For a copy of
this document in PDF format click here > http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1593A_1-2024-8-12.pdf
NEWS RELEASE
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www.justgroupplc.co.uk
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13 August 2024
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JUST GROUP
PLC
RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
CONSISTENTLY OUTPERFORMING
OUR TARGETS
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Just Group plc (the "Group", "Just") announces
its results for the six months ended 30 June 2024.
David Richardson, Group Chief Executive Officer,
said:
"We are delighted with the strong momentum in our
business driven by the multiple opportunities available and
structural growth in our chosen markets. Our DB and retail
businesses both contributed to this excellent performance,
reflecting our continuing investment in technology and talent.
We have never been more confident in our ability to
deliver sustainable and compounding growth. We have a growth
mindset and we've developed a winning formula - one which will
ensure we fulfil our purpose, to help people achieve a better later
life. This formula is delivering sustained growth in the value of
the business.
Given the strong first half outcome, the positive
market dynamics, and our forward-looking pipeline, we expect to
substantially exceed previous 2024 guidance of doubling 2021's
£211m operating profit in three years."
Profitable and sustainable growth
·
|
Underlying
operating profit1 up 44% to £249m
(H1 23: £173m), driven by new business sales growth, higher
recurring in-force profit and operational gearing.
|
|
·
|
Retirement
Income sales1 have grown by 30% to £2.5bn
(H1 23: £1.9bn). Pricing discipline and risk selection in
buoyant markets have led to an increased margin of 9.0%
(H1 23: 8.5%). These combined to drive a 38% increase in new
business profits to £222m (H1 23: £161m).
|
|
·
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Momentum
remains strong as we enter the second half of 2024.
We forecast second half new business volumes to be
similar to the excellent performance in the first half, albeit with
slightly lower margins due to business mix. We expect the strong
structural growth drivers of our markets to continue well into the
future.
|
|
Strong Solvency II and IFRS
·
|
Capital
coverage ratio is a resilient and stable
196%2 (31 December 2023:
197%2). The
interest rate sensitivity has further reduced together with a
continued reduction in our exposure to residential property, as we
increasingly diversify the investment portfolio.
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·
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New business
strain1 at 1.5% (H1 23: 1.6%) is
once again well inside our target of below 2.5% of premium. Cash
generation before new business strain is broadly unchanged at £49m
(H1 23: £48m). Our sustainable growth is driven by a low
capital intensity new business model, further augmented by
management actions and availability of surplus capital.
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|
·
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Adjusted profit
before tax1 was £267m (H1 23: £246m), driven by
strong growth in underlying operating profit and positive
non-operating items. Of this £267m, £193m of profit is deferred to
the CSM3 , leaving an
IFRS profit before tax of
£74m (H1 23: £117m).
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Delivering shareholder value
·
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Improved return on
equity1 to 15.6% (annualised) and tangible net assets
per share1 to 240p (H1 23: 13.0% and 31 December
2023: 224p respectively). This is a rapidly growing store of
long-term value.
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·
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Interim
dividend of 0.7p per share - achieving 20% growth
and one third of the 2023 full year dividend, in line with
stated policy.
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Notes
1
Alternative performance measure ("APM") - In
addition to statutory IFRS performance measures, the Group has
presented a number of non-statutory alternative performance
measures. The Board believes that the APMs used give a more
representative view of the underlying performance of the Group.
APMs are identified in the glossary at the end of this announcement
and reconciled to IFRS measures in the Business Review and
Segmental note.
2
The 30 June 2024 Solvency II capital coverage
ratio includes a notional recalculation of TMTP, and is
estimated. The 31 December 2023 Solvency II capital coverage
ratio includes a formal recalculation of TMTP.
3
Contractual Service Margin.
Enquiries
Investors / Analysts
Alistair Smith, Investor Relations
Telephone: +44 (0) 1737 232 792
alistair.smith@wearejust.co.uk
Paul Kelly, Investor Relations
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7444 8127
paul.kelly@wearejust.co.uk
|
Media
Stephen Lowe, Group Communications Director
Telephone: +44 (0) 1737 827 301
press.office@wearejust.co.uk
Temple Bar
Advisory
Alex Child-Villiers, Sam Livingstone
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7183 1190
just@templebaradvisory.com
|
For those analysts who have registered, a
presentation will take place today at 1 Angel Lane, London, EC4R
3AB, commencing at 09:30 am. The presentation will also be
available via a live webcast.
FINANCIAL
CALENDAR
|
DATE
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Ex-dividend date for interim dividend
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22 August 2024
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Record date for interim dividend
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23 August 2024
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Payment of interim dividend
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4 October 2024
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A copy of this announcement, the
presentation slides and the transcript will be available on the
Group's website www.justgroupplc.co.uk.
JUST GROUP PLC
GROUP COMMUNICATIONS
Enterprise House
Bancroft Road
Reigate
Surrey RH2 7RP
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT AND
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This announcement has been prepared for, and
only for, the members of Just Group plc (the "Company") as a body,
and for no other persons. The Company, its Directors, employees,
agents and advisers do not accept or assume responsibility to any
other person to whom this document is shown or into whose hands it
may come, and any such responsibility or liability is expressly
disclaimed.
By their nature, the statements concerning the
risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its subsidiaries
(the "Group") in this announcement involve uncertainty since future
events and circumstances can cause results and developments to
differ materially from those anticipated. This announcement
contains, and we may make other statements (verbal or otherwise)
containing, forward-looking statements in relation to the current
plans, goals and expectations of the Group relating to its or their
future financial condition, performance, results, strategy and/or
objectives (including, without limitation, climate-related plans
and goals). Statements containing the words: 'believes', 'intends',
'expects', 'plans', 'seeks', 'targets', 'continues', 'future',
'outlook', 'potential' and 'anticipates' or other words of similar
meaning are forward-looking (although their absence does not mean
that a statement is not forward-looking). Forward-looking
statements involve risk and uncertainty because they are based on
information available at the time they are made, based on
assumptions and assessments made by the Company in light of its
experience and its perception of historical trends, current
conditions, future developments and other factors which the Company
believes are appropriate and relate to future events and depend on
circumstances which may be or are beyond the Group's control. For
example, certain insurance risk disclosures are dependent on the
Group's choices about assumptions and models, which by their nature
are estimates. As such, although the Group believes its
expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, actual future
gains and losses could differ materially from those that we have
estimated. Other factors which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those estimated by forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to: domestic and global political,
economic and business conditions (such as the longer-term impact
from the COVID-19 outbreak or the impact of other infectious
diseases, climate change, the conflict in the Middle East, and the
continuing situation in Ukraine); asset prices; market-related
risks such as fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates,
and the performance of financial markets generally; the policies
and actions of governmental and/or regulatory authorities
including, for example, new government initiatives related to the
provision of retirement benefits or the costs of social care or the
transition to net-zero; the impact of inflation and deflation;
market competition; failure to efficiently and effectively respond
to climate change related risks and the transition to a net zero
economy; changes in assumptions in pricing and reserving for
insurance business (particularly with regard to mortality and
morbidity trends, gender pricing and lapse rates); risks associated
with arrangements with third parties, including joint ventures and
distribution partners and the timing, impact and other
uncertainties associated with future acquisitions, disposals or
other corporate activity undertaken by the Group and/or within
relevant industries; inability of reinsurers to meet obligations or
unavailability of reinsurance coverage; default of counterparties;
information technology or data security breaches including
cybersecurity threats and the rapid pace of technological change;
the impact of changes in capital, solvency or accounting standards;
and tax and other legislation and regulations in the jurisdictions
in which the Group operates (including changes in the regulatory
capital requirements which the Company and its subsidiaries are
subject to). As a result, the Group's actual future financial
condition, performance and results may differ materially from the
plans, goals and expectations set out in the forward-looking
statements. The forward-looking statements only speak as at the
date of this document and reflect knowledge and information
available at the date of preparation of this announcement. The
Group undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking
statements or any other forward-looking statement it may make
(whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise), except as may be required by law. Persons receiving
this announcement should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Past performance is not an indicator of
future results. The results of the Company and the Group in this
announcement may not be indicative, and are not an estimate,
forecast or projection of, the Group's future results. Nothing in
this announcement should be construed as a profit
forecast.
Chief Executive Officer's
Statement
We have had another very strong six
months and we are continually setting our sights higher, with
increased confidence about what the Group can achieve over the long
term.
Sales have grown by 30% to £2.5bn.
DB and retail businesses both contributed to this excellent
performance and both are operating in markets that are benefitting
from long-term structural growth drivers. We are committed to
compounding the growth in value of the business and over this
reporting period we have increased the Group's tangible net asset
value, by 16p to 240p per share.
Defined Benefit De-risking business
sales up 31%
Our DB business
generated another record first half, growing sales by 31% to
£1.9bn. We completed 55 transactions,
which is a substantial increase from 35 completed in H1 23. Over
the past 18 months we have written over one third, by number, of
all DB transactions in the market, more than any other provider.
We have used technology to meet growing market
demand as appetite amongst pension scheme trustees grows to use
insurance solutions to secure the long term future of members'
pensions. Pension scheme de-risking is helping to support growth in
the UK economy by enabling UK corporates to focus on growing their
businesses and by investing the assets in productive
finance.
Use of our bulk quotation and price
monitoring service, ("Beacon"), continues to increase, and is now
being used by all major employee benefit consultants ("EBC").
Beacon has the capacity to provide services to every DB pension
scheme in the UK, and its powerful capability is helping to develop
a vibrant market for schemes of all sizes, while generating a
consistent flow of business for Just. As well as extending our
leadership position in the smaller transaction size segment, we
will also drive growth by securing larger transactions and have
been actively quoting on deals in excess of £1bn.
Retail business sales up
28%
After a very strong return to
growth in 2023, I am delighted that our retail business has shown
further excellent progress in H1 24, with sales up 28% to £0.6bn.
Market demand has been strong as the appetite of advisers to lock-in security for their clients
continues to grow. Strong consumer demand is also evidenced by the
activity levels in our GIfL broking business, the largest in the
UK. The number of advisers sourcing quotes
from Just has increased over the last two years and continues to
provide increased opportunities to utilise our medical underwriting
intellectual property to select the most attractive
risks.
Our purpose and our
customers
We help people achieve a better
later life, that's our purpose and why we exist. We fulfil that
purpose by delivering market-leading products and award-winning
services to our customers. We provide
people with a guaranteed income for life,
which is often used to cover the essential expenditure of the
household. We provide customers with peace of mind by
establishing resilience in their household
balance sheets. We can't resolve all the
challenges faced by our customers, but we are helping where we are
able to, and remain focused on living up to the purpose we set out
many years ago.
Sustainability
We are committed to a sustainable
strategy that protects our communities and the planet we live on.
The most material impact we can make to reduce carbon emissions is
through the decisions we take with our £25bn investments portfolio
which account for over 99% of our carbon footprint. Compared to our
2019 baseline, we have now reduced these emissions by 40%, a
fantastic start on our journey to Net Zero. We are even closer to
achieving our intermediate step of a 50% reduction in investment
emissions, much earlier than the planned date of 2030. I was
also delighted that in July the Financial Reporting Council
announced that Just became a signatory of the UK Stewardship
Code. This sets high stewardship standards for those
investing money on behalf of UK savers and pensioners.
Our people
We are
harnessing the power of our highly talented, ambitious and engaged
colleagues to deliver strong business growth and fulfil our
purpose. Our focus is on ensuring we have the right capabilities
for today and the future, delivering an exceptional colleague
experience and enhancing the skills of our people managers. I would
like to thank all my colleagues for their significant efforts in
providing outstanding support for our customers - directly and
indirectly - and delivering these excellent results. It's always a
team effort and my colleagues make Just a brilliant place to
work.
Financial performance, underlying
operating profits up 44%
In H1 24, underlying operating
profit is up 44% to £249m, driven by strong new business
performance, which has delivered a return on equity of 15.6%
annualised. Investment and economic profits were £23m, and, when
combined with a number of smaller non-operating items, led to an
adjusted profit before tax of £267m for H1 24 (H1 23: adjusted
profit before tax £246m). Our disciplined approach to risk
selection means we can fund our growth ambitions from our own
resources, maintain a strong buffer of capital and reward
shareholders with a growing dividend. We will pay an interim
dividend of 0.7 pence per share, in line with our stated policy,
which represents 20% growth over last year's interim
dividend.
In conclusion
We are delighted with the strong
momentum in our business driven by the multiple opportunities
available and structural growth in our chosen markets. Our DB
and retail businesses both contributed to this excellent
performance, reflecting our continuing investment in technology and
talent. We have never been more confident in our ability to deliver
sustainable and compounding growth. We have a growth mindset and
we've developed a winning formula - one which will ensure we fulfil
our purpose, to help people achieve a better later life. This
formula is delivering sustained growth in the value of the
business.
David Richardson
Group Chief Executive Officer
Business Review
DELIVERING COMPOUNDING
GROWTH
The Group is uniquely positioned in
attractive markets with strong structural growth drivers. This
enables us to maximise the opportunities available to us to benefit
from the significant boost in demand for our products, now and into
the future. We innovate, risk select and price with discipline,
ensuring our business model delivers long-term value for customers
and shareholders.
The Business Review presents the
results of the Group for the six months ended 30 June 2024,
including IFRS and Solvency II information.
The continued growth and success
of the business is built on the foundation of our low capital
intensity new business model, supported by a strong and resilient
capital base. We remain focused on cost control across the business
whilst specifically targeting investment in proposition
development, and to enable the business to scale efficiently. We
continue to diversify the asset portfolio by originating a wide
variety of high quality illiquid assets to back the new business in
line with our investment strategy.
SALES
In the first six months of 2024,
Retirement Income new business sales grew 30% to £2.5bn (H1 23:
£1.9bn), driven by continued strong momentum in both the DB (up 31%
to £1.9bn) and Retail (up 28% to £0.6bn) business
segments.
Over the past two years, rising
interest rates have accelerated the closure of, and in most cases
eliminated, scheme funding gaps. During the first six months of
2024, we wrote a record amount of DB new business for a first half,
up 31% to £1,874m from 55 transactions (H1 23: £1,429m from 35
transactions). This compares to 80 transactions for the whole of
2023, when Just wrote over one third of all transactions in the
market. This translated into a c.20% market share by value of all
transactions less than £1bn in size, within the total DB market.
Heightened and consistent demand in the small and medium
transaction size segments of the market (defined as less than £100m
and £100m-£1bn respectively), has continued from 2023, with the
strong momentum, combined with Just's strong pricing discipline,
market insight and business mix driven by our streamlined bulk
quotation service all contributing towards higher margins year on
year.
The drivers behind this momentum
remain and we expect a busy second half in 2024, and beyond, as we
execute a pipeline of small, medium and larger transactions, while
maintaining capital flexibility. We estimate that 15% of the £1.2tn
DB market opportunity has transferred across to insurers thus far.
In October 2023, LCP1 forecast that c.£600bn of DB
Buy-in/Buy-out transactions could transact over the decade to 2033,
of which up to £360bn could transact over the next five years (2024
to 2028 inclusive). This compares to £180bn in the last five
years.
Our GIfL business also had a very
strong first half, as the market continues to benefit from higher
long-term interest rates, which directly increase the customer rate
on offer. This increases the attractiveness of a guaranteed income
relative to other forms of retirement income. The customer rate can
be further improved through bespoke medical underwriting, in which
Just is a market leader. During the six months to 30 June 2024, we
wrote £600m of GIfL new business, up 28% (H1 23: £470m), in a
buoyant market that grew by even more. The introduction of the
FCA's Consumer Duty and findings from the FCAs thematic review into
retirement income advice, are leading to increased adviser
conversations on the importance of considering guaranteed solutions
to help customers achieve their objectives.
1 LCP: "A
seismic shift in buy-ins/outs: how is the market adapting?"-
October 2023
PROFIT
For the first six months of the
year, underlying operating profit was £249m (H1 23: £173m), up 44%.
Given the strong performance in the first half, for 2024 as a
whole, we expect to substantially exceed previous guidance of
doubling 2021's £211m operating profit in three years.
Continued momentum and strong
demand for our products enabled us to write high volumes of new
business at an efficient capital strain. Shareholder funded
Retirement Income sales at £2,474m, were 30% higher (H1 23:
£1,899m). New business profit was up 38% at £222m (H1 23: £161m),
translating to a new business margin of 9.0% (H1 23: 8.5%) on
shareholder funded premiums as buoyant markets in both of our
business lines supported active risk selection, and we increasingly
benefit from operational gearing and systems investment. Continued
higher and more normalised interest rates during 2024 boosted the
return on surplus assets, thereby increasing in-force operating
profit, up 24% to £114m (H1 23: £92m). Finance costs were unchanged
at £33m, while development expenses at £10m (H1 23: £10m) reflect
our continued investment in new systems.
In H1 2024 we delivered an
adjusted profit before tax of £267m (H1 23: £246m), of which £222m
(H1 23: £161m) relates to new business profits. Allowing for the
deferral of profit into the CSM of £193m (H1 23: £129m), the IFRS
profit before tax is £74m (H1 23: £117m). This reduction primarily
reflects lower positive investment variances of £23m (H1 23: £71m)
over the period.
CAPITAL
The Group's estimated Solvency II
capital position remains at a very robust and stable 196% (31
December 2023: 197%) as we benefited from continued positive
organic capital generation and rising interest rates. Cash
generation was broadly unchanged at £49m (H1 23: £48m), but from 2025
onwards is expected to grow in line with assets. Underlying organic
capital generation ("UOCG") for the first six months of 2024 was
£12m (H1 23:
£18m), as we continue to invest in new business growth. Within
this, the £37m capital strain from writing the increased level of
new business was 1.5% of premium (H1 23: £30m and 1.6% of premium),
well within our target of 2.5% of premium and in line with the
average over the past four years. This low new business strain
reflects continued strong pricing discipline, risk selection and
our ability to originate increasing quantities of high-quality
illiquid assets. Management actions and other items contributed a
further £30m (H1 23 £(4)m), leading to £42m of organic capital
generation (H1 23: £14m). In May, we paid a £16m shareholder
dividend. We continue to closely monitor and prudently manage our
risks, including interest rates, inflation, currency, residential
property and credit. Through management actions, property and
interest rate sensitivities remain much reduced compared to
historical levels. The Solvency II sensitivities are set out
further down the Business Review in the Capital Management
section.
The 2023 Financial Services and
Markets Act contains new powers to set the direction for financial
services following the UK's exit from the European Union, including
reforms to the Solvency II capital regime. As part of the proposed
new Solvency UK regime, the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA")
implemented the more straightforward items including risk margin
for life insurance business at the end of 2023. Following a
consultation paper on the matching adjustment ("MA") rules and the
associated investment flexibility, this part of the reforms took
effect at the end of June. The final stage of the reforms in
relation to fundamental spread is expected to be implemented at the
end of 2024. We expect these MA changes to support HM Treasury's
expectations from the industry, whereby appropriate reforms could
increase insurer investment by tens of billions of pounds in
long-term finance to the broader economy, including infrastructure,
decarbonisation, social housing and increased investment in science
and technology.
outlook
The outlook for the economy is
positive, reflecting the expected trajectory of central bank rates,
now that inflation has reduced towards target levels, while a new
UK government received a strong mandate for the next five years.
The 2022/23 interest rate increases led to a flat lining of the
economy in 2023, followed by a gradual recovery during 2024. We
expect these macro forces to have a negligible effect on the
Group's business model, with the normalisation of long-term
interest rates continuing to drive demand for our products.
Sensitivities of our capital position to long-term interest rates
is included further down the Business Review.
The Group is closely monitoring
developments regarding restriction of ground rent for existing
residential leases, which was included in the new government's
manifesto, and any adverse impact this may have on the Group's
£163m portfolio of residential ground rents. For further
information on the Group's approach to reflecting the uncertainty
associated with the Consultation in the valuation of residential
ground rents see note 9.
We have a strong and resilient
capital base, with a low-strain business model that is generating
sufficient capital on an underlying basis to fund our ambitious
growth plans, whilst also paying a shareholder dividend that is
expected to grow over time.
Alternative performance measures
and key performance indicators
The Group uses a combination of
alternative performance measures ("APMs") and IFRS statutory
performance measures. The Board believes that the use of APMs gives
a more representative view of the underlying performance of the
Group.
The Directors have concluded that
the principles used as a basis for the calculation of the APMs
remain appropriate. Just Group has been growing strongly for a
number of years and regards the writing of profitable new business
contracts as a key objective for management. As a result, in
management's view, the use of an alternative performance measure
which includes the value of profits deferred for recognition in
future periods is a more meaningful measure than IFRS profits under
IFRS 17 which exclude the profits from new business
sales.
Further information on our APMs
can be found in the glossary, together with a reference to where
the APM has been reconciled to the nearest statutory
equivalent.
KPIs are regularly reviewed
against the Group's strategic objectives, no changes have been made
in H1 2024. The Group's KPIs are discussed in more detail on the
following pages.
The Group's KPIs are shown below:
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
31
December 2023
|
Change
%
|
Retirement Income
sales1
|
£2,474m
|
£1,899m
|
|
30
|
New business
profit1
|
£222m
|
£161m
|
|
38
|
Underlying operating
profit1
|
£249m
|
£173m
|
|
44
|
IFRS profit before
tax
|
£74m
|
£117m
|
|
(37)
|
Return on
equity1
|
15.6%
|
13.0%
|
|
+2.6pp
|
Tangible net asset
value per share1,3
|
240p
|
|
224p
|
+16p
|
New business
strain1 (as % of
premium)
|
(1.5)%
|
(1.6)%
|
|
+0.1pp
|
New business
strain1
|
£37m
|
£30m
|
|
23
|
Underlying organic
capital generation1
|
£12m
|
£18m
|
|
(33)
|
Solvency II capital
coverage ratio2,3
|
196%
|
|
197%
|
(1)pp
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Alternative performance measure, see glossary for
definition.
2
The 30 June 2024 Solvency II capital coverage
ratio includes a notional recalculation of TMTP, and is
estimated. The 31 December 2023 Solvency II capital coverage
ratio includes a formal recalculation of TMTP.
3
Balance sheet metrics include comparatives as at
31 December 2023.
Tangible net assets / Return on
equity (UNDERLYING)
The return on equity in the six months to 30
June 2024 was 15.6% (H1 23: 13.0%), derived from annualised
underlying operating profit after attributed tax of £187m (H1 23:
£132m) on average adjusted tangible net assets of £2,400m (30 June
2023: £2,033m, 31 December 2023 £2,133m). Tangible net assets are
reconciled to IFRS total equity as follows:
|
30 June
2024
£m
|
31
December 2023
£m
|
30 June
2023
£m
|
IFRS total equity attributable to ordinary
shareholders
|
908
|
883
|
850
|
Less intangible assets
|
(41)
|
(41)
|
(45)
|
Tax on amortised intangible
assets
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
Add back contractual service
margin
|
2,152
|
1,959
|
1,740
|
Adjust for tax on contractual
service margin
|
(535)
|
(488)
|
(432)
|
Tangible net assets
|
2,486
|
2,315
|
2,116
|
Tangible net assets per share
|
240p
|
224p
|
204p
|
Return on equity % (underlying)
|
15.6%
|
13.5%
|
13.0%
|
Underlying operating
profit
Underlying operating profit is the
core performance metric on which we have based our profit growth
target. Underlying operating profit captures the performance and
running costs of the business including interest on the capital
structure, but excludes operating experience and assumption
changes, which by their nature are unpredictable and can vary
substantially from period to period. For the first six months of
2024, underlying operating profit grew by 44% to £249m (H1 23:
£173m), as we strongly outperformed on an annualised basis against
our near-term 2024 target. We set the 15% per annum profit growth
target from the 2021 baseline (£211m), and given the strong growth
since then, and our expectations for the second half of 2024, we
are confident of significantly outperforming a more than doubling
of underlying operating profit in three years instead of
five.
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months ended 30 June
2023 £m
|
Change
%
|
New
business profit
|
222
|
161
|
38
|
CSM
amortisation
|
(33)
|
(29)
|
(14)
|
Net underlying CSM
increase
|
189
|
132
|
43
|
In-force
operating profit
|
114
|
92
|
24
|
Other
Group companies' operating results
|
(11)
|
(8)
|
(38)
|
Development expenditure
|
(10)
|
(10)
|
-
|
Finance
costs
|
(33)
|
(33)
|
-
|
Underlying operating
profit1
|
249
|
173
|
44
|
1
See reconciliation to IFRS profit before tax
further in this Business Review.
New business profit
New business profit increased during the six
months to £222m (H1 23: £161m) driven by 30% increase in Retirement
Income sales to £2.5bn (H1 23: £1.9bn). The strong momentum from
2023 continued into the first half of 2024 as we continued to focus
on risk selection, which combined with strong pricing discipline,
market insight and our streamlined bulk quotation service all
contributed towards higher new business margin, which rose to 9.0%
(H1 23: 8.5%). We are also increasingly benefiting from scale
and strong cost control leading to operating
leverage.
CSM amortisation
CSM amortisation represents the release from
the CSM reserve into profit as services are provided, net of
accretion (unwind of discount) on the CSM reserve balance (see
below). £33m of net CSM amortisation (H1 23: £29m) represents a
£75m release of CSM into profit, offset by £42m of interest
accreted to the CSM.
The £75m CSM release into profit (H1 23: £56m)
represents an annualised 6.7% (H1 23: 6.2%) of the CSM balance
immediately prior to release. The increase during the period
represents growth in the CSM reserve from an additional year of new
business profit, and the longevity assumption change at 31 December
2023 which was also deferred to the CSM reserve.
Accretion on the CSM balance amounted to £42m
(H1 23: £27m), which represents an annualised 3.8% (H1 23: 3.1%) of
the opening plus new business CSM balance. CSM accretion is
calculated using locked-in discount rates. The increase during
the period reflects the higher interest rates applicable on the
forward rates locked in curve at transition on 31 December 2021 for
the new business written pre-2021 as well as higher interest rates
applicable to the new business written since the end of 2021.
The higher accretion is also due to the increase in CSM balance
following the longevity and other assumption changes over the past
two years.
Net Underlying CSM
increase
This represents the net underlying increase of
profit deferral to CSM during the year before any transfers to CSM
in respect of operating experience and assumption changes
recognised in the current year. The new business profit deferred to
CSM (£222m) to CSM in-force release (£75m) multiple of 3 times
reflects a healthy level of replacement profit, and
demonstrates the value of new business written during the year
relative to the CSM release from existing business. This strong
growth dynamic increases the CSM store of value, which
predictably releases into the recurring in-force profit in future
years.
In-force operating
profit
In-force operating profit represents investment
returns earned on surplus assets, the release of allowances for
credit default, CSM amortisation, release of risk adjustment
allowance for non-financial risk and other. Taken together, these
are the key elements of the IFRS 17 basis operating profit from
insurance activities.
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months ended 30 June
2023 £m
|
Change
%
|
Investment return earned on surplus assets
|
64
|
45
|
42
|
Release
of allowances for credit default
|
15
|
14
|
7
|
CSM
amortisation
|
33
|
29
|
14
|
Release
of risk adjustment for non-financial risk / Other
|
2
|
4
|
(50)
|
In-force operating
profit
|
114
|
92
|
24
|
The in-force operating profit increased by 24%
to £114m (H1 23: £92m), driven by a significant increase in
investment return, as a result of higher interest rates, on a
greater amount of surplus assets. The higher release of allowance
for credit default reflects the growth in the investment portfolio
that backs the insurance guarantees we provide to our customers.
