Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Insurance - Diversified / Baloise-Holding AG / FY2012 Annual Report

Baloise-Holding AG
Annual Report 2012

BLHEY · OTC Financial Services
Claim this profile
Ticker BLHEY
Exchange OTC
Sector Financial Services
Industry Insurance - Diversified
Employees 5001-10,000
← All annual reports
FY2012 Annual Report · Baloise-Holding AG
Loading PDF…
2
1
0
2
t
r
o
p
e
R

l
a
u
n
n
A

d
T
l
g
n

i

d
l
o
H
e
s

i

o
l
â
B

Bâloise Holding lTd
Aeschengraben 21
CH-4002 Basel

www.baloise.com

Making you safer. For 150 years.

00_JB_Umschlag_en.indd   1

19.03.2013   13:29:43

Bâloise Holding Ltd AnnuAL RepoRt 2012 
 
 
 
 
 
00_JB_Umschlag_en.indd   2

19.03.2013   13:29:43

Bâloise Holding Ltd
Annual Report 2012

01_JB_Die Baloise_en�indd   1

19�03�2013   13:30:33

Who we are: Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the Baloise 
Group is a European provider of insurance and pension  
solutions. In Switzerland, the Group operates as a specialised  
financial services provider, offering a combination of  
insurance and banking services. The Group also has a market 
presence in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg,  
Liechtenstein, Croatia and Serbia. Its sales network includes  
its own sales organisation, as well as brokers and other  
partners. Baloise operates its innovative pension plan  
business for private customers throughout Europe with its 
competence centre in Luxembourg. Bâloise Holding Ltd shares 
are quoted in the main segment of the SIX Swiss Exchange.  
The Baloise Group employs some 8,800 people.

What we stand for: We want people to feel safe. To play our 
part in this respect, we created the “Safety World”. Everything 
we do is aimed at safety. As such, we consciously go further 
than other insurance companies: we combine insurance with 
smart prevention. In this way, we help to ensure that losses  
do not occur in the first place. Should something happen never-
theless, then we’re right there. Fast and capable as always.

01_JB_Die Baloise_en�indd   2

19�03�2013   13:30:33

Baloise
Baloise key figures  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
At a glance  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
Letter to shareholders  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 6
Baloise share  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8
Our markets  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10
Brand  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 12

Review of oPeRaTiNG PeRfoRMaNCe
Group  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 16
Switzerland  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 20
Germany  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 21
Belgium and Luxembourg  ������������������������������������������������������������������ 22
Other units and Group business  ������������������������������������������������������ 23
Consolidated income statement  ������������������������������������������������������� 24
Consolidated balance sheet  ���������������������������������������������������������������� 26
Business volume, premiums and combined ratio  �������������������� 27
Technical income statement  �������������������������������������������������������������� 29
Gross premiums by sectors  ����������������������������������������������������������������� 30
Banking activities  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31
Investment performance  ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 32

sUsTaiNaBle BUsiNess MaNaGeMeNT
Human resources  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 36
Ecology ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 40
Risk management  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 42

CoRPoRaTe GoveRNaNCe 
Corporate Governance Report
including Remuneration Report  ������������������������������������������������������ 48

fiNaNCial RePoRT 
Consolidated balance sheet  ���������������������������������������������������������������� 86
Consolidated income statement  ������������������������������������������������������� 88
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income  ����������������� 89
Consolidated cash flow statement  ��������������������������������������������������� 90
Consolidated statement of changes in equity  ���������������������������� 92
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements  ��������� 94
Notes to the consolidated balance sheet  ������������������������������������  158
Notes to the consolidated income statement  ��������������������������  199
Other disclosures  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������  212
Report of the statutory auditor to the  
General Meeting of Bâloise Holding Ltd, Basel  ���������������������  222

Bâloise holdiNG lTd 
Income statement Bâloise Holding  ����������������������������������������������  226
Balance sheet Bâloise Holding  �������������������������������������������������������  227
Notes to the financial statements of Bâloise Holding  ���������  228
Appropriation of distributable profit as
proposed by the Board of Directors  ��������������������������������������������  235
Report of the statutory auditor to the  
General Meeting of Bâloise Holding Ltd, Basel  ���������������������  236

NoTes 
Glossary  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  240
Addresses  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  244
Information on the Baloise Group  �����������������������������������������������  245
Financial calendar and contacts  ���������������������������������������������������  246

01_JB_Die Baloise_en�indd   3

19�03�2013   13:30:33

4

Baloise
Baloise key figures

Baloise key figures

CHF million

Business volume

Gross premiums written (non-life)

Gross premiums written (life)

sub-total of ifRs gross premiums written 1

Investment-type premiums

Total business volume

operating profit (loss)

Profit / loss before borrowing costs and taxes

Non-life

Life5

Banking

Other activities

Profit for the period

Balance sheet

Recognised assets including investment-type life insurance 2

Technical reserves

Equity

Ratios (per cent)

Return on equity (RoE)

Gross combined ratio (non-life)

Net combined ratio (non-life)

New business margin (life)

Investment performance (insurance) 6

embedded value of life insurance policies

Embedded value (MCEV)

Annual premium equivalent (APE)

Value of new business

Key figures on the Company's shares

Shares issued (units)

Basic earnings per share 3 (CHF)

Diluted earnings per share 3 (CHF)

Equity per share 3 (CHF)

Closing price (CHF)

Market capitalisation (CHF million)

Dividend per share 4 (CHF)

2011

2012

Change (%) 

3,143.5

3,659.8

6,803.3

1,341.2

8,144.5

127.0

15.9

73.3

– 72.3

61.3

3,317.7

3,424.0

6,741.7

1,616.6

8,358.3

353.5

176.7

72.8

– 47.2

442.4

64,507.0

45,561.9

3,893.6

69,207.6

46,702.3

4,872.8

1.6

92.4

95.5

10.2

2.8

10.3

93.1

94.1

8.9

6.6

2,153.0

2,752.8

341.7

34.9

264.4

23.5

50,000,000

50,000,000

1.30

1.29

82.3

64.40

3,220.0

4.50

9.32

9.08

103.2

78.50

3,925.0

4.50

5.5

– 6.4

– 0.9

20.5

2.6

178.3

1,011.3

– 0.7

– 34.7

621.7

7.3

2.5

25.1

–

–

–

–

–

27.9

– 22.6

– 32.7

0.0

616.9

603.9

25.4

21.9

21.9

0.0

1   Premiums written and policy fees (gross).
2   Investments for the account and at the risk of life insurance policyholders.
3   Calculation is based on profit for the period and equity before minority interests respectively.
4   2012 based on the proposal submitted to the Annual General Meeting.
5   Of which deferred gains / losses from other operating segments (31 December 2011: CHF 10.8 million; 31 December 2012: CHF – 6.6 million).
6   Excluding investments for the account and at the risk of life insurance policyholders.

01_JB_Die Baloise_en�indd   4

19�03�2013   13:30:34

Baloise
At a glance

5

At a glance

Net combined ratio of 

94.1 per cent

“Baloise 2012” programme: 
boosted long-term profita-
bility by CHF 214 million

Total volume of business up 

3.8 per cent

Return of 
6.6 per cent 
on investments

Profit of 

CHF 437 million 

Solvency ratio of 

277 per cent

Equity of 

CHF 4,872.8 million

New business margin of 

8.9 per cent

Return on equity 

(RoE) of 10.3 per cent

Consistent high level of dividend for the past six years

CHF 4.50 per share

(will be proposed to Annual General Meeting on 2 May 2013)

What we want to achieve: In future we will continue to focus on our high-quality  
and profitable core business. We therefore aim to achieve a combined ratio of between  
93 per cent and 96 per cent in our non-life business, while in our life insurance  
we are looking to attain a new business margin in excess of 10 per cent. As far as  
our operational profitability is concerned, we plan to achieve a return on equity  
of between 8 per cent and 12 per cent and to continue our practice of paying consistent, 
attractive dividends. 

01_JB_Die Baloise_en.indd   5

21.03.2013   15:51:20

6

Baloise
Letter to shareholders

Dr Andreas Burckhardt, Chairman of the Board of Directors (left)  
and Dr Martin Strobel, Group CEO (right)

Safe, secure, reliable and profitable –  
for the past 150 years

DEAR SHAREHOLDER

This  year  sees  Baloise  celebrating  its  150th  anniversary  –  a 
truly impressive milestone that we are proud of and that reminds 
us of our huge responsibility. Our organisation’s existence dates 
back  to  the  original  company  called  “Basler-Versicherungs-
Gesellschaft gegen Feuerschaden” (Basler Insurance Company 
against Fire Damage), which in turn had its origins in a fire that 
devastated the Swiss town of Glarus on 10 May 1861.

Observers at the time realised that you need institutions 
that act in the common interest by identifying and mitigating 

risks  and  spreading  them  across  a  large  number  of  people, 
thereby offering protection against their consequences. This is 
something that no one individual can achieve. It is therefore 
quite true to say that modern-day life would be impossible with-
out insurance. The Board of Directors, the Corporate Executive 
Committee and all members of staff feel an enormous sense  
of motivation in working for a company that is important to  
society at large. 

01_JB_Die Baloise_en.indd   6

19.03.2013   15:01:14

Baloise
Letter to shareholders

7

We are delighted that Baloise has been able to act as a reliable 
and safe partner to our employees, customers and shareholders 
for so long. On behalf of the entire workforce we would like to 
thank you for the trust and confidence that you place in us year 
after year.

The financial results that Baloise is presenting for 2012 
show that the Company has returned to its usual strength after 
facing a difficult year in 2011. Our profit of 436.6 million Swiss 
francs demonstrates the robust operational profitability of our 
insurance business, which underpins what Baloise does. We 
understand safety and security to mean that we need to do eve-
rything we can to ensure that we assess risks accurately and 
then act accordingly, whether by underwriting new insurance 
policies or selecting the right investments. By doing so, we aim 
to raise the Company’s value as much as possible. The low com-
bined ratio of 94.1 per cent in our non-life business and the 
impressive 6.6 per cent rate of return on our investments are 
proof positive that we continued to adhere strictly to this ambi-
tion during the reporting year. The fact that Baloise is a safe 
and secure organisation is also underscored by its substantial 
equity of almost 5 billion francs and its excellent solvency ratio 
of 277 per cent.

We aim to honour our promise  
of “Making you safer” every  
single day.

Our main mission is to demonstrate reliability in our dealings 
with our employees, customers and shareholders. We do our 
utmost to keep our promise of “Making you safer” day after day. 
Our stability and profitability enable us to offer our employees 
secure jobs. We nurture talent and develop our managerial staff 
to equip them for the varied and challenging tasks that they 
have to perform in a complex environment. We aim to be a 
reliable partner to our customers by offering them the very best 
– whether prevention services as part of the “Baloise Safety 
World”, top-quality products or efficient claims handling. This 
is because rather than just settling claims we want to help pre-
vent them from occurring in the first place. And, finally, reli-
ability towards our shareholders means that the capital which 
they invest in our company is employed prudently so that it 
yields long-term rewards. 

We have brought our “Baloise 2012” strategic growth and earn-
ings enhancement programme to a successful conclusion. Over 
the course of four years we used this programme to implement 
approximately 100 measures at all business units, thereby rais-
ing Baloise’s long-term profitability by 214 million Swiss francs. 
At the same time we successfully dealt with the challenges thrown 
up by the financial and euro crises. 

Our excellent financial results, solid profitability and strong 
capitalisation have enabled us to continue our longstanding 
practice of paying attractive dividends. We will therefore propose 
to the Annual General Meeting on 2 May this year that a divi-
dend of CHF 4.50 per share be paid. The high level of this pay-
out has been maintained for the past six years. This is what 
Baloise means by reliability.

We are approaching the challenges that lie ahead with  
a sense of purpose and optimism. We are drawing on our 150-
year track record as a Swiss institution to ensure that we con-
tinue to add value – in a safe, secure, reliable and profitable way. 
We remain true to our virtues, striving to achieve quality growth 
by focusing on risk-conscious target customers and potential 
partners and by prioritising sustainable value. With these goals 
firmly fixed in our minds, we will continue to build on what we 
have already achieved. The measures that we take over the next 
few years will concentrate on four areas: generating above-av-
erage growth in our target segments, improving our efficiency, 
enhancing the long-term value of our life insurance business at 
a time of low interest rates, and optimising our non-life opera-
tions by further developing our risk management capabilities.
In future we will continue to focus on our high-quality 
and profitable core business. We therefore aim to achieve a com-
bined ratio of between 93 per cent and 96 per cent in our non-
life business, while in our life insurance we are looking to attain 
a new business margin in excess of 10 per cent. As far as our 
operational profitability is concerned, we plan to achieve a return 
on equity of between 8 per cent and 12 per cent and to con-
tinue our practice of paying consistent, attractive dividends. 

Basel, March 2013

Dr Andreas Burckhardt 

Dr Martin Strobel

Chairman of the Board of Directors 

Group CEO

01_JB_Die Baloise_en.indd   7

21.03.2013   15:51:21

 
8

Baloise
Baloise share

Baloise shares deliver impressive performance  

Baloise shares* ended 2012 on a high note at a price of CHF 78.50, which constituted an annual 
return of 21.9 per cent. In addition, a dividend of CHF 4.50 per share, which would represent  
a dividend yield of 5.7 per cent, will be proposed to the Annual General Meeting. This would 
make 2013 yet another year in which our shareholders receive a highly attractive payout.

The European sovereign debt crisis and the persistently low 
level of interest rates continued to dominate the financial mar-
kets in 2012� The insurance industry’s situation is being exac-
erbated by the uncertainty as to how regulatory requirements 
such as Solvency II will pan out� Although the fairly gloomy 
macroeconomic outlook continued to prevail, the equity mar-
kets turned in an impressive performance and had posted sig-
nificant gains by the end of the year� Insurance stocks received 
an especially strong boost from this upward trend and comfort-
ably outperformed the market as a whole� 

Having got off to a flying start in 2012, the equity markets 
suffered setbacks in the second quarter of the year and surren-
dered a considerable portion of their gains� Baloise’s share price 
was no different: after advancing almost 20 per cent in the first 
three months, it had shed these gains by the middle of 2012 and 
at the end of June was 3�0 per cent below where it had been at 
the beginning of the year� Over the same period the Swiss Mar-
ket Index rose by 2�2 per cent, while the European insurance 
sector index added 7�3 per cent� 

The second half of the year saw a return to the stellar share 
price performance of the first quarter� The 25�6 per cent surge 
in Baloise stocks in the second half of 2012 was roughly twice 
the size of the gains posted by the Swiss Market Index and the 
Swiss insurance sector index, which added 12�5 per cent and 
14�6 per cent respectively� 

Having closed the year at CHF 78�50, Baloise shares gen-
erated a return of 21�9 per cent for 2012 as a whole, thereby 
comfortably outperforming the Swiss Market Index, which was 
14�9 per cent higher than it had been at the beginning of the 
year� The Swiss insurance sector index performed more or less 
in  line  with  Baloise,  gaining  23�0  per  cent  over  the  year  as  
a whole, while its European counterpart achieved an even more 
impressive increase of 32�9 per cent compared with its level at 
the beginning of 2012�

Baloise shares are included in the Swiss Leader Index (SLI)� This 
index comprises the 30 largest and most liquid Swiss equities

divideNds Paid To shaReholdeRs
The Board of Directors of Bâloise Holding Ltd will propose to 
the Annual General Meeting on 2 May 2013 that a cash dividend 
of CHF 4�50 per share be paid for the 2012 financial year� This 
would represent a dividend yield of 5�7 per cent of the year-end 
share price� 

Year (CHF million)

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total 

Cash dividends

share buy-backs

Total

243.0

225.0

225.0

225.0

225.0

130.3

71.5

34.7

17.1

–

373.3

296.5

259.7

242.1

225.0

1,143.0

253.6

1,396.6

All figures stated as at 31 December.

Information on Baloise’s share buy-back programme 2008–2011 
can be found at
www.baloise.com  →  Investor Relations →  Baloise share
  →  Share buy-back programme

shaReholdeR sTRUCTURe
The shares in Bâloise Holding Ltd are widely held and their free 
float remains unchanged at 100 per cent� Several changes in 
Baloise’s shareholder base took place during the 2012 financial 
year�  The  shareholding  owned  by  BlackRock,  Inc�  and  its  

*Baloise share = share of Bâloise holding ltd.

01_JB_Die Baloise_en�indd   8

19�03�2013   13:30:57

Baloise
Baloise share

9

subsidiaries fell below the notifiable threshold of 5 per cent on  
29 March 2012 and subsequently amounted to 4�99 per cent of 
the outstanding registered shares in Bâloise Holding Ltd� Sev-
eral collective investments managed by UBS Fund Management 
(Switzerland) AG together rose above the threshold of 3 per cent 
on 9 November 2012 and subsequently amounted to 3�24 per 

cent of Baloise’s outstanding registered shares� The sharehold-
ing owned by the Signal Iduna Group fell below the threshold 
of 5 per cent on 28 November 2012 and subsequently amount-
ed to 4�96 per cent� Further information on Baloise’s significant 
shareholders as at 31 December 2012 can be found in the table 
on page 233�

sTaTisTiCs oN Baloise shaRes

Price at year-end (CHF)

High (CHF)

Low (CHF)

Market capitalisation (CHF million)

Basic earnings per share (CHF)

Diluted earnings per share (CHF)

Price / earnings (p / e) ratio 1

Price / book (p / b) ratio 1

Number of shares issued (units)

31.12.2008

31.12.2009

31.12.2010

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

78.50

119.80

44.80

86.05

102.60

52.60

91.00

97.85

74.15

64.40

103.30

60.15

78.50

80.56

58.30

3,925.0

4,302.5

4,550.0

3,220.0

3,925.0

7.33

7.32

10.71

1.00

8.64

8.57

9.96

0.95

9.14

8.89

9.96

1.05

1.30

1.29

49.54

0.78

9.32

9.08

8.42

0.76

50,000,000

50,000,000

50,000,000

50,000,000

50,000,000

Minus the number of treasury shares (units)

1,566,985

2,282,790

2,800,239

3,247,273

3,053,746

Number of shares in circulation (units)

Average number of shares outstanding 2

Dividend per share 3 (CHF)

Dividend pay-out ratio 3

Dividend yield 3

48,433,015

47,717,210

47,199,761

46,752,727

46,946,254

48,852,533

47,905,512

47,394,282

46,900,473

46,831,998

4.50

61.4

5.7

4.50

52.1

5.2

4.50

49.2

4.9

4.50

>100

7.0

4.50

48.3

5.7

1   Calculation is based on profit for the period and equity before minority interests respectively.
2   Relevant for calculation of earnings per share (see page 209 of the Financial Report).
3   2012 based on the proposal submitted to the Annual General Meeting.

Baloise shaRes

Security symbol

Nominal value 

Security number

ISIN

Exchange

Security type

iNdexed shaRe PRiCe develoPMeNT 1 Bâloise holdiNG  
ReGisTeRed shaRe 2007 – 2012

BALN

CHF 0.10

150

1.241.051

CH0012410517

SIX Swiss Exchange

100 % registered shares

100

50

0

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

1   31 December 2006 = 100.

  Bâloise Holding registered share (BLAN)
  SWX SP Insurance Price Index (SMINNX)
   Swiss Market Index (SMI)  

01_JB_Die Baloise_en�indd   9

19�03�2013   13:30:59

 
Antwerp

Brussels

Bad Homburg

Luxembourg

Basel

Solothurn

Balzers

Vienna

Zagreb

Belgrade

10

Baloise
Our markets

Our markets

Baloise focuses on markets, customers, products and distribution channels that add  
considerable value. Our preferred clients are individuals, small and medium-sized firms with 
good risk/return profiles and selected industrial companies.

SWITZERLAND
In its domestic market of Switzerland the Baloise Group oper-
ates under its “Basler Versicherungen” and “Baloise Bank SoBa” 
brand names. Basler Switzerland is the largest business unit in 
the Baloise Group. As a financial services provider it focuses on 
comprehensive insurance and pension solutions. Its customers 
are individuals, small and medium-sized firms, and selected 
industrial enterprises. Its insurance sales force is at the heart 
of its marketing strategy. This is supplemented by a network of 
distribution partners for certain product-related and customer 
segments and by brokers and the internet. Baloise Bank SoBa 
strengthens the range of pension solutions available by offering 
banking products that are sold by the insurance sales force and 
by the bank itself. It has positioned itself as a universal bank in 
northwestern Switzerland.

KEy fIguRES foR gERMANy

Employees

2011

2,652

2012

2,373

Business volume (CHF million)

1,774.9

1,712.1

Gross combined ratio (per cent) 

98.2

99.1

BELgIuM
In the Belgian market the Baloise Group has been operating 
under the “Baloise Insurance” brand name since January 2013. 
Baloise Insurance is one of the leading insurers in Belgium and 
sees itself as a partner to professional brokers. It offers a full 
range of property and personal insurance for individuals and 
for small and medium-sized firms. It is also the leading pro-
vider of marine insurance in the Belgian market. 

KEy fIguRES foR SWITZERLAND

Employees

2011

3,748

2012

3,806

Business volume (CHF million) 

4,100.6

3,885.4

Gross combined ratio (per cent)

88.4

83.8

KEy fIguRES foR BELgIuM

Employees

2011

1,389

2012

1,389

Business volume (CHF million)

1,091.1

1,358.6

Gross combined ratio (per cent)

95.3

99.8

gER MANy
In Germany the Baloise Group operates under the “Basler Ver-
sicherungen” brand name. Its portfolio comprises insurance 
and pension solutions in the areas of indemnity, accident and 
life insurance for individuals, small and medium-sized firms, 
and selected industrial companies. Basler’s marketing activities 
are focused on its insurance sales force, on brokers and on its 
distribution partners maklermanagement.ag, OVB and ZEUS.

01_JB_Die Baloise_en.indd   10

21.03.2013   15:51:23

   
Antwerp

Brussels

Bad Homburg

Luxembourg

Basel

Solothurn

Balzers

11

Vienna

Zagreb

Belgrade

LuxEMBouRg
Bâloise Assurances provides a wide range of insurance, pension 
and  wealth-building  products  to  private  and  business  cus- 
tomers in the Grand Duchy. Bâloise Luxembourg also works 
closely with highly successful banking partners and selected 
distribution partners outside its domestic market to sell wealth-
building and pension solutions in a number of European Union 
countries.

CRoATIA AND SERBIA
In Croatia the Baloise Group operates under the “Basler osigu-
ranje Zagreb” brand name. It offers a full range of insurance 
solutions for private and business customers through its own 
sales force and via agencies and banks. Since the end of 2007 
the Baloise Group has also had a presence in Serbia, where it 
focuses on the retail market.

KEy fIg uRES foR LuxEMBouRg

Employees

Business volume (CHF million)

Gross combined ratio (per cent)

KEy fIguRES foR CRoATIA AND SERBIA

2011

256

598.9

81.1

2012

273

776.3

102.1

Employees

Business volume (CHF million) 

Gross combined ratio (per cent)

2011

820

70.4

107.4

2012

701

68.4

105.8

AuSTRIA
In Austria the Baloise Group offers insurance and pension prod-
ucts to individuals and to small and medium-sized firms under 
the “Basler Versicherungen” brand. In relation to marketing 
activities, its focus is on its own insurance sales force.

LIECHTENSTEIN
Baloise  Life  –  founded  in  Balzers,  Liechtenstein,  in  2007  –  
devises innovative pension solutions and customised life in- 
surance for private clients across Europe under the guidance of 
Bâloise Luxembourg. It markets these products via the respec-
tive  national  Baloise  companies  and  through  third-party  
partners.

KEy fIguRES foR AuSTRIA

Employees

Business volume (CHF million)

Gross combined ratio (per cent)

2011

228

153.7

95.0

2012

225

KEy fIguRES foR LIECHTENSTEIN

158.1

Employees

97.7

Business volume (CHF million)

2011

44

343.1

2012

24

392.6

01_JB_Die Baloise_en.indd   11

21.03.2013   15:51:24

   
12

Baloise
Brand

The Baloise brand

“Making you safer” is our brand promise. Everything we do is geared towards enhancing  
safety and security. We combine insurance with intelligent risk prevention to help ensure  
losses do not occur in the first place.

BRAND VALuES of THE BALoISE gRouP

Swiss 

Innovative  

Partnership 

Baloise is proud of its Swiss origins, which 
date back to 1863. We link this to reliabil-
ity, a humanistic approach, solid security, 
strong tradition, financial expertise and 
impartiality.

Our strong innovative capabilities give us 
the necessary competitive edge. This is 
illustrated by our unrelenting and holis-
tic focus on safety and security and by the 
way we manage our customer relationships. 
We create a climate of continuous innova-
tion across all product lines.

Our focus on partnership is one of our 
greatest emotional strengths and is pred-
icated on value creation and mutual respect. 
We nurture and deepen our relationships 
with all our stakeholders to ensure that 
we achieve the desired impact each and 
every time.

Eloi Bamberg
Head of Sales Support in Luxembourg

Petra Neckermann
Assistant to the Head of Group Human 
Resources

Andreas Bachmann
Corporate Clients Adviser

“Baloise provides its employees 
in Luxembourg with a consider-
able amount of latitude, there-
by living up to its reputation as 
an independent Swiss organisa-
tion.”

“Being  innovative  means  not 
just thinking ‘out of the box’ but 
also  having  the  courage  and 
self-confidence  in  using  your 
own creativity to drive innova-
tion in the relevant areas. That’s 
what makes us better every day.”

“Any solid partnership or rela-
tionship  is  based  on  mutual 
appreciation and respect. Only 
when we inspire customers in 
our contact with them, can we 
arrive  at  successful  conclu-
sions.”

01_JB_Die Baloise_en.indd   12

21.03.2013   15:52:15

Baloise
Brand

13

BRaNd aTTRiBUTes of The Baloise GRoUP

Safety

Strength 

Professionalism 

Safety and security constitute our core 
competences and lie at the heart of all the 
products, services and benefits that we 
offer� They act as an exhilarating and en-
ergising force that unlocks huge potential�

Baloise is a strong partner – strong in terms 
of its growth, profitability and execution� 
You can rely on Baloise when you really 
need it, because its strength gives you the 
reassuring feeling of having a dependable 
partner at your side�

Baloise stands for professionalism� This 
enables  us  to  be  successful  and  deliver 
top-quality performance� We excel at un-
derstanding our core business, our cus-
tomers and our sales channels because we 
know that professional expertise provides 
peace of mind�

Zerrin Tunç
Customer Adviser, Claims Service  

Raphael strub
Senior Claims Inspector 

Chantal obergsell
Senior Business Informatics Specialist

“The art of customer service is 
to provide clients with the safe-
ty  and  security  they  need  by 
giving them the right informa-
tion, advice and support.”

“Strength means not only being 
able to achieve your goals but 
also knowing your weaknesses. 
Strength creates opportunities 
and is a character attribute that 
Baloise possesses in abundance 
– even after 150 years.”

“Assessing  risks  accurately, 
selecting the right methods to 
solve  a  problem  and,  conse-
quently, ensuring that applica-
tions are reliable – that is also 
part of our professionalism.”

01_JB_Die Baloise_en�indd   13

19�03�2013   13:34:36

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   14

19�03�2013   13:34:10

4  Baloise
16  review of operating performance
36  Sustainable business management
48  Corporate Governance
86  Financial Report 
226  Bâloise Holding Ltd
240  Notes

Review of operating 
performance

group  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  16
Still safe, secure, reliable and profitable –  
for the past 150 years  �����������������������������������������������������������������������������  16

Switzerland  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  20
Outstanding operating earnings power  ���������������������������������������  20

germany  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  21
Integration complete  �����������������������������������������������������������������������������  21

Belgium and luxemBourg  �������������������������������������������������������������  22
Significant growth impetus  ����������������������������������������������������������������  22

other unitS and group BuSineSS  ��������������������������������������������  23

financial information  ��������������������������������������������������������������������  24
Consolidated income statement  �������������������������������������������������������  24
Consolidated balance sheet  ����������������������������������������������������������������  26
Business volume, premiums and combined ratio  ��������������������  27
Technical income statement  ��������������������������������������������������������������  29
Gross premiums by sectors  �����������������������������������������������������������������  30
Banking activities  �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������  31
Investment performance  ���������������������������������������������������������������������  32

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   15

19�03�2013   13:34:11

16

Review of operating performance
Group

Safe, secure, reliable and profitable –  
for the past 150 years

Baloise continued to demonstrate its earnings power and capital strength in 2012.  
Its impressive operating performance was driven by its buoyant insurance business  
with its excellent combined ratio, the encouraging growth in premiums, and the  
high level of gains on investments.

OVERVIEW
The Baloise Group generated a profit of CHF 436.6 million for 
the 2012 financial year (2011: CHF 60.8 million). All business 
divisions and all regional business units contributed to this 
profit. As expected, this impressive performance enabled Baloise 
to return to a sustainable path of operating earnings power. The 
profit reported for 2011 had been impaired by various adverse 
effects arising from the financial and economic crisis.

The life and non-life divisions achieved huge year-on-year 
increases in their profit contributions. The non-life business 
once again demonstrated the strength of its operating earnings 
power and reported a net combined ratio of 94.1 per cent, which 
was a significant improvement on the figure of 95.5 per cent 
reported for 2011. The banking business managed to replicate 
its impressive prior-year results despite the tough market envi-
ronment.  The  “Baloise  2012”  strategic  growth  and  earnings 
enhancement programme was brought to a successful conclu-
sion. This programme comprised roughly 100 individual meas-
ures  and  boosted  Baloise’s  earnings  by  more  than  CHF  214 
million. Benign financial and capital markets enabled Baloise 
to generate substantial gains on its investments, which made a 
valuable contribution to the profit for the period. The invest-
ments  held  in  the  insurance  business  yielded  an  impressive 
return of 6.6 per cent partly because they focused on recurring 
income. Equity grew sharply by 25.1 per cent to approximately 
CHF 4.8 billion, while the solvency ratio reached an excellent 
277 per cent, which was well in excess of the already impressive 
prior-year figure of 203 per cent. 

busInEss VOlumE 2012 (gROss) by stRatEgIc busInEss unIt  

As a percentage

   Switzerland  

   Germany  

   Belgium 

   Luxembourg  

   Other units and  
Group business 

46.5

20.5

16.3

9.3

7.4

The positioning of the “Baloise Safety World” brand was embed-
ded even more firmly in all markets. This brand comprises tar-
geted prevention services that add value to the Company’s range 
of classical insurance products. These supplementary services 
are popular with customers and are driving business growth in 
individual insurance divisions. They facilitate cross-selling to 
risk-conscious target customers while ensuring that these clients 
remain loyal to Baloise and are more likely to recommend its 
products to others. 

Baloise completed the integration of its Belgian acquisition 
Nateus. Together with Avéro, which it had bought slightly ear-
lier, the Belgian business unit expanded its market share sub-
stantially and is now one of the leading non-life insurers in the 
country.

The total volume of business, which includes investment-
linked life insurance, amounted to CHF 8,358.3 million (2011: 
CHF 8,144.5 million), which equated to growth of 2.6 per cent. 
This  increase  came  to  3.8  per  cent  in  local-currency  terms. 
Investment-linked life insurance generated strong growth of 
20.5 per cent. Premiums earned from non-life business also 
performed well, rising by 5.5 per cent. Part of this increase was 

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en.indd   16

19.03.2013   15:01:37

 
Review of operating performance
Group

17

attributable to the Belgian acquisitions� By contrast, business 
in classical life insurance contracted by 6�4 per cent owing to 
the low level of interest rates and our profit-oriented underwrit-
ing policy� 

There were no material changes in the group of entities 

consolidated as part of the Baloise Group in 2012�

comBined ratio net performance 

As a percentage

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

94.1

95.5

95.2

94.4

90.9

2011

2012

+/– %

terms� 4�2 percentage points of this growth stemmed from the 
companies acquired in Belgium� 

BuSi neSS Volume

CHF million

Total business volume

Life

Non-life

Investment-type  
premiums

8,144.5

3,659.8

3,143.5

1,341.2

8,358.3

3,424.0

3,317.7

1,616.6

2.6

– 6.4

5.5

20.5

non-life diViSion:  

Significant growth and Strong profitaBilit y
The non-life insurance division (indemnity and personal insur-
ance) delivered an exceptional performance on the back of its 
impressive profitability� Its business in Switzerland underpinned 
these results� The success of this Baloise Group division was 
reflected in its excellent net combined ratio of 94�1 per cent, 
which had improved further on the prior-year figure of 95�5 per 
cent – mainly because of lower costs from large claims� Profit 
before borrowing costs and taxes amounted to CHF 353�5 mil-
lion (2011: CHF 127�0 million)� This massive increase was es-
sentially attributable to the better technical result and the much 
higher gains on investments, which – owing to benign capital 
market conditions – included hardly any impairment losses� 
The total volume of premiums under IFRS came to CHF 3,317�7 
million (2011: CHF 3,143�5 million), which constituted an in-
crease of 5�5 per cent in Swiss francs and 7�0 per cent in local-
currency terms� All business units in the geographical regions 
contributed to this growth when measured in local-currency 

life diViSion:  

SuBStantial profit contriBution
The life insurance division generated a profit of CHF 176�7 mil-
lion before borrowing costs and taxes (2011: CHF 15�9 million)� 
This improvement was largely attributable to the much higher 
level of financial income and the fact that very few impairment 
losses  were  recognised  on  investments�  The  appreciation  in 
value of real estate in Switzerland contributed to this situation� 
The profit generated by this division was influenced by the very 
low level of interest rates� The total volume of business, which 
includes investment-linked life insurance, amounted to CHF 
5,040�6 million (2011: CHF 5,001�0 million), which was an in-
crease of 0�8 per cent in Swiss francs and 1�8 per cent in local-
currency terms� Investment-linked life insurance achieved strong 
growth – especially in Belgium and Luxembourg and at Baloise 
Life in Liechtenstein – with its aggregate volume expanding by 
20�5 per cent in Swiss francs and 22�5 per cent in local-curren-
cy terms to CHF 1,616�6 million (2011: CHF 1,341�2 million)� 
Premium income earned from classical life insurance fell to 
CHF 3,424�0 million (2011: CHF 3,659�9 million) owing to the 
level of interest rates, market conditions and our profit-orient-
ed underwriting policy; this constituted a decrease of 6�4 per 
cent in Swiss francs and 5�9 per cent in local-currency terms� 
The restrictive underwriting policy pursued in the Swiss group 
life business had a considerable impact on these trends�

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   17

19�03�2013   13:34:12

 
18

Review of operating performance
Group

In 2012, the embedded value of the life business rose from CHF 
2,153�0 million to CHF 2,752�8 million, which was equivalent 
to a return on embedded value of 26�4 per cent� Operating in-
come contributed CHF 378�4 million to the embedded value�  
A further CHF 198�3 million stemmed from the change in the 
economic environment� The value of new business was CHF 
23�5 million and the new business margin was 8�9 per cent (2011: 
10�2 per cent)� 

Banking diViSion: conSiStent and Solid
The banking division, whose core entity is Baloise Bank SoBa, 
managed to shrug off the adverse market conditions to generate 
a solid profit of CHF 72�8 million before borrowing costs and 
taxes (2011: CHF 73�3 million)� Baloise Bank SoBa compen-
sated for the narrowing margins in its interest-earning business 
by increasing its customer loans and pursuing a rigorous cost 
containment  strategy�  Baloise  Asset  Management  raised  its 
profit for the period on the back of higher fee and commission 
income� 

equit y: Significantly higher carrying amountS
The Baloise Group’s consolidated equity (before minority in-
terests) rose by 25�1 per cent year on year to CHF 4,830�7 million 
as at 31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: CHF 3,860�3 mil-
lion)� This increase was attributable to the rise in unrealised 
gains on fixed-income financial assets and to the Baloise Group’s 
substantial profit for the period� The return on equity jumped 
to 10�3 per cent (2011: 1�6 per cent)� The solvency ratio also rose 
sharply, reaching an excellent 277 per cent compared with 203 
per cent in 2011�

inVeStmentS: Significant gainS on inVeStmentS
Following a first quarter during which equity markets had per-
formed well and interest rates had risen, the investment outlook 
became much bleaker around the middle of the year� The response 
mounted by central banks calmed the markets, enabling share 
prices to rise sharply from July onwards� At the same time, 
credit spreads on bonds narrowed substantially� Risk-free inter-
est rates, on the other hand, remained at historically low levels� 
Despite this challenging environment Baloise managed to gen-
erate slightly higher recurring income of CHF 1,782�2 million�

proprietary inVeStmentS By category 1

inVeStment componentS 2012

2011

2012

+/– %

As a percentage

CHF million

Investment property

Equities

Alternative financial assets

5,138.0 

2,190.4 

1,290.2 

5,441.0 

2,142.7 

1,270.8 

Fixed-income securities

27,981.6 

30,693.7 

Mortgage assets

10,949.8 

11,009.9 

Policy and other loans

7,092.9 

7,501.0 

5.9 

– 2.2 

– 1.5 

9.7 

0.5 

5.8 

Derivative financial 
instruments

281.8 

334.9 

18.8 

Cash and cash equivalents

1,835.5 

2,034.3 

total

56,760.2 

60,428.3 

10.8 

6.5 

1   Excluding investments for the account and at the risk of life insurance policyholders.

  Fixed-income securities  

   Mortgage assets  

   Policy and other loans  

   Investment properties  

   Shares 

   Cash and cash equivalents  

   Alternative financial investments 

   Derivatives  

50.8

18.2

12.4

9.0

3.5

3.4

2.1

0.6

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   18

19�03�2013   13:34:14

Review of operating performance
Group

19

non-life

life

Banking

total for the 
group

8,918.4

41,113.4

7,096.8

56,760.2

7,746.8

7,746.8

8,918.4

48,860.2

7,096.8

64,507.0

4,848.3

69,355.3

non-life

life

Banking

total for the 
group

9,384.2

43,730.9

7,274.9

60,428.3

8,779.3

8,779.3

9,384.2

52,510.2

7,274.9

69,207.6

4,962.4

74,170.0

aSSetS held By BaloiSe

as at 31 december 2011

CHF million

Proprietary investments

Investment-type life insurance 1

Total recognised assets

Asset management for third parties

total assets under management

as at 31 december 2012

CHF million

Proprietary investments

Investment-type life insurance 1

Total recognised assets

Asset management for third parties

total assets under management

1   Including CHF 87.1 million (previous year: CHF 83.0 million) in other assets (precious metal holdings from investment-type life insurance policies).

The rate of return according to International Financial Report-
ing Standards (IFRS) amounted to 6�6 per cent, which – owing 
to unrealised gains on fixed-income financial assets – comfort-
ably exceeded the prior-year figure of 2�8 per cent� Net income 
advanced by 43 per cent year on year to CHF 1,947�6 million 
(2011: CHF 1,359�1 million)� This represented a net return of 3�5 
per cent on insurance investments� The life insurance division 
once again generated a higher rate of return than the non-life 
business� 

Even at a time when interest rates are low Baloise contin-
ues to adhere to its quality criteria for bond investments so that 
it does not jeopardise the excellent quality of issuers in its asset 
portfolio� Consequently, the investment universe available is 
getting smaller and smaller� The proportion of government bonds 
issued by GIIPS countries (Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and 
Spain) was reduced further in 2012 and at year-end amounted 
to only 1�2 per cent of total investments� The foreign-currency 

bonds held by Baloise entities in Switzerland were largely hedged 
against currency fluctuations�

Baloise’s equity investments are now focused on high-
dividend blue-chip stocks; although the relevant portfolios are 
more defensively invested than the market indices, they have 
been generating higher regular income� In the segment of al-
ternative financial assets, private equity continued to yield im-
pressive returns in 2012� The impairment losses recognised on 
financial assets of an equity nature totalled CHF 65�9 million 
(gross)� 

Directly held real estate has maintained its value and is 
yielding consistent rates of return� The risk situation with respect 
to mortgage loans remains sound�

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   19

19�03�2013   13:34:14

20

Review of operating performance
Switzerland

Switzerland
Outstanding operating earnings power

The Switzerland segment consolidated its strong market position by achieving  
solid operational profitability, robust growth in its non-life business and an excellent  
level of financial income. 

key figureS for Switzerland

CHF million

Business volume 

Of which: life

Of which: non-life

Gross combined ratio  
(per cent)

Profit before borrowing  
costs and taxes

2011

2012

+/– %

4,100.6

2,796.8

1,303.8

88.4

3,885.4

2,569.3

1,316.1

83.8

– 5.2

– 8.1

0.9

–

107.8

378.2

250.8

BaSler inSurance: highly profitaBle
The Baloise Group’s insurance business in Switzerland delivered 
an exceptional performance� The non-life division once again 
achieved impressive results on the back of its strong operating 
earnings power and buoyant growth� The cutting-edge life in-
surance products available and the integration of prevention 
services into the property insurance range proved popular with 
customers and are proof positive of Basler Switzerland’s highly 
innovative capabilities� Profit before borrowing costs and taxes 
jumped to CHF 378�2 million (2011: CHF 107�8 million)� The 
substantial year-on-year improvement in financial income and 
the fact that very few large claims were incurred contributed to 
this  positive  trend�  The  total  volume  of  business  (including 
investment-linked life insurance) shrank by 5�2 per cent to CHF 
3,885�4  million  (2011:  CHF  4,100�6  million)  because  of  the 
profit-oriented underwriting policy that we pursued in respect 
of classical life insurance as well as the weakness of demand 
owing to the level of interest rates� Conversely, the volume of 
business generated by the unique business model combining 
banking and insurance continued to grow�

The non-life insurance division delivered highly impressive 
results� Its gross combined ratio was an outstanding 83�3 per cent 
(2011: 88�4 per cent) owing to its risk-conscious, selective under-

writing policy on new business� This result was boosted by prof-
its on claims reserves and by lower costs from large claims than 
in 2011� Basler Switzerland has consistently been achieving low 
combined ratios for several years now� The expense ratio was 
marginally higher than the low figure reported for 2011� The to-
tal volume of premiums rose by 0�9 per cent to CHF 1,316�1 mil-
lion (2011: CHF 1,303�8 million)� All sectors with the exception 
of accident insurance contributed to this growth� The largest 
increase came from motor vehicle insurance� 

The total volume of business generated by the life insur-
ance division amounted to CHF 2,569�3 million (2011: CHF 
2,796�8 million), which represented a year-on-year decrease of 
8�1 per cent� While there was very little demand for classical 
life insurance – especially in individual-life business – owing 
to the low level of interest rates, innovative products proved 
highly successful� The collaboration between the banking and 
insurance segments continued to deliver impressive results and 
generate growth� In its group life business, Basler Switzerland 
further increased the annual premiums earned from compre-
hensive BVG insurance contracts, whereas the single premiums 
it received in this business fell owing to its profit-oriented un-
derwriting policy�

BaloiSe Bank SoBa: higher profit and roBuSt growth
Baloise Bank SoBa performed well in 2012, raising its profit for 
the period by 0�8 per cent to CHF 21�9 million (all figures re-
ported according to local accounting standards)� Volume growth 
and cost containment compensated for the narrowing interest 
margin� Client assets and mortgage receivables continued to 
increase� The bank significantly raised the number of its asset 
management accounts by using Baloise’s innovative investment 
advisory approach� Its joint business model in collaboration 
with Basler Insurance continued to achieve success, with the 
volumes generated by the insurance sales force growing by 9�3 
per cent to CHF 2,304 million� 

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   20

19�03�2013   13:34:14

Review of operating performance
Germany

21

Germany
Integration complete

The merger of Basler Insurance with Deutscher Ring’s life and property insurance  
operations has now been concluded. Further optimisation is in the pipeline.

lion (2011: CHF 1,774�9 million), which constituted a decline of 
1�3 per cent in local-currency terms� The property insurance 
division grew by an encouraging 3�6 per cent to CHF 857�9 mil-
lion in local-currency terms (2011: CHF 846�7 million)� Broker-
based and industrial business were the key drivers behind this 
positive trend� The total volume of life insurance business was 
down year on year, contracting by 5�9 per cent in local-curren-
cy terms – in line with market trends – to CHF 854�2 million 
(2011: CHF 928�2 million)� Both classical life insurance and 
investment-linked products were hit by generally weak demand, 
the latter being primarily affected by declining sales of “Riester” 
state-subsidised pension products� Another factor was that ex-
piring contracts were only partially replaced by new business� 

key figureS for germany

CHF million

Business volume 

Of which: life

Of which: non-life

Gross combined ratio  
(per cent)

2011

2012

+/– %

1,774.9

1,712.1

928.2

846.7

98.2

854.2

857.9

99.1

– 3.5

– 8.0

1.3

–

Profit before borrowing costs 
and taxes

– 1.9

17.2

n / a

The  merger  of  the  Baloise  Group’s  German  companies  into  
a single business unit was successfully completed in 2012� Key 
milestones in this process were the creation of a uniform prod-
uct landscape in life and property insurance and the introduc-
tion of a joint exclusive sales channel� All parts of the German 
business unit have been operating under the “Basler Insurance” 
brand name since the end of 2012� The focus is now on making 
specific enhancements in order to improve long-term profitabil-
ity� Baloise’s business in Germany generated a profit of CHF 
17�2 million before borrowing costs and taxes in 2012 after hav-
ing reported a loss of CHF 1�9 million for 2011� Profitability was 
impaired by large claims and by one-off expenses arising from 
the demerger and integration of the Deutscher Ring companies� 
The low level of interest rates adversely affected the profitabil-
ity of life insurance, while the upbeat sentiment in the financial 
and capital markets gave the necessary fillip to financial income� 
The gross combined ratio for the property insurance business 
deteriorated year on year to 99�1 per cent owing to the increase 
in claims incurred (2011: 98�2 per cent)� The expense ratio rose 
by 1�7 percentage points as a result of the aforementioned inte-
gration� The total volume of business came to CHF 1,712�1 mil-

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   21

19�03�2013   13:34:15

22

Review of operating performance
Belgium and Luxembourg

Belgium and Luxembourg 
Significant growth impetus 

The business units in Belgium and Luxembourg continued to generate strong growth.  
The integration of the Belgian acquisitions is now complete.

