EXHIBIT 99.1
中國人壽保險股份有限公司
CHINA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED
(A joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 2628)
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 DECEMBER 2022
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
2022 was an important year for China to embark on a new journey towards its second centennial goals and fully building a modern socialist country. Centering on serving the overall interests of national development and the real economy, and sticking to the original role of insurance, the Company upheld the guideline of making progress while maintaining stability, and firmly held on to the bottom line of risk prevention. As a result, we made steady progress towards high-quality development and advanced reforms in great depth, striding steadily towards building a world-class life insurance company.
Looking back to 2022, this was a truly remarkable year of great importance. The external environment was complex and challenging, and the task of transforming the life insurance industry for development was quite hard and arduous. Being a leading company in the life insurance industry, China Life steadfastly pushed forward its development in finance with Chinese characteristics, gave full play to its function as a “shock absorber” for economic operation and a “stabilizer” for social development, calmly tackled unforeseen complications and challenges, and continued to forge ahead. As a result, the Company achieved a steady performance with sound momentum, and further enhanced its comprehensive strengths with its market leading position remaining solidified. The Company was widely recognised for its operational achievements. It was awarded Grade A in the evaluation of operations of insurance companies by the Insurance Association of China for seven consecutive years, ranked 71st and 9th by Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune China 500, respectively, and received more than 40 honors, such as “Listed Company with the Best Investment Value and High-quality Development” from the 12th China Securities “Golden Bauhinia” Awards, etc. The Board has proposed to distribute a final dividend of RMB4.90 per 10 shares (inclusive of tax), and such proposal will be submitted to the 2022 Annual General Meeting for review and discussion.
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We strengthened our capability in providing insurance services for the people and made new contributions to the progress of overall national development. It is always our belief that insurance is created for the people and will thrive on satisfying the needs of the people. Accordingly, we made consistent efforts to strengthen the functions of insurance in terms of economic compensation, financing, wealth management and social management, in order to protect and enhance people’s wellbeing. We were deeply engaged in building a multi-tiered social security system, strengthening the “accessibility” and “affordability” of inclusive insurance, and expanding the coverage of our insurance services for new urban residents. We launched one of the first third-pillar private pension insurance products in the industry, and our exclusive commercial pension insurance business has been steadily carried out. We fully supported the overall improvement of economic performance, and continued to enhance our ability to serve the real economy, with related investments accumulatively exceeding RMB3.6 trillion, and investments in serving the regional development strategy exceeding RMB2.3 trillion. We also aimed to facilitate common prosperity and contribute to green development. The insurance business and investment scale related to rural revitalization achieved rapid growth. As we accelerated the construction of an ESG and green financial governance system, MSCI ESG rating of the Company was upgraded to BBB, and we were listed in the top echelon of the domestic life insurance industry.
We upheld the guideline of business development as the first priority and demonstrated our resilience and strengths anew. By firmly pursuing high-quality development, we proactively coped with multiple challenges, such as the profound adjustments of the life insurance industry, and strode ahead with great ambition. With business development as the first priority and focusing on business value creation, we secured the leading position in the industry in respect of premium scale and business value. Our overall business operations achieved steady progress with good momentum, with premiums from new policies increasing by 5.1% year on year, and gross written premiums, value of one year’s sales and embedded value maintaining the leading position in the industry. We strengthened coordination and interaction between assets and liabilities, and realised a gross investment yield of 3.94% amid significant volatilities in the equity market. Our solvency ratios remained at relatively high levels, which enabled us to become more resilient against various risks.
We consistently developed the internal growth drivers and took new steps in deepening reforms. We adapted to the requirements of a new era for development, vigorously promoted reforms and innovation, continuously developed new driving forces and new advantages, and accelerated the upgrade of business models. The construction of the sales system was further deepened, the enabling role of technologies became increasingly intensified, the market-oriented incentive and restraint mechanisms were gradually optimized, and our capabilities in service supply and delivery were effectively enhanced. On the basis of these aforesaid reforms, we further initiated deepening and substantive reforms in many aspects to achieve more systemic, holistic and synergistic effects, and launched the “Eight Reform Programs” with the focus on key business areas and aspects. Through innovations and breakthroughs in mechanism optimization, marketing reform, resource integration, management upgrades and ecological driving forces, we are making proactive deployment in the newly emerging business sectors, implementing fundamental restructuring and tackling key problems, and accelerating changes in quality, efficiency and driving forces, so as to continuously create future-oriented core competitiveness and accelerate the pace towards the turning point for high-quality development.
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We rationally coordinated business development and risk control, and achieved new improvements in risk management. We took the implementation of C-ROSS (Phase II) Regulation as an opportunity to consistently advance the construction of an enterprise-wide risk management system, strengthen asset-liability management and enhance risk management in key business areas, and ensured that no systemic financial risks arose. We persistently promoted the construction of a modern risk management system and improved the timeliness, effectiveness and intelligence of risk prevention and control. We insisted on the application of systematic concepts, optimized the top-level design of enterprise-wide risk management, improved the ability of whole-process management, and facilitated better integration of risk restraint and business operation management. In the integrated risk rating for insurance industry conducted by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (the “CBIRC”), we have maintained the rating of Class A for 19 consecutive quarters.
At present, China’s economy has shown a steady recovery, but the foundation for recovery is not solid yet, and the triple pressures of shrinking demands, supply disruption and weakened growth expectations remain high. The life insurance industry is still subject to profound adjustments due to its weak traditional driving forces. In the long run, since China has the most complete industrial system and the largest potential of the domestic market in the world, China’s economy is resilient, promising and dynamic, and its long-term positive fundamentals remain unchanged. With growing effects from various policies aimed to promote the overall economic recovery, the in-depth implementation of a proactive national strategy in response to population aging and the Healthy China strategy, and the convergence and enhancement of new driving forces such as digital technology, ecological platforms and sales force transformation, etc., new customers, new businesses and new channels of the life insurance industry are taking shape rapidly, which will promote further expansion and upgrading of financial and insurance consumption and contribute to opening up new horizons for the industry.
The new journey is a long expedition full of glories and dreams, and there is no shortcut but hard work to achieve our goal. 2023 is the opening year for fully implementing the guidelines of the 20th CPC National Congress, the critical year for further promoting the “14th Five-Year Plan”, and also the 20th anniversary for China Life’s shareholding reform and public listing. We will actively integrate ourselves into the historical process of Chinese-style modernization, act around the modern financial system and the multi-tiered social security system, and continue to deepen our understanding on the laws of promoting high-quality development. We will firmly maintain our strategic consistency, fully advance supply-side structural reforms, and strive to enhance abilities such as business deployment, asset allocation, digital transformation, resource integration and risk management and control, thus laying a solid foundation for high-quality development, creating greater value for our shareholders and sharing the achievements of business development with the society.
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY
I. | Major Financial Data and Indicators for the Past Five Years1 |
RMB million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major Financial Data | 2022 | 2021 | Change | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
For the year ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 804,388 | 824,933 | -2.5 | % | 805,049 | 729,503 | 627,486 | |||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | 607,825 | 611,251 | -0.6 | % | 604,666 | 560,278 | 532,023 | |||||||||||||||||
Benefits, claims and expenses | 780,825 | 784,921 | -0.5 | % | 758,275 | 677,756 | 621,329 | |||||||||||||||||
Insurance benefits and claims expenses | 631,978 | 618,754 | 2.1 | % | 580,801 | 509,467 | 479,219 | |||||||||||||||||
Profit before income tax | 24,047 | 50,340 | -52.2 | % | 54,440 | 59,758 | 13,901 | |||||||||||||||||
Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company | 32,082 | 50,766 | -36.8 | % | 50,221 | 58,251 | 11,376 | |||||||||||||||||
Net profit attributable to ordinary share holders of the Company | 32,082 | 50,766 | -36.8 | % | 50,020 | 57,857 | 10,992 | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities | 351,968 | 286,446 | 22.9 | % | 303,990 | 286,008 | 147,521 | |||||||||||||||||
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As at 31 December | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 5,251,988 | 4,892,480 | 7.3 | % | 4,253,544 | 3,727,686 | 3,255,165 | |||||||||||||||||
Investment assets2 | 5,064,991 | 4,716,420 | 7.4 | % | 4,095,541 | 3,573,257 | 3,104,326 | |||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 4,806,867 | 4,405,346 | 9.1 | % | 3,795,975 | 3,317,658 | 2,931,153 | |||||||||||||||||
Total equity holders’ equity | 436,169 | 479,061 | -9.0 | % | 450,688 | 404,448 | 319,091 | |||||||||||||||||
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Per share (RMB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings per share (basic and diluted)3 | 1.14 | 1.80 | -36.8 | % | 1.77 | 2.05 | 0.39 | |||||||||||||||||
Equity holders’ equity per share3 | 15.43 | 16.95 | -9.0 | % | 15.95 | 14.31 | 11.29 | |||||||||||||||||
Ordinary share holders’ equity per share3 | 15.43 | 16.95 | -9.0 | % | 15.95 | 14.03 | 11.01 | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities per share3 | 12.45 | 10.13 | 22.9 | % | 10.76 | 10.12 | 5.22 | |||||||||||||||||
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Major financial ratios | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average ROE (%) | 7.01 | 10.92 | | decrease of 3.91 percentage points | | 11.81 | 16.46 | 3.64 | ||||||||||||||||
Gearing ratio4 (%) | 91.52 | 90.04 | | increase of 1.48 percentage points | | 89.24 | 89.00 | 90.05 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross investment yield5 (%) | 3.94 | 4.98 | | decrease of 1.04 percentage points | | 5.30 | 5.24 | 3.29 |
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Notes:
1. | The financial data of previous years for this report have been restated due to a business combination under common control in the year 2022. |
2. | Investment assets = Cash and cash equivalents + Securities at fair value through profit or loss + Available-for-sale securities + Held-to-maturity securities + Term deposits + Derivative financial assets + Securities purchased under agreements to resell + Loans + Statutory deposits-restricted + Investment properties + Investments in associates and joint ventures |
3. | In calculating the percentage change of the “Earnings per share (basic and diluted)”, “Equity holders’ equity per share”, “Ordinary share holders’ equity per share” and “Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities per share”, the tail differences of the basic figures have been taken into account. |
4. | Gearing ratio = Total liabilities/Total assets |
5. | Gross investment yield = (Gross investment income – Interest paid for securities sold under agreements to repurchase)/ ((Investment assets at the end of the previous year – Securities sold under agreements to repurchase at the end of the previous year – Derivative financial liabilities at the end of the previous year + Investment assets at the end of the period – Securities sold under agreements to repurchase at the end of the period – Derivative financial liabilities at the end of the period)/2) |
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II. | Major Items of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Reasons for Change |
RMB million | ||||||||||||||
Major Items of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position | As at 31 December 2022 | As at 31 December 2021 | Change | Main Reasons for Change | ||||||||||
Term deposits | 485,567 | 529,488 | -8.3 | % | The maturity of term deposits | |||||||||
Held-to-maturity securities | 1,574,204 | 1,533,753 | 2.6 | % | – | |||||||||
Available-for-sale securities | 1,738,108 | 1,429,287 | 21.6 | % | An increase in the allocation of equity assets in available-for-sale securities | |||||||||
Securities at fair value through profit or loss | 223,790 | 206,771 | 8.2 | % | An increase in the allocation of debt-type assets in securities at fair value through profit or loss | |||||||||
Securities purchased under agreements to resell | 38,533 | 12,915 | 198.4 | % | The needs for liquidity management | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 127,594 | 60,459 | 111.0 | % | The needs for liquidity management | |||||||||
Investments in associates and joint ventures | 261,179 | 257,953 | 1.3 | % | New investments in associates and joint ventures | |||||||||
Deferred tax assets | 22,307 | 121 | 18,335.5 | % | An increase in deductible temporary differences and deductible tax losses | |||||||||
Insurance contracts | 3,880,160 | 3,419,899 | 13.5 | % | The accumulation of insurance liabilities from new policies and renewals | |||||||||
Investment contracts | 374,749 | 313,594 | 19.5 | % | An increase in the scale of universal insurance accounts | |||||||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 148,958 | 239,446 | -37.8 | % | The needs for liquidity management | |||||||||
Interest-bearing loans and other borrowingsNote | 12,774 | 19,222 | -33.5 | % | The repayment of certain loans | |||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | 272 | 7,481 | -96.4 | % | The change in fair value of financial assets | |||||||||
Equity holders’ equity | 436,169 | 479,061 | -9.0 | % | Due to the combined impact of total comprehensive income and profit distribution during the Reporting Period |
Note: | Interest-bearing loans and other borrowings include a three-year bank loan of EUR330 million with a maturity date on 8 September 2023, a five-year bank loan of GBP275 million with a maturity date on 25 June 2024, all of which are fixed rate bank loans. Interest-bearing loans and other borrowings also include a five-year bank loan of USD970 million with a maturity date on 27 September 2024, an eighteen-month bank loan of EUR100 million with a maturity date on 8 September 2023, and a fifteen-year bank loan of RMB519 million with a maturity date on 15 June 2034, all of which are floating rate loans. |
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For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||||||||
Major Items of the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income | 2022 | 2021 | Change | Main Reasons for Change | ||||||||||
Net premiums earned | 607,825 | 611,251 | -0.6 | % | — | |||||||||
Life insurance business | 484,504 | 480,214 | 0.9 | % | — | |||||||||
Health insurance business | 108,791 | 114,549 | -5.0 | % | — | |||||||||
Accident insurance business | 14,530 | 16,488 | -11.9 | % | Due to the adjustment of business structure | |||||||||
Investment income | 186,629 | 178,387 | 4.6 | % | An increase in interest income from debt-type investments | |||||||||
Net realised gains on financial assets | 12,707 | 20,344 | -37.5 | % | A decrease in spread income of funds in available-for-sale securities | |||||||||
Net fair value gains through profit or loss | (12,156 | ) | 4,943 | N/A | Due to the market value fluctuation of securities at fair value through profit or loss and investment operations | |||||||||
Net gains on investments of associates and joint ventures | 484 | 10,328 | -95.3 | % | A decrease in the net profits of associates and joint ventures, and the recognition of impairment loss | |||||||||
Other income | 9,383 | 10,008 | -6.2 | % | A decrease in the management fee of pension products of subsidiaries | |||||||||
Insurance benefits and claims expenses | 631,978 | 618,754 | 2.1 | % | An increase in the change of insurance contract liabilities | |||||||||
Investment contract benefits | 13,340 | 10,628 | 25.5 | % | An increase in the scale of universal insurance accounts | |||||||||
Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits | 20,685 | 26,511 | -22.0 | % | A decrease in investment yield from the participating accounts | |||||||||
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs | 54,777 | 65,744 | -16.7 | % | A decrease in the size of sales force and the adjustment of business structure | |||||||||
Finance costs | 4,863 | 5,598 | -13.1 | % | A decrease in interest paid for securities sold under agreements to repurchase | |||||||||
Administrative expenses | 39,874 | 40,867 | -2.4 | % | — | |||||||||
Income tax | (9,467 | ) | (1,917 | ) | 393.8 | % | Due to the combined effect of changes in profit before income tax and non-taxable income | |||||||
Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company | 32,082 | 50,766 | -36.8 | % | Due to a significant decline of equity market and a decrease in investment yield |
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MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
I. | Review of Business Operations in 2022 |
In 2022, with increased complexity, severity and uncertainty of the domestic environment for economic development, the life insurance industry was still undergoing profound adjustment and transformation, and the growth of premium income of the industry slowed down further. By adhering to the guideline of seeking progress while maintaining stability, and sticking to the original function of insurance, the Company constantly deepened supply-side reforms and firmly pursued high-quality development. As a result, its overall business operations achieved a steady performance with sound momentum, and its business scale and value continued to lead the industry.