CSM amortisation, reflects growth in the CSM release offset by the
higher accretion as noted earlier.
other group companies' operating
results
The operating result for Other Group companies
was a loss of £11m in the six months ended 30 June 2024 (H1 23:
loss of £8m). These costs arise from the holding company, Just
Group plc, and the HUB group of businesses. The increase in losses
was driven by upfront investment in various proposition and other
development initiatives.
Development expenditure
Development expenditure of £10m for the six
months ended 30 June 2024 (H1 23: £10m), relates mainly to
investment in systems capability, in addition to various business
line and functional transformation.
finance costs
Finance costs were unchanged at £33m for the
six months ended 30 June 2024 (H1 23: £33m). These include the
coupon on the Group's Restricted Tier 1 notes, as well as the
interest payable on the Group's Tier 2 and Tier 3 notes.
In 2022, the Group entered into a new £300m
revolving credit facility. Reflecting growth in the balance sheet
and our ambitious growth plans for the future, in June 2024, we
exercised our ability to further increase the facility to £400m,
while extending it to June 2027. The facility has not been drawn
upon.
On a statutory IFRS basis, the Restricted Tier
1 coupon is accounted for as a distribution of capital, consistent
with the classification of the Restricted Tier 1 notes as equity,
but the coupon is included as a finance cost on an underlying and
adjusted operating profit basis.
Retirement income Sales
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
Change
%
|
Defined
Benefit De-risking Solutions ("DB")
|
1,874
|
1,429
|
31
|
Guaranteed Income for Life Solutions ("GIfL")
1
|
600
|
470
|
28
|
Retirement Income sales
(shareholder funded)
|
2,474
|
1,899
|
30
|
DB
Partner (funded reinsurance)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Total Retirement Income
sales
|
2,474
|
1,899
|
30
|
1
GIfL includes UK GIfL, South Africa GIfL and Care
Plans.
The structural drivers and trends in our
markets underpin our confidence that we can continue to deliver
attractive returns and growth rates over the long-term. We are
extremely well positioned to take advantage of the growth
opportunities available in both of our chosen markets. Over the
past two years, rising interest rates have accelerated the closure
of, and in most cases eliminated, scheme funding gaps. Therefore,
more schemes are able to begin the process to be "transaction
ready", accelerating business into our short/medium-term pipeline
that previously would have been expected to transact in the second
half of the decade. The retail GIfL market is also buoyant, driven
by the customer rate available and advisers shopping around in the
Open market. The level of long-term interest rates directly
influences the customer rate we can offer, with higher rates
persisting thus far in 2024, further augmented by individual
medical underwriting. This increases the value of the
guarantee to customers, making the product more attractive relative
to other forms of retirement income. We will take advantage of this
very strong market backdrop through our low-strain new business
model, which enables us to fund our ambitious growth plans
through cash generation. When combined with our proven ability to
originate high-quality illiquid assets, shareholder capital
invested in new business adds substantially to increasing the
existing shareholder value.
Shareholder funded DB sales at £1,874m (H1 23:
£1,429m) were up 31%, as strong momentum in our business continued.
In total, we completed 55 deals, of which 50 were below £100m in
transaction size. This compares to 80 transactions completed in
2023, which represented over one third of all transactions in the
market that year. We maintained our leadership position in the less
than £100m transaction size segment, writing £1.0bn of business
from this segment during the period. In 2023, our positioning
resulted in a c.20% market share by value in the up to £1bn
transaction size part of the market, a doubling over the past three
years. In addition to expected growth in the up to £1bn transaction
size part of the market, we are actively quoting in the large deal
transaction size segment (£1bn plus). Our proprietary bulk
quotation service, ("Beacon"), continues to grow in popularity with
hundreds of DB schemes now onboarded. Demonstrating the
multiple benefits of the service, 17 EBCs (Employee benefit
consultants) completed a transaction during the period, reflecting
its universal adoption across the industry. Beacon provides access
to the DB market for trustees, accelerates transaction flow for
EBCs by providing a streamlined process and provides a steady
source of completions for Just. Recent examples include a
£0.8m DB transaction with a charity whose main focus includes
challenging inequality and enabling social mobility, and a £8m
scheme that had been price monitored since 2021, before interest
rates rose. We continue to develop the service and have invested to
allow us to significantly increase onboarding capacity. As part of
our proposition to EBCs, trustees, and scheme sponsors, we are
always available to quote for any credible transaction, as
evidenced from our consistently high activity levels.
GIfL sales were up 28% to £600m (H1 23:
£470m). This strong foundation from the first half, together
with continued market strength in the second half enables us to
utilise our market leading medical underwriting to risk select more
profitable and niche segments of a larger individual annuity
market. These market dynamics, together with operational gearing
due to tight cost control contributed towards the strong margin
performance.
Due to the higher customer rate now on offer,
we expect that advisers and customers will re-examine the role of
guaranteed income in retirement. The introduction of the FCA's
Consumer Duty in July 2023 and the findings from the FCA's thematic
review into retirement income advice published in March
2024 are likely to increase the importance of considering
guaranteed solutions to help customers achieve their
objectives.
In recognition of our consistent level of
customer service and excellence, in November, at the FT Financial
Adviser Service Awards ("FASA"), Just won its 19th consecutive five
star in the Pensions and Protection Providers category, five stars
for the 14th time in the Mortgage Providers category, and were
awarded Outstanding Achievement of the Year, due to our overall
scores and ratings. This consistently high level of service was
achieved even as business volumes grew strongly in 2023, and is a
testament to the dedication from the customer service and business
development teams.
RECONCILIATION OF UNDERLYING
OPERATING PROFIT TO IFRS PROFIT BEFORE TAX
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
£m
|
Underlying operating
profit1
|
249
|
173
|
Operating
experience and assumption changes
|
(3)
|
1
|
Adjusted operating profit
before tax1
|
246
|
174
|
Investment and economic movements
|
23
|
71
|
Strategic
expenditure
|
(13)
|
(7)
|
Adjustment for transactions reported directly in equity in
IFRS
|
11
|
8
|
Adjusted profit before
tax1
|
267
|
246
|
Deferral
of profit in CSM
|
(193)
|
(129)
|
Profit before
tax
|
74
|
117
|
1
Alternative performance measure, see glossary for
definition.
Investment and economic
movements
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months ended 30 June
2023
£m
|
Change in interest
rates
|
13
|
(6)
|
Narrower/(Wider) credit
spreads
|
-
|
7
|
Property growth
experience
|
1
|
38
|
Other
|
9
|
32
|
Investment and economic movements
|
23
|
71
|
Investment and economic movements
for the six months ended 30 June 2024 were positive at £23m
(H1 23: £71m). Movements in risk
free rates have had a relatively small effect due to the revised
hedging strategy that was implemented in the latter part of 2022
and across 2023. This includes the purchase of
£3.3bn (H1 24 £0.8bn, 2023 £2.5bn) of long
dated gilts held at amortised cost under IFRS. This approach
has almost eliminated the IFRS exposure
whilst also containing our Solvency II sensitivity to future
interest rate movements (see estimated Group Solvency II
sensitivities below).
Credit spread movement had a £nil
effect (H1 23: credit spreads narrowed leading to a positive
movement of £7m). The LTM portfolio property growth performed in line with the 3.3% annual long-term
property growth assumption (2023: 3.3% annual property growth
assumption). Other includes positives from corporate bond default
experience and investment return on surplus assets being above our
assumption.
1 See note 12 for
interest rate sensitivities, with a 100 bps increase in interest
rates resulting in an increase in pretax profit of £14m and a 100
bps decrease in interest rates resulting in a decrease in pretax
profit of £(19)m.
STRategic expenditure
Strategic expenditure was £13m for the six
months ended 30 June 2024 (H1 23: £7m). This included increased
investment to scale and bring to market various retail related
propositions, corporate project costs, costs in relation to the
implementation of Consumer Duty, Solvency UK reforms and
preparations for an internal model update.
UNDERLYING Earnings per
share
Underlying EPS (based on underlying operating
profit after attributed tax) has increased to 18.0
pence for the six months ended 30 June 2024 (H1 23:
12.9 pence).
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
|
Six
months ended
30 June 2023
|
Underlying operating profit (£m)
|
249
|
173
|
Attributable tax (£m)
|
(62)
|
(41)
|
Underlying operating profit after attributable tax
(£m)
|
187
|
132
|
Weighted average number of shares
(million)
|
1,035
|
1,029
|
Underlying EPS1 (pence)
|
18.0
|
12.9
|
1
Alternative performance measure, see glossary for
definition.
Earnings per share
Earnings per share (based on net profit after
tax, see note 6) has decreased to 4.6 pence for the six months
ended 30 June 2024 (H1 23: 7.3 pence). This includes any operating
experience and assumption changes, the non-operating items and
deferral of profit to the CSM reserve, and reflects the IFRS 17
statutory profit.
|
Six months ended
30 June 2024
|
Six
months ended
30 June 2023
|
Profit before tax (£m)
|
74
|
117
|
Attributable tax (£m)
|
(20)
|
(36)
|
Non-controlling
interest
|
-
|
1
|
Profit attributable to equity holders of Just Group
Plc
|
54
|
82
|
Coupon payments in respect of Tier
1 notes (net of tax)
|
(6)
|
(6)
|
Earnings (£m)
|
48
|
76
|
Weighted average number of shares
(million)
|
1,035
|
1,029
|
EPS
(pence)
|
4.6
|
7.3
|
Capital management
The Group's capital coverage ratio was
estimated to be 196% at 30 June 2024, including a notional
recalculation of transitional measures on technical provisions
("TMTP") (31 December 2023: 197% including a formal recalculation
of TMTP). The Solvency II capital coverage ratio is a key metric
and is considered to be one of the Group's KPIs.
|
|
30 June
20241
£m
|
31
December 20232
£m
|
Own funds
|
|
3,040
|
3,104
|
Solvency Capital
Requirement
|
|
(1,552)
|
(1,577)
|
Excess own funds
|
|
1,488
|
1,527
|
Solvency coverage ratio1
|
|
196%
|
197%
|
1 Solvency II capital coverage ratios as at 30 June 2024
includes a notional recalculation of TMTP and 31 December 2023
includes a formal recalculation of TMTP.
2
This is the reported regulatory position as
included in the Group's Solvency and Financial Condition Report as
at 31 December 2023.
The Group has approval to apply the matching
adjustment and TMTP in its calculation of technical provisions and
uses a combination of an internal model and the standard
formula to calculate its Group Solvency Capital Requirement
("SCR").
In July 2024, the Group received approval to
expand the scope of its revised internal model, and apply it to
include the Partnership business from 30 September
2024.
Movement in excess own
funds1
The business is delivering sufficient cash
generation, which augmented with management actions, supports the
deployment of capital to capture the significant growth opportunity
available in our chosen markets, provide returns to our capital
providers and further investment in the strategic growth of the
business.
The table below analyses the movement in
excess own funds, in the six months to 30 June 2024.
|
At 30 June
2024
£m
|
At 30
June
2023
£m
|
Excess own funds at 1
January
|
1,527
|
1,370
|
Operating
|
|
|
In-force surplus net of TMTP
amortisation
|
85
|
84
|
Financing costs
|
(24)
|
(24)
|
Group and other costs
|
(12)
|
(12)
|
Cash generation
|
49
|
48
|
New business
strain2
|
(37)
|
(30)
|
Underlying organic capital generation
|
12
|
18
|
Management actions and other
items
|
30
|
(4)
|
Total organic capital
generation3
|
42
|
14
|
Non-operating
|
|
|
Strategic expenditure
|
(10)
|
(5)
|
Dividends
|
(16)
|
(13)
|
Economic movements
|
(55)
|
9
|
Excess own funds
|
1,488
|
1,375
|
1
All figures are net of tax and include a notional
recalculation of TMTP where applicable.
2
New business strain calculated based on pricing
assumptions.
3
Organic capital generation includes surplus from
in-force, new business strain, overrun and other expenses, interest
and other operating items. It excludes economic variances,
regulatory changes, dividends and capital issuance.
underlying Organic capital
generation and New business STRAIN
In the first six months of 2024, we have
delivered £12m of underlying organic capital generation (H1 23:
£18m), with the reduction driven by the increase in new business
strain as we wrote materially higher shareholder backed new
business volumes year on year. Management actions and other items
increased the capital surplus by £30m (H1 23: £(4)m). This led to a
total of £42m from organic capital generation (H1 23:
£14m).
The Group is focused on sustainable growth,
whereby the various costs of the business including TMTP
amortisation, finance and other costs, and new business strain is
funded through the capital generation from the existing in-force
book. The Group continues to maximise the growth opportunities
available to increase shareholder value. In the first six months of
2024, due to writing £2.5bn of new business (H1 23: £1.9bn), new
business strain increased to £37m (H1 23: £30m), which represents
1.5% of new business premium (H1 23: 1.6% of premium), well within
our target of below 2.5% of premium. This is due to a continued
combination of focused risk selection, pricing discipline,
operational gearing and originating sufficient quantities
of high-quality illiquid assets. This continued outperformance
is further driven by our market insight, leading to an origination
strategy focussed on business mix within the DB and GIfL units.
Cash generation was broadly unchanged at £49m (H1 23: £48m), but is
expected to grow in line with assets growth from 2025
onwards.
In-force surplus after TMTP amortisation was
£85m, as growth in assets was offset by lower release from the risk
margin reserve. The Solvency UK reforms lead to a welcomed c.60%
reduction in risk margin balance, which boosted the surplus by an
upfront £107m in 2023, however, that prudent margin is no longer
available to release annually into future capital generation. Group
and other costs including development and non-life costs were £12m
(H1 23: £12m), reflecting the non-insurance subsidiaries and
systems investments mentioned previously. Finance costs at £24m
were unchanged.
NON-OPERATING items
Economic movements summed to a £55m reduction
in the capital surplus. The effect to the surplus from the increase
in long term interest rates at the end of the six-month period was
£(45)m, but as the SCR fell more relative to the Own Funds, it
resulted in a 4 percentage point increase in the capital coverage
ratio. Property price growth at 1.5% for the first six months of
2024 (compared to our annual 3.3% long-term growth assumption) led
to a minimal £4m decrease in capital
surplus, while various economic and timing variances lead to a £6m
decrease in capital surplus.
Payment of the 2023 final dividend in May cost
£16m, while strategic expenses reduced the capital surplus by a
further £10m.
There were no capital restrictions in the 30
June 2024 capital position.
Estimated group Solvency II
sensitivities1,5
The property sensitivity has remained stable
at 10% (31 December 2023: 10%). We expect that a reduced LTM
backing ratio on new business will contain the Solvency II
sensitivity to house prices at or below this level over time. The
credit quality step downgrade sensitivity has slightly reduced due
to credit spreads narrowing during the period, which decreases the
cost of trading the 10% of our credit
portfolio3 assumed
to be downgraded back to their original credit rating.
Sensitivities to economic and other key
metrics are shown in the table below.
|
At 30 June
2024
|
|
CCR
%
|
Excess own
funds
£m
|
Solvency coverage ratio/excess own funds at 30 June
20242
|
196
|
1,488
|
-50bps fall in interest rates
(with TMTP recalculation)
|
(4)
|
55
|
+50bps increase in interest rates
(with TMTP recalculation)
|
4
|
(52)
|
+100bps credit spreads (with TMTP
recalculation)
|
12
|
110
|
Credit quality step
downgrade3
|
(6)
|
(91)
|
-10% property values (with TMTP
recalculation)4
|
(10)
|
(131)
|
-5% mortality
|
(10)
|
(144)
|
1 In all sensitivities the Effective Value Test ("EVT")
deferment rate is allowed to change subject to the minimum
deferment rate floor of 3.0% as at 30 June 2024 except for the
property sensitivity where the deferment rate is maintained at the
level consistent with base balance sheet.
2
Sensitivities are applied to the reported capital position which
includes a notional TMTP recalculation.
3 Credit migration stress covers the cost of an immediate big
letter downgrade (e.g. AAA to AA or A to BBB) on 10% of all assets
where the capital treatment depends on a credit rating (including
corporate bonds, long income real estate/income strips; but
lifetime mortgage senior notes are excluded). Downgraded assets are
assumed to be traded to their original credit rating, so the impact
is primarily a reduction in Own Funds from the loss of value on
downgrade. The impact of the sensitivity will depend upon the
market levels of spreads at the balance sheet. In addition, for
residential ground rents, the Group has identified that the impact
of downgrading the entire portfolio to BBB would reduce Excess own
funds (the capital surplus) by £22m and CCR% by two percentage
points.
4 After application of NNEG hedges.
5 The results
do not include the impact of capital tiering restriction, if
applicable.
Reconciliation of IFRS equity to
Solvency II own funds
|
30 June
2024
£m
|
31
December 2023 £m
|
IFRS net equity
|
1,230
|
1,203
|
CSM
|
2,152
|
1,959
|
Goodwill
|
(34)
|
(34)
|
Intangibles
|
(7)
|
(7)
|
Solvency II risk margin
|
(191)
|
(196)
|
Solvency II
TMTP1
|
548
|
637
|
Other valuation differences and
impact on deferred tax
|
(1,251)
|
(1,059)
|
Ineligible items
|
(2)
|
(5)
|
Subordinated debt
|
613
|
619
|
Group adjustments
|
(18)
|
(13)
|
Solvency II own funds1
|
3,040
|
3,104
|
Solvency II SCR1
|
(1,552)
|
(1,577)
|
Solvency II excess own funds1
|
1,488
|
1,527
|
1
Solvency II capital coverage ratios as at 30 June
2024 include a notional recalculation of TMTP and 31 December 2023
includes a formal recalculation of TMTP.
Reconciliation from operating
profit to ifrs consolidated statement of comprehensive
income
The table below presents the
reconciliation from the Group's APM income statement view to the
IFRS statement of comprehensive income for the Group.
Six months ending 30 June
2024
Alternative profit measure format
|
|
|
|
|
Statutory accounts
format
|
|
Reported
£m
|
Quote date difference
£m
|
CSM
deferral
£m
|
Adjusted
total
£m
|
Insurance service
result
£m
|
Net investment result
£m
|
Other finance costs
£m
|
Other income, expenses and
associates
£m
|
PBT
£m
|
New business profit
|
222
|
4
|
(226)
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CSM amortisation
|
(33)
|
|
33
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net underlying CSM increase
|
189
|
4
|
(193)
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In-force operating profit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment return earned
on surplus assets
|
64
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
64
|
Release
of allowances for credit default
|
15
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
15
|
CSM
amortisation
|
33
|
|
|
33
|
|
75
|
(42)
|
|
|
33
|
Release
of risk adjustment
for non-financial risk
|
2
|
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Group companies'
operating results
|
(11)
|
|
|
(11)
|
|
|
|
|
(11)
|
(11)
|
Development expenditure
|
(10)
|
|
|
(10)
|
|
|
|
|
(10)
|
(10)
|
Finance
costs
|
(33)
|
|
|
(33)
|
|
|
|
(33)
|
|
(33)
|
Underlying operating
profit
|
249
|
4
|
(193)
|
60
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
experience and
assumption changes
|
(3)
|
|
-
|
(3)
|
|
(6)
|
3
|
|
|
(3)
|
Adjusted operating profit
before tax
|
246
|
4
|
(193)
|
57
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment and economic movements
|
23
|
(4)
|
|
19
|
|
|
94
|
(70)
|
(5)
|
19
|
Strategic
expenditure
|
(13)
|
|
|
(13)
|
|
|
|
|
(13)
|
(13)
|
Adjustment for transactions reported directly in equity in
IFRS
|
11
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
11
|
Adjusted profit before tax
|
267
|
|
(193)
|
74
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferral of profit in
CSM
|
(193)
|
|
193
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit before tax
|
74
|
|
|
74
|
|
71
|
134
|
(92)
|
(39)
|
74
|
The rows and first numeric column
of this table present the alternative profit measure (APM) format
as presented in the Underlying operating profit section and
Reconciliation of Underlying operating
profit to IFRS profit before tax section of this review.
The Quote date difference
adjustment is made because Just bases its assessment of new
business profitability for management purposes on the economic
parameters prevailing at the quote date of the business instead of
completion dates as required by IFRS 17 (see new business profit
reconciliation in the additional information section towards the
end of this announcement).
The CSM deferral column presents
how elements of the APM basis result are deferred in the CSM
reserve held on the IFRS balance sheet consistent with the table in
the Deferral of profit in CSM section of this review. Under IFRS
17, new business profits and the impact of changes to estimates of
future cash flows are deferred in the CSM reserve for release over
the life of contracts.
The adjusted total column is then
transposed in the columns on the right-hand side into the IFRS
statutory accounts Condensed consolidated statement of
comprehensive income format. Figures are presented on a net of
reinsurance basis.
Investment return on surplus
assets, including the Group's amortised cost portfolio of gilts,
and Release of allowance for credit default are recognised within
the IFRS Net investment result. CSM amortisation includes
recognition of services provided within IFRS Insurance service
result and the unwind of discounting in the IFRS Net investment
result.
The Insurance service result of
£71m (H1 23: £54m) represents the excess of insurance revenue over
insurance service expenses, with the increase attributable to a
higher release from CSM reserve as an additional year of new
business is added.
The Net investment result of £134m
(H1 23: £143m) represents the difference between the total
investment return and the finance charge in respect of insurance
reserves attributable to unwinding of discounting and changes in
discount rates. This net profit is attributable to the return on
surplus funds, the emergence of credit default margins, and the
effects of investment and economic movements.
Other finance costs of £92m (H1
23: £39m) represent the costs of servicing tier 2 and tier 3 debt
and repurchase agreements in connection with the amortised cost
gilt portfolio. Other income, expenses and associates of £39m loss
(H1 23: £41m loss) represent the results from the Group's
non-insurance businesses and expenses not attributed to insurance
contracts in force.
Highlights from condensed
consolidated statement of financial position
The table below presents selected items from
the Condensed consolidated statement of financial position. The
information below is extracted from the statutory consolidated
statement of financial position.
|
30 June
2024 £m
|
31
December 2023 £m
|
Assets
|
|
|
Financial investments
|
31,029
|
29,423
|
Reinsurance contract
assets
|
1,108
|
1,143
|
Cash available on
demand
|
570
|
546
|
Other assets
|
680
|
726
|
Total assets
|
33,387
|
31,838
|
Share capital and share
premium
|
199
|
199
|
Other reserves
|
946
|
943
|
Retained earnings and other
adjustments
|
(237)
|
(259)
|
Total equity attributable to ordinary shareholders of Just
Group plc
|
908
|
883
|
Tier 1 notes
|
322
|
322
|
Non-controlling
interest
|
-
|
(2)
|
Total equity
|
1,230
|
1,203
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
Insurance contract
liabilities
|
24,794
|
24,131
|
Reinsurance contract
liabilities
|
79
|
125
|
Payables and other financial
liabilities1
|
6,520
|
5,608
|
Other liabilities
|
764
|
771
|
Total liabilities
|
32,157
|
30,635
|
Total equity and liabilities
|
33,387
|
31,838
|
1 Other
payables has been aggregated with other financial liabilities in
all periods presented.
|
The amounts reported in the Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position above for Insurance
and Reinsurance contracts include our best estimate, risk
adjustment and contractual service margin "CSM". The analysis of
these as reported in note 12 is included below.
|
30 June
2024
|
|
December 2023
|
|
Gross
£m
|
Net Reinsurance
£m
|
Net
£m
|
|
Gross
£m
|
Net
Reinsurance
£m
|
Net
£m
|
Best
estimate
|
21,266
|
20
|
21,286
|
|
20,758
|
64
|
20,822
|
Risk
adjustment
|
944
|
(617)
|
327
|
|
924
|
(592)
|
332
|
CSM1
|
2,584
|
(432)
|
2,152
|
|
2,449
|
(490)
|
1,959
|
Net
closing balance
|
24,794
|
(1,029)
|
23,765
|
|
24,131
|
(1,018)
|
23,113
|
1 After tax, the closing CSM is £1,617m (31 December 2023:
£1,471m)
Financial investments
During the period, financial investments
increased by £1.6bn to £31.0bn (31 December 2023: £29.4bn).
Excluding derivatives and collateral, and gilts purchased in
relation to the interest rate hedging, during the first half of
2024, the core Investments portfolio on which we take credit risk
increased by 4% to £24.9bn. The increase in the portfolio has been
driven by investment of the Group's £2.5bn of new business premiums
and credit spread tightening, but offset by the increase in
long-term risk-free rates at the end of the period compared to 2023
year-end, which decreases the market value of the assets (and
matched liabilities). The credit quality of the Group's bond
portfolio remains resilient, with 57% rated A or above (31 December
2023: 54%), driven by an increase in UK government gilts. Our
diversified portfolio continues to grow and is well balanced across
a range of industry sectors and geographies.
We continue to position the portfolio with a
defensive bias. The Group continues to have very limited exposure
to those sectors that are most sensitive to structural change or
macroeconomic conditions, such as auto manufacturers, consumer
(cyclical), energy and basic materials. The Group has increased
its infrastructure investments, driven by social housing and
private placement assets. The increase in government bonds and
liquidity is driven by the tighter corporate credit spreads, with
excess cash and gilts expected to be recycled into corporate credit
and illiquid assets during the second half of 2024 as opportunities
arise. The BBB rated bonds are weighted towards the most
defensive sectors including utilities, communications and
technology, and infrastructure.
We prudently manage the balance sheet by
hedging all foreign exchange and inflation exposure, and continue
to execute a revised interest rate hedging strategy. This involves
the purchase of £3.3bn of long dated gilts, which are held at
amortised cost under IFRS. The effect is to significantly reduce
the Solvency II sensitivity to future interest rate movements,
without exposing the IFRS position to interest rate volatility on
these assets.
Illiquid assets
To support new business pricing, optimise back
book returns, and to further diversify its investments, the Group
originates illiquid assets including infrastructure, real estate
investments, private placements and lifetime mortgages. Income
producing real estate investments are typically much longer
duration and hence the cash flow profile is very beneficial,
especially to match DB deferred liabilities.
In the first six months of the year, we funded
£655m of illiquid assets, which is a little below our expected
run-rate, primarily due to discipline on illiquidity premium and
borrowers delaying drawdown until the second half of the year, when
base rates are expected to be lower. Other illiquid assets
(excluding LTMs) are originated via a panel of 14 specialist
external asset managers, each carefully selected based on their
particular area of expertise. Our illiquid asset origination
strategy allows us to efficiently scale origination of new
investments, and to flex allocations between sectors depending on
market conditions and risk adjusted returns. In 2024 year to date,
we have funded or committed £1.1bn of illiquid assets, and are very
much on track to achieve our optimal illiquid asset backing ratio
to new business.
To date, Just has invested £5.6bn in other
illiquid assets, representing 23% of the investments portfolio
(31 December 2023: 21%), spread across more than 300 investments,
both UK and abroad. We have invested in our in-house credit team as
we have broadened the illiquid asset origination, and work very
closely with our specialist asset managers on structuring to
enhance our security, with a right to veto on each asset. Over the
past year, we have invested in our Investments function, and are
originating particular illiquid asset classes directly (e.g. social
housing and specific private placements). We anticipate that the
Solvency UK reforms will increase the investment opportunities
available to us through wider matching adjustment eligibility
criteria, such as callable bonds, or assets with a construction
phase, where the commencement of cashflows is not entirely certain.
