2016 Annual Results: SCOR records net income of EUR 603 million, increases its dividend to EUR 1.65 and envisages share buy-backs

Press Release
22 February 2017 - N° 06

2016 Annual Results

SCOR records net income of EUR 603 million, increases
its dividend to EUR 1.65 and envisages share buy-backs

In 2016, SCOR delivers a strong set of results and continues to successfully combine profitability and solvency, delivering a strong start to its "Vision in Action" strategic plan.

- Gross written premiums reach EUR 13,826 million in 2016, up 5.3% at constant exchange rates compared to 2015 (+3.0% at current exchange rates), with:
o a strong contribution from SCOR Global Life, with gross written premiums reaching EUR 8,187 million over the period (+8.3% at constant exchange rates and +6.4% at current exchange rates);
o an increase in SCOR Global P&C gross written premiums, which stand at
EUR 5,639 million at the end of 2016, up 1.2% at constant exchange rates
(-1.5% at current exchange rates).

- SCOR Global P&C records strong technical profitability in 2016, with a net combined ratio of 93.1%.

- SCOR Global Life records a robust technical margin of 7.0% in 2016, reflecting the change in business mix in accordance with "Vision in Action".

- SCOR Global Investments achieves a robust return on invested assets of 2.9% in 2016, while being on track regarding the execution of its "Vision in Action" asset management policy.

- The Group cost ratio remains stable compared to 2015 at 5.0% of premiums.

- Group net income reaches EUR 603 million in 2016. The annualized return on equity (ROE) stands at 9.5%in 2016, or 883 basis points above the risk-free rate[1], after taking into account the impact of the French corporate tax rate decrease on deferred taxes. Excluding this impact, the 2016 net income would be EUR 660 million and the ROE would be 10.4%. The ROE for the second half of 2016 stands at 10.6%, and at 12.5% excluding the impact on deferred taxes.

- The business model delivers a very strong operating cash flow of EUR 1,354 million as at
31 December 2016, compared to EUR 795 million at 31 December 2015. As well as the generation of strong recurring cash flows in 2016, this is due to one exceptional item: SCOR Global P&C received a non-recurring fund withheld payment of approximately EUR 300 million. Excluding this exceptional item, the operating cash flow stands at EUR 1 billion in 2016.

- Shareholders` equity stands at EUR 6,695 million at 31 December 2016, compared to
EUR 6,363 million at 31 December 2015 after the payment in May 2016 of EUR 278 million of cash dividends for the year 2015. This translates into a record book value per share of
EUR 35.94[2] at 31 December 2016, compared to EUR 34.03 at 31 December 2015.