Swiss Life’s corporate clients profit from a stable result and freedom of choice in occupational provisions

Swiss Life achieved a slight rise in key periodic premiums in group insurance in the past year (+0.3% to CHF 3 325 million; prior year: CHF 3 316 million). Overall premium income decreased to CHF 7 629 million (2016: CHF 8 176 million) as underwriting policy remained selective. Although the number of contracts increased (+0.4% to 43 326), administrative costs were held steady at approximately CHF 202 million thanks to rigorous efficiency-enhancing measures. By achieving a payout ratio of 94.3%, Swiss Life was once again able to meet the legal requirements (prior year: 93.8%) The allocation to the bonus reserve rose by CHF 6 million in 2017 to CHF 137 million (2016: CHF 131 million). Hans-Jakob Stahel, Head of Corporate Clients at Swiss Life, comments: «This will enable our insured persons to continue profiting from attractive bonuses.» Additional technical reserves came to CHF 320 million. Swiss Life posted a solid investment return of 1.95% in 2017 due above all to a targeted and security-oriented investment policy.

Swiss Life continuing to provide full insurance

Swiss Life's strategy of offering customers a comprehensive spectrum of occupational provisions solutions, and thus meeting their individual requirements, continued to pay off in 2017. Swiss Life is thus adhering to its full-range provider strategy, which includes the provision of full insurance. Hans-Jakob Stahel: «As the market leader and a Swiss company, Swiss Life remains committed to providing Swiss SMEs comprehensive guarantees in the second pillar. Our customers must continue to have a choice between different occupational pension models.» The semi-autonomous solutions also enjoyed rising popularity in 2017: In this segment, Swiss Life boosted its share of new business to 36% (prior year: 26%). By the end of 2017, Swiss Life had a total of 2 833 affiliations - a 61% increase over the previous year (31.12.2016: 1 765 affiliations).

Continued expansion of product portfolio for corporate clients

Swiss Life will continue to drive forward its innovative products and services for corporate clients. In 2017, Swiss Life took a stake in, and entered into a strategic partnership with, bexio - Switzerland's leading provider of Web-based business software for small enterprises. SMEs will in future benefit from the seamless integration of their pension solutions from Swiss Life to the payroll accounting of bexio. This offering can be supplemented on a modular basis with accident insurance or short-term disability benefit. «Never before has the administration of personal insurance been as easy as with our offering. It relieves SMEs of the enormous administrative effort needed for managing future provisions and personal insurance», says Hans-Jakob Stahel. In addition, Swiss Life is an anchor shareholder of SOBRADO, the leading digital transaction platform for brokers and insurers in Switzerland.

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