Belgium:  

aBoVe-aVerage growth in non-life inSurance

luxemBourg:

Strong growth

key figureS for Belgium

key figureS for luxemBourg

CHF million

Business volume 

Of which: life

Of which: non-life

Gross combined ratio  
(per cent)

Profit before borrowing  
costs and taxes

2011

2012

+/– %

2011

2012

+/– %

1,091.1

1,358.6

336.2

754.9

95.3

453.2

905.4

99.8

24.5

34.8

19.9

–

CHF million

Business volume 

Of which: life

Of which: non-life

Gross combined ratio  
(per cent)

598.9

525.7

73.2

81.1

776.3

701.2

75.1

102.1

21.9

73.8

237.0

Profit before borrowing costs 
and taxes

10.0

10.7

29.6

33.4

2.6

–

7.0

Baloise’s Belgian business unit, which has been operating under 
the “Baloise Insurance” brand name since January 2013, is now 
one of Belgium’s leading non-life insurers after having acquired 
Avéro and Nateus in 2011� The integration of these two compa-
nies was brought to a successful conclusion at the end of 2012� 
There are signs that these acquisitions have already had a slight-
ly positive impact on Baloise’s financial results for 2012, there-
by boosting growth and earnings� The Belgian business unit 
generated a profit of CHF 73�8 million before borrowing costs 
and taxes (2011: CHF 21�9 million)� Profitability was bolstered 
by the acquired companies and by higher gains on investments 
and it was impaired by integration-related costs� The gross com-
bined ratio for non-life insurance business rose to 99�8 per cent 
as a result of the acquisitions (2011: 95�3 per cent)� Boosted by 
this additional capacity, the total volume of business grew by 
27�4 per cent to CHF 1,358�6 million in local-currency terms 
(2011: CHF 1,091�1 million)� Even excluding its acquisitions, the 
Belgian business unit grew by 5�6 per cent, which was above the 
market  average�  The  property  insurance  business  generated 
growth of 22�7 per cent, while the total volume of business in 
the life insurance division increased by 37�9 per cent on the back 
of significant growth in investment-linked products� 

Bâloise Luxembourg once again reported impressive financial 
results, generating a profit of CHF 10�7 million before borrow-
ing costs and taxes (2011: CHF 10�0 million)� The gross combined 
ratio deteriorated year on year to 102�1 per cent (2011: 81�1 per 
cent) owing to a claim for fire damage to property that was 
substantial for the size of the business unit� The cost of this 
claim in profit or loss was covered by reinsurance� The total 
volume of business generated highly impressive growth, rising 
by 32�6 per cent in local-currency terms to CHF 776�3 million 
(2011: CHF 598�9 million)� CHF 644�4 million of this total was 
attributable to investment-linked life insurance, which Bâloise 
Luxembourg sells throughout the European Union� The Lux-
embourg unit also generated robust growth in its local core 
business, with premium income advancing by 10�0 per cent to 
CHF 131�9 million (2011: CHF 122�6 million)� Classical life in-
surance products achieved an increase of 17�6 per cent despite 
tough market conditions, while non-life business expanded by 
4�9 per cent�

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   22

19�03�2013   13:34:15

Review of operating performance
Other units and Group business

23

Other units and Group business

Basler Austria continued to generate strong growth, while the Croatian business  
unit made its first-ever contribution to the Baloise Group’s profits. 

in Croatia and Serbia together amounted to CHF 68�4 million 
(2011: CHF 70�4 million)� This equated to growth of 1�1 per cent 
in local-currency terms, which was generated by both life and 
non-life insurance business� The gross combined ratio for both 
units together improved slightly to 105�8 per cent (2011: 107�4 
per cent)� 

BaloiSe life (liechtenStein)
The total volume of business transacted by Baloise Life (Liech-
tenstein), which specialises in innovative life insurance products, 
came to CHF 392�6 million (2011: CHF 343�1 million), which 
was a year-on-year increase of 14�4 per cent� Business in vari-
able annuities grew by 28�3 per cent to CHF 153�7 million� Ba-
loise Life (Liechtenstein) AG was repositioned at the end of 2011� 
It now operates in tandem with Bâloise Luxembourg, which is 
responsible for coordinating business throughout the Euro-
pean Union�

BaloiSe group BuSineSS
The “Group business” segment comprises the units engaged in 
intercompany reinsurance and financing, as well as the holding 
companies and corporate IT� Its profit before borrowing costs 
and taxes amounted to CHF 81�9 million (2011: CHF 95�1 mil-
lion)� This year-on-year decrease was largely attributable to the 
earnings performance of run-off business and the reinsurance 
unit�

key figureS for other unitS

CHF million

Business volume 

Of which: life

Of which: non-life

Gross combined ratio for 
Basler Austria (per cent) 

Gross combined ratio for 
Croatia and Serbia (per cent)

Profit before borrowing costs 
and taxes

2011

2012

+/– %

567.2

414.1

153.1

95.0

619.1

462.7

156.4

97.7

107.4

105.8

9.2

11.7

2.2

–

–

– 89.0

– 6.0

– 93.3

auStria: Solid growth
Basler Austria continued on its pronounced growth trajectory 
and invested further in the expansion of its sales network by 
taking over agencies� This business unit has been growing at 
above the average market rate for a number of years� Its total 
volume of business came to CHF 158�1 million (2011: CHF 153�7 
million), which represented an increase of 5�3 per cent in local-
currency terms� The volume of premiums earned from non-life 
business also generated impressive growth, advancing by 6�3 
per cent, while life insurance achieved a corresponding increase 
of 2�2 per cent� The gross combined ratio rose to 97�7 per cent 
as a result of various claims for damage caused by storms, snow 
and frost (2011: 95�0 per cent)� 

croatia and SerBia in the Black
The Croatian business unit made its first-ever contribution to 
the Baloise Group’s profits in 2012� This is proof positive that 
the carefully targeted measures taken to restructure and optimise 
its business processes and insurance portfolio in recent years 
are having an impact� The total volume of business transacted 

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   23

19�03�2013   13:34:15

24

Review of operating performance
Consolidated income statement

fiVe-year oVerView 

CHF million

income

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Premiums earned and policy fees (gross) 1

Reinsurance premiums ceded

Premiums earned and policy fees (net)

6,945.2

– 194.6

6,750.6

6,841.5

– 190.3

6,651.2

6,854.3

– 168.2

6,686.1

Investment income

2,053.1

1,921.2

1,811.2

Realised gains and losses on investments 2

– 1,680.1

6,806.9

– 176.3

6,630.6

1,766.5

– 943.4

158.6

10.2

140.1

6,730.7

– 176.5

6,554.2

1,782.2

839.1

125.0

16.5

92.0

558.2

8.5

208.9

435.6

427.3

1.4

108.1

501.6

283.4

– 0.5

202.7

7,899.2

9,544.8

9,484.5

7,762.6

9,409.0

– 5,676.7

– 5,383.4

– 5,212.9

– 5,311.5

– 5,449.3

583.4

59.7

– 566.1

– 977.4

– 82.8

– 73.8

246.4

– 832.0

– 968.3

– 1,393.2

– 639.9

58.1

– 499.1

– 925.1

– 78.8

– 69.4

– 407.9

– 708.8

47.5

– 491.5

– 856.0

– 64.8

– 61.2

– 219.8

– 625.4

53.3

– 576.8

– 847.0

– 61.3

– 51.6

324.0

– 507.9

– 867.6

113.2

– 650.9

– 899.2

– 59.1

– 50.6

– 563.9

– 425.8

– 7,319.3

– 8,982.7

– 8,877.3

– 7,618.7

– 8,853.2

Income from services rendered

Share of profit (loss) of associates

Other operating income

income

expense

Claims and benefits paid (gross)

Change in technical reserves (gross)

Reinsurance share of claims incurred

Acquisition costs

Operating and administrative expenses for insurance  
business

Investment management expenses

Interest expenses on insurance liabilities

Gains or losses on financial contracts

Other operating expenses

expense

profit before borrowing costs and taxes 

579.9

562.1

607.2

143.9

555.8

Borrowing costs

profit before taxes

Income taxes

profit for the period

Attributable to

Shareholders

Minority interests

Earnings / loss per share 

Basic (CHF)

Diluted (CHF)

Footnotes: see next page.

– 31.2

548.7

– 162.0

386.7

– 45.1

517.0

– 96.0

421.0

– 52.8

554.4

– 117.7

436.7

358.3

28.4

414.1

6.9

433.4

3.3

7.33

7.32

8.64

8.57

9.14

8.89

– 55.0

88.9

– 27.6

61.3

60.8

0.5

1.30

1.29

– 61.1

494.7

– 52.3

442.4

436.6

5.8

9.32

9.08

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   24

19�03�2013   13:34:16

Consolidated income statementReview of operating performance
Consolidated income statement

25

additional information

CHF million

Gross premiums written and policy fees

Investment-type premiums

total business volume

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

6,953.9

904.4

7,858.3

6,859.8

2,905.6

9,765.4

6,859.8

2,681.6

9,541.4

6,803.3

1,341.2

8,144.5

6,741.7

1,616.6

8,358.3

Investments for the account and at the risk of life 
insurance policyholders

Gross combined ratio

Funding ratio (non-life) (per cent)

3,340.1

6,818.1

7,821.7

7,746.8

8,779.3

88.1

183.0

91.2

187.7

92.2

180.5

92.4

195.9

93.1

184.3

1   In line with the accounting principles applied by the Baloise Group, investment-type insurance premiums are not included in premiums earned and policy fees.
2   Including financial liabilities held for trading purposes (derivative financial instruments).

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   25

19�03�2013   13:34:16

26

Review of operating performance
Consolidated balance sheet

Consolidated balance sheet

fiVe-year oVerView 

CHF million

assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investments in associates

Investment property

Financial assets of an equity nature

Financial assets of a debt nature

Mortgages and loans

Derivative financial instruments

Other assets / receivables

Deferred tax assets

Cash and cash equivalents

total assets

CHF million

equity and liabilities

equity

Equity before minority interests

Minority interests

total equity

liabilities

Gross technical reserves

Liabilities arising from banking business and financial 
contracts

Derivative financial instruments

Other accounts payable

Deferred tax liabilities

total liabilities

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

621.2

1,587.2

129.4

5,055.5

7,551.8

611.2

1,562.4

143.1

5,071.7

9,486.1

535.7

1,342.6

211.3

5,046.6

9,844.2

559.9

1,300.2

173.5

5,138.0

9,703.9

23,115.6

26,502.7

25,840.5

28,917.5

18,992.5

18,643.5

17,693.5

18,042.7

311.3

2,536.2

36.9

123.7

2,593.0

26.4

536.3

2,111.6

20.2

334.1

2,586.4

22.2

1,305.5

2,528.7

2,208.9

2,287.8

458.5

1,078.5

227.2

5,441.0

9,234.0

32,513.3

18,510.9

497.6

2,618.6

23.9

2,923.7

61,243.1

67,292.5

65,391.4

69,066.2

73,527.2

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

3,691.0

204.6

3,895.6

4,315.0

195.0

4,510.0

4,100.0

3,860.3

33.5

33.3

4,830.7

42.1

4,133.5

3,893.6

4,872.8

44,068.6

45,344.2

43,445.7

45,561.9

8,127.2

11,396.4

12,863.3

13,998.1

30.1

4,521.4

600.2

49.5

5,299.6

692.8

29.9

4,277.3

641.7

175.3

4,782.9

654.4

46,702.3

15,597.9

64.4

5,394.7

895.1

57,347.5

62,782.5

61,257.9

65,172.6

68,654.4

total equity and liabilities

61,243.1

67,292.5

65,391.4

69,066.2

73,527.2

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   26

19�03�2013   13:34:16

Review of operating performance
Business volume,
premiums and combined ratio

27

Business volume, premiums  
and combined ratio

BuSi neSS Volume

2011

CHF million

Non-life

Life

Sub-total of ifrS gross premiums 
written1

Investment-type premiums

total business volume

group

Switzerland

germany

Belgium

luxembourg

other units 2

3,143.5

3,659.8

6,803.3

1,341.2

8,144.5

1,303.8

2,724.1

4,027.9

846.7

700.0

1,546.7

754.9

124.0

878.9

72.7

228.2

212.2

4,100.6

1,774.9

1,091.1

73.2

49.4

122.6

476.3

598.9

153.1

62.3

215.4

351.8

567.2

2012

CHF million

Non-life

Life

Sub-total of ifrS gross premiums 
written1

Investment-type premiums

total business volume

group

Switzerland

germany

Belgium

luxembourg

other units 2

3,317.7

3,424.0

6,741.7

1,616.6

8,358.3

1,316.1

2,510.6

3,826.7

857.9

634.7

905.4

163.9

1,492.6

1,069.3

58.7

219.5

289.3

3,885.4

1,712.1

1,358.6

75.1

56.8

131.9

644.4

776.3

156.4

58.0

214.4

404.7

619.1

1   Premiums written and policy fees (gross).
2   Other units: Austria, Croatia, Serbia and Baloise Life Liechtenstein.

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   27

19�03�2013   13:34:17

28

Review of operating performance
Business volume,
premiums and combined ratio

groSS comBined ratio

2011

group

Switzerland

germany

Belgium

luxembourg

other units 1

as a percentage of premiums earned

Claims ratio

Expense ratio

Profit-sharing ratio

combined ratio

61.6

30.2

0.6

92.4

63.1

24.4

0.9

88.4

63.5

34.3

0.4

98.2

60.8

34.3

0.2

95.3

47.6

33.5

0.0

81.1

59.8

38.2

0.0

98.0

2012

group

Switzerland

germany

Belgium

luxembourg

other units 1

60.7

31.8

0.6

93.1

57.5

25.0

1.3

83.8

as a percentage of premiums earned

Claims ratio

Expense ratio

Profit-sharing ratio

combined ratio

1   Other units: Austria, Croatia and Serbia

groSS and net comBined ratio

as a percentage of premiums earned

Claims ratio

Expense ratio

Profit-sharing ratio

combined ratio

funding ratio (non-life)

CHF million

Technical reserve for own account 1

Premiums written and policy fees for own account

funding ratio (per cent)

1   Not including capitalised settlement premiums

62.8

36.0

0.3

99.1

2011

61.6

30.2

0.6

92.4

62.8

36.7

0.3

99.8

gross

2012

60.7

31.8

0.6

93.1

66.3

35.6

0.2

102.1

2011

63.5

31.4

0.6

95.5

62.2

37.3

–

99.5

net 

2012

60.3

33.1

0.7

94.1

2011

2012

5,853.5

2,987.9

195.9

5,834.8

3,166.0

184.3

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   28

19�03�2013   13:34:17

Review of operating performance
Technical income statement

29

Technical income statement

CHF million

gross

Gross premiums written and policy fees

Change in unearned premium reserves

Premiums earned and policy fees (gross)

Claims and benefits paid (gross)

Change in technical reserves (gross)

Change in claims reserve / actuarial reserves 1

Expenses for policyholders’ dividends

Technical expenses

total technical result (gross)

ceded to reinsurers

Reinsurance premiums ceded

Claims and benefits paid

Reinsurers’ share of claims incurred 

Expenses for policyholders’ dividends

Technical expenses

2011

nonlife

2012

2011

life 3

2012

3,143.5

3.6

3,147.1

3,317.7

– 11.0

3,306.7

3,659.8

3,424.0

0.0

–

3,659.8

3,424.0

– 1,850.3

– 2,009.1

– 3,461.2

– 3,440.2

– 110.4

– 17.4

– 20.8

– 21.5

– 976.9

– 1,086.1

192.1

169.2

– 269.4

– 243.0

– 528.0

– 841.8

– 513.6

– 312.1

– 547.3

– 1,389.2

– 158.8

– 157.8

– 17.5

– 18.7

53.0

– 11.0

0.3

12.5

66.9

39.3

0.4

9.7

5.0

4.5

1.8

3.0

7.0

– 0.2

0.2

3.0

– 8.7

total technical result of ceded business

– 104.0

– 41.5

– 3.2

for own account

Premiums earned and policy fees

Claims and benefits paid

Change in claims reserve / actuarial reserves 1

Expenses for policyholders’ dividends

Technical expenses

total technical result for own account

Investment income (gross)

Realised gains and losses on investments 2

Investment management expenses

Other financial expenses and income

gains or losses on investments

profit before borrowing costs and taxes

Borrowing costs

Income taxes

profit for the period (segment result)

2,988.3

3,148.9

3,642.3

3,405.3

– 1,797.3

– 1,942.2

– 3,456.2

– 3,433.2

– 121.4

– 17.1

18.5

– 21.1

– 964.4

– 1,076.4

88.1

291.9

– 191.4

– 19.9

– 41.7

38.9

127.0

–

– 13.9

113.1

127.7

285.2

– 1.9

– 19.3

– 38.2

225.8

353.5

–

– 4.2

349.3

– 264.9

– 241.2

– 525.0

– 845.0

1,323.9

– 720.4

– 75.8

333.2

860.9

15.9

–

– 8.4

7.5

– 513.8

– 311.9

– 544.3

– 1,397.9

1,347.8

845.8

– 78.5

– 540.5

1,574.6

176.7

–

– 27.9

148.8

1   Including change in provision for claims handling costs.
2   Including financial liabilities held for trading purposes (derivative financial instruments).
3   Of which deferred gains / losses from other operating segments (31 December 2011: CHF 10.8 million; 31 December 2012: CHF – 6.6 million).

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   29

19�03�2013   13:34:17

30

Review of operating performance
Gross premiums by sectors

Gross premiums by sectors

groSS premiumS By Sector (non-life)

CHF million

Accident

Health

General liability

Motor

Property

Marine

Other

Inward reinsurance

gross premiums written (non-life)

groSS premiumS By Sector (life)

CHF million

Business volume generated by single premiums

Business volume generated by periodic premiums

Investment-type premiums

gross premiums written (life)

2011

2012

+/– %

450.8 

119.3 

339.2 

999.9 

974.0 

160.5 

57.6 

42.2 

444.7 

124.5 

346.5 

1,089.1 

1,003.4 

193.2 

72.2 

44.1 

3,143.5 

3,317.7 

– 1.4 

4.4 

2.2 

8.9 

3.0 

20.4 

25.3 

4.5 

5.5 

2011

2012

+/– %

2,453.1 

2,547.9 

2,427.6 

2,613.0 

– 1,341.2 

– 1,616.6 

3,659.8 

3,424.0 

– 1.0 

2.6 

20.5 

– 6.4 

Compared  with  the  premium  income  earned  in  2011,  the  premiums  earned  in  2012  were  slightly  adversely  
affected by movements in the exchange rate between the Swiss franc and the euro�

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   30

19�03�2013   13:34:18

Banking activities

profit or loSS from Banking actiVitieS

CHF million

Total interest income

Total interest expenses

net interest income

Net fee and commission income

Trading profit

Other net income

total operating income

Personnel expenses

General and administrative expenses

total operating expenses

gross profit

Net losses and impairment due to credit risk

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment of property, plant and equipment and of intangible assets

profit before taxes 

Income taxes

profit for the period (segment result) 

additional information

CHF million

Assets managed for third parties

Risk-weighted assets of banking activities

aSSet allocation

CHF million

Investment property

Equities

Alternative financial assets

Fixed-income securities

Mortgage assets

Policy and other loans

Derivative financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

total

Review of operating performance
Banking activities

31

2011

2012

174.3 

– 75.3 

99.0 

63.0 

– 9.5 

– 0.1 

168.6 

– 69.3 

99.3 

65.4 

– 9.3 

– 1.0 

152.4 

154.4 

– 59.3 

– 18.7 

– 78.0 

74.4 

8.6 

– 9.7 

73.3 

– 13.8 

59.5 

– 59.4 

– 17.4 

– 76.8 

77.6 

6.6 

– 11.4 

72.8 

– 12.7 

60.1 

2011

2012

4,848.3 

3,495.3 

4,962.4 

3,439.8 

2011

2012

–

6.1 

–

369.9 

6,203.0 

274.2 

24.8 

218.8 

–

9.0 

–

428.6 

6,311.0 

243.1 

15.3 

267.9 

7,096.8 

7,274.9 

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   31

19�03�2013   13:34:18

32

Review of operating performance
Investment performance

Investment performance 

inVeStment performance 

2011 1

CHF million

Current income

Realised gains and losses  
and impairment losses  
recognised in profit or loss (net)

Change in unrealised gains and losses 
recognised directly in equity

Investment management costs

Operating profit

average investment portfolio

performance (per cent)

fixed-income 
securities

equities

investment 
property

mortgage 
assets, policy 
and other loans

alternative  
financial assets,  
derivatives, 
cash and cash  
equivalents

total

868.1 

76.3 

– 183.3 

– 199.2 

244.8 

3.4 

566.2 

– 3.7 

11.1 

36.5 

1,766.5 

– 346.3 

207.9 

– 51.0 

–

–

– 45.1 

111.8 

– 25.9 

866.8 

26,471.9 

3.3 

– 5.9 

– 179.8 

2,203.2 

– 8.2 

– 7.5 

240.7 

– 12.2 

550.3 

– 9.6 

– 7.1 

– 61.1 

1,470.9 

5,092.3 

17,868.1 

3,464.0 

55,099.5 

4.7 

3.1 

– 0.2 

2.7 

2012 1

CHF million

Current income

Realised gains and losses  
and impairment losses  
recognised in profit or loss (net)

Change in unrealised gains and losses 
recognised directly in equity

Investment management costs

Operating profit

fixed-income 
securities

equities

investment 
property

mortgage 
assets, policy 
and other loans

alternative  
financial assets,  
derivatives, 
cash and cash 
 equivalents

total

895.0 

5.8 

81.6 

63.3 

245.1 

136.1 

548.3 

– 0.2 

12.2 

19.4 

1,782.2 

224.4 

1,408.8 

117.5 

–

–

34.5 

1,560.8 

– 26.7 

2,282.9 

– 2.9 

259.5 

– 5.5 

375.7 

– 13.7 

534.4 

– 10.2 

55.9 

– 59.0 

3,508.4 

average investment portfolio

29,337.6 

2,166.5 

5,289.5 

18,276.8 

3,523.8 

58,594.2 

performance (per cent)

7.8 

12.0 

7.1 

2.9 

1.6 

6.0 

1   Excluding investments for the account and at the risk of life insurance policyholders.

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   32

19�03�2013   13:34:18

Review of operating performance
Investment performance

33

non-life

life

37.5 

25.8 

1.5 

163.5 

12.6 

49.7 

–

1.3 

199.2 

50.2 

3.9 

695.0 

125.6 

246.4 

–

3.6 

2011

total

236.7 

76.0 

5.4 

858.5 

138.2 

296.1 

–

4.9 

non-life

life

36.2 

29.8 

1.3 

159.9 

10.0 

47.3 

–

0.7 

198.2 

51.5 

7.6 

724.7 

118.9 

244.7 

–

2.2 

2012

total

234.4 

81.3 

8.9 

884.6 

128.9 

292.0 

–

2.9 

291.9 

1,323.9 

1,615.8 

285.2 

1,347.8 

1,633.0 

non-life

life

non-life

life

2011

total

4.5 

– 199.5 

75.3 

21.0 

– 93.5 

47.8 

– 126.6 

– 183.3 

– 1.8 

– 0.3 

30.1 

–

– 2.5 

0.7 

– 9.9 

–

– 16.5 

– 106.0 

27.5 

– 56.7 

– 0.7 

1.0 

– 40.0 

–

2012

total

139.2 

62.4 

1.0 

5.9 

– 2.7 

– 3.7 

27.1 

–

– 7.9 

48.3 

– 2.1 

– 9.2 

– 0.3 

– 0.3 

– 30.4 

–

– 1.9 

147.1 

14.1 

3.1 

15.1 

– 2.4 

– 3.4 

57.5 

–

current income from inSurance 1

CHF million

Investment property

Equities

Alternative financial assets

Fixed-income securities

Mortgage assets

Policy and other loans

Derivative financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

total current income

realiSed gainS and loSSeS in 
inSurance 1

CHF million

Investment property

Equities

Alternative financial assets

Fixed-income securities

Mortgage assets

Policy and other loans

Derivative financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

total capital gains and losses

– 191.4 

– 123.3 

– 314.7 

231.1 

229.2 

aSSet allocation in inSurance 1

CHF million

Investment property

Equities

Alternative financial assets

Fixed-income securities

Mortgage assets

Policy and other loans

Derivative financial instruments

non-life

life

2011

total

non-life

life

797.5 

839.5 

275.0 

4,174.0 

1,342.5 

1,015.2 

4,971.5 

2,182.0 

1,290.2 

777.4 

682.8 

267.2 

4,471.0 

1,449.4 

1,003.6 

2012

total

5,248.4 

2,132.2 

1,270.8 

4,993.8 

22,615.0 

27,608.8 

5,562.0 

24,700.0 

30,262.0 

439.3 

1,086.6 

5.0 

4,307.5 

6,354.5 

251.9 

4,746.8 

7,441.1 

256.9 

417.1 

1,149.8 

6.4 

4,281.8 

6,494.2 

311.0 

4,698.9 

7,644.0 

317.4 

Cash and cash equivalents

481.7 

1,052.8 

1,534.5 

521.5 

1,019.9 

1,541.4 

total

8,918.4 

41,113.4 

50,031.8 

9,384.2 

43,730.9 

53,115.1 

1   Excluding investments for the account and at the risk of life insurance policyholders.

02_JB_Geschäftsgang_en�indd   33

19�03�2013   13:34:19

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   34

19�03�2013   13:39:40

4  Baloise
16  Review of operating performance
36  sustainable business management
48  Corporate Governance
86  Financial Report 
226  Bâloise Holding Ltd
240  Notes

Sustainable business 
management

Human ResouRces  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������  36
Our success is driven by the experience, expertise  
and commitment of our workforce �������������������������������������������������  36

ecology  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  40
Protecting the environment over the long-term  ����������������������  40

Risk management  ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������  42
Risk management constitutes one of the main pillars  
of our business model  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������  42

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   35

19�03�2013   13:39:41

36

Sustainable business management
Human resources

Our success is driven by the experience, expertise 
and commitment of our workforce  

How does a company continue to be successful? Apart from pursuing the right  
strategy, it has to recruit, retain and develop the best talent. That’s how Baloise  
guarantees its success.

key FiguRes

 → 8,795 people (7,928 FTEs) were working for the Baloise 
Group on 31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: 9,141).

 → 45.3 per cent of all staff members are women (2011:  

45.8 per cent).

 → The Baloise Group employs 241 (2011: 241) apprentices, 

trainees and interns.

 → 32.5 per cent (2011: 27.4 per cent) of those who left the 

behavioural values lay the foundations on which the Company 
can attractand develop suitably qualified staff�

Our human resources (HR) strategy provides the right 
framework within which to implement our behavioural values 
effectively� The key components of our HR strategy are
 → to nurture an employee-focused corporate culture; 
 → to be the employer of choice in our sector; 
 → to be performance and results driven; 
 → to be a highly skilled, learning organisation; 
 → to possess outstanding leadership and management capa-

Company did so of their own accord.

bilities� 

 → 58.8 per cent of staff members working in our main market 

of Switzerland participated in our Employee Share  
Ownership Plan in 2012 (2011: 60.2 per cent).

 → Baloise invested CHF 11.2 million in staff training and 

development in 2012 (2011: CHF 12.1 million).

 → Baloise employees work at the Company for an average  

of 12.4 years.

 → Staff turnover as at 31 December 2012 amounted to  

5.2 per cent (31 December 2011: 5.4 per cent).

ouR staFF aRe WHat guaRantees ouR success
The Baloise Group’s most valuable asset is its workforce and the 
expertise and skills that they possess� Effective talent manage-
ment policies that enable the Company to deploy the right peo-
ple in the right roles at all times are more crucial now than ever 
before� 

maintaining a Dialogue WitH talent: tHe cHanging 

Face oF emPloyeR BRanDing
In 2012, the Baloise Group continued to expand its use of social 
media in order to raise its profile as an employer� Its presence 
on  Facebook,  Twitter,  YouTube,  Xing  and  LinkedIn  and  its  
careers blog make Baloise one of the leading companies in the 
German-speaking world in this respect� The systematic involve-
ment of its employees in the communication process remains 
a  major  plank  of  this  strategy�  But  this  dialogue  is  not  just  
restricted to our online presence� Baloise representatives attend 
selected events where they can meet potential candidates and 
thus recruit new members of staff� 

The fast-paced changes taking place in labour markets 
make  continuous  optimisation  and  swift  implementation  
absolutely essential� Our state-of-the-art eRecruiting system 
supports our professional, real-time job applications manage-
ment process� 

The behavioural values devised in 2011 – “Develop and 
engage – yourself and others!”, “Act authentically and earn trust!”, 
“Put yourself in the other’s shoes!” – have been put into every-
day  practice  in  all  of  Baloise’s  corporate  divisions�  These  

This highly effective package underlies the success of our 
recruitment strategy� Our management trainee programme bears 
testimony to the Baloise Group’s impressive ability to nurture 
young  talent�  Trainees  are  a  highly  welcome  addition  and 

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   36

19�03�2013   13:39:42

Sustainable business management
Human resources

37

strengthen all our corporate divisions� However, Baloise also 
takes on interns and temporary student employees, thereby 
enabling them to gain their first work experience after they have 
graduated from university� This strategy allows us to involve 
talented young people in the Company at an early stage and to 
enthuse them about its work�

PeRFoRmance anD Results aRe WHat counts at Baloise 
Since January 2011, we have been applying our new performance 
management system to our remuneration policies as well; this 
system is closely linked to our core HR processes� Baloise offers 
base salaries in line with the going market rates, variable remu-
neration schemes, and attractive employee incentive and reten-
tion plans� Variable remuneration is based on both individual 
performance and the success of the Company as a whole�

Part of this remuneration is paid in the form of restricted 
shares, with senior managers receiving some mandatory shares� 
This strengthens staff loyalty and aligns remuneration with the 
Company’s long-term performance�

The remuneration paid by the Baloise Group is determined 

by the following criteria:
 → Competitiveness in the marketplace
 → Individual performance and the Company’s success
 → Fairness and transparency
 → Sustainability�

We aRe a HigHly skilleD, leaRning oRganisaton
In 2011, we pooled talent identification, performance manage-
ment, development planning and succession planning for the 
entire Baloise Group� The main aim of our integrated perfor-
mance and talent management system is to strengthen our per-
formance- and trust-based culture and to encourage continuous 
learning� As part of this strategy we conduct a systematic dialogue 
with our employees in order to agree and assess personal per-
formance and development targets� The linchpin of this inte-
grated approach is a regular dialogue between each employee 
and his or her line manager� The purpose of this dialogue is to 
provide guidance and clarity about shared targets and objectives 
and the continuous learning process by specifying individual 
development goals and measures� 

Succession planning across the entire Baloise Group makes a 
substantial contribution to our strategic HR planning and en-
sures that key positions are filled over the long term� Internal 
candidates were chosen to fill 48 per cent of our key vacancies 
in 2012� We discussed a total of 244 key roles and tried to find 
potential short-term emergency solutions or long-term succes-
sion  options  for  them�  As  part  of  this  process  we  identified 
highly talented individuals who have performed exceptionally 
well and have the potential to take on more demanding roles 
and responsibilities� 

Baloise c amPus: tHe FutuRe oF eXecutiVe  

management DeVeloPment
What makes Baloise so successful as an employer, apart from 
its Safety World, its brand equity and its behavioural values is, 
above all, its workforce� The way in which senior managers – as 
multipliers – conduct themselves has an especially significant 
impact� We will therefore be pooling our executive development 
resources for the entire Baloise Group under a single roof – the 
Baloise  Campus  –  in  2013� This  will  enable  us  to  introduce  
a uniform managerial philosophy and enhance our shared iden-
tity across all management levels and throughout all corporate 
divisions� 

In 2013, the Baloise Campus will help executives who take 
on new roles within our organisation to acquire and build the 
skill sets that they need for their assignments� In each subsequent 
year we will provide training for roughly 180 managers in four 
groups classified according to seniority�

We inVest eFFectiVely in continuing  

PRoFessional DeVeloPment
At the same time as the Baloise Campus was being constructed 
in 2012, the existing executive development programmes were 
being completed for the last time� These included the Strategic 
Leadership Program (slp), a three-year development programme 
for the most senior managers and other selected members of 
staff� By the end of 2012, the slp had run a total of 48 continuing 
professional  development  courses  focusing  on  business  and 
leadership, providing many participants with valuable ideas 
and suggestions for their day-to-day work�

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   37

19�03�2013   13:39:42

38

Sustainable business management
Human resources

The 150 course participants improved their networking oppor-
tunities  and  the  sharing  of  information  by  attending  an  
annual gathering entitled “b1” (short for “being one company”)� 
The key issues discussed at the b1 2012 meeting were the com-
pletion of the “Baloise 2012” strategic programme and the main 
points of the Baloise Group’s strategy for 2013 onwards� 

From across the Baloise Group, 28 middle-management 
executives took part in the Advanced Management Program 
(AMP), which was also run for the last time in 2012� Its focal 
themes were business, leadership and personal excellence� 

We also offer development opportunities for our execu-
tives at local level� To this end, Baloise once again supported 
new managers in Switzerland in 2012 by providing them with 
starter kits� In addition, 30 selected employees were given the 
opportunity to hone their leadership skills by attending pro-
grammes for young managerial talent� Attendees on the Lead-
ership Transformation Program (LTP) practised working to-
gether in teams on real-life projects and initiatives�

Baloise inteRnational
The focus of our activities outside Switzerland was largely on 
the gradual merger of our Basler Versicherungen units with 
Deutscher Ring in Germany and on the integration of the com-
panies acquired by our subsidiary Mercator in Belgium�

Baloise’s 8,795 emPloyees in 2012 By countRy

  Switzerland  

  Germany  

  Belgium 

  Croatia and Serbia 

  Luxembourg  

  Austria 

  Liechtenstein  

  Others 

in percent 

Employees

43.3 

27.0 

15.8 

8.0 

3.1 

2.6 

0.2 

0.0 

3,806

2,373

1,389

701

273

225

24

4

geRmany: integRation making gooD HeaDWay
The most significant event for us in Germany in 2012 was the 
ongoing integration of our Basler Versicherungen entities with 
Deutscher Ring� In addition to the formal merger of corporate 
divisions, which was successfully negotiated with the statutory 
codetermination bodies, change management played a vital role: 
the integration of two distinct cultures as well as new colleagues, 
processes and responsibilities proved to be a substantial chal-
lenge for the  HR function� Individual training sessions, or-
ganisational advice, and coaching provided effective support 
during the integration process� Here, too, the introduction of 
Baloise’s behavioural values was one of the key challenges, which 
was successfully managed with the help of various communica-
tion formats�

The  incorporation  of  all  the  employee-related  data  of  
Basler Versicherungen entities in Germany into a centrally man-
aged administration system was a key milestone in the process 
of harmonising all HR information systems throughout the 
Baloise Group�

Belgium: neW oRganisational stRuctuRe PRoViDes 

Boost FoR staFF anD HR
Our Belgian operations in 2012 were dominated by the integra-
tion of our two recent acquisitions Avéro and Nateus� Our work-
force displayed enthusiasm and team spirit in creating the merged 
company’s  new  structure� Those  working  for  the  individual 
entities  were  offered  exciting  challenges  within  the  new  or-
ganisation� The HR function ensured that the transition process 
went smoothly and devised specialised training seminars to 
enable the employees concerned to orientate themselves quick-
ly and effectively within the new organisational structures�

A  constructive  dialogue  was  conducted  with  the  em- 
ployee representatives in order to merge the various remune- 
ration systems into a single system�

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   38

19�03�2013   13:39:45

 
  
Sustainable business management
Human resources

39

Baloise in Dialogue WitH emPloyee RePResentatiVes 
Baloise  respects  the  right  of  every  worker  to  be  or  become  
a member of an employees’ representative body� All members 
of the workforce are represented by staff committees, works 
councils or other employee bodies and organisations�

 We maintain a direct, transparent and constructive dia-
logue with all employee representatives� The European Forum 
is an annual conference at which employee representative del-
egates from the national subsidiaries and representatives of the 
Corporate Executive Committee meet to encourage and deep-
en cross-border dialogue, to discuss matters of interest and to 
share information with each other� This ensures that the Baloise 
Group’s business runs smoothly and harmoniously, while giv-
ing  due  consideration  to  all  the  stakeholders  involved�  The  
European Forum’s annual gathering in May 2012 was held in 
Luxembourg� 

tHe Baloise gRouP’s Human ResouRces: inteRnet  

anD social meDia PResence
Careers website page and job vacancies: 
www.baloise.com/careers  

 → Facebook: www�facebook�com/baloisegroup
 → Blog: www�baloisejobs�com
 → YouTube: www�youtube�com/baloisegroup
 → Xing: www�xing�com/companies/baloisegroup
→  LinkedIn: www�linkedin�com/company/baloisegroup  
→  Twitter: www�twitter�com/baloise_jobs 

Baloise encouRages inteRnal moBilit y   
The integrated performance management and talent manage-
ment  systems  used  across  the  Baloise  Group  underpin  the 
target-specific and individual on-the-job and off-the-job train-
ing and development that we offer to our staff� In addition, these 
two approaches form the basis for decisions on promotions as 
well as employees’ mobility within our organisation� This means 
that members of staff who deliver an outstanding performance 
and show strong potential have an even better opportunity to 
advance their careers�

DiVeRsit y in PaRtneRsHiP WitH ouR WoRkFoRce 
Women account for 45�3 per cent of all employees (2011: 45�8 
per cent) and 22�3 per cent of our senior managers (2011: 20�9 
per cent)� Our goal is to have a diversified workforce� We de-
velop and promote our staff on the basis of their performance, 
their potential and our corporate values�

For years now Baloise has also been actively involved in 
promoting its employees’ healthcare� The Basler Insurance com-
panies in Switzerland were officially designated “friendly work 
spaces” in 2010� The Swiss health promotion board awards this 
accolade to firms that are engaged in  corporate health manage-
ment over and above the legal requirements� Our aim is to cre-
ate workplaces and a working environment in which our mem-
bers of staff are happy, stay healthy and, consequently, are able 
to  deliver  an  excellent  performance�  Our  corporate  health  
management scheme contains a wide range of measures aimed 
at promoting health awareness both at work and in everyday 
life in the form of lunchtime seminars, workshops, information 
events, campaigns and other initiatives� Flexible and part-time 
working as well as the “Bal4Kids” crèche in Basel round off our 
efforts to promote our employees’ healthcare� Our conditions 
of employment, working methods and equipment as well as our 
HR management tools are constantly being reviewed and opti-
mised to ensure that they protect and promote the health and 
safety of our workforce� By committing itself to the cause of 
occupational healthcare management, Baloise is also honouring 
its “Making you safer” brand promise to its own employees�

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   39

19�03�2013   13:39:46

40

Sustainable business management
Ecology

Protecting the environment over the long-term

Among other things, as a signatory to the UNEP declaration* for the insurance industry,  
Baloise is committed to constantly reducing its carbon footprint. In 2012, further major  
measures were put in place to achieve this goal.

eneRgy eF Ficiency at comPuteR centRes
Baloise has also permanently reduced energy consumption in 
its computer centres� Side and ceiling panels have been added 
to the open racks housing the servers at the Basel site� This 
separates the cold and warm air zones, thereby sharply reduc-
ing the air that has to be cooled in the cold air zone� In addition, 
the refrigeration and ventilation systems have been refurbished 
and upgraded� The “ProKilowatt” organisation, which assesses 
power-saving initiatives on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office 
of  Energy,  supported  the  energy-efficiency  measures  with  
a substantial subsidy� We expect to reduce the amount of elec-
tricity used by our computer centres by around 500,000 kWh 
per year� This represents roughly 30 per cent of the energy con-
sumed by our air-conditioning systems (cooling, ventilation 
and humidification) in our computer centres and approximate-
ly 4�5 per cent of the power currently used by our headquarters, 
which has more than 2,000 work stations� It also includes cen-
tral facilities such as computer centres and the staff restaurant�

cutting-eDge BuilDing tecHnology is Paying  

DiViDenDs
The energy management system at the head office of Basler Ver-
sicherungen in Hamburg (formerly Deutscher Ring) shows the 
amounts of electricity, heating and water being used and can 
therefore align this consumption with the Company’s needs� 
The replacement of the building control system over the next 
few months will enable operation of the building’s technical 
installations  to  be  better  automated  and  managed  and  its  
energy consumption to be further improved� 

cutting co2 emissions By taking tHe tRain 
Baloise employees are required to use the train for business 
travel whenever possible� Train tickets for domestic and inter-

national travel are ordered in Switzerland from the SBB Busi-
nesstravel portal run by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and 
are printed out at the workplace� This obviates the need for staff 
to queue for tickets at the train station and submit time-con-
suming  claims  for  expenses�  As  part  of  its  service  the  SBB 
evaluates the train journeys made by Baloise employees and 
assesses them in terms of their carbon footprint� In 2012, Basler 
Switzerland staff travelled 2,320,460 passenger kilometres by 
train on business� This represented a saving of 163,679 litres of 
fuel and 443 tonnes of CO2, which is roughly equal to the car-
bon emitted by 175 energy-efficient (“Minergie”) houses in one 
year� 

caRBon-neutRal Business tRaVel 
From 2013 onwards, Basler Switzerland will be using the Climate 
Credit Card issued by Cornèrcard for its business travel needs� 
The personalised annual account statement shows how much 
CO2 has been generated by air travel, hotel accommodation or 
meals paid for using the card� This level of transparency enables 
cardholders to alter their behaviour and reduce their carbon 
footprint� Corner Bank then offsets the calculated amount of 
CO2 emissions by pursuing certified projects aimed at combat-
ing climate change in a particular developing country� This 
creates jobs in the country concerned and encourages the card-
holders to think about sustainability issues�    

eneRgy eF Ficiency at Baloise 
The total amount of energy and resources used corresponds to 
the aggregate consumption by the computer centres and the 
large office buildings used for operational purposes in Switzer-
land� The figures reported relate to the energy and resources 

* UNEP = United Nations Environment Programme.

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   40

19�03�2013   13:39:46

Sustainable business management
Ecology

41

enViRonmental auDit

Employees

Energy reference area

Locations

Electricity consumption

Heating consumption

Water consumption

Paper consumption

Paper types

Copy paper consumption

Amount of refuse

Types of refuse

Business travel

Mode of transport

2010 absolute

2011 absolute

2012 absolute

Relative unit

4,667

142,872

13

4,800

140,997

13

4,975

141,578

12

headcount

ERA m2

number of buildings

23,506,845 KWh

22,859,388 KWh

23,312,615 kWh

4,886 kWh / employee

13,194,068 KWh

12,110,484 KWh

13,856,250 kWh

98 kWh / m2

61,053 m3

61,968 m3

58,113 m3

47 l / employee / day

765 t

684 t

822 t

162 kg / employee

+/– %

3.6

0.4

– 1

1.9

14.4

– 6.3

20.1

16.0 % recycled

72.0 % chlorine-free

12.0 % chlorine-bleached

99.4 million A4 
sheets

91.2 million A4 
sheets

81.9 million a4 
sheets

16,467 A4 sheets / employee

– 10.2

1,039 t

928 t

909 t

183 kg / employee

– 2.1

61.0 % paper / cardboard

6.0 % other materials

1.0 % special waste

32.0 % misc. waste / refuse

16.01 million km

18.32 million km

21.82 million km

4,386 km / employee

19.1

29.2 % km by air

37.2 % km by road

33.6 % km by public 

transport

CO2 emissions

16,575 t

16,591 t

17,855  t

3,589 kg / employee

7.6

consumed by just under 56�2 per cent of the 8,797 people work-
ing for the Baloise Group� As a result of the mild winter, con-
sumption of energy for heating fell by 9 per cent� The merger of 
several  Baloise  Group  computer  centres  in  Switzerland  has  
resulted in a reduction in electricity costs in Switzerland and 
at the national subsidiaries concerned� Total electricity con-
sumption fell by 1�3 per cent, and consumption per employee 
decreased by 3�5 per cent� In 2012, we once again hit our target 
of cutting our energy consumption by between 2 and 3 per cent 

a year over the period 2004 to 2013� As a responsible corporate 
citizen we are both obliged and motivated to use resources more 
efficiently in the face of climate change and the rising cost and 
price of energy� 

www.baloise.com/sustainability 
→  Ecology / Environmental mission statement 
→  Ecology / Environmental audit 
→  Risk management 

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   41

19�03�2013   13:39:46

42

Sustainable business management
Risk management

Risk management constitutes one of the main  
pillars of our business model

Forming an integral part of our strategic management policies, risk management makes  
a significant contribution to the positioning of the Baloise Group. As a European insurer  
with Swiss roots, we possess a strong balance sheet and a high degree of operating  
earnings power, which we have optimised in terms of the risks that we take and the upside 
potential that we derive from our business.   