The more complex changes to matching adjustment ("MA") rules and
the associated investment flexibility took effect on 30 June 2024,
with the final part of the reforms on fundamental spread to
complete by year end. We expect these MA changes to support the
role HM Treasury is expecting from the industry, whereby
appropriate reforms could increase investment by tens of billions
of pounds in long-term finance that underpins UK economic
growth.
In addition, during the first
half of 2024, shareholder funded lifetime mortgages were £107m (H1
23, £66m). We continue to be selective, and use our
market insight and distribution to target certain sub-segments of
the market. The loan-to-value ratio of
the in-force lifetime mortgage portfolio was 38.4% (31 December
2023: 38.2%), reflecting continued performance across our
geographically diversified portfolio, which offsets the interest
roll-up. Lifetime mortgages at £5.6bn represent 22% of the
investments portfolio, which we expect to continue drifting lower
over time as we originate fewer new LTMs and diversify the
portfolio with other illiquid assets. The 10% Solvency II capital
coverage ratio impact for an immediate 10% fall in UK house prices
remains at a level we are comfortable with.
The following table provides a breakdown by
credit rating of financial investments, including privately rated
investments allocated to the appropriate rating.
|
30 June
2024
£m
|
30 June
2024
%
|
31
December 2023 £m
|
31
December 2023 %
|
AAA1
|
2,523
|
8
|
2,252
|
8
|
AA1 and
gilts
|
6,743
|
22
|
5,327
|
18
|
A1,2
|
7,331
|
23
|
7,239
|
24
|
BBB1,2
|
7,938
|
25
|
8,083
|
27
|
BB or
below1,2
|
171
|
1
|
176
|
1
|
Lifetime mortgages
|
5,554
|
18
|
5,681
|
19
|
Unrated1
|
927
|
3
|
837
|
3
|
Total1,2,3
|
31,187
|
100
|
29,595
|
100
|
1
Includes units held in liquidity funds, derivatives and collateral
and gilts (interest rate hedging).
2
Includes investment in trusts which holds long income real estate
assets which are included in investment properties and investments
accounted for using the equity method in
the IFRS consolidated statement of financial position.
3
The residential ground rent portfolio includes
£163m rated AAA.
On 9 November 2023, the previous government
published a consultation seeking views on capping the maximum
ground rent that residential leaseholders can be required to pay.
Although the previous government did not implement any reform of
residential ground rent, the new government may still consider
reforming the ground rent charges. The Group is closely monitoring
the new government's agenda, which remains uncertain following the
recent King's Speech, and the impact of this on the Group's £163m
by market value (31 December 2023: £176m market value) portfolio of
residential ground rents. An adjustment was made at year end 2023
and no changes have been made to that adjustment over half year
2024 to reflect the ongoing uncertainty.
The sector analysis of the Group's financial
investments portfolio is shown below and continues to be well
diversified across a variety of industry sectors.
|
30 June
2024
£m
|
30 June
2024
%
|
31
December 2023
£m
|
31
December 2023
%
|
Basic materials
|
117
|
0.5
|
149
|
0.6
|
Communications and
technology
|
1,199
|
4.8
|
1,334
|
5.6
|
Auto manufacturers
|
102
|
0.4
|
130
|
0.5
|
Consumer staples (including
healthcare)
|
1,266
|
5.1
|
1,405
|
5.9
|
Consumer cyclical
|
183
|
0.7
|
197
|
0.8
|
Energy
|
335
|
1.3
|
378
|
1.6
|
Banks
|
1,389
|
5.6
|
1,606
|
6.7
|
Insurance
|
729
|
2.9
|
735
|
3.1
|
Financial - other
|
683
|
2.8
|
583
|
2.4
|
Real estate including
REITs
|
596
|
2.4
|
660
|
2.8
|
Government
|
2,532
|
10.2
|
1,767
|
7.4
|
Industrial
|
460
|
1.9
|
543
|
2.3
|
Utilities
|
2,470
|
9.9
|
2,637
|
11.0
|
Commercial
mortgages1
|
800
|
3.2
|
764
|
3.2
|
Long income real
estate2
|
1,053
|
4.2
|
916
|
3.8
|
Infrastructure
|
2,971
|
12.0
|
2,473
|
10.3
|
Other
|
42
|
0.2
|
42
|
0.2
|
Bond total
|
16,927
|
68.1
|
16,319
|
68
|
Other assets
|
927
|
3.7
|
822
|
3.4
|
Lifetime mortgages
|
5,554
|
22.3
|
5,681
|
23.7
|
Liquidity funds
|
1,471
|
5.9
|
1,141
|
4.8
|
Investments portfolio
|
24,879
|
100.0
|
23,963
|
100
|
Derivatives and
collateral
|
2,964
|
|
3,083
|
|
Gilts (interest rate
hedging)
|
3,344
|
|
2,549
|
|
Total
|
31,187
|
|
29,595
|
|
1 Includes
investment in trusts which are included in investment properties in
the IFRS consolidated statement of financial position.
2 Includes
direct long income real estate and where applicable, investment in
trusts of £158m which are primarily included in investments
accounted for using the equity method in the IFRS consolidated
statement of financial position. Long income real estate includes
£890m commercial ground rents/income strips and £163m residential
ground rents.
Reinsurance contract assets and
liabilities
In accordance with IFRS 17, the Group
distinguishes between its portfolios of reinsurance contracts,
which cover longevity and inflation risks and portfolios of
reinsurance treaties covering longevity reinsurance alone. The
Group's contracts transferring inflation risk are quota share
arrangements which are in asset positions. Since the introduction
of Solvency II in 2016, the Group has increased its use of
reinsurance swaps rather than quota share treaties and these are in
liability positions.
Cash and other assets
Other assets (primarily cash) remained
consistent at £1.3bn at 30 June 2024 (31 December 2023: £1.3bn).
The Group holds significant amounts of assets in cash, so as to
protect against liquidity stresses.
Insurance contract liabilities
Insurance contract liabilities increased to
£24.8bn at 30 June 2024 (31 December 2023: £24.1bn). The increase
in liabilities reflects the new business premiums written, offset
by an increase to the valuation rate of interest and policyholder
payments over the period.
Payables and other financial
liabilities
Payables and other financial liabilities
increased to £6.5bn (31 December 2023: £5.6bn) due to an increase
in repurchase agreements used to fund the Group's amortised cost
portfolio of Gilts which has increased by £0.8bn over H1
24.
Other liabilities
Other liability balances decreased to £764m at
30 June 2024 (31 December 2023: £771m) due to a reduction in loans
and other payables.
IFRS net assets
The Group's total equity at 30 June 2024 was
£1.2bn (31 December 2023: £1.2bn). Total equity includes the
Restricted Tier 1 notes of £322m (after issue costs) issued by the
Group in September 2021. The total equity attributable to ordinary
shareholders increased to £908m (31 December 2023:
£883m).
Deferral of profit in
CSM
As noted above, underlying operating profit is
the core performance metric on which we have based our profit
growth target. This includes new business profits deferred in CSM
that will be released in future. When reconciling the underlying
operating profit with the statutory IFRS profit it is necessary to
adjust for the value of the net deferral of profit in
CSM.
Net transfers to contractual service margin
includes amounts that are recognised in profit or loss including
the accretion and the amortisation of the contractual service
margin:
|
Six months ended 30 June
2024
|
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Gross insurance
contracts
£m
|
Reinsurance contracts
£m
|
Total
£m
|
|
Gross
insurance contracts
£m
|
Reinsurance contracts
£m
|
Total
£m
|
CSM balance at 1
January
|
2,449
|
(490)
|
1,959
|
|
1,943
|
(332)
|
1,611
|
New
Business initial CSM recognised
|
236
|
(10)
|
226
|
|
158
|
(10)
|
148
|
Accretion
of interest on CSM
|
54
|
(12)
|
42
|
|
34
|
(7)
|
27
|
Changes
to future cash flows at locked-in economic assumptions
|
(69)
|
69
|
-
|
|
(21)
|
31
|
10
|
Release
of CSM
|
(86)
|
11
|
(75)
|
|
(67)
|
11
|
(56)
|
Net transfers to
CSM
|
135
|
58
|
193
|
|
104
|
25
|
129
|
CSM balance at 30
June
|
2,584
|
(432)
|
2,152
|
|
2,047
|
(307)
|
1,740
|
Dividends
The Board has declared an interim dividend of
0.7 pence per share, or £7m, (H1 23 interim dividend 0.58 pence per
share, £6m). This is in line with our stated policy for the interim
dividend to be one-third of the equivalent prior year full year
dividend of 2.08 pence per share.
MARK GODSON
Group Chief Financial Officer
Risk management
The Group's enterprise-wide risk
management strategy is to enable all colleagues to take more
effective business decisions through a better understanding of
risk.
Purpose
The Group risk management framework supports
management in making decisions that balance the competing risks and
rewards. This allows them to generate value for shareholders,
deliver appropriate outcomes for customers and help
our business partners and other stakeholders have
confidence in us. Our approach to risk management is designed to
ensure that our understanding of risk underpins how we run the
business.
Risk framework
Our risk framework, owned by the Group Board,
covers all aspects involved in the successful management of risk,
including governance, reporting and policies. Our
appetite for different types of risk is embedded across the
business to create a culture of confident risk-taking. The
framework is continually developed to reflect our risk environment
and emerging best practice.
Risk evaluation and
reporting
We evaluate our principal and emerging risks to
decide how best to manage them within our risk appetite. Management
regularly reviews its risks and produces management information to
provide assurance that material risks in the business are being
appropriately mitigated. The Risk function, led by the Group Chief
Risk Officer ("GCRO"), challenges the management team on the
effectiveness of its risk identification, measurement, management,
monitoring, and reporting. The GCRO provides the Group Risk
and Compliance Committee ("GRCC") with his independent assessment
of the principal and emerging risks to the business.
Company policies govern the exposure of risks
to which the Group is exposed and define the risk management
activities to ensure these risks remain within appetite.
Financial risk modelling is used to assess the
amount of each risk type against our capital risk appetite. This
modelling is principally aligned to our regulatory capital metrics.
The results of the modelling allow the Board to understand the
risks included in the Solvency Capital Requirement ("SCR") and how
they translate into regulatory capital needs. By applying stress
and scenario testing, we gain insights into how risks might impact
the Group in different circumstances.
Quantification of the financial impact of
climate risk is subject to significant uncertainty. Climate-related
transition and physical risks are heavily dependent on government
policy developments, social responses to these developments and
market trends. Just's initial focus has been on the implementation
of strategies to reduce the likely exposure to this risk. Just will
continue to adapt its view of climate risk as both methodologies
and data quality improve.
The identification, disclosure and management
of climate-related risks and broader sustainability risks are
embedded within Just's Enterprise Risk Management Framework. This
includes climate-related scenario analysis, based on Network for
Greening the Financial System scenarios, which is a key tool for
ensuring we have a deep understanding of the risks the Group faces
over a long-term time horizon.
Own Risk and Solvency
Assessment
The Group's Own Risk and Solvency Assessment
("ORSA") process embeds comprehensive risk reviews into our Group
management activities. Our annual ORSA report is an important part
of our business risk management cycle.
It summarises work carried out in assessing
the Group's risks related to its strategy and business plan,
supported by a variety of quantitative scenarios, and integrates
findings from the Group's recovery and run-off analysis. The report
provides an opinion on the viability and sustainability of the
Group and informs strategic decision making. Updates are provided
to the GRCC each quarter, including factors such as key risk limit
consumption, and conduct, operational and market risk developments,
to keep the Board appraised of the Group's evolving risk
profile.
Reporting on climate risk is being integrated
into the Group's regular reporting processes,
which will continue to evolve as
the quantification of risk exposures develops
and key risk indicators ("KRIs") are identified.
Principal risks and uncertainties
STRATEGIC priorities
1. Grow sustainably
2. Scale with
technology
3. Reach new
customers
4. Be recommended by our
customers
5. Be proud to work at
Just
Risks and uncertainties are presented in this
report in two separate sections: (1) the first section summarises
the Group's ongoing core risks and how they are managed in business
as usual; and (2) the second section calls out the risk outlook for
subjects that are evolving and are of material importance from a
Group perspective.
Ongoing principal risks
Risk
|
|
How we manage or mitigate the risk
|
A
Market risk arises from changes in
interest rates, residential property prices, credit spreads,
inflation, and exchange rates, which affect, directly or
indirectly, the level and volatility of market prices of assets and
liabilities. The Group is not exposed to any material levels of
equity risk. Some very limited equity risk exposure arises
from investment into credit funds which have a mandate that
allows preferred equity to be held.
Strategic priorities
1, 3
|
|
• Premiums are invested to match asset and liability cash flows
as closely as practicable;
• Market risk exposures are
managed within pre-defined limits aligned to risk appetite for
individual risks;
• Exposure is managed using
regulatory and economic metrics to achieve desired financial
outcomes;
• Balance sheet is managed by
hedging exposures, including currency and inflation where cost
effective to do so; and
• Interest rate hedging is in
place to manage Solvency II capital coverage and IFRS equity
positions.
|
B
Credit risk arises if another party
fails to perform its financial obligations to the Group, including
failing to perform them in a timely manner.
Strategic priorities
1, 3, 4
|
·
|
· Investments are restricted to permitted asset classes and
concentration limits;
· Credit
risk exposures are monitored in line with credit risk framework,
driving corrective action where required;
· External events that could impact credit markets are tracked
continuously;
· Credit
risks from reinsurance balances are mitigated by the reinsurer
depositing back premiums ceded and through collateral arrangements
or recapture plans;
· Credit
risk associated with derivatives is managed through collateral
arrangements; and
· The
external fund managers we use are subject to Investment Management
Agreements and additional credit guidelines.
|
C
Insurance risk arises through
exposure to longevity, mortality, morbidity risks and related
factors such as levels of withdrawal from lifetime mortgages and
management and administration expenses.
Strategic priorities
1, 3, 4
|
|
• Controls are maintained over insurance risks related to
product development and pricing;
• Approved underwriting requirements are adhered
to;
• Medical information is developed
and used for pricing and reserving to assess longevity
risk;
• Reinsurance is used to reduce
longevity risk exposure, with oversight by Just of overall
exposures and the aggregate risk ceded;
• Group Board review and approve
assumption used; and
• Regular monitoring, control and
analysis of actual experience and expense levels is
conducted.
|
D
Liquidity risk is the risk of
insufficient suitable assets available to meet the Group's
financial obligations as they fall due.
Strategic priorities
1, 3, 4
|
|
• Stress and scenario testing and analysis is
conducted: including collateral margin stresses, asset eligibility
and haircuts under stress;
• Corporate collateral capacity to
reduce liquidity demands and improve our liquidity stress
resilience is monitored;
• Risk assessment reporting and
risk event logs inform governance and enable effective oversight;
and
• Contingency funding plan is
maintained with funding options and process for determining
actions.
|
E
Conduct and operational risks arise
from inadequate internal processes, people and systems, or external
events including changes in the regulatory environment. Such risks
can result in harm to our customers, the markets in which we
do business or our regulatory relationships as well as direct or
indirect loss, or reputational impacts.
Strategic priorities
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
|
|
• Implement risk policies,
controls, and mitigating activities to keep risks within
appetite;
• Oversee risk status reports and
any actions needed to bring risks back within appetite;
• Scenario-based assessment is in
place to establish the level of capital needed for conduct and
operational risks;
• Monitor conduct and customer
risk indicators and their underlying drivers prompting action to
protect customers;
• Conduct risk management training
and other actions to embed regulatory changes; and
• Ensure data subjects can
exercise their GDPR rights including their right to be forgotten
and subject access requests to obtain their data held by
Just.
|
F
Strategic risk arises from the
choices the Group makes about the markets in which it competes and
the environment in which it competes. These risks include the risk
of changes to regulation, competition, or social changes which
affect the desirability of the Group's products and
services.
Strategic priorities
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
|
|
• The
Group operates an annual strategic review cycle;
• Information on the strategic
environment, which includes both external market and economic
factors and those internal factors which affect our ability to
maintain our competitiveness, is regularly analysed to assess
the impact on the Group's business models;
• Engagement with industry bodies
supports our information gathering; and
• The Group responds to
consultations through trade bodies where appropriate.
|
Risk outlook
How this risk affects Just
|
Just's exposure to the risk
|
Outlook and how we manage or mitigate the
risk
|
1 Political and
regulatory
Changes in regulation and/or the
political environment can impact the Group's financial position and
its ability to conduct business. The financial services industry
continues to see a high level of regulatory activity.
Strategic priorities
1, 3, 4, 5
Trend
Uncertain
|
Just monitors and assesses
regulatory developments for their potential impact on
an ongoing basis. We seek to actively participate in all
regulatory initiatives which may affect or provide future
opportunities for the Group. Our aims are to implement any changes
required effectively and deliver better outcomes for our customers
and a competitive advantage for the business. We develop our
strategy by giving consideration to planned political and
regulatory developments and allowing for contingencies should
outcomes differ from our expectations.
On 6 June 2024, the PRA published
a new policy statement entitled "PS10/24 - Review of Solvency II:
Reform of the Matching Adjustment". The policy statement introduces
a number of changes to the MA rules, including on the eligibility
of MA portfolios, justification of the MA taken, and firms'
reporting. The precise standards required will emerge as the
PRA reviews what is done by the Group and other firms.
|
The matching adjustment, Solvency
II reform and regulatory expectations are of key importance to
Just's business model.
The Group is assessing new
matching adjustment eligible investment opportunities resulting
from the PS10/24 reform and is preparing for implementation on 31
December 2024. We are assessing the financial impact ahead of
implementation.
The Group has limited Funded
Reinsurance. That which it has is collateralised. The Group is
aware of and manages recapture risks and correlated risks. The
Group is considering what changes may be required as a result of
the publication of SS5/24 - Funded Reinsurance on 26 July 2024,
including but not restricted to models, limits, capacity available
and correlations between counterparties.
The FCA's rules for a new consumer
duty sets higher and clearer standards for consumer protection
across financial services and require firms to put customers' needs
first. The Duty applied to new and existing products and services
that are open to sale (or renewal) from 31 July 2023 and to
products and services in closed books by 31 July 2024. This work
has now been completed and the annual Board report was
submitted and approved in July 2024.
Following the PRA and FCA
regulations on operational resilience from March 2022, Just
identified its most important business services and set impact
tolerances for each. These are subject to regular scenario testing
and an annual self-Assessment is prepared for Board approval. Just
continues to evolve its operational resilience capability through
the pillars that support the delivery of
business services.
The new Government has stated its intent to
pursue leasehold reform which was not implemented due to the
election. The Group is closely monitoring the new Government's
agenda which remains uncertain following the recent King's Speech
and the possible impact of this on the Group's £163m portfolio of
residential ground rents. An adjustment was made at year end 2023
and no changes have been made to that adjustment over half year
2024 to reflect the ongoing uncertainty. For more information on
the Group's exposure to residential ground rents see the Business
Review.
|
2
Climate and ESG
Climate change could impact our
financial position by impacting the value of residential properties
in our lifetime mortgage portfolio and the yields and default
risk of our investment portfolios. Just's reputation could also be
affected by missed emissions targets or inadequate actions on
environmental issues or broader sustainability issues.
Strategic priorities
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Trend
Increasing
|
Our TCFD disclosures (pages 40 to
49 of the Just Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2023) explain
how climate-related risks and opportunities are embedded in
Just's governance, strategy and risk management, with metrics to
show the potential financial impacts on the Group. The metrics
reflect the stress-testing and scenario capabilities developed to
date to assess the potential impact of climate risk on the Group's
financial position.
The value of properties on which
lifetime mortgages are secured can be affected by:
(i) transition risk - such as
potential government policy changes related to the energy
efficiency of residential properties;
(ii) physical risks - such as
increased flooding due to severe rainfall, or more widespread
subsidence after extended droughts.
A shortfall in property sale price
against the outstanding mortgage could lead to a loss due to
the no-negative equity guarantee given to
customers.
The value of corporate bonds and
illiquid investments can be affected by the impact of climate risk
on the assets or business models of corporate bond issuers and
commercial borrowers. Yields available from corporate bonds may
also be affected by any litigation or reputational risks associated
with the issuers' environmental policies or adherence to emissions
targets.
|
Just is proactive in pursuing its
sustainability responsibilities and recognises the importance
of its social purpose. We have set targets for Scope 1, 2 and
business travel to be carbon net zero by 2025. For emissions from
Scope 3 including, but not limited to, our investment portfolio,
properties on which lifetime mortgages are secured and supply chain
we have set net zero targets by 2050, with a 50% reduction in these
emissions by 2030. Performance against these targets is being
monitored and reported.
We continue to look to improve
stress and scenario testing capabilities to support the monitoring
of potential climate change impact on our investment and LTMs
portfolios with a particular focus on refining the quality of input
data.
The lifetime mortgage lending
criteria will be kept under review and adjustments made as
required.
Under Just's Responsible
Investment Framework, the ESG risks, including climate change, are
considered for liquid and illiquid assets. Risks arising from
flooding, coastal erosion and subsidence are taken into account in
lifetime mortgage lending decisions.
The consideration of
sustainability in investment decisions may restrict investment
choice and the yields available; but may also create new
opportunities to invest in assets that are perceived to be more
sustainable.
Following the BoE and PRA Climate
and Capital Conference, in March 2023, the BoE published a report
setting out its thinking. This included consideration of whether
firms assess risks within the matching adjustment (MA) adequately
to allow for the capture of climate risk. They will also start to
explore whether it is appropriately reflected in external credit
ratings (or firms' own internal ratings) and if resulting MA
benefits could be too large. The ABI are maintaining engagement
with key stakeholders including Just.
|
3 Cyber and
technology
IT systems are key to serving
customers and running the business. These systems may not operate
as expected or may be subject to cyber-attack to steal or misuse
our data or for financial gain. Any system failure affecting the
Group could lead to costs and disruption, adversely affecting its
business and ability to serve its Customers, and reputational
damage.
Strategic priorities
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Trend
Stable
|
Our IT systems are central to
conducting our business from delivering outstanding Customer
service and to the financial management of the business. We
maintain a framework of operational resilience and disaster
recovery capabilities so that we can continue to operate the
business in adverse circumstances.
Protecting the personal
information of our customers and colleagues is a key
priority.
Internal controls and our people
are integral to protecting the integrity of our systems,
with our multi-layered approach to information security
supported by training, embedded company policies
and governance.
We continue to invest in strategic
technologies.
|
The cyber threat to firms is expected to
continue at a high level in the coming years and evolve in
sophistication, especially with the increased threat of
sophisticated and expected high volumes of attacks resulting from
Artificial Intelligence. We will continue to closely monitor
evolving external cyber threats to ensure our information security
measures remain fit for purpose. Just's Chief Information Security
Officer has recently implemented a revised information security
team structure and approach.
2024 is seeing further investments
in cyber-attack countermeasures, to enable consistent delivery of
required security standards, in line with our Cyber strategy. We
will continue to evaluate impacts of other new and emerging
technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, during the
year.
We also conduct severe but
plausible cyber desktop scenarios exercises to find gaps in our
controls. To strengthen data security and overall resilience, in
2024, we are continuing to make enhancements to network
architecture and implementing data centre upgrades.
Our email system continues to
be made more resilient to malicious attacks, including
detection of emerging types of phishing and malware.
A specialist security operations
centre monitors all our externally facing infrastructure and
services, with threat analysis, incident management and response
capabilities. The Group's cyber defences are subject to regular
external penetration tests to drive enhancements to our technology
infrastructure.
The development of in-house
systems and our use of third-party systems, including cloud, is
continuously monitored by technical teams following established
standards and practices.
|
4
Insurance risk
In the long-term, the rates
of mortality suffered by our customers may differ from the
assumptions made when we priced the contract.
Strategic
priorities
1, 3, 4
Trend
Stable
|
A high proportion of longevity
risk on new business Just writes is reinsured, with the exception
of Care business for which the risk is retained in full. Most
of the financial exposure to the longevity risks that are not
reinsured relate to business written prior to 2016.
Reinsurance treaties include
collateral to minimise exposure in the event of a reinsurer
default. Analysis of collateral arrangements can be found in Notes
26 and 34 of the Just Group plc Annual Report and Accounts
2023.
Mortality experience continues to
be volatile and remains above pre-pandemic levels.
|
Experience and insights emerging
since mid-2021 indicate that COVID-19, and the aftermath of
the pandemic, will have a material and enduring impact on mortality
for existing and future policyholders.
Our views on the changes are
updated annually taking into account recent data, emerging best
practice and expected trends. The assumptions about these changes
have been incorporated into Just's pricing across our Retirement
Income and Lifetime Mortgage products and will be updated as more
information becomes available.
Changes in customer behaviour due
to current higher interest rates have been taken into account where
appropriate.
|
5
Market and credit risk
Fluctuations in interest rates,
residential property values, credit spreads, inflation and currency
may result, directly or indirectly, in changes in the level
and volatility of market prices of assets and
liabilities.
Investment credit risk is a result
of investing to generate returns to meet our obligations to
policyholders.
Strategic priorities
1, 3, 4
Trend
Increasing
|
Financial market volatility leads
to changes in the level of market prices of assets and liabilities.
Our business model and risk management framework have been designed
to remain robust against market headwinds. Our policy is to manage
market risk within pre-defined limits.
Investment in fixed income
investments exposes the Group to default risk and subsequent losses
should collateral and recovery be less than the expected investment
value. Additionally, the Group is exposed to concentration risk and
to the downgrade of assets which shows an increased probability of
default.
Credit risk exposures arise due to the
potential default by counterparties we use to:
• provide reinsurance to manage
Group exposure to insurance risks, most notably longevity
risk;
• provide financial instruments to
mitigate interest rate and currency risk exposures; and
• hold our cash
balances.
To reduce risk, the Group ensures
it trades with a wide range of counterparties to diversify
exposures.
All over-the-counter derivative
transactions are conducted under standardised International Swaps
and Derivatives Association master agreements. The Group has
collateral agreements with relevant counterparties under each
master agreement.
Reinsurance transactions are
collateralised to reduce the Group's exposure to loss from default.
The Group is aligned to SS5/24 - Funded Reinsurance in respect of
reinsurer counterparty risk measurement. An assessment of any
changes required is underway. Contracts offer protections against
termination due to various events.
|
Interest rates remain elevated and
central banks affirm their intention to lower rates slowly to
ensure inflation hits and remains at target. Economic growth
has been positive but low. The risks are that rates do not fall
leading to wider difficulties from debt levels and
refinancing. Given Financial markets are likely to remain
volatile during this period.
Our investment assets may
experience increased movements in downgrade and/or default
experience.
Sustained high interest rates may
result in UK residential property price falls, increasing the
Group's exposure to the risk of shortfalls in expected repayments
due to no-negative equity guarantee within its portfolio of
lifetime mortgages. Commercial property price falls would reduce
the value of collateral held within our loan portfolio secured
against commercial properties.
Our balance sheet sensitivities to
these risks can be found in note 9.
Credit risk on cash assets is
managed by imposing restrictions over the credit ratings of third
parties with whom cash is deposited.
|
6 Liquidity
risk
Having sufficient liquidity to
meet our financial obligations as they fall due requires ongoing
management and the availability of appropriate liquidity cover. The
liquidity position is stressed to reflect extremely volatile
conditions such as those triggered by the September 2022
"mini-Budget".