Key Performance Indicators of 2022
RMB million | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Gross written premiums | 615,190 | 618,327 | ||||||
Premiums from new policies | 184,767 | 175,864 | ||||||
Including: First-year regular premiums | 96,426 | 98,410 | ||||||
First-year regular premiums with a payment duration of ten years or longer | 41,821 | 41,682 | ||||||
Renewal premiums | 430,423 | 442,463 | ||||||
Gross investment income | 187,751 | 214,057 | ||||||
Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company | 32,082 | 50,766 | ||||||
Value of one year’s sales | 36,004 | 44,780 | ||||||
Including: Individual agent business sector | 33,333 | 42,945 | ||||||
Policy Persistency Rate (14 months)1 (%) | 83.00 | 80.50 | ||||||
Policy Persistency Rate (26 months)1 (%) | 74.20 | 81.10 | ||||||
Surrender Rate2 (%) | 0.95 | 1.20 |
As at | As at | |||||||
31 December | 31 December | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Embedded value | 1,230,519 | 1,203,008 | ||||||
Number of long-term in-force policies (hundred million) | 3.25 | 3.23 |
Notes:
1. | The Persistency Rate for long-term individual life insurance policy is an important operating performance indicator for life insurance companies. It measures the ratio of in-force policies in a pool of policies after a certain period of time. It refers to the proportion of policies that are still effective during the designated month in the pool of policies whose issue date was 14 or 26 months ago. |
2. | Surrender Rate = Surrender payment/(Liability of long-term insurance contracts at the beginning of the period + Premiums of long-term insurance contracts) |
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(I) | Pursuing high-quality development, comprehensive strengths were consolidated further |
Pursuing high-quality development and securing its development fundamentals, the Company further consolidated its comprehensive strengths in 2022. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company’s total assets and investment assets both exceeded RMB5 trillion, of which total assets reached RMB5.25 trillion, and investment assets reached RMB5.06 trillion. During the Reporting Period, the Company continued to strengthen its asset-liability interaction, with its gross investment income reaching RMB187,751 million, and net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB32,082 million. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the comprehensive solvency ratio and core solvency ratio continued to maintain at relatively high levels, which were 206.78% and 143.59% respectively. The number of in-force policies of long-term insurance held by the Company was 325 million.
(II) | Prioritizing business value, key performance indicators remained stable |
During the Reporting Period, the Company’s gross written premiums amounted to RMB615,190 million, retaining the industry leadership position. Premiums from new policies reached RMB184,767 million, a year-on-year increase of 5.1%. Its first-year regular premiums were RMB96,426 million, decreasing by 2.0% year on year, but the business structure was optimized to some extent with the first-year regular premiums with a payment duration of ten years or longer reaching RMB41,821 million, and registering a year-on-year increase of 0.3%. The business value of the Company continued to lead the industry as its value of one year’s sales was RMB36,004 million, and its embedded value reached RMB1,230,519 million, a year-on-year increase of 2.3% from the end of 2021. The surrender rate was 0.95%, decreasing by 0.25 percentage point year on year.
(III) | Promoting reforms and innovation with great efforts, transformation effects gradually emerged |
The Company consistently deepened reforms and innovation and focused on transformation and upgrading in key business areas, so as to inject new driving forces for high-quality development in a constant manner. It proceeded further with the construction of the sales system, and accelerated the optimization of its agent recruitment and development. The structure and quality of its sales force were gradually improved and the productivity per agent increased significantly. Product innovation and supply capacities were constantly enhanced. The Company was among the first batch of companies launching the third-pillar private pension insurance products, and consistently expanded provision of insurance products and services for new business forms and new urban residents. The innovation of business operations and services as well as the centralized business operation were continuously deepened. It realised nationwide promotion of sharing for operations in policy administration and underwriting, which significantly improved the service experience. Digital transformation reached a new level. It took the lead in data management capability in the industry and was the first company awarded the highest level certification for the sophistication of data management capability in the industry.
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At the end of 2022, the Company launched the “Eight Reform Programs” which aims to drive its future development and focuses on innovation and breakthroughs in the aspects of Party building as the guide, mechanism optimization, sales system reforms, resources integration, management innovation and ecological driving forces, etc. With the “Party Building Foundation Program” as the guiding principle, the “Talent Development Program” as the support, the “Sales Channel Strengthening Program”, the “Integrated Sales Synergy Program”, the “Client Resources Management Program”, the “People-centered Government-corporate Collaboration Program” and the “Healthcare and Aged-care Ecosystem Program” as the mainstay, and taking the “FinTech and Digitalization Program” as the solid foundation, the Company will deeply implement the fundamental restructuring and tackle key problems, proactively target new customers, new business models and new capabilities, to comprehensively upgrade its driving forces, and accelerate changes in quality, efficiency and growth drivers.
II. | Business Analysis |
(I) | Figures of Gross Written Premiums |
1. | Gross written premiums categorized by business |
For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||
Life Insurance Business | 485,642 | 481,311 | 0.9 | % | ||||||||
First-year business | 105,291 | 86,882 | 21.2 | % | ||||||||
First-year regular | 91,273 | 84,820 | 7.6 | % | ||||||||
Single | 14,018 | 2,062 | 579.8 | % | ||||||||
Renewal business | 380,351 | 394,429 | -3.6 | % | ||||||||
Health Insurance Business | 115,329 | 120,609 | -4.4 | % | ||||||||
First-year business | 65,777 | 73,120 | -10.0 | % | ||||||||
First-year regular | 5,149 | 13,579 | -62.1 | % | ||||||||
Single | 60,628 | 59,541 | 1.8 | % | ||||||||
Renewal business | 49,552 | 47,489 | 4.3 | % | ||||||||
Accident Insurance Business | 14,219 | 16,407 | -13.3 | % | ||||||||
First-year business | 13,699 | 15,862 | -13.6 | % | ||||||||
First-year regular | 4 | 11 | -63.6 | % | ||||||||
Single | 13,695 | 15,851 | -13.6 | % | ||||||||
Renewal business | 520 | 545 | -4.6 | % | ||||||||
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Total | 615,190 | 618,327 | -0.5 | % | ||||||||
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Note: Single premiums in the above table include premiums from short-term insurance business.
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During the Reporting Period, gross written premiums from the life insurance business of the Company amounted to RMB485,642 million, a year-on-year increase of 0.9%, gross written premiums from the health insurance business were RMB115,329 million, a year-on-year decrease of 4.4%, and gross written premiums from accident insurance business were RMB14,219 million, a year-on-year decrease of 13.3%.
2. | Gross written premiums categorized by channel |
For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Individual Agent Business Sector1 | 492,439 | 509,489 | ||||||
First-year business of long-term insurance | 81,732 | 82,514 | ||||||
First-year regular | 81,508 | 82,254 | ||||||
Single | 224 | 260 | ||||||
Renewal business | 392,849 | 407,973 | ||||||
Short-term insurance business | 17,858 | 19,002 | ||||||
Bancassurance Channel | 63,415 | 49,326 | ||||||
First-year business of long-term insurance | 26,821 | 16,123 | ||||||
First-year regular | 14,879 | 16,110 | ||||||
Single | 11,942 | 13 | ||||||
Renewal business | 36,200 | 32,792 | ||||||
Short-term insurance business | 394 | 411 | ||||||
Group Insurance Channel | 27,333 | 29,162 | ||||||
First-year business of long-term insurance | 1,929 | 1,846 | ||||||
First-year regular | 37 | 44 | ||||||
Single | 1,892 | 1,802 | ||||||
Renewal business | 1,345 | 1,622 | ||||||
Short-term insurance business | 24,059 | 25,694 | ||||||
Other Channels2 | 32,003 | 30,350 | ||||||
First-year business of long-term insurance | 21 | 28 | ||||||
First-year regular | 2 | 2 | ||||||
Single | 19 | 26 | ||||||
Renewal business | 29 | 76 | ||||||
Short-term insurance business | 31,953 | 30,246 | ||||||
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Total | 615,190 | 618,327 | ||||||
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Notes:
1. | Premiums of individual agent business sector include premiums of the general sales team and the upsales team. |
2. | Premiums of other channels mainly include premiums of government-sponsored health insurance business and online sales, etc. |
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(II) | Insurance Business |
1. | Analysis of insurance business |
In 2022, the life insurance industry was still undergoing profound transformation, and its overall development was under pressure. The Company insisted on pursuing high-quality development, and achieved steady progress in its insurance businesses with its industry leading advantages consolidated further. It firmly proceeded with the construction of the sales system, comprehensively upgraded its fundamental agent force management rule, and the size of its sales force was gradually stabilized with optimized structure and enhanced quality. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the number of its total sales force was approximately 729,000.
Individual Agent Business Sector
The individual agent business sector strived to make progress while maintaining stability, consistently deepened business channel restructuring and achieved stable progress of business development. During the Reporting Period, gross written premiums from the sector were RMB492,439 million, a decrease of 3.3% year on year. In particular, renewal premiums were RMB392,849 million, a decrease of 3.7% year on year. First-year regular premiums were RMB81,508 million, generally stable compared with the previous year. First-year regular premiums with a payment duration of ten years or longer were RMB41,796 million, an increase of 0.5% year on year, and its proportion in the first-year regular premiums was 51.28%, an increase of 0.73 percentage point year on year. In 2022, the value of one year’s sales of the sector was RMB33,333 million, a decrease of 22.4% year on year, and new business margin by annual premium equivalent was 33.0%, a decrease of 9.2 percentage points year on year.
The Company continued to drive insurance business through productive agents, upheld the sales force strategy of “stabilizing headcount while seeking for higher productivity” and steadily improved the quality of its sales force with improved productivity. In 2022, the monthly average first-year regular premiums per agent increased by 51.7% year on year. During the Reporting Period, the Company implemented a series of major reform projects to lead the transformation and upgrading of the individual agent business sector. The “Zhongxin Project” was rolled out, specifically for establishing a specialized and professional agent team at a faster speed. The fundamental agent force management rules were comprehensively upgraded to focus on newly recruited agents, agent managers and high-performance agents. The quality management of business operation and services were also consolidated, which effectively stimulated vitality of sales team and further solidify the team’s foundation. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the number of agents of the sector was 668,000, including 430,000 agents from the general sales team and 238,000 agents from the upsales team, and the proportion of high-performance agents remained stable.
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Diversified Business Sector
With high-quality development as the guidance, the diversified business sector concentrated on specialized business operation, and insisted on transformation and upgrading as well as enhancing quality and efficiency. The sector coordinated well with the individual agent business sector, actively developed the bancassurance, group insurance and health insurance businesses, and achieved quality business development.
Bancassurance Channel The bancassurance channel continuously deepened its cooperation with banks, and the scale of its premiums and business value increased rapidly. During the Reporting Period, gross written premiums from the channel amounted to RMB63,415 million, an increase of 28.6% year on year. First-year regular premiums were RMB14,879 million, a decrease of 7.6% year on year. The business structure continued to be optimized. First-year regular premiums with a payment duration of five years or longer were RMB6,451 million, with its proportion in the first-year regular premiums rising by 1.50 percentage points year on year to 43.36%. Renewal premiums amounted to RMB36,200 million (a year-on-year increase of 10.4%), accounting for 57.08% of gross written premiums from the channel. The bancassurance channel constantly enhanced the professional and technological capabilities of its account manager team, the quality of which was improved steadily. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the number of account managers of the bancassurance channel reached 21,000, and the quarterly average active managers remained stable with the productivity per account manager increasing by 9.1% year on year.
Group Insurance Channel The group insurance channel coordinated business scale and profitability and pushed forward stable development in all business lines. During the Reporting Period, gross written premiums from the channel were RMB27,333 million, a decrease of 6.3% year on year. In particular, short-term insurance premiums from the channel were RMB24,059 million, a decrease of 6.4% year on year. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the number of direct sales representatives was approximately 40,000, among which the proportion of high-performance personnel rose by 7 percentage points from the end of 2021.
Other Channels In 2022, gross written premiums from other channels were RMB32,003 million, an increase of 5.4% year on year. The Company proactively participated in a variety of government-sponsored health insurance businesses and supported the construction of a multi-tiered medical insurance system. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company carried out over 200 supplementary major medical expenses insurance programs, covering nearly 350 million people. It also undertook approximately 60 policy-oriented long-term care insurance programs, providing services to more than 27 million people. Meanwhile, it implemented over 100 city-customized commercial medical insurance projects, covering more than 22 million people. The Company actively participated in social governance related to medical insurance and continued to undertake over 500 health care entrusted programs, covering more than 100 million people.
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Online Insurance Business
The Company greatly developed the online insurance business and provided customers with a quality service experience through integrated online-to-offline sales and online direct sales. In 2022, the Company’s digital sales capability was further strengthened, and its online insurance business grew rapidly. Total premiums1 under the regulatory caliber were RMB62,896 million, an increase of 88.3% year on year. The Company consistently optimized its online insurance business operation system featuring centralized operation and unified management, and gave full play to the advantages of fast access, wide coverage and high efficiency of the Internet, to actively promote the development of its online insurance business. It released its first long-term online life insurance product, established its proprietary online platform, the “Guo Xi Bao China Life Insurance Mall”, and realised the launch of the China Life Ant Insurance Operation Platform.
Integrated Financial Business
The Company fully leveraged the advantages of the integrated operation of China Life Insurance (Group) Company (“CLIC”) and actively engaged in the construction of a “Life Insurance Plus” integrated financial ecosystem, with a view to empowering the Company’s high-quality development. In 2022, premiums of China Life Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited (“CLP&C”) cross-sold by the Company were RMB22,383 million, with the number of insurance policies increasing by 9.0% year on year. Through the cross-sale of property insurance products, the Company diversified its client contacts and facilitated its sales team to meet sales targets, maintain its size and secure a higher commission income. Additional first-year receipts of enterprise annuity funds and pension products of China Life Pension Company Limited (“Pension Company”) cross-sold by the Company through collaboration were RMB15,729 million. The Company entrusted China Guangfa Bank Co., Ltd. (“CGB”) to sell its bancassurance products, with the first-year regular premiums recording a generally stable growth. The Company also actively explored the synergy between insurance and investment business, deepened the cooperation with fellow members, such as China Life Asset Management Company Limited (“AMC”), and conducted close collaboration in investment project promotion and joint customer exploration, etc., creating a new business-investment interactive model. Meanwhile, in order to satisfy the diverse needs of its customers, the Company has set up an integrated business platform widely covering its customer groups, and carried out various collaborative operation activities by co-working with CLP&C, Pension Company and CGB, so as to provide customers with a one-stop, all-round and quality financial and insurance services.
1 | Including premiums from online insurance business acquired by different sales channels of the Company. |
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Inclusive Healthcare and Integrated Aged-Care Business
Being customer-centric, the Company continued to implement the Healthy China strategy and the national strategy of proactively responding to population aging by further promoting the deployment of the healthcare and aged-care business, and helped to amplify a multi-tier social security system. In 2022, the Company established a high-quality and efficient health management and service system with coordination between the Company’s headquarter and its local branches. As at the end of the Reporting Period, more than a hundred types of services were available on the China Life Inclusive Healthcare Service Platform, and the accumulated registered users of the platform increased by over 21% from the end of 2021, ranking among the top of the industry. The Company implemented the national strategy of proactively responding to population aging, fully leveraged the advantage of the long-term nature of insurance funds and strengthened investments and professional operations in the aged-care sector by relying on the professional investment platform within China Life group, so as to develop an aged-care service system and improve its capability of service supply. In 2022, the Company accelerated the consolidation of health resources within China Life group by setting up the China Life Integrated Aged Care Fund and continued to proceed with aged-care projects of residential aged-care services and community-based aged-care services, etc., in strategic regions such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. To accelerate its industrial layout in the healthcare and aged-care sector, the Company has launched the “Healthcare and Aged-care Ecosystem Program” and will spare no effort in building a healthcare and aged-care ecosystem with China Life characteristics, with diverse scenarios and service supplies, advanced management and controllable risks, so as to create a new growth driver for development and promote high-quality development of its insurance businesses.
2. | Analysis of insurance products |
Actively implementing national strategies and adhering to the customer-centric product development concept, the Company carried out in-depth market research and constantly strengthened its product-development and response capabilities. In 2022, the Company newly developed and upgraded a total of 88 products covering a full spectrum of life insurance, annuity, health insurance and accident insurance, and continued to create a product system with a variety of product forms, prominent protection features and strong brand influences.