Baloise’s risk management approach involves managing both 
risk and value at the same time� Because our risk model is based 
on innovative standards, we can always keep our promise of 
“Making you safer�”

The Company’s enterprise risk management was once again 
awarded Standard & Poor’s excellent “strong” rating in 2012� 
This puts us among the top 15 per cent of all European insur-
ance companies� 

Our risk management is a standardised strategic and op-
erational system that is applied throughout the Baloise Group 
and covers the following areas:
 → Risk map: this forms the backbone of our risk strategy 

and defines the fundamental risk issues, such as our actu-
arial and market risk as well as the operational risk aris-
ing from our business activities� 

 → Risk governance and risk culture: this involves encourag-
ing risk awareness – how people perceive and respond to 
risk – and establishing this mindset throughout the 
organisation�

 → Risk measurement: this is used to identify, quantify and 

model the risks inherent in all financial and business pro-
cesses�

 → Risk processes: the organisation of risk and its pertinent 

standards are key aspects of risk management and operate 
in tandem with reporting, management and evaluation 
processes�

 → Strategic risk management: its purpose is to optimise the 
risks taken by the Baloise Group while maximising its 
earnings potential�

Risk maP
The risk map distinguishes between the following categories of 
risk to which Baloise is exposed:
 → Actuarial risk
 → Market risk
 → Financial-structure risk
 → Business-environment risk
 → Operational risk
 → Strategic and information risk�
A detailed description of these risks can be found in the Finan-
cial Report section on page 117�

The risk map is firmly embedded in the organisational 
structure and responsibilities of the entire Baloise Group� Each 
risk is assigned to a risk owner (with overall responsibility) and 
to a separate risk controller (responsible for risk management 
and control)� 

Risk goVeRnance anD Risk cultuRe
The development and expansion of risk governance and risk 
culture has a long tradition at Baloise� We are constantly work-
ing to enhance this culture across the entire organisation� Des-
ignated risk owners and risk controllers dealing with specific 
risk issues are as much a part of this culture as committees that 
meet regularly to discuss risks� At the same time, our risk mod-
els and processes are continually refined� The internal control 
system (ICS) and the compliance function are further major 
planks of this strategy�

The most senior decision-making body in Baloise’s risk 
organisation is the Board of Directors of Bâloise Holding Ltd, 
while ultimate responsibility for risk control lies with the Board 
of Directors’ Audit Committee� The Chief Risk Officer for the 
Baloise Group regularly reports to both of these bodies and is 
personally responsible for risk-related issues� 

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   42

19�03�2013   13:39:46

 
Sustainable business management
Risk management

43

The Board of Directors of Bâloise Holding Ltd has ultimate 
authority to determine the risk strategy, which is derived from 
Baloise’s business strategy and objectives and addresses issues 
around the Company’s risk appetite and risk tolerance�

The Group Risk Committee and the local risk committees 
in each business unit – which comprise members of the Cor-
porate Executive Committee and of the local senior management 
teams respectively – decide how the risk strategy is developed 
and designed and how the pertinent policies are implemented 
in day-to-day business� Bodies specially set up to examine spe-
cific risk areas such as asset/liability management, compliance, 
IT risk and the use of reserves also compile submissions for the 
committees to facilitate their decision-making on these issues� 
The Group Risk Management team works closely with the local 
risk experts to complete the picture� This inclusive risk organ-
isation approach provides us with a platform for sharing and 
constantly refining best practice�

Group Risk Management is responsible for 

 → developing consistent, mandatory risk models for the 

entire Baloise Group,

 → monitoring Group-wide standards,
 → reporting risks,
 → complying with risk processes and procedures, and
 → communicating with external partners such as auditors, 
corporate supervisory bodies and credit rating agencies�
The business units are responsible for local implementation of 
the standards and requirements specified by the Baloise Group� 
Overall  responsibility  lies  with  the  Baloise  Group’s  Chief  
Financial Officer, followed by its Chief Risk Officer� 

Risk measuRement
Our risk model standardises the process of quantifying our 
business risks and financial market risks across all strategic 
business units� It is consistent with the principles and calcula-
tion methods applied by the Swiss Solvency Test and with the 
European Union’s Solvency II directives� As a ground-breaking 
risk management tool, it provides a firm foundation on which 
management can make strategic and operational decisions�

The models used by Baloise are underpinned by econom-
ic risk capital, which is currently the most advanced market 

standard� To this end, risk measurement metrics alone are used 
to calculate a target capital figure – irrespective of any financial 
accounting treatment or regulatory capital requirements under 
Solvency I – to ensure that the Company remains solvent even 
in adverse circumstances and can meet its obligations to poli-
cyholders at all times� We constantly compare this target capi-
tal  figure  with  the  capital  currently  available  (the  “actual” 
capital)�

In addition to this holistic risk model we use the risk map 
to identify, describe and evaluate specific risks in terms of their 
likely impact on our operating profit or loss� Our corporate 
database of specific risks – which contains a detailed description 
of the risks concerned, their classification on the risk map, and 
early-warning indicators – is generated from this standardised 
process� We use quantitative methods to supplement this de-
scription by measuring these risks’ probable financial impact 
on the Company’s balance sheet� Each risk is documented to-
gether with the measures needed to mitigate it� The database is 
updated every six months�

This combination of a holistic risk model with analysis of 
specific risks ensures that Baloise maintains an adequate over-
view of the prevailing risk situation at all times� 

Risk PRocesses
Group-wide risk management standards place the risk process 
on a mandatory footing� These rules stipulate methods, rules 
and limits that must be applied throughout the Baloise Group� 
These  standards  determine  how  the  various  risk  issues  are 
evaluated, managed and reported� A number of risk limits act 
as early-warning indicators to mitigate the risks taken� 

The Baloise Group uses a system of limits based on eco-
nomic risk capital in order to mitigate its risks holistically at an 
aggregate level� This system tracks the risk capital held by the 
Baloise Group and individual business units in real time� We 
also monitor issue-specific risks individually by imposing lim-
its, as illustrated by the following examples:
 → Actuarial risk is determined by underwriting guidelines 
on which local underwriters base their decisions� Risk 
metrics analysis of the deductibles payable supplements 
the Company’s key reinsurance strategies�

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   43

19�03�2013   13:39:47

44

Sustainable business management
Risk management

 → We use many reporting procedures to monitor market 
risk and financial-structure risk in all our investment 
units� In addition to upper limits on equity exposures, for 
example, there are clear and binding guidelines on bond 
ratings� The Basel II approach and advanced statistical 
methods are used to assess credit risk�

 → We capture business-environment risk, operational risk 
and strategic risk on both a standardised and individual 
basis, and we assess them in terms of their impact on our 
capital� 

Comprehensive semi-annual risk reports are discussed with the 
relevant decision-makers so that the necessary measures can 
be devised� Risk managers’ assessment of the risk situation is 
factored into the remuneration paid to executives� The three 
criteria  used  to  determine  the  performance  pool  payments 
awarded to individuals are the achievements, leadership and 
conduct of the manager concerned� The individual performance 
pool payment proposed by the respective line manager is dis-
cussed by the relevant management team, compared with oth-
er departments and divisions, and adjusted where necessary� 
This process ensures that risk-relevant behavioural attributes 
are factored into the performance pool payments awarded to 
individuals� We use our monthly risk analysis to review the 
overall solvency position, focusing on investment risk� Reports 
submitted to regulatory authorities complete the picture�

stRategic Risk management
Our internal risk model, which uses standard methods to quan-
tify all our business risks and financial market risks, forms the 
basis for strategic discussions about Baloise’s risk appetite� The 
capital requirements derived from this model constitute mini-
mum requirements for our “actual” capital� 

This process provides a 360-degree view of our key stra-
tegic risks and how they are managed� Our strategic risk man-
agement offers the clear prospect of penetrating new business 
lines  and  optimising  the  risk/return  profile  of  our  existing 
business� 

Profit targets for individual business units that factor in 
their specific risk situation are a major aspect of this risk man-

agement system� These targets form part of the overall objectives 
agreed with local management teams�

ouR PRoFessional Risk management DemonstRateD

its PRoVen stRengtHs in 2012
Baloise’s risk strategy principles are designed for the long term, 
as shown by the Company’s excellent risk positioning in 2012� 
Proof positive of this situation was the Baloise Group’s sol- 
vency ratio, which remained very high at 277 per cent and bears 
testimony to its financial strength� 

2012 was also a year when established underwriting ap-

proaches continued to prove their worth:
 → The Baloise Group’s investment strategy continues to 

focus on diversification and on the basic principle of only 
investing in assets that we ourselves can fully and accu-
rately evaluate� 

 → The fact that the euro currency area and the creditworthi-
ness of certain euro-zone countries remained under pres-
sure was an exception in terms of our underwriting busi-
ness� We took measures to minimise and hedge our risks 
in this area� These measures included reducing our expo-
sure to Spanish government bonds, liquidating our entire 
portfolio of Portuguese government debt and managing 
the risk inherent in the exchange rates of the Swiss franc 
against the euro and the Swiss franc against the US dollar� 
However, it would not make financial sense to hedge all 
currency risks entirely�

 → Our investment strategy towards equities remained cau-

tious in 2012� Our net equity exposure as at 31 December 
2012 came to 5�1 per cent�

 → The high quality of recurrent investment income gener-

ated by our stable real-estate portfolio proved to be a val-
uable source of revenue� 

 → We are fully focused on managing our interest-rate risk� 
Wherever possible, we reconcile our payment obligations 
to customers for future years with the income earned 
from our investments� The high quality of recurrent 
investment income generated by our stable real-estate 
portfolio has proved very helpful in this respect� We also 
invest in safe long-term bonds denominated in either 

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   44

19�03�2013   13:39:47

Sustainable business management
Risk management

45

Swiss francs or euros and supplement this strategy by 
using derivative financial instruments such as swaptions� 
 → Our underwriting business, on the other hand, has proved 
to be highly consistent, with the Baloise Group’s net com-
bined ratio of 94�1 per cent demonstrating our excellence 
in non-life underwriting� 

 → In 2012, we continued to refine the relevant underlying 
strategies used to manage our earnings volatility and – 
especially with respect to our investments – stepped up 
their operational implementation�

Our risk management will continue to evolve rapidly over the 
coming years, reaffirming Baloise’s standing as a company with 
an outstanding risk strategy and risk positioning�

Further information on risk management can be found 
in the 2012 Financial Report (section 5� “Management of insur-
ance risk and financial risk” on pages 115 to 151)�

03_JB_Nachhaltige Geschäftsführung_en�indd   45

19�03�2013   13:39:47

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   46

19�03�2013   13:43:15

4  Baloise
16 Review of operating performance
36  Sustainable Business Management 
48  Corporate Governance
86  Financial Report 
226  Bâloise Holding Ltd
240  Notes

e
C
N
a
N
R
e
v
o
 G

e
t
a
R
o
p
R
o
C

Corporate 
 Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
INCLUDING REMUNERATION REPORT  ���������������������������������������������  48
Structure of the Baloise Group and shareholder base ������������  48
Capital structure  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  49
Board of Directors  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������  50
Corporate Executive Committee  �����������������������������������������������������  57
Remuneration Report  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������  61
Shareholder participation rights  ������������������������������������������������������  82
Changes of control and poison-pill measures  ���������������������������  82
External auditors  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  83 
Information policy  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������  84

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   47

19�03�2013   13:43:15

 
48

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

transparent corporate governance

as a company that adds value, Baloise has always attached great importance to practising 
sound, responsible corporate governance and continues this tradition today. 

Operating in line with the Swiss Code of Best Practice and the 
SIX Corporate Governance Guidelines, Baloise strives to foster 
a corporate culture of high ethical standards that emphasises 
the integrity of the Company and its employees� Baloise is con-
vinced that high-quality corporate governance has a positive 
impact on its long-term performance� 

This chapter reflects the structure of the SIX Corporate 
Governance Guidelines as amended on 29 October 2008 in or-
der to enhance transparency and, consequently, improve com-
parability with previous years and other companies� It includes 
economiesuisse’s Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate 
Governance and, in particular, Appendix 1 to the latter, which 
was published in 2007 and contains recommendations on re-
muneration� Baloise publishes its remuneration report as item 
5 of its Corporate Governance Report, which also meets the 
criteria  specified  in  circular  2010/1  of  the  Swiss  Financial  
Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)�

1. STRUCTURE OF THE BALOISE GROUP AND  

SHAREHOLDER BASE 

Structure of the Baloise Group
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Bâloise Holding is a pub-
lic limited holding company that is incorporated under Swiss 
law and listed on the Swiss Exchange (SIX)� The Baloise Group 
had a market capitalisation of CHF 3,925�0 million as at 31 De-
cember 2012� 
 → Information on Baloise shares can be found from page 8 

onwards�

 → Significant subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates as at 
31 December 2012 can be found from page 220 onwards in 
the notes to the consolidated annual financial statements, 
which form part of the Financial Report� 

 → Segment reporting by region and operating segment can 
be found from page 153 onwards in the notes to the con-
solidated annual financial statements within the Financial 
Report section� 

 → The Baloise Group’s operational management structure is 

presented on page 60�

Shareholder base
As a public company with a broad shareholder base, Bâloise 
Holding is a member of the SMI Mid (SMIM) Index and the 
Swiss Leader Index (SLI)�  

Shareholder structure
A total of 21,251 shareholders were registered in Bâloise Hold-
ing’s share register as at 31 December 2012� The number of reg-
istered shareholders had risen by 7 per cent compared with the 
previous year� The “Significant shareholders” section on page 
233 provides information on the structure of the Company’s 
shareholder base as at 31 December 2012�

The reports that were submitted to the issuer and to SIX 
Swiss Exchange AG’s disclosure office and were published on 
the latter’s electronic publication platform during the reporting 
year in compliance with section 20 of the Swiss Federal Act on 
Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading (BEHG) can be viewed 
using the search function at http://www�six-exchange-regulation�
com/obligations/disclosure/major_shareholders_de�html�

Treasury shares
Bâloise Holding held 2,264,287 treasury shares (4�5 per cent) 
as at 31 December 2012� 

Cross-shareholdings
There are no cross-shareholdings based on either capital own-
ership or voting rights�

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   48

19�03�2013   13:43:16

 
Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

49

2. CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Dividend policy
Bâloise Holding pursues a policy of paying consistent, earnings-
related dividends� It uses other dividend instruments such as 
share buy-backs and options to supplement conventional cash 
dividends� Shareholders have received a total of CHF 1,396�6 
million from cash dividends and share buy-backs over the last 
five years� Baloise has therefore had a combined annual payout 
rate of between 30 per cent and 50 per cent in recent years�

Year (CHF million)

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total 

Cash dividends

Share buy-backs

Total

243.0

225.0

225.0

225.0

225.0

130.3

71.5

34.7

17.1

–

373.3

296.5

259.7

242.1

225.0

1,143.0

253.6

1,396.6

all figures stated as at 31 December.

Bâloise Holding’s equity
The table below shows the changes in equity during the last 
three reporting years�

CHANGES IN BâLOISE HOLDING'S EqUIT y  
(BEFORE APPROPRIATION OF PROFIT)

2010

2011

2012

5.0

11.7

156.4

264.9

234.2

672.2

5.0

11.7

182.3

247.4

194.9

641.3

5.0

11.7

173.9

224.9

244.1

659.6

CHF million

Share capital

General reserve

Reserve for 
treasury shares

other reserves

Distributable 
profit

Equity attribut-
able to Bâloise 
Holding

all figures stated as at 31 December.

The share capital of Bâloise Holding has totalled CHF 5�0 mil-
lion since 29 April 2008 and is divided into 50,000,000 dividend-
bearing registered shares with a par value of CHF 0�10 each�

Authorised and conditional capital;  

other financing instruments

Authorised capital
The Annwual General Meeting voted on 29 April 2011 to extend 
until 29 April 2013 the resolution adopted on 30 April 2009 
authorising the Board of Directors to increase the Company’s 
share capital by up to CHF 500,000 by issuing up to 5,000,000 
fully paid-up registered shares with a par value of CHF 0�10 
each� § 3 (4) of the Articles of Incorporation was amended ac-
cordingly in 2011� The Board of Directors will ask the Annual 
General Meeting on 2 May 2013 to extend its authorisation of 
this capital amounting to CHF 500,000 until 2 May 2015�
www.baloise.com  →  Responsibility   
→  Corporate Governance  →  Rules and regulations

Conditional capital
The 2004 Annual General Meeting (§ 3 of the Articles of Incor-
poration) created conditional capital� This capital enables the 
Company’s  share  capital  to  be  increased  by  up  to  5,530,715  
registered shares with a par value of CHF 0�10 each� This con-
stitutes a nominal share capital increase of up to CHF 553,071�50� 
Conditional capital is used to cover any option rights or 
conversion rights granted in conjunction with bonds and sim-
ilar securities� Shareholders’ preemption rights are disapplied� 
Holders of the pertinent option rights and conversion rights are 
entitled to subscribe for the new registered shares� The Board 
of Directors may restrict or disapply shareholders’ preemption 
rights when issuing warrant-linked bonds or convertible bonds 
in international capital markets� Further information on the 
structure and composition of conditional capital can be found 
in § 3 of Bâloise Holding’s Articles of Incorporation�
www.baloise.com  →  Responsibility   
→  Corporate Governance  →  Rules and regulations

Other financing instruments
The Company has no profit-participation certificates�

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   49

19�03�2013   13:43:16

50

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

The Baloise Group’s consolidated equity
The Baloise Group’s consolidated equity amounted to CHF 4,872�8 
million on 31 December 2012� Details of changes in consoli-
dated equity in 2011 and 2012 can be found in the consolidated 
statement of changes in equity on pages 92 and 93 in the Finan-
cial Report section� All pertinent details relating to 2010 can be 
found in the consolidated statement of changes in equity on 
page 88 in the 2011 Financial Report�

Bonds outstanding
Bâloise Holding and one other Baloise Group company have 
issued bonds publicly� A total of nine public bonds issued by 
Bâloise Holding and one other Baloise Group company were 
outstanding at the end of 2012� Details of these outstanding 
bonds can be found on pages 197 and 231 and on the internet� 
www.baloise.com  →  Investor relations  →  Bonds

Credit rating
Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s continues to rate the 
financial strength of Baloise Insurance Ltd as “A–” with a stable 
outlook� This assessment reflects the Baloise Group’s strong 
capitalisation,  good  operating  earnings  power,  robust  com-
petitive position and considerable financial flexibility� Group-
wide risk management is rated as “strong”�
www.baloise.com  →  Investor relations  →  Rating

3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
All members of the Board of Directors – including the Chair-
man – are non-executives� They were not involved in the day-
to-day management of any Baloise Group companies in any of 
the three financial years immediately preceding the reporting 
period, and they maintain no material business relationships 
with the Baloise Group�

During the reporting period Dr Andreas Burckhardt and 
Dr Hansjörg Frei were reelected for a three-year term� Dr Klaus 
Jenny did not stand for reelection at the 2012 Annual General 
Meeting (AGM) and consequently stepped down from the Board 
of Directors at the end of this meeting� Thomas Pleines was 
newly elected for a three-year period�

The terms of appointment of the directors Dr Georg F� 
Krayer, Dr Michael Becker and Werner Kummer will expire at 
the forthcoming 2013 AGM� They are all standing for reelection 
for a further three-year period�

Dr Hansjörg Frei will step down from the Board of Direc-
tors at the 2013 Annual General Meeting� He has been a mem-
ber of this board since 2004 and has made an outstanding con-
tribution to both Bâloise Holding and the Baloise Group� 

The 2013 AGM will be asked to elect Karin Keller-Sutter 
as a new member of the Board of Directors for a two-year term� 
Karin Keller-Sutter (1963, Switzerland) holds a university degree 
in translation and conference interpreting and has a postgrad-
uate qualification in education� In 1996 she was elected to St� 
Gallen’s cantonal parliament and became Chairwoman of the 
FDP (the Swiss Liberal party) for the canton of St� Gallen before 
being elected to St� Gallen’s cantonal governing council in 2000� 
She was in charge of the Security and Justice Department until 
May 2012 and chaired the governing council in 2006/2007 and 
again in 2011/2012� She was elected to the Council of States – the 
upper chamber of the Swiss parliament – in the autumn of 2011� 
Mrs Keller-Sutter sits on the boards of directors at the NZZ 
media group and Pensimo Fondsleitung AG� She is also a mem-
ber of the Board of Directors at the ASGA pension fund and 
chairs the board of trustees at the Pensimo investment trust� 
She is an executive director of the Swiss Retail Federation and 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Swiss  Em- 
ployers’ Federation�

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   50

19�03�2013   13:43:16

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

51

Further information on the members of the Board of Directors 
can be found on the internet�
www.baloise.com  →  About us  →  Organisation 
  →  Board of Directors

MEMBERS 

Dr andreas Burckhardt, Chairman, 
Basel 

Dr Georg F. Krayer, vice-Chairman, 
Basel

Dr Michael Becker, Darmstadt

Dr andreas Beerli, oberwil-Lieli

Dr Georges-antoine de Boccard, 
Conches

Dr Hansjörg Frei, Mönchaltorf 

Werner Kummer, Küsnacht 

thomas pleines, Munich

Dr eveline Saupper, Zurich 

Chairman’s  
Committee

Audit  
Committee

Remuneration  
Committee

Investment  
Committee

Nationality

Born in

Appointed in

Term of 
appointment 
ends

C

vC

M

M

M

M

DC

C

C

DC

M

M

CH 

CH 

D 

CH 

CH 

CH 

CH 

D 

CH 

1951

1999

2015

1943

1995

2013

1948

1951

1951

1941

1947

1955

1958

2010

2011

2011

2004

2000

2012

1999

2013

2014

2014

2015

2013

2015

2014

DC

M

M

C

C: Chairman, vC: vice-Chairman, C: Chair, DC: Deputy Chair, M: Member.

BOARD AT TENDANCE IN 2012: MEETINGS OF THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr andreas Burckhardt 

Dr Georg F. Krayer, vice-Chairman

Dr Michael Becker

Dr andreas Beerli

Dr Georges-antoine de Boccard

Dr Hansjörg Frei 

Dr Klaus Jenny 

Werner Kummer 

thomas pleines

Dr eveline Saupper 

x = present, n / a = not applicable.

6.2.2012

14.3.2012

27.4.2012

20.6.2012

23.8.2012

12.12.2012

13.12.2012

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

n/a

x

n/a

x

n/a

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   51

19�03�2013   13:43:16

52

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

andreas Burckhardt, Chairman

Georg F. Krayer, vice-Chairman

Michael Becker

andreas Beerli

Georges-antoine de Boccard

Hansjörg Frei

Werner Kummer

thomas pleines

eveline Saupper

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   52

19�03�2013   13:45:40

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

53

Andreas Burckhardt (1951, Switzerland, Dr iur�) has been a mem-
ber of the Board of Directors since 1999 and is Chairman since 
29 April 2011� He studied jurisprudence at the universities of 
Basel and Geneva� He worked for Fides Treuhandgesellschaft 
from 1982 to 1987 and served as Secretary General of the Baloise 
Group from 1988 to 1994� He was Director of the Basel Cham-
ber of Commerce from 1994 to April 2011� In this role he sat on 
various  governing  bodies  of  national  and  regional  business 
organisations� From 1981 to 2011 he performed political func-
tions in Basel City, and from 1997 to 2011 he served on the Great 
Council of the Canton of Basel City (as Chairman in 2006 and 
2007)� He sits on the board of directors of Carl Spaeter AG� Dr 
Burckhardt is a non-executive director�

Georg F. Krayer (1943, Switzerland, Dr iur�) has been a member 
of the Board of Directors since 1995 and is Vice-Chairman since 
2004� He also acted as Lead Director from 6 December 2007 to 
31 December 2008� He studied jurisprudence� He is Honorary 
Chairman of the Board of Directors at Bank Sarasin & Cie AG, 
Basel, and was Chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association un-
til 2003� He sits on the Boards of Directors of Rhenus Alpina 
AG, Welinvest AG and Haco Holding AG and chairs the Board 
of Directors at Beyeler Museum AG� Dr Krayer is an independ-
ent non-executive director�

Michael Becker (1948, Germany, Dr iur�) has been a member of 
the Board of Directors since 2010� He studied law in Hamburg 
and Tübingen and became Head of Accounting and Finance at 
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, in 1998� He was an executive director 
and general partner at the publicly listed company Merck KGaA 
from 2000 until the end of 2011, and he was an executive direc-
tor and general partner at E� Merck KG, Darmstadt, which holds 
70 per cent of the share capital in Merck  KGaA, from  2002 
until the end of 2011� In addition, Dr� Becker is a member of the 
Supervisory Board of Symrise AG, Germany� Dr Becker is an 
independent non-executive director�

Andreas Beerli (1951, Switzerland, Dr iur�) has been a member 
of the Board of Directors since 2011� He studied law at the Uni-
versity of Basel� In 1979 he started working as an underwriter 

for the German market at Swiss Re� From 1985 to 1993 he per-
formed various managerial roles at Baloise, with the main focus 
on supervising and supporting several foreign units� He then 
returned to Swiss Re, where he became a member of the Group 
Executive Committee in 2000, first in the United States as head 
of Swiss Re Americas and, most recently, in Zurich as Chief 
Operating Officer for the entire Swiss Re Group� Since 2009 he 
has acted as an independent advisor on the Boards of Directors 
and advisory boards of companies and professional associations� 
He is a member of the Board of Directors at Ironshore Europe 
Inc�, Dublin; a member of the Advisory Board of Accenture  
Schweiz and Chairman of the Swiss Advisory Council of the 
American Swiss Foundation� Dr Beerli is an independent non-
executive director�

Georges-Antoine de Boccard (1951, Switzerland, Dr med�) has 
been a member of the Board of Directors since 2011� He studied 
medicine at the University of Geneva� He has been running his 
own urological surgery practice in Geneva since 1987� He sits 
on the Board of Directors at Citadel Finance SA and was Chair-
man of the Swiss Association of Urology from 2005 to 2006� He 
is a member of the Swiss Association of Urology, the European 
Association of Urology and other professional bodies and as-
sociations�  Dr  de  Boccard  is  an  independent  non-executive 
director�

Hansjörg Frei (1941, Switzerland, Dr iur�) has been a member of 
the Board of Directors since 2004� He graduated in jurisprudence 
from the University of Zurich� He joined Winterthur in 1982 
and was eventually appointed to the group executive board, 
with responsibility for operations in Switzerland� From 2000 
until his retirement in mid-2003 he was an executive director 
(head of international country management) at Credit Suisse 
Financial Services� He was chairman of the Swiss Insurance 
Association (SIA) from 2000 to 2003� He sits on the board of 
directors at Ems-Chemie Holding AG and, until the end of 2012, 
was chairman of the Ems Group’s pension fund� Dr Frei is an 
independent non-executive director�

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   53

19�03�2013   13:46:10

54

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

Eveline Saupper (1958, Switzerland, Dr iur�) has been a member 
of the Board of Directors since 1999� She studied jurisprudence 
at the University of St� Gallen� She is a lawyer and a certified 
tax expert� She worked for Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG 
Fides), Zurich, from 1983 to 1985 and was employed by Baker 
& McKenzie, Zurich and Chicago, from 1985 to 1992� She joined 
Homburger AG, Zurich, in 1992, where she is a partner� She sits 
on the Board of Directors at Homburger AG, Zurich, and has 
been a member of the Board of Directors at Hofstettler, Kra-
marsch & Partner AG, Zurich, since November 2011� At the 
Annual General Meeting 2013 of Syngenta AG, Basel, it will be 
proposed that Dr Saupper be elected to Syngenta AG’s Board of 
Directors� Dr Saupper is an independent non-executive director�

Secretary to the Board of Directors: Andreas Eugster, Oberwil BL
Head of Group Internal Audit: Rolf-Christian Andersen, Meilen

Werner Kummer (1947, Switzerland, Dipl�-Ing� ETH Zurich, MBA 
Insead) has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2000� 
From 1990 to 1994 he was CEO of Schindler Aufzüge AG and 
subsequently, until 1998, sat on Schindler’s Group Management 
Committee, where he was responsible for the Asia Pacific region� 
He was CEO of Forbo Holding AG from 1998 until March 2004� 
He is an independent management consultant, Chairman of 
the Board of Directors at Gebrüder Meier AG, a member of the 
Supervisory Board of Schindler Deutschland Holding GmbH,  
a member of the Board of Directors at Costantini AG and an 
executive  director  of  the  Zurich  Chamber  of  Commerce�  
Mr� Kummer is an independent non-executive director�

Thomas Pleines (1955, Germany, lawyer) has been a member of 
the Board of Directors since 2012� From 2003 to 2005 he was 
CEO and delegate of the Board of Directors at Allianz Suisse, 
Zurich, and from 2006 to 2010 CEO of Allianz Versicherungs-
AG, Munich, and an executive director at Allianz Deutschland, 
Munich� He has sat on the Supervisory Board of Bilfinger Berg-
er SE, Mannheim, since 1998, and has been chairman of the 
Presidential Board at DEKRA e�V�, Stuttgart, chairman of the 
Supervisory Board of DEKRA SE, Stuttgart, chairman of the 
Supervisory Board at SÜDVERS Holding GmbH & Co� KG, Au 
near Freiburg, and a member of the Board of Directors at KABA 
Holding AG, Rümlang near Zurich, since 2011� Thomas Pleines 
will step down from the Supervisory Board of Bilfinger Berger 
SE on 18 April 2013� Mr� Pleines is an independent non-execu-
tive director�

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   54

19�03�2013   13:46:10

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

55

Interlocking directorates
There are no interlocking directorates�

Election and term of appointment
The Board of Directors consisted of nine members at the end 
of 2012� Each member is elected by the Annual General Meet-
ing for a term of three years at a time� Roughly one-third of 
members step down each year unless they are reelected (“stag-
gered replacement”)� 

The average age on the Board of Directors is currently 
around 63� Each member of the Board of Directors is elected 
individually� If requested by shareholders, the actions of these 
members are also formally approved individually�

Internal organisation

Functions and responsibilities of the Board of Directors
Subject to the decision-making powers exercised by sharehold-
ers at the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors is 
the Company’s ultimate decision-making body� Decisions are 
taken by the Board of Directors unless authority has been del-
egated on the basis of the Organisational Regulations to the 
chairman of the Board of Directors, its committees, the Chief 
Executive Officer or the Corporate Executive Committee�

Section 716a of the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR) and 
item A3 of the Organisational Regulations state that the Board 
of Directors’ main functions and responsibilities are to act as 
the Company’s ultimate managerial and supervisory body, to 
oversee the Company’s finances and to determine its organi-
sational structures�
www.baloise.com  →  Responsibility 
→  Corporate Governance →  Rules and regulations

Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has four committees, which support it 
in its activities� These committees report to the Board of Direc-
tors and submit the necessary proposals for their particular 
areas  of  responsibility�  The  Investment  Committee  and  the  
Remuneration  Committee  have  their  own  decision-making 
powers�

The committees appointed by the Board of Directors generally 
consist of four members, who are newly elected every year by 
the Board of Directors� The chairman and vice-chairman of the 
Board of Directors are ex officio members of the Chairman’s 
Committee� The chairman of the Board of Directors is not al-
lowed to sit on the Audit Committee� The committees’ basic 
functions and responsibilities are specified in the Organisa-
tional Regulations and in the written regulations applicable to 
individual committees, which also govern administrative aspects�
www.baloise.com  →  Responsibility 
→  Corporate Governance →  Rules and regulations

Functions and responsibilities of the committees
The Chairman’s Committee provides advice on key transactions, 
especially those involving important strategic or personnel-
related decisions� Consequently, it also does the necessary pre-
paratory work on HR issues�  

The Investment Committee’s  main responsibilities are to 
oversee the Baloise Group’s investment activities, define the 
basic principles of its investment policy, specify the asset alloca-
tion strategy for all strategic business units and devise the rel-
evant investment plan� The Chairman’s Committee performed 
all the functions of the Investment Committee until 27 April 
2012�
The Remuneration Committee specifies the structure and amount 
of remuneration paid to the members of the Board of Directors 
and of the salaries paid to the members of the Corporate Ex-
ecutive Committee� It approves the target agreements and per-
formance assessments that are applied to the Corporate Execu-
tive  Committee  members  in  order  to  determine  their 
performance-related remuneration� It also sanctions the remu-
neration policies applicable to the Corporate Executive Com-
mittee members and ensures that they are being correctly im-
plemented� It approves the variable remuneration granted to 
individual members of the Corporate Executive Committee� 
Furthermore, it specifies the total amount available in the per-
formance pool� 

The Audit and Risk Committee  supports the Board of 
Directors  in  its  non-delegable  overarching  supervisory  and  
financial oversight functions (section 716a OR) by ascertaining 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   55

19�03�2013   13:46:10

56

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

whether the internal and external control systems are well or-
ganised and function properly and by forming its own view of 
the Company’s separate and consolidated annual financial state-
ments� In addition, the Audit and Risk Committee assesses the 
effectiveness of internal control systems, including risk manage-
ment and the situation with respect to compliance� It has dis-
cussed the consolidated financial statements for the 2012 finan-
cial year with both management and the external auditors� Based 
on these discussions, the Audit and Risk Committee has recom-
mended that the audited separate annual financial statements 
incorporated into the Baloise Group’s annual report for the 
financial year ended on 31 December 2012 and that they are 
submitted to the Annual General Meeting� The Board of Direc-
tors has endorsed this recommendation�

Meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees
The Organisational Regulations stipulate that the full Board of 
Directors  must  meet  as  often  as  business  requires,  but  not 
fewer than four times a year�
www.baloise.com  →  Responsibility 
→  Corporate Governance →  Rules and regulations

The full Board of Directors of Bâloise Holding met on seven 
occasions in 2012� The table on page 51 shows Board of Directors 
members’ attendance at these meetings� With just one exception, 
all members of the relevant committee in each case attended 
every one of the additional 18 committee meetings� This means 
that the Board of Directors achieved an overall meeting attend-
ance rate of 99 per cent� One meeting of the Board of Directors 
was primarily used to provide its members with further infor-
mation on how to manage earnings volatility� Meetings of the 
Board of Directors and its committees usually last half a work-
ing day each� 
www.baloise.com  →  Responsibility 
→  Corporate Governance →  Board attendance

The Chairman’s Committee convened eight times in 2012, 
which included one two-day strategy meeting� The Investment 
Committee met on three occasions� The Audit and Risk Com-

mittee held five meetings, and the Remuneration Committee 
convened twice� 

The members of the Corporate Executive Committee are 
regularly invited to attend meetings of the Board of Directors� 
Meetings of the Chairman’s Committee are usually attended 
by the Group CEO, the Chief Financial Officer and the Secretary 
to the Board of Directors� Those present at Audit and Risk Com-
mittee meetings are primarily the Chief Financial Officer, the 
Head of Group Internal Audit, the Secretary to the Board of 
Directors, and representatives of the external auditors and, oc-
casionally, the Chief Investment Officer, the Chief Risk Officer 
and the Group Compliance Officer� The main attendees at Re-
muneration Committee meetings are the Chief Executive Of-
ficer and the Head of Group Human Resources� Meetings of the 
Investment Committee are usually attended by the Group CEO, 
the  Chief  Investment  Officer,  the  Secretary  to  the  Board  of  
Directors and, occasionally, the Chief Financial Officer�

Division of authorities, functions and responsibilities between 

the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee
The division of authorities, functions and responsibilities be-
tween the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Com-
mittee is governed by law, the Articles of Incorporation, and 
the Organisational Regulations� The latter are reviewed on an 
ongoing basis and updated as changing circumstances require� 
During the reporting year the Organisational Regulations were 
thoroughly revised and regulations for the Investment Com-
mittee were put in place�
www.baloise.com  →  Responsibility 
→  Corporate Governance →  Rules and regulations

Tools used to monitor and obtain information on the Corporate 

Executive Committee
Group Internal Audit reports directly to the chairman of the 
Board of Directors� Effective risk management is essential for 
any insurance group� This is why Baloise has devoted two entire 
chapters  to  the  subject  of  financial  risk  management  from  
page 42 onwards and in the Financial Report section starting 
on page 115�

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   56

19�03�2013   13:46:10

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

57

Jan De Meulder (1955, Belgium) studied mathematics and actu-
arial mathematics at the universities of Antwerp and Leuven, 
Belgium� From 1978 to 1992 he worked for De Vaderlandsche 
Insurance, which was part of the ING Group, in Antwerp� His 
responsibilities here included life insurance product develop-
ment and production� After working for two years as general 
manager at Life Association of Scotland, he moved to the For-
tis Group in Brussels in 1994, where he performed various sen-
ior managerial roles, eventually becoming CEO of Fortis Cor-
porate Insurance� In 2004 he joined the Baloise Group as CEO 
of the Belgian subsidiary Mercator Verzekeringen in Antwerp� 
He has been a member of the Corporate Executive Committee 
since 1 January 2009 and, in this function, headed up the In-
ternational corporate division from 2009 to 2012� He has been 
the CEO in charge of the insurance companies in Germany 
since 1 January 2013�

Michael Müller (1971, Switzerland, lic� oec� publ�) graduated in 
economics from the University of Zurich, supplementing his 
studies in the fields of insurance, accounting and finance� He 
began his career with Basler Versicherungen in 1997, starting 
as a management trainee, then working in Group Finance, and 
eventually  becoming  Deputy  Head  and,  in  2004,  Head  of  
Financial Accounting for the Baloise Group� In 2009, as Head 
of Finance and Risk, he became a member of the senior manage-
ment team in the Corporate Division Switzerland, focusing on 
financial reporting and accounting, actuarial management of 
the insurance companies, risk management, and coordination 
of logistics processes and the pool of project leaders� He has 
been a member of the Corporate Executive Committee and CEO 
of the Corporate Division Switzerland since March 2011�

The members of the Board of Directors receive copies of the 
minutes of Corporate Executive Committee meetings for their 
information� The chairman of the Board of Directors may attend 
meetings of the Corporate Executive Committee at any time�

4. CORPORATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Martin Strobel (1966, Germany / Switzerland, Dr rer� pol�) stud-
ied computer science, business management and business in-
formation systems at the universities of Kaiserslautern, Wind-
sor (Canada) and Bamberg� From 1993 to 1999 he performed 
various roles at Boston Consulting Group, Düsseldorf, dealing 
with strategic IT management issues in the banking and insur-
ance sectors� He joined the Baloise Group at the beginning of 
1999� He was initially Head of IT at Basler Switzerland and, 
within the Baloise Group, was in charge of major cross-func-
tional projects in the areas of insurance and finance� From 2003 
to 2008 he was a member of the Corporate Executive Commit-
tee with responsibility for Corporate Division Switzerland� He 
became Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2009� In addition, 
he has headed up the International corporate division since  
1 January 2013�

German Egloff (1958, Switzerland, lic� oec� HSG) graduated in 
business management from the University of St� Gallen� From 
1985 onwards he held various managerial positions at Winter-
thur Insurance, Switzerland� In 1997, as an executive director, 
he was put in charge of personal non-life insurance products, 
which included responsibility for both Wincare and – as Chair-
man of the Board of Directors – Sanacare� From 1998 to 2002 
he was Chief Financial Officer of Winterthur Switzerland and 
sat on the Board of Directors of Wincare, becoming its Chair-
man in 2000� From 2002 to 2004 he was Chief Financial Of-
ficer at Zurich Financial Services, Switzerland� His responsi-
bilities here comprised finance, human resources, IT, logistics 
and procurement� Since 1 December 2004 he has been a mem-
ber of the Corporate Executive Committee (heading up Cor-
porate Division Finance), where he oversees investor relations, 
financial management, financial accounting & corporate finance, 
and corporate IT� The actuary responsible for Baloise’s business 
in Switzerland also reports to German Egloff�

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   57

19�03�2013   13:46:10

58

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

Martin Strobel

German egloff

Jan De Meulder

Michael Müller

thomas Sieber

Martin Wenk

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   58

19�03�2013   13:47:47

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

59

Further information on the members of the Corporate Execu-
tive Committee can be found on the internet�

With the exception of Dr Thomas Sieber and Martin Wenk, 
no Corporate Executive Committee members serve on the boards 
of directors at companies outside the Baloise Group�

There are no management agreements that assign execu-

tive functions to third parties�
www.baloise.com  →  About us  →  Organisation 
  →  Corporate Executive Committee

Thomas Sieber (1965, Switzerland, Dr iur�, M�B�L�, lawyer) stud-
ied law at the University of St� Gallen� At the beginning of 1994 
he qualified to practise as a lawyer in the Swiss canton of Zurich� 
From 1999 to 2002 he lectured in corporate law at the Univer-
sity of St� Gallen� After brief spells working at Landis & Gyr and 
Siemens he joined the Baloise Group in 1997 as deputy head of 
Legal & Tax� He became head of this division in 2001 and, in 
addition, was secretary to Bâloise Holding’s Board of Directors 
until April 2012� When Swiss insurance regulation was being 
revised, he headed the Financial Markets Supervision task force 
set up by the Swiss Insurance Association (SIA)� He has been 
head of the Corporate Centre since 6 December 2007 and, in 
this capacity, is responsible for Group Human Resources, Legal 
& Tax, Group Compliance, Corporate Development, Run-Off 
Business and – since 2009 – Group Procurement� He also sits 
on  the  Board  of  Directors  at  EuroAirport  Basel-Mulhouse-
Freiburg�

Martin Wenk (1957, Switzerland, lic� iur�) held several posts at a 
major bank from 1982 to 1992 after graduating in law from the 
University of Basel� He started out as an investment advisor to 
institutional clients before becoming a group manager in private 
banking in New York and eventually working as section head 
of securities sales, where he primarily covered key institution-
al clients� From 1992 to 2000 he headed up portfolio management 
in Switzerland for the Baloise Group, where he was responsible 
for managing the assets of several Swiss companies, including 
their pension funds� In 2001 he was appointed to the Corporate 
Executive Committee (as head of the Asset Management cor-
porate division) and, in this capacity, is responsible for the Ba-
loise Group’s asset management activities, which include invest-
ment strategy and investment control, Baloise Asset Management, 
real estate, and Baloise Investment Services (investment fund 
business)� He sits on the Board of Directors at Unigestion Hold-
ing, Geneva�

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   59

19�03�2013   13:48:06

60

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

Management structure

(effective date: 31 December 2012)

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Martin Strobel, Dr rer� pol� *

Group Secretary

Markus von Escher, Dr iur�

Corporate Communications

Thomas Kähr (until 31 December 2012)
Dominik Müller (as of 1 January 2013)

SWITzERLAND

INTERNATIONAL

FINANCE

ASSET MANAGEMENT

CORPORATE CENTRE

Michael Müller *  

Product Management 
Corporate Clients 

Clemens Markstein 

Product Management 
Private Customers & 
Specialised Financial 
Services 

Wolfgang Prasser

Sales & Marketing

Bernard Dietrich

Jan De Meulder * 
(until 31 December 2012)

Martin Strobel, 
Dr rer� pol� * 
(as of 1 January 2013)

Germany

Frank Grund, Dr iur� 
(until 31 December 2012)

Jan De Meulder * 
(as of 1 January 2013)

Belgium

Gert De Winter

Luxembourg

Romain Braas

Baloise Bank SoBa

Austria

Otmar Bodner, Dr iur�

Croatia & Serbia

Darko Cesar

Jürg Ritz 

Operations & IT
Urs Bienz

Finance & Risk

Carsten Stolz,  
Dr rer� pol�

Claims

Stephan Ragg,  
Dr iur�

German Egloff *

Martin Wenk *

Thomas Sieber,  
Dr iur� *

Financial Accounting  
& Corporate Finance

Investment Strategy & 
Investment Controlling

Corporate Development

Thomas Wodrich

Sepp Huwyler

Thomas Schöb 

Investor Relations

Marc Kaiser

Group Risk Management

Baloise Asset  
Management

Matthias Henny,  
Dr phil�

Stefan Nölker,  
Dr rer� nat�

Corporate IT 

Olaf Romer 

Baloise 2012

Roger Matthes

Appointed Actuary 
Switzerland

Thomas Müller,
Dr sc� math� 

Real Estate

Hans-Peter Bissegger 
(until 31 March 2013)

Renato Piffaretti 
(as of 1 April 2013)

Baloise Investment 
Services

Robert Antonietti

Group Human  
Resources

Kurt Grois

Group Legal & Tax

Andreas Eugster

Group Compliance

Silvia Kalbermatten,  
Dr iur�

Run Off

Bruno Rappo

Group Procurement 

Manfred Schneider,  
Dr rer� nat�

* Member of the Corporate executive Committee.

