Aviva plc capital markets day

Aviva plc (“Aviva”) today is hosting a capital markets day for analysts and investors (agenda and online joining instructions included below).

Capital markets day - presentation slides (5Mb)

Mark Wilson, Group Chief Executive Officer, will set out the three central elements of Aviva’s business strategy which can be summarised as:

1. True customer composite. Aviva is a composite offering its customers life, general and health insurance and asset management, and is the only composite of scale in the UK.  Historically, the financial benefits of being a composite were clear: diversification benefits of risk and capital.  The customer benefits were less evident. But as the world becomes more digital and less intermediated it will become easier to sell direct to customers and to package products. Being a true customer composite will enable Aviva to have a strong competitive advantage going forward.
2. Digital first. Digital is how Aviva will capitalise on being a true customer composite. It is how customers increasingly want to do business with Aviva.  In the future, Aviva’s focus will be to think digital first, and that means digital across all distribution channels; direct, IFA, broker, affinity and bancassurance for both consumers and business customers.  Digital, and the advantages that come with automation, will be central to how Aviva operates.
3. Not everywhere. Aviva has reduced its footprint from 28 markets in 2011 to 17 today and improved its return on capital.  Aviva will focus on a small number of markets where it has scale and profitability or a distinct competitive advantage. Aviva will actively reallocate capital to businesses where it can achieve the best returns.

Aviva will also set out today new targets to support the strategy and the investment thesis of cashflow and growth.  Aviva will:

• double holding company annual excess cashflow¹ to £800 million by the end of 2016 (FY13: £0.4 billion)
• reduce the operating expense ratio to below 50% by the end of 2016 (FY13: 54%)

In addition, Aviva reiterated its deleveraging targets:

• to reduce the intercompany loan balance to £2.2 billion by the end of 2015
• to reduce the gross external leverage ratio to below 40% of tangible capital over the medium term

Mark Wilson, Group Chief Executive Officer, said:

“We have made some progress at Aviva and it is time to move to the next phase of the turnaround.  With a clear strategy and targets in place, the size of the opportunity for Aviva is compelling.  We acknowledge the challenges ahead, but we now have an exceptional leadership team to enable us to deliver.”

-Ends-

¹Holding company cashflow is defined as remittances from business units, less central and debt financing costs

Enquiries

Analysts and investors:

Colin Simpson                         +44 (0)20 7662 8115
David Elliot                              +44 (0)20 7662 8048

Media:

Nigel Prideaux                         +44 (0)20 7662 0215
Andrew Reid                           +44 (0)20 7662 3131

The agenda for the meeting is:

• Mark Wilson, Group Chief Executive Officer, will set out the business strategy and how it supports the investment thesis of cashflow and growth;
• Tom Stoddard, Chief Financial Officer, will outline how Aviva will further improve efficiency and increase cash flows;
• There will be updates from the leaders of Aviva’s main businesses: Euan Munro on Aviva Investors; David Barral on UK Life; Maurice Tulloch on general insurance; David McMillan on Europe; Khor Hock Seng on Asia.
• In addition there will be presentations from Monique Shivanandan on digital; Christine Deputy on people and Nick Amin on productivity and systems thinking.

Notes to editors:

• The presentation slides are available on Aviva.com.
• The analyst presentation will commence at 8.15am and will be webcast live at http://www.avivawebcast.com/capitalmarketsday/.
• Aviva provides 31 million customers with insurance, savings and investment products.
• We are one of the UK’s leading insurers and one of Europe’s leading providers of life and general insurance.
• We combine strong life insurance, general insurance and asset management businesses under one powerful brand.
• We are committed to serving our customers well in order to build a stronger, sustainable business, which makes a positive contribution to society, and for which our people are proud to work.
• The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media/ includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.
• For an interactive introduction to what we do and how we do it, please click here http://www.aviva.com/library/reports/this-is-aviva/
• For broadcast-standard video, please visit http://www.aviva.com/media/video/
• Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/avivaplc/