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The Company actively served the Healthy China strategy by vigorously promoting innovative development of health insurance products with respect to diseases, medical health and care and introduced health insurance products such as “Zun Xiang Fu” and “Ai Yi Kang Yue” to constantly enrich the health insurance product system. In terms of serving the national strategy of proactively responding to population aging, the Company launched age-friendly insurance products such as accidental injury and disease insurances tailored to the elderly. At the same time, the third-pillar private pension insurance business was launched successfully, and “China Life Xin Xiang Bao Exclusive Commercial Pension Insurance” was selected into the first batch of third-pillar private pension insurance products in the industry. In respect of boosting the rural revitalization strategy, the Company continued to improve its exclusive series of products for rural revitalization and provided broader insurance protection for relevant groups of people. It launched exclusive accident protection products for new business forms and new urban residents. The Company also steadily promoted its exclusive online insurance products and launched new insurance products such as “Shou Hu Xing” to better meet the insurance needs of young customers.
(1) | Top five insurance products in terms of gross written premiums |
For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||||||||
Insurance product | Gross written premiums | Standard premiums from new policiesNote | Major sales channel | Surrender Payment | ||||||||||
China Life Xin Xiang Zhi Zun Annuity Insurance (celebration version) | 39,846 | 28 | Mainly through the channel of exclusive individual agents | 559 | ||||||||||
China Life Xin Yao Dong Fang Annuity Insurance | 37,404 | 43 | Mainly through the channel of exclusive individual agents | 883 | ||||||||||
China Life Xin Yu Jin Sheng Endowment Insurance | 36,812 | 11,062 | Mainly through the channel of exclusive individual agents | 122 | ||||||||||
China Life Critical Illness Group Health Insurance for Rural and Urban Citizens (type A) | 26,111 | 26,111 | Through other channels | — | ||||||||||
China Life Xin Fu Lin Men Annuity Insurance | 25,578 | 7,415 | Mainly through the channel of exclusive individual agents | 698 |
Note: | Standard premiums are calculated in accordance with the calculation methods set forth in the “Notice on Establishing the Industry Standard of Standard Premiums in the Life Insurance Industry” (Bao Jian Fa [2004] No. 102) and the “Supplementary Notice of the ‘Notice on Establishing the Industry Standard of Standard Premiums in the Life Insurance Industry’” (Bao Jian Fa [2005] No. 25) of the former China Insurance Regulatory Commission. |
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(2) | Top three insurance products in terms of net increase in investment contracts |
For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||||
Insurance product | Net increase in investment contracts | Major sales channel | Surrender Payment | |||||||
China Life Xin Account Endowment Insurance (universal insurance)(exclusive version) | 15,569 | Mainly through the channel of exclusive individual agents | 88 | |||||||
China Life Xin Zun Bao Whole Life Insurance (universal insurance) (type A) | 15,001 | Mainly through the channel of exclusive individual agents | 83 | |||||||
China Life Xin Account Endowment Insurance (universal insurance) (diamond version) | 13,843 | Mainly through the channel of exclusive individual agents | 292 |
3. | Insurance contracts |
RMB million | ||||||||||||
As at 31 December 2022 | As at 31 December 2021 | Change | ||||||||||
Life insurance | 3,605,769 | 3,180,931 | 13.4 | % | ||||||||
Health insurance | 265,369 | 228,899 | 15.9 | % | ||||||||
Accident insurance | 9,022 | 10,069 | -10.4 | % | ||||||||
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Total of insurance contracts | 3,880,160 | 3,419,899 | 13.5 | % | ||||||||
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Including: Residual marginNote | 819,706 | 835,400 | -1.9 | % |
Note: | The residual margin is a component of insurance contract reserve, which results in no Day 1 gain at the initial recognition of an insurance contract. The residual margin is set to zero if it is negative. |
As at the end of the Reporting Period, the reserves of insurance contracts of the Company were RMB3,880,160 million, 13.5% up from RMB3,419,899 million of 2021, primarily due to the accumulation of insurance liabilities from new policies and renewals. As at the date of the statement of financial position, the reserves of various insurance contracts of the Company passed the liability adequacy test.
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4. | Analysis of claims and policyholder benefits |
For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||
Insurance benefits and claims expenses | 631,978 | 618,754 | 2.1 | % | ||||||||
Life insurance business | 537,331 | 527,863 | 1.8 | % | ||||||||
Health insurance business | 89,196 | 83,688 | 6.6 | % | ||||||||
Accident insurance business | 5,451 | 7,203 | -24.3 | % | ||||||||
Investment contract benefits | 13,340 | 10,628 | 25.5 | % | ||||||||
Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits | 20,685 | 26,511 | -22.0 | % |
During the Reporting Period, insurance benefits and claims expenses rose by 2.1% year on year due to an increase in the change of insurance contract liabilities. In particular, insurance benefits and claims expenses of life insurance business rose by 1.8% year on year, insurance benefits and claims expenses of health insurance business rose by 6.6% year on year, and insurance benefits and claims expenses of accident insurance business declined by 24.3% year on year. Investment contract benefits rose by 25.5% year on year due to an increase in the scale of the universal insurance accounts. Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits declined by 22.0% year on year due to a decrease in investment yield from the participating accounts.
5. | Analysis of underwriting and policy acquisition costs and other expenses |
For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs | 54,777 | 65,744 | -16.7 | % | ||||||||
Finance costs | 4,863 | 5,598 | -13.1 | % | ||||||||
Administrative expenses | 39,874 | 40,867 | -2.4 | % | ||||||||
Other expenses | 13,994 | 15,566 | -10.1 | % | ||||||||
Statutory insurance fund contribution | 1,314 | 1,253 | 4.9 | % |
During the Reporting Period, underwriting and policy acquisition costs declined by 16.7% year on year due to a decrease in the size of the sales force and the adjustment of business structure. Finance costs declined by 13.1% year on year due to a decrease in interest paid for securities sold under agreements to repurchase. Administrative expenses declined by 2.4% year on year.
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(III) | Investment Business |
In 2022, the complex and severe domestic and international environment continuously contributed to the turbulence of the capital market, domestic bond yields were at historical lows and the A-share market once experienced deep pullback. With the gradual introduction of policies for stable growth and an improved international environment, the risk-free interest rate rose at the end of the year 2022, and the A-share market rebounded marginally. Amid the ups and downs of the market, the Company adhered to its strategic consistency, firmly served the major national strategies and supported the real economy, consistently implemented its medium- to long-term strategic plan of asset allocation and adopted multiple measures concurrently to stabilize investment income. On the basis of dynamic market research and evaluation, it made steady allocation to the fixed-income products with a view to stabilizing coupon income and the asset durations; actively seized the opportunities for allocation in long-term assets during the equity market corrections, adjusted equity asset allocations towards neutral weight; and also strengthened the innovation in alternative investment product models, and positioned for high-quality alternative assets through equity plans, asset-backed plans, equity funds and other forms to ensure a stabilized allocation scale and expand the source of excess returns.
1. | Investment portfolios |
As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company’s investment assets categorized by investment object are set out as below:
RMB million | ||||||||||||||||
As at 31 December 2022 | As at 31 December 2021 | |||||||||||||||
Investment category | Amount | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | ||||||||||||
Fixed-maturity financial assets | 3,733,566 | 73.71 | % | 3,672,262 | 77.86 | % | ||||||||||
Term deposits | 485,567 | 9.59 | % | 529,488 | 11.23 | % | ||||||||||
Bonds | 2,458,440 | 48.54 | % | 2,273,425 | 48.20 | % | ||||||||||
Debt-type financial products1 | 455,026 | 8.98 | % | 443,784 | 9.41 | % | ||||||||||
Other fixed-maturity investments2 | 334,533 | 6.60 | % | 425,565 | 9.02 | % | ||||||||||
Equity financial assets | 890,926 | 17.59 | % | 699,457 | 14.83 | % | ||||||||||
Common stocks | 432,700 | 8.54 | % | 302,090 | 6.41 | % | ||||||||||
Funds3 | 145,341 | 2.87 | % | 112,689 | 2.39 | % | ||||||||||
Other equity investments4 | 312,885 | 6.18 | % | 284,678 | 6.03 | % | ||||||||||
Investment properties | 13,193 | 0.26 | % | 13,374 | 0.28 | % | ||||||||||
Cash and others5 | 166,127 | 3.28 | % | 73,374 | 1.56 | % | ||||||||||
Investments in associates and joint ventures | 261,179 | 5.16 | % | 257,953 | 5.47 | % | ||||||||||
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Total | 5,064,991 | 100.00 | % | 4,716,420 | 100.00 | % | ||||||||||
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Notes:
1. | Debt-type financial products include debt investment schemes, trust schemes, project asset-backed plans, credit asset-backed securities, specialized asset management plans, and asset management products, etc. |
2. | Other fixed-maturity investments include policy loans, statutory deposits-restricted, and interbank certificates of deposits, etc. |
3. | Funds include equity funds, bond funds and money market funds, etc. In particular, the balances of money market funds as at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021 were RMB3,739 million and RMB1,961 million, respectively. |
4. | Other equity investments include private equity funds, unlisted equities, preference shares and equity investment plans, etc. |
5. | Cash and others include cash, cash at banks, short-term deposits, and securities purchased under agreements to resell, etc. |
As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company’s investment assets reached RMB5,064,991 million, an increase of 7.4% from the end of 2021. Among the major types of investments, the percentage of investment in bonds rose to 48.54% from 48.20% as at the end of 2021, the percentage of term deposits changed to 9.59% from 11.23% as at the end of 2021, the percentage of investment in debt-type financial products changed to 8.98% from 9.41% as at the end of 2021, and the percentage of investment in stocks and funds (excluding money market funds) rose to 11.34% from 8.75% as at the end of 2021.
2. | Investment income |
For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Gross investment income | 187,751 | 214,057 | ||||||
Net investment income | 190,344 | 188,770 | ||||||
Net income from fixed-maturity investments | 154,738 | 148,453 | ||||||
Net income from equity investments | 29,704 | 28,718 | ||||||
Net income from investment properties | 87 | 55 | ||||||
Investment income from cash and others | 2,187 | 1,216 | ||||||
Share of profit of associates and joint ventures | 3,628 | 10,328 | ||||||
Net realised gains on financial assets | 12,707 | 20,344 | ||||||
Net fair value gains through profit or loss | (12,156 | ) | 4,943 | |||||
Disposal gains and impairment losses of associates and joint ventures | (3,144 | ) | — | |||||
Net investment yield1 | 4.00 | % | 4.38 | % | ||||
Gross investment yield2 | 3.94 | % | 4.98 | % |
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Notes:
1. | Net investment yield = (Net investment income – Interest paid for securities sold under agreements to repurchase)/((Investment assets at the end of the previous year – Securities sold under agreements to repurchase at the end of the previous year + Investment assets at the end of the period – Securities sold under agreements to repurchase at the end of the period)/2) |
2. | Gross investment yield = (Gross investment income – Interest paid for securities sold under agreements to repurchase)/((Investment assets at the end of the previous year – Securities sold under agreements to repurchase at the end of the previous year – Derivative financial liabilities at the end of the previous year + Investment assets at the end of the period – Securities sold under agreements to repurchase at the end of the period – Derivative financial liabilities at the end of the period)/2) |
In 2022, the Company’s net investment income was RMB190,344 million, rising by 0.8% year on year, an increase of RMB1,574 million from 2021. Due to the impact of the downward trend of interest rates, the net investment yield was 4.00% in 2022, down by 38 basis points from 2021. Affected by a significant decline in equity market and the year-on-year decrease in spread income of equity investment products, the Company registered a gross investment income of RMB187,751 million in 2022, down by 12.3% year on year, a decrease of RMB26,306 million from 2021. Gross investment yield was 3.94%, down by 104 basis points from 2021. The comprehensive investment yield2 taking into account the current net fair value changes of available-for-sale securities recognised in other comprehensive income was 1.92%, down by 295 basis points from 2021.
3. | Credit risk management |
The Company’s credit asset investments mainly included credit bonds and debt-type financial products, which concentrated on sectors such as banking, transportation, non-banking finance, public utilities, and energy, and the financing entities were primarily large central-owned enterprises and state-owned enterprises. As at the end of the Reporting Period, over 98% of the credit bonds held by the Company were rated AAA by external rating institutions, whereas over 99% of the debt-type financial products were rated AAA by external rating institutions. In general, the asset quality of the Company’s credit investment products was in good condition, and the credit risks were well controlled.
2 | Comprehensive investment yield = (Gross investment income – Interest paid for securities sold under agreements to repurchase + Current net fair value changes of available-for-sale securities recognised in other comprehensive income)/((Investment assets at the end of the previous year – Securities sold under agreements to repurchase at the end of the previous year + Investment assets at the end of the period – Securities sold under agreements to repurchase at the end of the period)/2) |
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The Company insisted on a prudent investment philosophy. Based on a disciplined and scientific internal rating system and a multi-dimensional management mechanism of risk limits, the Company scrutinized credit profiles of targets and risk exposure concentration before investing in a prudent manner and carried out ongoing tracking after investment, effectively controlling credit risks through early identification, early warning, and early disposal. Under a market environment where credit default events occurred frequently, no credit default event occurred for the Company in 2022.
4. | Major investments |
During the Reporting Period, there was no material equity investment or non-equity investment of the Company that is subject to disclosure requirements.
III. | Analysis of Specific Items |
(I) | Profit before Income Tax |
For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||
Profit before income tax | 24,047 | 50,340 | -52.2 | % | ||||||||
Life insurance business | 9,583 | 22,771 | -57.9 | % | ||||||||
Health insurance business | 8,271 | 8,599 | -3.8 | % | ||||||||
Accident insurance business | 2,269 | 1,682 | 34.9 | % | ||||||||
Other businesses | 3,924 | 17,288 | -77.3 | % |
During the Reporting Period, profit before income tax from the life insurance business decreased by 57.9% year on year due to a significant decline of the equity market and a decrease in investment yield. Profit before income tax from the health insurance business decreased by 3.8% year on year, generally remaining stable year on year. Profit before income tax from the accident insurance business rose by 34.9% year on year due to the optimization of its business quality. Profit before income tax from other businesses declined by 77.3% due to a decrease in the profits of certain associates and the recognition of impairment loss.
(II) | Analysis of Cash Flows |
1. | Liquidity sources |
The Company’s cash inflows mainly come from insurance premiums, income from non-insurance contracts, interest income, dividend and bonus, and proceeds from sale and maturity of investment assets. The primary liquidity risks with respect to these cash inflows are the risk of surrender by contract holders and policyholders, as well as the risks of default by debtors, interest rate fluctuations and other market volatilities. The Company closely monitors and manages these risks.
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The Company’s cash and bank deposits can provide it with a source of liquidity to meet normal cash outflows. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the balance of cash and cash equivalents was RMB127,594 million. In addition, the vast majority of its term deposits in banks allow it to withdraw funds on deposits, subject to a penalty interest charge. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the amount of term deposits was RMB485,567 million.
The Company’s investment portfolio also provides it with a source of liquidity to meet unexpected cash outflows. It is also subject to market liquidity risk due to the large size of its investments in some of the markets in which it invests. In some circumstances, some of its holdings of investment securities may be large enough to have an influence on the market value. These factors may adversely affect its ability to sell these investments or sell them at a fair price.
2. | Liquidity uses |
The Company’s principal cash outflows primarily relate to the payables for the liabilities associated with its various life insurance, annuity, accident insurance and health insurance products, operating expenses, income taxes and dividends that may be declared and paid to its equity holders. Cash outflows arising from its insurance activities primarily relate to benefit payments under these insurance products, as well as payments for policy surrenders, withdrawals and policy loans.
The Company believes that its sources of liquidity are sufficient to meet its current cash requirements.
3. | Consolidated cash flows |
The Company has established a cash flow testing system, and conducts regular tests to monitor the cash inflows and outflows under various scenarios and adjusts the asset portfolio accordingly to ensure sufficient sources of liquidity.