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   60

19�03�2013   13:48:06

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

61

5. REMUNERATION REPORT: REMUNERATION, SHARE OWNER-

SHIP, AND LOANS GRANTED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 

the total amount set aside for the allocation of perfor-
mance share units (PSUs); 

OF DIRECTORS AND THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 
This chapter outlines the remuneration policies, procedures and 
systems applied by Baloise� It also discloses details of the remu-
neration and loans granted to the members of the Board of 
Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee as well as 
the shares held by these individuals� The content and scope of 
these disclosures are determined by sections 663bbis and 663c 
of the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), the corporate governance 
information guidelines published by the SIX Swiss Exchange, 
the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance, and 
circular 10/1 of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Author-
ity (FINMA) concerning remuneration systems� 

5.1. Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors
The Remuneration Committee set up by the Board of Directors 
in 2001 is consistent with the Swiss Code of Best Practice and 
is designed to oversee remuneration policies, especially those 
applied at the most senior levels within the Company� The Re-
muneration Committee ensures, among other things, that 
 → remuneration policies and systems are long-term in 

nature and are consistent with the Company’s strategy;
 →  the remuneration offered by Baloise is in line with the 

going market rate and is sufficiently competitive in order 
to attract and retain individuals with the necessary skills 
and character attributes; 

 → the remuneration paid is demonstrably dependent on the 
Company’s sustained success and individuals’ personal 
contributions and does not create any perverse incentives;

 → the structure and amount of overall remuneration paid 
are consistent with Baloise’s risk policies and encourage 
risk awareness�

The Remuneration Committee’s main functions and responsi-
bilities are 
 → to specify the structure and amount of remuneration paid 
to the chairman and members of the Board of Directors 
and to the members of the Corporate Executive Commit-
tee; 

 → approve the target agreements and performance assess-
ments that are applied to the members of the Corporate 
Executive Committee; 

 → approve the variable remuneration granted to individual 
members of the Corporate Executive Committee; specify 
the total amount available in the performance pool and 

 → approve inducement payments and severance packages 
that are granted to the most senior managers or in indi-
vidual cases that exceed CHF 200,000; 

 → and sanction the remuneration policies applicable to the 
Corporate Executive Committee members and ensure 
that they are being correctly implemented�

The Remuneration Committee consists of the following four 
independent members of the Board of Directors, who are new-
ly elected every year by the Board of Directors: Dr Eveline Saup-
per (chair), Dr Georg F� Krayer (deputy chair), Dr Georges-
Antoine de Boccard and Thomas Pleines� The Remuneration 
Committee generally meets at least twice a year� In addition to 
the committee secretary being present, these meetings are usu-
ally also attended by the Chief Executive Officer, the head of 
the Corporate Centre and the head of Group Human Resourc-
es,  who  participate  in  an  advisory  capacity�  The  individual 
members of the Group Executive Committee leave the meeting 
if the Remuneration Committee is discussing or deciding on 
their personal remuneration� The chair of the Remuneration 
Committee reports to the Board of Directors at its next meeting 
on the committee’s activities� In addition, the minutes of Re-
muneration Committee meetings are available to the entire 
Board of Directors� 

5.2. Remuneration policies  

Principles
The Company’s success is largely dependent on the skills, ca-
pabilities and performance of its workforce� It is therefore es-
sential to recruit, develop and retain suitably qualified, highly 
capable  and  highly  motivated  professionals  and  executives� 
Baloise’s remuneration policies and systems are based on these 
overarching principles�  

Remuneration procedures and regulations
Responding to a request from the Remuneration Committee, 
in 2010 the Board of Directors formally adopted remuneration 
procedures that formulate the remuneration principles and pa-
rameters applied across the Baloise Group� These remuneration 
procedures apply to all employees throughout the Baloise Group� 
They reflect the Company’s values and principles and can be 
summarised as follows: 
 → Competitiveness in the marketplace: Baloise aims to pay 
basic salaries in line with the market and to offer variable 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   61

19�03�2013   13:48:06

62

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

remuneration packages in excess of the going market rate 
to reward outstanding performance by individuals and 
the Company; 

 → Remuneration that reflects individual and company-wide 
performance: merit and achievement form the basis for 
advancement and promotion; 

 → Fairness and transparency: external market-based com-

parisons, fair pay and no discrimination; 

 → Sustainability: high correlation between the interests of 

managers and shareholders, long-term commitment, and 
a high proportion of restricted shares� 

The Board of Directors used these remuneration procedures as 
the  basis  for  the  remuneration  regulations  that  it  formally 
adopted at the same time� These regulations apply to all em-
ployees in Switzerland and, by analogy, to all members of staff 
throughout the Baloise Group� 

By adopting these remuneration procedures and regula-
tions, the Board of Directors has ensured that all aspects of 
remuneration policy are centrally coordinated� This regulatory 
framework underpins a remuneration system that meets all the 
requirements of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Au-
thority and, in particular, ensures that variable remuneration 
even more accurately reflects the value added by the Company� 
Group Internal Audit reviewed this remuneration system dur-
ing the reporting year� Its audit found that the way in which the 
Baloise Group’s remuneration system had been structured and 
implemented was consistent with both the Board of Directors’ 
remuneration policies and the circular issued by the Swiss Fi-
nancial Market Supervisory Authority� 

5.3. Remuneration system  

Objectives
The objectives of the remuneration system are to further increase 
the  emphasis  on  performance  in  the  Baloise  Group  and  to 
strengthen employees’ and executives’ loyalty and commitment 
to the organisation� The aim of Baloise’s remuneration policies 
is to pay basic salaries in line with the going market rate� In 
addition, the variable components of remuneration are structured 
in such a way that it is possible to grant payments above the 
market median for years in which individual performance and 
the Company’s profitability have been outstanding; equally, it 
is possible to offer payments below the market median for years 
in which performance and profitability have been poor� 

As a performance-driven organisation, Baloise creates a 
clear and transparent connection between individual employees’ 

targets and the Company’s targets, which are derived from its 
strategic priorities� Target agreements, performance assessments 
and remuneration are closely correlated� The total remuneration 
package – which comprises basic salary and variable remu-
neration – offers a sophisticated way of linking individuals’ 
performance to Baloise’s success and recognising both accord-
ingly, and it is designed to reward employees for outstanding 
achievement without creating an incentive to take inappropri-
ate  risks�  Personal  performance  provides  our  talented  indi-
viduals  with  the  necessary  platform  for  their  development, 
advancement, career planning and promotion� 

Baloise attaches considerable importance to retaining high 
performers and managing its business sustainably� In addition 
to paying its staff in line with market rates and according to 
individual achievement, the Company encourages its executives 
to focus on the long-term and on its shareholders’ interests� 
Consequently, it pays a substantial proportion of variable re-
muneration in the form of shares that are restricted for three 
years� Furthermore, the three most senior management levels 
receive performance share units, which means that a further 
component of their salaries is paid out as shares that are re-
stricted for either three or six years as a form of deferred remu-
neration� 

As managers’ strategic responsibility and influence grow, 
the amount of their variable remuneration is significantly de-
termined by the Company’s profitability and economic value 
added (allowing for the level of risk taken)� Short-term variable 
remuneration as a percentage of total compensation as well as 
the proportion of remuneration paid in the form of restricted 
shares  (i�e�  as  deferred  compensation)  increase  accordingly� 
Shares account for around 70 per cent of the variable remu-
neration paid to the members of the Corporate Executive Com-
mittee, and the value of the shares that they hold in total amounts 
to roughly four times their basic salaries� This situation complies 
with key aspects of the standards required by the regulatory 
authorities� 

Performance management system  
Baloise introduced a new performance management system for 
short-term variable remuneration in 2011� In order to encourage 
employees to focus relentlessly on performance and results while 
also factoring in the Company’s success, this system comprises 
two clearly distinct tools: performance-related remuneration 
and the performance pool� Performance-related remuneration 
is used to reward individual employees’ achievements, while 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   62

19�03�2013   13:48:06

 
Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

63

the performance pool as a whole takes account of the Company’s 
performance and value added� 

Performance-related pay accounts for approximately two-
thirds of the total short-term variable remuneration paid to 
middle management� This proportion declines steadily as man-
agers’ strategic responsibility and influence increase and is around 
one-third for members of the Corporate Executive Committee�
The performance management system applies to the most 
senior level of management throughout the Baloise Group� It 
also applies to most other management levels both inside and 
outside Switzerland� Its roll-out in Germany will not be com-
pleted until 2013 owing to the merger of the two companies 
Basler Germany and Deutscher Ring� Our recent Belgian ac-
quisitions Avéro and Nateus will also be integrated into the 
performance management system in the course of 2013�

Market comparisons 
Baloise regularly compares the salaries paid to its senior ex-
ecutives with those paid in the wider market� It uses function-
specific peer groups in order to replicate the relevant market as 
accurately as possible� To this end, each function being compared 
is assigned to one of three distinct peer groups� In assigning the 
various functions to these peer groups, Baloise has to consider 
the question of which companies it is competing against for the 
skill-sets and qualifications needed in each case (i�e� recruitment 
market) and which alternative employers – in theory, at least 
– meet a certain function profile (i�e� competitors)�

The first peer group replicates Baloise’s core market and 
comprises direct insurers in the respective country� This peer 
group is used for conventional insurance and sales functions 
and for the local CEOs, executive directors and senior manage-
ment functions� The second peer group supplements the core-
market group by including further companies from the banking 
and financial services sector in the respective country� This group 
is designed to compare functions that demand considerable 
financial expertise but do not necessarily require an insurance 
background� The third peer group consists of companies of a 
similar size and structure from various sectors and is used for 
interdisciplinary functions�

A benchmarking survey conducted by Kienbaum during 
the reporting year shows that most of the total remuneration 
packages granted by Baloise are close to the market median and 
its compensation is therefore in line with the going market rate 
and sufficiently competitive� The decline in the variable com-
ponent of total remuneration reflects a general trend among 

financial services providers and is indicative of the fact that 
variable remuneration is closely correlated with companies’ 
operating performance� Deferred compensation as a proportion 
of total remuneration is higher at Baloise than at similar com-
petitors� This is consistent with the Company’s intention of 
increasing its proportion of long-term compensation and mak-
ing it contingent on Baloise’s sustained success�

Baloise regularly compares the salaries paid in its insur-
ance-specific and insurance-related functions in Switzerland 
with those of its relevant competitors and takes part in the Club 
Survey that Kienbaum has been conducting since 1995� This 
benchmarking survey of the salaries paid in the Swiss insurance 
sector is constantly being optimised to ensure that it meets par-
ticipants’ high professional standards and quality requirements� 
The comparison mainly covers insurance-specific functions up 
to middle management level� It also examines insurance-relat-
ed, managerial and specialist functions performed by senior 
executives� The findings of this benchmarking survey are fed 
into the Company’s regular review of its salary structures�

Baloise  also  conducts  market  comparisons  of  its  local 
functions in the respective countries outside Switzerland as and 
when required�

5.4. Components of remuneration  
Baloise views its compensation packages in the round and there-
fore factors in not only the basic salary plus short- and long-term 
variable remuneration but also other material and non-mate-
rial benefits such as pension contributions, additional benefits, 
and staff development� 

Basic salary 
The basic salary constitutes the level of remuneration that is 
commensurate with the functions and responsibilities of the 
position concerned as well as the employee skills and expertise 
required in order to achieve the relevant business targets and 
objectives� When determining the level of its basic salaries, Ba-
loise aims to position itself around the market median, although 
the way in which this is done will vary depending on local op-
erating and market requirements� This remuneration is paid in 
cash� 

Basic salaries are regularly reviewed and may be adjusted 
to reflect employees’ individual performance, the situation in 
the relevant salary band, or the Company’s performance� In 
order to ensure fairness and compliance with its code of conduct 
when determining the level of basic salaries, Baloise applies the 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   63

19�03�2013   13:48:07

 
64

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

internal fair-pay principle that people who do the same job and 
have the same qualifications should be paid the same amount� 
The Company’s clearly defined and market-based salary struc-
tures help ensure fair pay both inside and outside the organisa-
tion� 

Short-term variable remuneration
The key factors determining the amount of short-term variable 
remuneration paid are an employee’s individual performance 
and the Company’s profitability and economic value added� The 
consequent link between individual performance and the Com-
pany’s profits is designed to incentivise staff to achieve outstand-
ing results� 

Measurement of the variable remuneration paid to em-
ployees who perform control functions (risk management, com-
pliance, Group Internal Audit) is structured in such a way that 
it is not determined by the profitability of the unit being mon-
itored or by the profitability of individual products and transac-
tions�

The remuneration paid to the insurance sales force is, by 
its very nature, strongly performance-related in line with the 
system of commissions commonly used in the insurance indus-
try as a whole� However, these commissions constitute selling 
expenses rather than being regarded as variable remuneration 
in the strict sense of the term� Consequently, they are not dis-
cussed in this remuneration report�

Short-term variable remuneration is paid together with 
the salary for March of the following year� Baloise attaches con-
siderable importance to managing its business sustainably and 
ensuring a high correlation between the interests of its share-
holders and executives� It therefore pays a substantial proportion 
of variable remuneration in the form of shares� Senior manag-
ers can choose what percentage of their remuneration is paid 
out in cash and what proportion they receive in the form of 
shares� This choice is limited for the most senior managers, who 
are obliged to subscribe for shares on a sliding-scale basis: mem-
bers of the Corporate Executive Committee must receive at least 
50 per cent of their short-term variable remuneration in the 
form of shares� The shares subscribed in this way are restricted 
for three years and during this period are exposed to market 
risk� This mandatory purchase of shares in particular ensures 
that as senior executives’ managerial responsibilities and total 
remuneration packages increase, a significant proportion of 
their compensation is paid in the form of deferred remunera-

tion�  This  system  also  raises  employees’  risk  awareness  and 
encourages them to maintain sustainable business practices� 
Two plans are available to individuals who wish to sub-
scribe for shares: the Share Subscription Plan and the Employ-
ee Share Ownership Plan (see “5�6� Share Subscription Plan and 
Employee Share Ownership Plan”)� 

The section below describes performance-related remu-
neration and the performance pool, which are available as short-
term variable remuneration tools� 

Performance-related remuneration
Performance-related remuneration reflects individual employ-
ees’ performance and rewards the achievement of their per-
sonal targets� To this end, line managers consult their members 
of staff once a year in order to define the latters’ key individual 
targets and objectives and then – by not later than February of 
the following year – assess the extent to which these targets and 
objectives have been achieved� The target achievement scale 
ranges from 0 per cent (not achieved) to a maximum of 150 per 
cent  (significantly  overachieved)�  When  setting  these  indi- 
vidual targets, line managers and their staff ensure that they do 
not agree any targets or objectives that conflict with the Com-
pany’s business strategy� 

The target figure agreed for performance-related remu-
neration depends on the employee’s basic salary and varies ac-
cording to his or her seniority in the management hierarchy� 
The target figure for the members of the Corporate Executive 
Committee is 30 per cent of their basic salary� The target agree-
ments and performance assessments for the members of the 
Corporate Executive Committee are carried out by the Remu-
neration Committee� 

Those entitled to receive performance-related remunera-
tion are the most senior management level in the Baloise Group, 
the majority of senior managers in Switzerland and the corre-
sponding functions abroad� 

Performance pool
The performance pool takes account of the entire Baloise Group’s 
performance; its amount is determined at the Remuneration 
Committee’s discretion after the end of the financial year con-
cerned� To this end, the Remuneration Committee assesses the 
performance achieved by the Baloise Group as a whole in the 
previous financial year, factoring in the following criteria among 
others: 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   64

19�03�2013   13:48:07

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

65

 → Profit for the period compared with competitors and pre-

vious years

 → Capital-markets perspective compared with competitors 
 → Risks taken
 → Strategy implementation�
Performance pool payments are awarded to individuals at the 
discretion of the line manager concerned; no regulatory target 
figures have been specified� The amount of these payments is 
mainly determined by a holistic assessment consisting of indi-
viduals’ achievement of targets (gauged by the extent to which 
they have achieved their personal targets and objectives) as well 
as their leadership and conduct� The individual performance 
pool payment proposed by the respective line manager is dis-
cussed by the relevant management team, compared with oth-
er departments and divisions, and adjusted where necessary� 
This process ensures that risk-relevant behavioural attributes 
are factored into the performance pool payments awarded to 
individuals� 

This chosen system is centred on senior managers’ overall 
assessment and the validation of individuals’ performance pool 
payments at roundtable discussions� The aim here is to give due 
consideration  to  all  aspects  of  an  individual’s  performance 
rather than using just a few parameters to make an assessment 
that may neglect other key factors� 

The Remuneration Committee decides on the performance 
pool payments awarded to the individual members of the Cor-
porate Executive Committee� The average expected payment 
amounts to roughly 50 per cent of basic salary�

Those considered for performance pool payments are the 
most senior management level in the Baloise Group, the major-
ity of senior managers in Switzerland and the corresponding 
functions abroad� However, there is no fundamental entitlement 
to receive payments from the performance pool� 

Long-term variable remuneration
In addition, Baloise grants performance share units (PSUs) to 
the most senior managers as a form of long-term variable re-
muneration� The PSU programme enables the top management 
level to benefit even more from the Company’s performance 
and helps Baloise to retain high performers in the long run�

Performance share units 
At the beginning of each vesting period the participating em-
ployees are granted rights in the form of PSUs, which entitle 
them to receive a certain number of shares free of charge after 

the vesting period has elapsed� The Remuneration Committee 
specifies the grant date and applies its own discretion in decid-
ing which of the most senior managers are entitled to participate 
in the programme� It determines the total number of PSUs avail-
able and decides how many are to be awarded to each member 
of the Corporate Executive Committee� PSUs are granted to the 
other programme participants on the basis of the relevant line 
manager’s proposal, which must be approved by the line man-
ager’s manager�

The number of shares that can be subscribed after three 
years – i�e� at the end of the vesting period – depends on the 
performance of Baloise shares relative to a peer group� This 
comparative performance multiplier can be anywhere between 
0�5 and 1�5� The peer group comprises the leading European 
insurance companies contained in the STOXX Europe 600 In-
surance Index� 

The composition of the index may change over time� Com-
panies may leave the index as a result of mergers, while others 
may join the index for the first time� Calculation of the perfor-
mance multiplier is based on the index’s composition at the 
time the relevant PSUs were granted, adjusted to allow for the 
companies that have left the index� Any companies that have 
joined the index in the meantime are not factored into those 
PSU programmes that are already in operation� 

One PSU generally confers the right to receive one share� 
This is the case if Baloise shares perform in line with the me-
dian of their peer group� In this case the performance multi-
plier would be 1�0� Participants in the programme receive more 
shares in exchange for their PSUs if Baloise shares outperform 
their peer group� The multiplier reaches the maximum of 1�5 if 
the performance of Baloise shares is in the top quartile of com-
panies in the peer group� The multiplier amounts to 0�5 if the 
performance of Baloise shares is in the bottom quartile of com-
panies in the peer group� If the performance of Baloise shares 
is in either of the two middle quartiles, a linear scale is used to 
calculate the performance multiplier� The performance multi-
plier for the entire vesting period ended is based on the closing 
stock market prices on the final trading day of the respective 
vesting period� 

Participants in the programme receive the pertinent num-
ber of shares once the vesting period has elapsed, which means 
that for the PSUs allocated in 2012 they receive their shares on 
1 March 2015� If an individual’s employment contract is termi-
nated during the vesting period (except in the case of retirement, 
disability or death), the PSUs expire without the person concerned 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   65

19�03�2013   13:48:07

66

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

receiving any replacement or compensation� In addition, since 
2012 the Remuneration Committee has had the powers to claw 
back some or all of the PSUs allocated to an individual or to a 
group of programme participants if there are specific reasons 
for doing so� Such specific reasons include, for example, serious 
breaches of internal or external regulations, the taking of inap-
propriate risks that are within an individual’s control, and the 
type of conduct or behaviour that would increase the risks to 
Baloise� In order to emphasise the long-term nature of the pro-
gramme, 50 per cent of the shares granted are subject to an 
additional three-year restriction period once the initial vesting 
period has elapsed� 

The PSUs allocated in 2010 were converted into shares as 
at 1 January 2013� The performance of Baloise shares at the end 

of the vesting period on 31 December 2012 ranked 25th out of 
34 companies in the relevant peer group (STOXX Europe 600 
Insurance Index), which meant that it was in the third quartile� 
The performance multiplier was therefore 0�58, and the 71,055 
outstanding PSUs were converted into 41,210 shares (share price 
of CHF 78�50 on 31 December 2012, market capitalisation of 
CHF 3�2 million)� The value of the converted PSUs has fallen 
by 49 per cent since they were granted three years ago� The cor-
responding figures for the previous year: performance multi-
plier of 0�64, 74,375 outstanding PSUs, converted into 47,599 
shares, share price of CHF 64�40 on 31 December 2011, market 
capitalisation of CHF 3�1 million, 50 per cent fall in the value 
of PSUs since they were granted�

Companies in the STOXX 600 Europe Insurance Index (as at 31 December 2012)

admiral Group plc

aegon Nv

ageas

allianz

amlin plc

assicurazioni Generali

aviva plc

axa

Catlin Group

CNp assurances

Delta Lloyd

Gjensidige Forsikring

Hannover Rück

Helvetia

ING Groep Nv

Mapfre Sa

Münchener Rück

old Mutual plc

prudential plc

RSa Insurance Group

Sampo oYJ

Scor

Jardine Lloyd thompson

Standard Life plc

Bâloise Holding

Legal & General Group plc

Storebrand aSa

Source: http: /  / www.stoxx.com / download / indices / factsheets / stx_supersectors_fs.pdf

Swiss Life

Swiss Re

topdanmark a / S

tryg Forsikring

vienna Insurance

Zurich Financial Services

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS (PSUS)

employees entitled to participate at launch of programme

Number of allocated pSUs

of which: expired without compensation (departures in 2010)

Number of active pSUs as at 31 December 2010

of which: expired without compensation (departures in 2011)

Number of active pSUs as at 31 December 2011

of which: expired without compensation (departures in 2012)

Number of active pSUs as at 31 December 2012

value of allocated pSUs on issue date (CHF million)

pSU expense incurred by the Baloise Group for 2010 (CHF million)

pSU expense incurred by the Baloise Group for 2011 (CHF million)

pSU expense incurred by the Baloise Group for 2012 (CHF million)

Plan 2010 

Plan 2011 

Plan 2012

71

83,441

– 1,226

82,215

– 6,736

75,479

– 4,424

71,055

7.4

2.1

2.4

1.8

73

72

81,739

89,116

–

–

– 6,937

74,802

– 5,667

69,135

6.9

–

2.4

1.6

–

–

–

–

– 5,132 

83,984 

6.4

–

–

1.5 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   66

19�03�2013   13:48:07

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

67

amount – must be approved by the Remuneration Committee, 
which applies its own discretion in assessing each individual 
case� 

5.6. Share Subscription Plan and Employee Share Ownership 

Plan 
Two plans are available to individuals who wish to subscribe 
for shares as part of their short-term variable remuneration: the 
Share Subscription Plan and the Employee Share Ownership 
Plan�  

Share Subscription Plan  
Since January  2003 those who qualify as eligible persons at  
Baloise Group companies in Switzerland – and, since 2008, the 
members of the senior management teams at companies outside 
Switzerland as well – have been able to subscribe for shares at 
a preferential price as part of their short-term variable remu-
neration� The subscription date is 1 March of each year; although 
title to the shares passes to the relevant employees on this date 
without any further vesting conditions having to be met, the 
shares cannot be sold during a three-year restriction period� 
Until 2011 the subscription date was 1 June of each year� By 
bringing this date forward to 1 March, Baloise has brought the 
subscription date into line with the date on which short-term 
variable remuneration is paid under the new performance man-
agement system� 

The parameters used to determine the subscription price 
are decided each year by the Remuneration Committee� The 
subscription price is based on the volume-weighted average share 
price during a contemporaneous measurement period� A dis-
count of 10 per cent is granted on the average share price cal-
culated in this way (please refer to the accompanying table for 
details)� Once it has been calculated using this method, the 
subscription price is published in advance on the intranet� The 
shares needed for the Share Subscription Plan are purchased in 
the market as and when required� 

The shares needed to convert the PSUs are purchased in the 
market as and when required� 

Measurement of the PSUs at their issue date is based on 
a Monte Carlo simulation, which calculates a present value for 
the payout expected at the end of the vesting period� This meas-
urement incorporates the following parameters:
 → Interest rate of 3 per cent
 → The volatilities of all shares in the peer group and their 

correlations with each other (measured over a three-year 
track record)

 → The expected dividend yields
 → Statistical information on eligible programme partici-

pants’ behaviour in relation to the termination of employ-
ment contracts�

Fringe benefits
Fringe benefits are generally defined as components of the total 
remuneration package that are not dependent on either an in-
dividual’s function or performance or the Company’s perfor-
mance� By providing benefits in the form of retirement pensions, 
subsidies, concessions, and staff training and professional de-
velopment, Baloise demonstrates the close partnership that it 
maintains with its employees and the extent to which it values 
their contribution� Fringe benefits are granted on a country-by-
country basis in line with prevailing local laws�

5.5. Employment contracts, change-of-control clauses, 

inducement payments and severance packages 
The employment contracts of senior managers in Switzerland 
and – in most cases – in other countries as well have been con-
cluded for an indefinite period� They stipulate a notice period 
of six months� 

The chairman of the Board of Directors and all six mem-
bers of the Corporate Executive Committee have a notice pe-
riod of twelve months� They and five other members of senior 
management are also entitled to receive severance pay equiva-
lent to one year’s salary (including variable remuneration) if, 
following a change of control or a merger, the employer (or, in 
certain circumstances, the employee) terminates their employ-
ment contract within twelve months of the takeover or merger� 
The remuneration regulations adopted by the Board of 
Directors in March 2010 contain clear guidance on inducement 
payments and severance packages� Such remuneration may only 
be paid in justified cases� Inducement payments and severance 
packages for the most senior managers – irrespective of their 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   67

19�03�2013   13:48:08

68

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

Measurement 
period  
for average price

Average 
price

Subscription 
price

4. – 15.2.2013

81.70

73.53

6. – 17.2.2012

72.87

65.58

CHF

Share Subscription  
Plan for 2013 
(applies to variable  
renumeration awarded for  
the 2012 reporting period)

Share Subscription  
Plan for 2012 
(applies to shares subscribed 
by the Chairman and members  
of the Board of Directors 
during the reporting year)

CHF

Employee  
Share Ownership Plan for 
2013 
(applies to variable  
renumeration awarded for  
the 2012 reporting period )

Employee  
Share Ownership Plan for 
2012 
(applies to shares subscribed 
by the Chairman of the Board 
of Directors during the 
reporting year)

Measurement 
period  
for average price

Average 
price

Subscription 
price

4. – 15.2.2013

81.70

68.67

6. – 17.2.2012

72.87

59.84

Employee Share Ownership Plan
Since May 2001 it has been possible for most senior managers 
working in Switzerland to receive part of their short-term var-
iable remuneration in the form of shares from the Employee 
Share Ownership Plan instead of receiving cash� Within certain 
limits they are free to choose what proportion of their short-
term variable remuneration they receive in the form of such 
shares� The most senior managers are subject to upper limits; 
members of the Corporate Executive Committee – who are 
obliged to receive at least half of their short-term variable re-
muneration in the form of shares – are not allowed to receive 
more than 50 per cent of their entitlement in the form of shares 
from the Employee Share Ownership Plan� The subscription 
date is 1 March of each year (the same as for the Share Subscrip-
tion Plan); although title to the shares passes to the relevant 
employees on this date without any further vesting conditions 
having to be met, the shares cannot be sold during a three-year 
restriction period� Until 2011 the subscription date was 1 June 
of each year� By bringing this date forward to 1 March, Baloise 
has brought the subscription date into line with the date on 
which short-term variable remuneration is paid under the new 
performance management system� 

The parameters used to determine the subscription price 
are decided each year by the Remuneration Committee� The 
subscription price is based on the volume-weighted average share 
price  during  a  contemporaneous  measurement  period�  Dis-
counted dividend rights are deducted from this average share 
price over a period of three years (please refer to the accompa-
nying table for details)� Once it has been calculated using this 
method, the subscription price is published in advance on the 
intranet� The shares needed for the Employee Share Ownership 
Plan are purchased in the market as and when required� 

In order to increase the impact of this Employee Share Owner-
ship Plan, employees are granted loans on which interest is 
charged at market rates, which enables them to subscribe for 
shares whose value constitutes a multiple of the capital invest-
ed; these shares are purchased at their fair value net of dis-
counted dividend rights over a period of three years� Repayment 
of these loans after the three-year restriction period has elapsed 
is hedged by put options, which are financed by the sale of off-
setting call options� After the three-year restriction period has 
elapsed, the relevant options have been exercised and the loans 
plus accrued interest have been repaid, the employees concerned 
receive the remaining shares to do with as they wish�

5.7. Employee Incentive Plan  
The Basler Foundation for Employee Participation set up in 1989 
offers members of staff working for various Baloise Group com-
panies in Switzerland the opportunity to purchase shares in 
Bâloise Holding Ltd – usually once a year – at a preferential 
price in compliance with the regulations adopted by the Advi-
sory  Council�  This  encourages  employees  to  maintain  their 
commitment to the Company over the long term by becoming 
shareholders� The subscription price is fixed by the Advisory 
Council at the beginning of the subscription period and is then 
published on the intranet� It equals half of the volume-weight-
ed  average  share  price  calculated  for  the  month  of  August  
in the subscription year and amounts to  CHF 34�20 for the 
reporting year (2011: CHF 34�80)� Title to the subscribed shares  
passes to the relevant employees with effect from 1 September 
each year, and the shares are subject to a three-year restriction 
period� 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   68

19�03�2013   13:48:08

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

69

The Foundation acquired the underlying stock of shares used 
in this plan from previous capital increases carried out by Bâloise 
Holding Ltd� It supplements these shareholdings as and when 
required by purchasing shares in the market� The existing share-
holdings will enable the Foundation to continue the Employee 
Incentive Plan over the coming years� 

The Foundation is run by a Board of Foundation that is 
predominantly independent of the Corporate Executive Com-
mittee� The independent members of the Board of Foundation 
are Peter Schwager (chairman) and Professor Heinrich Koller 
(lawyer); the third member of the Advisory Council is Andreas 
Burki (deputy head of Legal & Tax at Baloise)� 

 → The employer makes a disproportionately high contribu-
tion to the funding of its occupational pension scheme� 
 → Its pension solutions are future-proof, robust, predictable 

and properly costed� 

The general increase in life expectancy means that people’s 
pension pots have to last them longer to ensure that they receive 
the required level of pension� This situation is being exacer-
bated by the fact that pension fund assets are yielding lower 
returns owing to the performance of capital markets� In order 
to ensure that its pension fund is properly financed, Baloise 
reduced its pension conversion rate from 6�2 per cent to 5�6 per 
cent and raised employer and employee contributions by an 
average of 1�5 per cent each with effect from 1 January 2013�

5.8. Pension schemes
Baloise provides a range of pension solutions, which vary from 
country to country in line with local circumstances� In Swit-
zerland it offers different pension schemes for its insurance and 
banking employees�

The chairman of the Board of Directors and the members 
of the Corporate Executive Committee are insured under the 
pension scheme run by Baloise Insurance Ltd� They are subject 
to the same terms and conditions as all other insured office-
based members of staff� 

The Company provides its employees in Switzerland with 
an attractive occupational pension solution (Pillar 2) that meets 
the following objectives: 
 → It fulfils its insured employees’ requirements in the event 
of old age, death or disability and mitigates the resultant 
financial consequences by offering an occupational pen-
sion scheme based on the principle of social partnership� 
 → It enables its retirees to maintain the standard of living to 
which they are accustomed by providing them with a suf-
ficiently high level of income replacement (combination of 
Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 benefits) to compensate for their loss 
of earnings� 

5.9. Remuneration paid to the members of the  

Board of Directors
Please refer to the tables on pages 72 and 73� 

The members of the Board of Directors are paid a lump 
sum as remuneration for their work on the Board of Directors 
(CHF 125,000) and for additional functions that they perform 
on the Board of Directors’ committees (CHF 70,000 for the 
chair and CHF 50,000 for members)� These amounts provide 
appropriate compensation for the responsibility and workload 
involved in their various functions and have remained unchanged 
since 2008� Since May 2012 the Investment Committee has been 
operating as an independent committee of the Board of Direc-

EMPLOyEE INCENTIVE PLAN

Number of shares subscribed

Restricted until

Subscription price per share (CHF)

value of shares subscribed (CHF million)

Fair value of subscribed shares on subscription date (CHF million)

employees entitled to participate

participating employees

Subscribed shares per participant (average)

2011

2012

172,385

173,799

31.8.2014

31.8.2015

34.80

6.0

12.1

3,150

1,897

90.8

34.20

5.9

12.2

3,220

1,894

91.7

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   69

19�03�2013   13:48:08

70

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

tors instead of having all its functions performed by the Chair-
man’s Committee� The changes of personnel on the Board of 
Directors have also brought about changes in terms of the in-
dividuals who sit on the committees (please refer to the table 
on page 51 of the Corporate Governance section)� There has 
also been a change in the way that pro-rata remuneration is 
calculated� These adjustments have caused the total amount of 
remuneration paid for committee work to rise by 15 per cent 
year on year� 

Since 2006 the members of the Board of Directors have 
received 25 per cent of their annual remuneration in the form 
of shares that are restricted for three years� Members of the 
Board of Directors receive a 10 per cent discount on the shares’ 
market price in line with the Share Subscription Plan available 
to senior executives� The members of the Board of Directors do 
not participate in any share ownership programmes that are 
predicated on the achievement of specific performance targets� 
No amounts receivable from current or previous members 

of the Board of Directors have been waived�

The chairman of the Board of Directors is also paid a fixed 
amount of remuneration and is not entitled to any variable re-
muneration� Consequently, he receives no performance-related 
remuneration, no performance pool payments and no allocation 
of PSUs� He is paid roughly a quarter of his remuneration in 
the  form  of  shares,  although  he  is  free  to  choose  each  year 
whether he wishes to receive his shares under the Share Sub-
scription Plan or the Employee Share Ownership Plan� In order 
to emphasise the long-term nature of this arrangement, the shares 
that he receives under the Share Subscription Plan are subject 
to a restriction period of five years instead of the usual three� 

5.10. Remuneration paid to the members of the Corporate 

Executive Committee  
Please refer to the tables on pages 74 to 77� 

The remuneration paid to the members of the Corporate 
Executive Committee is governed by the remuneration proce-
dures and remuneration regulations formally adopted by the 
Board of Directors� It consists of the basic salary, the individ-
ual’s performance-related remuneration (target figure of 30 per 
cent  of  basic  salary)  and  the  performance  pool  (average  ex-
pected payment of roughly 50 per cent of basic salary), which 
– at the Remuneration Committee’s discretion – reflects the 
Company’s performance� In addition, the members of the Cor-
porate Executive Committee receive performance share units 
(PSUs) as a form of long-term variable remuneration� The Re-

muneration Committee specifies the type and amount of this 
remuneration� 

The members of the Corporate Executive Committee must 
receive at least 50 per cent of their short-term variable remu-
neration in the form of shares in order to ensure that their own 
interests are more strongly aligned with those of shareholders� 
This mandatory purchase of shares coupled with the shares al-
located under the PSU programme ensures that, compared with 
the market as a whole, a significant proportion of their com-
pensation is paid in the form of deferred remuneration� 

The personal targets and objectives used to determine the 
amount of performance-related remuneration received essen-
tially concern the successful management and leadership of the 
relevant Corporate Executive Committee members’ own cor-
porate division as well as major projects and initiatives for which 
this individual is responsible� The targets and objectives set for 
all members of the Corporate Executive Committee in 2012 
now include ensuring that Baloise’s brand world and values-
based culture are firmly embedded throughout the organisation� 
Individuals’ targets and objectives are decided in collaboration 
with their line manager and are approved by the Remuneration 
Committee� For reasons of business confidentiality Baloise is 
unable to disclose any further details or quantified facts relating 
to individuals’ targets and objectives or the extent to which they 
have been achieved� 

The  Corporate  Executive  Committee  members’  remu-
neration is disclosed on pages 76 and 77 in accordance with the 
accrual principle� The table includes all forms of remuneration 
that were awarded for performance in 2012 even though indi-
vidual components are not paid until a later date� 

The basic salaries paid to three members of the Corporate 
Executive Committee were adjusted with effect from 1 March 
2012� The Chief Executive Officer decided for personal reasons 
– not least motivated by the public debate surrounding the top 
salaries paid in the financial services industry – that he wanted 
his basic salary to be reduced by CHF 0�3 million� In order to 
fully reflect the importance of his function, the salary paid to 
the head of the Corporate Division Finance was brought into 
line with the salary paid to the head of the Asset Management 
corporate  division�  Finally,  the  Remuneration  Committee  
decided to gradually raise the salary paid to the head of the 
Switzerland corporate division�

As far as the amounts of variable remuneration paid were 
concerned, the performance pool payments awarded for 2012 
rebounded to their normally expected levels to reflect the Com-

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   70

19�03�2013   13:48:09

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

71

pany’s strong operating performance (these payments were cut 
by 30 per cent for the 2011 financial year)� The extent to which 
targets and objectives were achieved – which affects the perfor-
mance-related pay awarded for individual merit – also increased 
year on year� Despite the fact that the performance multiplier 
used to convert PSUs was again lower, the value of the PSUs 
converted into shares rose year on year� This can largely be  
attributed to two factors� First, the Company’s share price was 
higher than in 2011 at the time the PSUs were converted (CHF 
78�50 / CHF 64�40)� And second, the original allocation of PSUs 
converted in 2011 by two members of the Corporate Executive 
Committee was smaller because they had not yet been appoint-
ed to their current posts at the time that the PSUs were allo-
cated�

The adjustment of basic salaries and the changes in vari-
able remuneration described above caused the total remunera-
tion paid to the members of the Corporate Executive Commit-
tee in 2012 to rise by 15 per cent overall compared with the 
previous year� By contrast, the total remuneration paid in 2011 
had fallen by 22 per cent year on year�

5.11. Loans to key personnel
Please refer to the table on page 78�

5.12. Shares and options held
Please refer to the tables on pages 79 and 80� 

5.13. Amounts of total remuneration and variable remuneration 
Please refer to the table on page 81�

As requested by circular 10/1 issued by the Swiss Financial 
Market Supervisory Authority on the subject of remuneration, 
Baloise has published in the table on page 81 the amounts of 
total remuneration and variable remuneration and has disclosed 
the total amounts of outstanding deferred remuneration and 
the inducement payments and severance packages granted� These 
figures include all forms of remuneration awarded for 2012 even 
if individual components are not paid until a later date� 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   71

19�03�2013   13:48:09

72

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

REMUNERATION PAID TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 2011

2011

CHF

Dr Andreas Burckhardt 

Chairman of the Board of Directors  
(since april 2011)

Member of the Board of Directors  
(until april 2011)

Member of the audit Committee  
(until april 2011)

Basic 
remuneration

Remuneration  
for additional  
functions

Additional   
remuneration

Total

Of which:  
in cash

Of which:  
in shares

Number  
of shares

879,778

41,667

0

0

16,666

0

0

879,778

672,000

207,778

2,561

58,333

43,825

14,508

176

Dr Georg F. Krayer 

125,000

0

295,000

221,308

73,692

894

vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors

Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Deputy Chair of the Chairman’s Committee and  
the Investment Committee

Dr Michael Becker

Member of the audit Committee

Dr Andreas Beerli

Member of the audit Committee  
(since april 2011)

Dr Georges-Antoine de Boccard

50,000

50,000

70,000

50,000

25,000

125,000

62,500

0

0

175,000

131,312

43,688

530

87,500

87,500

0

0

0

0

62,500

 - 

87,500

87,500

Member of the Remuneration Committee 
(since april 2011)

25,000

Dr Hansjörg Frei

125,000

0

245,000

183,755

61,245

743

Member of the Chairman’s Committee and  
the Investment Committee

Member of the audit Committee

Professor Dr Gertrud Höhler 

Member of the Remuneration Committee  
(until april 2011)

Dr Klaus Jenny

Member of the Chairman's Committee and  
the Investment Committee

Deputy Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Werner Kummer

Chair of the audit Committee

Dr Eveline Saupper

Member of the Remuneration Committee

70,000

50,000

25,000

70,000

50,000

70,000

50,000

62,500

125,000

125,000

125,000

Total for the Board of Directors 

1,858,945

671,666

0

0

0

0

0

87,500

43,812

43,688

530

245,000

183,755

61,245

743

195,000

146,284

48,716

175,000

131,312

43,688

591

530

2,530,611

1,932,362

598,249

7,298

Explanatory notes to the table 
Dr andreas Beerli and Dr Georges-antoine de Boccard were voted in as new members of the Board of Directors at the 2011 annual General Meeting. Consequently, they 
only received half of the usual remuneration for 2011. professor Gertrud Höhler left the Board of Directors at the 2011 annual General Meeting as she had reached the 
regulatory age limit. Consequently, she only received half of the usual remuneration. Dr andreas Burckhardt has been chairman of the Board of Directors since the 2011 
annual General Meeting. He received the normal remuneration for his membership of the Board of Directors and audit Committee on a pro-rata basis until the annual 
General Meeting. From 30 april, he received the contractually stipulated overall remuneration as chairman of the Board of Directors, also on a pro-rata basis. Shares 
received for his period as chairman of the Board of Directors amounted to 1,260 shares arising from the Share Subscription plan (CHF 103,862) and 1,301 shares arising 
from the employee Share ownership plan (CHF 103,916). Baloise also paid the regulatory employer contributions to the pension fund (CHF 140,546)
Remuneration paid to former members and related parties  No remuneration was paid to individuals or companies who are related to members of the Board of Directors 
and to whom the arm’s length principle does not apply. (Related parties are: spouses, life partners, children under 18 years, companies owned or controlled by 
directors, or legal entities or individuals who act as trustees for them.) No amounts receivable from these persons were waived.
Shares  25 per cent of the contractually agreed overall remuneration was paid in shares which remain restricted for three years. they are recognised at market value 
less 10 per cent (CHF 82.43; in line with the Share Subscription plan).

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   72

19�03�2013   13:48:09

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

73

RemuneRation paid to the membeRs of the boaRd of diRectoRs in 2012

2012

CHF

basic 
remuneration

Remuneration  
for additional  
functions

additional   
remuneration

total

of which:  
in cash

of which:  
in shares

number 
of shares

dr andreas burckhardt 

Chairman of the Board of Directors 

dr Georg f. Krayer 

Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors

Remuneration Committee  
(Chair until April 2012, Deputy Chair since May 2012)

Deputy Chair of the Chairman’s Committee and  
the Investment Committee

1,320,000

125,000

0

50,000

50,000

90,000

0

0

1,320,000

1,008,060

311,940

4,985

315,000

241,288

73,712

1,124

dr michael becker

125,000

0

208,333

164,591

43,742

667

Member of the Audit Committee

Member of the Investment Committee  
(since May 2012) 

dr andreas beerli

Member of the Audit Committee 

dr Georges-antoine de boccard

Member of the Remuneration Committee

dr hansjörg frei

Member of the Chairman’s Committee and  
the Investment Committee (until April 2012)

Member of the Chairman's Committee  
(since May 2012) 

Member of the Audit Committee

125,000

125,000

125,000

dr Klaus Jenny

62,500

Member of the Chairman's Committee and  
the Investment Committee (until April 2012)

Member of the Remuneration Committee

Werner Kummer

Chair of the Audit Committee

Member of the Chairman's Committee 

thomas pleines

Member of the Remuneration Committee  
(since April 2012)

dr eveline saupper

Remuneration Committee  
(Member until April 2012, Chair since May 2012)

Member of the Investment Committee  
(since May 2012)

125,000

83,333

125,000

50,000

33,333

50,000

50,000

23,333

33,333

50,000

35,000

25,000

70,000

33,333

33,333

63,334

33,333

0

0

0

175,000

131,258

43,742

175,000

131,258

43,742

231,666

170,480

61,186

667

667

933

0

122,500

61,314

61,186

933

0

0

0

228,333

179,607

48,726

743

116,667

116,667

0

0

221,667

177,925

43,742

667

total for the board of directors  

2,340,833

773,332

0

3,114,166

2,382,448

731,718

11,386

explanatory notes to the table
Thomas Pleines was voted in as a new member of the Board of Directors at the 2012 Annual General Meeting. Consequently, he only received a pro-rata share of the 
usual remuneration. Klaus Jenny left the Board of Directors at the same time, so he only received half of the usual remuneration.
Remuneration paid to former members and related parties  No remuneration was paid to individuals or companies who are related to members of the Board of Directors 
and to whom the arm’s length principle does not apply. (Related parties are: spouses, life partners, children under 18 years, companies owned or controlled by 
directors, or legal entities or individuals who act as trustees for them.) No amounts receivable from these persons were waived.
shares  25 per cent of contractually agreed overall remuneration is paid in shares which remain restricted for three years. They are recognised at market value less  
10 per cent (CHF 65.58; in line with the Share Subscription Plan).
Shares received by the chairman of the Board of Directors amounted to 2,378 shares arising from the Share Subscription Plan (CHF 155,949) with a restriction period of 
five years instead of the usual three years) and 2,607 shares arising from the Employee Share Ownership Plan (CHF 155,991). Baloise also paid the regulatory employer 
contributions to the pension fund (CHF 210,818).

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en.indd   73

21.03.2013   15:54:19

74

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

REMUNERATION PAID TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE COMMIT TEE (2011)

Basic salary

Cash payment 
(fixed)

Cash payment

Share Subscription Plan 

Employee Share Ownership Plan

Performance share units (PSU)

Total variable remuneration

Converted into shares in 2012

Prospective 

entitlements 

(2011)

CHF

CHF

Number of 
shares

800,010

180,000

0

CHF

0

Number of 
shares

0

CHF

0

Number of 

shares

CHF Number of PSUs

CHF

CHF

Number of 

shares

7,767

500,195

8,792

7,767

680,195

1,480,205

85 %

CHF

0

CHF

0

CHF

1,480,205

Variable remuneration

remuneration

of basic salary

benefits Pension benefits

remuneration

Non-cash 

Total 

Total basic 

salary plus 

variable 

Variable 

remuneration  

as percentage  

1,300,000

372,175

2,624

172,082

3,342

199,993

2,913

187,597

7,143

8,879

931,847

2,231,847

72 %

3,480

154,060

2,389,387

2011

Dr Rolf Schäuble

Chairman of the Board of Directors (until april 2011) 

Dr Martin Strobel

Ceo of the Baloise Group

Michael Müller

Head of Corporate Division Switzerland (since March 2011)

Dr Olav Noack

680,004

25,555

388

25,445

Head of Corporate Division Switzerland (until March 2011)

Jan De Meulder

700,080

182,434

2,781

182,378

366,168

83,267

2,500

163,950

0

0

0

0

0

0

700

45,080

3,200

292,297

658,465

80 %

3,480

45,350

707,295

1,280

82,432

1,668

133,432

813,436

20 %

56,160

121,626

991,222

2,001

128,864

3,847

4,782

493,676

1,193,756

71 %

116,310

204,583

1,514,649

0

0

Head of Corporate Division International

German Egloff

Head of Corporate Division Finance

Dr Thomas Sieber

Head of Corporate Division Corporate Centre

550,020

120,283

2,000

131,160

1,373

82,144

2,136

137,558

3,022

5,509

471,145

1,021,165

86 %

3,480

167,386

1,192,031

540,000

183,966

1,000

65,580

2,135

127,779

2,097

135,047

2,968

5,232

512,372

1,052,372

95 %

3,480

129,197

1,185,049

Martin Wenk

600,000

156,407

2,384

156,343

0

0

2,330

150,052

3,297

4,714

462,802

1,062,802

77 %

3,480

162,498

1,228,780

Head of Corporate Division asset Management

Total for the Corporate Executive  
Committee

4,736,272

1,124,087

13,677

896,938

6,850

409,916

13,457

866,630

20,277

33,984

3,297,571

8,033,843

70 %

189,870

984,700

9,208,413

Explanatory notes to the table
In 2011 for the first time, remuneration was disclosed in accordance with the accrual principle. the table includes all remuneration elements that were awarded for 
performance in 2011 even though individual components are not paid until a later date.
as chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr andreas Burckhardt does not perform an executive role. His remuneration is therefore disclosed on page 72 (Board of 
Directors’ remuneration).
Dr Rolf Schäuble received his previous monthly salary until the end of his statutory notice period on 30 June 2011. He was also awarded performance-related 
remuneration of CHF 180,000 for 2011.
Michael Müller’s basic salary was calculated on a pro-rata basis from 22 March 2011. Dr olav Noack received his previous monthly salary until the end of his statutory 
notice period on 31 March 2012.
Remuneration paid to former members and related parties  No remuneration was paid on a non-arm’s length basis to companies or individuals related to the chairman 
of the Board of Directors or members of the Corporate executive Committee. (Related parties are: spouses, life partners, children under 18 years, companies owned or 
controlled by directors, or legal entities or individuals who act as trustees for them.) No amounts receivable from these persons were waived.
Share Subscription Plan  proportion of variable remuneration received directly as shares, which are measured at market value less 10 per cent markdown. Subscription 
price = CHF 65.58.
Employee Share Ownership Plan  proportion of variable remuneration received as shares (excluding loans to purchase shares), which are measured at market value less 
dividend rights discounted over three years. Subscription price = CHF 59.84.
Performance share units (PSUs)   the pSUs allocated in 2009 were converted into shares as at 1 January 2012. at the end of the vesting period on 31 December 2011, 
the performance of Baloise shares ranked 24th out of the 34 companies in the peer group (StoXX europe 600 Insurance Index), so their performance was in the third 
quartile. the performance multiplier was therefore 0.64, and the 33,163 outstanding pSUs held by the current chairman of the Board of Directors and the members of 
the Corporate executive Committee were converted into 21,224 shares (measured at a share price of CHF 64.40 on 31 December 2011). Half of these shares remain 
restricted for a further three years.
the value of prospective entitlements is only added to total remuneration on the date at which they are converted into shares (i.e. at the end of the three-year vesting 
period) because it cannot be reliably quantified until that date and is not actually earned until then. the notional value of one pSU on the allocation date was CHF 84.70 
(measured using the Monte Carlo simulation method). the prospective entitlements allocated to Michael Müller in January 2011 have not been stated because they 
relate to his previous role as a member of the Swiss management team.