Strategic priorities
1, 3, 4
Trend
Increasing
|
Exposure to liquidity risk arises
from:
• short term cash flow volatility
leading to mismatches between cash flows from assets
and liabilities, particularly servicing collateral
requirements of financial derivatives and reinsurance
agreements;
• the liquidation of assets to
meet liabilities during stressed market conditions;
• higher-than-expected funding
requirements on existing LTM contracts, lower redemptions than
expected; and
• liquidity transferability risk
across the Group.
|
Financial markets are expected to
remain volatile into the foreseeable future with an increased level
of liquidity risk. At the same time, Just is experiencing
strong market demand for defined benefit de-risking solutions from
pension schemes.
Just's use of derivative positions
is planned to increase in proportion to its planned growth.
Throughout any period of heightened volatility, Just maintains
robust liquidity stress testing and holds a high level of liquidity
coverage above stressed projections.
|
7 Strategic
risk
The choices we make about the
markets in which we compete and the demand for our product and
service offering may be affected by external risks including
changes to regulation, competition, or social changes.
Strategic priorities
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Trend
Stable
|
Risks to the Group's strategy arise from
regulatory change as the Group operates in regulated markets and
has partners and distributors who are themselves regulated. Actions
by regulators may change the shape and scale of the market or alter
the attractiveness of markets.
Changes in the nature or intensity
of competition may impact the Group and increase the risk the
business model is not able to be maintained.
The actions of our competitors may
increase the exposure to the risk from regulation should they fail
to maintain appropriate standards of prudence.
|
Regulation changes, such as Solvency II
reform, have been agreed recently and it is likely the Group's
regulators will not make any significant change until these have
been embedded. There is a risk that pension scheme regulation may
change as a result of schemes' exposures. Demand for de-risking
solutions is expected to remain significant.
We expect the newly elected Labour
government to introduce initiatives that will direct long-term
investment in the UK, in part though initiatives arising from a
review of the pensions landscape. This may include initiatives to
consolidate and scale workplace pensions. There may also be changes
to the regulatory framework in a bid to drive innovation as the new
Government embeds itself and decides any future policy. At the time
of writing it is not possible to judge the impact of these changes
on the Group overall.
|
Statement of Directors' responsibilities
The Directors of the Company confirm that to
the best of their knowledge, this condensed consolidated financial
information has been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted
International Accounting Standard 34 "Interim Financial Reporting",
and that the interim management report includes a fair review of
the information required by the Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules ("DTRs") sourcebook of the United Kingdom's
Financial Conduct Authority, paragraphs DTR 4.2.4R, DTR4.2.7R and
DTR 4.2.8R, namely;
· the
condensed set of financial statements gives a true and fair view of
the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of
the Company, or undertakings included in the
consolidation;
· an
indication of important events that have occurred during the first
six months and their impact on the condensed set of consolidated
financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and
uncertainties faced by the Company and the undertakings included in
the condensed consolidated set of financial information taken as a
whole for the remaining six months of the financial year;
and
· material
related party transactions and any material changes in the related
party transactions described in the last annual report.
There have been no changes to the Directors of
Just Group plc to those listed in the Just Group plc Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2023. A list of the current
Directors is maintained on the Company's website:
www.justgroupplc.co.uk.
By order of the
Board:
David Richardson
Group Chief Executive
Officer
12 August
2024
Independent review report to Just Group
plc
Report on the condensed consolidated interim
financial statements
Our conclusion
We have reviewed Just Group plc's condensed
consolidated interim financial statements (the "interim financial
statements") in the Interim Results of Just Group plc for the 6
month period ended 30 June 2024 (the
"period").
Based on our review, nothing has come to our
attention that causes us to believe that the interim financial
statements are not prepared, in all material respects, in
accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34,
'Interim Financial Reporting' and the Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial
Conduct Authority.
The interim financial statements
comprise:
·
the condensed consolidated statement of financial
position as at 30 June 2024;
·
the condensed consolidated statement of
comprehensive income for the period then ended;
·
the condensed consolidated statement of cash
flows for the period then ended;
·
the condensed consolidated statement of changes
in equity for the period then ended; and
·
the explanatory notes to the interim financial
statements.
The interim financial statements included in
the Interim Results of Just Group plc have been prepared in
accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34,
'Interim Financial Reporting' and the Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial
Conduct Authority.
Basis for conclusion
We conducted our review in accordance with
International Standard on Review Engagements (UK) 2410, 'Review of
Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor
of the Entity' issued by the Financial Reporting Council for use in
the United Kingdom ("ISRE (UK) 2410"). A review of interim
financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of
persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and
applying analytical and other review procedures.
A review is substantially less in scope than an
audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on
Auditing (UK) and, consequently, does not enable us to obtain
assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters
that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not
express an audit opinion.
We have read the other information contained in
the Interim Results and considered whether it contains any apparent
misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in
the interim financial statements.
Conclusions relating to going
concern
Based on our review procedures, which are less
extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the
Basis for conclusion section of this report, nothing has come to
our attention to suggest that the directors have inappropriately
adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that the directors
have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern
that are not appropriately disclosed. This conclusion is based on
the review procedures performed in accordance with ISRE (UK) 2410.
However, future events or conditions may cause the group to cease
to continue as a going concern.
Responsibilities for the interim financial
statements and the review
Our responsibilities and those of the
directors
The Interim Results, including the interim
financial statements, is the responsibility of, and has been
approved by the directors. The directors are responsible for
preparing the Interim Results in accordance with the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's
Financial Conduct Authority. In preparing the Interim Results,
including the interim financial statements, the directors are
responsible for assessing the group's ability to continue as a
going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going
concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the
directors either intend to liquidate the group or to cease
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do
so.
Our responsibility is to express a conclusion
on the interim financial statements in the Interim Results based on
our review. Our conclusion, including our Conclusions relating to
going concern, is based on procedures that are less extensive than
audit procedures, as described in the Basis for conclusion
paragraph of this report. This report, including the conclusion,
has been prepared for and only for the company for the purpose of
complying with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules
sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority and
for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this conclusion, accept
or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other
person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come
save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in
writing.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP
Chartered Accountants
London
12 August 2024
Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive
income
for the period ended 30 June
2024
|
Note
|
Six months
ended 30 June
2024 £m
|
Six
months ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
Year
ended 31 December
2023 £m
|
Insurance
revenue
|
|
859
|
753
|
1,555
|
Insurance
service expenses
|
|
(759)
|
(682)
|
(1,396)
|
Net
expenses from reinsurance contracts
|
|
(29)
|
(17)
|
(41)
|
Insurance service
result
|
3
|
71
|
54
|
118
|
Investment return
|
|
(180)
|
-
|
2,173
|
Net
finance income/(expense) from insurance contracts
|
|
348
|
151
|
(2,006)
|
Net
finance (expense)/income from reinsurance contracts
|
|
(34)
|
(7)
|
108
|
Movement
in investment contract liabilities
|
|
-
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
Net investment
result
|
4
|
134
|
143
|
273
|
Other
income
|
|
8
|
12
|
21
|
Other
operating expenses
|
|
(40)
|
(51)
|
(104)
|
Other
finance costs
|
|
(92)
|
(39)
|
(122)
|
Share of
results of associates accounted for using the equity
method
|
|
(7)
|
(2)
|
(14)
|
Profit before
tax
|
|
74
|
117
|
172
|
Income
tax expense
|
5
|
(20)
|
(36)
|
(43)
|
Profit for the
period
|
|
54
|
81
|
129
|
Other comprehensive
income:
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange
differences on translating foreign operations
|
|
(4)
|
1
|
-
|
Other comprehensive income
for the period, net of income tax
|
|
(4)
|
1
|
-
|
Total comprehensive income
for the period
|
|
50
|
82
|
129
|
Profit attributable
to:
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
holders of Just Group plc
|
|
54
|
82
|
129
|
Non-controlling interest
|
|
-
|
(1)
|
-
|
Profit for the
period
|
|
54
|
81
|
129
|
Total comprehensive income
attributable to:
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
holders of Just Group plc
|
|
50
|
83
|
129
|
Non-controlling interest
|
|
-
|
(1)
|
-
|
Total comprehensive income
for the period
|
|
50
|
82
|
129
|
Basic
earnings per share (pence)
|
6
|
4.6
|
7.3
|
11.3
|
Diluted
earnings per share (pence)
|
6
|
4.6
|
7.2
|
11.2
|
The notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Condensed consolidated statement of changes
in equity
for the period ended 30 June
2024
Six
months ended
30 June
2024
|
Share
capital
£m
|
Share
premium
£m
|
Other
reserves
£m
|
Retained
earnings1
£m
|
Tier
1
notes
£m
|
Total
equity
excluding NCI
£m
|
Non-
controlling
interest
£m
|
Total
£m
|
At 1
January 2024
|
104
|
95
|
943
|
(259)
|
322
|
1,205
|
(2)
|
1,203
|
Profit
for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
54
|
-
|
54
|
-
|
54
|
Other
comprehensive income for the period, net of income tax
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(4)
|
-
|
(4)
|
-
|
(4)
|
Total comprehensive income
for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
50
|
-
|
50
|
-
|
50
|
Dividends
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(16)
|
-
|
(16)
|
-
|
(16)
|
Interest
paid on Tier 1 notes (net of tax)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(6)
|
-
|
(6)
|
-
|
(6)
|
Share-based payments
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
(3)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Total contributions and
distributions
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
(25)
|
-
|
(22)
|
-
|
(22)
|
Acquisition of non-controlling interest
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(3)
|
-
|
(3)
|
2
|
(1)
|
Total changes in ownership
interests
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(3)
|
-
|
(3)
|
2
|
(1)
|
At
30
June 2024
|
104
|
95
|
946
|
(237)
|
322
|
1,230
|
-
|
1,230
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six
months ended
30 June
2023
|
Share
capital
£m
|
Share
premium
£m
|
Other
reserves
£m
|
Retained
earnings1
£m
|
Tier 1
notes
£m
|
Total
equity excluding NCI
£m
|
Non-
controlling interest
£m
|
Total
£m
|
At 1
January 2023
|
104
|
95
|
938
|
(354)
|
322
|
1,105
|
(2)
|
1,103
|
Profit
for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
82
|
-
|
82
|
(1)
|
81
|
Other
comprehensive income for the period, net of income tax
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
Total
comprehensive income for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
83
|
-
|
83
|
(1)
|
82
|
Dividends
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(13)
|
-
|
(13)
|
-
|
(13)
|
Interest
paid on Tier 1 notes (net of tax)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(6)
|
-
|
(6)
|
-
|
(6)
|
Share-based payments
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
(4)
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
3
|
Total
contributions and distributions
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
(23)
|
-
|
(16)
|
-
|
(16)
|
At 30
June 2023
|
104
|
95
|
945
|
(294)
|
322
|
1,172
|
(3)
|
1,169
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
ended
31
December 2023
|
Share
capital
£m
|
Share
premium
£m
|
Other
reserves
£m
|
Retained
earnings1
£m
|
Tier 1
notes
£m
|
Total
equity excluding NCI
£m
|
Non-
controlling interest
£m
|
Total
£m
|
At 1
January 2023
|
104
|
95
|
938
|
(354)
|
322
|
1,105
|
(2)
|
1,103
|
Profit
for the year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
129
|
-
|
129
|
-
|
129
|
Total
comprehensive income for the year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
129
|
-
|
129
|
-
|
129
|
Dividends
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(19)
|
-
|
(19)
|
-
|
(19)
|
Interest
paid on Tier 1 notes (net of tax)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(12)
|
-
|
(12)
|
-
|
(12)
|
Share-based payments
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
(3)
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
Total
contributions and distributions
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
(34)
|
-
|
(29)
|
-
|
(29)
|
At 31
December 2023
|
104
|
95
|
943
|
(259)
|
322
|
1,205
|
(2)
|
1,203
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
1 Includes
currency translation reserve of £5m (31 December 2023: £1m, 30 June
2023: £0.1m).
The notes are an integral part of
these financial statements.
Condensed consolidated statement of financial
position
as at 30 June
2024
|
Note
|
30 June 2024
£m
|
31
December 2023
£m
|
30 June
2023
£m
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets
|
|
41
|
41
|
45
|
Property
and equipment
|
|
24
|
22
|
21
|
Investment property
|
|
27
|
32
|
40
|
Financial
investments
|
8
|
31,029
|
29,423
|
26,161
|
Investments accounted for using the equity method
|
|
139
|
149
|
161
|
Reinsurance contract assets
|
12
|
1,108
|
1,143
|
719
|
Deferred
tax assets
|
5
|
392
|
406
|
418
|
Current
tax assets
|
|
1
|
4
|
-
|
Prepayments and accrued income
|
|
16
|
12
|
17
|
Other
receivables
|
|
40
|
60
|
48
|
Cash
available on demand
|
|
570
|
546
|
573
|
Total
assets
|
|
33,387
|
31,838
|
28,203
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Share
capital
|
10
|
104
|
104
|
104
|
Share
premium
|
10
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
Other
reserves
|
|
946
|
943
|
945
|
Retained
earnings
|
|
(237)
|
(259)
|
(294)
|
Total equity attributable to
shareholders of Just Group plc
|
|
908
|
883
|
850
|
Tier 1
notes
|
11
|
322
|
322
|
322
|
Total equity attributable to
owners of Just Group plc
|
|
1,230
|
1,205
|
1,172
|
Non-controlling interest
|
|
-
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
Total
equity
|
|
1,230
|
1,203
|
1,169
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance
contract liabilities
|
12
|
24,794
|
24,131
|
20,606
|
Reinsurance contract liabilities
|
12
|
79
|
125
|
103
|
Investment contract liabilities
|
|
38
|
35
|
29
|
Loans and
borrowings
|
13
|
687
|
686
|
710
|
Payables
and other financial liabilities1
|
14
|
6,520
|
5,608
|
5,552
|
Current
tax liabilities
|
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
Accruals
and provisions
|
|
39
|
50
|
33
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
32,157
|
30,635
|
27,034
|
Total equity and
liabilities
|
|
33,387
|
31,838
|
28,203
|
1 Other
payables has been aggregated with other financial liabilities in
all periods presented.
The notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
The financial statements were approved by the
Board of Directors on 12 August 2024 and were signed on its behalf
by:
MARK GODSON
Director
Condensed consolidated statement of cash
flows
for the period ended 30 June
2024
|
Note
|
Six months
ended
30 June
2024 £m
|
Six
months ended
30 June
2023
£m
(restated)
|
Year
ended 31 December 2023
£m
|
Cash flows from operating
activities
|
|
|
|
|
Profit
before tax
|
|
74
|
117
|
172
|
Adjustments
for:
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation / amortisation and impairment
|
|
3
|
3
|
8
|
Share of
results from associates
|
|
7
|
2
|
14
|
Share-based payments
|
|
-
|
2
|
1
|
Interest
income
|
|
(577)
|
(498)
|
(1,104)
|
Interest
expense
|
|
92
|
39
|
122
|
Change in operating assets
and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Net
increase in financial investments
|
|
(1,241)
|
(2,643)
|
(6,069)
|
Decrease
in investment properties
|
|
5
|
8
|
1
|
(Increase)/decrease in net
reinsurance contracts1
|
|
(11)
|
40
|
(363)
|
Increase
in prepayments and accrued income
|
|
(4)
|
(6)
|
(1)
|
Decrease
in other receivables
|
|
19
|
14
|
3
|
Increase
in insurance contract liabilities
|
|
663
|
958
|
4,484
|
Increase/(decrease) in investment contract
liabilities
|
|
3
|
(3)
|
2
|
(Decrease)/increase in accruals and provisions
|
|
(11)
|
-
|
16
|
Increase
in net derivatives liabilities, financial liabilities and other
payables2
|
|
845
|
1,648
|
1,774
|
Interest
received
|
|
541
|
480
|
1,075
|
Taxation
received
|
|
-
|
6
|
6
|
Net cash inflow from
operating activities
|
|
408
|
167
|
141
|
Cash flows from investing
activities
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of property and equipment
|
|
(5)
|
-
|
(2)
|
Dividends
from associates
|
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
Net cash outflow from
investing activities
|
|
(2)
|
-
|
(2)
|
Cash flows from financing
activities
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease
in borrowings (net of costs)
|
|
-
|
-
|
(26)
|
Acquisition of non-controlling interests
|
|
(1)
|
-
|
-
|
Dividends
paid
|
7
|
(16)
|
(13)
|
(19)
|
Coupon
paid on Tier 1 notes
|
7
|
(8)
|
(8)
|
(16)
|
Interest
paid on borrowings
|
|
(23)
|
(24)
|
(48)
|
Payment
of lease liabilities - principal
|
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
Net cash outflow from
financing activities
|
|
(49)
|
(46)
|
(110)
|
Net increase in cash and
cash equivalents
|
|
357
|
121
|
29
|
Foreign
exchange differences on cash balances
|
|
(3)
|
1
|
2
|
Cash and
cash equivalents at start of period
|
|
1,687
|
1,656
|
1,656
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
end of period
|
|
2,041
|
1,778
|
1,687
|
Cash
available on demand
|
|
570
|
573
|
546
|
Units in
liquidity funds
|
|
1,471
|
1,205
|
1,141
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
end of period
|
|
2,041
|
1,778
|
1,687
|
1 Net
reinsurance contracts has been restated by a £36m reduction, which
was previously reported under interest paid, related to fixed-leg
payments to reinsurers in HY23.
2 Other
payables has been aggregated with other financial liabilities in
all periods presented.
The notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Notes to the Condensed consolidated interim financial
statements
1. BASIS OF PREPARATION
These Condensed consolidated interim financial
statements comprise the Condensed consolidated financial statements
of Just Group plc ("the Company") and its subsidiaries, together
referred to as "the Group", as at, and for the six-month period
ended, 30 June 2024.
These Condensed consolidated interim financial
statements for the half-year reporting period ended 30 June 2024
have been prepared in accordance with the UK-adopted International
Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United
Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.
These Condensed consolidated interim financial
statements need to be read in conjunction with the Annual Report
and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 which were
prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the
revaluation of land and buildings, and financial assets and
financial liabilities (including derivative instruments and
investment contract liabilities) at fair value.
These Condensed consolidated interim financial
statements do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of
Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The results for the year
ended and position as at 31 December 2023 have been taken from the
Group's 2023 Annual Report and Accounts. The Group's 2023 Annual
Report and Accounts was approved by the Board of Directors on
7 March 2024 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The
report of the auditor on those accounts was (i) unqualified, (ii)
did not contain any statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the
Companies Act 2006, and (iii) did not contain an emphasis of matter
paragraph. The results for the six‑month period ended 30 June 2023
have been taken from the Group's Interim Results for the six months
to 30 June 2023.
(a) Going concern
A going concern assessment has been undertaken
and having completed this, the Directors are satisfied that the
Group has adequate resources to continue to operate as a going
concern for a period of not less than 12 months from the date of
signing of this report and that there is no material uncertainty in
relation to going concern. Accordingly, the going concern basis
continues to be applied in preparing these Condensed consolidated
interim financial statements.
This assessment includes a current update on
the previous annual assessment performed earlier in the year which
covered the period to 31 December 2025 and considered of the
Group's business plan approved by the Board, the projected
liquidity positions of the Company and the Group, impacts of
economic stresses, the Group's financing arrangements and
contingent liabilities and a range of forecast scenarios with
differing levels of new business and associated additional capital
requirements to write anticipated levels of new
business.
As part of that annual assessment the
resilience of the solvency capital position was tested under a
range of adverse scenarios, before and after management actions
within the Group's control, which considers the possible impacts on
the Group's business, including stresses to UK residential property
prices, house price inflation, the credit quality of assets
including residential ground rents, mortality, and risk-free rates.
More extreme stresses and scenarios were also considered,
including a scenario of the worst case outcome of peppercorn rent
from the previous Government consultation regarding restriction of
ground rent for existing residential leases in 2023 (as explained
in note 16), and also a reverse property stress. Eligible own funds
exceeded the minimum capital requirement in all of these stressed
scenarios and the Directors concluded that the Group continued to
be a going concern in all the scenarios described above.
The current update to this assessment
considers performance in the period against the business plan, the
latest forward-looking forecast, the liquidity position, Solvency
position and the potential impact on solvency from stresses in a
scenario that the Group considers to represent a severe economic
downside.
The Group and its regulated insurance
subsidiaries are required to comply with the requirements
established by the Solvency II framework directive as adopted by
the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") in the UK, and to
measure and monitor its capital resources on this basis. The
overriding objective of the Solvency II capital framework is
to ensure there is sufficient capital within the Group and its
insurance companies to protect policyholders and meet
payments when due. Insurers are required to maintain eligible
capital, or "Own Funds", in excess of the value of the Solvency
Capital Requirement ("SCR"). The SCR represents the risk capital
required to be set aside to absorb 1-in-200 year stress tests, over
the next years' time horizon, of each risk type that the insurer is
exposed to, including longevity risk, property risk, credit risk,
and interest rate risk. These risks are aggregated together with
appropriate allowance for diversification benefits.
The Group has a robust liquidity framework
designed to withstand a range of "worst case" 1-in-200 year
historic liquidity events. The Group liquid resources includes the
Parent Company's undrawn revolving credit facility of up to £400m
for general corporate and working capital purposes. The borrowing
facility is subject to financial covenants that are measured
biannually as at the end of June and December, being the ratio of
consolidated net debt to the sum of net assets and consolidated net
debt not being greater than 45%. The ratio on 30 June 2024 was 22%
(31 December 2023: 24%). The Group's business plan indicates that
liquidity headroom will be maintained above the Group's borrowing
facilities and financial covenants will be met throughout the
period.
Furthermore, the Directors note that in a
scenario where the Group ceases to write new business the going
concern basis would continue to be applicable while the Group
continued to service in-force policies.
Based on the assessment performed above, the
Directors conclude that it remains appropriate to value assets and
liabilities on the assumption that there are adequate resources to
continue in business and meet obligations as they fall due for the
foreseeable future, being at least 12 months from the date of
signing this report. Accordingly, the going concern basis has been
adopted in the valuation of assets and liabilities.
(b) New accounting standards and new
material accounting policies
The Group has applied UK-adopted IFRS for the
preparation of these Condensed consolidated interim financial
statements. The accounting policies applied in the preparation of
these Condensed consolidated interim financial statements are
consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Group's
consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2023. There have been no changes in accounting standards adopted in
2024 that have a material impact on the Group.
The following new accounting standards are in
issue but not endorsed yet. These have not yet been adopted by the
Group and are not expected to have a significant impact on the
results within the financial statements:
· IFRS 18
'Presentation and Disclosure in Financial
Statements' (effective 1 January
2027).
· IFRS 19
'Subsidiaries without Public Accountability: Disclosure' (effective
1 January 2027).
(c) Material accounting policies and the
use of judgements, estimates and assumptions
The preparation of Condensed consolidated
interim financial statements requires the Group to select
accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect
items reported in the Condensed consolidated statement of
comprehensive income, Condensed consolidated statement of financial
position, other primary statements and notes to the Condensed
consolidated interim financial statements.
All estimates are based on management's
knowledge of current facts and circumstances, assumptions based on
that knowledge and predictions of future events and actions. Actual
results may differ significantly from those estimates.
Sensitivities of investments and insurance contracts to reasonably
possible changes in significant estimates and assumptions are
included in notes 9(d) and 12(f) respectively.
The judgements, estimates and assumptions
adopted by the Group are consistent with those applied in
the preparation of the Group's consolidated financial
statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. As explained
in note 12(b) the Group has made a small adjustment to
the base mortality assumptions on certain products in these
financial statements.
2. SEGMENTAL REPORTING
Segmental analysis
The operating segments from which the Group
derives income and incurs expenses are as follows:
• Insurance
segment: the writing of insurance products for distribution
to the at- or in-retirement market and the DB de-risking
market;
• Advisory
segments: the arranging of retirement income products
through regulated advice and intermediary services and the
provision of licensed software to financial advisers, banks,
building societies, life assurance companies and pension
trustees.
The insurance segment writes insurance
products for the retirement market - which include Guaranteed
Income for Life Solutions, Defined Benefit De-risking Solutions,
Care Plans and Protection - and invests the premiums received from
these contracts in debt and other fixed income securities, gilts,
liquidity funds, Lifetime Mortgage advances and other illiquid
assets.
The advisory segments of the professional
services business, HUB, represents the other operating segments.
The HUB Retirement solutions and Digital wealth operating segments
are not currently sufficiently significant to disclose separately
as a reportable segment. In the segmental profit table below, the
single reportable segment for Insurance is reconciled to the total
Group result by including an "Other" column which includes the
non-reportable segments plus the other companies' results. This
includes the Group's corporate activities that are primarily
involved in managing the Group's liquidity, capital and investment
activities.
The Group operates in one material
geographical segment which is the United Kingdom.
The internal reporting used by the Chief
Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") includes segmental information
regarding premiums and profit. Material product information is
analysed by product line and includes shareholder funded DB, GIfL,
DB Partnering, Care Plans, Protection, Lifetime
mortgage ("LTM") and Drawdown products. Further
information on the DB partnering transactions is included in the
Business review. The information on adjusted operating profit and
profit before tax used by the CODM is presented on a combined
product basis within the insurance operating segment and is not
analysed further by product.
Underlying operating profit
The Group reports underlying operating profit
as an alternative measure of profit which is used for decision
making and performance measurement. The Board believes that
underlying operating profit, which represents a combination of both
the future profit generated from new business written in the period
and additional profit emerging from the in-force book of business,
provides a better view of the performance of the business. The net
underlying CSM increase is added back when calculating the
underlying operating profit as the Board considers the value of new
business is significant in assessing business performance. Actual
operating experience, where different from that assumed at the
start of the period, and the impacts of changes to future operating
assumptions applied in the period, are then also included in
arriving at adjusted operating profit.
New business profits represent expected
investment returns on the financial instruments assumed to be newly
purchased to back that business after allowances for expected
movements in liabilities and deduction of acquisition costs.
New business profits are based on valuation of investment
returns as at the date of quoting for new business whereas the CSM
on new business is computed as at the date of inception of new
contracts. Profits arising from the in-force book of
business represent an expected return on surplus assets of 4%
(HY23: 4%), the expected unwind of
allowances for credit default and the
release of the risk adjustment.
Underlying operating profit excludes strategic
expenditure, and where applicable any impairments, exceptional
items and amortisation of intangible assets arising on
consolidation, since these items arise outside the normal course of
business in the year.
Variances between actual and expected
investment returns due to economic and market changes, including on
surplus assets and on assets assumed to back new business, and
gains and losses on the revaluation of land and buildings, are also
disclosed outside underlying operating profit, within investment
and economic movements.