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For the year ended 31 December | RMB million | |||||||||||||
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2022 | 2021 | Change | Main Reasons for Change | |||||||||||
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities | 351,968 | 286,446 | 22.9 | % | An increase in the scale of investment contracts | |||||||||
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities | (164,955 | ) | (393,839 | ) | -58.1 | % | The needs for investment management | |||||||
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities | (120,095 | ) | 111,219 | N/A | The needs for liquidity management | |||||||||
Foreign exchange gains/(losses) on cash and cash equivalents | 217 | (71 | ) | N/A | — | |||||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 67,135 | 3,755 | 1,687.9 | % | — |
(III) | Solvency Ratio |
An insurance company shall have the capital commensurate with its risks and business scale. According to the nature and capacity of loss absorption by capital, the capital of an insurance company is classified into the core capital and the supplementary capital. The core solvency ratio is the ratio of core capital to minimum capital, which reflects the adequacy of the core capital of an insurance company. The comprehensive solvency ratio is the ratio of the sum of core capital and supplementary capital to minimum capital, which reflects the overall capital adequacy of an insurance company. The following table shows the Company’s solvency ratios as at the end of the Reporting Period:
RMB million | ||||||||
As at 31 December 2022 | As at 30 June 2022 | |||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Core capital | 699,688 | 798,141 | ||||||
Actual capital | 1,007,601 | 1,112,129 | ||||||
Minimum capital | 487,290 | 472,120 | ||||||
Core solvency ratio | 143.59 | % | 169.05 | % | ||||
Comprehensive solvency ratio | 206.78 | % | 235.56 | % | ||||
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Pursuant to the requirements of the CBIRC, the Company started to implement the “Solvency Regulatory Rules II for Insurance Companies” from the solvency report for the first quarter of 2022. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company’s comprehensive solvency ratio and core solvency ratio were 206.78% and 143.59%, respectively, which continued to maintain at relatively high levels. Affected by factors such as the equity market fluctuation, the business growth, the allocation of investment assets and a decline of discount rate in solvency reserve, the solvency ratios decreased compared with the end of the second quarter of 2022.
(IV) | Sale of Material Assets and Equity |
During the Reporting Period, there was no sale of material assets and equity of the Company.
(V) | Major Subsidiaries and Associates of the Company |
RMB million | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Company Name | Major Business Scope | Registered Capital | Shareholding | Total Assets | Net Assets | Net Profit | ||||||||||||||||
China Life Asset Management Company Limited | Management and utilization of proprietary funds; acting as agent or trustee for asset management business; consulting business relevant to the above businesses; other asset management business permitted by applicable PRC laws and regulations | 4,000 | 60 | % | 18,990 | 15,913 | 2,717 | |||||||||||||||
China Life Pension Company Limited | Group pension insurance and annuity; individual pension insurance and annuity; short-term health insurance; accident insurance; reinsurance of the above insurance businesses; business for the use of insurance funds that are permitted by applicable PRC laws and regulations; pension insurance asset management product business; management of funds in RMB or foreign currency as entrusted by entrusting parties for the retirement benefit purpose; other businesses permitted by the CBIRC | 3,400 | | 70.74% is held by the Company, and 3.53% is held by AMC | | 9,134 | 6,706 | 1,209 | ||||||||||||||
China Life Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited | Property loss insurance; liability insurance; credit insurance and bond insurance; short-term health insurance and accident insurance; reinsurance of the above insurance businesses; business for the use of insurance funds that are permitted by applicable PRC laws and regulations; other businesses permitted by the CBIRC | 27,800 | 40 | % | 135,690 | 33,757 | 717 |
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Company Name | Major Business Scope | Registered Capital | Shareholding | Total Assets | Net Assets | Net Profit | ||||||||||||||||
China Guangfa Bank Co., Ltd. | Taking public deposits; granting short-term, mid-term and long-term loans; handling settlements in and out of China; honoring bills and offering discounting services; issuing financial bonds; issuing, paying for and underwriting government bonds as an agent; sales and purchases of negotiable securities such as government bonds and financial bonds; engaging in inter-bank borrowings; providing letters of credit service and guarantee; engaging in bank card business; acting as payment and receipt agent and insurance agent; providing safe deposit box services; taking deposits and granting loans in foreign currency; foreign currency remittance; foreign currency exchange; international settlements; foreign exchange settlements and sales; inter-bank foreign currency borrowings; honoring bills of exchange and offering discounting services in foreign currency; granting foreign currency loans; granting foreign currency guarantees; sales and purchases of negotiable securities other than shares in a foreign currency for itself and as an agent; issuing negotiable securities other than shares in a foreign currency for itself and as an agent; sales and purchases of foreign exchange on its own account and on behalf of its customers; issuing and making payments for foreign credit card as an agent; offshore financial operations; assets and credit verification, consultation and notarization businesses; other businesses approved by the CBIRC and other relevant authorities | 21,790 | 43.686 | % | 3,417,906 | 261,849 | 15,528 |
IV. | Technology Capabilities, Operations and Services |
(I) | Technology Capabilities |
In 2022, the Company further proceeded with its digital transformation, accelerated improvement of its technology capabilities, empowered value creation in all aspects and pushed forward its high-quality development by digital driving force.
- 26 -
Technological innovation was promoted to a new level. Having fully completed the transformation of its core business system architecture and successfully built a new proprietary distributed digital base, the Company achieved a two-fold increase in data processing capacity, a three-fold increase in storage utilization per unit space and an increase of 266% in computing utilization per unit space, making remarkable achievements in cost reduction and efficiency improvement as well as green and low-carbon emissions. It has also been leading the industry for two consecutive years in terms of innovation in IT applications.
Digital capability was deepened with further expansion. The Company comprehensively optimized its data management system by refining data classification control and strengthening data fusion driving force. It took the lead in data management capability in the industry, being the first company awarded the highest level certification under the Data Management Capability Maturity Assessment Model (DCMM) in the industry. The Company continuously made breakthroughs in human-machine collaboration, and the application of intelligent robots increased by 326% year on year, fully empowering various business scenarios, such as sales, services, business operations and risk control, etc.
Digital connectivity was open and extended. With the support of the digital platform and being driven by diversified scenarios, the Company quickly responded to market demands, expanded an open and shared Internet-based social ecosystem, provided nearly 15,000 standardized service components, and carried out more than 400,000 services and activities with cooperative institutions, which widely extended to both online and offline operations as well as inside and outside the Company and provided customers with a full range of digital services.
(II) | Operations and Services |
In 2022, being people-centered and serving the overall national development, the Company launched the “convenient, quality and caring” customer services with “first-class customer experience” as its value of operations and services. It consistently pushed forward its business operations and services to make them more centralized, digitalized and diversified, strived to improve its capability in services supply and delivery, and optimized the system for protection of customers’ rights and interests, accelerating the implementation of an integrated model of intelligent and centralized operations.
Green development, online services increased substantially. The Company focused on promoting convenient and smooth online services to help save energy and increase efficiency. The number of registered users of the China Life APP reached 129 million, and its monthly active users grew by 6.8% year on year. The paperless application rate of individual insurance business exceeded 99.9%. With the further promotion of services such as electronic letters, electronic insurance policies, and online policy administration and claims settlement, a total of over 6,400 tonnes of paper were saved for the year. The online service rate of each of policy administration and claims settlement remained at a high level of above 90%.
- 27 -
Honoring commitment, the Company adhered to the original aspiration of “convenient and caring” services of claims settlement. It continued to provide multiple-scenario and convenient claims payment methods, with a claims acceptance rate of over 99.6% and an average efficiency of 0.43 day for claims settlement, both at the forefront of the industry. A variety of customer-friendly claims-payment services of the Company were highly recognised by the users. The coverage of “Claims Settlement for Critical Illness within One Day” was further expanded, benefiting 185,000 customers throughout the year. “Direct Claims Payment” provided claims payments of more than 6.7 million customer-times, and “Door-to-door Claims for Special Services” were provided to more than 116,000 customers with difficulties.
Customer first, the level of protection of customers’ rights and interests continued to improve. With a comprehensive mechanism for protection of customers’ rights and interests in place and having established a consumer-protection work plan featuring “total engagement, full coverage and whole-process management”, the Company strengthened the closed-loop management of customer experience and thus maintained high levels of life insurance service quality and customer satisfaction. It also strengthened the provision of value-added services, with a total amount of services provided increasing by 3.7% year on year. The age-friendly services became the special services introduced by the Company, providing services of more than 25.59 million customer-times throughout the year. Besides, the China Life APP is the first mobile application in the insurance industry that has passed the assessment on accessibility and age-friendly technology by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China.
With upgraded business models, sharing for operations and intelligent application reached a new milestone. The Company achieved intelligent coordination for policy administration and underwriting tasks to facilitate coordinated utilization of nationwide operational resources, realising higher service quality and processing speed. The average approval efficiency of policy administration and underwriting for individual insurance business was improved by more than 25%. The capability of the intelligent application continued to improve, with the intelligent approval rates of insurance application, underwriting, and claims settlement and policy administration remaining at high levels, and the problem solving rate by intelligent online service reaching 95.8%.
- 28 -
V. | FUTURE PROSPECT |
(I) | Industry Landscape and Development Trends |
In the long run, with high-quality development as its key development theme, China’s life insurance industry is still at an important stage full of strategic opportunities. In face of profound adjustments in both domestic and international environments, the fundamentals of domestic economy remain unchanged, which are resilient, promising, dynamic and long-term positive. China’s economy is accelerating towards the stage of high-quality development, and the new development paradigm of international and domestic dual circulation, the broader unified domestic market and a well-functioning industrial system are all injecting driving forces to the long-term steady development of China’s economy. The gradual recovery of domestic economy will create favorable external situations for the industry’s high-quality development. As the national strategy of proactively responding to population aging and the Healthy China strategy are consistently deepened, businesses such as the long-term care, the third-pillar private pension and the inclusive insurance will have a broader space. There will also be a promising market for healthcare and the “silver economy”. In the meantime, the industry has powerful internal growth drivers, as the market players are speeding up their exploration in reforms and transformation, the InsurTech empowerment has been deepened, and the digitalization and intellectualization of business operation and management has been significantly improved. By leading the industry to return to the original role of insurance, the insurance administration consistently regulates market operation with enhanced risk prevention and control. It has introduced a series of new rules on insurance products, the market operation and sales forces, and upgraded regulation concepts and methods, which will make the market operation to be more standardized.
(II) | Development Strategies and Business Plans of the Company |
In 2023, the Company will stick to the guideline of making progress while maintaining stability, firmly implement the business strategy of “achieving stable growth, prioritizing business value, optimizing structure, strengthening sales force, promoting reforms and guarding against risks”, and adhere to the original role of insurance. It will consistently deepen supply-side reforms, accelerate the implementation of the “Eight Reform Programs”, and push forward the sales system reforms in greater depth. It will also speed up the innovation in the mechanism of products and services, and the implementation of the Healthcare and Aged-care Ecosystem Program, strengthen customer management and digital construction, and strive to achieve organic unity of its business scale, value, sales force and security, so as to vigorously promote its high-quality development.
- 29 -
(III) | Potential Risks |
At present, the international environment is still undergoing complex evolution, with rising risk of stagflation in the world economy, and the foundation for recovery of the domestic economy is not solid yet, which will pose challenges to the steady development of the insurance industry. In recent years, as the socio-economic environment, population structure and customer needs have changed a lot, the development of the exclusive individual agent channel has confronted with great challenges, and the sales system reforms become imminent. In addition, the industry is still in a period of profound adjustment and transformation, and risk prevention and control in key areas is under greater pressure. The Company will take a variety of measures to actively cope with the above risks and challenges. It will adhere to the guideline of making progress while maintaining stability, push forward reforms and transformation in great depth, and strive to improve the quality of its business operations and management by focusing on customers. In respect of the capital market, as the interest rate is expected to remain at historically low level, there will be a severe shortage of fixed-income assets with high quality, and the equity market may remain in high volatility, as a result of which the Company will face double pressures: one is the continuous downturn in the yield of interest-bearing investment products, and the other is the increased volatility in the overall returns of investment portfolios. However, the Company will adhere to the principle of asset-liability matching, consistently optimize its asset allocation structure, and improve its capability in coping with economic cycles and interest rate cycles, as well as market fluctuations, with a view to effectively balancing the stability of the short-term investment returns and the long-term value appreciation.
The Company anticipates that it will have sufficient capital to meet its insurance business expenditures and new general investment needs in 2023. At the same time, the Company will make corresponding financing arrangements based on capital market conditions if it plans to implement any business development strategies in the future.
- 30 -
ANNUAL RESULTS3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the year ended 31 December 2022
2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
Notes | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||
(Restated) | ||||||||||||
REVENUES | ||||||||||||
Gross written premiums | 615,190 | 618,327 | ||||||||||
Less: premiums ceded to reinsurers | (8,270 | ) | (8,015 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Net written premiums | 606,920 | 610,312 | ||||||||||
Net change in unearned premium reserves | 905 | 939 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Net premiums earned | 607,825 | 611,251 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Investment income | 1 | 186,629 | 178,387 | |||||||||
Net realised gains on financial assets | 2 | 12,707 | 20,344 | |||||||||
Net fair value gains through profit or loss | 3 | (12,156 | ) | 4,943 | ||||||||
Other income | 9,383 | 10,008 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Total revenues | 804,388 | 824,933 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
BENEFITS, CLAIMS AND EXPENSES | ||||||||||||
Insurance benefits and claims expenses |
| |||||||||||
Life insurance death and other benefits | 4 | (119,369 | ) | (121,354 | ) | |||||||
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses | 4 | (51,311 | ) | (55,030 | ) | |||||||
Increase in insurance contract liabilities | 4 | (461,298 | ) | (442,370 | ) | |||||||
Investment contract benefits | 5 | (13,340 | ) | (10,628 | ) | |||||||
Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits | (20,685 | ) | (26,511 | ) | ||||||||
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs | (54,777 | ) | (65,744 | ) | ||||||||
Finance costs | 6 | (4,863 | ) | (5,598 | ) | |||||||
Administrative expenses | (39,874 | ) | (40,867 | ) | ||||||||
Statutory insurance fund contribution | 7 | (1,314 | ) | (1,253 | ) | |||||||
Other expenses | (13,994 | ) | (15,566 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Total benefits, claims and expenses | (780,825 | ) | (784,921 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Net gains on investments of associates and joint ventures | 8 | 484 | 10,328 | |||||||||
Including: share of profit of associates and joint ventures | 3,628 | 10,328 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
3 | The “Group” refers to China Life Insurance Company Limited and its subsidiaries in this part. During the year ended 31 December 2022, Beijing China Life Pension Industry Investment Fund (Limited Partnership), a subsidiary of the Group, injected capital to China Life (Tianjin) Pension Health Investment Company Limited, and acquired 99.99% of the shareholders’ equity. This is a business combination under common control. The financial data of previous years for this report have been restated. |
- 31 -
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (continued)
For the year ended 31 December 2022
2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
Notes | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||
(Restated) | ||||||||||||
Profit before income tax | 9 | 24,047 | 50,340 | |||||||||
Income tax | 10 | 9,467 | 1,917 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Net profit | 33,514 | 52,257 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Attributable to: | ||||||||||||
– Equity holders of the Company | 32,082 | 50,766 | ||||||||||
– Non-controlling interests | 1,432 | 1,491 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Basic and diluted earnings per share | 11 | RMB1.14 | RMB1.80 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Other comprehensive income | ||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods: | ||||||||||||
Fair value gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities | (83,730 | ) | 17,065 | |||||||||
Amount transferred to net profit from other comprehensive income | (11,386 | ) | (21,722 | ) | ||||||||
Portion of fair value changes on available-for-sale securities attributable to policyholders equity | 26,123 | (1,793 | ) | |||||||||
Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures under the equity method | (3,104 | ) | 1,260 | |||||||||
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations | 1,138 | (398 | ) | |||||||||
Income tax relating to components of other comprehensive income | 17,348 | 1,098 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods | (53,611 | ) | (4,490 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods: | ||||||||||||
Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures under the equity method | (1,625 | ) | (59 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax | (55,236 | ) | (4,549 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Total comprehensive income for the year, net of tax | (21,722 | ) | 47,708 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Attributable to: | ||||||||||||
– Equity holders of the Company | (23,070 | ) | 46,203 | |||||||||
– Non-controlling interests | 1,348 | 1,505 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
- 32 -
Notes:
1 | INVESTMENT INCOME |
For the year ended 31 December | ||||||||
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
Debt securities | ||||||||
– held-to-maturity securities | 62,883 | 56,830 | ||||||
– available-for-sale securities | 32,079 | 29,491 | ||||||
– at fair value through profit or loss | 5,174 | 4,079 | ||||||
Equity securities | ||||||||
– available-for-sale securities | 28,934 | 27,806 | ||||||
– at fair value through profit or loss | 770 | 912 | ||||||
Bank deposits | 25,161 | 25,949 | ||||||
Loans | 30,915 | 32,970 | ||||||
Securities purchased under agreements to resell | 713 | 350 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total | 186,629 | 178,387 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
For the year ended 31 December 2022 the interest income included in investment income was RMB156,925 million (for the year ended 31 December 2021: RMB149,669 million). Interest income was mainly accrued using the effective interest method.