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   74

19�03�2013   13:48:10

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

75

REMUNERATION PAID TO THE C HAIRMAN OF THE B OARD OF D IRECTORS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE C ORPORATE E XECUTIVE COMMIT TEE (2011)

Basic salary

Cash payment 

Variable remuneration

Total basic 
salary plus 
variable 
remuneration

Variable 
remuneration  
as percentage  
of basic salary

Non-cash 

benefits Pension benefits

Total 
remuneration

(fixed)

Cash payment

Share Subscription Plan 

Employee Share Ownership Plan

Performance share units (PSU)

Total variable remuneration

Converted into shares in 2012

Prospective 
entitlements 
(2011)

CHF

CHF

Number of 

shares

Number of 

shares

800,010

180,000

0

CHF

0

Number of 
shares

CHF Number of PSUs

Number of 
shares

CHF

CHF

7,767

500,195

8,792

7,767

680,195

1,480,205

85 %

CHF

0

CHF

0

CHF

1,480,205

1,300,000

372,175

2,624

172,082

3,342

199,993

2,913

187,597

7,143

8,879

931,847

2,231,847

72 %

3,480

154,060

2,389,387

366,168

83,267

2,500

163,950

680,004

25,555

388

25,445

700

45,080

1,280

82,432

0

0

3,200

292,297

658,465

80 %

3,480

45,350

707,295

1,668

133,432

813,436

20 %

56,160

121,626

991,222

700,080

182,434

2,781

182,378

2,001

128,864

3,847

4,782

493,676

1,193,756

71 %

116,310

204,583

1,514,649

550,020

120,283

2,000

131,160

1,373

82,144

2,136

137,558

3,022

5,509

471,145

1,021,165

86 %

3,480

167,386

1,192,031

540,000

183,966

1,000

65,580

2,135

127,779

2,097

135,047

2,968

5,232

512,372

1,052,372

95 %

3,480

129,197

1,185,049

600,000

156,407

2,384

156,343

2,330

150,052

3,297

4,714

462,802

1,062,802

77 %

3,480

162,498

1,228,780

0

0

0

0

0

CHF

0

0

0

0

0

Total for the Corporate Executive  

4,736,272

1,124,087

13,677

896,938

6,850

409,916

13,457

866,630

20,277

33,984

3,297,571

8,033,843

70 %

189,870

984,700

9,208,413

Non-cash benefits   Based on all remuneration elements required to be declared on the Swiss salary certificate, including benefits relating to shares received in 
connection with the employee Incentive plan (max. 100 shares per annum, in previous years the amount was reported in a separate column), payment of travel and 
accommodation costs and non-cash benefits (use of a company vehicle) to a member of the Corporate executive Committee with a second home abroad or consultancy 
services in connection with the resignation of a member of the Corporate executive Committee.
Pension benefits  employer contributions to the pension scheme and maintenance of disability insurance cover in the home country of a member of the Corporate 
executive Committee with a second home abroad.

Chairman of the Board of Directors (until april 2011) 

2011

Dr Rolf Schäuble

Dr Martin Strobel

Ceo of the Baloise Group

Michael Müller

Head of Corporate Division Switzerland (since March 2011)

Head of Corporate Division Switzerland (until March 2011)

Dr Olav Noack

Jan De Meulder

German Egloff

Martin Wenk

Committee

Head of Corporate Division International

Head of Corporate Division Finance

Dr Thomas Sieber

Head of Corporate Division Corporate Centre

Head of Corporate Division asset Management

Explanatory notes to the table

Directors’ remuneration).

remuneration of CHF 180,000 for 2011.

notice period on 31 March 2012.

In 2011 for the first time, remuneration was disclosed in accordance with the accrual principle. the table includes all remuneration elements that were awarded for 

performance in 2011 even though individual components are not paid until a later date.

as chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr andreas Burckhardt does not perform an executive role. His remuneration is therefore disclosed on page 72 (Board of 

Dr Rolf Schäuble received his previous monthly salary until the end of his statutory notice period on 30 June 2011. He was also awarded performance-related 

Michael Müller’s basic salary was calculated on a pro-rata basis from 22 March 2011. Dr olav Noack received his previous monthly salary until the end of his statutory 

Remuneration paid to former members and related parties  No remuneration was paid on a non-arm’s length basis to companies or individuals related to the chairman 

of the Board of Directors or members of the Corporate executive Committee. (Related parties are: spouses, life partners, children under 18 years, companies owned or 

controlled by directors, or legal entities or individuals who act as trustees for them.) No amounts receivable from these persons were waived.

Share Subscription Plan  proportion of variable remuneration received directly as shares, which are measured at market value less 10 per cent markdown. Subscription 

price = CHF 65.58.

Employee Share Ownership Plan  proportion of variable remuneration received as shares (excluding loans to purchase shares), which are measured at market value less 

dividend rights discounted over three years. Subscription price = CHF 59.84.

Performance share units (PSUs)   the pSUs allocated in 2009 were converted into shares as at 1 January 2012. at the end of the vesting period on 31 December 2011, 

the performance of Baloise shares ranked 24th out of the 34 companies in the peer group (StoXX europe 600 Insurance Index), so their performance was in the third 

quartile. the performance multiplier was therefore 0.64, and the 33,163 outstanding pSUs held by the current chairman of the Board of Directors and the members of 

the Corporate executive Committee were converted into 21,224 shares (measured at a share price of CHF 64.40 on 31 December 2011). Half of these shares remain 

restricted for a further three years.

the value of prospective entitlements is only added to total remuneration on the date at which they are converted into shares (i.e. at the end of the three-year vesting 

period) because it cannot be reliably quantified until that date and is not actually earned until then. the notional value of one pSU on the allocation date was CHF 84.70 

(measured using the Monte Carlo simulation method). the prospective entitlements allocated to Michael Müller in January 2011 have not been stated because they 

relate to his previous role as a member of the Swiss management team.

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   75

19�03�2013   13:48:10

76

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

REMUNERATION PAID TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE COMMIT TEE

Basic salary 

Cash payment 
(fixed)

Cash payment

Share Subscription Plan 

Employee Share Ownership Plan

Performance share units (PSU)

Total variable remuneration

Converted into shares in 2013

Prospective 

entitlements 

(2012)

CHF

CHF

Number of 
shares

CHF

Number of 
shares

CHF

Number of 

shares

CHF Number of PSUs

CHF

CHF

Number of 

shares

1,050,000

419,928

3,673

270,076

2,184

149,996

4,381

343,909

9,831

10,238

1,183,909

2,233,909

113 %

CHF

3,420

CHF

CHF

154,060

2,391,389

Variable remuneration

remuneration

of basic salary

Non-cash 

benefits

Pension 

benefits

Total 

remuneration

Total basic 

salary plus 

Variable 

remuneration 

variable 

as percentage 

2012

Dr Martin Strobel

Ceo of the Baloise Group

Michael Müller

Head of Corporate Division Switzerland 

Head of Corporate Division International

German Egloff

Head of Corporate Division Finance

Dr Thomas Sieber

Head of Corporate Division Corporate Centre

Jan De Meulder

700,080

264,970

3,603

264,929

509,167

137,795

4,000

294,120

591,670

236,716

3,218

236,620

0

0

0

0

0

0

617

48,435

3,371

4,617

480,350

989,517

94 %

13,420

104,518

1,107,455

2,359

185,182

4,916

5,962

715,081

1,415,161

102 %

159,806

204,359

1,779,326

1,854

145,539

3,863

5,072

618,875

1,210,545

105 %

3,420

174,331

1,388,296

540,000

174,722

1,500

110,295

2,288

157,108

1,820

142,870

3,792

5,608

584,995

1,124,995

108 %

14,670

142,186

1,281,851

Martin Wenk

600,000

256,348

3,485

256,252

0

0

2,022

158,727

4,213

5,507

671,327

1,271,327

112 %

28,420

192,371

1,492,118

Head of Corporate Division asset Management

Total for the Corporate Executive  
Committee

3,990,917

1,490,479

19,479

1,432,292

4,472

307,104

13,053

1,024,662

29,986

37,004

4,254,537

8,245,454

107 %

223,156

971,825

9,440,435

Explanatory notes to the table 
Remuneration is disclosed in accordance with the accrual principle. the table includes all remuneration elements that were awarded for performance in 2012 even 
though individual components are not paid until a later date. amounts are gross, before deduction of social security contributions etc.
Remuneration paid to former members and related parties  In the year under review, due to a contractual obligation (basic salary payable until the end of the notice 
period), CHF 170,000 plus employer contributions to the pension fund was paid to a former member of the Corporate executive Committee. No remuneration on a 
non-arm’s length basis was paid to companies or individuals who are related to the chairman of the Board of Directors or members of the Corporate executive 
Committee. (Related parties are: spouses, life partners, children under 18 years, companies owned or controlled by directors, or legal entities or individuals who act as 
trustees for them.) No amounts receivable from these persons were waived.
Share Subscription Plan proportion of variable remuneration received directly as shares, which are measured at market value less 10 per cent markdown. Subscription 
price = CHF 73.53.
Employee Share Ownership Plan proportion of variable remuneration received as shares (excluding loans to purchase shares), which are measured at market value less 
dividend rights discounted over three years. Subscription price = CHF 68.67.
Performance share units (PSUs)   pSUs allocated in 2010 were converted into shares as at 1 January 2013. at the end of the vesting period on 31 December 2012, the 
performance of Baloise shares ranked 25th out of the 34 companies in the peer group (StoXX europe 600 Insurance Index), so it was in the third quartile. the 
performance multiplier was therefore 0.58, and the 22,504 outstanding pSUs held by the members of the Corporate executive Committee were converted into 13,053 
shares (measured at a share price of CHF 78.50 on 31 December 2012). Half of these shares remain restricted for a further three years. the former chairman of the Board 
of Directors received 5,392 shares from the conversion of 9,297 pSUs (market value: CHF 423,272). 
the value of prospective entitlements is only added to total remuneration at the time at which they are converted into shares (i.e. at the end of the three-year vesting 
period) because it cannot be reliably quantified until that date and is not actually earned until then. the notional value of one pSU on the allocation date was CHF 72.05 
(measured using the Monte Carlo simulation method). 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   76

19�03�2013   13:48:11

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

77

Variable remuneration

Total basic 
salary plus 
variable 
remuneration

Variable 
remuneration 
as percentage 
of basic salary

Non-cash 
benefits

Pension 
benefits

Total 
remuneration

(fixed)

Cash payment

Share Subscription Plan 

Employee Share Ownership Plan

Performance share units (PSU)

Total variable remuneration

Converted into shares in 2013

Prospective 
entitlements 
(2012)

CHF

CHF

Number of 

shares

CHF

Number of 

shares

CHF

Number of 
shares

CHF Number of PSUs

Number of 
shares

CHF

CHF

1,050,000

419,928

3,673

270,076

2,184

149,996

4,381

343,909

9,831

10,238

1,183,909

2,233,909

113 %

CHF

3,420

CHF

CHF

154,060

2,391,389

509,167

137,795

4,000

294,120

617

48,435

3,371

4,617

480,350

989,517

94 %

13,420

104,518

1,107,455

700,080

264,970

3,603

264,929

2,359

185,182

4,916

5,962

715,081

1,415,161

102 %

159,806

204,359

1,779,326

591,670

236,716

3,218

236,620

1,854

145,539

3,863

5,072

618,875

1,210,545

105 %

3,420

174,331

1,388,296

540,000

174,722

1,500

110,295

2,288

157,108

1,820

142,870

3,792

5,608

584,995

1,124,995

108 %

14,670

142,186

1,281,851

600,000

256,348

3,485

256,252

2,022

158,727

4,213

5,507

671,327

1,271,327

112 %

28,420

192,371

1,492,118

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total for the Corporate Executive  

3,990,917

1,490,479

19,479

1,432,292

4,472

307,104

13,053

1,024,662

29,986

37,004

4,254,537

8,245,454

107 %

223,156

971,825

9,440,435

Non-cash benefits Based on all remuneration elements required to be declared on the Swiss salary certificate, including long-service awards, benefits relating to 
shares received in connection with the employee Incentive plan (max. 100 shares per annum; in previous years the amount was reported in a separate column), travel 
and accommodation costs and non-cash benefits (use of a company vehicle) granted to a member of the Corporate executive Committee with a second home abroad.
Pension benefits  employer contributions to the pension scheme and maintenance of disability insurance cover in the home country of a member of the Corporate 
executive Committee with a second home abroad.

REMUNERATION PAID TO THE MEMBERS OF THE C ORPORATE E XECUTIVE COMMIT TEE

Basic salary 

Cash payment 

2012

Dr Martin Strobel

Ceo of the Baloise Group

Michael Müller

Head of Corporate Division Switzerland 

Head of Corporate Division International

Jan De Meulder

German Egloff

Head of Corporate Division Finance

Dr Thomas Sieber

Head of Corporate Division Corporate Centre

Head of Corporate Division asset Management

Martin Wenk

Committee

Explanatory notes to the table 

Remuneration is disclosed in accordance with the accrual principle. the table includes all remuneration elements that were awarded for performance in 2012 even 

though individual components are not paid until a later date. amounts are gross, before deduction of social security contributions etc.

Remuneration paid to former members and related parties  In the year under review, due to a contractual obligation (basic salary payable until the end of the notice 

period), CHF 170,000 plus employer contributions to the pension fund was paid to a former member of the Corporate executive Committee. No remuneration on a 

non-arm’s length basis was paid to companies or individuals who are related to the chairman of the Board of Directors or members of the Corporate executive 

Committee. (Related parties are: spouses, life partners, children under 18 years, companies owned or controlled by directors, or legal entities or individuals who act as 

trustees for them.) No amounts receivable from these persons were waived.

Share Subscription Plan proportion of variable remuneration received directly as shares, which are measured at market value less 10 per cent markdown. Subscription 

price = CHF 73.53.

Employee Share Ownership Plan proportion of variable remuneration received as shares (excluding loans to purchase shares), which are measured at market value less 

dividend rights discounted over three years. Subscription price = CHF 68.67.

Performance share units (PSUs)   pSUs allocated in 2010 were converted into shares as at 1 January 2013. at the end of the vesting period on 31 December 2012, the 

performance of Baloise shares ranked 25th out of the 34 companies in the peer group (StoXX europe 600 Insurance Index), so it was in the third quartile. the 

performance multiplier was therefore 0.58, and the 22,504 outstanding pSUs held by the members of the Corporate executive Committee were converted into 13,053 

shares (measured at a share price of CHF 78.50 on 31 December 2012). Half of these shares remain restricted for a further three years. the former chairman of the Board 

of Directors received 5,392 shares from the conversion of 9,297 pSUs (market value: CHF 423,272). 

the value of prospective entitlements is only added to total remuneration at the time at which they are converted into shares (i.e. at the end of the three-year vesting 

period) because it cannot be reliably quantified until that date and is not actually earned until then. the notional value of one pSU on the allocation date was CHF 72.05 

(measured using the Monte Carlo simulation method). 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   77

19�03�2013   13:48:11

78

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

Loans and advances GRanted to membeRs of the boaRd of diRectoRs and the coRpoRate executive commit tee  
(as at 31 decembeR)

Loans pertaining to the  
employee share ownership 
plan

mortgages

other loans

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

total

2012

CHF

dr andreas burckhardt

Chairman 

dr Georg f. Krayer

Vice-Chairman 

dr michael becker 

Member

dr andreas beerli

Member

dr Georges-antoine de boccard

Member

dr hansjörg frei

Member

dr Klaus Jenny

Member (until 27 April 2012) 

Werner Kummer

Member

thomas pleines

Member (since 27 April 2012) 

dr eveline saupper

Member

total for the board of directors 

corporate executive  
committee member  
with the highest  
outstanding loan

dr thomas sieber 

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

n/a

0

0 

0

0

0

0

0

0

n/a

0

0

0

0 

 581,494 

 1,479,108 

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

n/a

0

0

0

0

0

0

n/a

0

0

0

581,494 

1,479,108 

Head of Corporate Division Corporate 
Centre

other members of the  
corporate executive  
committee

total for the corporate executive 
committee

1,000,000

1,000,000

2,403,567

2,454,976

2,575,000

1,575,000

3,395,844

4,294,760

3,575,000

2,575,000

5,799,411

6,749,736

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

n/a

0

0 

0 

0 

0 

0

0

0

0

0

0

n/a

0

0

0

0 

581,494

1,479,108

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

n/a

0

0

0

0

0

0

n/a

0

0

0

581,494 

1,479,108 

0 

3,403,567

 3,454,976 

0 

5,970,844

 5,869,760 

0 

9,374,411

 9,324,736 

explanatory notes to the table: 
Loans and advances  No loans and advances were granted at non-market terms and conditions 
a) to former members of the Board of Directors or Corporate Executive Committee,
b) to individuals or companies related to members of the Board of Directors or Corporate Executive Committee. (Related parties are: spouses, life partners, children 
under 18 years, companies owned or controlled by directors, or legal entities or individuals who act as trustees for them.) 
mortgages  Mortgages of up to CHF 1 million are granted to staff at the following terms and conditions: 1 per cent below the customer interest rate for variable-rate 
mortgages and at a preferential interest rate for fixed-rate mortgages.
Loans associated with the employee share ownership plan  Loans to increase the effect of the Employee Share Ownership Plan (see “5.6. Share Subscription Plan and 
Employee Share Ownership Plan”). Interest is charged on loans at a market rate (2012: 3 per cent), and they have a term of three years. 
other loans  There are no policy loans.

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en.indd   78

21.03.2013   15:54:20

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

79

SHARES H ELD By MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  
(AS AT 31 DECEMBER)

Discretionary shares

Restricted shares

Total share ownership  

Percentage of issued share capital

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

Quantity

Dr Andreas Burckhardt

Chairman  

Dr Georg F. Krayer

vice-Chairman 

Dr Michael Becker

Member

Dr Andreas Beerli

Member

Dr Georges-Antoine  
de Boccard

Member

Dr Hansjörg Frei

Member

Dr Klaus Jenny

Member  
(until 27 april 2012)

Werner Kummer

Member

Thomas Pleines

Member  
(since 27 april 2012)  

Dr Eveline Saupper

Member

Total for the Board of 
Directors 

percentage of issued 
share capital

1,093

1,643

12,105

31,024

13,198

32,667

0.026 %

0.065 %

34,069

32,496

3,830

4,027

37,899

36,523

0.076 %

0.073 %

1,000

1,000

1,530

2,197

2,530

3,197

0.005 %

0.007 %

0

0

0

0

1,000

1,667

1,000

1,667

0.002 %

0.003 %

1,000

1,667

1,000

1,667

0.002 %

0.003 %

1,303

1,448

3,351

3,514

4,654

4,962

0.009 %

0.010 %

19,521

n/a

3,351

n/a

22,872

n/a

0.046 %

n/a

1,813

926

2,871

3,001

4,684

3,927

0.009 %

0.008 %

n/a

0

n/a

1,000

n/a

1,000

n/a

0.002 %

1,093

59,892

1,643

39,156

2,678

31,716

2,795

50,892

3,771

91,608

4,438

90,048

0.008 %

0.183 %

0.009 %

0.180 %

0.120 %

0.078 %

0.063 %

0.102 %

0.183 %

0.180 %

Explanatory notes to the table: 
Shareholdings  Include shares held by related parties (spouses, life partners, children under 18 years, companies owned or controlled by directors, or legal entities or 
individuals who act as trustees for them).
Restricted shares  Shares received in connection with share-based remuneration programmes are subject to a restriction period of three years. the restriction period 
for shares received by the chairman of the Board of Directors in connection with the Share Subscription plan is five years. Section 20 of the articles of Incorporation also 
requires all members of the Board of Directors to lodge 1,000 shares with the Company for the duration of their term of appointment (qualifying shares).
options  Members of the Board of Directors do not hold any options on Baloise shares.

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   79

19�03�2013   13:48:12

80

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

SHARES HELD By MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE COMMIT TEE  
(AS AT 31 DECEMBER)

Discretionary shares

Restricted shares

Total share ownership  

Percentage of issued  
share capital

Prospective 
entitlements (PSUs)

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

Quantity

Dr Martin Strobel

Ceo of the Baloise Group

6,036

0

28,464

51,361

34,500

51,361

0.069 % 0.103 % 19,248

24,528

Jan De Meulder

Head of Corporate Division International

3,501

3,313

8,915

12,319

12,416

15,632

0.025 % 0.031 % 11,041

12,830

German Egloff

Head of Corporate Division Finance

8,333

11,513

24,655

29,984

32,988

41,497

0.066 % 0.083 %

9,556

10,081

Michael Müller

Head of Corporate Division Switzerland

1,271

2,621

3,957

5,907

5,228

8,528

0.010 % 0.017 %

3,184

5,462

Dr Thomas Sieber 

Head of Corporate Division Corporate 
Centre

Martin Wenk

Head of Corporate Division  
asset Management

Total for the members of the Corporate 
Executive Committee

percentage of issued  
share capital

2,864

2,100

43,539

48,262

46,403

50,362

0.093 % 0.101 %

9,383

9,898

6,600

8,500

43,314

37,917

49,914

46,417

0.100 % 0.093 % 10,424

10,996

28,605

28,047 152,844 185,750 181,449 213,797

0.363 % 0.428 % 62,836

73,795

0.057 % 0.056 % 0.306 % 0.372 % 0.363 % 0.428 %

Explanatory notes to the table: 
Shareholdings  Include shares held by related parties (spouses, life partners, children under 18 years, companies owned or controlled by directors, or legal entities or 
individuals who act as trustees for them).
Restricted shares  Includes loan-financed shares connected with the employee Share ownership plan. Shares received in connection with share-based remuneration 
programmes are subject to a restriction period of three years. 
Options  options held in connection with the employee Share ownership plan are not reported here because they were written to hedge loans and do not originate from 
a separate option plan. each put option is also offset by a countervailing call option.
Prospective entitlements (PSUs)    Number of allocated performance share units (allocations as at 1 January 2010, 1 January 2011 and 1 March 2012).

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   80

19�03�2013   13:48:12

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

81

TOTAL AND VARIABLE REMUNERATION IN THE BALOISE GROUP

In cash 

In shares

Prospective 
entitlements

Total

In cash

In shares

Prospective 
entitlements

2011

2012

Total

757.1

5.1

7.4

769.6

749.8

6.0

6.4

762.2

Total remuneration 

CHF million

Total variable remuneration (total pool)

CHF million

Number of beneficiaries

149.5

6,657

5.1

173

7.4

73

162.0

152.8

6,634

6.0

167

6.4

72

165.2

of which commission paid to insurance 
sales force

CHF million

96.6

0.0

0.0

96.6

108.0

0.0

0.0

108.0

of which other forms of variable  
remuneration

CHF million

52.9

5.1

7.4

65.4

44.8

6.0

6.4

57.2

Total outstanding  
deferred remuneration 

CHF million

Debits / credits for remuneration  
for previous reporting periods  
recognised in profit or loss 

0.0

48.5

21.0

69.5

0.0

61.5

20.9

82.4

CHF million

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Total recruitment payments  
made

CHF million

Number of beneficiaries

Total severance payments  
made

CHF million

Number of beneficiaries

0.1

3

4.9

73

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.1

4.9

0.1

7

3.2

38

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.1

3.2

Explanatory notes to the table: 
the table includes all remuneration elements awarded for each year, even if individual components are not paid until a later date. 
Total remuneration  all benefits in kind that the financial institution provides to persons directly or indirectly for the work they have performed for it in connection with 
their employment or directorship. they include cash payments, non-cash benefits, expenditure that creates or increases entitlement to pension benefits, pensions, 
allotment of shareholdings, conversion and options rights, and debt waivers.
Variable remuneration  part of total remuneration, the amount or payment of which is at the discretion of the financial institution or which depends on the occurrence of 
agreed conditions. It includes performance-related or results-based remuneration such as fees and commissions. Inducement and severance payments also fall under 
the definition of variable remuneration.
Total pool  all the variable remuneration that a financial institution allocates for a year regardless of its form, any contractual undertaking regarding allocation and 
payout dates, and any terms and conditions attached. Inducement and severance payments made in the relevant year should be included in the total pool.
Inducement payment  one-off payment agreed when an employment contract is signed. payments to compensate for lost entitlement to remuneration from a former 
employer also count as inducement pay. 
Severance payment  Remuneration agreed in connection with the termination of a contract of employment.

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   81

19�03�2013   13:48:12

82

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

6. SHAREHOLDER PARTICIPATION RIGHTS

Voting rights
The share capital of Bâloise Holding consists solely of registered 
shares�  Each  share  confers  the  right  to  one  vote�  No  shares 
carry preferential voting rights� To ensure a broad-based share-
holder structure and to protect minority shareholders, no share-
holder is registered as holding more than 2 per cent of voting 
rights, regardless of the size of their shareholding� The Board 
of Directors can approve exceptions to this provision if a major-
ity of two-thirds of all its members is in favour (section 5 of the 
Articles of Incorporation)� There are currently no exceptions� 
Each shareholder can authorise another shareholder to exercise 
his or her voting rights by appointing a proxy in writing� When 
exercising voting rights, no shareholder can accumulate more 
than one fifth of the voting shares at the Annual General Meet-
ing directly or indirectly for his or her own votes or proxy votes 
(section 16 of the Articles of Incorporation)�

Statutory quorums
The Annual General Meeting is quorate regardless of the num-
ber of shareholders present or proxy votes represented, subject 
to the mandatory cases stated by law (section 17 of the Articles 
of Incorporation)� 

The consent of at least three-quarters of the votes repre-
sented at the Annual General Meeting is required to suspend 
statutory restrictions on voting rights� The votes must also rep-
resent at least one third of the total shares issued by the Com-
pany� This qualified majority also applies to the cases specified 
in section 17 (3) lit� a–h of the Articles of Incorporation� Oth-
erwise, resolutions are adopted by a simple majority of the votes 
cast, subject to compulsory legal provisions (section 17 of the 
Articles of Incorporation)�

Convening the Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting generally takes place in April, but 
must be held within six months of the end of the previous fi-
nancial year� Bâloise Holding’s financial year ends on 31 De-
cember� The Annual General Meeting is convened at least 20 
days before the date of the meeting� Each registered sharehold-
er receives a personal invitation, which includes the agenda� 
The invitation and the agenda are published in the Swiss Official 
Gazette  of  Commerce,  in  various  newspapers  and  on  the  
internet� 

The Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors or 
the external auditors decide whether to convene extraordinary 

general meetings� Furthermore, legal provisions also require 
the Board of Directors to convene an extraordinary general 
meeting if requested by the shareholders (section 11 of the Ar-
ticles of Incorporation)� Article 699 (3) of the Swiss Code of 
Obligations (OR) states such requests must be made by share-
holders who represent at least 10 per cent of the share capital�

Requesting agenda items
Article 699 (3) OR states that one or more shareholders who 
together represent shares of at least CHF 100,000 can request 
items to be put on the agenda for debate� Such requests must be 
submitted in writing to the Board of Directors at least six weeks 
before the ordinary Annual General Meeting is held, giving 
details of the motions to be put to the AGM (section 14 of the 
Articles of Incorporation)�

Entry in the share register
Shareholders are entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting 
provided they are registered in the share register as sharehold-
ers with voting rights on the cut-off date stated by the Board of 
Directors in the invitation� The cut-off date should be several 
days before the Annual General Meeting, (section 16 of the 
Articles of Incorporation)�

Section  5  of  the  Articles  of  Incorporation  determines 
whether nominee entries are permissible, taking into account 
any percentage limits and entry requirements� The procedures 
and requirements for suspending and restricting transferabil-
ity are set out in the provisions in section 5 and section 17�
www.baloise.com  →  Responsibility   
→  Corporate Governance →  Rules and regulations
www.baloise.com  →  Investor relations  →  IR Agenda

7. CHANGES OF CONTROL AND POISON-PILL MEASURES
Shareholders or groups of shareholders acting together by agree-
ment are required to issue a takeover bid to all other sharehold-
ers when they have acquired 33 per cent of all Baloise shares� 
Bâloise Holding has not made any use of the option to deviate 
from or waive this regulation� There is no statutory opting-out 
clause or opting-up clause as defined by the Swiss Federal Act 
on Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading (Börsengesetz)� 

Like the chairman of the Board of Directors, all six mem-
bers of the Corporate Executive Committee have a notice pe-
riod of twelve months� They and five other members of senior 
management are also entitled to severance pay equivalent to 
one year’s salary (including variable remuneration) after a change 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   82

19�03�2013   13:48:13

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

83

of control or merger, should the employer (or, in certain cir-
cumstances, the employee) terminate their employment contract 
within twelve months of the takeover or merger� 

8. EXTERNAL AUDITORS
The external auditors are elected annually by the Annual Gen-
eral Meeting� PricewaterhouseCoopers AG (PwC) or its prede-
cessor Schweizerische Treuhandgesellschaft / STG-Coopers & 
Lybrand has audited Bâloise Holding since 1962� Mr Martin 
Frei has held the post of auditor-in-charge since 2007� In ac-
cordance with article 730a (2) OR, the role of auditor-in-charge 
is rotated every seven years� PwC has been the external auditing 
firm for almost all Group companies since 2005�

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS' FEES

The Audit Committee submits proposals to the Board of Direc-
tors regarding the external auditors to be elected by the An-
nual General Meeting and makes recommendations regarding 
their fees� Before the start of the annual audit, it reviews the 
scope of the audit and suggests areas that require special atten-
tion� The Audit Committee reviews the external auditors’ fees 
on an annual basis� The criteria for assessing the external audi-
tors are:
 → the competence of the audit team 
 → technical and industry expertise
 → understanding of corporate strategy
 → complete independence when conducting the audit
 → the corporate culture of the audit firm (shared values)
 → timely reporting
 → appropriate level of fees
 → compliance with relevant statutory, professional and ethi-

2011

2012

cal standards

CHF  
(rounded to the nearest thousand, including outlays and vat)

audit fees

Consulting fees

tax consultancy and legal advice

transaction advice  
(including due diligence)

Corporate finance

Insurance-specific consulting

operational consulting

Business and It consulting

4,945,000

6,463,000

802,000

1,000,000

352,000

39,000

157,000

133,000

109,000

12,000

638,000

–

44,000

205,000

31,000

82,000

Total

5,747,000

7,463,000

the audit fees include fees for engagements with a direct or indirect connection to a 
current or future audit engagement and fees for audit-related activities (including support 
with accounting issues, regulatory issues and statutory special audits).

At its meetings, the Audit and Risk Committee receives 
detailed documentation about the external auditors’ findings, 
primarily at meetings about the annual and half-year financial 
statements� 

The performance of the external auditors and their inter-
action with Group Internal Audit, Risk Management and Com-
pliance are assessed by the Audit Committee� The Audit Com-
mittee’s discussions with the external auditors focus on the 
audit  work  the  latter  have  undertaken,  their  reports  and  
the material findings and most important issues raised during 
the audit�

 → consistent auditing methodology
The Audit Committee requests checks on the appropriateness 
of the services performed by the external auditors that are not 
connected with their audit work on the basis of the following 
criteria:
 → the compatibility of services with the external audit remit 

(independence)

 → competence and technical and industry expertise
 → service quality
 → appropriate level of fees
A written instruction requires material services unconnected 
with audit work to be approved in advance by Group Internal 
Audit� As part of the approval process for the engagement of 
auditors, the guarantee of independence is first reviewed by the 
auditor-in-charge and then verified by the head of Group In-
ternal Audit� The operational unit approves the engagement and 
takes commercial responsibility for it� 

9.INFORMATION POLICy

Information principles
The Baloise Group provides shareholders, potential investors, 
employees,  customers  and  the  public  with  information  on  
a regular, open and comprehensive basis� All registered share-
holders  each  receive  a  summary  of  the  annual  report  once  
a  year  and  a  letter  to  shareholders  every  six  months,  which  
provide a review of business� The full annual report is sent to 
shareholders on request� All publications are simultaneously 
available to the public� All market participants receive the same 

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   83

19�03�2013   13:48:13

 
84

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Report  
including Remuneration Report

information� Baloise uses technologies such as webcasting, pod-
casting and teleconferences to make financial analysts’ meetings 
generally accessible�

Information about Baloise shares
Information about Baloise shares begins on page 8�
www.baloise.com  →  Investor relations  →  Baloise share

Information events
Baloise provides detailed information about its business ac-
tivities as follows:
 → Details about its financial performance, targets, strategies 
and operations are provided at press conferences covering 
its annual and half-year financial statements�

 → Teleconferences for financial analysts and investors take 
place when the annual and half-year financial statements 
are published� The events can then be downloaded as pod-
casts�

 → Shareholders are informed about business during the year 

at the Annual General Meeting� 

 → Roadshows are regularly staged at various financial cen-

tres�

Ongoing relationships are maintained with analysts, investors 
and the media� Full details of individual Baloise events can be 
accessed at www�baloise�com�

Information about Baloise bonds
Information about Baloise bonds in circulation can be found 
in the Financial Report section, starting from page 231�
www.baloise.com  →  Investor relations  →  Bonds

Financial calendar
Important dates for investors are available on www�baloise�com� 
This is where the publication dates for the annual and half-year 
reports are listed and where the date of the Annual General 
Meeting, the AGM invitation, the closing date for the share 
register and any ex-dividend dates are published�
www.baloise.com  →  Investor relations  →  IR Agenda

Availability of documents
Annual and half-year reports, media releases, disclosures, recent 
announcements, presentations and other documents are avail-
able to the public at www�baloise�com� Please register for the 
latest corporate communications at www�baloise�com/mailing-
list�
www.baloise.com  →  Media relations  →  Media kits

Contact 
Corporate Governance
Baloise Group
Andreas Eugster
Aeschengraben 21
4002 Basel, Switzerland
Tel� +41 (0)58 285 84 50
andreas�eugster@baloise�com

Investor Relations
Baloise Group
Marc Kaiser
Aeschengraben 21
4002 Basel, Switzerland
Tel� +41 (0)58 285 81 81
marc�kaiser@baloise�com

04_JB_Corporate Governance_en�indd   84

19�03�2013   13:48:13

4  Baloise
16  Review of operating performance
36  Sustainable business management
48  Corporate governance
86  Financial report
226  Bâloise Holding Ltd
240  Notes 

Financial Report

Consolidated balance sheet  ���������������������������������������������������������������� 86
Consolidated income statement  ������������������������������������������������������� 88
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income  ����������������� 89
Consolidated cash flow statement  ��������������������������������������������������� 90
Consolidated statement of changes in equity  ���������������������������� 92

Reconciliation between the gross investment in financial  
leases and the present value of minimum lease payments  ���  196
Financial liabilities  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������  197
Provisions  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  198
Insurance liabilities �����������������������������������������������������������������������������  198

Notes to the CoNsolidated aNNual
FiNaNCial statemeNts  ����������������������������������������������������������������������  94
Basis of preparation  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 94
Application of new financial reporting standards  ������������������� 94
Consolidation principles and accounting policies  ������������������ 97
Critical accounting principles and estimate uncertainties ���  113
Management of insurance risk and financial risk  ����������������  115
Basis of consolidation  ������������������������������������������������������������������������  151
Information on business segments (segment reporting)  ����  153

Notes to the CoNsolidated BalaNCe sheet  �������������������  158
Property, plant and equipment  ������������������������������������������������������  158
Intangible assets  �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������  160
Investments in associates  �����������������������������������������������������������������  163
Investment property  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������  164
Financial assets  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  165
Mortgages and loans  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������  170
Derivative financial instruments  ��������������������������������������������������  171
Receivables  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  172
Reinsurance assets  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������  173
Receivables from reinsurers  ������������������������������������������������������������  173
Employee benefits  ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������  174
Deferred income taxes  �����������������������������������������������������������������������  184
Other assets  ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  186
Non-current assets held for sale and  
discontinued operations  �������������������������������������������������������������������  186
Share capital  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  186
Technical reserves (gross)  ����������������������������������������������������������������  187
Liabilities arising from banking business and  
financial contracts  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������  195

Notes to the
CoNsolidated iNCome statemeNt ������������������������������������������  199
Premiums earned and policy fees �������������������������������������������������  199
Income from investments for  
own account and at own risk  ����������������������������������������������������������� 199
Realised gains and losses on investments  ���������������������������������  200
Income from services rendered  �����������������������������������������������������  205
Other operating income ��������������������������������������������������������������������  205
Classification of expenses  �����������������������������������������������������������������  206
Personnel expenses ������������������������������������������������������������������������������  206
Gains or losses on financial contracts  ����������������������������������������  207
Income taxes �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  208
Earnings per share  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������  209
Other comprehensive income  ��������������������������������������������������������  210

other disClosures  �������������������������������������������������������������������������  212
Acquisition and disposal of companies  �������������������������������������  212
Related party transactions  ���������������������������������������������������������������  213
Remuneration paid to the Board of Directors and the 
Corporate Executive Committee  ��������������������������������������������������  214
Contingent and future liabilities  ��������������������������������������������������  215
Operating leasing arrangements  ���������������������������������������������������  218
Claim payments received from non-Group insurers  ����������  219
Events after the balance sheet date  ����������������������������������������������  219
Significant subsidiaries, joint ventures and  
associates as of 31 December 2012  �����������������������������������������������  220

rePort suBmitted BY the statutorY auditors  

to the aNNual GeNeral meetiNG oF  
BÂloise holdiNG ltd, Basel  ������������������������������������������������������  222

T
R
O
P
E
R

L
A

I

C
N
A
N

I
F

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   85

19�03�2013   13:44:37

 
86

Financial Report
Consolidated balance sheet

Consolidated balance sheet

CHF million

assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets 

Investments in associates

Investment property

Financial assets of an equity nature

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets of a debt nature

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Mortgages and loans

Carried at cost

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative financial instruments

Receivables from financial contracts

Carried at cost

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Reinsurance assets

Receivables from reinsurers

Insurance receivables

Receivables from employee benefits

Other receivables

Receivables from investments 

Deferred tax assets

Current income tax assets

Other assets

Carried at cost

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Cash and cash equivalents

total assets

Note

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

8

9

10

11

12

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

15

15

19

20

559.9 

1,300.2 

173.5 

5,138.0 

3,447.3 

6,256.6 

458.5 

1,078.5 

227.2 

5,441.0 

3,337.0 

5,897.0 

8,027.8 

8,188.5 

19,855.3 

22,433.5 

1,034.4 

1,891.3 

17,667.5 

17,691.2 

375.2 

334.1 

348.6 

61.5 

377.5 

16.9 

547.4 

1.4 

276.1 

661.1 

22.2 

43.3 

169.6 

83.0 

819.7 

497.6 

370.5 

56.1 

398.6 

29.3 

542.4 

0.6 

269.0 

644.5 

23.9 

58.7 

161.8 

87.1 

2,287.8 

2,923.7 

69,066.2 

73,527.2 

The notes are an integral component of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   86

19�03�2013   13:44:37

Financial Report
Consolidated balance sheet

87

CHF million

equity and liabilities 

equity

Share capital

Capital reserves

Treasury shares

Unrealised gains and losses (net)

Retained earnings

equity before minority interests

Minority interests

total equity

liabilities

Technical reserves (gross)

Liabilities arising from banking business and financial contracts

With discretionary participation features

Measured at amortised cost

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Financial liabilities

Provisions

Derivative financial instruments

Insurance liabilities

Liabilities arising from employee benefits

Other accounts payable

Deferred tax liabilities

Current income tax liabilities

Other liabilities

total liabilities

total equity and liabilities 

Note

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

22

23

24

26

27

14

28

18

19

5.0 

215.9 

– 256.7 

– 615.3 

4,511.4 

3,860.3 

33.3 

5.0 

218.2 

– 237.9 

109.1 

4,736.3 

4,830.7 

42.1 

3,893.6 

4,872.8 

45,561.9 

46,702.3 

1,147.5 

6,881.2 

5,969.4 

1,612.6 

83.1 

175.3 

1,334.0 

7,290.5 

6,973.4 

2,017.6 

92.4 

64.4 

1,777.4 

1,881.7 

720.0 

479.4 

654.4 

31.0 

79.4 

727.5 

542.5 

895.1 

47.0 

86.0 

65,172.6 

68,654.4 

69,066.2 

73,527.2 

The notes are an integral component of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   87

19�03�2013   13:44:37

88

Financial Report
Consolidated income statement

Consolidated income statement

CHF million

income

Premiums earned and policy fees (gross)

Reinsurance premiums ceded

Premiums earned and policy fees (net)

Investment income

Realised gains and losses on investments

Income from services rendered

Share of profit (loss) of associates

Other operating income

income

expense

Claims and benefits paid (gross)

Change in technical reserves (gross)

Reinsurers’ share of claims incurred

Acquisition costs

Operating and administrative expenses for insurance business

Investment management expenses

Interest expenses on insurance liabilities

Gains or losses on financial contracts

Other operating expenses

expense

Profit before borrowing costs and taxes

Borrowing costs

Profit before taxes

Income taxes

Profit for the period

Attributable to:

Shareholders

Minority interests

Earnings / loss per share

Basic (CHF)

Diluted (CHF)

Note

2011

2012

29

29

29

30

31

32

33

23

23

23

34

34

34

36

34

26

37

38

6,806.9 

– 176.3 

6,630.6 

1,766.5 

– 943.4 

158.6 

10.2 

140.1 

6,730.7 

– 176.5 

6,554.2 

1,782.2 

839.1 

125.0 

16.5 

92.0 

7,762.6 

9,409.0 

– 5,311.5 

– 5,449.3 

– 639.9 

53.3 

– 576.8 

– 847.0 

– 61.3 

– 51.6 

324.0 

– 507.9 

– 867.6 

113.2 

– 650.9 

– 899.2 

– 59.1 

– 50.6 

– 563.9 

– 425.8 

– 7,618.7 

– 8,853.2 

143.9 

555.8 

– 55.0 

88.9 

– 27.6 

61.3 

60.8 

0.5 

1.30 

1.29 

– 61.1 

494.7 

– 52.3 

442.4 

436.6 

5.8 

9.32 

9.08 

The notes are an integral component of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   88

19�03�2013   13:44:38

Financial Report
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

89

Consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income

CHF million

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income 

Change in unrealised gains and losses on available-for-sale financial assets

Change in unrealised gains and losses on associates

Change in hedging reserves for derivative financial instruments held as cash flow hedges 

Change in hedging reserves for derivative financial instruments held as hedges  
of a net investment in a foreign operation

Change in reserves arising from reclassification of held-to-maturity financial assets

Change in reserves arising from reclassification of investment property

Exchange differences

Change arising from shadow accounting

Income taxes 

other comprehensive income 

Comprehensive income

Attributable to:

Shareholders

Minority interests

Note

2011

2012

61.3

442.4

39

39

39

39

39

39

39

39

39

131.4

– 17.4

–

– 16.1

– 5.5

–

– 43.4

– 100.8

– 11.9

– 63.7

1,564.7

6.1

–

2.1

– 4.9

–

19.5

– 606.8

– 252.4

728.3

– 2.4

1,170.7

– 2.0

– 0.4

1,161.0

9.7

The notes are an integral component of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   89

19�03�2013   13:44:38

90

Financial Report
Consolidated cash flow statement

Consolidated cash flow statement

CHF million

summary

Cash flow from operating activities (net) 

Cash flow from investing activities (net) 

Cash flow from financing activities (net) 

total cash flow

Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

Balance of cash and cash equivalents as at 1 January

Balance of cash and cash equivalents as at 31 december

Cash flow from operating activities

Profit before taxes

adjustments for

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment of property, plant and equipment and  
of intangible assets

Realised gains and losses on property, plant and equipment and on intangible assets

Income from investments in associates

Realised gains and losses on financial assets, investment property and associates

Changes in other financial contracts

Changes in technical reserves (gross), including unearned premium reserves

Interest expenses on reinsurance liabilities

Borrowing costs 

Amortised cost valuation of financial instruments

additions and disposals of assets and liabilities resulting in a cash flow

Purchase / sale of investment property

Purchase / sale of financial assets of an equity nature

Purchase / sale of financial assets of a debt nature

Addition / disposal of mortgages and loans

Addition / disposal of derivative financial instruments

Addition / disposal of financial contracts and liabilities from banking business

Other changes in assets and liabilities from operating activities

Taxes paid

Cash flow from operating activities (net)