Segmental reporting and reconciliation to
financial information
|
Six months ended 30 June
2024
|
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Insurance
£m
|
Other
£m
|
Total
£m
|
|
Insurance
£m
|
Other
£m
|
Total
£m
|
New
business profits
|
222
|
-
|
222
|
|
161
|
-
|
161
|
CSM
amortisation1
|
(33)
|
-
|
(33)
|
|
(29)
|
-
|
(29)
|
Net underlying CSM
increase2
|
189
|
-
|
189
|
|
132
|
-
|
132
|
In-force
operating profit1
|
111
|
3
|
114
|
|
89
|
3
|
92
|
Other
Group companies' operating results
|
-
|
(11)
|
(11)
|
|
-
|
(8)
|
(8)
|
Development expenditure
|
(9)
|
(1)
|
(10)
|
|
(9)
|
(1)
|
(10)
|
Finance
costs
|
(42)
|
9
|
(33)
|
|
(42)
|
9
|
(33)
|
Underlying operating
profit
|
249
|
-
|
249
|
|
170
|
3
|
173
|
Operating
experience and assumption changes1
|
(3)
|
-
|
(3)
|
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
Adjusted operating profit
before tax
|
246
|
-
|
246
|
|
171
|
3
|
174
|
Investment and economic movements
|
22
|
1
|
23
|
|
65
|
6
|
71
|
Strategic
expenditure
|
(10)
|
(3)
|
(13)
|
|
(4)
|
(3)
|
(7)
|
Adjustment for transactions reported directly in equity in
IFRS
|
14
|
(3)
|
11
|
|
14
|
(6)
|
8
|
Adjusted profit before
tax
|
272
|
(5)
|
267
|
|
246
|
-
|
246
|
Deferral
of profit in CSM1
|
(193)
|
-
|
(193)
|
|
(129)
|
-
|
(129)
|
Profit before
tax
|
79
|
(5)
|
74
|
|
117
|
-
|
117
|
|
|
Year
ended 31 December 2023
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance
£m
|
Other
£m
|
Total
£m
|
New
business profits
|
|
|
355
|
-
|
355
|
CSM
amortisation1
|
|
|
(62)
|
-
|
(62)
|
Net underlying CSM
increase2
|
|
|
293
|
-
|
293
|
In-force
operating profit1
|
|
|
185
|
6
|
191
|
Other
Group companies' operating results
|
|
|
-
|
(22)
|
(22)
|
Development expenditure
|
|
|
(16)
|
(1)
|
(17)
|
Finance
costs
|
|
|
(84)
|
16
|
(68)
|
Underlying operating
profit
|
|
|
378
|
(1)
|
377
|
Operating
experience and assumption changes1
|
|
|
52
|
-
|
52
|
Adjusted operating profit
before tax
|
|
|
430
|
(1)
|
429
|
Investment and economic movements
|
|
|
106
|
(14)
|
92
|
Strategic
expenditure
|
|
|
(8)
|
(9)
|
(17)
|
Adjustment for transactions reported directly in equity in
IFRS
|
|
|
28
|
(12)
|
16
|
Adjusted profit before
tax
|
|
|
556
|
(36)
|
520
|
Deferral
of profit in CSM1
|
|
|
(348)
|
-
|
(348)
|
Profit before
tax
|
|
|
208
|
(36)
|
172
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
1: See glossary for
definition
2: New business profitability is
valued based on quotation date in the new business profitability
measure used by the Chief Operating Decision Maker. In IFRS, new
business is measured based on the completion date and therefore
there is a quotation date reconciling item between the segmental
reporting profit and IFRS profit.
The reconciliation of the non-GAAP new
business profit to the new business contractual service margin
(IFRS measure) is included in the Business review.
Additional analysis of segmental profit or
loss
Revenue, depreciation of property and
equipment, and amortisation of intangible assets are materially all
allocated to the insurance segment. The adjustment for transactions
reported directly in equity in IFRS primarily relates to interest
on the Tier 1 notes. The interest adjustment in respect of Tier 1
notes in the other segment represents the difference between
interest charged to the insurance segment in respect of Tier 1
notes and interest incurred by the Group in respect of Tier 1
notes.
Product information analysis
Additional analysis relating to the Group's
products is presented below:
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
Year
ended 31 December
2023 £m
|
Defined
Benefit De-risking Solutions ("DB")
|
1,874
|
1,429
|
2,999
|
Guaranteed Income for Life contracts
("GIfL")1
|
600
|
470
|
894
|
Retirement Income sales
(shareholder funded)
|
2,474
|
1,899
|
3,893
|
Defined
Benefit De-risking partnering ("DB partnering")
|
-
|
-
|
416
|
Retirement Income
sales
|
2,474
|
1,899
|
4,309
|
Premium
adjustments to in-force policies
|
4
|
-
|
(27)
|
Net
change in premiums receivable
|
(445)
|
203
|
212
|
Premium cash flows (note
12(c))
|
2,033
|
2,102
|
4,494
|
1 GIfL includes UK GIfL, South Africa GIfL and Care
Plans.
3. INSURANCE SERVICE RESULT
|
Six months
ended
30 June
2024
£m
|
Six
months ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
Year
ended
31
December 2023
£m
|
Insurance revenue
|
|
|
|
Contractual service margin
recognised for services provided
|
86
|
67
|
156
|
Change in risk adjustment for
non-financial risk for risks expired
|
5
|
7
|
11
|
Expected incurred claims and other
insurance service expenses
|
753
|
671
|
1,369
|
Recovery of insurance acquisition
cash flows
|
15
|
8
|
19
|
Total insurance revenue
|
859
|
753
|
1,555
|
Insurance service expenses
|
|
|
|
Actual claims and maintenance
expenses
|
(744)
|
(674)
|
(1,377)
|
Amortisation of insurance
acquisition cash flows
|
(15)
|
(8)
|
(19)
|
Total insurance service expenses
|
(759)
|
(682)
|
(1,396)
|
Net expenses from reinsurance
contracts
|
(29)
|
(17)
|
(41)
|
Insurance service result
|
71
|
54
|
118
|
The contractual service margin ("CSM") release
of £86m (HY23: £67m / FY23: £156m) represents 6.4% annualised
(HY23: 6.4% annualised / FY23: 6.0%) of the CSM reserve balance
immediately prior to release. On a net of reinsurance
basis, the CSM release of £75m into profit (HY 23: £56m) represents
an annualised 6.7% (HY 23: 6.2%) of the CSM balance immediately
prior to release. The release in the first six months
of 2024 includes the effects of the deferral in CSM of the
demographic assumption changes made at 31 December 2023 and the new
business written in 2024.
Expected incurred claims and other insurance
service expenses of £753m (HY23: £671m / FY23: £1,369m) is broadly
in line with the actual claims and maintenance expenses incurred of
£744m (HY23: £674m / FY23: £1,377m). These amounts exclude
investment components such as payments within guarantee periods.
The continued increase reflects the growth and maturity of the
business, the increase in the proportion of DB business and the
reduction in the proportion of claims relating to guarantee periods
as pre pensions-freedoms policies exit guarantee periods in
2024.
Total incurred expenses in the period were
£890m (HY23: £817m / FY23: £1,683m) and are reported within:
Insurance service expenses £759m (HY23: £682m / FY23: £1,396m),
Other operating expenses £40m (HY23: £51m / FY23: £104m) and
insurance acquisition costs deferred in the CSM of £91m (HY23 £84m
/ FY23 £183m) (see note 12(e)).
Other operating expenses include development
and strategic expenses of £23m (HY23: £17m / FY23: £34m), and
investment maintenance expenses and costs associated with
non-insurance activities within the group totalling £17m (HY23:
£36m / FY23: £70m).
4. NET INVESTMENT RESULT
|
Six months
ended
30 June
2024
£m
|
Six
months
ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
Year
ended
31
December 2023
£m
|
Investment
return
|
|
|
|
Interest
income on assets at amortised cost
|
59
|
11
|
54
|
Interest income on assets
designated at FVTPL
|
416
|
357
|
806
|
Interest income on assets
mandatorily measured at FVTPL: LTMs
|
102
|
130
|
244
|
Movement in fair value of
financial assets designated at FVTPL
|
(627)
|
(464)
|
424
|
Movement in fair value of
financial assets mandatorily measured at FVTPL: LTMs
|
(172)
|
(179)
|
278
|
Net gains on financial assets
mandatorily measured at FVTPL: Derivatives
|
46
|
144
|
365
|
Foreign exchange (losses)/gains on
amortised cost assets
|
(4)
|
1
|
2
|
Total investment return
|
(180)
|
-
|
2,173
|
Net finance income/(expenses) from insurance
contracts
|
|
|
|
Interest accreted
|
(844)
|
(603)
|
(1,317)
|
Effect of changes in interest
rates and other financial assumptions
|
1,173
|
752
|
(622)
|
Effect of measuring changes in
estimates at current rates and adjusting the CSM at rates on
initial recognition
|
19
|
2
|
(67)
|
Total net finance income/(expenses) from insurance
contracts
|
348
|
151
|
(2,006)
|
Net finance (expense)/income from
reinsurance contracts
|
(34)
|
(7)
|
108
|
Movement in investment contract
liabilities
|
-
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
Net investment result
|
134
|
143
|
273
|
The Net investment result of £134m (HY23:
£143m / FY23: £273m) is the net impact on the Group from the
movement in the insurance contracts and the investment assets that
back those contracts in the period, together with the investment
result on surplus assets. The principal driver over
the period is the changes in the value of the
investment assets and net insurance liabilities due to changes in
long-term interest rates.
These amounts will not completely offset for a
number of reasons, including:
• the term structures
for financial investments held and net insurance liabilities are
not identical;
• the existence of
surplus assets held on the balance sheet which do not back
insurance liabilities and the value of which are subject to changes
in interest rates; and
• the deduction of a
credit default allowance from the interest rate used to value
insurance liabilities.
Investment return
Investment return includes
interest on the Group's investment assets together with mark to
market movements on portfolios held at fair value through profit or
loss. The growth in interest income reflects both the Group's
continued investment of new business premiums into additional
holdings of fixed income investments and the growth in the
amortised cost portfolio of Gilts. The amortised cost portfolio has
been established in tranches over the past 15 months and now totals
£3bn. The Group invested over £1bn into fixed income investments
over H1 2024, and only £0.1bn in LTMs, amounting 5% of new
business.
The Group's fixed income and LTM portfolios
are long dated and are all exposed to changes in long term risk
free rates. Mark to market losses incurred on the Group's fixed
income and LTM portfolios reflects increases in long-term interest
rates over the period. In the prior period, expectations of
long-term interest rates rose over H1 2023 and reduced over H2
2023, resulting in mark to market losses in H1 2023, more than
offset by mark to market gains over H2 2023.
Net finance income/(expenses)
from insurance contracts
Interest accreted of £844m (HY23:
£603m / FY23: £1,317m) represents the effect of unwinding of the
discount rates on the future cash flow and risk adjustment
components of the insurance contract liabilities and the effect of
interest accretion on the CSM. The increase in accretion
reflects the growth in the size of the insurance portfolio and
rises in interest rates, which drives the locked-in accretion rate
for new business written. The majority of the opening CSM arises
from the fair value approach on transition to IFRS 17 which is
measured using the locked-in discount rate curve as at 1 January
2022. This curve is upward sloping in the early years which,
combined with an increasing CSM balance, resulted in increased
accretion.
The principal economic assumption
changes impacting the movement in insurance liabilities during the
period of £1,173m gain (HY23: £752m gain / FY23: £622m loss) relate
to discount rates and inflation. The CSM is held at locked-in
discount rates and benefit inflation, and hence the effect of the
change in interest rates experienced in the period applies only to
the future cash flows and risk adjustment components of the
insurance contract liabilities.
5. INCOME TAX
|
Six months ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months
ended
30 June 2023
£m
|
Year
ended
31 December
2023
£m
|
Current
taxation
|
|
|
|
Current
year tax on current year profits
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
Adjustments in respect of prior periods
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
Total current
tax
|
6
|
2
|
-
|
Deferred
taxation
|
|
|
|
Deferred
tax recognised for losses in the current period
|
(3)
|
-
|
(2)
|
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
|
1
|
10
|
6
|
Adjustments in respect of prior periods
|
(1)
|
6
|
3
|
Tax
relief on the transitional adjustment on IFRS 17
implementation
|
17
|
16
|
34
|
Remeasurement of deferred tax - change in UK tax
rate
|
-
|
2
|
2
|
Total deferred
tax
|
14
|
34
|
43
|
Total income tax recognised
in profit or loss
|
20
|
36
|
43
|
The deferred tax assets and liabilities have
been calculated at 25%, the current corporation tax rate, and the
rate at which they are expected to reverse.
In accordance with Paragraph 4A of IAS 12
"Income taxes", the Group has not recognised nor disclosed
information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to
Pillar Two income taxes. The Group does not currently expect the
effect of the Pillar Two legislation to have a material impact on
the tax position in future periods.
Reconciliation of total income tax to the
applicable tax rate
|
Six months ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months
ended
30 June 2023
£m
|
Year
ended
31 December
2023
£m
|
Profit on
ordinary activities before tax
|
74
|
117
|
172
|
Income
tax at 25% (30 June 2023: 23.5%, 31 Dec 2023: 23.5%)
|
18
|
28
|
40
|
Effects
of:
|
|
|
|
Expenses
not deductible for tax purposes
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
Remeasurement of deferred tax - change in UK tax
rate
|
-
|
2
|
2
|
Adjustments in respect of prior periods
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
Other
|
(1)
|
-
|
(4)
|
Total income tax recognised
in profit or loss
|
20
|
36
|
43
|
Income tax recognised directly in
equity
|
Six months ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months
ended
30 June 2023
£m
|
Year
ended
31 December
2023
£m
|
Current
taxation
|
|
|
|
Relief on
Tier 1 interest
|
(2)
|
-
|
(4)
|
Total current
tax
|
(2)
|
-
|
(4)
|
Deferred
taxation
|
|
|
|
Relief on
Tier 1 interest
|
-
|
(2)
|
-
|
Total deferred
tax
|
-
|
(2)
|
-
|
Total income tax recognised
directly in equity
|
(2)
|
(2)
|
(4)
|
6. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The calculation of basic and diluted Earnings
Per Share "EPS" is based on dividing the profit or loss
attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Company by the
weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding, and by the
diluted weighted-average number of ordinary shares potentially
outstanding at the end of the period. The weighted-average number
of ordinary shares excludes shares held by the Employee Benefit
Trust on behalf of the Company to satisfy future exercises of
employee share scheme awards.
Earnings for the purposes of determining
earnings per share and diluted earnings per share is calculated by
adjusting the profit or loss attributable to ordinary equity
holders of the Company for amounts in respect of the Tier 1 notes.
This is based on the judgement that the rights associated with the
Tier 1 notes are similar to preference shares. Adjustments include
coupon payments and any gains/losses on redemption where
appropriate.
|
Six months ended - 30 June
2024
|
Six
months ended - 30 June 2023
|
|
Earnings
£m
|
Weighted-average no. shares
m
|
EPS
pence
|
Earnings
£m
|
Weighted-average no. shares m
|
EPS
pence
|
Profit
attributable to equity holders of Just Group plc
|
54
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
82
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Coupon
payments in respect of Tier 1 notes (net of tax)
|
(6)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(6)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Profit attributable to
ordinary equity holders of Just Group plc (basic)
|
48
|
1,035
|
4.6
|
76
|
1,029
|
7.3
|
Effect of
potentially dilutive share options1
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
24
|
(0.1)
|
Diluted profit attributable
to ordinary equity holders of Just Group plc
|
48
|
1,047
|
4.6
|
76
|
1,053
|
7.2
|
|
|
Year
ended - 31 December 2023
|
|
Earnings
£m
|
Weighted- average no. shares m
|
EPS
pence
|
Profit
attributable to equity holders of Just Group plc
|
129
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Coupon
payments in respect of Tier 1 notes (net of tax)
|
(12)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Profit attributable to
ordinary equity holders of Just Group plc (basic)
|
117
|
1,032
|
11.3
|
Effect of
potentially dilutive share options
|
-
|
17
|
(0.1)
|
Diluted profit attributable
to ordinary equity holders of Just Group plc
|
117
|
1,049
|
11.2
|
7. DIVIDENDS AND
APPROPRIATIONS
Dividends and
appropriations paid in the period were as follows:
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Six
months ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
Year
ended
31 December 2023
£m
|
Final
dividend
|
|
|
|
Final
dividend in respect of prior year end
|
16
|
13
|
13
|
Interim
dividend
|
|
|
|
Interim
dividend in respect of current year end
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
Total dividends
paid
|
16
|
13
|
19
|
Coupon
payments in respect of Tier 1 notes1
|
8
|
8
|
16
|
Total distributions to
equity holders in the period
|
24
|
21
|
35
|
1 Coupon payments on Tier 1 notes are treated as an
appropriation of retained profits and, accordingly, are accounted
for when paid.
A final dividend in respect of 2023 of 1.50
pence per ordinary share was declared in March 2024 and paid on 15
May 2024. The final dividend recognised within the HY and FY 2023
results above represented a dividend of 1.23 pence per ordinary
share and paid on 17 May 2023.
In addition to the amounts recognised in the
Condensed consolidated interim financial statements above,
subsequent to 30 June 2024, the Directors approved an interim
dividend for 2024 of 0.7 pence per ordinary share, amounting to
£7m in total, which will be paid on 4 October 2024. The
interim dividend paid in 2023 was 0.58 pence per ordinary share,
which resulted in a payment of £6m on 4 October 2023.
8. FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS
The Group's financial investments that are
measured at fair value through the profit or loss are either
managed within a fair value business model, or mandatorily measured
at fair value. The Group's financial investments that are measured
at amortised cost are held within a business model where the
intention of holding the instruments is to collect solely payments
of principal and interest.
The table below summarises the classification
of the Group's financial assets and liabilities.
Analysis of financial investments
|
30 June
2024
£m
|
31
December 2023
£m
|
30
June 2023
£m
|
Units in
liquidity funds
|
1,471
|
1,141
|
1,205
|
Investment funds
|
510
|
495
|
440
|
Debt
securities and other fixed income securities
|
14,358
|
13,654
|
11,781
|
Deposits
with credit institutions
|
621
|
706
|
749
|
Loans
secured by commercial mortgages
|
800
|
764
|
629
|
Long
income real estate1
|
758
|
779
|
647
|
Infrastructure loans
|
1,088
|
1,113
|
1,057
|
Other
loans
|
183
|
164
|
139
|
Total investments measured
at FVTPL - designated
|
19,789
|
18,816
|
16,647
|
Loans
secured by residential mortgages
|
5,554
|
5,681
|
5,177
|
Derivative financial assets
|
2,343
|
2,377
|
2,366
|
Total investments measured
at FVTPL - mandatory
|
7,897
|
8,058
|
7,543
|
Gilts -
subject to repurchase agreements
|
3,343
|
2,549
|
1,971
|
Total investments measured
at amortised cost
|
3,343
|
2,549
|
1,971
|
Total financial
investments
|
31,029
|
29,423
|
26,161
|
1
Includes £163m (FY23:
£176m) residential and £595m (FY23: 603m) commercial ground rents
at 30 June 2024.
Units in liquidity funds comprise wholly of
units in funds which invest in very short dated liquid assets.
However as they do not meet the definition of Cash available on
demand, liquidity funds are reported within Financial investments.
Liquidity funds do however meet the definition of cash equivalents
for the purposes of disclosure in the Condensed consolidated
statement of cash flows.
The majority of investments included in debt
securities and other fixed income securities are listed
investments. The Group also originates illiquid fixed income assets
including infrastructure, real estate and private placements. Long
income real estate investments are typically much longer duration
and hence the cash flow profile is more appropriate to match DB
deferred liabilities.
Deposits with credit institutions with a
carrying value of £621m (31 December 2023: £706m / 30 June 2023:
£734m) have been pledged as collateral in respect of the Group's
derivative and repurchase agreement financial instruments. Amounts
pledged as collateral are deposited with the derivative or
repurchase agreement counterparty.
Derivatives are reported within Financial
investments where the derivative valuation is in an asset position,
or alternatively within Payables and other financial liabilities
where the derivative is in a liability position.
During H1 2023 the Group first established an
amortised cost portfolio; the Group has now invested over £3bn in
long dated gilts that are held within this portfolio, to
significantly reduce the Solvency II coverage ratio sensitivity to
future interest rate movements, with a much reduced volatility on
the IFRS position.
9. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND
LIABILITIES
This note explains the methodology for valuing
the Group's financial assets and liabilities fair value, including
financial investments, and provides disclosures in accordance with
IFRS 13 "Fair value measurement" including an analysis of such
assets and liabilities categorised in a fair value hierarchy based
on market observability of valuation inputs.
(a) Determination of fair value and fair
value hierarchy
All assets and liabilities for which fair
value is measured or disclosed in the Condensed consolidated
interim financial statements are categorised within the fair value
hierarchy described as follows, based on the lowest level input
that is significant to the fair value measurement as a
whole.
Level 1
Inputs to Level 1 fair values are unadjusted
quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and
liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement
date.
Level 2
Inputs to Level 2 fair values are inputs other
than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for
the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. If the asset
or liability has a specified (contractual) term, a Level 2 input
must be observable for substantially the full term of the
instrument. Level 2 inputs include the following:
· quoted prices
for similar assets and liabilities in active markets;
· quoted prices
for identical assets or similar assets in markets that are not
active, the prices are not current, or price quotations vary
substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which
very little information is released publicly;
· inputs other
than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;
and
·
market-corroborated inputs.
Level 3
Inputs to Level 3 fair values include
significant unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
Unobservable inputs are used to measure fair value to the extent
that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for
situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for
the asset or liability at the measurement date. However, the fair
value measurement objective remains the same, i.e. an exit price at
the measurement date from the perspective of a market participant
that holds the asset or owes the liability. Unobservable inputs
reflect the same assumptions as those that the market participant
would use in pricing the asset or liability including those about
risk.
The sensitivity of Level 3
investments to reasonably possible alternative assumptions for
unobservable inputs used in the valuation model that could give
rise to significant changes in the fair value of the assets is
included in section (d). The sensitivities in this note only
consider the impact of the change in these assumptions on the fair
value of the asset. Some of these sensitivities would also impact
the yield on assets and hence the valuation discount rate used to
determine insurance contract liabilities.
Assessment of the observability of pricing
information
All assets classified as Level 1 and 2 are
valued using observable market data from standard market pricing
sources such as Bloomberg.
Debt securities and financial derivatives
categorised as Level 1 and Level 2 are valued using observable
data, either directly (as prices) or indirectly (derived from
prices). The pricing data for the Level 2 instruments undergoes
expert review to determine its quality. For instance, the pricing
data is sourced from multiple external sources (such as Bloomberg
and Thompson Reuters) and is subject to several monitoring
controls, such as monthly price variances, stale price reviews and
variance analysis. If the data quality is not sufficiently high,
the instrument is reassigned to Level 3.
If Bloomberg's pricing service (BVAL) assigns
a low score to the pricing data provided by brokers/asset managers,
the instruments are then classified as Level 3.
The Group's assets and liabilities held at
fair value, which are valued using valuation techniques for which
observable market data are not available and classified as Level 3,
include loans secured by mortgages, long-income real estate,
infrastructure loans, private placement debt securities, investment
funds, other loans and also the Group's investment contract
liabilities.
(b) Analysis of assets and liabilities
held at fair value according to fair value hierarchy
|
30 June
2024
|
31 December
2023
|
|
|
Level 1
£m
|
Level 2
£m
|
Level 3
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Level
1
£m
|
Level
2
£m
|
Level
3
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Assets held at fair value
through profit or loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units in
liquidity funds
|
1,466
|
5
|
-
|
1,471
|
1,135
|
6
|
-
|
1,141
|
Investment funds
|
-
|
112
|
398
|
510
|
-
|
97
|
398
|
495
|
Debt
securities and other fixed income securities
|
5,701
|
5,212
|
3,445
|
14,358
|
4,941
|
5,799
|
2,914
|
13,654
|
Deposits
with credit institutions
|
621
|
-
|
-
|
621
|
706
|
-
|
-
|
706
|
Loans
secured by commercial mortgages
|
-
|
-
|
800
|
800
|
-
|
-
|
764
|
764
|
Long
income real estate
|
-
|
-
|
758
|
758
|
-
|
-
|
779
|
779
|
Infrastructure loans
|
-
|
-
|
1,088
|
1,088
|
-
|
-
|
1,113
|
1,113
|
Other
loans
|
-
|
53
|
130
|
183
|
-
|
41
|
123
|
164
|
Loans
secured by residential mortgages
|
-
|
-
|
5,554
|
5,554
|
-
|
-
|
5,681
|
5,681
|
Derivative financial assets
|
-
|
2,343
|
-
|
2,343
|
-
|
2,377
|
-
|
2,377
|
Financial
investments
|
7,788
|
7,725
|
12,173
|
27,686
|
6,782
|
8,320
|
11,772
|
26,874
|
Investment property
|
-
|
-
|
27
|
27
|
-
|
-
|
32
|
32
|
Fair value of financial
assets held at amortised cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gilts -
subject to repurchase agreements (fair value)
|
3,213
|
-
|
-
|
3,213
|
2,614
|
-
|
-
|
2,614
|
Total financial assets and
investment property
|
11,001
|
7,725
|
12,200
|
30,926
|
9,396
|
8,320
|
11,804
|
29,520
|
Liabilities held at fair
value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment contract liabilities
|
-
|
-
|
38
|
38
|
-
|
-
|
35
|
35
|
Derivative financial liabilities
|
-
|
2,369
|
10
|
2,379
|
-
|
2,473
|
14
|
2,487
|
Fair value of financial
liabilities at amortised cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obligations for repayment of cash collateral received (fair
value)
|
690
|
-
|
-
|
690
|
511
|
21
|
-
|
532
|
Loans and
borrowings at amortised cost (fair value)
|
-
|
706
|
-
|
706
|
-
|
694
|
-
|
694
|
Repurchase obligation (fair value)
|
-
|
3,332
|
-
|
3,332
|
-
|
2,569
|
-
|
2,569
|
Total financial
liabilities
|
690
|
6,407
|
48
|
7,145
|
511
|
5,757
|
49
|
6,317
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
30 June
2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level
1
£m
|
Level
2
£m
|
Level
3
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Assets held at fair value
through profit or loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units in
liquidity funds
|
|
|
|
|
1,200
|
5
|
-
|
1,205
|
Investment funds
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
86
|
354
|
440
|
Debt
securities and other fixed income securities
|
|
|
|
|
3,012
|
6,951
|
1,818
|
11,781
|
Deposits
with credit institutions
|
|
|
|
|
733
|
16
|
-
|
749
|
Loans
secured by commercial mortgages
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
629
|
629
|
Long
income real estate
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
647
|
647
|
Infrastructure loans
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
1,057
|
1,057
|
Other
loans
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
27
|
112
|
139
|
Loans
secured by residential mortgages
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
5,177
|
5,177
|
Derivative financial assets
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
2,366
|
-
|
2,366
|
Financial
investments
|
|
|
|
|
4,945
|
9,451
|
9,794
|
24,190
|
Investment property
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
40
|
40
|
Fair value of financial
assets held at amortised cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gilts -
subject to repurchase agreements (fair value)
|
|
|
|
|
1,965
|
-
|
-
|
1,965
|
Total financial assets and
investment property
|
|
|
|
|
6,910
|
9,451
|
9,834
|
26,195
|
Liabilities held at fair
value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment contract liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
29
|
29
|
Derivative financial liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
2,700
|
13
|
2,713
|
Fair value of financial
liabilities at amortised cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obligations for repayment of cash collateral received (fair
value)
|
654
|
43
|
-
|
697
|
Loans and
borrowings at amortised cost (fair value)
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
706
|
-
|
706
|
Repurchase obligation (fair value)
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
1,915
|
-
|
1,915
|
Total financial
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
654
|
5,364
|
42
|
6,060
|
(c) Transfers between levels
The Group's policy is to assess pricing source
changes and determine transfers between levels as of the end of
each half-yearly reporting period. Transfers between levels arise
from changes in the pricing sources. During the period there were
the following transfers between levels:
· Transfers from
Level 2 to Level 1 as a result of improved pricing sources were
£1,126m (31 December 2023: £1,492m / 30 June 2023: nil)
· Transfers from
Level 1 to Level 2 due to a fall in pricing quality were £314m (31
December 2023: £279m / 30 June 2023: nil)
(d) Level 3 assets and liabilities
measured at fair value
Reconciliation of the
opening and closing recorded amount of Level 3 assets and
liabilities held at fair value.