2 | NET REALISED GAINS ON FINANCIAL ASSETS |
For the year ended 31 December | ||||||||
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
Debt securities | ||||||||
Realised gains (i) | 7,344 | 198 | ||||||
Impairment (ii) | 1,621 | (1,359 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Subtotal | 8,965 | (1,161 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Equity securities | ||||||||
Realised gains (i) | 23,573 | 42,867 | ||||||
Impairment (ii) | (19,831 | ) | (21,362 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Subtotal | 3,742 | 21,505 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total | 12,707 | 20,344 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
- 33 -
(i) | Realised gains were generated mainly from available-for-sale securities. |
(ii) | During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Group recognised an impairment charge of RMB2,644 million on available-for-sale funds (2021: RMB8 million); an impairment charge of RMB15,486 million on available-for-sale stock securities (2021: RMB21,354 million); an impairment charge of RMB1,701 million on available-for-sale other equity securities (2021: nil); an impairment reversal of RMB145 million on available-for-sale debt securities (2021: an impairment reversal of RMB17 million); No impairment charge of loans (2021: an impairment charge of RMB1,376 million) and an impairment reversal of RMB1,476 million on loans(2021:nil), for which the Group determined that objective evidence of impairment existed. |
3 | NET FAIR VALUE GAINS THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS |
For the year ended 31 December | ||||||||
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
Debt securities | (1,613 | ) | 1,069 | |||||
Equity securities | (10,956 | ) | 3,470 | |||||
Stock appreciation rights | (49 | ) | 202 | |||||
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss | 462 | 202 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total | (12,156 | ) | 4,943 | |||||
|
|
|
|
4 | INSURANCE BENEFITS AND CLAIMS EXPENSES |
Gross | Ceded | Net | ||||||||||
RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||
For the year ended 31 December 2022 | ||||||||||||
Life insurance death and other benefits | 124,086 | (4,717 | ) | 119,369 | ||||||||
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses | 53,638 | (2,327 | ) | 51,311 | ||||||||
Increase in insurance contract liabilities | 461,285 | 13 | 461,298 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total | 639,009 | (7,031 | ) | 631,978 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
For the year ended 31 December 2021 | ||||||||||||
Life insurance death and other benefits | 125,998 | (4,644 | ) | 121,354 | ||||||||
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses | 56,327 | (1,297 | ) | 55,030 | ||||||||
Increase in insurance contract liabilities | 443,053 | (683 | ) | 442,370 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total | 625,378 | (6,624 | ) | 618,754 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 | INVESTMENT CONTRACT BENEFITS |
Benefits of investment contracts are mainly the interest credited to investment contracts.
- 34 -
6 | FINANCE COSTS |
For the year ended 31 December | ||||||||
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
Interest expenses for securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 2,689 | 3,523 | ||||||
Interest expenses for bonds payable | 1,500 | 1,500 | ||||||
Interest expenses for interest-bearing loans and borrowings | 600 | 479 | ||||||
Interest on lease liabilities | 74 | 96 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total | 4,863 | 5,598 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
7 | STATUTORY INSURANCE FUND |
As required by the CIRC Order [2008] No. 2, “Measures for Administration of Statutory Insurance Fund”, all insurance companies have to pay the statutory insurance fund contribution from 1 January 2009. The Group is subject to the statutory insurance fund contribution, (i) at 0.15% and 0.05% of premiums and accumulated policyholder deposits from life policies with guaranteed benefits and life policies without guaranteed benefits, respectively; (ii) at 0.8% and 0.15% of premiums from short-term health policies and long-term health policies, respectively; (iii) at 0.8% of premiums from accident insurance contracts, at 0.08% and 0.05% of accumulated policyholder deposits from accident investment contracts with guaranteed benefits and without guaranteed benefits, respectively. When the accumulated statutory insurance fund contributions reach 1% of total assets, no additional contribution to the statutory insurance fund is required.
8 | INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES |
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
As at 1 January | 257,953 | 239,584 | ||||||
Change of the cost | 12,877 | 11,400 | ||||||
Share of profit or loss | 3,628 | 10,328 | ||||||
Dividends declared | (5,373 | ) | (4,480 | ) | ||||
Other equity movements | (4,756 | ) | 1,121 | |||||
Impairment | (3,150 | ) | — | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
As at 31 December | 261,179 | 257,953 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
- 35 -
Movement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounting method | Cost | As at 31 December 2021 | Change of the cost | Share of profit or loss | Declared dividends | Other equity movements | Provision of impairment | As at 31 December | Percentage of equity interest | Accumulated amount of impairment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB Million | RMB Million | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Associates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CGB (i) | Equity Method | 53,201 | 86,179 | 8,025 | 5,857 | (774 | ) | (1,202 | ) | — | 98,085 | 43.686 | % | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sino-Ocean Group Holding Limited (“Sino-Ocean”) (ii) | Equity Method | 11,245 | 11,899 | — | (4,831 | ) | (61 | ) | (2,168 | ) | (2,645 | ) | 2,194 | 29.59 | % | (5,862 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CLP&C | Equity Method | 9,600 | 10,151 | 3,600 | 282 | (75 | ) | (457 | ) | — | 13,501 | 40.00 | % | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COFCO Futures Company Limited (“COFCO Futures”) | Equity Method | 1,339 | 1,692 | — | 76 | (33 | ) | 2 | — | 1,737 | 35.00 | % | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China Pipe Group Sichuan to East China Gas Pipeline Co., Ltd. (“Pipeline Company”) | Equity Method | 20,000 | 21,438 | — | 1,364 | (1,279 | ) | 46 | — | 21,569 | 43.86 | % | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China United Network Communications Limited (“China Unicom”) (iii) | Equity Method | 21,801 | 22,644 | — | 706 | (337 | ) | (411 | ) | — | 22,602 | 10.03 | % | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Others (iv) | Equity Method | 48,735 | 49,015 | 734 | (161 | ) | (1,736 | ) | (184 | ) | (505 | ) | 47,163 | (505 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subtotal | 165,921 | 203,018 | 12,359 | 3,293 | (4,295 | ) | (4,374 | ) | (3,150 | ) | 206,851 | (6,367 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint ventures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joy City Commercial Property Fund L.P. (“Joy City”) | Equity Method | 6,281 | 5,546 | — | (131 | ) | (138 | ) | 6 | — | 5,283 | 66.67 | % | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mapleleaf Century Limited (“MCL”) | Equity Method | 7,656 | 4,237 | — | 54 | — | (738 | ) | — | 3,553 | 75.00 | % | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Others (iv) | Equity Method | 49,094 | 45,152 | 518 | 412 | (940 | ) | 350 | — | 45,492 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subtotal | 63,031 | 54,935 | 518 | 335 | (1,078 | ) | (382 | ) | — | 54,328 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 228,952 | 257,953 | 12,877 | 3,628 | (5,373 | ) | (4,756 | ) | (3,150 | ) | 261,179 | (6,367 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(i) | The 2021 final dividend of RMB0.0813 in cash per ordinary share was approved and declared in the Annual General Meeting of CGB on 24 June 2022. The Company’s cash dividend receivable is RMB774 million. |
(ii) | The 2021 final dividend of HKD0.032 in cash per ordinary share was approved and declared in the Annual General Meeting of Sino-Ocean on 20 May 2022. The Company received a cash dividend equivalent to RMB61 million. |
On 31 December 2021, the cumulative impairment loss of RMB3,217 million for the investment in Sino-Ocean had been recognised by the Group. On 31 December 2022, the Hong Kong stock price of Sino-Ocean was HKD1.09 per share. The Group performed an impairment test for the investment and recognised an impairment provision of RMB2,645 million based on the share price of Sino-Ocean H shares. If the share price of Sino-Ocean decreases by 10% as of 31 December 2022, it will increase the Group’s provision for impairment by RMB219 million. If the Group’s share of the book value of Sino-Ocean’s audited net assets attributable to shareholders of the parent company as at 31 December 2022 is lower than the book value of long-term equity investment in Sino-Ocean held by the Group, a RMB1,000 million decrease in the net assets attributable to shareholders of the parent company would result in a decrease of RMB296 million in the book value of the Group’s long-term equity investment in Sino-Ocean.
(iii) | The 2021 final dividend of RMB0.0391 in cash per ordinary share was approved and declared in the Annual General Meeting of China Unicom on 10 May 2022. The Company received a cash dividend of RMB125 million. The 2022 interim dividend of RMB0.0663 in cash per ordinary share was approved and declared in the Annual General Meeting of China Unicom on 13 October 2022. The Company received a cash dividend equivalent to RMB212 million. |
On 31 December 2022, the stock price of China Unicom was RMB4.48 per share.
(iv) | The Group invested in real estate, industrial logistics assets and other industries through these enterprises. |
(v) | There is no significant restriction for the Group to dispose of its associates and joint ventures. |
- 36 -
As at 31 December 2022, the major associates and joint ventures of the Group are as follows:
Name | Place of incorporation | Percentage of equity interest held | ||||
Associates | ||||||
CGB | PRC | 43.686 | % | |||
Sino-Ocean | Hong Kong, PRC | 29.59 | % | |||
CLP&C | PRC | 40.00 | % | |||
COFCO Futures | PRC | 35.00 | % | |||
Pipeline Company | PRC | 43.86 | % | |||
China Unicom | PRC | 10.03 | % | |||
Joint ventures | ||||||
Joy City | The British Cayman Islands | 66.67 | % | |||
MCL | The British Virgin Islands | 75.00 | % |
As at 31 December 2021, the major associates and joint ventures of the Group are as follows:
Name | Place of incorporation | Percentage of equity interest held | ||||
Associates | ||||||
CGB | PRC | 43.686 | % | |||
Sino-Ocean | Hong Kong, PRC | 29.59 | % | |||
CLP&C | PRC | 40.00 | % | |||
COFCO Futures | PRC | 35.00 | % | |||
Pipeline Company | PRC | 43.86 | % | |||
China Unicom | PRC | 10.29 | % | |||
Joint ventures | ||||||
Joy City | The British Cayman Islands | 66.67 | % | |||
MCL | The British Virgin Islands | 75.00 | % |
- 37 -
The following table illustrates the financial information of the Group’s major associates and joint ventures as at 31 December 2022 and for the year ended 31 December 2022:
CGB | Sino- Ocean (i) | CLP&C | COFCO Futures | Pipeline Company | China Unicom | Joy City | MCL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
million | million | million | million | million | million | million | million | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 3,417,906 | 246,072 | 135,690 | 29,306 | 37,315 | 644,687 | 9,710 | 23,957 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,156,057 | 198,186 | 101,933 | 25,889 | 1,369 | 297,413 | 22 | 12,773 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity | 261,849 | 47,886 | 33,757 | 3,417 | 35,946 | 347,274 | 9,688 | 11,184 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the associates and joint ventures | 216,858 | 31,747 | 33,757 | 3,407 | 35,946 | 154,370 | 9,688 | 11,184 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total adjustments (ii) | 369 | (7,790 | ) | — | — | 384 | 16,038 | (1,764 | ) | (6,447 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the associates and joint ventures after adjustments | 217,227 | 23,957 | 33,757 | 3,407 | 36,330 | 170,408 | 7,924 | 4,737 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Proportion of the Group’s ownership | 43.686 | % | 29.59 | % | 40.00 | % | 35.00 | % | 43.86 | % | 10.03 | % | 66.67 | % | 75.00 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Gross carrying value of the investments | 98,085 | 8,056 | 13,501 | 1,737 | 21,569 | 22,602 | 5,283 | 3,553 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Impairment | — | (5,862 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net carrying value of the investments | 98,085 | 2,194 | 13,501 | 1,737 | 21,569 | 22,602 | 5,283 | 3,553 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
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|
|
| |||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 75,154 | 42,447 | 87,461 | 3,222 | 6,097 | 361,123 | (145 | ) | 883 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net profit/(loss) | 15,528 | (15,650 | ) | 717 | 219 | 3,128 | 16,651 | (164 | ) | 774 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | (2,765 | ) | (6,186 | ) | (1,197 | ) | 6 | — | 190 | 10 | (1,750 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income | 12,763 | (21,836 | ) | (480 | ) | 225 | 3,128 | 16,841 | (154 | ) | (976 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(i) | The financial information of Sino-Ocean is consistent with the published financial information (unaudited) in its announcement Inside Information – Unaudited Financial Information For The Year Ended 31 December 2022 dated 22 March 2023. |
The following table illustrates the financial information of the Group’s major associates and joint ventures as at 31 December 2021 and for the year ended 31 December 2021:
CGB | Sino- Ocean | CLP&C | COFCO Futures | Pipeline Company | China Unicom | Joy City | MCL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 3,359,985 | 281,252 | 120,178 | 25,153 | 37,099 | 593,284 | 10,258 | 24,195 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,125,484 | 204,805 | 94,756 | 21,868 | 1,476 | 257,074 | 232 | 13,035 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity | 234,501 | 76,447 | 25,422 | 3,285 | 35,623 | 336,210 | 10,026 | 11,160 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the associates and joint ventures | 189,510 | 55,074 | 25,422 | 3,277 | 35,623 | 149,217 | 10,026 | 11,160 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total adjustments (ii) | 464 | (7,257 | ) | — | — | 405 | 16,509 | (1,707 | ) | (5,511 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the associates and joint ventures after adjustments | 189,974 | 47,817 | 25,422 | 3,277 | 36,028 | 165,726 | 8,319 | 5,649 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Proportion of the Group’s ownership | 43.686 | % | 29.59 | % | 40.00 | % | 35.00 | % | 43.86 | % | 10.29 | % | 66.67 | % | 75.00 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Gross carrying value of the investments | 86,179 | 15,116 | 10,151 | 1,692 | 21,438 | 22,644 | 5,546 | 4,237 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Impairment | — | (3,217 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net carrying value of the investments | 86,179 | 11,899 | 10,151 | 1,692 | 21,438 | 22,644 | 5,546 | 4,237 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| |||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 74,905 | 68,645 | 82,549 | 6,846 | 5,583 | 331,665 | 352 | 897 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net profit/(loss) | 17,476 | 5,091 | 621 | 281 | 3,081 | 14,416 | 333 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | 2,416 | (35 | ) | (766 | ) | (8 | ) | — | (27 | ) | 15 | 447 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income | 19,892 | 5,056 | (145 | ) | 273 | 3,081 | 14,389 | 348 | 475 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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(ii) | Including adjustments for the difference of accounting policies, fair value and others. |
- 38 -
The Group had no contingent liabilities with the associates and joint ventures as at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021. The Group had a capital contribution commitment of RMB15,231 million with associates and joint ventures as at 31 December 2022 (as at 31 December 2021: RMB20,730 million).
9 | PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX |
Profit before income tax is stated after charging/(crediting) the following:
For the year ended 31 December | ||||||||
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
Employee salaries and welfare costs | 20,232 | 20,936 | ||||||
Housing benefits | 1,481 | 1,413 | ||||||
Contribution to the defined contribution pension plan | 3,444 | 3,274 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortisation | 5,291 | 5,328 | ||||||
Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | 69 | (645 | ) | |||||
Remuneration in respect of audit services provided by auditors | 53 | 53 | ||||||
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10 | TAXATION |
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income tax relates to the same tax authority.