Note

2011

2012

343.9

– 215.6

– 38.6

89.7

– 10.8

2,208.9

2,287.8

580.0

– 97.2

155.3

638.1

– 2.2

2,287.8

2,923.7

88.9

494.7

8 / 9

139.6

109.5

26

0.5

– 3.7

939.0

– 455.7

463.3

1.3

55.0

18.3

– 0.1

– 15.8

– 844.5

412.8

836.8

0.3

61.1

23.1

24.7

– 402.6

– 79.9

0.2

– 1,385.2

– 1,363.0

– 304.3

113.5

842.2

283.2

– 74.1

343.9

– 510.0

– 167.4

942.0

744.7

– 64.5

580.0

The notes are an integral component of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   90

19�03�2013   13:44:38

Financial Report
Consolidated cash flow statement

91

CHF million

Cash flow from investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Sale of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of intangible assets

Sale of intangible assets

Acquisition of companies, net of cash and cash equivalents

Disposal of companies, net of cash and cash equivalents

Purchase of investments in associates

Sale of investments in associates

Dividends from associates

Cash flow from investing activities (net)

Cash flow from financing activities

Capital increases

Capital reductions

Additions to financial liabilities

Disposals of financial liabilities

Borrowing costs paid

Purchase of treasury shares

Sale of treasury shares

Cash flow attributable to minority interests

Dividends paid

Cash flow from financing activities (net)

total cash flow

Cash and cash equivalents

Balance as at 1 January

Change during the financial year

Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

Balance as at 31 december

Breakdown of cash and cash equivalents at the balance sheet date

Cash and bank balances

Cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents for the account and at the risk of life insurance policyholders

Balance as at 31 december

Of which: restricted cash and cash equivalents

supplemental disclosures on cash flow from operating activities

Interest received

Dividends received

Interest paid

The notes are an integral component of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note

2011

2012

8

9

40

40

10

10

10

22

22

26

26

– 70.2

4.3

– 49.9

0.7

– 117.4

– 1.8

–

15.3

3.4

– 50.4

10.7

– 24.6

0.5

– 1.7

0.1

– 36.2

0.0

4.4

– 215.6

– 97.2

–

–

247.5

–

– 48.7

– 135.3

109.0

0.2

– 211.3

– 38.6

–

–

549.0

– 150.0

– 53.2

– 49.5

71.6

– 0.9

– 211.7

155.3

89.7

638.1

2,208.9

2,287.8

89.7

– 10.8

638.1

– 2.2

2,287.8

2,923.7

1,835.5

2,034.3

0.0

452.3

0.0

889.4

2,287.8

2,923.7

0.4

16.2

1,020.2

131.0

– 111.4

1,145.8

108.7

– 98.0

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   91

19�03�2013   13:44:38

92

Financial Report
Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Note

share  
capital

Capital 
reserves

treasury 
shares

other 
changes in 
equity

retained 
earnings

equity before 
minority 
interests

minority 
interests

total 
equity

5.0

206.9

– 221.3

– 552.5

4,661.9

4,100.0

–

– 62.8

– 62.8

60.8

–

60.8

60.8

– 62.8

– 2.0

33.5

0.5

– 0.9

– 0.4

4,133.5

61.3

– 63.7

– 2.4

2011

CHF million 

Balance as at 1 January 2011

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income

Comprehensive income

other changes in equity in 2011

Dividend

Capital increase / repayment 

Purchase / sale of treasury shares

Cancellation of (treasury) shares 

Increase / decrease in minority interests  
due to change in the scope of consolidation

Increase / decrease in minority interests  
due to change in percentage of shareholding

39

22

40

6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

9.9

– 35.4

–

–

– 0.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 211.3

– 211.3

– 0.8

– 212.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 25.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 25.5

–

–

– 0.9

1.0

0.1

Balance as at 31 december 2011

5.0

215.9

– 256.7

– 615.3

4,511.4

3,860.3

33.3

3,893.6

The notes are an integral component of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   92

19�03�2013   13:44:39

Financial Report
Consolidated statement of changes in equity

93

Note

share 
capital

Capital 
reserves

treasury 
shares

other 
changes in 
equity

retained 
earnings

equity before 
minority 
interests

minority 
interests

total 
equity

5.0

215.9

– 256.7

– 615.3

4,511.4

3,860.3

33.3

3,893.6

39

22

40

6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2.3

18.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

724.4

724.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

436.6

436.6

724.4

–

436.6

1,161.0

5.8

3.9

9.7

442.4

728.3

1,170.7

– 211.7

– 211.7

– 0.9

– 212.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

21.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

21.1

–

–

–

2012

CHF million 

Balance as at 1 January 2012

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income

Comprehensive income

other changes in equity in 2012

Dividend

Capital increase / repayment 

Purchase / sale of treasury shares

Cancellation of (treasury) shares 

Increase / decrease in minority interests  
due to change in the scope of consolidation

Increase / decrease in minority interests  
due to change in percentage of shareholding

Balance as at 31 december 2012

5.0

218.2

– 237.9

109.1

4,736.3

4,830.7

42.1

4,872.8

The notes are an integral component of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   93

19�03�2013   13:44:40

94

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Notes to the consolidated annual  
financial statements
Basis of presentation

1. Basis oF PreParatioN
The Baloise Group is a European direct insurer comprising 18 
different insurance companies that operate in virtually every 
segment of the life and non-life insurance business� Its holding 
company is Bâloise Holding, a Swiss corporation based in Basel 
whose shares are listed in the main segment of the Swiss  Exchange 
(SIX)� Its subsidiaries are active in the direct insurance markets 
in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Belgium, Austria, 
Luxem bourg, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic� 
Its banking business is conducted by subsidiaries in Switzerland 
and Germany� In addition, the Baloise Group has a fund manage-
ment company in Luxembourg� 

The Baloise Group’s consolidated annual financial state-
ments are based on the historical cost principle and recognise 
adjustments resulting from the regular fair value measurement 
of investment property and of financial assets and financial 
liabilities that are classified as available for sale or recognised 
at fair value through profit or loss� These consolidated annual 
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 
International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRS),  which 
comply with Swiss law� IFRS 4 deals with the recognition and 
disclosure of insurance and reinsurance contracts� The measure-
ment of these contracts is based on local financial reporting 
standards�

At its meeting on 13 March 2013 the Bâloise Holding Board 
of Directors approved the annual financial statements and the 
Financial Report and released them for publication� The finan-
cial statements have yet to be approved by the Annual General 
Meeting of Bâloise Holding�

2. aPPliCatioN oF NeW FiNaNCial rePortiNG staNdards

Newly applied iFrss and interpretations

iFrs 7 Financial instruments: disclosures – transfers of 

Financial assets
This amended standard addresses the issue of disclosure require-
ments in connection with transfers of financial assets to third 
parties in cases such as factoring or securities lending� If the 
rights to a financial asset are transferred to a third party or if 
an entity undertakes to transfer payments arising from a finan-
cial asset to a third party, IAS 39 “Financial Instruments: Recog-
nition and Measurement” states that the financial asset may 
either be derecognised or, alternatively, it may continue to be 
recognised either at its full amount or at the amount of the 
continuing involvement� Previously, IFRS 7 required disclosures 
in the notes only in the last two cases� Now that the standard 
has been amended, however, it requires comprehensive disclo-
sures on any contractual rights or obligations that may have 
been retained or acquired as a result of the transaction even in 
cases where the financial asset is fully derecognised� 

ias 39 / iFrs 7 derecognition of financial assets
IAS 39 and IFRS 7 reformulate the criteria applied to the dere-
cognition of financial assets and financial liabilities� Derecogni-
tion means removing a financial instrument from an entity’s 
financial statements� This principle requires financial assets to 
be derecognised if the entity concerned no longer controls them� 
Financial liabilities, by contrast, are derecognised when the 
entity’s obligation ceases to exist� Even if a financial asset is 
fully derecognised owing to a transfer transaction,  comprehensive 
disclosures on any contractual rights or obligations that may 
have been retained or acquired as a result of this transaction 
(such as default guarantees or repurchase agreements) are  required� 
This amendment has not had any material impact on the balance 
sheet or income statement�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   94

19�03�2013   13:44:40

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

95

ias 12 recovery of underlying assets
In the past, IAS 12 has required an entity to measure deferred 
tax assets and liabilities relating to an asset depending on 
whether the entity expects to recover the carrying amount of 
the asset through use or sale� Because it can often be difficult 
to assess whether recovery will be through use or sale, the amend-
ment  provides  a  solution  by  introducing  a  rebuttable  pre- 
sumption that recovery of the asset’s carrying amount will be 
through sale� 

This amendment is restricted to investment property that 
is measured using the fair value model (IAS 40) and to prop-
erty, plant and equipment and intangible assets measured using 
the revaluation model (IAS 16 and IAS 38)� 

other standards and interpretations
Currently, there are no requirements to apply any other stand-
ards or interpretations that have no impact – or no material 
impact – on profit for the period or on balance sheet items�

New iFrss and interpretations not yet applied
The following new standards and interpretations relevant to the 
Baloise Group have been published by the IASB but have not 
yet come into effect and therefore have not been applied in the 
2012 consolidated financial statements:

standard /  
inter- 
pretation

Content

IAS 1

IFRS 10

IFRS 11

IFRS 12

IFRS 13

IAS 27 
(2011)

IAS 28 
(2011)

IAS 19 
(revised)

IAS 32 / 
IFRS 7

Other comprehensive income

Consolidated financial statements

Joint arrangements

Disclosure of interests in other entities

Fair value measurement

Separate financial statements

Investments in associates and  
joint ventures

Employee benefits

Offsetting financial assets and  
financial liabilities 

IFRS 9

Financial instruments

applicable  
to annual 
periods  
beginning  
on or after

1.7.2012

1.1.2013

1.1.2013

1.1.2013

1.1.2013

1.1.2013

1.1.2013

1.1.2013

1.1.2013

1.1.2015

ias 1 other comprehensive income
Following an amendment to IAS 1, OCI income and expense 
items that are to be reclassified to profit or loss at a later date 
must be presented separately from items of OCI that will not 
subsequently be reclassified to profit or loss� 

iFrs 10 Consolidated Financial statements
The objective of IFRS 10 is to establish principles for the pres-
entation and preparation of consolidated financial statements 
when a parent company controls one or more other entities� 
This standard supersedes the existing IAS 27 and SIC-12� An 
investor  must  establish  whether  it  meets  the  definition  of  a  
parent company by assessing whether it controls one or more 
investee entities� The investor must take into account all relevant 
facts and circumstances when considering whether it controls 
an investee entity or not� An investor is deemed to control an 
investee if the investor has power over the investee, has exposure 
or rights to variable returns from involvement with the investee, 
and has the ability to use power over the investee to affect the 
amount of the investor’s returns� Entities that qualify as invest-
ment entities under IFRS 10 enjoy an exemption and are not 
required to consolidate the entities that they control in their 
consolidated financial statements� Instead, equity investments 
held solely for the purpose of generating returns from capital 
appreciation, investment income or both must be measured at 
fair value through profit or loss� The Baloise Group is not  affected 
by this exemption�

The new standard will have an impact on the basis of con-
solidation for the Baloise Group and will increase its total assets, 
particularly because of fund solutions that the Baloise Group 
develops and sells itself specifically for its investment-linked 
life insurance business�

iFrs 11 Joint arrangements
IFRS 11 introduces new accounting requirements for joint 
 arrangements, superseding IAS 31 “Interests in Joint Ventures”� 
The new standard eliminates the option of proportionate conso-
lidation as a method to account for interests in jointly controlled 
entities� It also removes “jointly controlled assets” as a type of 
joint arrangement� Only joint operations and joint ventures 
remain as types of joint arrangement� The new standard is not 
expected to have any impact on the balance sheet or income 
statement of the Baloise Group�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   95

19�03�2013   13:44:40

96

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

iFrs 12 disclosure of interests in other entities
The objective of IFRS 12 is to create a new single core standard 
requiring an entity to disclose information that enables users 
of its financial statements to evaluate the nature of, and risks 
associated with, its interests in other entities and the effects of 
those interests on its financial position, financial performance 
and cash flows� A particular new feature is the express require-
ment for entities to disclose risks arising from off-balance-sheet 
structured vehicles, a development that has been demanded for 
some time by capital market players� This standard will have an 
impact on the disclosures in the notes to the financial statements 
for the Baloise Group�

iFrs 13 Fair Value measurement
As a result of IFRS 13, existing guidance for measuring fair 
value in individual IFRSs currently in force will be superseded 
by a single standard� IFRS 13 does not introduce any  additional 
fair value measurements, nor does it replace any of the existing 
provisions laid down in other standards� The Baloise Group is 
currently implementing the standard but does not expect it to 
have a material impact on the balance sheet or income statement� 
However, the standard will have an impact on disclosure�

ias 27 (2011) separate financial statements
The provisions governing separate financial statements remain 
part of the amended IAS 27� The other elements of IAS 27 (con-
solidated financial statements) are superseded by IFRS 10�

ias 28 (2011) investments in associates and Joint Ventures
IAS 28 is concerned with investments in associates and now, 
additionally, joint ventures� The objective of IAS 28 is to prescribe 
the accounting for investments in associates and to set out the 
requirements for the application of the equity method when 
accounting for investments in associates and joint ventures�

ias 19 employee Benefits
The most significant change in IAS 19 is that unexpected future 
fluctuations in pension obligations and in plan assets  (actuarial 
gains and losses) must be recognised directly in OCI� The cur-
rent options, allowing entities to choose between immediate 
recognition in profit or loss, in OCI or delayed recognition  using 
the corridor method, have been withdrawn� As at 1 January 
2012, the Baloise Group’s actuarial losses (after tax and policy-
holders’ shares) amounted to CHF 93�4 million, which will  result 
in a corresponding decrease in equity� More comprehensive 
disclosures are also required� 

ias 32 / iFrs 7 offsetting financial assets and  

financial liabilities
This amendment relates to a situation in which two entities each 
owe money to the other� In this case, both entities are required 
to present their rights and obligations in respect of each other 
as a net amount on the face of their respective balance sheets, 
provided that a range of strict conditions primarily focusing on 
the absolute enforceability of contractual rights are all satisfied� 
If a net amount is presented, disclosure obligations related to 
the rights associated with the transaction and any other pos-
sible associated arrangements must be satisfied� This change 
will have no material impact on the Baloise Group’s balance 
sheet or income statement�

iFrs 9 Financial instruments
IFRS 9 introduces new requirements for the classification and 
measurement of financial instruments� Classification of debt 
instruments at amortised cost is based on the entity’s business 
model  and  on  the  contractual  cash  flow  characteristics  of  
the financial assets concerned� If the criteria in respect of the 
business model and cash flow characteristics are not met, debt 
instruments are measured at fair value through profit or loss� 
As regards structured products with embedded derivatives, the 
standard now only provides for separate recognition of non-
financial host contracts� Structured products with financial host 
contracts must be classified and measured as combined instru-
ments� It has not yet been possible to analyse the impact on the 
balance sheet and income statement of the Baloise Group because 
of the various revisions and new versions of the standard pub-
lished by the IASB�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   96

19�03�2013   13:44:41

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

97

3. CoNsolidatioN PriNCiPles aNd aCCouNtiNG PoliCies

3.1 method of consolidation

3.1.1 subsidiaries
The consolidated annual financial statements comprise the 
 financial statements of Bâloise Holding and its subsidiaries, 
including any special-purpose entities (SPEs)� A subsidiary is 
consolidated if the Baloise Group controls it either directly or 
indirectly� This is generally the case if the Baloise Group holds 
more than 50 per cent of the voting rights in the company con-
cerned� Potential voting rights are also considered when deter-
mining whether the Baloise Group controls the subsidiary� 

Companies acquired during the reporting period are 
 included in the consolidated annual financial statements from 
the date on which control is effectively assumed, while all com-
panies sold remain consolidated until the date on which control 
is  ceded�  Acquisitions  of  entities  are  accounted  for  under  
the acquisition method (previously known as the “purchase 
method”)� Transaction costs are charged to the income state-
ment as an expense� The identifiable assets and liabilities of the 
entity concerned are measured at fair value as at the date of 
first-time consolidation� Non-controlling interests arising from 
business combinations are measured either at their fair value 
or according to their share of the acquiree’s identifiable net  assets� 
The Baloise Group decides which measurement method to  apply 
to each individual business combination�

The acquisition cost corresponds to the fair value of the 
consideration paid to the previous owners on the date of the 
acquisition� If investments in the form of financial instruments 
or associates were already held before control was acquired, 
these investments are remeasured and any difference is recog-
nised in profit or loss� Any contingent consideration recognised 
as part of the consideration paid for the acquiree is measured 
at fair value on the transaction date� Any subsequent changes 
in the fair value of a contingent consideration are recognised 
in the income statement� If the acquisition cost exceeds the fair 
value of assets and liabilities plus non-controlling interests, the 
difference is recognised as goodwill� Conversely, if the identified 
net  assets  exceed  the  acquisition  cost  then  the  difference  is 
 recognised directly through profit or loss as other operating 
income�

All intercompany transactions and the resultant gains 

and losses are eliminated�

The consolidation of subsidiaries ends on the date on which 
control is ceded� If only some of the shares in a subsidiary are 
sold, the retained interest is measured at fair value on the date 
that control is lost� Gains or losses on the disposal of (some of) 
the subsidiary’s shares are recognised in the income statement 
as either other operating income or other operating expenses�
The acquisition of additional investments in subsidiaries 
after assuming control and the disposal of investments in sub-
sidiaries without ceding control are both recognised directly 
in equity as transactions with owners�

3.1.2 special-purpose entities (sPes)
Although special-purpose entities are consolidated, their inclu-
sion in the consolidated financial statements is governed by the 
provisions of SIC 12� 

3.1.3 Joint ventures
Joint ventures are entities that are jointly controlled by two or 
more partners under a contractual agreement� These entities 
are consolidated on a pro-rata basis, which means that the  Baloise 
Group recognises its share of the entity’s assets, liabilities, income 
and expenses� The Baloise Group is not involved in any joint 
ventures at present�

3.1.4 associates
Associates are initially carried at cost (fair value at the date of 
acquisition)  and  thereafter  are  measured  under  the  equity 
method (Baloise Group’s share of the entity’s profit or loss for 
the period and its other comprehensive income) in cases where 
the Baloise Group can exert a significant influence over the 
management of the entity concerned� Changes in the fair value 
of associates are generally recognised in profit or loss and take 
account of any dividend flows� If the Baloise Group’s share of 
the losses exceeds the value of the associate, no further losses 
are recognised� Goodwill paid for associates is included in the 
carrying amount of the investment�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   97

19�03�2013   13:44:41

98

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

3.2  Currency translation

3.2.4 Key exchange rates

3.2.1 Functional currency and reporting currency
Each subsidiary prepares its annual financial statements in its 
functional currency, which is the currency of its primary eco-
nomic environment� The consolidated Financial Report is pre-
sented in millions of Swiss francs (CHF), which is the Baloise 
Group’s reporting currency�

CurreNCY

CHF

1 EUR (euro)

1 USD (US dollar)

Balance sheet

income statement

2011

2012

2011

2012

1.21 

0.94 

1.21 

0.92 

1.23 

0.89 

1.21 

0.94 

3.2.2 translation of transaction currency into  

functional currency at Group companies
Income  and  expenses  denominated  in  foreign  currency  are 
translated either at the exchange rate prevailing on the trans-
action date or at the average exchange rate� Monetary and non-
monetary balance sheet items measured at fair value and  arising 
from foreign-currency transactions conducted by Group com-
panies are translated at the closing rate� Non-monetary items 
measured at historical cost are translated at the historical rate� 
Any resultant exchange differences are recognised in profit or 
loss� This does not include exchange differences that form part 
of cash flow hedges and are recognised directly in hedging  reserves 
or are used as hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation� 
Exchange differences arising on non-monetary financial 
instruments recognised at fair value through profit or loss are 
reported  as  realised  gains  or  losses  on  these  instruments�  
Exchange differences on available-for-sale non-monetary finan-
cial instruments are recognised directly in equity as unrealised 
gains or losses�

3.2.3 translation of functional currency into reporting currency
The annual financial statements of all entities that have not been 
prepared in Swiss francs are translated as follows when the 
 consolidated financial statements are being prepared: 
 → assets and liabilities at the closing rate
 → income and expenses at the average rate for the year�
The resultant exchange differences are aggregated and recognised 
directly in equity� When foreign subsidiaries are sold, the  exchange 
differences arising on the disposal are recognised in the income 
statement as a transaction gain or loss�

100 HRK (Croatian kuna)

16.14 

15.99 

16.58 

16.02 

3.3 Property, plant and equipment
Items of property, plant and equipment are measured at cost 
less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment 
losses� The acquisition cost of property plant and equipment 
includes all directly attributable costs� Subsequent acquisition 
costs are only capitalised if future economic benefits associated 
with the property, plant and equipment will flow to the entity 
concerned and these costs can be measured reliably� All other 
repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred�

All financing for property, plant and equipment is gener-
ally obtained from the Baloise Group’s own financial resources� 
If funding from external sources is required, interest accrued 
during the assets’ development is capitalised as incurred�

Land is not depreciated� Other items of property, plant 
and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the 
following estimated useful lives:
 → Owner-occupied buildings: 25 to 50 years
 → Office furniture, equipment, fixtures and fittings:  

5 to 10 years

 → Computer hardware: 3 to 5 years�
At each balance sheet date the Baloise Group tests all items of 
property, plant and equipment for impairment and reviews the 
suitability of their useful lives� 

An impairment loss is immediately recognised on items 
of property, plant and equipment if their recoverable amount 
is lower than their carrying amount�

Gains or losses on the sale of property, plant and equip-
ment are immediately taken to the income statement as either 
other operating income or other operating expenses�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   98

19�03�2013   13:44:42

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

99

3.4 leasing

3.4.1 the Baloise Group as a lessee
Finance leases: leases on real estate, office furniture, equipment, 
fixtures, fittings and other tangible assets are classified and 
treated as finance leases if they transfer to the Baloise Group 
substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership� 
The fair value of the leased property or, if lower, the present 
value of the lease payments is recognised as an asset at the 
 inception  of  the  lease�  All  lease  payments  are  apportioned  
between the finance charge and the reduction of the outstand-
ing liability� The finance charge is allocated so as to produce a 
constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of 
the liability; this is reported on the Baloise Group’s balance 
sheet as liabilities arising from banking business and financial 
contracts� Assets held under finance leases are fully depreci-
ated over the shorter of the lease term and their useful life�

Operating leases: all other leases are classified as operat-
ing leases� Lease payments under operating leases are expensed 
in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term 
of the lease�

3.4.2 the Baloise Group as a lessor
Investment real estate let on operating leases is reported as 
invest ment property on the face of the consolidated balance 
sheet� The Baloise Group was not involved as lessor in any  other 
leases during the reporting period�

3.5 intangible assets 

3.5.1 Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of an acquiree’s acquisition cost 
over the fair value of its assets and liabilities plus the acquisition-
date amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree 
and the acquisition-date fair value of the acquirer’s previously 
held equity interest in the acquiree� Goodwill is reported as an 
intangible asset� Goodwill is tested for impairment in the second 
half of each year� An impairment test may also be conducted in 
the first half of the year if there are objective indications that 
goodwill may be permanently impaired� When a new investment 
is acquired, the date for conducting future impairment tests is 
fixed and these tests are subsequently carried out at the same 
time each year� When entities are sold, their share of goodwill 
is recognised in their profit or loss� Goodwill is allocated to 
cash-generating units (CGUs) for the purposes of impairment 
testing�

3.5.2 Present value of future profits (PVFP) on  

insurance contracts acquired
The present value of future profits on insurance contracts  acquired 
arises from the purchase of life insurance companies or life 
insurance portfolios� It is initially measured in accordance with 
actuarial principles and is amortised on a straight-line basis� It 
is regularly tested for impairment as part of a liability  adequacy 
test (see section 3�18�2 for further details)�

3.5.3 deferred acquisition costs (daCs)
Costs directly incurred by the conclusion of insurance contracts 
or financial contracts with discretionary participation features 
(DPFs) – such as commissions – are capitalised and amortised 
over the term of these contracts or, if shorter, over the premium 
payment  period�  Deferred  acquisition  costs  are  tested  for 
 impairment at each balance sheet date (see section 3�18�3 for 
further details)�

3.5.4 Capitalised investment fees
Acquisition costs directly attributable to the generation of asset 
management investment returns are recognised as intangible 
assets provided that they can be individually identified and 
 reliably determined and they are likely to be recoverable� They 
are amortised through profit or loss over the term of the under-
lying financial contract in proportion to the returns generated 
and are tested annually for impairment�

3.5.5 other intangible assets and internally developed assets 
Other intangible assets essentially comprise software, external 
IT consulting (in connection with software that has been devel-
oped), internally developed assets (such as software) and assets 
identified during the acquisition of entities (such as brands and 
customer relationships)� These assets are recognised at cost and 
are amortised on a straight-line basis over their useful lives� 
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortised 
and are carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses�

All financing for intangible assets is generally obtained 
from the Baloise Group’s own financial resources� If funding 
from external sources is required, interest accrued during the 
assets’ development is capitalised as incurred�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   99

19�03�2013   13:44:42

100

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

3.6 investment property
Investment property comprises land and / or buildings held to 
earn rental income or for capital appreciation (or both)� If mixed-
use properties cannot be broken down into owner-occupied 
property and property used by third parties, the entire prop-
erty is classified according to the purpose for which most of its 
floor space is used�

Investment property is measured at fair value under the 
discounted cash flow (DCF) method� This fair value is determined 
internally each year by experts using market-based assumptions� 
Fair values are mainly derived from future cash flows (net cash 
flows from rental income, maintenance costs and administrative 
expenses) and mathematical models from similar transactions� 
The majority of the real-estate portfolio directly held by the 
Baloise Group is located in Switzerland� The discount rate used 
here for calculations under the DCF method is determined on 
a hedonic basis� Expected property vacancy trends are also 
 factored into these calculations� External appraisal reports are 
obtained at regular intervals� External expert appraisals are 
therefore used to review roughly 10 per cent of the fair value of 
this real-estate portfolio every year� Changes in fair value are 
immediately taken to income as realised accounting gains or 
losses in the period in which they occur�

If, owing to a change of use, an investment property held 
by  the  Baloise  Group  becomes  the  latter’s  owner-occupied  
property, it is reclassified as property, plant and equipment� Any 
such reclassification is based on the property’s fair value at the 
reclassification date�

If one of the Baloise Group’s owner-occupied properties 
becomes an investment property owing to a change of use, then, 
on the date this change takes effect, the difference between the 
property’s carrying amount and its fair value is recognised in 
profit or loss in the event of an impairment; or, if the property’s 
fair value exceeds its carrying amount, then the difference is 
recognised directly in equity as an unrealised gain� If an invest-
ment property that was reclassified in a previous period is sold, 
the amount recognised directly in equity is reclassified to retained 
earnings�

3.7 Financial assets
The term “investments” (Kapitalanlagen in German) is used in 
some places and headings in the Financial Report for clarity’s 
sake� The IFRSs themselves do not define the term “invest ments” 
(or Kapitalanlagen)� The term “investments” as used in the 
 Financial Report covers financial assets, mortgages and loans, 
derivative financial instruments, cash and cash equivalents, and 
investment property�

The asset classes covered by the term financial assets of 
an equity nature are equities; share certificates; units held in 
equity, bond and real-estate funds; and alternative financial 
assets such as private equity investments and hedge funds� 
 Financial assets of an equity nature are generally more fre-
quently exposed to price volatility than financial assets of a debt 
nature are� 

The term financial assets of a debt nature covers securities 
such as bonds and other fixed-income securities� They are usu-
ally interest bearing and are issued for a fixed or determinable 
amount�

The  Baloise  Group  classifies  its  financial  assets  of  an  
equity nature and its financial assets of a debt nature as either 
“recognised at fair value through profit or loss”, “held to matu-
rity” or “available for sale�” The classification of the financial 
assets concerned is determined by the purpose for which they 
have been acquired� 

Mortgages and loans are generally carried at cost� In pur-
suing its strategy of using natural hedges, however, the Baloise 
Group applies the fair value option to designate parts of its 
portfolio as “recognised at fair value through profit or loss�” 
Appropriately designated derivative financial instruments are 
used to hedge these parts of the portfolio�

3.7.1 Financial assets recognised at fair value through  

profit or loss 
This category consists of two sub-categories: held-for-trading 
financial assets (trading portfolio) and financial assets that are 
designated to this category� Financial instruments are classified 
in this category if they have principally been acquired with the 
intention of selling them in the short term, or if they form part 
of a portfolio for which there have recently been indications 
that a gain could be realised in the short term, or if they have 
been designated to this category� Derivative financial instru-
ments are classified as “held for trading” (trading portfolio) 
with the exception of derivatives that have been designated for 
hedge accounting purposes� Also designated to this category 

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   100

19�03�2013   13:44:42

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

101

The securities provided as cover for repos, reverse repos and 
securities lending transactions are measured daily at their  current 
fair value.

Available-for-sale financial assets and financial assets 
recognised at fair value through profit or loss are measured at 
fair value. Held-to-maturity financial assets are measured at 
amortised cost using the effective interest method. Realised and 
unrealised gains and losses on financial assets recognised at 
fair value through profit or loss are taken to income. Unrealised 
gains and losses on available-for-sale financial assets are recog-
nised directly in equity. If available-for-sale financial assets are 
sold or impaired, the cumulative amount recognised directly 
in equity is recognised in the income statement as a realised 
gain or loss on financial assets. Changes in the fair value of 
 financial assets’ risks that are covered by fair value hedges are 
recognised in the income statement for the duration of these 
hedges irrespective of the financial assets’ classification.

The fair value of listed financial assets is based on market 
prices. If no such prices are available, fair value is estimated 
using generally accepted methods (such as the present-value 
method), independent assessments based on comparisons with 
the market prices of similar instruments, or the prevailing  
market situation. 

Derivative financial instruments are measured using  models 

or on the basis of quoted market prices.

If no market prices are available for private equity invest-
ments, various methods are used to estimate their fair value. 
These include analysis of discounted cash flows and reference 
to similar, fairly recent arm’s-length transactions between knowl-
edgeable, willing parties.

If the fair value of hedge funds cannot be determined on 
the basis of publicly quoted prices then prices quoted by inde-
pendent third parties are used for measurement purposes.

If such estimates do not enable financial assets to be reli-
ably measured, the assets are recognised at cost and disclosed 
accordingly.

are structured products, i. e. equity instruments and debt instru-
ments which, in addition to the host contract, contain embed-
ded derivatives that are not bifurcated and measured  separately. 
Financial assets held under investment-linked life insurance 
contracts are also designated as “recognised at fair value through 
profit or loss.”

3.7.2 Held-to-maturity financial assets 
Held-to-maturity financial assets are non-derivative financial 
instruments involving fixed or determinable payments.  However, 
they do not include mortgages, loans (section 3.8) or receivables 
(section 3.9) that the Baloise Group can – and intends to – hold 
until maturity. 

3.7.3 Available-for-sale financial assets 
Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivative financial 
instruments that have been classified as “available for sale” or 
have not been designated to any of the above-mentioned catego-
ries and are not classified as mortgages, loans or receivables.

Alternative financial assets – such as private equity invest-
ments and hedge funds – are mainly classified as “available for 
sale.”

3.7.4 Recognition, measurement and derecognition
All customary purchases of financial assets are recognised on 
the trade date. Financial assets are initially measured at fair 
value. Transaction costs form part of the acquisition cost (with 
the exception of financial assets recognised at fair value through 
profit or loss).

Financial assets are derecognised if the rights pertaining 
to the cash flows from the financial instrument have expired or 
if the financial instrument has been sold and substantially all 
the associated risks and rewards have been transferred. Cash 
outflows from reverse repurchase (repo) transactions are offset 
by corresponding receivables. The financial assets received as 
collateral security from the transaction are not recognised. The 
relevant transaction is recognised on the balance sheet on the 
settlement date. The financial assets transferred as collateral 
security under repurchase agreements continue to be recognised 
as financial assets. The pertinent cash flows are offset by corre-
sponding liabilities. In its stocklending operations the Baloise 
Group only engages in securities lending. The borrowed finan-
cial instruments continue to be recognised as financial assets. 

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en.indd   101

21.03.2013   15:57:50

102

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

3.8 Mortgages and loans
Mortgages and loans (including policy loans) are non-derivative 
financial instruments involving fixed or determinable payments 
that are not listed in an active market. Mortgages and loans 
classified as “carried at cost” are measured at amortised cost 
using the effective interest method. They are regularly tested 
for impairment.

Mortgages and loans held as part of fair value hedges (hedge 
accounting) are designated as “at fair value through profit or 
loss.” Yield curves are used to measure these portfolios.

3.9 Receivables
Receivables  from  financial  contracts  include  life  settlement 
agreements (secondary market policies) measured at fair value. 
The income-approach method is used for measurement pur-
poses. The measurement of receivables under this method includes 
the guaranteed benefits payable when policies mature, future 
and already disbursed policyholders’ dividends, final policy-
holders’ dividends, and risk-adjusted discount rates. Changes 
recognised in profit or loss are reported as gains or losses on 
financial contracts.

All other receivables are recognised at amortised cost less 
any impairment losses recognised for non-performing receiv-
ables. Amortised cost is usually the same as the nominal amount 
of the receivables.

3.10 Permanent impairment

3.10.1 Assets measured under the amortised-cost method 

(mortgages, loans, receivables and held-to-maturity  

financial assets) 
The Baloise Group determines at each balance sheet date  whether 
there is any objective evidence that a financial asset or a group 
of financial assets may be permanently impaired. A financial 
asset or a group of financial assets is only impaired if, as a result 
of one or more events, there is objective evidence of impairment 
that has an impact on the expected future cash flows from the 
financial asset that can be reliably estimated. Objective evidence 
of a financial asset’s impairment includes observable data on 
the following cases: 

 → Serious financial difficulties on the part of the borrower
 → Breaches of contract, such as a borrower in default or 
arrears with the payment of principal and / or interest
 → Greater probability that the borrower will file for bank-
ruptcy or undergo some other form of restructuring

 → Observable data that indicates a measurable reduction in 
the expected future cash flows from a group of financial 
assets since their initial recognition.

Analysts’ reports from banks and evaluations by credit 
rating agencies are also used to assess the need for impairment 
losses. 

If there is objective evidence that loans and receivables or 
held-to-maturity financial assets may be permanently impaired, 
the impairment loss represents the difference between the asset’s 
carrying amount and the present value of future cash flows, 
which are discounted using the financial asset’s relevant effec-
tive interest rate. If the amount of the impairment loss  decreases 
in a subsequent reporting period and if this decrease can be 
attributed to an event that has objectively occurred since the 
impairment was recognised, the previously recognised impair-
ment loss is reversed.

The mortgage portfolio is regularly tested for impairment. 
If there is objective evidence that the full amount owed under 
the original contractual terms and conditions or the relevant 
proceeds of a receivable cannot be recovered, an impairment 
loss is recognised. Loan exposures are individually evaluated 
based on the nature of the borrower concerned, its financial 
position, its credit history, the existence of any guarantors  
and, where appropriate, the realisable value of any collateral 
security.

3.10.2 Financial assets measured at fair value 
The Baloise Group determines at each balance sheet date  whether 
there is any objective evidence that available-for-sale financial 
assets may be permanently impaired. This category includes 
financial assets of an equity nature. An impairment loss must 
be recognised on financial assets of an equity nature whose fair 
value at the balance sheet date is more than 50 per cent below 
their acquisition cost or whose fair value is consistently below 
their acquisition cost throughout the twelve-month period pre-
ceding the balance sheet date. The need for an impairment loss 

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en.indd   102

21.03.2013   15:57:51

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

103

is examined and, where necessary, such a loss is recognised on 
securities whose fair value at the balance sheet date is between 
20 per cent and 50 per cent below their acquisition cost� 

If an impairment loss is recognised, the cumulative net loss 
recognised directly in equity is taken to the income statement�
Impairment losses on available-for-sale financial assets 
of an equity nature that have been recognised in profit or loss 
cannot be reversed and taken to income� Any further reduction 
in the fair value of financial assets of an equity nature on which 
impairment losses were recognised in previous periods must 
be charged directly to the income statement� 

An impairment loss is recognised on available-for-sale 
financial assets of a debt nature if their fair value is signifi-
cantly impaired by default risk�

If the fair value of an available-for-sale financial asset of 
a debt nature rises in a subsequent reporting period and this 
increase can be objectively attributed to an event that has  occurred 
since an impairment loss was recognised in profit or loss, the 
impairment loss is reversed and taken to income� 

3.10.3 impairment losses on non-financial assets
Goodwill and any assets with indefinite useful lives are tested 
for impairment at the same time each year or whenever there 
is objective evidence of impairment� Goodwill is allocated to 
cash-generating units (CGUs) for the purposes of impairment 
testing� Insurance companies that sell both life and non-life 
products (so-called composite insurers) test goodwill for impair-
ment at this level� When impairment tests are performed, a 
CGU’s value in use is determined on the basis of the maximum 
discounted future cash flows (usually dividends) that could 
 potentially be returned to the parent company� This process 
takes appropriate account of legal requirements and internally 
specified capital adequacy limits� The long-term financial plan-
ning approved by management forms the basis for this calcu-
lation of the value in use� Permanent impairment losses are 
recognised in the income statement as other operating  expenses� 
All other non-financial assets are tested for impairment when-
ever there is objective evidence of such impairment�

Impairment  losses  recognised  in  previous  reporting 
 periods on assets with finite useful lives are reversed if the 
estimates  used  to  determine  the  recoverable  amount  have 
changed since the most recent impairment loss was recognised� 

This  increase  constitutes  a  reversal  of  impairment  losses� 
 Impairment losses recognised in previous reporting periods 
on goodwill are not reversed� Impairment losses recognised 
in previous reporting periods on assets with indefinite useful 
lives are reversed and taken to income; however, the amount 
to which they are reversed must be no more than the amount 
recognised prior to the impairment losses less depreciation or 
amortisation� 

3.11 derivative financial instruments
Derivative financial instruments include swaps, futures, forward 
contracts and options whose value is primarily derived from 
the underlying interest rates, exchange rates, commodity pric-
es or share prices� The acquisition cost of derivatives is usually 
either very low or non-existent� These instruments are carried 
at fair value on the balance sheet� At the time they are purchased 
they are classified as either fair value hedges, cash flow hedges, 
hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation, or trading 
instruments� Derivative financial instruments that do not  qualify 
as hedges under IFRS criteria despite performing a hedging 
function as part of the Baloise Group’s risk management pro-
cedures are treated as trading instruments�

The Baloise Group’s hedge accounting system documents 
the effectiveness of hedges as well as the objectives and strategies 
pursued  with  each  hedge�  Hedge  effectiveness  is  constantly 
monitored from the time the pertinent derivative financial 
 instruments are purchased� Derivatives that no longer qualify 
as hedges are reclassified as trading instruments� 

3.11.1 structured products
Structured products are equity instruments or debt instruments 
that contain embedded derivatives in addition to the host con-
tract� Provided that the economic characteristics and risks of 
the embedded derivative differ from those of the host contract 
and that this derivative qualifies as a derivative financial instru-
ment, the embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host con-
tract and is separately recognised, measured and disclosed� If 
the  derivative  and  the  host  contract  are  not  bifurcated,  the 
structured product is designated as a host contract that is rec-
ognised at fair value through profit or loss�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   103

19�03�2013   13:44:42

 
104

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

3.11.2 Fair value hedges
When the effective portion of hedges is being accounted for, 
changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments 
classified as fair value hedges – plus the hedged portion of the 
fair value of the asset or liability concerned – are reported in 
the  income  statement�  The  ineffective  portion  of  hedges  is 
 recognised separately in profit or loss�

3.11.3 Cash flow hedges
When the effective portion of hedges is being accounted for, 
changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments 
classified as cash flow hedges are recognised directly in equity� 
The amounts reported in equity as “unrealised gains and  losses 
(net)” are taken to the income statement at a later date in line 
with the hedged cash flows� The ineffective portion of hedges is 
recognised in profit or loss�

If a hedging instrument is sold, terminated or exercised 
or it no longer qualifies as a hedge, the cumulative gains and 
losses continue to be recognised directly in equity until the 
forecasted transaction materialises� If the forecasted transaction 
is no longer expected to materialise, the cumulative gains and 
losses recognised in equity are taken to income� 

3.11.4 hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation 
Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation are treated as 
cash flow hedges� When the effective portion of hedges is being 
accounted for, gains or losses on hedging instruments are rec-
ognised directly in equity� The ineffective portion of hedges is 
recognised in profit or loss� 

If the foreign operation – or part thereof – is sold, the  
gain or loss recognised directly in equity is taken to the income 
statement� 

3.12 Netting of receivables and liabilities
Receivables and liabilities are offset against each other and shown 
as a net figure on the balance sheet provided that an offsetting 
option is available and the Baloise Group intends to realise these 
assets and liabilities simultaneously�

3.13 Non-current assets held for sale and  

discontinued operations 
Non-current assets (or disposal groups) held for sale that meet 
the criteria stipulated in IFRS 5 “Non-current Assets Held for 
Sale and Discontinued Operations” are shown separately on the 
balance sheet� Those assets described in the standard are meas-
ured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less 
costs to sell� Any resultant impairment losses are taken to income� 
Any depreciation or amortisation is discontinued from the 
 reclassification date�

Details of discontinued operations – where available – are 

disclosed in the notes to the Financial Report�

3.14 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents essentially consist of cash, demand 
deposits,  and  cash  equivalents�  Cash  equivalents  are  pre- 
dominantly  short-term  liquid  investments  with  maturity  
periods of no more than 24 hours and cheques that have yet to 
be cashed�

3.15 equity
Equity instruments are classified as equity unless the Baloise 
Group is contractually obliged to repay them or to cede other 
financial assets� Transaction costs relating to equity transactions 
are deducted and all associated income tax assets are recognised 
as deductions from equity� 

3.11.5 derivative financial instruments that do not qualify  

as hedges
Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments 
that do not qualify as hedges are recognised in the income state-
ment as “realised gains and losses on investments�”

3.15.1 share capital
The share capital shown on the balance sheet represents the 
subscribed share capital of Bâloise Holding, Basel� This share 
capital consists solely of registered shares� No shares carry 
 preferential voting rights�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   104

19�03�2013   13:44:43

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

105

3.15.2 Capital reserves
Capital reserves include the paid-up share capital in excess of 
par value (share premium), Bâloise Holding share options, gains 
and losses on the purchase and sale of treasury shares, and 
embedded options in Bâloise Holding convertible bonds�

3.15.6 minority interests
Minority interests constitute the proportion of Group com panies’ 
equity attributable to third parties outside the Baloise Group 
on the basis of their respective shareholdings�

3.15.3 treasury shares
Treasury shares held either by Bâloise Holding or by subsidi- 
aries are shown in the consolidated financial statements at their 
acquisition cost (including transaction costs) as a deduction 
from equity� Their carrying amount is not constantly restated 
to reflect their fair value� If the shares are resold, the difference 
between their acquisition cost and their sale price is recognised 
as a change in the capital reserves� Only Bâloise Holding shares 
are classified as treasury shares�

3.15.4 unrealised gains and losses (net)
This item includes changes in the fair value of available-for-sale 
financial instruments, the net effect of cash flow hedges, the  
net effect of hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation, 
exchange  differences,  and  gains  on  the  reclassification  of  
the Baloise Group’s owner-occupied property as investment  
property�

Deductions from these unrealised gains and losses include 
the pertinent deferred taxes and, in the case of life insurance 
companies, also the funds that will be used in future to amor-
tise acquisition costs and to finance policyholders’ dividends 
(shadow accounting)�

Any minority interests are also deducted from these items� 

3.15.5 retained earnings
Retained earnings include the Baloise Group’s undistributed 
earnings and its profit for the period� Dividends paid to the 
shareholders of Bâloise Holding are only recognised once they 
have been approved by the Annual General Meeting�

3.16 insurance contracts
An insurance contract is defined as a contract under which one 
party (the insurer) accepts a significant insurance risk from 
another party (the policyholder) to pay compensation should a 
specified contingent future event (the insured event) adversely 
affect the policyholder� An insurance risk is any directly insured 
or reinsured risk that is not a financial risk� 

The significance of insurance risk is assessed according 
to the amount of additional benefits to be paid by the insurer if 
the insured event occurs� 

Contracts that pose no significant insurance risk are finan-
cial contracts� Such financial contracts may include a discre-
tionary participation feature (DPF), which determines the 
 accounting policies to be applied�

The effective interest method is generally used to calculate 
receivables and liabilities arising from financial contracts� The 
effective interest rate is determined as the internal rate of return 
based on the estimated amounts and timing of the expected 
payments� If the amounts or timing of the actual payments  differ 
from those expected or if expectations change, the effective 
interest rate must be re-determined� The deposit account balance 
is then remeasured as if this new effective interest rate had  applied 
from the outset, and the change in the value of the deposit  account 
is recognised as interest income or interest expense� Otherwise, 
the insurance cover financed from the deposit account is  amortised 
over the expected term of the deposit account�

The Baloise Group considers an insurance risk to be signi-
ficant if, during the term of the contract and under a plausible 
scenario, the payment triggered by the occurrence of the insured 
event is 5 per cent higher than the contractual benefits payable 
if the insured event does not occur� 

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   105

19�03�2013   13:44:43

106

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

A discretionary participation feature (DPF) exists if the policy-
holder is contractually or legally entitled to receive  benefits over 
and above the benefits guaranteed and if 
 → the benefits received are likely to account for a significant 
proportion of the total benefits payable under the contract

 → if the timing or amount of the benefits payable is con- 

tractually at the discretion of the insurer, and the benefits 
received are contractually contingent on the performance 
of either a specified portfolio of contracts or a specified 
type of contract, on the realised and / or unrealised capital 
gains on a specified portfolio of investments held by the 
insurer, or on the profit or loss reported by the insurer�

Captive insurance policies are derecognised from the 
 annual financial statements� This also applies to contracts  involving 
proprietary pension plans, provided that the employees covered 
by these plans work for the Baloise Group�

In addition, IFRS 4 makes exceptions for the treatment 
of embedded derivatives that form part of insurance contracts 
or financial contracts with discretionary participation features� 
If such embedded derivatives themselves qualify as insurance 
contracts, they do not have to be either separately measured or 
disclosed� In the case of the Baloise Group this affects, among 
other things, certain guarantees provided for annuity con version 
rates and further special exceptions such as specific guaranteed 
cash surrender values for traditional policies�

3.17 Non-life insurance contracts
All standardised non-life products contain sufficient insurance 
risk to be classified as insurance contracts under IFRS 4� The 
non-life business conducted by the Baloise Group is broken 
down into seven main segments:
 → Accident 

All standard product lines typical of each relevant market 
are available in the accident insurance business� The 
Belgian market and Switzerland in particular also offer 
specific government-regulated occupational accident 
products that differ from the other products usually 
available�

 → Health  

The Baloise Group writes health insurance business in 
Switzerland and Belgium only� The benefits paid by the 
products in this segment cover the usual cost of treatment 
and also include a daily sickness allowance; they are 
available to individuals as well as small and medium-sized 
businesses in the form of so-called ‘group’ insurance�

 → General liability 

In addition to conventional personal liability insurance 
the Baloise Group also sells third-party indemnity policies 
for certain professions� In Switzerland and Germany it 
offers policies – especially combined products – for small 
and medium-sized enterprises and for industrial partners 
that include features such as product liability�

 → Motor 

The two standardised products common in the market – 
comprehensive and third-party liability insurance – are 
sold in this segment� In some countries there are also 
products that have been specially designed for collabo-
rations with motoring organisations and individual 
automotive companies�

 → Fire and other property insurance 

In addition to conventional home contents insurance this 
segment offers an extensive range of property policies that 
include fire insurance, buildings insurance and water 
damage insurance in all the varieties commonly available� 

 → Marine 

Marine insurance is mainly sold in Switzerland and 
Germany� These products may include a third-party 
liability component in addition to the usual cargo  
insurance�
 → Miscellaneous 

This category generally comprises small segments such as 
credit protection insurance and legal expenses insurance� 
Provided that financial guarantees qualify as insurance 
contracts, they are treated as credit protection insurance 
policies� 

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   106

19�03�2013   13:44:43

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

107

3.17.1 Premiums
The gross premiums written are the premiums that have fallen 
due  during  the  reporting  period�  They  include  the  amount 
needed to cover the insurance risk plus all surcharges� Premium 
contributions that are attributable to future reporting periods 
are deferred by contract and – together with any provisions for 
premium shortfalls during the reporting period (impending 
losses), health insurance reserves for old age, and any deferred 
unearned premiums – constitute the unearned premium reserves 
shown on the balance sheet� Owing to the specific nature of 
marine insurance, premiums are deferred not by contract but 
on the basis of estimates� Premiums that are actually attribut-
able to the reporting period are recognised as premiums earned� 
Their calculation is based on the premiums written and the 
change in unearned premium reserves�

3.17.2 Claims reserves
At the end of each financial year the Baloise Group attaches 
great importance to setting aside sufficient reserves for all claims 
that have occurred by this date� 

In addition to the reserves that it recognises in respect of 
the payments to be made for claims that have occurred, it also 
sets aside reserves to cover the costs incurred during the claims 
settlement process� In order to calculate these reserves as real-
istically as possible, the Baloise Group uses the claims history 
of  recent  years,  generally  accepted  mathematical-statistical 
methods and all the information available to it at the time – 
especially knowledge about the expertise of those entrusted 
with the handling of claims� 

The total claims reserve consists of three components� 
Reserves calculated using actuarial methods form the basis of 
the total claims reserve� The second component comprises  reserves 
for those complex special cases and events that do not lend 
themselves to purely statistical evaluation� These are generally 
rare claims that are fairly atypical of the sector concerned – 
usually sizeable claims whose costs have to be estimated by 
experts on a case-by-case basis� Neither of these components is 
subject to discounting� The third component consists of reserves 
for annuities that are discounted using basic actuarial principles 
such as mortality and the technical interest rate and are  largely 
derived from claims in the motor, liability and accident insur-
ance businesses�

Actuarial methods are used to calculate by far the largest pro-
portion of claims reserves� To this end, the Baloise Group selects 
actuarial forecasting methods that are appropriate for each  sector, 
insurance product and existing claims history�  Additional mar-
ket data and assumptions obtained from insurance rates are 
used if the claims history available on a custo mer is inadequate� 
The Baloise Group mainly applies the chain-ladder method, 
which is the most widely used, tried-and-tested procedure� This 
method involves estimating the number and amounts of claims 
incurred over time and the proportion of claims that are  reported 
to the insurer either with a time lag or after the balance sheet 
date� The proportion of these so-called incurred-but-not- reported 
(IBNR) claims is exceptionally  important, especially in operat-
ing segments involving third-party liability insurance� These 
estimates naturally factor in emerging claims trends as well as 
recoveries� The mean ratio of costs incurred to claims actually 
paid is essentially used to  calculate provisions for claims han-
dling costs�

The forecasting methods used cannot eliminate all the 
uncertainties inherent in making predictions about future 
 developments and trends� Nonetheless, systematic monitoring 
of the provisions recognised in a given financial year enables 
the Baloise Group to spot discrepancies as soon as possible and, 
consequently, to adjust the level of provisions and modify the 
forecasting method where necessary� This analysis is based on 
the so-called “run-off triangles” presented in aggregated form 
in section 5�4�5� The relevant calculations for typical property 
policies such as storm & tempest insurance or home contents 
insurance are usually based on the payments made over the past 
ten years� Larger amounts of data and, consequently, claims 
triangles that go further back in time and are based on both 
payments and expenses (payments plus provisions) are, of course, 
used for insurance segments with longer run-off periods, such 
as  third-party  liability�  To  supplement  the  Baloise  Group’s 
various internal control mechanisms, its reserves – and the 
methods used to calculate them – are regularly reviewed by 
external specialists� Mention should be made here of the liabil-
ity adequacy test described in detail in section 3�17�4� The Baloise 
Group takes great care to ensure that it complies with the per-
tinent financial reporting standard by performing the regu-
larly required profitability analysis and examining whether, at 
the balance sheet date, it can actually meet all the liabilities that 
it has taken on as an insurer� It immediately offsets any shortfall 
in its reserves that it identifies�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   107

19�03�2013   13:44:43

108

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

3.17.3 Policyholders’ dividends and participation in profits
Insurance contracts can provide customers with a share of the 
surpluses and profits generated by their policies (especially those 
arising  from  their  claims  history)�  The  expenses  incurred  
by policyholders’ dividends and participation in profits are 
 derived from the dividends paid plus the changes in the per-
tinent reserves�

3.17.4 liability adequacy test
A liability adequacy test (LAT) is carried out at each balance 
sheet date to ascertain whether – taking all known developments 
and trends into consideration – the Baloise Group’s existing 
reserves are adequate� 

To this end, all existing reserves – both claims reserves 
and annuity reserves in the non-life segment – are analysed 
and, if a shortfall is identified, the relevant reserves are strength-
ened accordingly� This analysis explicitly includes IBNR claims, 
thereby ensuring that adequate reserves are available for all 
claims that have already occurred�

The liability adequacy test required by IFRS must also 
examine whether any of the Baloise Group’s existing contracts 
maintained during the reporting period have incurred any fur-
ther liabilities� Baloise must therefore conduct a profitability 
analysis of its insurance business during the current financial 
year in order to demonstrate that an adequate level of premiums 
has been charged and, consequently, that a sufficient amount is 
available to cover the unearned premium reserves for liabilities 
in subsequent reporting periods� It must also analyse the prof-
itability of contracts that are automatically renewed for a further 
year on the same terms and conditions� This therefore amounts 
to an impairment test of deferred acquisition costs at the same 
time� This analysis factors in expected returns on the pertinent 
unearned premium reserves and existing claims reserves� If a 
loss is expected to be incurred, the deferred acquisition costs 
are initially reduced by the respective amount� If the total amount 
of deferred acquisition costs is insufficient or if the resultant 
liability cannot be covered, a separate provision for impending 
losses is recognised in the unearned premium reserves�

3.18  life insurance contracts and financial contracts with 

discretionary participation features
IFRS 4 gives users the option of accounting for insurance con-
tracts and financial contracts with discretionary participation 
features by continuing to apply the existing accounting policies 
described in section 1 below to both liabilities and to the assets 
resulting directly from the pertinent contracts (deferred acqui-
sition costs and contract portfolios)�

The  following  life  insurance  products  offered  by  the  
Baloise Group contain sufficient insurance risk to be classified 
as insurance contracts under IFRS 4: 
 → endowment policies (both conventional and unit-linked 

life insurance),

 → Swiss group life business (BVG), 
 → term insurance, 
 → immediate annuities,
 → deferred annuities with annuity conversion rates that are 

guaranteed at the time the policy is purchased, 

 → all policy riders such as premium waiver, accidental death, 

and disability�

The  accounting  policies  applied  by  the  Baloise  Group  are  
described below� 

3.18.1 General accounting policies 
The accounting policies applied to traditional life insurance 
vary according to the type of profit participation agreed� Pre-
miums are recognised as income and benefits are recognised as 
expense at the time they fall due� The amount of reserves set 
aside in each case is determined by actuarial principles or by 
the net premium principle, which ensures that the level of  reserves 
generated from premiums remains consistent over time� The 
actuarial assumptions used to calculate reserves at the time that 
contracts are signed either constitute best estimates with  explicit 
safety margins for specific business lines or they are determined 
in accordance with local loss reserving practice and thus also 
factor in safety margins� The assumptions used are locked in 
throughout the term of the contract unless a liability adequacy 
test reveals that the resultant reserves need to be strengthened 
after  the  deferred  acquisition  costs  (DACs)  and  the  present 
value of future profits (PVFP) on acquired insurance contracts 
have been deducted� Unearned premium reserves, reserves for 

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   108

19�03�2013   13:44:43

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

109

final dividend payments, and certain unearned revenue reserves 
(URRs) are also recognised as components of the actuarial  
reserve�

3.18.5 Policyholders’ dividends
A large proportion of life insurance contracts confer on policy-
holders the right to receive dividends�

A liability adequacy test is performed on all life insurance 
business at each balance sheet date� This involves calculating  
a reserve at the measurement date that factors in all future cash 
flows (such as insurance benefits, surpluses and contract- related 
administrative expenses) based on the best estimates available 
for the assumptions used at the time� If the minimum reserve 
calculated in this way for individual business lines exceeds the 
reserve available at the time, any existing deferred acquisition 
cost or present value of future profits is reduced and, if this is 
not enough, the reserve is immediately increased to the mini-
mum level and this increase is recognised in profit or loss�

3.18.2 Present value of future profits (PVFP) on  

insurance contracts acquired

The present value of future profits on insurance con- 
tracts acquired constitutes an identifiable intangible asset that 
arises from the purchase of a life insurance company or life 
insurance portfolio� It is initially measured in accordance with 
actuarial principles and is amortised on a straight-line basis�  
It  is  regularly  tested  for  impairment  as  part  of  a  liability  
adequacy test�

3.18.3 deferral of acquisition costs
Acquisition costs are deferred� They are amortised either over 
the premium payment period or over the term of the insurance 
policy, depending on the type of contract involved� They are 
tested for impairment as part of a liability adequacy test�

3.18.4 unearned revenue reserve (urr)
The unearned revenue reserve comprises premiums that are 
charged for services rendered in future periods� These premiums 
are deferred and amortised in the same way as deferred acqui-
sition costs�

Surpluses are reimbursed in the form of increased bene-
fits, reduced premiums or final policyholders’ dividends or are 
accrued at interest to a surplus account� Surpluses already dis-
tributed and accrued at interest are reported as policyholders’ 
dividends credited and reserves for future policyholders’ divi-
dends (section 23)� The relevant interest expense is reported as 
interest expenses on insurance liabilities� Surpluses that have 
been used to finance an increase in insurance benefits are 
 recognised in actuarial reserves� All investment income derived 
from  unit-linked  life  insurance  contracts  is  credited  to  the 
policyholder�

IFRS 4 introduces the concept of a discretionary partici-
pation feature (DPF), which is of relevance not only for the 
classification of contracts but also for the disclosure of surplus 
reserves according to policyholders’ share of the unrealised gains 
and losses recognised directly in equity under IFRS and their 
share of the increases and decreases recognised in profit or loss 
in the consolidated financial statements compared with the 
 financial statements prepared in accordance with local account-
ing standards� IFRS 4 states here that the portion of an insurance 
contract’s liability that is attributable to a discretionary parti-
cipation feature (“DPF component”) must be reported sepa-
rately� This standard does not provide any clear guidance as to 
how this DPF component should be measured and disclosed�

When accounting for contracts that contain discretionary 
participation features, the Baloise Group treats measurement 
differences that are attributable to such contracts and are cred-
ited to policyholders according to a legal or contractual minimum 
quota as a DPF component� Distributable retained earnings and 
eligible unrealised gains and losses of fully consolidated subsid-
iaries are allocated pro rata to the DPF components of the life 
insurance company concerned� The DPF component calculated 
in this way is reported as part of the provisions for future pol-
icyholders’  dividends  (section  23)�  These  provisions  include 
policyholders’ dividends that are unallocated and have been set 
aside as a provision under local accounting standards�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   109

19�03�2013   13:44:43

110

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

If no legal or contractual minimum quota has been stipulated, 
the Baloise Group defines a discretionary participation feature 
as the currently available reserve for premium refunds after 
allowing for final policyholders’ dividends� Unless a minimum 
quota has been stipulated, all other measurement diff erences 
between the local and IFRS financial statements are recognised 
directly in equity�

The applicable minimum quotas prescribed by law, con-
tract, or Baloise’s articles of association vary from country to 
country� 

Life insurance companies operating in Germany and  Austria 
and in some areas of Swiss group life business are required by 
law to distribute a minimum proportion of their profits to 
policyholders in the form of dividends� 

Policyholders  in  Germany  must  receive  a  share  of  the 
profits generated� Any losses incurred are borne by share holders� 
Policyholders are entitled to 90 per cent of investment income 
(minus the technical interest rate), 75 per cent of the net profit 
on risk exposures, and 50 per cent of other surpluses� Deutscher 
Ring’s articles of association additionally stipulate a minimum 
quota of 95 per cent for part of its insurance portfolio�

In Austria the minimum quota is stipulated in the terms 

and conditions of each contract� It is usually 90 per cent�

Minimum quotas are also applied to some of the Baloise 
Group’s Swiss occupational pensions (BVG) business, which is 
subject to the legal quotas of 100 per cent for changes in liabil-
ities and 90 per cent for changes in assets�

3.19 reinsurance
Reinsurance contracts are insurance contracts between insur-
ance companies and / or reinsurance companies� There must be 
a transfer of risk for a transaction to be recognised as reinsur-
ance; otherwise the contract is treated as a financial contract�

Inward reinsurance is recognised in the same period as 
the initial risk� The relevant technical reserves are reported as 
gross unearned premium reserves or gross claims reserves for 
non-life insurance and as gross actuarial reserves for life insur-
ance� In non-life insurance they are estimated as realistically 
as possible based on empirical values and the latest information 
available, while in life insurance they are recognised as a provi-
sion to cover the original transaction� Outward reinsurance is 
the business ceded to insurance companies outside the Baloise 
Group and includes transactions ceded from direct life and non-
life business and from inward insurance�

Assets arising from outward reinsurance are calculated over 
the same periods and on the same basis as the original trans-
action and are reported as reinsurance assets (section 16)� Impair-
ment losses are recognised in profit or loss for assets deemed to 
be at risk owing to the impending threat of insolvency�

3.20 liabilities arising from banking business and  

financial contracts

3.20.1 With discretionary participation features 
Financial contracts with discretionary participation features 
are capital accumulated by customers that entitles them to receive 
policyholders’ dividends� The accounting principles applied to 
these financial contracts are the same as those for life insurance 
contracts; the accounting policies for life insurance are described 
in section 3�18�

3.20.2 measured at amortised cost
Liabilities measured at amortised cost include savings deposits, 
medium-term bonds, mortgage-backed bonds, other liabilities 
and financial guarantees that do not qualify as insurance  contracts� 
They are initially measured at their acquisition cost (fair value)� 
The difference between acquisition cost and redemption 
value is recognised in profit or loss over the term of the lia bility 
as “gains or losses on financial contracts”under the amortised 
cost method and the effective interest method� 

3.20.3 recognised at fair value through profit or loss 
This item includes financial contracts for which the holder bears 
the entire investment risk as well as banking liabilities that are 
designated as “at fair value through profit or loss” as part of the 
Baloise Group’s strategy of using natural hedges� 

3.21 Financial liabilities
The financial liabilities reported under this line item comprise 
the bonds issued in the capital markets (except for the bonds 
issued by the Banking operating segment)� Financial liabilities 
are initially measured at their acquisition cost (fair value)� 
 Acquisition cost includes transaction costs� 

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   110

19�03�2013   13:44:44

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

111

The difference between acquisition cost and redemption value 
is recognised in profit or loss over the term of the lia bility as 
borrowing costs under the amortised cost method and the  effective 
interest method� 

The  convertible  bond  issued  by  Bâloise  Holding  com-
prises a liability and an embedded option (right to convert the 
bond into Bâloise Holding shares)� The fair value of the em bedded 
option is determined at the balance sheet date and is recognised 
separately in equity� The acquisition cost of the liability com-
ponent corresponds to the present value of future cash flows at 
the time the bond is issued� The discount rate used is the  market 
interest rate applicable to similar bonds without any conversion 
or option rights�

3.22 employee benefits 
The benefits that the Baloise Group grants to its employees com-
prise all forms of remuneration that is paid in return for work 
performed or in special circumstances�

The benefits available include short-term benefits (such 
as wages and salaries), long-term benefits (such as long-service 
bonuses), termination benefits (such as severance pay and social 
compensation plan benefits) and post-employment benefits� The 
benefits described below may be especially significant owing to 
their scale and scope�

3.22.1 Post-employment benefits
The main post-employment benefits provided are retirement 
pensions, employer contributions to mortgage payments, and 
certain insurance benefits� Although these benefits are paid 
after employees have ceased to work for the Baloise Group, they 
are funded while the staff members concerned are still actively 
employed� All the pension benefits currently provided by the 
Baloise  Group  are  defined  benefit  plans�  The  projected  unit 
credit method is used to calculate the pertinent pension  liabilities�
Assets corresponding to these liabilities are only recognised 
if they are ceded to an entity other than the employer (such as 
a charitable foundation or trust)� Such assets are measured at 
fair value� Unrecognised actuarial gains and losses that  exceeded 
the greater of the present value of defined benefit obligations 
and the fair value of plan assets by 10 per cent at the end of the 
previous reporting period are recognised in the income state-
ment based on the expected average remaining years’ service 
of the employees participating in the plans�

The Baloise Group’s pension plan agreements are tailored to 
local conditions in terms of enrolment and the range of  benefits 
offered�

3.22.2 share-based payments 
The Baloise Group offers its employees and senior executives 
the chance to participate in various plans under which shares 
are granted as part of their overall remuneration packages� The 
Employee Incentive Plan, Share Subscription Plan, Employee 
Share Ownership Plan, performance quota and performance 
share units (PSUs) are measured and disclosed in compliance 
with IFRS 2 Share-based Payment� Plans that are paid in Bâloise 
Holding shares are measured at fair value on the grant date, 
charged as personnel expenses during the vesting period and 
recognised directly in equity� Plans that are paid in cash and 
whose amount is determined by the market value of Bâloise 
Holding shares are recognised at fair value on the balance sheet 
date and reported as a liability�

3.23 Provisions
Provisions for restructuring or legal claims are recognised for 
present legal or constructive obligations when it is probable that 
an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be 
required to settle the obligations and a reliable estimate can be 
made of the amounts of the obligations� The amount recognised 
as a provision is the best estimate of the expenditure expected 
to  be  required  to  settle  the  obligation�  If  the  amount  of  the 
obligation cannot be estimated with sufficient reliability, it is 
reported as a contingent liability�

3.24 taxes
Provisions for deferred income taxes are recognised under the 
liability method, which means that they are based either on the 
current tax rate or on the rate expected in future� Deferred 
income taxes reflect the tax-related impact of temporary differ-
ences between the assets and liabilities reported in the IFRS 
financial statements and those reported for tax purposes� When 
deferred income taxes are calculated, tax loss carryforwards 
are only recognised to the extent that sufficient taxable profit is 
likely to be earned in future�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   111

19�03�2013   13:44:44

112

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset against each other 
and  shown  as  a  net  figure  in  cases  where  the  criteria  for  
such offsetting have been met� This is usually the case if the 
tax jurisdiction, the taxable entity and the type of taxation are 
identical�

3.25 revenue recognition
Revenue and income are recognised at the fair value of the 
 consideration received or receivable� Intercompany transactions 
and the resultant gains and losses are eliminated� Recognition 
of revenue and income is described below� 

3.25.1 income from services rendered 
Income from services rendered is recognised in the period in 
which the service is provided� 

3.25.2 interest income
Interest income from financial instruments that are not recog-
nised at fair value through profit or loss is recognised under the 
effective interest method� If a receivable is impaired, it is writ-
ten down to its recoverable amount, which corresponds to the 
present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the 
contract’s original interest rate� 

3.25.3 dividend income
Dividend income from financial assets is recognised as soon as 
a legal entitlement to receive payment arises�

01_FB_Kapitel_01_bis_03_en�indd   112

19�03�2013   13:44:44

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

113

4. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND ESTIMATE 

UNCERTAINTIES 
The Baloise Group’s consolidated annual financial statements 
contain assumptions and estimates that can impact on the an-
nual financial statements for the following financial year. Esti-
mates and the exercise of discretion by management are kept 
under constant review and are based on empirical values and 
other factors – including expectations about future events – that 
are deemed to be appropriate on the date that the balance sheet 
is prepared. 

the fair value of hedge funds. If no such prices are avail-
able, prices quoted by independent third parties are used 
to determine fair value.

 → Mortgages and loans (recognised at fair value through  

profit or loss) 
Mortgages and loans are designated as “at fair value 
through profit or loss” as part of the Baloise Group’s 
strategy of using natural hedges. Yield curves are used  
to measure these portfolios.

 → Financial contracts (recognised at fair value through  

4.1 Fair value of financial instruments
Where available, quoted market prices are used to determine 
fair value. If no quoted market prices are available or if the 
market is judged to be inactive, fair value is either estimated 
based on the present value or is determined using measurement 
methods. These methods are influenced to a large extent by the 
assumptions used, which include discount rates and estimates 
of future cash flows. The Baloise Group primarily uses fair  values; 
if no such values are available, it applies its own models.

The following asset classes are measured at fair value:
 → Investment property 

The discounted cash flow (DCF) method is used to 
determine the fair value of investment property.  
The assumptions and estimates used for this purpose  
are described in section 3.6.

profit or loss) 
Life settlement agreements (secondary market policies) are 
measured at fair value. The income-approach method is 
used for measurement purposes. The measurement of such 
agreements under this method includes the guaranteed 
benefits payable when policies mature, future and already 
disbursed policyholders’ dividends, final policyholders’ 
dividends, and risk-adjusted discount rates. 

The following financial liabilities are measured at fair value:
 → Liabilities arising from banking business and financial 

contracts (recognised at fair value through profit or loss) 
Liabilities arising from investment-linked life insurance 
contracts involving little or no transfer of risk are 
 measured at fair value based on the capitalised invest-
ments underlying these liabilities.

 → Derivative financial instruments 

 → Financial assets of an equity nature and financial assets of 
a debt nature (available for sale or recognised at fair value 

Models or quoted market prices are used to determine  
the fair value of derivative financial instruments.

through profit or loss) 
Fair value is based on market prices. If no quoted market 
prices are available, fair value is estimated using generally 
accepted methods (such as the present-value method), 
independent assessments based on comparisons with the 
market prices of similar instruments, or the prevailing 
market situation. Derivative financial instruments are 
measured using models or on the basis of quoted market 
prices. If no market prices are available for private equity 
investments, various methods are used to estimate their 
fair value. These include analysis of discounted cash flows 
and reference to similar, fairly recent arm’s-length trans- 
actions between knowledgeable, willing parties. If such 
estimates do not enable financial assets to be reliably 
measured, the assets are recognised at cost and disclosed 
accordingly. Publicly quoted prices are used to determine 

4.2 Financial assets of a debt nature (held to maturity) 
The Baloise Group applies the provisions of IAS 39 when  classifying 
non-derivative financial instruments with fixed or determin able 
payments as “held to maturity.” To this end, it assesses its inten-
tion and ability to hold these financial instruments to maturity. 
If – contrary to its original intention – these financial instru-
ments are not held to maturity (with the exception of specific 
circumstances such as the disposal of minor investments), the 
Baloise Group must reclassify all held-to-maturity financial 
instruments as “available for sale” and measure them at fair 
value. Section 12 contains information on the fair values of the 
financial assets of a debt nature that are classified as “held to 
maturity.”

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   113

19.03.2013   13:46:21

114

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

4.3 Impairment
The Baloise Group determines at each balance sheet date  whether 
there is any objective evidence that financial assets may be per-
manently impaired. 
 → Financial assets of an equity nature (available for sale) 

An impairment loss must be recognised on available-for-
sale financial assets of an equity nature whose fair value at 
the balance sheet date is more than 50 per cent below their 
acquisition cost or whose fair value is consistently below 
their acquisition cost throughout the twelve-month period 
preceding the balance sheet date. The Baloise Group 
 examines whether it needs to recognise impairment losses 
on securities whose fair value at the balance sheet date is 
between 20 per cent and 50 per cent below their acqui-
sition cost. Such assessments of the need to recognise 
impairment losses consider various factors such as the 
volatility of the securities concerned, credit ratings, 
analysts’ reports, economic conditions, and sectoral 
prospects.

 → Financial assets of a debt nature (available for sale or  

held to maturity) 
Objective evidence of a financial asset’s impairment 
includes observable data on the following cases: 
 – Serious financial difficulties on the part of the borrower
 – Breaches of contract, such as a borrower in default or 
arrears with the payment of principal and / or interest

 – Greater probability that the borrower will file for 

bankruptcy or undergo some other form of restructuring
 – Observable data that indicates a measurable reduction in 
the expected future cash flows from a group of financial 
assets since their initial recognition.

 → Analysts’ reports from banks and evaluations by credit 
rating agencies are also used to assess the need for 
impairment losses. 

 → Mortgages and loans (carried at cost) 

The mortgage portfolio is regularly tested for impairment. 
The methods and assumptions used in these tests are also 
regularly reviewed in order to minimise any discrepancies 
between the actual and expected probabilities of default. 

4.4 Deferred income taxes
Unused tax loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets are 
recognised if it is more likely than not that they will be realised. 
To this end, the Baloise Group makes assumptions about the 
recoverability of these tax assets; these assumptions are based 
on the financial track record and future income of the taxable 
entity concerned.

4.5 Estimate uncertainties specific to insurance 
Estimate uncertainties pertaining to actuarial risk are discussed 
from section 5.4 onwards.

4.6 Provisions
The measurement of provisions requires assumptions to be made 
about the probability, timing and amount of any outflows of 
resources embodying economic benefits. A provision is recog-
nised if such an outflow of resources is probable and can be 
reliably estimated.

4.7 Employee benefits
In calculating its defined benefit obligations towards its  employees, 
the Baloise Group makes assumptions about the expected return 
on plan assets, the economic benefits embodied in assets, future 
increases in salaries and pension benefits, the discount rate 
 applicable and other parameters. The most important assump-
tions are derived from past experience of making estimates. The 
assumptions factored into these calculations are discussed in 
section 18.2.10.

4.8 Goodwill impairment
Goodwill is tested for impairment in the second half of each 
year or whenever there is objective evidence of impairment. 
Such impairment tests involve calculating a value in use that  
is largely based on estimates such as the financial planning 
 approved by management and the discount rates and growth 
rates mentioned in section 9.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   114

19.03.2013   13:46:21

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

115

5. MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE RISK AND FINANCIAL RISK 
The companies in the Baloise Group offer their customers non-
life insurance, life insurance and banking products (the latter 
in Switzerland and, on a restricted basis, in Germany). Conse-
quently, the Baloise Group is exposed to a range of risks. 

The main risks in the non-life insurance sector are  natural 
disasters, major industrial risks, third-party liability and  personal 
injury. The insurance business as a whole is examined regu-
larly by means of extensive analytical studies. The results of this 
analysis are taken into account when setting aside reserves,  fixing 
insurance rates and structuring insurance products and rein-
surance contracts. In the non-life sector, studies focusing on 
the risks arising from natural disasters have been carried out 
in recent years. On some of them we worked with reinsurance 
companies and brokers to determine the level of exposure to 
these risks and the extent of risk transfer required. 

The predominant risks in the life insurance sector are the 

following biometric risks:
 → longevity risk (annuities and pure endowment policies),
 → mortality risk (whole-life and endowment life insurance),
 → disability risk (in the sense of the risk of premiums 

proving insufficient due to an adverse disability claims 
 history). 

Because the Group issues interest-rate guarantees, it is 
also exposed to interest-rate risk. There are also implicit finan-
cial guarantees and options which also affect liquidity, invest-
ment planning and the income generated by Group companies; 
they include guaranteed surrender prices when policyholders 
cancel and guaranteed annuity factors on commencement of 
the payout phase of annuities.

Longevity, mortality and disability rates are risks specific 
to life insurance and are monitored on an ongoing basis. The 
companies in the Baloise Group review and analyse mortality 
rates among their local customer bases, along with the  frequency 
with which policies are cancelled, invalidated and reactivated. 
For this analysis, they generally use standard market statistics 
that are compiled by actuaries and include adequate safety mar-
gins. The information they gather is used for ensuring rates are 
adequate and also for setting aside sufficient reserves to meet 
future insurance liabilities. Because rates are required by law 
to be calculated conservatively, and the statistical base is rela-
tively good, the risks in this area are manageable. In the field 
of annuities, there is an additional trend risk in the form of a 
steady rise in life expectancy which is resulting in ever longer 

annuity payout periods. This risk is addressed by the addition 
of suitable factors to the basis for calculation. 

Managing participating insurance contracts is an addi-
tional method of mitigating risk. For example, bringing policy-
holders’ dividends into line with altered circumstances as far 
as permitted by local regulations is one option that could be 
taken if the risk situation were to change. However, the allo-
cation of surpluses between policyholders and the company  
is not only subject to local law, it is also governed by market 
expectations.

The main risk categories to which the banking division 
of the Baloise Group is exposed are credit risk, interest-rate risk 
and liquidity risk. These risks are identified and managed  locally 
by the banks. The loan portfolio is reviewed and analysed on 
an ongoing basis. A range of tools is used for this purpose, 
 including standardised credit regulations and procedures, scor-
ing and rating procedures, focusing on low-risk markets and 
the use of an automated arrears system. The information obtained 
is incorporated into credit decisions. Balance sheet risks (inter-
est-rate and liquidity risks) are managed by the banks’ asset and 
liability  management  (ALM)  committees. The  data  and  key 
figures required are determined and calculated using a  specialist 
IT application.

Deutscher Ring Bausparkasse AG is also exposed to what 
is known as collective risk, which means that the building  society 
customers are collectively responsible for the fair allocation of 
home savings contracts over the long term. Mathematical simu-
lations are used to show that this collective responsibility can 
be met, provided the fluctuation reserve remains at least  greater 
than zero over the long term. Deutscher Ring Bau sparkasse uses 
a simulation model to monitor and manage its collective risk. 
The model makes a future projection of the building society’s 
total collective holdings on an individual contract basis, incor-
porating  new  business  scenarios  and  patterns  of  behaviour 
observed in the past.

Triggered by the threat of a pandemic, the existing  disaster 
recovery plans for extraordinary events – such as natural disas-
ters, wildfires, terrorist attacks etc. – have been reviewed at all 
Group companies since 2007, and a pandemic scenario has been 
added. Additional disaster recovery plans have been created to 
ensure that business operations can be continued with  severely 
reduced staff numbers. Several pandemic contingency exer-
cises were carried out at our Swiss site in 2008. In summer 2009, 
during the WHO phase 6 pandemic alert, all employees in 

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   115

19.03.2013   13:46:21

116

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Switzer land  were  issued  with  a  personal  protection  kit  and 
 “Pandemic Web”, the inhouse management and information 
system went online. Since 2008, management decisions before, 
during and after a crisis have been prepared by Group Crisis 
Management, the head of which reports directly to the Group 
CEO. The composition of the crisis management team varies 
according to the type of risk involved (insurance, banking, finan-
cial, solvency, reputation). The crisis management team was not 
convened in 2011 because the E. coli outbreak was largely  restricted 
to Germany and was officially declared at an end in late July 
2011. Plans are on hold at present and the situation is being 
monitored, although experts from companies such as Swiss Re 
believe the outbreak of a pandemic remains a major risk.

5.1 Organisation of risk management in the Baloise Group
The Baloise Group’s insurance and banking activities in various 
European countries, as well as its global investments, expose it 
to market risks such as currency risk, credit risk, interest-rate 
risk and liquidity risk.

The Baloise Group has implemented a comprehensive, 
Group-wide risk management system in all of its insurance and 
banking entities. Its Group-wide Risk Management Standards 
focus on the following areas:
 → Organisation and responsibilities
 → Methods, regulations and limits
 → Risk control

An overall set of rules governs all activities directly con-
nected with risk management and ensures that they are com-
patible with one another. 

At the highest level, internal and external risk bands  restrict 
and manage the overall risks incurred by the Group and the 
individual business units. 

At the level exposed to financial and business risk, various 
limits and regulations restrict the individual risks that have 
been identified to a level that is acceptable for the Group, or 
eliminate them completely.

Within the Group and within each business unit, a risk 
owner is responsible for each individual risk that has been iden-
tified. 

Risk owners are allocated according to a hierarchy of respon-
sibility. The Group’s overall risk owner is the chief  executive 
officer of the Baloise Group. Alongside the risk owners, defined 
risk controllers are responsible for systematic risk control and 
risk reporting. When selecting risk controllers, particular care 
is taken to ensure that their role is independent of the risk they 
control. Risk control within the Baloise Group focuses on 
 investment risk, business risk (actuarial and banking risks), 
risks to the Group’s financial structure, and compliance. The 
Group’s overall risk controller is the chief executive officer of 
the Baloise Group. 

The Baloise Group’s risk map is a categorisation of the 

risks it has identified. The risks are divided into three levels:
 → Category of risk
 → Sub-category of risk
 → Type of risk

The business-risk, investment-risk and financial-structure-
risk categories relate directly to the Baloise Group’s core busi-
nesses.  These  risks  are  deliberately  incurred,  managed  and 
optimised by the management team and various risk commit-
tees. Analysis of these risks is model-based and it ultimately 
results in an aggregate overview.

Business-environment risk, operational risk and manage-
ment and information risk arise as direct or indirect results of 
the business operations, business environment or strategic 
 activities of each company. Risks of this type are also quantified, 
assessed and managed.

Because all risks are quantified, it is possible to analyse 
the relevance of each risk to the overall risk situation of the 
Baloise Group and / or the individual companies. 

The Baloise Group’s central risk management team forms 
part of the Finance corporate division and reports to the Group 
Chief Risk Officer, who in turn reports to the Group CFO. It 
coordinates intra-Group policies, risk reporting and the tech-
nical development of suitable risk-management processes and 
tools. Every month, it tracks developments in the financial mar-
kets and their impact on the risk portfolio and the individual 
risk capacity of all the business units and the Group as a whole. 
The relevant risk owners and risk controllers verify the figures 
that  have  been  computed  and  incorporate  them  into  their  
management decisions.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   116

19.03.2013   13:46:21

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

117

Non-diversifiable market risk is monitored and managed by 
central and local units using means such as stochastic methods 
and comprehensive scenario analysis. 

Semi-annual reporting is undertaken for each identified risk 
category. Every business unit prepares a risk report on which 
the Group risk report is based. Key figures for the financial and 
actuarial risks incurred by the Group and each strategic busi-
ness unit are reported on a monthly basis using a risk control 
application.

RISK MAP

Business risks

Investment risks

Financial  

Business  

Operational risks

Management / 

structure risks

environment risks

information risks

Technical risks Life

Market risks

Asset liability risks

Changes to regulations

Computer security

Structure of  

 → Interest guarantee 

 → Interest

 → Interest fluctuation 

 → Data

organisation

 → Parameter risks

 → Shares

risk

Market / competitors

 → Software /  

 → Worst-case scenario

 → Currencies

 → (Re) financing,  

hardware /network

Corporate culture

 → Creation of  

 → Real estate

liquidity

External events

 → Physical reliability

provisions

 → Market liquidity

Business portfolio

 → Derivatives 

Regulatory provisions

Investors

Personnel risks

Technical risks Nonlife

 → Alternative 

 → Skills / capacities

Merger and acquisitions

 → Premiums

 → Claims

investments

Risk capitalisation

 → Worst-case scenario

Credt risks

 → Creation of  

provisions

Reinsurance

 → Premiums / rating

 → Default

 → Active reinsurance

Loan management

 → Knowledge availability

 → Incentive systems

External  

Legal risks

 → Contracts

communication

Projection, plan,  

 → Liability and litigation

budget

 → Tax

 → Pension fund

Project portfolio

Compliance

Management  

 → Breach of Standards

information

 → Fraud / illegal actions

Business processes

 → Process risks

 → Project risks

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   117

19.03.2013   13:46:22

118

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

by-case basis. This type of reinsurance is extremely dependent 
on the individual risk in each case and it is therefore placed by 
the business units themselves.

Reinsurance  contracts  may  only  be  entered  into  with 
counterparties that have been authorised in advance by the 
Group’s  Finance  division.  Reinsurers  must  generally  have  
a minimum rating of A – from Standard & Poor’s, but in excep-
tional cases a BBB + rating or a comparable rating from  another 
recognised rating agency is permitted. However, these rein-
surance contracts are only used for property insurance business 
that can be settled quickly. This rule does not apply to captives 
and pools that are active reinsurance companies because they 
do not generally have ratings. 

Reinsurer  credit  risk  is  reviewed  on  a  regular  basis.  
A watch list is kept of reinsurers that are bankrupt or in  financial 
difficulties. The list contains details of all relationships the Group 
has with these reinsurers, receivables due to the Group that are 
outstanding or have been written off and provisions the Group 
has recognised. The watch list is updated periodically. 

The same requirements for reinsurers apply to life insur-
ance as to non-life insurance, although reinsurance is less 
 important in life insurance business.

5.4 Non-life

5.4.1 Actuarial risk 
The Baloise Group primarily underwrites insurance risk for 
private individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises in 
selected countries in mainland Europe. Business with indus-
trial clients is also conducted in Switzerland and Germany. 
Underwriting risk is limited by monitoring and adjusting rates 
and maintaining underwriting policies and limits appropriate 
to the size of each portfolio and the country in which it is  located.

5.2 Life and non-life underwriting strategies
The Baloise Group primarily underwrites insurance risk for 
private individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises in 
selected countries in mainland Europe. Industrial insurance in 
the property and third-party liability, marine and technical 
insurance sectors is largely provided by Baloise Insurance in 
Basel or its branch in Bad Homburg (Germany) and our Belgian 
business unit Mercator. In this particularly high-risk segment, 
central management of industrial insurance ensures consistent 
quality  and  a  high  degree  of  transparency  for  the  business  
underwritten. 

Every business unit in the Baloise Group issues regulations 
regarding underwriting and risk review. They include clear 
 authorisation levels and underwriting limits for each sector. 
Underwriting limits are approved by a business unit’s highest 
decision-making body and the Corporate Executive Committee 
is notified of them. In the industrial insurance unit, the  maximum 
net underwriting limit for property insurance has been set at 
CHF 100 million (2011: CHF 100 million) for Switzerland and 
at EUR 60 million (2011: EUR 60 million) for Germany and 
Belgium. The only other comparable underwriting limits in the 
Group are for marine insurance. Tools for setting the basic pre-
mium and for risk-based management of the total portfolio are 
also used to manage industrial insurance risk.

For its exposure to natural hazards the Baloise Group has 
purchased reinsurance cover for the whole Group amounting 
to CHF 250 million (2011: CHF 250 million).

5.3 Life and non-life reinsurance strategies
The Baloise Group’s non-life treaty reinsurance for all business 
units in the Group is structured and placed in the market by 
Group Reinsurance, part of the Finance corporate division. 
When structuring the programme, Group Reinsurance focus-
es on the risk-bearing capacity of the Group as a whole. To date, 
the Group has only placed non-proportional reinsurance pro-
grammes. The Group’s maximum retention for cumulative claims 
was CHF 20 million (2011: CHF 20 million). The retentions for 
individual claims were CHF 16 million (2011: CHF 16 million) 
for property claims, CHF 15 million (2011: CHF 15 million) for 
marine claims, and CHF 12.5 million (2011: CHF 12.5 million) 
for third-party liability claims. The local Baloise Group business 
units also use additional facultative reinsurance cover on a case-

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   118

19.03.2013   13:46:22

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

119

At the end of 2012, the Baloise Group’s total reserves calcu-
lated using actuarial methods or recognised separately for  special 
claims (including large claims but not run-off or actuarial  reserves 
for annuities) amounted to CHF 4,614.5 million (31 December 
2011: CHF 4,629.7  million). A variation of 10 per cent in either 
direction in the requirement for these reserves would result in 
a rise or fall of around CHF 337.2 million (31 December 2011: 
CHF 335.9 million) in claims payments (after taxes) before 
 reinsurance.

The reserves in its run-off business mainly arose from 
liabilities that the Baloise Group had incurred in the London 
market since the early 1990s, largely third-party liability claims 
relating to asbestos and environmental damage. 

Because of the long settlement period, there is a high  degree 
of uncertainty associated with the calculation of these claims 
reserves. Both the timing at which cases of this type are identi-
fied and their potential loss level are much less certain than any 
other established claims patterns. Some reserves were calcu-
lated using external actuaries’ reports in which best-case and 
worst-case scenarios were analysed. The Baloise Group’s  minimum 
reserves policy is based on the average of these two scenarios. 
It is particularly difficult to assess the level of reserves required 
for IBNR claims, so further fluctuations cannot be ruled out. 
According to expert estimates, fluctuations of around 10 per 
cent can be expected, which is equivalent to around CHF 7.5 
million after taxes and before reinsurance (2011: CHF 8 million) 
for this reserve.

5.4.2 Assumptions
 → Claims reserves / claims settlement 

The portfolios on the Group’s books must be structured  
in such a way that the data available is sufficiently homo-
geneous to enable the use of certain analytical actuarial 
processes to determine the claims reserves required. One 
of the assumptions made is that extrapolation of the 
typical claims settlement pattern of recent years is 
meaningful. Only cases such as extreme anomalies in 
settlement behaviour require additional assumptions  
to be made on a case-by-case basis. 

 → Claims handling costs 

The ratio of the average claims handling costs incurred  
in recent years to the payouts made in the same period is 
used to calculate the level of claims handling reserves to  
be recognised based on current claims reserves. 

 → Annuities 

The factors on which annuity calculations are based 
(mortality tables, interest rates etc.) are normally specified 
or approved by the authorities in each country. However, 
because certain parameters can change relatively quickly, 
the adequacy of these annuity reserves is reviewed every 
year (by conducting a liability adequacy test or LAT), and 
if there is a shortfall the reserves are strengthened 
accordingly.

5.4.3 Changes to assumptions
The assumptions on which claims reserves are based generally 
remain constant, but the factors on which annuity calculations 
are based are adjusted from time to time over the years, par-
ticularly with regard to the latest longevity data

5.4.4 Sensitivity analysis
As well as the natural volatility inherent in insurance business, 
there are parameters for determining technical reserves that 
can significantly impact on the annual earnings and equity of 
an insurance company. In the non-life sector, sensitivity ana lysis 
has been used to investigate the effect on consolidated annual 
earnings and consolidated equity exerted by errors in  estimating 
claims reserves – including claims incurred but not reported 
(IBNR) – and reserves for run-off business. 

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   119

19.03.2013   13:46:22

120

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

5.4.5 Claims settlement

Analysis of gross claims settlement (before reinsurance) broken down by strategic business unit
The proportion reinsured was low and would not affect the information given in the claims settlement tables below.

ESTIMATED CUMULATIvE CLAIMS INCURRED IN SwITzERLAND

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total

Year in which the claims occurred 

766.3

754.2

951.2

684.1

681.4

641.7

690.7

723.1

777.9

732.2

CHF million

At the end of the year  
in which the claims 
occurred

One year later

Two years later

Three years later

Four years later

Five years later

Six years later

Seven years later

Eight years later

Nine years later

Estimated claims 
incurred

736.3

744.9

752.9

744.4

737.8

734.5

735.6

733.8

721.0

721.0

710.4

692.7

692.2

698.1

677.8

679.4

674.1

670.2

–

918.9

905.0

890.8

862.6

855.5

852.0

845.1

–

–

647.6

633.0

619.0

619.7

607.8

603.2

–

–

–

693.2

686.6

674.2

662.3

655.7

–

–

–

–

631.4

628.6

623.6

622.6

–

–

–

–

–

670.6

657.4

641.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

685.4

675.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

736.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

670.2

845.1

603.2

655.7

622.6

641.0

675.1

736.5

732.2

6,902.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Claims paid

– 652.8

– 602.0

– 773.0

– 517.8

– 557.6

– 499.2

– 531.1

– 549.3

– 545.9

– 359.4 – 5,588.1

Gross claims reserves

68.2

68.2

72.1

85.4

98.1

123.4

109.9

125.8

190.6

372.8

1,314.5

Gross claims reserves 
prior to 2003 (including 
large claims and 
assumed business)

Gross provision  
for annuities  
(non-life, including  
IBNR)

Reinsurers’ share

Net claims reserves

412.4

698.9

– 317.0

2,108.8

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   120

19.03.2013   13:46:22

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

121

For greater clarity, the following analysis of claims trends is shown in euros.

