- Internal revenue growth of 7.5 percent in 1Q 2019

- 1Q 2019 operating profit increases 7.5 percent to 3.0 billion euros

- 1Q 2019 net income attributable to shareholders reaches 2.0 billion euros

- Solvency II capitalization ratio at a comfortable level of 218 percent

- 1Q 2019 results put Allianz Group on track to meet its 2019 full-year targets

- Operating profit outlook for 2019 confirmed at 11.5 billion euros, plus or minus 500 million euros

Management Summary: Good start into 2019

Allianz Group continued its successful course from 2018 with a strong first quarter 2019. The results demonstrate the resilience of our business segments and continued progress in executing our Renewal Agenda. Internal revenue growth, which adjusts for currency and consolidation effects, was 7.5 percent. Total revenues grew 9.1 percent to 40.3 (2018: 36.9) billion euros. Operating profit increased by 7.5 percent to 3.0 (2.8) billion euros, mostly due to our Property-Casualty business segment as a result of strong premium growth, lower claims from natural catastrophes and an improved expense ratio. Our Life/Health business segment operating profit grew slightly as higher loadings and fees and favorable true-ups more than offset a lower investment margin. Higher expenses due to investments in business growth led to a small decline in the Asset Management business segment's operating profit.

Net income attributable to shareholders grew 1.6 percent to 2.0 (1.9) billion euros. Higher operating profit was largely offset by lower non-operating investment income and, to a lesser extent, higher taxes.

Basic Earnings per Share (EPS) increased 4.5 percent to 4.65 (4.46) euros. Annualized Return on Equity (RoE) amounted to 13.7 percent (full year 2018: 13.2 percent). The Solvency II capitalization ratio stood at a comfortable level of 218 percent at the end of the first quarter 2019, compared to 229 percent at year-end 2018, driven primarily by the effects of the current share buy-back program (minus 4 percentage points) and following previously announced regulatory and model changes (minus 4 percentage points).

On February 14, 2019, Allianz announced a new share buy-back program of up to 1.5 billion euros. 2.8 million shares have been acquired by March 31, 2019, representing 0.7 percent of outstanding capital.

"Allianz achieved strong results in the first quarter putting the group on track to meet its 2019 full-year targets," said Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE. "Our customers continue to seek quality and service, both of which we are consistently focusing on. Despite economic and political volatility, we are very well positioned to further develop our franchise."

Property-Casualty insurance: Continued strong revenue growth and productivity improvements

- Total revenues increased by 6.3 percent to 19.5 billion euros in the first quarter of 2019. Adjusted for foreign currency translation and consolidation effects, internal growth totaled 4.6 percent, with volume and price effects contributing 2.8 percent and 1.8 percent respectively. Internal growth was observed in many countries with main drivers being AGCS, Germany, and Allianz Partners.

- Operating profit increased by 14.2 percent to 1.455 billion euros compared to the first quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily due to a higher underwriting result driven by strong premium growth in combination with fewer losses from natural catastrophes and improvements in our expense ratio. The operating investment result also had a positive impact.

- The combined ratio improved by 1.1 percentage points to 93.7 percent.

"I am pleased by the healthy revenue growth of the Property-Casualty business segment in the quarter, which reflects the good positioning of our global franchise," said Giulio Terzariol, Chief Financial Officer of Allianz SE. "The strong combined ratio is well supported by our ongoing efforts to improve productivity."

Life/Health insurance: Value of new business up 25 percent

- PVNBP^[1], the present value of new business premiums, increased to 17.6 (15.0) billion euros in the first quarter of 2019, mainly driven by higher sales in the German and U.S. life insurance business. Together with a higher new-business margin (NBM) of 3.5 (3.3) percent, the value of new business (VNB) increased by 25 percent to 609 (489) million euros.

- Operating profit grew slightly to 1.096 (1.069) billion euros as higher loadings and fees and favorable true-ups more than offset a lower investment margin.

"Growth in our Life and Health business was excellent and with continued strong new business margins," said Giulio Terzariol. "Increasing value of new business and operating profit show that we are on track to meet our full-year targets."

Asset Management: 18 billion euros of third-party net inflows

- Third-party assets under management (AuM) increased by 112 billion euros to 1,548 billion euros in the first quarter of 2019, compared to December 31, 2018 and reached an all-time high. The drivers were positive market effects of 60.9 billion euros and solid net inflows of 17.8 billion euros. Favorable foreign currency translation effects and completion of Gurtin Municipal Bond Management acquisition further contributed to the increase. Total assets under management rose to 2,101 billion euros, also reaching an all-time high.

- The cost-income ratio (CIR) went up by 1.8 percentage points to 63.7 percent driven by investments in business growth which led to a decline of the operating profit by 3.7 percent to 573 (595) million euros in the first quarter of 2019.

"Our Asset Management business segment has shown good resilience also underpinned by our positive net inflow development," said Giulio Terzariol. "I am pleased that total assets under management reached the highest level ever at the end of the quarter since this bodes well for a strong revenue development."

^[1] PVNBP is shown after non-controlling interests, unless otherwise stated.
 

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