(a) | The amount of taxation charged to net profit represents: |
For the year ended 31 December | ||||||||
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
Current taxation – Enterprise income tax | 2,190 | 4,824 | ||||||
Deferred taxation | (11,657 | ) | (6,741 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total tax charges | (9,467 | ) | (1,917 | ) | ||||
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|
|
(b) | The reconciliation between the Group’s effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate of 25% in the PRC (2021: same) is as follows: |
For the year ended 31 December | ||||||||
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
Profit before income tax | 24,047 | 50,340 | ||||||
Tax computed at the statutory tax rate | 6,012 | 12,585 | ||||||
Adjustment on current income tax of previous period | (246 | ) | (412 | ) | ||||
Non-taxable income (i) | (15,844 | ) | (14,386 | ) | ||||
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes (i) | 311 | 276 | ||||||
Unused tax losses | 33 | 27 | ||||||
Others | 267 | (7 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Income tax at the effective tax rate | (9,467 | ) | (1,917 | ) | ||||
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|
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- 39 -
(i) | Non-taxable income mainly includes interest income from government bonds, dividend income from applicable equity securities, etc. Expenses not deductible for tax purposes mainly include donations and other expenses that do not meet the criteria for deduction according to the relevant tax regulations. |
(c) | As at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021, the amounts of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows: |
As at 31 December | As at 31 December | |||||||
2022 RMB million | 2021 RMB million | |||||||
Deferred tax assets | 24,884 | 22,354 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | (2,849 | ) | (29,714 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Net deferred tax assets | 22,307 | 121 | ||||||
Net deferred tax liabilities | (272 | ) | (7,481 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
As at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021, deferred income tax was calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using the principal tax rate of 25%.
The movements in net deferred income tax assets and liabilities during the period were as follows:
Net deferred tax assets/(liabilities)
Insurance | Investments | Others | Total | |||||||||||||
RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | |||||||||||||
(i) | (ii) | (iii) | ||||||||||||||
As at 1 January 2021 | 4,334 | (22,386 | ) | 2,853 | (15,199 | ) | ||||||||||
(Charged)/Credited to net profit | 2,862 | 3,534 | 345 | 6,741 | ||||||||||||
(Charged)/Credited to other comprehensive income | ||||||||||||||||
– Available-for-sale securities | — | 677 | — | 677 | ||||||||||||
– Portion of fair value changes on available-for-sale securities attributable to participating policyholders | 448 | — | — | 448 | ||||||||||||
– Others | — | (27 | ) | — | (27 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
As at 31 December 2021 | 7,644 | (18,202 | ) | 3,198 | (7,360 | ) | ||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
As at 1 January 2022 | 7,644 | (18,202 | ) | 3,198 | (7,360 | ) | ||||||||||
(Charged)/Credited to net profit | 1,612 | 3,025 | 7,020 | 11,657 | ||||||||||||
(Charged)/Credited to other comprehensive income | ||||||||||||||||
– Available-for-sale securities | — | 23,776 | — | 23,776 | ||||||||||||
– Portion of fair value changes on available-for-sale securities attributable to participating policyholders | (6,530 | ) | — | — | (6,530 | ) | ||||||||||
– Others | — | 492 | — | 492 | ||||||||||||
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|
|
| |||||||||
As at 31 December 2022 | 2,726 | 9,091 | 10,218 | 22,035 | ||||||||||||
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- 40 -
(i) | The deferred tax liabilities arising from the insurance category are mainly related to the change of long-term insurance contract liabilities at 31 December 2008 as a result of the first time adoption of IFRSs in 2009 and the temporary differences of short-term insurance contract liabilities and policyholder dividends payable. |
(ii) | The deferred tax arising from the investments category is mainly related to the temporary differences of unrealised gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities, securities at fair value through profit or loss, and others. |
(iii) | The deferred tax arising from the others category is mainly related to deductible losses available for use in future years, and the temporary differences of employee salaries and welfare costs payable. |
Unrecognised deductible tax losses of the Group amounted to RMB3,183 million as at 31 December 2022 (as at 31 December 2021: RMB3,173 million).
(d) | The analysis of net deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is as follows: |
As at | As at | |||||||
31 December | 31 December | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB million | RMB million | |||||||
Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
– deferred tax assets to be recovered after 12 months | 15,954 | 14,695 | ||||||
– deferred tax assets to be recovered within 12 months | 8,930 | 7,659 | ||||||
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|
|
| |||||
Subtotal | 24,884 | 22,354 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
– deferred tax liabilities to be settled after 12 months | (1,396 | ) | (26,850 | ) | ||||
– deferred tax liabilities to be settled within 12 months | (1,453 | ) | (2,864 | ) | ||||
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|
|
| |||||
Subtotal | (2,849 | ) | (29,714 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Net deferred tax assets/(liabilities) | 22,035 | (7,360 | ) | |||||
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|
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11 | EARNINGS PER SHARE |
There is no difference between the basic and diluted earnings per share. The basic and diluted earnings per share for the year ended 31 December 2022 are calculated based on the net profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Company and the weighted average of 28,264,705,000 ordinary shares (2021: same).
12 | DIVIDENDS |
Pursuant to the shareholders’ approval at the Annual General Meeting on 29 June 2022, a final dividend of RMB0.65 (inclusive of tax) per ordinary share totalling RMB18,372 million in respect of the year ended 31 December 2021 was declared and paid in 2022. The dividend has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Pursuant to a resolution passed at the meeting of the Board of Directors on 29 March 2023, a final dividend of RMB0.49 (inclusive of tax) per ordinary share totalling approximately RMB13,850 million for the year ended 31 December 2022 was proposed for shareholders’ approval at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. The dividend has not been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.
- 41 -
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
As at 31 December 2022
As at 31 December 2022 | As at 31 December 2021 | |||||||||||
Note | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||
(Restated) | ||||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | 54,559 | 55,632 | ||||||||||
Right-of-use assets | 1,810 | 2,518 | ||||||||||
Investment properties | 13,193 | 13,374 | ||||||||||
Investments in associates and joint ventures | 8 | 261,179 | 257,953 | |||||||||
Held-to-maturity securities | 1,574,204 | 1,533,753 | ||||||||||
Loans | 596,490 | 666,087 | ||||||||||
Term deposits | 485,567 | 529,488 | ||||||||||
Statutory deposits – restricted | 6,333 | 6,333 | ||||||||||
Available-for-sale securities | 1,738,108 | 1,429,287 | ||||||||||
Securities at fair value through profit or loss | 223,790 | 206,771 | ||||||||||
Securities purchased under agreements to resell | 38,533 | 12,915 | ||||||||||
Accrued investment income | 52,451 | 51,097 | ||||||||||
Premiums receivable | 19,697 | 20,361 | ||||||||||
Reinsurance assets | 7,840 | 6,630 | ||||||||||
Other assets | 28,333 | 39,701 | ||||||||||
Deferred tax assets | 22,307 | 121 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 127,594 | 60,459 | ||||||||||
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|
|
| |||||||||
Total assets | 5,251,988 | 4,892,480 | ||||||||||
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|
|
- 42 -
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (continued)
As at 31 December 2022
As at 31 December | As at 31 December | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB million | RMB million | |||||||
(Restated) | ||||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||
Insurance contracts | 3,880,160 | 3,419,899 | ||||||
Investment contracts | 374,749 | 313,594 | ||||||
Policyholder dividends payable | 96,682 | 124,949 | ||||||
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings | 12,774 | 19,222 | ||||||
Lease liabilities | 1,569 | 2,182 | ||||||
Bonds payable | 34,997 | 34,994 | ||||||
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss | 3,344 | 3,416 | ||||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 148,958 | 239,446 | ||||||
Annuity and other insurance balances payable | 60,819 | 56,818 | ||||||
Premiums received in advance | 50,830 | 48,699 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 141,122 | 134,059 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | 272 | 7,481 | ||||||
Current income tax liabilities | 238 | 248 | ||||||
Statutory insurance fund | 353 | 339 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total liabilities | 4,806,867 | 4,405,346 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Equity Share capital | 28,265 | 28,265 | ||||||
Reserves | 206,216 | 249,755 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 201,688 | 201,041 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Attributable to equity holders of the Company | 436,169 | 479,061 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Non-controlling interests | 8,952 | 8,073 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total equity | 445,121 | 487,134 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total liabilities and equity | 5,251,988 | 4,892,480 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
- 43 -
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Attributable to equity holders of the Company | Non– | |||||||||||||||||||
Share | Retained | controlling | ||||||||||||||||||
capital | Reserves | earnings | interests | Total | ||||||||||||||||
RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||||||||
As at 1 January 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Restated) | 28,265 | 238,635 | 183,787 | 6,881 | 457,568 | |||||||||||||||
Net profit | — | — | 50,766 | 1,491 | 52,257 | |||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | (4,608 | ) | — | 14 | (4,594 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Total comprehensive income | — | (4,608 | ) | 50,766 | 1,505 | 47,663 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Transactions with owners | ||||||||||||||||||||
Appropriation to reserves | — | 15,378 | (15,378 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Dividends declared (Note 12) | — | — | (18,089 | ) | — | (18,089 | ) | |||||||||||||
Dividends to non-controlling interests | — | — | — | (359 | ) | (359 | ) | |||||||||||||
Reserves to retained earnings | — | 45 | (45 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Others | — | 305 | — | 46 | 351 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Total transactions with owners | — | 15,728 | (33,512 | ) | (313 | ) | (18,097 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
As at 31 December 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Restated) | 28,265 | 249,755 | 201,041 | 8,073 | 487,134 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
As at 1 January 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Restated) | 28,265 | 249,755 | 201,041 | 8,073 | 487,134 | |||||||||||||||
Net profit | — | — | 32,082 | 1,432 | 33,514 | |||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | (55,152 | ) | — | (84 | ) | (55,236 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Total comprehensive income | — | (55,152 | ) | 32,082 | 1,348 | (21,722 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Transactions with owners | ||||||||||||||||||||
Appropriation to reserves | — | 13,137 | (13,137 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Dividends declared (Note 12) | — | — | (18,372 | ) | — | (18,372 | ) | |||||||||||||
Dividends to non-controlling interests | — | — | — | (469 | ) | (469 | ) | |||||||||||||
Reserves to retained earnings | — | (74 | ) | 74 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Others | — | (1,450 | ) | — | — | (1,450 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Total transactions with owners | — | 11,613 | (31,435 | ) | (469 | ) | (20,291 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
As at 31 December 2022 | 28,265 | 206,216 | 201,688 | 8,952 | 445,121 | |||||||||||||||
|
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|
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- 44 -
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the year ended 31 December 2022
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB million | RMB million | |||||||
(Restated) | ||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Profit before income tax | 24,047 | 50,340 | ||||||
Adjustments for: | ||||||||
Investment income | (186,629 | ) | (178,387 | ) | ||||
Net realised and unrealised gains on financial assets | (551 | ) | (25,287 | ) | ||||
Insurance contracts | 459,988 | 445,472 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortisation | 5,291 | 5,328 | ||||||
Foreign exchange losses/(gains) | 69 | (645 | ) | |||||
Net gains on investments of associates and joint ventures | (484 | ) | (10,328 | ) | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Increase in securities at fair value through profit or loss, net | (35,286 | ) | (44,527 | ) | ||||
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss | 3,175 | (1,478 | ) | |||||
Receivables and payables | 75,266 | 47,241 | ||||||
Income tax paid | 982 | (5,862 | ) | |||||
Interest received – securities at fair value through profit or loss | 5,401 | 3,753 | ||||||
Dividends received – securities at fair value through profit or loss | 699 | 826 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities | 351,968 | 286,446 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Disposals and maturities: | ||||||||
Disposals of debt investments | 168,656 | 37,708 | ||||||
Maturities of debt investments | 309,801 | 196,596 | ||||||
Disposals of equity investments | 513,350 | 385,308 | ||||||
Disposals of property, plant and equipment | 363 | 341 | ||||||
Disposals of subsidiaries | 4,395 | 559 | ||||||
Purchases: | ||||||||
Debt investments | (519,495 | ) | (745,973 | ) | ||||
Equity investments and subsidiaries | (819,785 | ) | (409,676 | ) | ||||
Property, plant and equipment | (3,076 | ) | (5,583 | ) | ||||
Investments in associates and joint ventures | (5,436 | ) | (7,072 | ) | ||||
Decrease in term deposits, net | 44,273 | 17,748 | ||||||
Increase in securities purchased under agreements to resell, net | (27,327 | ) | (2,804 | ) | ||||
Interest received | 153,194 | 142,311 | ||||||
Dividends received | 34,330 | 32,177 | ||||||
Increase in policy loans, net | (18,198 | ) | (35,479 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities | (164,955 | ) | (393,839 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
- 45 -
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
For the year ended 31 December 2022
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
RMB million | RMB million | |||||||
(Restated) | ||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
Increase/(decrease) in securities sold under agreements to repurchase, net | (90,711 | ) | 117,211 | |||||
Interest paid | (7,545 | ) | (8,219 | ) | ||||
Repayment of borrowings | (8,275 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||
Dividends paid to equity holders of the Company | (18,372 | ) | (18,089 | ) | ||||
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | (469 | ) | (372 | ) | ||||
Cash received from borrowings | 688 | 116 | ||||||
Payment of lease liabilities | (1,307 | ) | (1,517 | ) | ||||
Capital injected into subsidiaries by non-controlling interests | 5,896 | 22,850 | ||||||
Cash paid related to other financing activities | — | (750 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities | (120,095 | ) | 111,219 | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Foreign exchange gains/(losses) on cash and cash equivalents | 217 | (71 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | �� | 67,135 | 3,755 | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Cash and cash equivalents Beginning of the year | 60,459 | 56,704 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
End of the year | 127,594 | 60,459 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Analysis of balances of cash and cash equivalents | ||||||||
Cash at banks and in hand | 123,142 | 60,275 | ||||||
Short-term bank deposits | 4,452 | 184 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
- 46 -
SEGMENT INFORMATION
1 | Operating segments |
The Group operates in four operating segments:
(i) | Life insurance business (Life) |
Life insurance business relates primarily to the sale of life insurance policies, including those life insurance policies without significant insurance risk transferred.
(ii) | Health insurance business (Health) |
Health insurance business relates primarily to the sale of health insurance policies, including those health insurance policies without significant insurance risk transferred.
(iii) | Accident insurance business (Accident) |
Accident insurance business relates primarily to the sale of accident insurance policies.
(iv) | Other businesses (Others) |
Other businesses relate primarily to income and cost of the agency business in respect of transactions with CLIC, etc., net share of profit of associates and joint ventures, income and expenses of subsidiaries, and unallocated income and expenditure of the Group.
2 | Allocation basis of income and expenses |
Investment income, net realised gains on financial assets, net fair value gains through profit or loss and foreign exchange gains/(losses) within other expenses are allocated among segments in proportion to the respective segments’ average liabilities of insurance contracts and investment contracts at the beginning and end of the year. Administrative expenses are allocated among segments in proportion to the unit cost of respective products in the different segments. Unallocated other income and other expenses are presented in the “Others” segment directly. Income tax is not allocated.
3 | Allocation basis of assets and liabilities |
Financial assets, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and derivative financial liabilities are allocated among segments in proportion to the respective segments’ average liabilities of insurance contracts and investment contracts at the beginning and end of the year. Insurance and investment contract liabilities are presented under the respective segments. The remaining assets and liabilities are not allocated.