Six months ended
30 June 2024
|
Investment
funds
£m
|
Debt
securities and other fixed income securities
£m
|
Loans
secured by commercial mortgages
£m
|
Long
income
real
estate
£m
|
Infra-
structure
loans
£m
|
Other
loans
£m
|
Loans
secured by residential mortgages
£m
|
Investment contract liabilities
£m
|
Derivative financial liabilities
£m
|
At 1 January 2024
|
398
|
2,914
|
764
|
779
|
1,113
|
123
|
5,681
|
(35)
|
(14)
|
Purchases/advances/
deposits
|
20
|
1,027
|
117
|
24
|
25
|
-
|
115
|
(7)
|
-
|
Transfers to Level 3
|
-
|
106
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Transfers from Level 3
|
-
|
(384)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Sales/redemptions/
payments
|
(38)
|
(75)
|
(68)
|
(7)
|
(22)
|
-
|
(167)
|
4
|
-
|
Recognised in profit or loss in
investment return
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Realised gains and
losses
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
66
|
-
|
-
|
- Unrealised gains and
losses
|
18
|
(146)
|
(13)
|
(38)
|
(28)
|
2
|
(239)
|
-
|
4
|
Interest accrued
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
98
|
-
|
-
|
Change in fair value of
liabilities recognised in profit or loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
At 30 June 2024
|
398
|
3,445
|
800
|
758
|
1,088
|
130
|
5,554
|
(38)
|
(10)
|
Year ended
31 December 2023
|
Investment
funds
£m
|
Debt
securities and other fixed income securities
£m
|
Loans
secured by commercial mortgages
£m
|
Long
income
real
estate £m
|
Infra-
structure
loans
£m
|
Other
loans
£m
|
Loans
secured by residential mortgages
£m
|
Investment contract liabilities
£m
|
Derivative financial liabilities
£m
|
At 1 January 2023
|
338
|
1,605
|
584
|
247
|
948
|
112
|
5,306
|
(33)
|
(42)
|
Purchases/advances/
deposits
|
56
|
1,195
|
256
|
529
|
138
|
17
|
186
|
(12)
|
-
|
Transfers to Level 3
|
-
|
157
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Transfers from Level 3
|
-
|
(15)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Sales/redemptions/
payments
|
4
|
(116)
|
(110)
|
(4)
|
(50)
|
-
|
(342)
|
1
|
23
|
Recognised in profit or loss in
investment return
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Realised gains and
losses
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
122
|
-
|
-
|
- Unrealised gains and
losses
|
-
|
93
|
32
|
7
|
72
|
(16)
|
164
|
-
|
5
|
Interest accrued
|
-
|
(5)
|
2
|
-
|
5
|
10
|
245
|
-
|
-
|
Change in fair value of
liabilities recognised in profit or loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
At 31 December 2023
|
398
|
2,914
|
764
|
779
|
1,113
|
123
|
5,681
|
(35)
|
(14)
|
Six
months ended
30 June 2023
|
Investment
funds
£m
|
Debt
securities and other fixed income securities
£m
|
Loans
secured by commercial mortgages
£m
|
Long
income
real
estate £m
|
Infra-
structure
loans
£m
|
Other
loans
£m
|
Loans
secured by residential mortgages
£m
|
Investment contract liabilities
£m
|
Derivative financial liabilities
£m
|
At 1 January 2023
|
338
|
1,605
|
584
|
247
|
948
|
112
|
5,306
|
(33)
|
(42)
|
Purchases/advances/
deposits
|
36
|
320
|
96
|
434
|
138
|
6
|
87
|
(4)
|
-
|
Sales/redemptions/
payments
|
(16)
|
(28)
|
(43)
|
(3)
|
(16)
|
-
|
(162)
|
-
|
-
|
Recognised in profit or loss in
investment return
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Realised gains and
losses
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
56
|
-
|
21
|
- Unrealised gains and
losses1
|
(4)
|
(68)
|
(8)
|
(31)
|
(13)
|
(6)
|
(238)
|
-
|
8
|
Interest accrued
|
-
|
(11)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
128
|
-
|
-
|
Change in fair value of
liabilities recognised in profit or loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
At 30 June 2023
|
354
|
1,818
|
629
|
647
|
1,057
|
112
|
5,177
|
(29)
|
(13)
|
Investment funds
Investment funds classified as Level 3 are
structured entities that operate under contractual arrangements
which allow a group of investors to invest in a pool of corporate
loans without any one investor having overall control of the
entity.
Principal assumptions underlying the
calculation of investment funds classified as Level 3
Discount rate
Discount rates are the most significant
assumption applied in calculating the fair value of investment
funds. The average discount rate used is 10% (31 December 2023 and
30 June 2023: 10%).
Sensitivity analysis
The sensitivity of the fair value of
investment funds to changes in the discount rate assumptions is not
material.
Debt securities and other fixed income
securities
In line with market practice, fixed-income
securities are generally valued using independent pricing services
such as Bloomberg and Thompson Reuters. When pricing data is
unavailable from pricing services, prices are sourced from external
asset managers or internal models and classified as Level 3 under
the fair value hierarchy due to the use of significant unobservable
inputs. These include private placement bonds, asset backed
securities and less liquid corporate bonds.
Principal
assumptions underlying the calculation of the debt securities and
other fixed income securities classified as Level
3
Credit
spreads
The valuation model discounts the expected
future cash flows using a discount rate which includes a credit
spread allowance associated with that asset.
Sensitivity analysis
Reasonably possible
alternative assumptions for unobservable
inputs used in the valuation model either as at the valuation date
or from a suitable recent reporting period where appropriate to do
so could give rise to significant changes in the fair value of the
assets. The sensitivity of the valuation of bonds is determined by
reference to movement in credit spreads. The Group has estimated
the impact on fair value to changes to these inputs as
follows:
|
|
Debt securities and other fixed income
securities
net
increase/(decrease) in fair value (£m)
|
Credit
spreads +100bps
|
30 June
2024
|
(271)
|
31
December 2023
|
(293)
|
30 June
2023
|
(131)
|
Loans secured by residential
mortgages
Methodology and judgement underlying the
calculation of loans secured by residential mortgages
The valuation of loans secured by
residential mortgages is determined using internal models which
project future cash flows expected to arise from each loan. Future
cash flows allow for assumptions relating to future expenses,
future mortality experience, voluntary redemptions and repayment
shortfalls on redemption of the mortgages due to the NNEG. The fair
value is calculated by discounting the future cash flows at a swap
rate plus a liquidity premium.
Under the NNEG, the amount recoverable by the
Group on eligible termination of mortgages is capped at the net
sale proceeds of the property. A key judgement is with regard to
the calculation approach used. The Black 76 variant of the Black
Scholes option pricing model has been used in conjunction with an
approach using best estimate future house price growth
assumptions.
Cash flow models are used in the absence of a
deep and liquid market for loans secured by residential mortgages.
The bulk sales of the portfolios of Just LTMs in recent years
represented market prices specific to the characteristics of the
underlying portfolios of loans sold, in particular: loan rates;
loan-to-value ratios; and customer age. This was considered
insufficient to affect the judgement of the methodology and
assumptions underlying the discounted cash flow approach used to
value individual loans in the remaining portfolio. The methodology
and assumptions used would be reconsidered if any information is
obtained from future portfolio sales that is relevant and
applicable to the remaining portfolio.
Principal assumptions underlying the
calculation of loans secured by residential mortgages
All gains and losses arising from
loans secured by mortgages are largely dependent on the term of the
mortgage, which in turn is determined by the longevity of the
customer. Principal assumptions underlying the calculation of loans
secured by mortgages include the items set out below. These
assumptions are also used to provide the expected cash flows from
the loans secured by residential mortgages which determine the
yield on this asset. This yield is used for the purpose of setting
valuation discount rates on the liabilities supported, as described
in note 12.
Maintenance expenses
Assumptions for future policy expense levels
are based on the Group's recent expense analyses. The assumed
future expense levels incorporate an annual inflation rate
allowance of 3.7% (31 December 2023: 3.6% / 30 June 2023:
4.0%).
Mortality
Mortality assumptions have been derived with
reference to England and Wales population mortality using the CMI
2022 model for mortality improvements. These base mortality and
improvement tables have been adjusted to reflect the expected
future mortality experience of mortgage contract holders, taking
into account the medical and lifestyle evidence collected during
the sales process and the Group's assessment of how this experience
will develop in the future. This assessment takes into
consideration relevant industry and population studies, published
research materials and management's own experience. The Group has
considered the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its
mortality assumptions and has included an allowance for the
expected future direct and indirect impacts of this and wider UK
mortality trends, which remains unchanged from 31 December 2023.
Further details of the matters considered in relation to mortality
assumptions at 30 June 2024 are set out in note 12.
Property prices
The approach in place at 30 June 2024, which
is the same as at 31 December 2023, is to calculate the value of a
property by taking the latest Automated Valuation Model "AVM"
result, or latest surveyor value if more recent, indexing this to
the balance sheet date using Nationwide UK house price indices and
then making a further allowance for property dilapidation since the
last revaluation date. To the extent that this reflects market
values as at 30 June 2024, no additional short-term adjustment is
allowed for.
The appropriateness of this valuation basis is
regularly tested on the event of redemption of mortgages.
The sensitivity of loans secured by mortgages to a fall in
property prices is included in the table of sensitivities
below.
Future property price
In the absence of a reliable long-term forward
curve for UK residential property price inflation, the Group has
made an assumption about future residential property price
inflation based upon available market and industry data. These
assumptions have been derived with reference to the long-term
expectation of the UK consumer price index inflation metric, "CPI",
plus an allowance for the expectation of house price growth above
CPI (property risk premium) less a margin for a combination of
risks including property dilapidation and basis risk. An additional
allowance is made for the volatility of future property prices.
This results in a single rate of future house price growth of 3.3%
(31 December 2023: 3.3% / 30 June 2023: 3.3%), with a
volatility assumption of 13% per annum (31 December 2023:
13% / 30 June 2023: 13%). The setting of these assumptions includes
consideration of future long and short-term forecasts, the Group's
historical experience, benchmarking data, and future uncertainties
including the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and a
higher interest and inflation rate economic environment on the UK
property market. Increases in house price indices have been
observed over the year to date, albeit this only represents a short
time period in relation to the long-term assumption being
considered here. As such, at this stage our view is that there is
no clear indication of a change in the long-term prospects of the
housing market. In light of this, the future house price growth and
property volatility assumptions have been maintained at the same
level as assumed at 31 December 2023. The sensitivity of loans
secured by mortgages to changes in future property price growth is
included in the table of sensitivities below.
Voluntary redemptions
Assumptions for future voluntary redemption
levels are based on the Group's recent analyses. The assumed
redemption rate varies by duration and product line between 0.5%
and 4.1% for loans in Just Retirement Limited
("JRL") (31 December 2023: between 0.5% and 4.1% / 30
June 2023: between 0.5% and 4.1%) and between 0.6% and 6.8% for
loans in Partnership Life Assurance Company Limited
("PLACL") (31 December 2023: between 0.6% and 6.8% /
30 June 2023: between 0.6% and 6.8%).
Liquidity premium
The liquidity premium at initial recognition
is set such that the fair value of each loan is equal to the face
value of the loan. The liquidity premium partly reflects the
illiquidity of the loan and also spreads the recognition of profit
over the lifetime of the loan. Once calculated, the liquidity
premium remains unchanged at future valuations except when further
advances are taken out. In this situation, the single liquidity
premium to apply to that loan is recalculated allowing for all
advances. The average liquidity premium for loans held within JRL
is 3.2% (31 December 2023: 3.2% / 30 June 2023: 3.1%) and for loans
held within PLACL is 3.4% (31 December 2023: 3.3% / 30 June 2023:
3.4%). The movement over the period observed in both JRL and PLACL
is a function of the liquidity premiums on new loan originations
compared to the liquidity premiums on those policies which have
redeemed over the period, both in reference to the average spread
on the back book of business.
Sensitivity
analysis
Reasonably possible alternative assumptions
for unobservable inputs used in the valuation model could give rise
to significant changes in the fair value of the assets. The Group
has estimated the impact on fair value to changes to these inputs
as follows:
Loans secured by residential mortgages
net
increase/(decrease) in fair value (£m)
|
Base
mortality
-5%
|
Immediate property price fall
-10%
|
Future
property price growth
-0.5%
|
Liquidity premium +10bps
|
30 June
2024
|
|
|
(17)
|
(80)
|
(48)
|
(47)
|
31
December 2023
|
|
|
(15)
|
(83)
|
(50)
|
(49)
|
30 June
2023
|
|
|
(12)
|
(84)
|
(53)
|
(50)
|
The sensitivity factors are applied via
financial models either as at the valuation date or from a suitable
recent reporting period where appropriate to do so. The analysis
has been prepared for a change in each variable with other
assumptions remaining constant. In reality such an occurrence is
unlikely due to correlation between the assumptions and other
factors. It should be noted that some of these sensitivities are
non-linear and larger or smaller impacts should not be simply
interpolated or extrapolated from these results. For example, the
impact from a 5% fall in property prices would be slightly less
than half of that disclosed in the table above.
Other limitations in the above sensitivity
analysis include the use of hypothetical market movements to
demonstrate potential risk that only represents the Group's view of
reasonably possible near-term market changes that cannot be
predicted with any certainty.
Loans secured by commercial
mortgages
Loans secured by commercial mortgages are
valued using discounted cash flow analysis using assumptions based
on the repayment of the underlying loan.
Principal assumptions underlying the
calculation of loans secured by commercial mortgages
Credit
spreads
The valuation model discounts the expected
future cash flows using a discount rate which includes a credit
spread allowance associated with that asset.
Sensitivity analysis
Reasonably possible alternative assumptions
for unobservable inputs used in the valuation model either as at
the valuation date or from a suitable recent reporting period where
appropriate to do so could give rise to significant changes in the
fair value of the assets. The sensitivity of the valuation of
commercial mortgages is determined by reference to movement in
credit spreads. The Group has estimated the impact on fair value to
changes to these inputs as follows:
Loans secured by commercial mortgages
net
increase/(decrease) in fair value (£m)
|
Credit spreads +100bps
|
30 June 2024
|
(29)
|
31 December 2023
|
(27)
|
30 June 2023
|
(20)
|
Long income real estate
Long income real estate is valued using
discounted cash flow analysis using assumptions based on the
repayment of the underlying loan.
Principal assumptions underlying the
calculation of long income real estate
In determining the credit spreads
for the valuation of residential ground rents, the Group has taken
a market participant approach, which requires consideration of the
assumptions, including those about risk, that a market participant
would make at the balance sheet date for valuing such assets. The
Group notes the significant uncertainty regarding the outcome of
the previous Government consultation and recent King's Speech
regarding restriction of residential ground rents as explained in
the Risk Management Risk Outlook section and in note 16. The group
included an adjustment to the valuation of its residential ground
rents portfolio in the 2023 Annual Report and Accounts to reflect
this uncertainty in the fair value that a market participant would
be willing to exchange such assets. The value of these assets was
adjusted to reflect an expected increase in credit spread and
consequential increase the credit risk deduction for defaults.
The Group has not made any change to this adjustment as at 30 June
2024.
Credit spreads
The valuation model discounts the expected
future cash flows using a discount rate which includes a credit
spread allowance associated with that asset.
Sensitivity analysis
Reasonably possible alternative
assumptions for long income real estate are a +100 basis point
change in credit spreads. As explained in note 16, the Group
continues to monitor the new Government's agenda regarding
residential ground rents. The Group has performed additional
sensitivity analysis over the residential ground rents within the
long income real estate portfolio. The sensitivity of residential
ground rents to more significant adverse changes in credit quality
has been evaluated in light of the potential scenarios proposed in
the previous Government consultation. An additional sensitivity has
been performed under the scenario that the credit rating of the
Group's holding in residential ground rents reduces to
BBB.
Reasonably possible alternative assumptions
for unobservable inputs used in the valuation model either as at
the valuation date or from a suitable recent reporting period where
appropriate to do so could give rise to significant changes in the
fair value of the assets. The sensitivity of the valuation of
ground rents is determined by reference to movement in credit
spreads. The Group has estimated the impact on fair value to
changes to these inputs as follows:
Long income real estate
net
increase/(decrease) in fair value (£m)
|
Credit spreads
+100bps
|
Residential ground rent downgraded to
BBB
|
30 June 2024
|
(150)
|
(11)
|
31 December 2023
|
(158)
|
(11)
|
30 June 2023
|
(143)
|
N/A
|
Infrastructure loans
Infrastructure loans are valued using
discounted cash flow analyses.
Principal assumptions underlying the
calculation of infrastructure loans classified at Level
3
Credit spreads
The valuation model discounts the expected
future cash flows using a discount rate which includes a credit
spread allowance associated with that asset.
Sensitivity analysis
Reasonably possible alternative assumptions for
unobservable inputs used in the valuation model either as at the
valuation date or from a suitable recent reporting period where
appropriate to do so could give rise to significant changes in the
fair value of the assets. The sensitivity of the valuation of
infrastructure loans is determined by reference to movement in
credit spreads. The Group has estimated the impact on fair value to
changes to these inputs as follows:
Infrastructure loans
net
increase/(decrease) in fair value (£m)
|
Credit spreads +100bps
|
30 June 2024
|
(78)
|
31 December 2023
|
(78)
|
30 June 2023
|
(72)
|
Other loans
Other loans classified as Level 3 are mainly
commodity trade finance loans. These are valued using discounted
cash flow analyses.
Principal assumptions underlying the
calculation of other loans classified at Level 3
Credit spreads
The valuation model discounts the expected
future cash flows using a discount rate which includes a credit
spread allowance associated with that asset.
Sensitivity analysis
The sensitivity of fair value to changes in
credit spread assumptions in respect of other loans is not
material.
Investment contract liabilities
Investment contracts written by JRL
are valued using an internal model and determined on a
policy-by-policy basis using a prospective valuation of future
retirement income benefit and expense cash flows.
Principal assumptions underlying the
calculation of investment contract liabilities
Valuation discount rates
The valuation model discounts the expected
future cash flows using a discount rate derived from the assets
hypothecated to back the liabilities. The discount rate used for
the fixed term annuity product treated as investment business is
based on a curve where 6.93% (31 December 2023: 6.88% / 30 June
2023: 8.18%) is the 1 year rate and 5.99% (31 December 2023: 5.47%
/ 30 June 2023: 7.31%) is the 5 year rate.
Sensitivity analysis
The sensitivity of fair value to changes in
the discount rate assumptions in respect of investment contract
liabilities is not material and is linked to the value of the
contract.
10. SHARE CAPITAL AND
SHARE PREMIUM
The allotted, issued
and fully paid ordinary share capital of Just Group plc is detailed
below:
|
Number of £0.10
ordinary shares
|
Share capital £m
|
Share premium £m
|
At 1 January
2024
|
1,038,702,932
|
104
|
95
|
At 30 June
2024
|
1,038,702,932
|
104
|
95
|
At 1
January 2023
|
1,038,702,932
|
104
|
95
|
At 31
December 2023
|
1,038,702,932
|
104
|
95
|
|
|
|
|
At 1
January 2023
|
1,038,702,932
|
104
|
95
|
At 30
June 2023
|
1,038,702,932
|
104
|
95
|
The company does not have a limited amount of
authorised share capital.
11. TIER 1
NOTES
|
30 June
2024
£m
|
31
December 2023
£m
|
30 June
2023
£m
|
At start and end of period
|
322
|
322
|
322
|
On 16 September 2021 the Group issued £325m
5.0% perpetual restricted Tier 1 contingent convertible notes,
incurring issue costs of £3m.
During the period, interest of £8m was paid to
holders of the Tier 1 notes (31 December 2023: £16m, 30 June 2023:
£8m). The Tier 1 notes bear interest on the principal amount up to
30 September 2031 (the first reset date) at the rate of 5.0% per
annum, and thereafter at a fixed rate of interest reset on the
first call date and on each fifth anniversary thereafter. Interest
is payable on the Tier 1 notes semi-annually in arrears on 30 March
and 30 September each year which commenced on 30 March
2022.
The Group has the option to cancel the coupon
payment at its discretion and cancellation of the coupon payment
becomes mandatory upon non-compliance with the solvency capital
requirement or minimum capital requirement or where the Group has
insufficient distributable funds. Cancelled coupon payments do not
accumulate or become payable at a later date and do not constitute
a default. In the event of non-compliance with specific solvency
requirements, the conversion of the Tier 1 notes into ordinary
shares could be triggered.
The Tier 1 notes are treated as a separate
category within equity and the coupon payments are recognised
outside of the profit after tax result and as a deduction directly
from shareholders' equity.
12. INSURANCE
CONTRACTS AND RELATED REINSURANCE
|
30 June
2024
£m
|
31
December 2023
£m
|
30 June
2023
£m
|
Gross insurance liabilities
|
24,794
|
24,131
|
20,606
|
Reinsurance contract
assets
|
(1,108)
|
(1,143)
|
(719)
|
Reinsurance contract
liabilities
|
79
|
125
|
103
|
Net reinsurance contracts
|
(1,029)
|
(1,018)
|
(616)
|
Net insurance
liabilities
|
23,765
|
23,113
|
19,990
|
Insurance liabilities and reinsurance assets
and liabilities include valuation of the Best estimate of the
present value of future cash flows, the Risk adjustment for
non-financial risk and the Contractual service margin. A summary of
the movement in insurance liabilities and net reinsurance contracts
is presented below.
|
Six months ended 30 June
2024
|
|
Year
ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Gross
£m
|
Net Reinsurance
£m
|
Net
£m
|
|
Gross
£m
|
Net
Reinsurance
£m
|
Net
£m
|
Best
estimate
|
20,758
|
64
|
20,822
|
|
17,030
|
76
|
17,106
|
Risk
adjustment
|
924
|
(592)
|
332
|
|
674
|
(399)
|
275
|
CSM
|
2,449
|
(490)
|
1,959
|
|
1,943
|
(332)
|
1,611
|
Net opening
balance
|
24,131
|
(1,018)
|
23,113
|
|
19,647
|
(655)
|
18,992
|
CSM
recognised for services provided
|
(86)
|
11
|
(75)
|
|
(156)
|
27
|
(129)
|
CSM
accretion
|
54
|
(12)
|
42
|
|
79
|
(12)
|
67
|
Other
movements in the CSM
|
167
|
59
|
226
|
|
583
|
(173)
|
410
|
Release
from risk adjustment
|
(5)
|
2
|
(3)
|
|
(11)
|
4
|
(7)
|
Other
movements in risk adjustment
|
25
|
(27)
|
(2)
|
|
261
|
(197)
|
64
|
Movements
in best estimate
|
508
|
(44)
|
464
|
|
3,728
|
(12)
|
3,716
|
Net closing
balance
|
24,794
|
(1,029)
|
23,765
|
|
24,131
|
(1,018)
|
23,113
|
Best
estimate
|
21,266
|
20
|
21,286
|
|
20,758
|
64
|
20,822
|
Risk
adjustment
|
944
|
(617)
|
327
|
|
924
|
(592)
|
332
|
CSM
|
2,584
|
(432)
|
2,152
|
|
2,449
|
(490)
|
1,959
|
Net closing
balance
|
24,794
|
(1,029)
|
23,765
|
|
24,131
|
(1,018)
|
23,113
|
|
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
|
Gross
£m
|
Net
Reinsurance
£m
|
Net
£m
|
Best
estimate
|
|
17,030
|
76
|
17,106
|
Risk
adjustment
|
|
674
|
(399)
|
275
|
CSM
|
|
1,943
|
(332)
|
1,611
|
Net opening
balance
|
|
19,647
|
(655)
|
18,992
|
CSM
recognised for services provided
|
|
(67)
|
11
|
(56)
|
CSM
accretion
|
|
34
|
(7)
|
27
|
Other
movements in the CSM
|
|
137
|
21
|
158
|
Release
from risk adjustment
|
|
(7)
|
2
|
(5)
|
Other
movements in risk adjustment
|
|
38
|
(40)
|
(2)
|
Movements
in best estimate
|
|
824
|
52
|
876
|
Net closing
balance
|
|
20,606
|
(616)
|
19,990
|
Best
estimate
|
|
17,854
|
128
|
17,982
|
Risk
adjustment
|
|
705
|
(437)
|
268
|
CSM
|
|
2,047
|
(307)
|
1,740
|
Net closing
balance
|
|
20,606
|
(616)
|
19,990
|
The detailed movements analysis of insurance
liabilities and reinsurance assets and liabilities are presented in
note 12 (c) and (d) respectively. The movements include the CSM
split between contracts under the Fair Value Approach ("FVA") and
other contracts, including those measured under the Fully
Retrospective Approach ("FRA") at transition to IFRS 17 and new
contracts since transition to IFRS 17.
(a) Terms and conditions of insurance
and reinsurance contracts
The Group's long-term insurance contracts
include Retirement Income (Defined Benefit, Guaranteed Income for
Life, and Care Plans), and whole of life and term
protection insurance.
Although the process for the establishment of
insurance liabilities follows specified rules and guidelines, the
liabilities that result from the process remain uncertain. As a
consequence of this uncertainty, the eventual value of claims could
vary from the amounts provided to cover future claims.
The estimation process used in determining
insurance liabilities involves projecting future annuity payments
and the cost of maintaining the contracts.
The Group uses reinsurance as an integral part
of its risk and capital management activities. New business is
reinsured via longevity swap and quota share arrangements. The
percentage of new business reinsured over HY24 is consistent with
2023:
- GIfL was reinsured using longevity swap reinsurance at
90%
-
DB was reinsured using longevity swap reinsurance
at c.90% for future cashflows excluding tax free cash
(b) Measurement of insurance
contracts
The estimation process used in determining
insurance liabilities involves projecting future annuity payments
and the cost of maintaining the contracts.
Mortality
assumptions
Mortality assumptions have been set by
reference to appropriate standard CMI 2022 mortality improvements
tables, adjusted to reflect the future mortality experience of the
policyholders, taking into account the medical and lifestyle
evidence collected during the underwriting process, premium size,
gender and the Group's assessment of how this experience will
develop in the future. This assessment takes into consideration
relevant industry and population studies, published research
materials, and management's own industry experience.
The Group has made a small adjustment to the
base mortality assumptions on JRL GIfL PrognoSys™ annuities since
31 December 2023 reflecting emerging mortality experience, as those
lives with no medical conditions at underwriting are showing
slightly higher mortality experience than expected and those lives
with medical conditions at underwriting are showing lighter
mortality experience. These adjustments will be reviewed at
the year end as the Group considers the level and shape of excess
mortality associated with major medical conditions.
Mortality experience has been volatile and at
times significantly higher in aggregate than expected since March
2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Group continues to make an
explicit allowance in the Group's mortality assumptions to reflect
the emerging evidence of the future impacts of COVID infections and
continuing and likely long-lasting disruption to healthcare
services. This allowance is unchanged from 31 December
2023.
