annuity volumes versus the first half with £2.4bn BPAs written in Q321, bringing 9M21 volumes to £4.0bn (9M20: £5.0bn).
• General Insurance gross written premiums (GWP)¹ up 5% to £6.5bn at 9M21 (9M20: £6.2bn) and COR¹ 92.4% (9M20: 98.1%).

Continued focus on cost efficiency

• Controllable costs1,3 down 2% (excluding cost reduction implementation and IFRS 17 costs) to £2,045m at 9M21 (9M20: £2,080m) despite the headwinds of inflation and targeted investments in growth.
• On track to achieve savings target of £300m in 2022 relative to our 2018 baseline and net of inflation. Focus over the longer term remains to deliver top-quartile cost efficiency.

Positive outlook for cash remittances

• Expecting strong growth in cash remittances for the year from the £1.4bn achieved last year (9M21 continuing cash remittances: £1.1bn) and we remain on track to achieve our target of over £5bn in cumulative business unit cash remittances¹ in 2021 to 2023.

¹ From continuing operations

^{2 References to sales represent present value of new business premiums (PVNBP) which is an Alternative Performance Measure (APM) and further information can be found in the 'Other information' section of the 2021 interim results announcement.}

^{3 Controllable costs represent other expenses from continuing operations of £1.7bn for 9M21, reported in the IFRS consolidated income statement, and adjusted to show the controllable operational overheads associated with maintaining our businesses (for example adjusted to include indirect acquisition costs, and exclude certain amortisation and impairment charges and premium based taxes, fees and levies that vary directly with premiums). Controllable costs is an APM and further information can be found in the 'Other information' section of the 2021 interim results announcement.}