- 47 -
For the year ended 31 December 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life | Health | Accident | Others | Elimination | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
RMB million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums | 485,642 | 115,329 | 14,219 | — | — | 615,190 | ||||||||||||||||||
– Term life | 2,322 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
– Whole life | 78,247 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
– Endowment | 137,467 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
– Annuity | 267,606 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | 484,504 | 108,791 | 14,530 | — | — | 607,825 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investment income | 165,523 | 11,426 | 425 | 9,255 | — | 186,629 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realised gains on financial assets | 11,739 | 799 | 30 | 139 | — | 12,707 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net fair value gains through profit or loss | (7,522 | ) | (512 | ) | (19 | ) | (4,103 | ) | — | (12,156 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other income | 1,270 | 80 | — | 11,366 | (3,333 | ) | 9,383 | |||||||||||||||||
Including: inter-segment revenue | — | — | — | 3,333 | (3,333 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | 655,514 | 120,584 | 14,966 | 16,657 | (3,333 | ) | 804,388 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Benefits, claims and expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance benefits and claims expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life insurance death and other benefits | (112,471 | ) | (6,858 | ) | (40 | ) | — | — | (119,369 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses | — | (46,215 | ) | (5,096 | ) | — | — | (51,311 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Increase in insurance contract liabilities | (424,860 | ) | (36,123 | ) | (315 | ) | — | — | (461,298 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Investment contract benefits | (12,887 | ) | (453 | ) | — | — | — | (13,340 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits | (20,566 | ) | (119 | ) | — | — | — | (20,685 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs | (37,722 | ) | (11,378 | ) | (4,165 | ) | (1,512 | ) | — | (54,777 | ) | |||||||||||||
Finance costs | (3,794 | ) | (258 | ) | (11 | ) | (800 | ) | — | (4,863 | ) | |||||||||||||
Administrative expenses | (24,398 | ) | (9,151 | ) | (2,639 | ) | (3,686 | ) | — | (39,874 | ) | |||||||||||||
Statutory insurance fund contribution | (888 | ) | (330 | ) | (96 | ) | — | — | (1,314 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other expenses | (8,345 | ) | (1,428 | ) | (335 | ) | (7,219 | ) | 3,333 | (13,994 | ) | |||||||||||||
Including: inter-segment expenses | (3,113 | ) | (212 | ) | (8 | ) | — | 3,333 | — | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment benefits, claims and expenses | (645,931 | ) | (112,313 | ) | (12,697 | ) | (13,217 | ) | 3,333 | (780,825 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Net gains on investments of associates and joint ventures | — | — | — | 484 | — | 484 | ||||||||||||||||||
Including: share of profit of associates and joint ventures | — | — | — | 3,628 | — | 3,628 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment results | 9,583 | 8,271 | 2,269 | 3,924 | — | 24,047 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Income tax | 9,467 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net profit | 33,514 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Attributable to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
– Equity holders of the Company | 32,082 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
– Non-controlling interests | 1,432 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income attributable to equity holders of the Company | (48,816 | ) | (3,322 | ) | (125 | ) | (2,889 | ) | — | (55,152 | ) | |||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortisation | 3,111 | 1,156 | 335 | 689 | — | 5,291 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 48 -
As at 31 December 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life | Health | Accident | Others | Elimination | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
RMB million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets | 4,251,305 | 280,667 | 10,274 | 302,044 | — | 4,844,290 | ||||||||||||||||||
Others | 8,871 | 16,427 | 806 | 261,179 | — | 287,283 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment assets | 4,260,176 | 297,094 | 11,080 | 563,223 | — | 5,131,573 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Unallocated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | 54,559 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Others | 65,856 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 5,251,988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance contracts | 3,605,769 | 265,369 | 9,022 | — | — | 3,880,160 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investment contracts | 355,750 | 18,999 | — | — | — | 374,749 | ||||||||||||||||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 131,317 | 8,937 | 337 | 8,367 | — | 148,958 | ||||||||||||||||||
Others | 91,682 | 5,614 | 398 | 16,118 | — | 113,812 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment liabilities | 4,184,518 | 298,919 | 9,757 | 24,485 | — | 4,517,679 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Unallocated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Others | 289,188 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 4,806,867 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
- 49 -
For the year ended 31 December 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life | Health | Accident | Others | Elimination | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
RMB million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross written premiums | 481,311 | 120,609 | 16,407 | — | — | 618,327 | ||||||||||||||||||
– Term life | 2,501 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
– Whole life | 69,923 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
– Endowment | 97,791 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
– Annuity | 311,096 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Net premiums earned | 480,214 | 114,549 | 16,488 | — | — | 611,251 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investment income | 160,204 | 10,831 | 496 | 6,856 | — | 178,387 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realised gains on financial assets | 18,768 | 1,256 | 58 | 262 | — | 20,344 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net fair value gains through profit or loss | 2,795 | 187 | 9 | 1,952 | — | 4,943 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 1,228 | 85 | — | 11,829 | (3,134 | ) | 10,008 | |||||||||||||||||
Including: inter-segment revenue | — | — | — | 3,134 | (3,134 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | 663,209 | 126,908 | 17,051 | 20,899 | (3,134 | ) | 824,933 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Benefits, claims and expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance benefits and claims expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life insurance death and other benefits | (114,657 | ) | (6,656 | ) | (41 | ) | — | — | (121,354 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses | — | (48,076 | ) | (6,954 | ) | — | — | (55,030 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Increase in insurance contract liabilities | (413,206 | ) | (28,956 | ) | (208 | ) | — | — | (442,370 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Investment contract benefits | (10,223 | ) | (405 | ) | — | — | — | (10,628 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits | (26,367 | ) | (144 | ) | — | — | — | (26,511 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs | (38,290 | ) | (21,021 | ) | (4,835 | ) | (1,598 | ) | — | (65,744 | ) | |||||||||||||
Finance costs | (4,608 | ) | (308 | ) | (14 | ) | (668 | ) | — | (5,598 | ) | |||||||||||||
Administrative expenses | (23,339 | ) | (11,069 | ) | (2,948 | ) | (3,511 | ) | — | (40,867 | ) | |||||||||||||
Statutory insurance fund contribution | (787 | ) | (367 | ) | (99 | ) | — | — | (1,253 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other expenses | (8,961 | ) | (1,307 | ) | (270 | ) | (8,162 | ) | 3,134 | (15,566 | ) | |||||||||||||
Including: inter-segment expenses | (2,929 | ) | (196 | ) | (9 | ) | — | 3,134 | — | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment benefits, claims and expenses | (640,438 | ) | (118,309 | ) | (15,369 | ) | (13,939 | ) | 3,134 | (784,921 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Net gains on investments of associates and joint ventures | — | — | — | 10,328 | — | 10,328 | ||||||||||||||||||
Including: share of profit of associates and joint ventures | — | — | — | 10,328 | — | 10,328 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment results | 22,771 | 8,599 | 1,682 | 17,288 | — | 50,340 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Income tax | 1,917 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net profit | 52,257 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Attributable to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
– Equity holders of the Company | 50,766 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
– Non-controlling interests | 1,491 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income attributable to equity holders of the Company | (5,290 | ) | (354 | ) | (16 | ) | 1,097 | — | (4,563 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortisation | 2,919 | 1,359 | 368 | 682 | — | 5,328 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 50 -
As at 31 December 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life | Health | Accident | Others | Elimination | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
RMB million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets | 4,001,202 | 259,618 | 11,668 | 223,843 | — | 4,496,331 | ||||||||||||||||||
Others | 9,893 | 16,044 | 569 | 257,953 | — | 284,459 | ||||||||||||||||||
�� |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Segment assets | 4,011,095 | 275,662 | 12,237 | 481,796 | — | 4,780,790 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Unallocated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | 55,632 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Others | 56,058 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 4,892,480 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance contracts | 3,180,931 | 228,899 | 10,069 | — | — | 3,419,899 | ||||||||||||||||||
Investment contracts | 296,104 | 17,490 | — | — | — | 313,594 | ||||||||||||||||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 217,288 | 14,536 | 672 | 6,950 | — | 239,446 | ||||||||||||||||||
Others | 87,371 | 5,276 | 379 | 22,638 | — | 115,664 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Segment liabilities | 3,781,694 | 266,201 | 11,120 | 29,588 | — | 4,088,603 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Unallocated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Others | 316,743 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 4,405,346 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
- 51 -
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
Basis of preparation
The Group has prepared these consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”), amendments to IFRSs and interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). These consolidated financial statements also comply with the applicable disclosure provisions of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Listing Rules”) and the applicable disclosure requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance. The Group has prepared the consolidated financial statements under the historical cost convention, except for financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, available for sale securities, insurance contract liabilities and certain property, plant and equipment at deemed cost as part of the Restructuring process. The preparation of financial statements in compliance with IFRSs requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies.
New accounting standards and amendments adopted by the Group for the first time for the financial year beginning on 1 January 2022
Standards/Amendments | Content | Effective for annual periods beginning | ||
Amendments to IFRS 3 | Update Reference to the Conceptual Framework | 1 January 2022 | ||
Amendments to IAS 16 | Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before intended use | 1 January 2022 | ||
Amendments to IAS 37 | Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract | 1 January 2022 | ||
Annual improvements | Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020 Cycle | 1 January 2022 |
These amendments did not have any significant impact on the financial position and performance of the Group.
- 52 -
New accounting standards and amendments that are effective for the financial year ended 31 December 2022 but temporary exemption is applied by the Group
Standards/Amendments | Content | Effective for annual | ||
IFRS 9 | Financial Instruments | 1 January 2018 |
IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments
In July 2014, the IASB issued the final version of IFRS 9, bringing together all phases of the financial instruments project to replace IAS 39 and all previous versions of IFRS 9. The standard introduces new requirements for classification and measurement, impairment, and hedge accounting. IFRS 9 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018, with early adoption permitted. Based on the current assessment, the Group expects that the adoption of IFRS 9 will have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Group has adopted the temporary exemption permitted in the Amendments to IFRS 4 Applying IFRS 9 Financial Instruments with IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts (“IFRS 4 Amendment”) to apply IAS 39 rather than IFRS 9, until the effective date of IFRS 17.
Classification and measurement
IFRS 9 requires that the Group classifies debt instruments based on the combined effect of application of business models (hold to collect contractual cash flows, hold to collect contractual cash flows and sell financial assets or other business models) and contractual cash flow characteristics (solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding or not). Debt instruments not giving rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding would be measured at fair value through profit or loss. Other debt instruments giving rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding would be measured at amortised cost, fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”) or fair value through profit or loss, based on their respective business models.
Equity instruments would generally be measured at fair value through profit or loss unless the Group elects to measure at FVOCI for certain equity investments not held for trading. This will result in unrealised gains and losses on equity instruments currently classified as available-for-sale securities being recorded in income going forward. Currently, these unrealised gains and losses are recognised in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). If the Group elects to record equity investments at FVOCI, gains and losses would be recognised in retained earnings when the instruments be disposed, except for the received dividends which do not represent a recovery of part of the investment cost.
The Group expects the presentation using IFRS 9 to result in an increase in financial assets measured at fair value at 1 January 2023, which will be more exposed to capital market fluctuations.
- 53 -
Impairment
IFRS 9 replaces the “incurred loss” model with the “expected credit loss” model which is designed to include forward-looking information. The Group believes that the provision for debt instruments of the Group under the “expected credit loss” model would be larger than that under the previous “incurred loss” model.
Hedge accounting
The Group does not apply the hedge accounting currently, so the Group expects that the new hedge accounting model under IFRS 9 will have no impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.
The Group will adopt IFRS 9 on 1 January 2023. The classification and measurement and impairment requirements are applied retrospectively by adjusting the opening balance sheet at the date of initial application, with no requirement to restate comparative periods. The Group does not intend to restate comparatives.
New accounting standards and amendments that are not yet effective and have not been early adopted by the Group for the financial year beginning on 1 January 2022
Standards/Amendments | Content | Effective for annual periods beginning on or after | ||||
IFRS 17 | Insurance Contracts | 1 January 2023 | ||||
Amendments to IAS 12 | Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction | 1 January 2023 | ||||
Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2 | Disclosure of Accounting Policies | 1 January 2023 | ||||
Amendments to IAS 8 | Definition of Accounting Estimates | 1 January 2023 | ||||
Amendments to IAS 1 | Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current | 1 January 2024 | ||||
Amendments to IAS 1 | Non-current Liabilities with Covenants | 1 January 2024 | ||||
Amendments to IFRS 16 | Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback | 1 January 2024 | ||||
Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 Amendments | Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture | | No mandatory effective date yet determined but available for adoption | |
The Group has not early adopted any standard, interpretation or amendment that has been issued but is not yet effective.
- 54 -
IFRS 17 – Insurance Contracts
In May 2017, the IASB issued IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts, a comprehensive new accounting standard for insurance contracts covering recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure, which replaces IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts. In June 2020, the IASB issued the amendments to IFRS 17 which include a deferral of the effective date of IFRS 17 to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. Insurers qualifying for the deferral of IFRS 9 can apply both IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 for the first time to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023.
The Group will adopt IFRS 17 for the preparation and disclosure of financial reports on 1 January 2023. The expected impact on the Group’s shareholders’ equity at 1 January 2023 is mainly due to these changes in IFRS 17 compared to IFRS 4, as follows:
• | It provides a comprehensive general model for insurance contracts, and the measurement is based on the building blocks of discounted, probability-weighted cash flows, a risk adjustment and a contractual service margin representing the unearned profit of the contract. It also provides the variable fee approach for insurance contracts with direct participation features and the premium allocation approach mainly for short-duration; |
• | The fulfilment cash flows include the expected present value of future cash flows and explicit risk adjustment, remeasured every reporting period; |
• | A contractual service margin represents the unearned profitability of the insurance contracts and is recognised in profit or loss over the coverage period; |
• | Certain changes in the fulfilment cash flows relating to future service adjusts the carrying amount of the contractual service margin at the end of the reporting period, and thereby will be recognised in profit or loss over the remaining coverage period; |
• | The discount rate assumption is determined based on observable current market situation that reflect the characteristics of the insurance contract. The effect of changes in discount rates will be reported in either profit or loss or OCI, determined by an accounting policy choice; |
• | The recognition of insurance revenue and insurance service expenses in the statement of comprehensive income based on the concept of services provided during the period; |
• | Amounts that the entity will repay to policyholders, regardless of whether an insured event occurs (non-distinct investment components) are not presented in the statement of comprehensive income, but are recognised directly in the statement of financial position; |
• | Variable fee approach should be adopted for insurance contracts with direct participation features where policyholders share in the returns from underlying items. When applying the variable fee approach, the entity’s share of the fair value changes of the underlying items is included in the CSM; |
- 55 -
• | An entity may simplify the measurement of a group of insurance contracts using the premium allocation approach if and only if the entity reasonably expects that such simplification would produce a measurement of the liability for remaining coverage for the group that would not differ materially from the one that would be produced applying the general model or the coverage period of each contract in the group is one year or less at the inception of the group; |
• | Insurance revenue, insurance service expenses and insurance finance income and expenses are presented separately; |
• | Extensive disclosures to provide information on the recognised amounts from insurance contracts and the nature and extent of risks arising from these contracts. |
For insurance contracts with accounting treatments that are inconsistent with the provisions of IFRS 17 prior to 1 January 2022, the Group will adopt retrospective approach. When full retrospective approach is impracticable, the Group will adopt modified retrospective approach or fair value approach.
Except for IFRS 17, there are no other new accounting standards, amendments or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective but would be expected to have a significant impact on the financial position and performance of the Group.
- 56 -
EMBEDDED VALUE
ASSUMPTIONS
Economic assumptions: The calculations are based upon assumed corporate tax rate of 25% for all years. The investment return is assumed to be 5% per annum. 17% grading to 21% (remaining level thereafter) of the investment return is assumed to be exempt from income tax. The investment return and tax exempt assumptions are based on the Company’s strategic asset mix and expected future returns. The risk-adjusted discount rate used is 10% per annum.