The Group will continue to follow closely the
actual impact of COVID-19 on mortality and separately consider the
direct and indirect future impacts of the pandemic. The Group will
consider the conclusions of such analysis, alongside assessment of
other factors influencing mortality trends, in keeping its
assumptions under regular review.
Discount
rates
All cash flows are discounted using investment
yield curves adjusted to allow for expected and unexpected credit
risk. For non-lifetime mortgage assets, this adjustment is
comprised of an element based upon historic default experience and
an element based upon current spread levels where both elements are
relevant to the asset in question. The yields on lifetime mortgage
assets are derived using the assumptions described in note 9 with
an additional reduction to the future house price growth rate of
50bps (31 December 2023: 50bps / 30 June 2023: 50bps) allowed
for.
The overall reduction in yield to allow for
the risk of defaults from all non-LTM assets (including gilts,
corporate bonds, infrastructure loans, private placements and
commercial mortgages) and the adjustment from LTMs, which included
a combination of the NNEG and the additional reduction to future
house price growth rate, was 55bps for JRL (31 December 2023: 58bps
/ 30 June 2023: 59bps). During the period, for PLACL we have
aligned the presentation of this reduction in yield with that of
the JRL assumption. The PLACL assumption is 88bps (31 December
2023: 88bps / 30 June 2023: 86bps on an equivalent
basis).
Discount rates at the inception of each
contract are based on the yields within a hypothetical reference
portfolio of assets which the Group expects to acquire to back the
portfolio of new insurance liabilities (the "target portfolio"). A
weighted average of these discount rate curves is determined for
the purpose of calculating movements in the CSM relating to each
group of contracts.
At each valuation date, the estimate of the
present value of future liability cash flows and the risk
adjustment for non-financial risks are discounted using the yields
from a reference portfolio based upon the actual asset portfolio
backing the net of reinsurance best estimate liabilities and risk
adjustment. The reference portfolio is adjusted in respect of new
contracts incepting in the period to allow for a period of
transition from the actual asset holdings to the target portfolio
where necessary. Typically, this period of transition can be up to
six months but is dependent on the volume of new business
transactions completed.
The target asset portfolio seeks to select the
appropriate mix of assets to match the underlying net insurance
contract liabilities. The target asset portfolio consists of listed
bonds, unlisted illiquid investments and loans secured by
residential mortgages.
The tables below set out rates at certain
points on the yield curves used to discount the best estimate
liability and risk adjustment reserves as at each period end. For
2023 and 2024 the reinsurance rates are not materially different to
the gross insurance discount rates. As such only the rates for
underlying business are presented below. Discount rates have been
disclosed in aggregate and have not been split according to their
profitability groupings.
JRL
|
Valuation rate at
period end
All products
|
|
30
June 2024
|
31 December 2023
|
30 June 2023
|
1
year
|
6.9%
|
6.9%
|
8.2%
|
5
year
|
6.0%
|
5.5%
|
7.3%
|
10
year
|
5.9%
|
5.4%
|
6.5%
|
20
year
|
6.0%
|
5.5%
|
6.2%
|
30
year
|
5.9%
|
5.5%
|
5.9%
|
PLACL
|
Valuation rate at
period end
GifL/DB
business
|
|
Valuation rate at
period end
Care
business
|
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
30 June
2023
|
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
30 June
2023
|
1
year
|
7.0%
|
6.8%
|
8.2%
|
|
5.5%
|
4.9%
|
5.9%
|
5
year
|
6.1%
|
5.5%
|
7.2%
|
|
4.5%
|
3.5%
|
4.9%
|
10
year
|
6.0%
|
5.4%
|
6.4%
|
|
4.4%
|
3.4%
|
4.1%
|
20
year
|
6.1%
|
5.5%
|
6.0%
|
|
4.6%
|
3.6%
|
3.8%
|
30
year
|
6.0%
|
5.5%
|
5.8%
|
|
4.5%
|
3.5%
|
3.5%
|
Inflation
Assumptions for annuity escalation are
required for retail price index (RPI), consumer price index (CPI)
and limited price index (LPI) linked liabilities, the majority of
which are within the Defined Benefit business. The inflation curve
assumed in each case is that which is implied by market swap
rates, using a mark to model basis for LPI inflation,
taking into account any escalation caps and/or floors applicable.
This methodology is unchanged at 30 June 2024 compared
to the previous period.
Future
expenses
Assumptions for future policy expense levels
are determined from the Group's recent expense analyses and
incorporate an annual inflation rate allowance of 3.7% (31 December
2023: 3.6% / 30 June 2023: 4.0%) derived from the expected retail
price and consumer price indices implied by inflation swap rates
and an additional allowance for earnings inflation. The annual
inflation rate allowance is regarded as a financial assumption and
therefore all changes in expense inflation rates are recognised in
the Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive
income.
The maintenance expense assumptions per
policy, allowing for the relevant level of expense inflation over
the period, are unchanged from those reported in the 2023 Annual
Report and Accounts.
Risk
adjustment
The best estimate liability represents the
present value of future net cash outflows to settle claims and
expenses quantified at the 50th percentile confidence interval. The
risk adjustment for non-financial risk is determined to reflect the
compensation that the Group requires for bearing longevity,
expense, and insurance-contract specific operational risks. The
risk adjustment represents an additional reserve held that
increases the ultimate time horizon confidence interval up to the
70th percentile and amounts to £0.3bn (31 December 2023: £0.3bn: 30
June 2023: £0.3bn) net of reinsurance. Based upon the latest risk
adjustment calibration exercise, a 5% increase in the ultimate
run-off confidence interval would increase the net of reinsurance
risk adjustment by c£0.1bn (31 December 2023: c£0.1bn / 30 June
2023: c£0.1bn).
(c) Movements analysis - insurance
contracts
Insurance contracts analysed by
measurement component
(c)(i) Disclosure of movement by measurement
component
|
|
|
|
|
Six months ended 30 June
2024
|
Estimate of present value of
future cash flows
£m
|
Risk adjustment for
non-financial risk
£m
|
CSM
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Opening
insurance contract liabilities balance
|
20,758
|
924
|
2,449
|
24,131
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service provided
|
-
|
-
|
(86)
|
(86)
|
Change in
risk adjustment for non-financial risk for risk expired
|
-
|
(5)
|
-
|
(5)
|
Experience adjustments
|
(9)
|
-
|
-
|
(9)
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the period
|
(329)
|
93
|
236
|
-
|
Changes
in estimates that adjust the CSM
|
71
|
(2)
|
(69)
|
-
|
Insurance service
result
|
(267)
|
86
|
81
|
(100)
|
Net
finance (income)/ expenses from insurance contracts
|
(336)
|
(66)
|
54
|
(348)
|
Exchange
rate movement
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
(597)
|
20
|
135
|
(442)
|
Cash flows
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums
received
|
2,033
|
-
|
-
|
2,033
|
Claims
and other insurance service expenses paid, including investment
components
|
(837)
|
-
|
-
|
(837)
|
Insurance
acquisition cash flows
|
(91)
|
-
|
-
|
(91)
|
Total cash
flows
|
1,105
|
-
|
-
|
1,105
|
Closing
insurance
contract liabilities balance
|
21,266
|
944
|
2,584
|
24,794
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Year
ended 31 December 2023
|
Estimate
of present value of future cash flows
£m
|
Risk
adjustment for non-financial risk
£m
|
CSM
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Opening
insurance contract liabilities balance
(restated)1
|
17,030
|
674
|
1,943
|
19,647
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service provided
|
-
|
-
|
(156)
|
(156)
|
Change in
risk adjustment for non-financial risk for risk expired
|
-
|
(11)
|
-
|
(11)
|
Experience adjustments
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the year
|
(542)
|
162
|
380
|
-
|
Changes
in estimates that adjust the CSM
|
(292)
|
89
|
203
|
-
|
Insurance service
result
|
(826)
|
240
|
427
|
(159)
|
Net
finance expenses from insurance contracts
|
1,917
|
10
|
79
|
2,006
|
Exchange
rate movement
|
(26)
|
-
|
-
|
(26)
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
1,065
|
250
|
506
|
1,821
|
Cash flows
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums
received
|
4,494
|
-
|
-
|
4,494
|
Claims
and other insurance service expenses paid, including investment
components
|
(1,648)
|
-
|
-
|
(1,648)
|
Insurance
acquisition cash flows
|
(183)
|
-
|
-
|
(183)
|
Total cash
flows
|
2,663
|
-
|
-
|
2,663
|
Closing
insurance
contract liabilities balance
|
20,758
|
924
|
2,449
|
24,131
|
1 2023 opening
balance is restated on adoption of IFRS 17.
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
Estimate of present value of
future cash flows
£m
|
Risk adjustment for
non-financial risk
£m
|
CSM
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Opening
insurance contract liabilities balance (restated)
1
|
17,030
|
674
|
1,943
|
19,647
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service provided
|
-
|
-
|
(67)
|
(67)
|
Change in
risk adjustment for non-financial risk for risk expired
|
-
|
(7)
|
-
|
(7)
|
Experience adjustments
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the period
|
(230)
|
72
|
158
|
-
|
Changes
in estimates that adjust the CSM
|
23
|
(2)
|
(21)
|
-
|
Insurance service
result
|
(204)
|
63
|
70
|
(71)
|
Net
finance (income)/expenses from insurance contracts
|
(153)
|
(32)
|
34
|
(151)
|
Exchange
rate movement
|
(36)
|
-
|
-
|
(36)
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
(393)
|
31
|
104
|
(258)
|
Cash flows
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums
received
|
2,102
|
-
|
-
|
2,102
|
Claims
and other insurance service expenses paid, including investment
components
|
(801)
|
-
|
-
|
(801)
|
Insurance
acquisition cash flows
|
(84)
|
-
|
-
|
(84)
|
Total cash
flows
|
1,217
|
-
|
-
|
1,217
|
Closing
insurance
contract liabilities balance
|
17,854
|
705
|
2,047
|
20,606
|
1 2023 opening
balance is restated on adoption of IFRS 17.
(c)(ii) Disclosure of movement in CSM by IFRS 17 Transitional
approach
Below is the CSM movement split by
Fair Value Approach ("FVA") on transition to IFRS 17 and other
contracts.
|
Six months ended 30 June
2024
|
|
Year
ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Contracts under FVA
£m
|
Other contracts
£m
|
Total CSM
£m
|
|
Contracts under FVA
£m
|
Other
contracts
£m
|
Total
CSM
£m
|
Opening
insurance contract liabilities balance1
|
1,437
|
1,012
|
2,449
|
|
1,354
|
589
|
1,943
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service provided
|
(53)
|
(33)
|
(86)
|
|
(109)
|
(47)
|
(156)
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the period
|
-
|
236
|
236
|
|
-
|
380
|
380
|
Changes
in estimates that adjust the CSM
|
(22)
|
(47)
|
(69)
|
|
150
|
53
|
203
|
Insurance service
result
|
(75)
|
156
|
81
|
|
41
|
386
|
427
|
Net
finance expenses from insurance contracts
|
23
|
31
|
54
|
|
42
|
37
|
79
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
(52)
|
187
|
135
|
|
83
|
423
|
506
|
Closing insurance contract
liabilities balance
|
1,385
|
1,199
|
2,584
|
|
1,437
|
1,012
|
2,449
|
1 2023 opening
balance is restated on adoption of IFRS 17.
|
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
|
Contracts under FVA
£m
|
Other
contracts
£m
|
Total
CSM
£m
|
Opening
insurance contract liabilities balance1
|
|
1,354
|
589
|
1,943
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service provided
|
|
(49)
|
(18)
|
(67)
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the period
|
|
-
|
158
|
158
|
Changes
in estimates that adjust the CSM
|
|
(4)
|
(17)
|
(21)
|
Insurance service
result
|
|
(53)
|
123
|
70
|
Net
finance expenses from insurance contracts
|
|
21
|
13
|
34
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
|
(32)
|
136
|
104
|
Closing insurance contract
liabilities balance
|
|
1,322
|
725
|
2,047
|
|
|
|
|
| |
1 2023 opening
balance is restated on adoption of IFRS 17.
Changes that relate to current service
CSM recognised in the period is
computed based on the proportion of insurance contract services
provided in the period compared with the value of services expected
to be provided in future periods. Experience adjustments represent
the difference between the expected value of claims and expenses
projected as at the start of the year included in insurance
revenue, and the actual value of claims and expenses due in the
year included in insurance service expense. The favourable
experience adjustment of £9m in 2024 (HY23 £(3)m adverse / FY 23
£(8)m adverse) should be viewed in the context of £837m (HY23 £801m
/ FY23 £1,648m) of claims and expenses paid.
Changes that relate to future service
The value of contracts initially
recognised in the period is presented in note 12(e).
Changes in estimates that adjust the CSM
represent changes in projected future years cash flows that arise
from experience in the period and non-economic assumption changes,
measured at locked-in discount rates. Apart from the small
adjustment mentioned in note 12(b), the most recent mortality basis
change was made in FY23, and as such the impact in HY24 and HY23 is
less significant than at FY23.
(d) Movements analysis - reinsurance
contracts
Reinsurance contracts analysed by measurement
component
(d)(i) Disclosure of movement by measurement
component
Six months ended 30 June
2024
|
Estimate of present value of
future cash flows
£m
|
Risk adjustment for
non-financial risk
£m
|
CSM
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Opening
reinsurance contract asset
|
937
|
106
|
100
|
1,143
|
Opening
reinsurance contract liability
|
(1,001)
|
486
|
390
|
(125)
|
Net opening
balance
|
(64)
|
592
|
490
|
1,018
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service received
|
-
|
-
|
(11)
|
(11)
|
Change in
risk adjustment for non-financial risk for risk expired
|
-
|
(2)
|
-
|
(2)
|
Experience adjustments
|
(16)
|
-
|
-
|
(16)
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the period
|
(83)
|
73
|
10
|
-
|
Change in
estimates that adjust the CSM
|
69
|
-
|
(69)
|
-
|
Net (expenses)/income from
reinsurance contracts
|
(30)
|
71
|
(70)
|
(29)
|
Net
finance (expenses)/income from reinsurance contracts
|
-
|
(46)
|
12
|
(34)
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
(30)
|
25
|
(58)
|
(63)
|
Cash flows
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums
paid
|
459
|
-
|
-
|
459
|
Claims
received
|
(385)
|
-
|
-
|
(385)
|
Total cash
flows
|
74
|
-
|
-
|
74
|
Closing
reinsurance contract asset
|
902
|
98
|
108
|
1,108
|
Closing
reinsurance contract liability
|
(922)
|
519
|
324
|
(79)
|
Net closing
balance
|
(20)
|
617
|
432
|
1,029
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
ended 31 December 2023
|
Estimate
of present value of future cash flows
£m
|
Risk
adjustment for non-financial risk
£m
|
CSM
£m
|
Total
£m
|
|
Opening
reinsurance contract asset (restated) 1
|
589
|
80
|
107
|
776
|
|
Opening
reinsurance contract liability (restated) 1
|
(665)
|
319
|
225
|
(121)
|
|
Net opening
balance
|
(76)
|
399
|
332
|
655
|
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service received
|
-
|
-
|
(27)
|
(27)
|
|
Change in
risk adjustment for non-financial risk for risk expired
|
-
|
(4)
|
-
|
(4)
|
|
Experience adjustments
|
(10)
|
-
|
-
|
(10)
|
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the year
|
(168)
|
131
|
37
|
-
|
|
Change in
estimates that adjust the CSM
|
(200)
|
64
|
136
|
-
|
|
Net (expenses)/income from
reinsurance contracts
|
(378)
|
191
|
146
|
(41)
|
|
Net
finance income from reinsurance contracts
|
94
|
2
|
12
|
108
|
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
(284)
|
193
|
158
|
67
|
|
Cash flows
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums
paid
|
1,196
|
-
|
-
|
1,196
|
|
Claims
received
|
(900)
|
-
|
-
|
(900)
|
|
Total cash
flows
|
296
|
-
|
-
|
296
|
|
Closing
reinsurance contract asset
|
937
|
106
|
100
|
1,143
|
|
Closing
reinsurance contract liability
|
(1,001)
|
486
|
390
|
(125)
|
|
Net closing
balance
|
(64)
|
592
|
490
|
1,018
|
|
1 2023 opening
balance is restated on adoption of IFRS 17.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
Estimate
of present value of future cash flows
£m
|
Risk
adjustment for non-financial risk
£m
|
CSM
£m
|
Total
£m
|
|
Opening
reinsurance contract asset (restated) 1
|
589
|
80
|
107
|
776
|
|
Opening
reinsurance contract liability (restated) 1
|
(665)
|
319
|
225
|
(121)
|
|
Net opening
balance
|
(76)
|
399
|
332
|
655
|
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service received
|
-
|
-
|
(11)
|
(11)
|
|
Change in
risk adjustment for non-financial risk for risk expired
|
-
|
(2)
|
-
|
(2)
|
|
Experience adjustments
|
(4)
|
-
|
-
|
(4)
|
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the period
|
(72)
|
62
|
10
|
-
|
|
Change in
estimates that adjust the CSM
|
32
|
(1)
|
(31)
|
-
|
|
Net (expenses)/income from
reinsurance contracts
|
(44)
|
59
|
(32)
|
(17)
|
|
Net
finance income/(expenses) from reinsurance contracts
|
7
|
(21)
|
7
|
(7)
|
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
(37)
|
38
|
(25)
|
(24)
|
|
Cash flows
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums
paid
|
354
|
-
|
-
|
354
|
|
Claims
received
|
(369)
|
-
|
-
|
(369)
|
|
Total cash
flows
|
(15)
|
-
|
-
|
(15)
|
|
Closing
reinsurance contract asset
|
561
|
78
|
80
|
719
|
|
Closing
reinsurance contract liability
|
(689)
|
359
|
227
|
(103)
|
|
Net closing
balance
|
(128)
|
437
|
307
|
616
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
1 2023 opening
balance is restated on adoption of IFRS 17.
(d)(ii)
Disclosure of movement in CSM by IFRS 17 Transitional
approach
Below is the CSM movement split by
Fair Value Approach ("FVA") on transition to IFRS 17 and other
contracts.
|
Six months ended 30 June
2024
|
|
Year
ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Contracts under FVA
£m
|
Other contracts
£m
|
Total CSM
£m
|
|
Contracts under FVA
£m
|
Other
contracts
£m
|
Total
CSM
£m
|
Opening
reinsurance contract asset (restated) 1
|
68
|
32
|
100
|
|
75
|
32
|
107
|
Opening
reinsurance contract liability (restated) 1
|
203
|
187
|
390
|
|
137
|
88
|
225
|
Net opening
balance
|
271
|
219
|
490
|
|
212
|
120
|
332
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service received
|
(8)
|
(3)
|
(11)
|
|
(20)
|
(7)
|
(27)
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the period
|
-
|
10
|
10
|
|
-
|
37
|
37
|
Change in
estimates that adjust the CSM
|
(30)
|
(39)
|
(69)
|
|
73
|
63
|
136
|
Net (expenses)/income from
reinsurance contracts
|
(38)
|
(32)
|
(70)
|
|
53
|
93
|
146
|
Net
finance income from reinsurance contracts
|
6
|
6
|
12
|
|
6
|
6
|
12
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
(32)
|
(26)
|
(58)
|
|
59
|
99
|
158
|
Closing
reinsurance contract asset
|
74
|
34
|
108
|
|
68
|
32
|
100
|
Closing
reinsurance contract liability
|
165
|
159
|
324
|
|
203
|
187
|
390
|
Net closing
balance
|
239
|
193
|
432
|
|
271
|
219
|
490
|
1 2023 opening
balance is restated on adoption of IFRS 17.
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Contracts under FVA
£m
|
Other
contracts
£m
|
Total
CSM
£m
|
Opening
reinsurance contract asset (restated) 1
|
75
|
32
|
107
|
Opening
reinsurance contract liability (restated) 1
|
137
|
88
|
225
|
Net opening
balance
|
212
|
120
|
332
|
Changes in the statement of
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
Changes that relate to
current service
|
|
|
|
CSM
recognised for service received
|
(10)
|
(1)
|
(11)
|
Changes that relate to
future service
|
|
|
|
Contracts
initially recognised in the period
|
-
|
10
|
10
|
Change in
estimates that adjust the CSM
|
(16)
|
(15)
|
(31)
|
Net expenses from
reinsurance contracts
|
(26)
|
(6)
|
(32)
|
Net
finance income from reinsurance contracts
|
4
|
3
|
7
|
Total changes in the
statement of comprehensive income
|
(22)
|
(3)
|
(25)
|
Closing
reinsurance contract asset
|
71
|
9
|
80
|
Closing
reinsurance contract liability
|
119
|
108
|
227
|
Net closing
balance
|
190
|
117
|
307
|
1 2023 opening
balance is restated on adoption of IFRS 17.
(e) New insurance contracts issued and
reinsurance contracts held
The tables below present the CSM at point of
inception of new contracts sold in the year together with CSM for
the related reinsurance:
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Year
ended
31
December 2023
£m
|
Six
months
ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
Insurance contracts issued
|
|
|
|
Insurance acquisition cash
flows
|
(91)
|
(183)
|
(84)
|
Estimate of present value of
future cash outflows
|
(2,056)
|
(3,580)
|
(1,605)
|
Estimate of present value of
future cash inflows
|
2,476
|
4,305
|
1,919
|
Estimates of net present value of cash
inflows
|
329
|
542
|
230
|
Risk Adjustment
|
(93)
|
(162)
|
(72)
|
Contractual Service Margin
|
236
|
380
|
158
|
Insurance acquisition costs deferred in the
CSM include £54m (HY23: £42m) commission and other costs of
originating insurance contracts, plus £37m (HY23: £42m) of
investment acquisition expenses.
The estimate of present value of future cash
outflows of £2,056m (FY23: £3,580m / HY23: £1,605m) reflects the
increase in business sold in the period, with premiums receivable
increasing from £1,919 in HY23 to £2,476m in HY24.
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2024
£m
|
Year
ended
31
December 2023
£m
|
Six
months
ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
Reinsurance contracts ceded
|
|
|
|
Estimate of present value of future cash
outflows
|
(83)
|
(168)
|
(72)
|
Risk Adjustment
|
73
|
131
|
62
|
Contractual Service Margin
|
(10)
|
(37)
|
(10)
|
(f) Sensitivity analysis
The Group has estimated the impact on profit
before tax for the period in relation to insurance contracts and
related reinsurance from reasonably possible changes in key
assumptions relating to financial assets and to liabilities. The
sensitivities capture the liability impacts arising from the impact
on the yields of the assets backing liabilities in each
sensitivity. The impact of changes in the value of assets and
liabilities has been shown separately to aid the comparison with
the change in value of assets for the relevant sensitivities in
note 9.
The sensitivity factors are applied via
financial models either as at the valuation date or from a suitable
recent reporting period where appropriate to do so. The analysis
has been prepared for a change in each variable with other
assumptions remaining constant. In reality, such an occurrence is
unlikely, due to correlation between the assumptions and other
factors. It should also be noted that these sensitivities are
non-linear, and larger or smaller impacts cannot necessarily be
interpolated or extrapolated from these results. The extent of
non-linearity grows as the severity of any sensitivity is
increased.
For example, in the specific scenario of
property price falls, the impact on IFRS profit before tax from a
5% fall in property prices would be slightly less than half of that
disclosed in the table below. Furthermore, in the specific scenario
of a mortality reduction, a smaller fall in fulfilment cash flows
than disclosed in the table below or a similar increase in
mortality may be expected to result in broadly linear impacts.
However, it becomes less appropriate to extrapolate the expected
impact for more severe scenarios. The sensitivity factors take into
consideration that the Group's assets and liabilities are actively
managed and may vary at the time that any actual market movement
occurs. The sensitivities below cover the changes on all assets and
liabilities from the given stress. Parameters that have had limited
sensitivity both historically and currently are not included, such
as inflation for which the risk is substantially hedged. The impact
of these sensitivities on IFRS net equity is the impact on profit
before tax as set out in the table below less tax at the current
tax rate.
A guide to the sensitivity table
is provided below:
Abbreviation
|
Title
|
Impact
|
FCF
|
Fulfilment cash flows
|
Positive values represent cash inflows or
lower cash outflows resulting in reductions in insurance contract
liabilities or an increase in reinsurance contracts
assets.
Negative values represent cash
outflows or higher cash outflows resulting in increased insurance
contract liabilities or a decrease in reinsurance contracts
assets.
|
CSM
|
Contractual service
margin
|
Positive values represent a
reduction in the CSM
Negative values represent an
increase in the CSM
|
P&L
|
Profit /(loss) before
tax
|
Profit - increase in pre-tax
profit
(Loss) - decrease in pre-tax
profit
Sensitivities can result in an
opposite impact on Profit/(loss) before and after allowance for the
CSM due to the impact of the use of locked-in rates for the
CSM.
|
Impact of sensitivities
30 June 2024
|
|
Insurance contract
liabilities
£m
|
Reinsurance contracts (net)
held
£m
|
Net insurance contract
liabilities
£m
|
Valuation of
assets
£m
|
Net impact on profit and
loss
£m
|
Interest rate and investments + 1%
|
FCF
|
2,060
|
(81)
|
1,978
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
2,060
|
(81)
|
1,978
|
(1,965)
|
14
|
Interest rate and investments -1%
|
FCF
|
(2,477)
|
102
|
(2,375)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
(2,477)
|
102
|
(2,375)
|
2,356
|
(19)
|
Decrease in base mortality by 5%
|
FCF
|
(332)
|
203
|
(129)
|
-
|
-
|
|
CSM
|
477
|
(295)
|
182
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
145
|
(91)
|
53
|
(17)
|
36
|
Immediate fall of 10% in house prices
|
FCF
|
(50)
|
3
|
(47)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
(50)
|
3
|
(47)
|
(66)
|
(113)
|
Future property price growth reduces by
0.5%
|
FCF
|
(40)
|
2
|
(38)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
(40)
|
2
|
(38)
|
(36)
|
(74)
|
Credit default allowance - increase by
10bps1
|
FCF
|
(221)
|
9
|
(212)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
(221)
|
9
|
(212)
|
-
|
(212)
|
31 December 2023
|
|
Insurance contract liabilities
£m
|
Reinsurance contracts (net) held
£m
|
Net
insurance contract liabilities
£m
|
Valuation of assets
£m
|
Net
impact on profit and loss
£m
|
Interest rate and investments + 1%
|
FCF
|
1,970
|
(77)
|
1,893
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
1,970
|
(77)
|
1,893
|
(1,933)
|
(40)
|
Interest rate and investments -1%
|
FCF
|
(2,366)
|
100
|
(2,266)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
(2,366)
|
100
|
(2,266)
|
2,316
|
49
|
Decrease in base mortality by 5%
|
FCF
|
(327)
|
196
|
(131)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
476
|
(293)
|
182
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
148
|
(97)
|
51
|
(14)
|
37
|
Immediate fall of 10% in house prices
|
FCF
|
(46)
|
2
|
(44)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
(46)
|
2
|
(44)
|
(68)
|
(113)
|
Future property price growth reduces by
0.5%
|
FCF
|
(38)
|
2
|
(36)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
(38)
|
2
|
(36)
|
(38)
|
(74)
|
Credit default allowance - increase by
10bps1
|
FCF
|
(213)
|
9
|
(204)
|
-
|
-
|
CSM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
P&L
|
(213)
|
9
|
(204)
|
-
|
(204)
|
1 Over that included in the discount
rate section in note 12(b).