Other operating assumptions such as mortality, morbidity, lapses and expenses are based on the Company’s recent operating experience and expected future outlook.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
The embedded value as at 31 December 2022, the value of one year’s sales for the 12 months ended 31 December 2022, and the corresponding results as at 31 December 2021 are shown below:
Components of Embedded Value and Value of One Year’s Sales | RMB million | |||||||
ITEM | 31 December 2022 | 31 December 2021 | ||||||
A Adjusted Net Worth | 682,694 | 674,317 | ||||||
B Value of In-Force Business before Cost of Required Capital | 620,053 | 593,137 | ||||||
C Cost of Required Capital | (72,227 | ) | (64,446 | ) | ||||
D Value of In-Force Business after Cost of Required Capital (B + C) | 547,825 | 528,691 | ||||||
E Embedded Value (A + D) | 1,230,519 | 1,203,008 | ||||||
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F Value of One Year’s Sales before Cost of Required Capital | 43,278 | 50,474 | ||||||
G Cost of Required Capital | (7,274 | ) | (5,693 | ) | ||||
H Value of One Year’s Sales after Cost of Required Capital (F + G) | 36,004 | 44,780 | ||||||
Including: Value of One Year’s Sales of Individual Agent Business Sector | 33,333 | 42,945 | ||||||
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Note: | Numbers may not be additive due to rounding. |
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SUMMARY OF RESULTS (continued)
The new business margin of one year’s sales of individual agent business sector for the 12 months ended 31 December 2022 is shown below:
New Business Margin of One Year’s Sales of Individual Agent Business Sector
31 December 2022 | 31 December 2021 | |||||||
By First Year Premium | 29.1% | 41.6% | ||||||
By Annual Premium Equivalent | 33.0% | 42.2% | ||||||
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Note: | First Year Premium is the written premium used for calculation of the value of one year’s sales and Annual Premium Equivalent is calculated as the sum of 100 percent of first year regular premiums and 10 percent of single premiums. |
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MOVEMENT ANALYSIS
The following analysis tracks the movement of the embedded value from the start to the end of the Reporting Period:
Analysis of Embedded Value Movement in 2022 | RMB million | |||
ITEM | ||||
A Embedded Value at the Start of Year | 1,203,008 | |||
B Expected Return on Embedded Value | 89,984 | |||
C Value of New Business in the Period | 36,004 | |||
D Operating Experience Variance | 583 | |||
E Investment Experience Variance | (97,076 | ) | ||
F Methodology, Model and Assumption Changes | (2,651 | ) | ||
G Market Value and Other Adjustments | 16,653 | |||
H Exchange Gains or Losses | 699 | |||
I Shareholder Dividend Distribution and Capital Changes | (18,372 | ) | ||
J Others | 1,687 | |||
K Embedded Value as at 31 December 2022 (sum A through J) | 1,230,519 | |||
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Notes:
Items B through J are explained below:
B | Reflects expected impact of covered business, and the expected return on investments supporting the 2022 opening net worth. |
C | Value of one year’s sales for the 12 months ended 31 December 2022. |
D | Reflects the difference between actual operating experience in 2022 (including mortality, morbidity, lapse, and expenses etc.) and the assumptions. |
E | Compares actual with expected investment returns during 2022. |
F | Reflects the effects of appraisal methodology and model enhancement, and assumption changes. |
G | Change in the market value adjustment from the beginning of year 2022 to 31 December 2022 and other adjustments. |
H | Reflects the gains or losses due to changes in exchange rate. |
I | Reflects dividends distributed to shareholders during 2022. |
J | Other miscellaneous items. |
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SENSITIVITY RESULTS
Sensitivity tests were performed using a range of alternative assumptions. In each of the sensitivity tests, only the assumption referred to was changed, with all other assumptions remaining unchanged. The results are summarized below:
Sensitivity Results | RMB million | |||||||
Value of In-Force Business after Cost of Required Capital | Value of One year’s Sales after Cost of Required Capital | |||||||
Base case scenario | 547,825 | 36,004 | ||||||
1. Risk discount rate +50bps | 523,130 | 34,228 | ||||||
2. Risk discount rate -50bps | 574,291 | 37,915 | ||||||
3. Investment return +50bps | 659,047 | 44,510 | ||||||
4. Investment return -50bps | 437,094 | 27,524 | ||||||
5. 10% increase in expenses | 541,410 | 33,078 | ||||||
6. 10% decrease in expenses | 554,241 | 38,929 | ||||||
7. 10% increase in mortality rate for non-annuity products and 10% decrease in mortality rate for annuity products | 544,103 | 35,261 | ||||||
8. 10% decrease in mortality rate for non-annuity products and 10% increase in mortality rate for annuity products | 551,508 | 36,750 | ||||||
9. 10% increase in lapse rates | 547,791 | 35,368 | ||||||
10. 10% decrease in lapse rates | 547,872 | 36,677 | ||||||
11. 10% increase in morbidity rates | 539,551 | 34,308 | ||||||
12. 10% decrease in morbidity rates | 556,253 | 37,701 | ||||||
13. Using 2021 EV appraisal assumptions | 548,268 | 35,922 | ||||||
14. Allowing for diversification in calculation of VIF | 593,331 | — | ||||||
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Company has applied the principles of the Corporate Governance Code (the “CG Code”) as set out in Appendix 14 to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Save for code provision F.2.2, the Company has complied with all code provisions of the CG Code during the Reporting Period. Mr. Bai Tao, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, was unable to attend the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Company as required by code provision F.2.2 due to the reason of pandemic prevention and control. Mr. Li Mingguang, an Executive Director of the Company, was elected by the Board to preside over the meeting, and communicated with shareholders in an effective manner.
PURCHASE, SALES OR REDEMPTION OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES
During the Reporting Period, the Company and its subsidiaries did not purchase, sell or redeem any of the Company’s listed securities.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ATTENDING THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND CLOSURE OF REGISTER OF MEMBERS FOR H SHARES
The H Share register of members of the Company will be closed for the purpose of determining H Share shareholders’ entitlement to attend the Annual General Meeting, from Thursday, 8 June 2023 to Wednesday, 28 June 2023 (both days inclusive), during which period no transfer of H Shares will be registered. In order to attend the Annual General Meeting, H Share shareholders should ensure that all transfer documents, accompanied by the relevant share certificates, are lodged with the Company’s H Share registrar, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, at Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong, not later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 June 2023.
RECOMMENDATION OF FINAL DIVIDEND, WITHHOLDING AND PAYMENT OF INCOME TAX, AND CLOSURE OF REGISTER OF MEMBERS FOR H SHARES
The Board of Directors has recommended a final dividend of RMB0.49 per share (inclusive of tax), amounting to a total of approximately RMB13,850 million, subject to the approval of shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, 28 June 2023. If approved, the final dividend is expected to be paid on Thursday, 24 August 2023 to the H Share shareholders whose names appear on the H Share register of members of the Company on Wednesday, 12 July 2023.
The H Share register of members of the Company will be closed from Friday, 7 July 2023 to Wednesday, 12 July 2023 (both days inclusive), during which period no transfer of H Shares will be registered. In order to be entitled to the dividend, H Share shareholders should ensure that all transfer documents, accompanied by the relevant share certificates, are lodged with the Company’s H Share registrar, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, at Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong, not later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, 6 July 2023.
According to the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China (《中華人民共和國企業所得稅法》) and its implementation regulations which came into effect on 1 January 2008 and were amended on 29 December 2018 and other relevant rules and regulations, the Company is required to withhold and pay enterprise income tax at the rate of 10% before distributing the 2022 final dividend to non-resident enterprise shareholders as appearing on the H Share register of members of the Company. Any shares registered in the name of non-individual registered shareholders, including HKSCC Nominees Limited, other nominees, trustees or other groups and organizations, will be treated as being held by non-resident enterprise shareholders and therefore will be subject to the withholding of the enterprise income tax.
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Pursuant to the Individual Income Tax Law of People’s Republic of China (《中華人民共和國個人所得稅法》) and its implementation regulations and other relevant rules and regulations, the Company is required to withhold and pay individual income tax before distributing the 2022 final dividend to individual shareholders as appearing on the H Share register of members of the Company (the “Individual H Shareholders”). However, the Individual H Shareholders may be entitled to certain tax preferential treatments pursuant to the tax treaties between the PRC and the countries (regions) in which the Individual H Shareholders are domiciled and the tax arrangements between Mainland China and Hong Kong (Macau). In this regard, the Company will implement the following arrangements in relation to the withholding and payment of individual income tax for the Individual H Shareholders:
• | For Individual H Shareholders who are Hong Kong or Macau residents or whose country (region) of domicile is a country (region) which has entered into a tax treaty with the PRC stipulating a tax rate of 10%, the Company will withhold and pay individual income tax at the rate of 10% on behalf of the Individual H Shareholders in the distribution of final dividend; |
• | For Individual H Shareholders whose country (region) of domicile is a country (region) which has entered into a tax treaty with the PRC stipulating a tax rate of less than 10%, the Company will temporarily withhold and pay individual income tax at the rate of 10% on behalf of the Individual H Shareholders in the distribution of final dividend; |
• | For Individual H Shareholders whose country (region) of domicile is a country (region) which has entered into a tax treaty with the PRC stipulating a tax rate of more than 10% but less than 20%, the Company will withhold and pay individual income tax at the effective tax rate stipulated in the relevant tax treaty in the distribution of final dividend; |
• | For Individual H Shareholders whose country (region) of domicile is a country (region) which has entered into a tax treaty with the PRC stipulating a tax rate of 20%, or a country (region) which has not entered into any tax treaties with the PRC, or under any other circumstances, the Company will withhold and pay individual income tax at the rate of 20% on behalf of the Individual H Shareholders in the distribution of final dividend. |
If Individual H Shareholders consider that the tax rate adopted by the Company for the withholding and payment of individual income tax on their behalf is not the same as the tax rate stipulated in any tax treaties between the PRC and the countries (regions) in which they are domiciled, please submit promptly to the H Share registrar of the Company, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, a letter of entrustment and all application materials showing that they are residents of a country (region) which has entered into a tax treaty with the PRC. The Company will then submit the above documents to competent tax authorities who will proceed with the subsequent tax related arrangements.
As to the A Share shareholders, it is expected that the Company will complete the distribution of the 2022 final dividend by Thursday, 13 July 2023. The Company will announce separately on the Shanghai Stock Exchange details of the arrangement regarding the distribution of the 2022 final dividend to its A Share shareholders.
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For Hong Kong investors (including enterprises and individuals) investing in the Company’s A Shares via the Shanghai Stock Connect Program, their dividends will be distributed in RMB by the Company through the Shanghai Branch of China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited to the account of the nominee holding such A Shares. The Company will withhold and pay income tax at the rate of 10% on behalf of those investors. For investors via the Shanghai Stock Connect Program who are tax residents of other countries and whose country of domicile is a country which has entered into a tax treaty with the PRC stipulating a dividend tax rate of less than 10%, those enterprises or individuals may, or may entrust a withholding agent to, apply to the competent tax authorities for the entitlement of the rate under such tax treaty. Upon approval by the tax authorities, the paid amount in excess of the tax payable based on the tax rate according to such tax treaty will be refunded. The record date, the dividend distribution date and other arrangements for investors via the Shanghai Stock Connect Program will be the same as those for the Company’s A Share shareholders.
For Shanghai and Shenzhen investors (including enterprises and individuals) investing in the Company’s H Shares via the Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, the Shanghai Branch and the Shenzhen Branch of China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited, as the nominees of the holders of H Shares for investors via the Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, will receive the dividends distributed by the Company and distribute such dividends to the relevant investors through its depositary and clearing system. The final dividend to be distributed to the investors of H Shares via the Hong Kong Stock Connect Program will be paid in RMB. The record date for investors of H Shares via the Hong Kong Stock Connect Program will be the same as that for the H Share shareholders of the Company. If approved at the Annual General Meeting, the final dividend is expected to be paid on Tuesday, 29 August 2023 to the investors of H Shares via the Hong Kong Stock Connect Program. Pursuant to the Notice on Relevant Taxation Policies Concerning the Pilot Inter-connected Mechanism for Trading on the Shanghai Stock Market and the Hong Kong Stock Market (Cai Shui [2014] No. 81)(《關於滬港股票市場交易互聯互通機制試點有關稅收政策的通知》(財稅 [2014]81 號)) promulgated on 17 November 2014, the Notice on Relevant Taxation Policies Concerning the Pilot Inter-connected Mechanism for Trading on the Shenzhen Stock Market and the Hong Kong Stock Market (Cai Shui [2016] No. 127)(《關於深港股票市場交易互聯互通機制試點有關稅收政策的通知》 (財稅 [2016]127 號)) promulgated on 5 December 2016, the Notice of the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation and the China Securities Regulatory Commission on Continuing to Implement the Relevant Individual Income Tax Policy Concerning the Inter-connected Mechanism for Trading on the Shanghai Stock Market and the Hong Kong Stock Market (Cai Shui [2017] No. 78) (《財政部 稅務總局 證監會關於繼續執行滬港股票市場交易互聯互通機制有關個人所得稅政策的通知》(財稅[2017]78號)) promulgated on 17 November 2017 and the Announcement on the Continued Implementation of the Individual Income Tax Policies on the Inter-connected Mechanisms for Trading on the Shanghai and Hong Kong Stock Markets and for Trading on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong Stock Markets and on the Mutual Recognition of Funds between the Mainland and Hong Kong (Announcement No. 93 [2019] of the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration and the China Securities Regulatory Commission) (《關於繼續執行滬港、深港股票市場交易互聯互通機制和内地與香港基金互認有關個人所得稅政策的公告》 (財政部 稅務總局 證監會公告2019年第93號)) promulgated on 5 December 2019, and the Announcement on the Continued Implementation of the Preferential Individual Income Tax Policies (Announcement No. 2 [2023] of the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration) (《關於延續實施有關個人所得稅優惠政策的公告》(財政部 稅務總局公告2023年第2號)) promulgated on 16 January 2023.
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• | For Mainland individual investors who invest in the H Shares of the Company via the Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, the Company will withhold individual income tax at the rate of 20% in the distribution of the final dividend. Individual investors may, by producing valid tax payment proofs, apply to the competent tax authority of China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited for tax refund relating to the withholding tax already paid abroad. For Mainland securities investment funds that invest in the H Shares of the Company via the Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, the Company will withhold individual income tax in the distribution of the final dividend pursuant to the foregoing provisions; |
• | For Mainland enterprise investors that invest in the H Shares of the Company via the Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, the Company will not withhold the income tax in the distribution of the final dividend and the Mainland enterprise investors shall file the tax returns on their own. |
INFORMATION ON DELISTING AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES FROM THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
As considered and approved by the sixteenth meeting of the seventh session of the Board of Directors of the Company, after taking into account a number of considerations, including the limited trading volume of its American depositary shares (“ADSs”) relative to the worldwide trading volume of its overseas listed shares (“H Shares”), and the considerable administrative costs of maintaining the listing of the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the registration of the ADSs and the underlying H Shares under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and complying with the periodic reporting requirements and related obligations of the Exchange Act, the Company filed a Form 25 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on 22 August 2022 to delist its ADSs from the NYSE under the Exchange Act. The last day of trading of the ADSs on the NYSE was 1 September 2022 and the delisting of the ADSs took effect on 2 September 2022. The termination of the ADS program became effective on 11 November 2022. Holders of ADSs will be able to surrender their ADSs to the depositary for cancellation and to take delivery of the H Shares at any time prior to 11 May 2023, with each ADS surrendered to be exchanged into 5 H Shares of the Company, in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement entered into by and among the Company, the depositary and the holders of ADSs and the terms and conditions of the ADSs. For details, please refer to the announcements published by the Company on the HKExnews website of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited on 12 August 2022 and 2 September 2022, respectively.
REVIEW OF ANNUAL RESULTS
The Audit Committee of the Company has reviewed the annual results of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022. The 2022 consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers based on the International Standards on Auditing and PricewaterhouseCoopers has issued standard unqualified opinions on the 2022 consolidated financial statements.
PUBLICATION OF ANNUAL REPORT
The Company’s annual report will be published on the Company’s website (http://www.e-chinalife.com) and the HKExnews website of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (http://www.hkexnews.hk) in due course.
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This announcement is published in both English and Chinese. Should there be any inconsistency between the Chinese and English versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.
As at the date of this announcement, the Board of Directors of the Company comprises:
Executive Directors: | Bai Tao, Zhao Peng, Li Mingguang | |
Non-executive Director: | Wang Junhui | |
Independent Non-executive Directors: | Lam Chi Kuen, Zhai Haitao, Huang Yiping, Chen Jie |
By Order of the Board |
CHINA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED |
Heng Victor Ja Wei |
Company Secretary |
Beijing, China
29 March 2023
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