13. LOANS AND
BORROWINGS
|
Carrying
value
|
Fair
Value
|
30
June 2024
£m
|
31 December 2023
£m
|
30
June 2023
£m
|
30
June 2024
£m
|
31 December 2023
£m
|
30
June 2023
£m
|
£250m
9.0% 10-year subordinated debt 2026 (Tier 2) issued by Just
Group plc (£150m principal outstanding)
|
152
|
152
|
176
|
163
|
164
|
187
|
£125m
8.125% 10-year subordinated debt 2029 (Tier 2) issued by Just
Group plc
|
126
|
126
|
125
|
133
|
127
|
128
|
£250m
7.0% 10.5-year subordinated debt 2031 non-callable for first 5.5
years (Green Tier 2) issued by Just Group plc
|
252
|
251
|
252
|
256
|
252
|
245
|
£230m
3.5% 7-year subordinated debt 2025 (Tier 3) issued by Just
Group plc (£155m principal outstanding) 1
|
157
|
157
|
157
|
154
|
151
|
146
|
Total
|
687
|
686
|
710
|
706
|
694
|
706
|
1 The Group's Tier 3 debt is repayable within one
year.
Attestations are made in respect
of the Loans and borrowings annually following publication of the
Annual Report and Accounts. There were no breaches to report in the
attestations made in March 2024 and there are no indications that
the Group may have difficulties complying with the covenants over
the forthcoming 12 months.
The Group has an undrawn Revolving
Credit Facility for general corporate and working capital purposes.
During the period the size of the facility has been increased from
£300m to £400m. Interest is payable on any drawdown
loans at a rate of SONIA plus a margin of between 1.50% and 2.75%
per annum depending on the Group's ratio of net debt to net
assets.
14. PAYABLES AND
OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
|
|
30 June
2024
£m
|
31 December 2023
£m
|
30 June 2023 £m
|
Derivative financial liabilities
|
|
2,379
|
2,487
|
2,713
|
Repurchase obligation
|
|
3,332
|
2,569
|
1,944
|
Obligations for repayment of cash collateral
received
|
|
690
|
532
|
697
|
Other
payables1
|
|
119
|
20
|
198
|
Total
|
|
6,520
|
5,608
|
5,552
|
1 Other
payables has been aggregated with other financial liabilities in
all periods presented.
Derivative financial liabilities are
classified as mandatorily FVTPL. Derivative assets and liabilities
primarily relate to interest rate, cross currency and inflation
swaps.
Repurchase agreements are measured at
amortised cost in the Condensed consolidated interim financial
statements. The fair value of these agreements is £3,332m (31
December 2023: £2,569m / 30 June 2023: £1,915m). Additional
repurchase agreements have been entered into during the period to
fund increases in the amortised cost portfolio of gilts.
Obligations to pay cash collateral are
measured at amortised cost and there is no material difference
between the fair value and amortised cost of the
instruments.
15. FINANCIAL AND
INSURANCE RISK MANAGEMENT
These Condensed consolidated interim financial
statements provide an update on the Group's principal risks at the
half year and the outlook for the future development of those risks
in the risk management section. In addition any significant changes
to the Group's exposure to insurance, market, credit and liquidity
risk is included below.
(a) Insurance risk
The Group's insurance risks include exposure
to longevity, mortality and morbidity and management and
administration expenses. The writing of long-term insurance
contracts requires a range of assumptions to be made and risk
arises from these assumptions being materially
inaccurate.
The Group's main insurance risk arises from
adverse experience compared with the assumptions used in pricing
products and valuing insurance liabilities.
The Group has made a small adjustment to the
base mortality assumptions on JRL GIfL
PrognoSys™ annuities since 31 December 2023
reflecting emerging mortality experience, as those lives with no
medical conditions at underwriting are showing slightly higher
mortality experience than expected and those lives with medical
conditions at underwriting are showing lighter mortality
experience. These adjustments will be reviewed at the year
end as the Group considers the level and shape of excess mortality
associated with major medical conditions.
The Group continues to manage its exposure to
insurance risk through the use of reinsurance; as explained in note
12(a) new business was reinsured at 90% for GIfL and c.90% for DB
over the period, consistent with the prior year.
(b) Market risk
The Group is exposed to market risk associated
with any unmatched exposure arising from the value of investments
backing insurance liabilities, and the consequential impact on the
valuation interest rate used to discount insurance liabilities. In
addition the economic environment has a direct affect on the
propensity of potential customers to purchase retirement income
products. The Group continues to increase its gilt holdings
over H1 2024 as part of new business growth as well as to manage
interest rate exposure on financial metrics.
(i) Interest rate risk
The Group continues to actively hedge its
interest rate exposure to protect balance sheet
positions on both Solvency II and IFRS bases in accordance
with its risk appetite framework and principles.
This has led to the establishment of an amortised cost
portfolio during H1 2023; during H1 2024 an additional £0.8bn was
added to this portfolio, which stands at £3.3bn at 30 June 2024.
Gilt-swap basis risk as a result is being actively
managed.
(ii) Property risk
The Group's direct exposure to property risk
arises from the provision of lifetime mortgages which creates an
exposure to the UK residential property market. The
Group has indirect exposure to commercial property through its
secured lending. A sensitivity analysis of the
impact of residential and commercial property price movements is
included in note 9 and note 12.
(iii) Inflation risk
Exposure to long term inflation occurs in
relation to the Group's own management expenses and its writing of
index-linked Retirement Income contracts. The Group continues to
manage inflation risk through the application of disciplined cost
control over management expenses and matching inflation-linked
assets including inflation swaps, and inflation-linked liabilities
for the long-term inflation risk.
(iv) Currency risk
The Group invests in non-sterling denominated
assets; any foreign exchange exposure is managed through foreign
currency swaps in order to minimise this risk exposure.
(c) Credit risk
Credit risk arises if another party
fails to perform its financial obligations to the Group and is
managed through credit concentration limits and collateral
arrangements. The significant reinsurance collateral arrangements
remain unchanged from those described on note 34(c)(iii) of the
2023 Annual Report and Accounts.
The credit ratings of the Group's
investment portfolio is included in the Additional financial
information. The Group continues to actively monitor its credit
exposures and trades investments where appropriate. During the
period the Group divested itself of £563m of BBB assets and
reinvested those funds in A or better rated assets.
(d) Liquidity risk
The Group is exposed to liquidity risk as part
of its business model and its desire to manage its exposure to
inflation, interest rates and currency risks using
derivatives.
Liquidity risk continues to be managed by
holding assets of a suitable maturity, collateral eligibility and
marketability to meet liabilities as they fall due. The Group's
short-term liquidity requirements to meet annuity payments are
predominantly funded by investment coupon receipts, and bond
principal repayments. Cash flow forecasts over the short, medium and long term are regularly prepared to
predict and monitor liquidity levels in line with limits set on the
minimum amount of liquid assets required. Cash flow forecasts
include an assessment of the impact to a range of scenarios
including 1-in-200 shocks on the Group's long-term liquidity and
the minimum cash and cash equivalent levels required to cover
enhanced stresses.
The Group increased its undrawn Revolving
Credit Facility during the period from £300m to £400m for general
corporate and working capital purposes.
16.
CAPITAL
(a) Group capital
position
The Group's estimated capital surplus position
at 30 June 2024 was as follows:
|
30 June
20241
£m
|
31
December 20232 £m
|
Eligible own funds
|
3,040
|
3,104
|
Capital requirement
|
(1,552)3
|
(1,577)3
|
Excess own funds
|
1,4883
|
1,5273
|
Solvency II Capital coverage ratio
|
196%3
|
197%3
|
1
Solvency II capital coverage ratios as at 30 June 2024 includes a
notional recalculation of TMTP and 31 December 2023 includes a
formal recalculation of TMTP.
2
This is the reported regulatory position as included in the Group's
Solvency and Financial Condition Report as at 31 December
2023.
3
Not covered by PwC's independent review report.
Further information on the Group's Solvency II
position, including a reconciliation between the regulatory capital
position to the reported capital surplus, is included in the
Business review. This information is estimated and therefore
subject to change.
The Group and its regulated insurance
subsidiaries are required to comply with the requirements
established by the Solvency II Framework directive as adopted by
the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") in the UK, and to
measure and monitor its capital resources on this basis. The
overriding objective of the Solvency II capital framework is to
ensure there is sufficient capital within the Group and its
insurance companies to protect policyholders and meet their
payments when due. Firms are required to maintain eligible capital,
or "Own Funds", in excess of the value of their Solvency Capital
Requirements ("SCR"). The SCR represents the risk capital required
to be set aside to absorb 1-in-200 year stress tests over the next
one-year time horizon, allowing for each risk type that the Group
is exposed to, including longevity risk, property risk, credit risk
and interest rate risk. These risks are all aggregated with
appropriate allowance for diversification benefits.
In the periods reported above, the capital
requirement for Just Group plc is calculated using a partial
internal model. JRL uses a full internal model and PLACL capital is
calculated using the standard formula. See section c) for
information on the internal model application for PLACL.
The Group and its regulated subsidiaries
complied with their regulatory capital requirements throughout the
first half of the year.
(b) Capital
management
The Group's objectives when managing capital
for all subsidiaries are:
· to comply with
the insurance capital requirements required by the regulators of
the insurance markets where the Group operates. The Group's policy
is to manage its capital in line with its risk appetite and in
accordance with regulatory expectations;
· to safeguard the
Group's ability to continue as a going concern, and to continue to
write new business;
· to ensure that
in all reasonably foreseeable circumstances, the Group is able to
fulfil its commitment over the short term and long term to pay
policyholders' benefits;
· to continue to
provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other
stakeholders;
· to provide an
adequate return to shareholders by pricing insurance contracts
commensurately with the level of risk; and
· to
generate capital from in-force business, excluding economic
variances, management actions, and dividends, that is greater than
new business strain.
The Group regularly assesses a wide-range of
actions to improve the capital position and resilience of the
business.
In managing its capital, the Group undertakes
stress and scenario testing to consider the Group's capacity to
respond to a series of relevant financial, insurance, or
operational shocks or to changes to financial regulations should
future circumstances or events differ from current assumptions. The
review also considers mitigating actions available to the Group
should a severe stress scenario occur, such as raising capital,
varying the volumes of new business written and a scenario where
the Group does not write new business.
(c) Regulatory
developments
The Group applied to the PRA to use an
internal model to calculate the capital requirement for PLACL in
early 2024. This application was approved in July 2024 and the
Group plans to use the internal model for calculating PLACL's
capital requirement from 30 September 2024.
The key regulatory developments are included
below.
On 9 November 2023, the previous government
published a consultation seeking views on capping the maximum
ground rent that residential leaseholders can be required to pay.
Although the previous government did not implement any reform of
residential ground rent, the new government may still consider
reforming the ground rent charges. The Group is closely monitoring
the new government's agenda, which remains uncertain following the
recent King's Speech, and the impact of this on the Group's £163m
(FY23 £176m) portfolio of residential ground rents. An adjustment
was made at year end 2023 and no changes have been made to that
adjustment over half year 2024 to reflect the ongoing
uncertainty.
The PRA published PS10/24, the final policy
statement setting out reforms on the matching adjustment, on 6 June
2024. The updated policy comes into effect from 30 June 2024 with
the initial matching adjustment attestation due in 2025. The Group
is assessing new matching adjustment eligible investment
opportunities resulting from the reform and is preparing for
implementation ahead of the 31 December 2024 Matching Adjustment
attestation, removal of the sub-investment grade cliff and the
reflection of rating notches in the fundamental spread. We
are assessing the financial impact ahead of
implementation.
17. RELATED
PARTIES
The nature of the related party transactions
of the Group has not changed from those described in the Group's
Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December
2023.
There were no transactions with related
parties during the six months ended 30 June 2024 which have had a
material effect on the results or financial position of the
Group.
18. POST BALANCE
SHEET EVENTS
Subsequent to 30 June 2024, the Directors
approved an interim dividend for 2024 of 0.7 pence per ordinary
share amounting to £7m in total, which will be paid on 4 October
2024.
Additional financial
information
The following additional financial information
is not covered by PwC's independent review report.
FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS CREDIT
RATINGS
The sector analysis of the Group's financial
investments portfolio by credit rating is shown below:
Unaudited
|
Total
£m
|
%
|
AAA
£m
|
AA
£m
|
A
£m
|
BBB
£m
|
BB
or
below
£m
|
Unrated
£m
|
Basic materials
|
117
|
0.5
|
-
|
5
|
28
|
80
|
4
|
-
|
Communications and technology
|
1,199
|
4.8
|
118
|
226
|
242
|
611
|
2
|
-
|
Auto manufacturers
|
102
|
0.4
|
-
|
-
|
95
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
Consumer staples (including
healthcare)
|
1,266
|
5.1
|
126
|
206
|
549
|
363
|
22
|
-
|
Consumer cyclical
|
183
|
0.7
|
-
|
4
|
51
|
128
|
-
|
-
|
Energy
|
335
|
1.3
|
-
|
67
|
5
|
194
|
69
|
-
|
Banks
|
1,389
|
5.6
|
61
|
100
|
813
|
415
|
-
|
-
|
Insurance
|
729
|
2.9
|
-
|
204
|
97
|
428
|
-
|
-
|
Financial - other
|
683
|
2.8
|
92
|
126
|
359
|
106
|
-
|
-
|
Real estate including REITs
|
596
|
2.4
|
30
|
18
|
249
|
262
|
37
|
-
|
Government
|
2,532
|
10.2
|
303
|
1,760
|
222
|
247
|
-
|
-
|
Industrial
|
460
|
1.9
|
-
|
88
|
47
|
313
|
12
|
-
|
Utilities
|
2,470
|
9.9
|
-
|
64
|
767
|
1,627
|
12
|
-
|
Commercial mortgages
|
800
|
3.2
|
106
|
247
|
243
|
204
|
-
|
-
|
Long income real
estate1estate
|
1,053
|
4.2
|
163
|
3
|
339
|
548
|
-
|
-
|
Infrastructure
|
2,971
|
12.0
|
58
|
265
|
1,046
|
1,589
|
13
|
-
|
Other
|
42
|
0.2
|
-
|
-
|
42
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Corporate/government bond
total
|
16,927
|
68.1
|
1,057
|
3,383
|
5,194
|
7,122
|
171
|
-
|
Other assets
|
927
|
3.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lifetime mortgages
|
5,554
|
22.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidity funds
|
1,471
|
5.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments
portfolio
|
24,879
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivatives and collateral
|
2,964
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gilts (interest rate
hedging)
|
3,344
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
31,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 Includes residential ground
rents of £163m (FY23: £164m) rated AAA and nil (FY23: £12m) rated
AA.
NEW BUSINESS PROFIT
RECONCILIATION
New business profit is deferred on the balance
sheet under IFRS 17. In addition IFRS 17 introduces clarification
regarding the economic assumptions to be used at the point of
recognition of contracts for accounts purposes. Just recognises
contracts based on their completion dates for IFRS 17, but bases
its assessment of new business profitability for management
purposes based on the economic parameters prevailing at the quote
date of the business.
|
Six months
ended
30 June
2024
£m
|
Six
months ended
30 June
2023
£m
|
New business CSM on gross business
written
|
236
|
158
|
Reinsurance CSM
|
(10)
|
(10)
|
Net new business CSM
|
226
|
148
|
Impact of using quote date for
profitability measurement
|
(4)
|
13
|
New business profit
|
222
|
161
|
Glossary
Acquisition costs - comprise
the direct costs (such as commissions and new business processing
team costs) of obtaining new business, together with associated
indirect costs.
Adjusted operating profit before tax
- an APM, this is the sum of underlying operating
profit and operating experience and assumption changes. The net
underlying CSM increase is added back as the Board considers the
value of new business is significant in assessing business
performance. As such Adjusted operating profit excludes the
deferral of profit in CSM as defined below. Adjusted operating
profit before tax is reconciled to IFRS profit before tax in the
Business Review.
Adjusted profit/(loss) before tax - an APM, this is the profit/(loss) before tax before deferral
of profit in CSM and represents adjusted operating profit before
tax plus the impact from non-operating items (investment and
economic movement, strategic expenditure, and any adjustments to
IFRS for transactions reported directly in equity).
Alternative performance measure ("APM")
- in addition to statutory IFRS performance
measures, the Group has presented a number of non-statutory
alternative performance measures. The Board believes that the APMs
used give a more representative view of the underlying performance
of the Group. APMs are identified in this glossary together with a
reference to where the APM has been reconciled to its nearest
statutory equivalent. APMs which are also KPIs are indicated as
such.
Buy-in - an exercise enabling a
pension scheme to obtain an insurance contract that pays a
guaranteed stream of income sufficient to cover the liabilities of
a group of the scheme's members.
Buy-out - an exercise that
wholly transfers the liability for paying member benefits from the
pension scheme to an insurer which then becomes responsible for
paying the members directly.
Care Plan ("CP") - a specialist
insurance contract contributing to the costs of long-term care by
paying a guaranteed income to a registered care provider for the
remainder of a person's life.
Cash Generation - a Solvency II
APM and represents underlying organic capital generation before the
impact of new business strain.
Confidence interval - the
degree of confidence that the provision for future cash flows plus
the risk adjustment reserve will be adequate to meet the cost of
future payments to annuitants.
Contractual Service Margin ("CSM") - represents deferred profit earned on insurance products. CSM
is recognised in profit or loss over the life of the
contracts.
CSM amortisation - represents
the net release from the CSM reserve into profit as services are
provided. The figures are net of accretion (unwind of discount),
and the release is computed based on the closing CSM reserve
balance for the period.
Deferral of profit in CSM - the
total movement on CSM reserve in the year. The figure represents
CSM recognised on new business, accretion of CSM (unwind of
discount), transfers to CSM related to changes to future cash flows
at locked-in economic assumptions, less CSM release in respect of
services provided.
Defined benefit deferred ("DB deferred")
business - the part of DB de-risking
transactions that relates to deferred members of a pension scheme.
These members have accrued benefits in the pension scheme but have
not yet retired.
Defined benefit de-risking partnering ("DB
partnering") - a DB de-risking
transaction in which a reinsurer has provided reinsurance in
respect of the asset and liability side risks associated with one
of our DB Buy-in transactions.
Defined benefit ("DB") pension scheme
- a pension scheme, usually backed or sponsored by
an employer, that pays members a guaranteed level of retirement
income based on length of membership and earnings.
Defined contribution ("DC") pension scheme
- a work-based or personal pension scheme in which
contributions are invested to build up a fund that can be used by
the individual member to obtain retirement benefits.
De-risk - an action carried out
by the trustees of a pension scheme with the aim of transferring
risks such as longevity, investment, inflation, from the sponsoring
employer and scheme to a third party such as an insurer.
Development expenditure -
relates to development of existing products, markets, technology,
and transformational projects.
Drawdown (sales or products) -
collective term for investment products including Capped
Drawdown.
Employee benefits consultant ("EBC")
- an adviser offering specialist knowledge to
employers on the legal, regulatory and practical issues of
rewarding staff, including non-wage compensation such as pensions,
health and life insurance and profit sharing.
Finance costs - Finance costs
included within underlying operating profit include coupons paid on
the Group's restricted Tier 1 notes, interest payable on the
Group's Tier 2 and Tier 3 notes, facility non-utilisation fees and
debt repurchase costs when incurred, and amortisation of debt issue
and facility arrangement costs capitalised. Finance costs included
in underlying organic capital generation include coupons paid on
the Group's restricted Tier 1 notes, interest paid on the Group's
Tier 2 and Tier 3 notes, and all facility costs when incurred. Debt
issue and repurchase costs are excluded from underlying organic
capital generation and included within capital actions when
incurred.
Guaranteed Income for Life ("GIfL") - retirement income products which transfer investment and
longevity risk and provide the retiree with a guarantee to pay an
agreed level of income for as long as the retiree lives. On a
"joint-life" basis, the policy will continue to pay a guaranteed
income to a surviving spouse/partner. Just provides modern
individually underwritten GIfL solutions.
IFRS profit before tax - one of
the Group's KPIs, representing the profit before tax attributable
to equity holders.
In-force operating profit - an
APM and represents profits from the in-force portfolio before
investment and insurance experience variances, and assumption
changes. It mainly represents release of risk adjustment for
non-financial risk and of allowance for credit default in the
period, investment returns earned on shareholder assets, together
with the value of the (net) CSM amortisation.
Investment and economic movements - reflect the difference in the period between expected
investment returns, based on investment and economic assumptions at
the start of the period, and the actual returns earned. Investment
and economic profits also reflect the impact of assumption changes
in future expected risk-free rates, corporate bond defaults and
house price inflation and volatility.
Key performance indicators ("KPIs") - KPIs are metrics adopted by the Board which are considered
to give an understanding of the Group's underlying performance
drivers. The Group's KPIs are Retirement income sales, New business
profit, Underlying operating profit, IFRS profit before tax, Return
on equity, Tangible net asset value per share, New business strain,
Underlying organic capital generation and Solvency II capital
coverage ratio.
Lifetime mortgage ("LTM") - an
equity release product that allows homeowners to take out a loan
secured on the value of their home, typically with the loan plus
interest repaid when the homeowner has passed away or moved into
long-term care.
LTM notes - structured assets
issued by a wholly owned special purpose entity, Just Re1 Ltd. Just
Re1 Ltd holds two pools of lifetime mortgages, each of which
provides the collateral for issuance of senior and mezzanine notes
to Just Retirement Ltd, eligible for inclusion in its matching
portfolio.
Medical underwriting - the
process of evaluating an individual's current health, medical
history and lifestyle factors, such as smoking, when pricing an
insurance contract.
Net asset value ("NAV") - an
APM that represents IFRS total equity, net of tax, and excluding
equity attributable to Tier 1 noteholders.
New business margin - an APM
that is calculated by dividing new business profit by Retirement
income sales (shareholder funded). It provides a measure of the
profitability of shareholder funded Retirement income
sales.
New business profit - an APM
and one of the Group's KPIs, representing the profit generated from
new business written in the year after allowing for the
establishment of reserves and for future expected cash flows and
risk adjustment and allowance for acquisition expenses and other
incremental costs on a marginal basis. The net underlying CSM
increase from new business is added back as the Board considers the
value of new business is significant in assessing business
performance. New business profit is reconciled to adjusted profit
before tax, which is reconciled to IFRS profit before tax in the
Business Review.
New business strain - an APM
and one of the Group's KPIs, representing the capital strain on new
business written in the year after allowing for acquisition expense
allowances and the establishment of Solvency II technical
provisions and Solvency Capital Requirement.
No-negative equity guarantee ("NNEG") hedge
- a derivative instrument designed to mitigate the
impact of changes in property growth rates on both the regulatory
and IFRS balance sheets arising from the guarantees on lifetime
mortgages provided by the Group which restrict the repayment
amounts to the net sales proceeds of the property on which the loan
is secured.
Operating experience and assumption changes
- represents changes to cash flows in the current
and future periods valued based on end-of-period economic
assumptions. This is reported prior to the deferral of profit in
CSM from changes to future cash flows.
Organic capital generation - an
APM that is calculated in the same way as underlying organic
capital generation, plus the impact of management actions and other
items.
Other Group companies' operating results
- the results of Group companies including our HUB
group of companies, which provides regulated advice and
intermediary services, and professional services to corporates, and
corporate costs incurred by Group holding companies.
Pension Freedoms/Pension Freedom and Choice/Pension
Reforms - the UK government's
pension reforms, implemented in April 2015.
Peppercorn rent - a very low or
nominal rent.
PrognoSys™ - the Group's
proprietary underwriting engine, which is based on individual
mortality curves derived from Just Group's own data collected since
its launch in 2004.
Regulated financial advice -
personalised financial advice for retail customers by qualified
advisers who are regulated by the Financial Conduct
Authority.
REITs - a Real Estate
Investment Trust is a company that owns, operates, or finances
income-generating real estate.
Retail - the Group's collective
term for GIfL and Care Plan.
Retirement income sales (shareholder funded)
- an APM and one of the Group's KPIs and a
collective term for GIfL, DB and Care Plan new business sales
"Sales" and excludes DB partner premium. Premiums are reported
gross of commission paid. Retirement income sales (shareholder
funded) are reconciled in note 2 to premiums included in the
analysis of movement in insurance liabilities within note
12.
Return on equity - an APM and
one of the Group's KPIs. Return on equity is calculated by dividing
underlying operating profit after attributed tax for the period by
the average tangible net asset value for the period and is
expressed as an annualised percentage. Underlying operating profit
and tangible net asset value are reconciled respectively to IFRS
profit before tax and IFRS total equity in the Business
Review.
Risk adjustment for non-financial risk ("RA")
- allowance for longevity, expense, and insurance
specific operational risks representing the compensation required
by the business when managing existing and pricing new
business.
Secure Lifetime Income ("SLI") - a tax efficient solution for individuals who want the
security of knowing they will receive a guaranteed income for life
and the flexibility to make changes in the early years of the
plan.
Solvency II - a Bank of England
reporting requirement that codifies and harmonises the UK insurance
regulation. Primarily this concerns the amount of capital that UK
insurance companies must hold to reduce the risk of
insolvency.
Solvency II capital coverage ratio - one of the Group's KPIs. Solvency II capital is the
regulatory capital measure and is focused on by the Board in
capital planning and business planning alongside the economic
capital measure. It expresses the regulatory view of the available
capital as a percentage of the required capital.
Strategic expenditure - Costs
incurred for major strategic investment, new products and business
lines, and major regulatory projects.
Tangible net asset value ("TNAV") - an APM that comprises IFRS total equity attributable to
ordinary shareholders, excluding goodwill and other intangible
assets, and after adding back contractual service margin, net of
tax.
Tangible net asset value per share - an APM and one of the Group's KPIs, representing tangible
net asset value divided by the closing number of issued ordinary
shares excluding shares held in trust.
Trustees - individuals with the
legal powers to hold, control and administer the property of a
trust such as a pension scheme for the purposes specified in the
trust deed. Pension scheme trustees are obliged to act in the best
interests of the scheme's members.
Underlying earnings per share -
an APM that is calculated by dividing underlying operating profit
after attributed tax by the weighted average number of shares in
issue by the Group for the period.
Underlying operating profit -
an APM and one of the Group's KPIs representing new business
profit, in-force operating profit, other Group companies' operating
results, development expenditure and finance costs. Underlying
operating profit is reported prior to the deferral of profit in CSM
as the Board considers the value of new business is significant in
assessing business performance. The Board believes the combination
of both future profit generated from new business written in the
year and additional profit from the in-force book of business,
provides a better view of the development of the business.
Underlying operating profit is reconciled to adjusted operating
profit before tax, which is reconciled to IFRS profit before tax in
the Business Review.
Underlying organic capital generation
- an APM and one of the Group's KPIs. Underlying
organic capital generation is the net movement in Solvency II
excess own funds over the year, generated from in-force surplus,
net of new business strain, cost overruns and other expenses and
debt interest. It excludes strategic expenditure, economic
variances, regulatory adjustments, capital raising or repayment and
impact of management actions and other operating items. The Board
believes that this measure provides good insight into the ongoing
capital sustainability of the business. Underlying organic capital
generation is reconciled to Solvency II excess own funds, which is
reconciled to shareholders' net equity on an IFRS basis in the
Business Review.