ESTIMATED CUMULATIvE CLAIMS INCURRED IN GERMANY

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total

Year in which the claims occurred 

370.8

325.8

292.2

283.8

306.7

298.2

288.0

302.5

290.8

297.4

EUR million

At the end of the year  
in which the claims 
occurred

One year later

Two years later

Three years later

Four years later

Five years later

Six years later

Seven years later

Eight years later

Nine years later

Estimated claims 
incurred

348.5

346.7

334.4

336.5

333.7

330.4

327.4

327.0

327.2

327.2

304.2

291.8

295.5

292.4

290.4

288.4

289.8

288.6

–

279.9

285.8

276.5

272.9

269.4

268.1

269.4

–

–

288.7

283.7

278.8

276.9

277.5

275.6

–

–

–

303.0

295.5

294.1

293.1

299.3

–

–

–

–

296.2

299.7

300.3

301.2

–

–

–

–

–

286.4

289.0

294.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

299.7

305.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

297.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

288.6

269.4

275.6

299.3

301.2

294.6

305.6

297.6

297.4

2,956.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Claims paid

– 322.3

– 284.8

– 264.6

– 266.6

– 294.4

– 292.5

– 279.7

– 281.9

– 254.7

– 157.8 – 2,699.3

Gross claims reserves

4.9

3.8

4.8

9.0

4.9

8.7

14.9

23.7

42.9

139.6

Gross claims reserves 
prior to 2003 (including 
large claims and 
assumed business)

Gross provision  
for annuities  
(non-life, including  
IBNR)

Reinsurers’ share

Net claims reserves

257.2

298.2

74.8

– 136.6

493.6

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   121

19.03.2013   13:46:23

122

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

ESTIMATED CUMULATIvE CLAIMS INCURRED IN BELGIUM

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total

Year in which the claims occurred 

218.3

216.8

203.5

188.9

203.2

205.7

228.0

235.1

1 308.7

2 412.4

EUR million

At the end of the year  
in which the claims 
occurred

One year later

Two years later

Three years later

Four years later

Five years later

Six years later

Seven years later

215.2

212.3

248.5

1 287.1

2 395.1

1 252.2

2 308.0

198.4

199.1

193.6

186.6

181.9

182.8

177.6

201.1

188.7

187.4

184.0

181.4

201.0

203.9

192.8

190.3

187.1

183.1

1 184.6

2 182.1

1 179.9

2 222.6

1 182.3

2 181.0

185.0

182.6

182.6

179.5

–

–

–

216.3

213.1

208.7

–

–

–

–

1 216.5

2 264.5

1 211.1

2 223.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Eight years later

1 177.7

2 183.2

Nine years later

2 174.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Estimated claims 
incurred

174.6

183.2

182.1

181.0

222.6

223.0

264.5

308.0

395.1

412.4

2,546.5

Claims paid

– 148.6

– 151.3

– 143.7

– 140.9

– 157.7

– 161.6

– 185.4

– 215.4

– 259.8

– 196.2 – 1,760.6

Gross claims reserves

26.0

31.9

38.4

40.1

64.9

61.4

79.1

92.6

135.3

216.2

Gross claims reserves 
prior to 2003 (including 
large claims and 
assumed business)

Gross provision  
for annuities  
(non-life, including  
IBNR)

Reinsurers’ share

Net claims reserves

1   The increase in the total estimated claims incurred is primarily due to the addition of Avéro Schadevezekering Benelux NV.
2   The increase in the total estimated claims incurred is primarily due to the addition of Nateus NV and Audi NV.

785.9

278.5

146.9

– 227.1

984.2

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   122

19.03.2013   13:46:23

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

123

ESTIMATED CUMULATIvE CLAIMS INCURRED IN LUxEMBOURG

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total

Year in which the claims occurred 

EUR million

At the end of the year  
in which the claims 
occurred

One year later

Two years later

Three years later

Four years later

Five years later

Six years later

Seven years later

Eight years later

Nine years later

Estimated claims 
incurred

11.3

12.6

11.4

12.7

14.2

15.0

17.5

1 25.0

1 23.6

24.0

11.2

11.5

11.3

11.1

10.5

10.3

10.3

1 15.8

15.7

15.7

11.6

11.3

10.9

10.8

10.6

10.5

1 14.6

14.6

–

14.6

11.0

10.7

10.4

10.3

10.2

1 13.6

13.5

–

–

12.0

11.9

11.7

11.6

1 16.4

16.3

–

–

–

13.6

13.0

12.9

1 18.9

18.7

–

–

–

–

14.9

15.1

1 20.8

21.1

–

–

–

–

–

16.9

1 21.5

21.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

1 22.0

21.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

22.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

13.5

16.3

18.7

21.1

21.3

21.8

22.7

24.0

189.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Claims paid

– 15.6

– 14.3

– 13.3

– 16.0

– 18.2

– 20.2

– 19.9

– 20.0

– 19.8

– 14.7

– 172.0

Gross claims reserves

0.1

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.5

0.9

1.4

1.8

2.9

9.3

Gross claims reserves 
prior to 2003 (including 
large claims and 
assumed business)

Gross provision  
for annuities  
(non-life, including  
IBNR)

Reinsurers’ share

Net claims reserves

17.7

20.9

0.0

– 19.2

19.4

1   The increase in the total estimated claims incurred is primarily due to the addition of Bâloise Assurances Luxembourg S.A.

Analysis of claims settlement for the Other units segment
A large proportion of the reserves relating to this segment is attributable to run-off business. Due to the special 
nature of this business, it is difficult to conduct meaningful analysis on the basis of our own claims data alone, so 
the reserves recognised for it are subject to significant uncertainty.

The survival ratio – the ratio of reserves to the average claims paid in the past three years – is a commonly 
used measure for comparing the adequacy of reserves for asbestos and environmental claims. The ratio shows the 
number of years for which the reserves will cover claims payments. At the end of the year under review, the  survival 
ratio was 37 years (31 December 2011: 33 years). 

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   123

19.03.2013   13:46:27

 
124

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

5.5 Life

5.5.1 Actuarial risk
Traditional life insurance is called fixed-sum insurance because payments are not made for losses, rather a fixed 
sum is paid on occurrence of an insured event, which can be survival or death. In the case of term insurance, 
capital and / or pension benefits are insured against premature death (whole-life insurance) or disability (disability 
insurance), while capital redemption insurance focuses on savings for old age. Endowment life insurance combines 
risk protection with savings. 

AvERAGE TEChNICAL INTEREST RATE

31 December 2011

CHF million

Technical reserves  
without guaranteed returns

Technical reserves  
with 0 % guaranteed returns

Technical reserves  
with guaranteed positive returns

Average technical interest rate  
of guaranteed positive returns

31 December 2012

Technical reserves  
without guaranteed returns

Technical reserves  
with 0 % guaranteed returns

Technical reserves  
with guaranteed positive returns

Average technical interest rate  
of guaranteed positive returns

Switzerland 
individual life

Switzerland 
group life

Germany

Belgium

 Luxembourg

Other units

525.9

895.8

2,409.1

772.9

692.6

180.5

75.4

77.3

229.0

117.1

15.7

28.8

8,557.9

12,157.3

9,375.3

2,614.3

213.9

487.9

2.7 %

1.9 %

3.4 %

3.8 %

2.8 %

3.2 %

Switzerland 
individual life

Switzerland 
group life

598.5

1,250.7

Germany

2,917.9

766.5

646.2

165.6

Belgium

 Luxembourg

Other units

91.0

87.9

233.6

155.8

16.2

24.5

8,205.5

12,624.3

9,339.8

2,705.7

240.9

482.5

2.7 %

1.8 %

3.4 %

3.7 %

2.7 %

3.2 %

The guaranteed technical interest rate is one of the risks inherent in traditional life insurance and group life  business. 
If interest rates rise, there is the risk that more policies will be cancelled, and the payment of surrender values 
could cause liquidity problems. This risk can be reduced by imposing surrender charges. In the past, no significant 
correlation has been observed between rises in interest rates and the number of major policies cancelled. 

When interest rates fall, there is the risk that investment income may no longer be sufficient to fund the 
 technical interest rate. This risk can be mitigated by means of asset and liability management (ALM) and in some 
cases by adjusting policyholders’ dividends.

Unit-linked life insurance generally involves endowment life insurance or a deferred annuity in which the 
policyholder has more flexibility regarding the investment process. During the deferment period, unit-linked  annuities 
behave in a similar way to endowment life insurance, but during the payout period the policy converts into a 
 traditional annuity.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   124

19.03.2013   13:46:28

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

125

If the policyholder dies, the beneficiary receives the sum insured or the fund assets, if the latter exceed the sum 
insured. A risk premium is periodically charged to the fund to finance the death benefit cover if there is  capital at 
risk (i. e. the positive difference between the sum insured and the fund assets).

Depending on the product, the fund underlying the savings process is selected from a range of funds that 
match the policyholder’s investment profile. The policyholder usually bears the entire investment risk and may 
benefit from a positive return. 

Neither the cash surrender value nor the maturity value of unit-linked life insurance are guaranteed, but the 
maturity value is partly secured by the choice of fund. The funds are typically those with the type of investment 
strategy (e.g. the proportion of equities falls if share prices fall) that guarantees the maturity value for a specific 
policy term. This type of business is offered in Switzerland and Germany. The guaranteed maturity value of these 
specific life insurance policies may differ somewhat from the fund value because of the way the policies are  structured. 
This risk has been factored into actuarial calculations.

In Switzerland, there is a closed sub-portfolio with a guaranteed interest rate. The guarantee was issued as 
part of the statutory pension scheme (Pillar 3a). On the endowment date, the policyholder receives the value of the 
fund units or the net investment premium plus accrued interest at the technical interest rate (3.25 per cent)  whichever 
is the greater. The funds approved for these policies have a low equity ratio and are therefore not exposed to high 
volatility. A corresponding actuarial reserve has been recognised for the guarantee.

Some closed-end funds in Belgium and Switzerland also offer a guaranteed maturity value. The funds are 
managed and the guarantees are provided by banks outside the Baloise Group. In Switzerland, there is also a closed-
end Baloise fund with a guaranteed maturity value which is hedged via investments in bonds issued by banks 
outside the Group. The Baloise Group offers variable annuities products including unit-linked and guaranteed 
whole-life annuities via its unit in Liechtenstein. Financial hedges are provided by an external banking partner and 
the use of external reinsurance.

Switzerland

Germany

Belgium

Luxembourg

Other units

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

399.8

466.8

1,262.1

1,402.3

7.9

9.7

226.4

231.3

113.7

147.9

CHF million

Actuarial reserves  
from unit-linked  
life insurance contracts

The major risks accruing from term insurance include epidemics and terrorist attacks but also changes in lifestyle 
such as lack of exercise. Endowment policies incur significant risks arising from the increase in life expectancy, 
which is likely to continue due to medical advances and rising living standards.
The risks listed above do not vary greatly within this area of activity.
Our group life business in Switzerland and Belgium focuses on the provision of occupational pensions which, 
like single life insurance, covers the risks of death, disability and survival. The distinctive feature of group life 
 business is the influence of political decisions. In Switzerland, the government sets the minimum rate of interest to 
be paid on savings, and the conversion rate at which accumulated capital is converted into an annuity to provide  
a pension. However, these regulations only apply to the minimum portion of accumulated capital that is required 
to provide initial finance for an annuity. For the remaining portion, actuarially appropriate annuity conversion 
rates are used, but any change to the minimum interest rate would also affect the existing statutory portfolio, not 
just new business, which would normally be the case for single life business. The technical interest rate for Belgian 
group life business – unlike single life business – is also set by the government.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   125

19.03.2013   13:46:28

126

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Most disability insurance consists of policy riders (supplementary insurance), i.e. premium waivers should holders 
of life insurance policies that require periodic payments of premiums become disabled. Separate disability insurance 
is of minor importance. Measured against total actuarial reserves, disability risk represents around 5 per cent of 
our business.

Traditional insurance

Longevity risk

Mortality risk

Disability risk

BVG retirement assets

Sub-total

Unit-linked

Longevity risk

Mortality risk

Sub-total

Total

Actuarial reserves  
31.12.2011

Actuarial reserves  
31.12.2012

ChF  
million

Share (%)

ChF  
million

Share (%)

9,573.7

13,149.1

2,072.4

8,865.9

33,661.1

807.6

1,202.3

2,009.9

26.8

36.9

5.8

24.9

94.4

2.3

3.3

5.6

9,924.4

12,891.3

1,979.8

9,195.9

33,991.4

957.8

1,300.2

2,258.0

27.4

35.6

5.4

25.4

93.8

2.6

3.6

6.2

35,671.0

100.0

36,249.4

100.0

Actuarial reserves were allocated to the categories above by product, i.e. each product was assigned a risk category 
and actuarial reserves were not split into different risks within one product. Allocation to a category was generally 
determined by the mortality table used in each case.

5.5.2 Assumptions
Actuarial reserves are calculated in accordance with the factors that applied on the date a policy was signed. When 
setting rates for life insurance products, safety margins are built into these factors to anticipate any adverse trends 
in the future, principally with regard to technical interest rates and mortality tables. These built-in safety margins, 
combined with counter-selection effects, explain why annuity tables differ from mortality tables. Cancellations are 
not factored in when recognising reserves.

The principles applied are reviewed on an ongoing basis by conducting liability adequacy tests (LATs) which 
ensure that sufficient reserves have been set aside. The underlying assumptions for conducting these tests are best 
estimates. The two main assumptions for these tests are expected future investment income and mortality rates. 
Expected future investment income is calculated using the current investment portfolio and the target investment 
portfolio (strategic asset allocation). The returns on new money invested are based on capital-market interest rates. 
Depending on the size of the portfolio, mortality rates are based on publicly available tables adjusted to reflect our 
own experience or on mortality tables produced inhouse.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   126

19.03.2013   13:46:28

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

127

Cancellations are factored into LATs using assumptions based on the experience of our companies. Changes in 
assumptions regarding cancellations usually have a negligible impact on LATs.

5.5.3 Sensitivities
To identify sensitivities, we investigated the effect of changes in assumptions on profit for the period and on equity, 
after shadow accounting, deferred gains / losses and deferred taxes (excluding reinsurance effects which were  
immaterial) had been taken into account. The assumptions on which liability adequacy testing is based were changed 
for each calculation. 
The following scenarios were run:
 → 10 per cent increase in mortality
 → 10 per cent fall in mortality (i.e. increase in longevity)
 → 100 basis-point fall in receipts of new money

While investigating sensitivities, only the assumption being tested was varied. The other parameters were kept 

constant, with the exception of policyholders’ dividends which were adjusted accordingly.

In general, sensitivities do not behave in a linear fashion, so it is not possible to extrapolate from them.

 → 10 per cent increase in mortality 

A mortality increase of 10 per cent during the liability adequacy test (LAT) had only a marginal effect on the 
income statements and the equity of most life insurance companies in the Baloise Group, with the exception  
of Switzerland. The lower amount allocated to strengthen annuity reserves at the Swiss unit improved profit-
ability overall by roughly CHF 29 million (2011: by CHF 27 million). The impact on the income statements of 
other life insurance units that have significant mortality risks in their portfolios (Germany and Belgium) was 
primarily attributable to the changes in write-downs of deferred acquisition costs (DACs), unearned revenue 
reserves (URRs) and the present value of future profits (PVFP), to the financing of final policyholders’ divi-
dends, and to the provision recognised for impending losses. The overall effect on the income statements of 
these units was marginal. The resultant impact on the profitability of Baloise Life (Liechtenstein) AG and 
Luxembourg was insignificant. The effects on equity were marginal for all units.

 → 10 per cent fall in mortality 

Similar to the aforementioned scenario of an increase in mortality, the effects of a reduction in mortality 
were marginal for the life insurance companies in Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg and for Baloise Life 
(Liechtenstein) AG. This was true of the impact on both their income statements and their equity. A 
reduction in mortality in the Swiss life insurance business – with policyholders’ dividends adjusted accord-
ingly – had a negative impact of approximately CHF 36 million (2011: CHF 29 million) on the income 
statement. In line with the aforementioned scenario of an increase in mortality, the effect on equity in 
Switzerland was minor.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   127

19.03.2013   13:46:28

128

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

 → 100 basis-point decrease in receipts of new money 

This scenario was based on the assumption that receipts of new money (including amounts reinvested)  
fell by 100 basis points. When applied to the German units, this scenario resulted in changes in DAC write-
downs, changes in the financing of final policyholders’ dividends, and the recognition of a provision for 
impending losses. These adverse effects were more than compensated for by the increase in the fair value  
of interest-rate derivatives in 2012. The overall impact was substantially mitigated by the prevailing legal 
requirements governing the distribution of surpluses. On balance there was a positive effect of roughly  
CHF 2 million on the German units’ profitability in the reporting year (2011: negative effect of CHF 2 mil-
lion). The positive impact on their equity amounted to approximately CHF 7 million (2011: CHF 6 million).

In Belgium this scenario resulted in an additional DAC write-down, a PVFP impairment loss and a 
provision for impending losses. The impact on the income statement is greater than in other countries owing 
to the business model used, which includes high guaranteed interest rates and low surpluses. Overall there  
was a negative effect of CHF 85 million on the income statement (2011: CHF 50 million). This adverse impact 
was more than compensated for in equity by the positive changes in unrealised gains and losses recognised. 
The positive effect on unrealised gains amounted to CHF 153 million (2011: CHF 85 million).

In Luxembourg this scenario produced a marginal impact on the income statement and an effect of 

roughly CHF 14 million (2011: CHF 11 million) on the unrealised gains and losses recognised in equity.

The resultant impact on the profitability and equity of Baloise Life (Liechtenstein) AG was negligible. 
In Switzerland this scenario resulted in a higher DAC write-down, an increased technical reserve, and 

the offsetting effect of interest-rate hedges. The balance of positive and negative effects changed, thereby 
 reducing profitability overall by roughly CHF 6 million (2011: CHF 48 million). The positive impact on equity 
amounted to approximately CHF 298 million (2011: CHF 285 million).

5.5.4 Changes to assumptions
Expected future investment income is constantly adjusted in line with market circumstances. It has fallen across 
all units. Other assumptions, such as cancellation rates and mortality rates are updated on an ongoing basis.

5.6 Management of market risk
Market risk is reflected by losses that arise from changes or fluctuations in market prices that may result in impair-
ment of the value of assets held. The degree of risk depends on the extent to which market prices fluctuate and on 
the level of exposure. 

As part of their life insurance business, the companies in the Baloise Group also provide investment-linked 
life insurance contracts for the account of and at the risk of policyholders. The financial liabilities generated in this 
connection are backed by assets – generally investment fund units – arising from these policies. Because the market 
risk attaching to the assets underlying these contracts is borne by the policyholder, they are shown separately in the 
notes to the consolidated annual financial statements.

The following sections specifically address the interest-rate risk, currency risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and 

equity price risk that are relevant to assets held by the Group.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   128

19.03.2013   13:46:28

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

129

5.6.1 Interest-rate risk
Interest-rate risk is the risk that a company’s interest margin, and therefore its income, may be reduced by fluctua-
tions in money-market and capital-market interest rates (income effect), or that the fair value of a portfolio of 
 interest-rate sensitive products may decline (asset-price effect). As well as the financial risk generated by holding 
assets and liabilities with non-matching maturities, variations in accounting policy may result in accounting risk. 
Consequently, the impact of a movement in interest rates or in the interest-rate curve may be a significant 
deterioration in terms and conditions if funding has to be rolled over. Benchmark-based maturity management is 
practised in the non-life units, while maturity management in the life units is driven by liabilities.

As part of the Baloise Group-wide Risk Management Standards, investment planning and appropriate asset 
and liability management ensure that any divergence in maturities and the interest-rate risk incurred are managed 
within the risk capacity available.

Stress tests are also designed and run for this purpose. They act as an early-warning system and their impact 

can be simulated for all areas of the Group and their performance.

The effect of stress testing key financial figures is measured on a monthly basis. The underlying stress  scenario 
(potential loss arising from a risk) is reviewed regularly and modified as necessary. The scale of a stress test is 
 generally based on the simple annual volatility of the financial risk under review, the once-in-a-hundred-years 
 occurrence of a business risk or standard international practice.

The life insurance companies in the Baloise Group manage their risk associated with changes in interest rates 
directly, by means of appropriate strategic asset allocation. Specific factors such as risk-bearing capacity and the 
ability to fund guarantees are taken into account when allocating assets. The decision-making process also  incorporates 
the asset managers’ expectations regarding the capital markets and customers’ expectations regarding life insurance. 
The Baloise Group’s chief investment officer (CIO) reviews the strategic asset allocation undertaken by all 

business units twice a year.

The banks also use an appropriate asset and liability management system to monitor and manage interest-rate 
risk. Interest-rate risk is incurred only in proportion to business volume and business activities. Interest-rate risk 
is measured using software based on value-at-risk, gap, duration and interest-rate sensitivity methods. The asset 
and liability mismatch is actively managed by the use of appropriate interest-rate derivatives, generally fair value 
hedges. 

The interest-rate risk limits at Baloise Bank SoBa AG are set so as to prevent the market value of its equity 
reported on the calculation date from falling by more than 2.5 percent (warning limit) or by 4.0 per cent (action 
limit), should there be a parallel shift in the yield curve of + / – 100 basis points. In addition to these percentage 
values, absolute values for both the warning limit and the action limit are set on an annual basis and approved by 
the Board of Directors. Like the percentage limits, they may not be exceeded. 

If all interest rates had fallen by 100 basis points on the balance sheet date, but all other variables had remained 
constant, the profit for the period (after deferred gains / losses and deferred taxes) would have been lower by  
CHF 97.2 million (31 December 2011: CHF 111 million). Including the impact on profit for the period, equity (after 
shadow accounting, deferred gains / losses and deferred taxes) would have risen by CHF 570 million (31 December 
2011: CHF 426 million).

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   129

19.03.2013   13:46:29

 
130

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Derivative financial instruments used as fair value hedges
In banking, fluctuations in interest rates can have a substantial impact on the interest margin and therefore on 
the income generated by interest-earning business. This interest-rate risk results from a large number of factors, 
including loans and liabilities with non-matching fixed interest-rate periods. Net interest income is also affected 
by changes in market interest rates, because the interest-rate roll-over periods for loans do not necessarily  coincide 
with those for customer deposits or debt instruments. Variable-rate assets and liabilities also incur basis risk which 
can arise from using different reference rates, such as those applicable to savings accounts versus 6-month LIBOR.

Derivative financial instruments were not used during the reporting period or the previous year as part of fair 

value or cash flow hedge accounting.

5.6.2 Currency risk
Currency risk describes the potential financial loss generated by changes in the exchange rates between currencies. 
The extent of the effective currency risk depends on:
 → net foreign exchange exposure, i.e. the net position between assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 

currencies,

 → the volatility of the currencies involved and
 → the correlation of currencies with other risk parameters in a portfolio.

Because the Baloise Group invests in foreign-currency bonds (particularly those denominated in euros) for 
investment or diversification purposes, there may be currency effects in the income statement for both realised and 
unrealised positions. To ensure compliance with the risk budget set for currency effects recognised in the income 
statement, the foreign-exchange management team first calculates adequate target hedge ratios, then implements 
the necessary hedging strategies taking into account these target hedge ratios and the discretionary ranges allowed. 
It also takes advantage of phases when exchange rates are overreacting by deliberately underweighting or over-
weighting the hedge ratios in relation to the defined benchmark. These hedging strategies are implemented using 
forward FX contracts and FX options or combinations of options in which the selection of the instruments to be 
used in each case depends on factors such as volatility and expected exchange-rates movements. 

The currency effect of foreign-currency bonds or insurance-related foreign-currency liabilities and changes 
in the fair value of derivative financial instruments held for hedging purposes are always recognised in the income 
statement.

The Group-wide Risk Management Standards require currency risk and the effectiveness of the currency 
derivatives transacted to be monitored on a continuous basis. The currency risk incurred must be proportionate to 
the potential superior return generated by the diversification effect achieved in the portfolio.

The Swiss franc and the euro are used almost exclusively for the Baloise Group’s insurance activities, with the 
result that technical reserves are also mainly in these currencies. There are also small technical liabilities in US 
dollars and pounds sterling. These reserves are generally covered by investments in the same currencies (natural 
hedges).

Assuming that all other variables remain constant, fluctuations between transactional currencies and the 
functional currency in financial balance sheet items (after shadow accounting, deferred gains / losses and deferred 
taxes) in the amount of + / –CHF 0.01 (1 centime) would have resulted in a change of + / – CHF 3.0 million (31 De-
cember 2011: + / – CHF 4.6 million) in the profit for the period and also in equity; a positive (+) change of CHF 0.01 
would have generated a currency gain and a negative (–) change of CHF 0.01 would have generated a currency loss.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   130

19.03.2013   13:46:29

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

131

Derivative financial instruments used as currency hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation 
The Group’s own companies, Baloise Alternative Investment Strategies Ltd., Jersey, and Baloise Private Equity Ltd., 
Jersey, manage substantial investments in alternative financial assets such as hedge funds and private equity. 

The Baloise Group’s FX managers enter into currency hedging transactions in the form of forward contracts 
to limit the currency risk exposure of its net investment in these two foreign entities whose reporting currency is 
the US dollar. Restricting the implementation of hedging strategies to forward contracts makes it easier to demon-
strate the efficiency of the hedges and to show that hedge accounting is being used. Because hedge accounting is 
applied, the change in the fair value of these derivatives is aggregated into a separate item under equity and only 
derecognised via the income statement, together with the accrued currency effects on the net investment in these 
foreign entities, when the relevant underlying asset is sold.

CHF million

Forward contracts

Swaps

OTC options

Other

Traded options

Traded futures

Total

Fair value assets

Fair value liabilities

2011

2012

2011

2012

1.3

21.5

50.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.3

21.5

50.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

CHF million

Amount recognised directly in equity

Hedge ineffectiveness reclassified to the income statement

2011

2012

– 16.1

–

29.9

–

Because equity investments are actively managed, additions to and deductions from equity are carried out on  
a regular basis during the year. Consequently, the year-on-year effects underlying hedge accounting and the recog-
nition of cash flows in profit or loss are recognised on a pro-rata basis.

For international diversification (risk-spreading), to enhance returns and because there is greater liquidity in 
certain foreign financial markets, as at 31 December 2012 the Group’s Swiss companies held no significant net 
position in euros (31 December 2011: CHF 786.0 million) and a net position in US dollars equivalent to CHF 288.0 
million  (31  December  2011:  CHF  388.7  million).  The  remaining  foreign  exchange  positions,  both  assets  and  
liabilities, were negligible.

During the year, the hedge ratio for the net foreign exchange exposure in US dollars and euros ranged from 

80 per cent to 100 per cent. 

The foreign entities in the Baloise Group had no significant foreign-currency exposure.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   131

19.03.2013   13:46:29

132

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

5.7 Credit risk
Credit risk relating to assets held by insurance companies refers to the total potential downside risk arising from  
a deterioration in the credit quality of a borrower or issuer, or from impairment in the value of collateral. Credit 
risk is managed by monitoring the credit quality of each individual counterparty and relying heavily on credit  
ratings.

Credit risk increases when counterparties become concentrated in a single sector or geographic region.  
Economic trends that affect whole sectors or regions can jeopardise an entire group of otherwise unrelated coun-
terparties. For this reason, the Baloise Group tracks counterparty exposure at all times and monitors credit risk on  
a Group-wide basis. The regional expertise of our business units is also incorporated into decisions about securities 
selection or changes to the existing credit portfolio.

Because the credit risk incurred by the Baloise Group is spread across sectors and geographic regions and 
among a large number of counterparties and customers, the Baloise Group is not exposed to material credit risk 
arising from a single counterparty or a specific sector or geographic region. 

In order to restrict the credit / accumulation risk in the Baloise Group, the proportion that may be invested 
by Group companies in a single issuer or borrower is strictly limited in the Group-wide Risk Management Standards. 
The relevant rules are explicitly defined in the Group investment policy.

Investments in the investment portfolio may only be made in bonds, loans or financial derivatives whose  issuer 
or borrower has a minimum “A –” rating from Standard & Poor’s, a comparable rating or is backed by a third-party 
guarantee or mortgage. For other borrowers and issuers with at least a “BBB” rating from Standard & Poor’s (or 
comparable), and those with no rating, an additional overall limit of 15 per cent of all fixed-income securities – based 
on their fair values – is applied. Exceptions require explicit approval.

Investments in pfandbriefs are backed by mortgages. The vast majority of investments in promissory notes 
and registered bonds are secured by guarantees or covered by the deposit protection fund. These investments carry 
a reimbursement guarantee from financial institutions. Mortgage loans are secured by property; there are limits on 
loan to value ratios.

Please refer to the table of secured financial assets with a debt nature in section 12.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   132

19.03.2013   13:46:29

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

133

FINANCIAL ASSETS ExCEEDING 10 % OF CONSOLIDATED EqUIT Y

CHF million

Federal Republic of Germany

Swiss Confederation

Republic of Austria

Kingdom of Belgium

Republic of France

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Commerzbank

Pfandbriefbank schweizerischer Hypothekarinstitute AG

European Investment Bank, Luxembourg

Norddeutsche Landesbank

Free State of Bavaria

UBS AG, Zurich / Basel

Deutsche Bank AG, Frankfurt am Main 

Credit Suisse Group AG, Zurich

Eurofima, Basel

Dexia Bank, Brussels 

Pfandbriefzentrale der schweizerischen Kantonalbanken AG 

BNP Paribas, Paris

Uni Credito Italiano

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. (Rabobank Nederland)

FINANCIAL ASSETS ExCEEDING 10 % OF CONSOLIDATED EqUIT Y

CHF million

Federal Republic of Germany

Swiss Confederation

Kingdom of Belgium

Republic of Austria

Republic of France

Kingdom of the Netherlands

European Investment Bank, Luxembourg

Commerzbank

Pfandbriefbank schweizerischer Hypothekarinstitute AG

Deutsche Bank AG, Frankfurt am Main 

Norddeutsche Landesbank

Free State of Bavaria

UBS AG, Zurich / Basel

BNP Paribas, Paris

Credit Suisse Group AG, Zurich

2011

2,702.2

2,198.0

1,831.2

1,502.1

1,408.7

1,259.4

1,058.4

1,027.9

765.0

616.6

548.0

529.1

491.2

490.8

463.6

443.3

427.7

424.0

423.1

417.5

2012

2,618.6

2,459.0

2,254.9

2,067.8

1,738.6

1,504.9

1,229.1

1,031.4

1,008.8

700.9

698.7

584.1

579.0

503.1

502.4

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   133

19.03.2013   13:46:29

134

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

MA xIMUM DEFAULT RISK OF FINANCIAL ASSETS

CHF million

Financial assets of a debt nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Mortgages and loans

Mortgages

Policy loans

Promissory notes and registered bonds

Time deposits

Employee loans

Reverse repurchase agreements

Other loans

Derivative financial instruments

Receivables from financial contracts

Reinsurance assets

Receivables from reinsurers

Insurance receivables

Other receivables

Receivables from investments

Cash and cash equivalents

2011

2012

15,786.1

17,363.2

2,162.3

9,989.0

44.2

2,489.5

10,806.7

34.3

11,085.5

11,097.5

204.6

5,463.0

956.4

44.9

200.0

430.3

281.8

410.1

377.5

16.9

547.4

276.1

661.1

180.7

5,830.5

1,101.0

42.6

–

369.5

334.9

426.6

398.6

29.3

542.4

269.0

644.5

1,835.5

2,034.3

If no contractually irrevocable future loan commitments have been agreed, the maximum default risk of financial assets corresponds to the carrying amount of the 
assets for own account and at own risk. In addition, guarantees and collateral for the benefit of third parties totalled CHF 505.1 million (2011: CHF 486.5 million).

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   134

19.03.2013   13:46:30

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

135

The management and control of credit risk arising from mortgage business are set out in instructions and written 
procedures in which mandatory lending regulations are specified. These lending regulations lay down strict proce-
dures for the immediate identification, accurate assessment, proper authorisation and continuous monitoring of 
credit risk. Standard credit documentation is used to record and review loan applications which are all logged and 
managed centrally. The relevant credit documentation reflects or incorporates all evaluation criteria and policies.

Because a running total of mortgage transactions is kept, it is possible to monitor compliance with credit 
policy, and corrective action can be taken if necessary. All mortgages are also managed by periodically auditing 
exposure, including records of overdue interest. Procedures and audit intervals are set out in a separate directive. 
Senior management regularly receive detailed risk reports on the composition of the mortgage portfolio and risk 
trends.

Policies, directives and authorisation levels set out the terms and conditions for granting mortgages, which 
consist of the amount, the credit quality of the counterparty, collateral and the term of the transaction as well as 
the specialist qualifications of the mortgage expert.

There are special instructions for valuing collateral and calculating loan-to-value ratios. The purpose of these 
provisions is to ensure that a standard procedure is used to determine the applicable value of collateral when  assessing 
mortgages. The calculation of fair value and the loan-to-value ratio of real estate is of key importance, particularly 
with regard to mortgage business. One of the objectives of the active management of mortgages is the early identi-
fication of potential downside risk. 

The mortgage portfolio comprises loans to individuals and to legal entities. The type and degree of risk that 
may be incurred, together with collateralisation and quality requirements, are set out in directives and authorisation 
levels. To mitigate risk, the portfolio is as geographically diverse as possible.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   135

19.03.2013   13:46:30

136

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

CREDIT R ATINGS OF FINANCIAL ASSETS ThAT wERE NEIThER OvERDUE NOR IMPAIRED AT ThE BALANCE ShEET DATE IN 2011

AAA

AA

A

Lower than BBB  
or no rating

BBB

Total

CHF million

Financial assets of a debt nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Mortgages and loans

Mortgages

Policy loans

Promissory notes  
and registered bonds

Time deposits

Employee loans

Reverse repurchase agreements

Other loans

Derivative financial instruments

Receivables from financial contracts

Reinsurance assets

Receivables from reinsurers

Insurance receivables

Other receivables

Receivables from investments

Cash and cash equivalents

9,988.9

9.5

5,827.5

–

63.2

–

3,628.9

613.3

2,364.2

25.7

1,341.5

999.5

1,245.3

13.5

750.9

8,364.4

–

–

82.8

1,729.3

3,281.1

11.4

112.2

226.6

–

–

1.7

122.7

–

1.4

–

0.8

1.5

264.7

171.4

–

–

25.3

48.4

–

136.9

1.4

22.6

18.9

112.2

276.3

–

–

148.9

110.5

–

112.2

5.3

9.6

152.3

57.9

1,006.0

531.6

459.9

298.4

–

911.9

–

121.4

–

–

–

155.3

–

–

8.5

0.0

72.8

14.9

25.7

17.5

257.6

80.1

224.2

5.0

732.6

204.6

248.4

606.2

44.9

–

78.9

0.2

410.1

116.0

10.2

311.0

79.4

172.1

364.3

15,748.5

2,162.3

9,959.6

44.2

10,823.0

204.6

5,463.0

956.4

44.9

–

410.1

281.8

410.1

375.0

16.9

416.8

267.0

632.6

1,835.5

Total

18,194.0

11,418.3

13,876.3

2,617.9

3,945.8

50,052.3

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   136

19.03.2013   13:46:30

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

137

CREDIT R ATINGS OF FINANCIAL ASSETS ThAT wERE NEIThER OvERDUE NOR IMPAIRED AT ThE BALANCE ShEET DATE IN 2012

AAA

AA

A

Lower than BBB  
or no rating

BBB

Total

CHF million

Financial assets of a debt nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Mortgages and loans

Mortgages

Policy loans

Promissory notes  
and registered bonds

Time deposits

Employee loans

Reverse repurchase agreements

Other loans

Derivative financial instruments

Receivables from financial contracts

Reinsurance assets

Receivables from reinsurers

Insurance receivables

Other receivables

Receivables from investments

Cash and cash equivalents

8,222.7

6.3

5,605.5

–

57.1

–

7,026.2

340.6

2,522.5

20.6

773.3

1,583.0

1,487.1

13.5

853.9

8,377.0

–

–

105.0

1,047.1

515.3

913.7

–

895.4

–

112.1

1,404.6

3,805.7

11.1

–

–

1.1

168.6

–

0.9

–

1.2

1.3

220.3

211.0

–

–

–

25.7

57.1

–

104.1

6.0

21.1

17.7

141.3

162.7

515.6

15.1

–

–

108.9

103.5

4.7

133.9

9.8

41.0

110.5

51.9

1,263.0

–

–

116.9

–

–

2.6

0.8

60.1

14.6

34.1

21.3

293.9

44.3

254.5

0.2

672.1

180.7

385.0

559.2

42.6

–

75.4

5.7

421.9

154.4

12.7

286.5

117.4

170.8

376.3

17,363.2

2,489.5

10,783.3

34.3

10,855.5

180.7

5,812.4

1,101.0

42.6

–

328.0

334.9

426.6

395.9

29.3

409.9

261.5

618.4

2,034.3

Total

15,911.7

15,105.2

14,681.7

3,749.1

4,053.6

53,501.3

Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s ratings are generally used to assess the credit quality of securities. The lower of the 
two is used for disclosure. 

Because the two agencies do not cover the entire Swiss financial market, the SBI composite rating is applied 
as and when necessary. This consists of ratings issued by the two rating agencies and the following four Swiss banks: 
Credit Suisse, UBS, Bank Vontobel and Zürcher Kantonalbank. 

The credit quality of mortgage assets arising from Swiss insurance business is reviewed using risk-management 
processes. Credit ratings are assigned on this basis. Mortgage assets that show no signs of impaired credit quality 
receive an “A” rating. Those that show signs of impaired credit quality are rated lower than BBB or are not rated  
at all.

In 2012, financial assets amounting to CHF 2.9 million (2011: CHF 3.1 million) and cash and cash equivalents 

of CHF 0.4 million (2011: CHF 0.4 million) from collateral received were used. 

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   137

19.03.2013   13:46:30

138

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

FINANCIAL ASSETS IMPAIRED AT ThE BALANCE ShEET DATE

CHF million

Financial assets of a debt nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Mortgages and loans

Mortgages

Policy loans

Promissory notes and registered 
bonds

Time deposits

Employee loans

Reverse repurchase agreements

Gross amount

Impairment

Carrying amount

Gross amount

Impairment Carrying amount

2011

37.6

–

29.4

–

–

3.1

65.6

–

123.5

201.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.0

–

–

–

–

– 3.1

– 42.2

–

– 50.3

–

– 0.0 

–

–

–

2012

–

–

23.4

–

150.8

–

–

–

–

–

166.1

3.1

101.1

–

180.3

–

0.0

–

–

–

– 128.5

– 3.1

– 71.7

–

– 56.8

–

– 0.0 

–

–

–

Other loans

29.3

– 15.6

13.7

54.4

– 18.4

36.0

Receivables from financial contracts

Reinsurance assets

Receivables from reinsurers

Insurance receivables

Other receivables

Receivables from investments

Total

–

–

0.4

150.9

13.2

31.1

675.5

–

–

– 0.4

– 31.5

– 4.3

– 2.6

– 314.5

–

–

0.0

119.4

8.9

28.5

361.0

–

–

0.2

156.2

11.8

28.4

520.8

–

–

– 0.2

– 35.1

– 4.4

– 2.3

– 156.0

–

–

0.0

121.1

7.4

26.1

364.8

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   138

19.03.2013   13:46:31

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

139

Financial assets overdue but not impaired at the balance sheet date

assets as at 31 december 2011

< 3 months

3 – 6 months

7 – 12 months

> 12 months

total 

CHF million

Financial assets of a debt nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Mortgages and loans

Mortgages

Policy loans

Promissory notes and registered bonds

Time deposits

Employee loans

Reverse repurchase agreements

Other loans

Receivables from financial contracts

Reinsurance assets

Receivables from reinsurers

Insurance receivables

Other receivables

Receivables from investments

total

–

–

–

–

0.4

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

–

–

–

5.8

–

–

6.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.7

0.0

–

1.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2.6

0.3

3.3

–

–

–

–

–

0.0

–

–

–

3.2

0.1

–

5.9

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

–

2.5

–

0.5

0.1

–

3.5

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

–

2.5

–

11.2

0.2

–

17.4

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   139

19.03.2013   15:54:04

140

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Assets as at 31 December 2012

< 3 months

3 – 6 months

7 – 12 months

> 12 months

Total 

CHF million

Financial assets of a debt nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Mortgages and loans

Mortgages

Policy loans

Promissory notes and registered bonds

Time deposits

Employee loans

Reverse repurchase agreements

Other loans

Receivables from financial contracts

Reinsurance assets

Receivables from reinsurers

Insurance receivables

Other receivables

Receivables from investments

Total

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.6

0.1

0.0

2.9

3.6

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

–

–

–

5.4

0.0

–

6.2

–

–

–

–

–

0.0

–

–

–

2.4

0.0

–

2.5

–

–

–

–

–

0.0

–

–

–

3.2

0.0

–

3.2

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

–

2.7

–

0.4

0.1

–

6.2

–

–

–

–

–

0.3

–

2.7

–

11.4

0.1

–

18.1

5.8 Liquidity risk
Banks as well as insurance companies incur latent liquidity risk. This refers to the risk of rapid outflows of large 
volumes of liquidity that cannot be offset by asset sales or for which alternative funding cannot be implemented 
quickly enough. In extreme cases, a lack of liquidity can result in insolvency. Legal provisions apply and the Group-
wide Risk Management Standards require each business unit to plan its liquidity centrally. This is carried out with 
the close collaboration of the investment, actuarial, underwriting and finance departments of each business unit.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   140

19.03.2013   13:46:31

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

141

Liquidity management must take account of the maturity structure of liabilities as follows:

ExPECTED MATURITIES OF FINANCIAL LIABILITIES 1

Liquidity risk as at 31 December 2011

‹ 1 year 2

1 – 3 years

4 – 5 years

> 5 years

No  
maturity

Total

Carrying 
amount

CHF million

Liabilities arising from banking business and  
financial contracts

With discretionary participation features

Measured at amortised cost

Recognised at fair value  
through profit or loss

Financial liabilities

Financial provisions

Derivative financial instruments

Insurance liabilities

Other liabilities

Contingent liabilities and capital commit-
ments

1,147.5

1,171.3

206.2

151.7

40.3

127.5

–

864.6

117.9

–

427.3

26.0

–

–

1,147.5

1,147.5

478.2

3,949.7

6,891.1

6,881.2

40.0

5,579.3

5,969.4

5,969.4

732.3

242.4

562.5

18.4

20.1

1,352.8

422.7

519.9

436.0

39.0

39.9

12.7

18.4

1.7

0.0

6.2

9.3

0.2

0.2

0.6

–

5.5

–

–

–

1,688.9

1,612.6

83.1

175.3

83.1

175.3

1,777.4

1,777.4

559.1

558.8

–

–

114.6

540.3

1,131.4

Total

5,153.2

2,254.9

712.2

1,228.1

10,074.8

19,423.2

Liquidity risk as at 31 December 2012

‹ 1 year 2

1 – 3 years

4 – 5 years

> 5 years

No  
maturity

Total

Carrying 
amount

CHF million

Liabilities arising from banking business and  
financial contracts

With discretionary participation features

Measured at amortised cost

Recognised at fair value  
through profit or loss

Financial liabilities

Financial provisions

Derivative financial instruments

Insurance liabilities

Other liabilities

Contingent liabilities and capital commit-
ments

1,334.0

1,268.1

247.1

–

704.6

60.1

–

550.9

14.7

–

–

1,334.0

1,334.0

412.1

4,356.0

7,291.7

7,290.5

42.2

6,609.3

6,973.4

6,973.4

557.3

159.0

479.0

943.9

36.3

26.8

1,368.3

580.6

122.9

26.0

6.4

512.8

46.8

217.2

12.2

22.3

0.1

0.4

0.7

8.7

8.9

0.5

0.8

2,139.2

2,017.6

92.4

64.4

92.4

64.4

1,881.7

1,881.7

–

9.2

–

–

–

628.5

–

–

100.0

517.6

628.6

958.4

Total

5,541.4

1,732.9

1,080.3

1,517.1

11,492.1

21,363.8

1   Based on undiscounted contractual cash flows.
2   All demand deposits are included in the first maturity band.

Please refer to the tables in section 23 for the residual terms and maturities of technical reserves.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   141

19.03.2013   13:46:31

 
142

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

In accordance with the Group-wide Risk Management Standards, asset and liability management committees have 
been introduced in all strategic business units in the Baloise Group. These asset and liability management commit-
tees analyse maturity schedules and the income generated by assets or required for liabilities. 

As part of tactical and strategic investment planning, care is taken when allocating the assets held by the 
individual life and non-life insurance units in the Baloise Group to ensure that sufficient liquidity is available to 
carry out investment activity and for the operational settlement of all business processes. The level of liquidity 
 required is determined on the basis of the maturity structure of investments versus the payout schedule for insurance-
related liabilities. The average historical pattern of incoming and outgoing cash management payments over the 
previous five years is also taken into account. Investment planning explicitly includes exceptionally large incoming 
or outgoing payments that are known in advance. Careful maintenance of liquidity levels and recourse to reinsur-
ance provide sufficiently large reserves for payments needed at short notice, such as large claim settlements. Cash 
pooling among the Baloise Group’s Swiss companies also ensures that excess liquidity in one unit be used to offset 
a temporary liquidity squeeze at another unit via an intra-Group interest-bearing overdraft facility.

If these precautions fail to meet the need for liquidity, the Baloise Group holds financial assets that can be 
sold at short notice without significant price losses. They include all equities (excluding long-term equity invest-
ments). Because the Group holds a substantial portfolio of government and quasi-government bonds, it is possible 
to sell relatively large holdings of available-for-sale bonds even in crisis situations. Mortgages and loans are gener-
ally held to maturity; early redemption is not considered at present. In terms of alternative financial assets, 75 per 
cent of hedge funds can be sold within three months. Private-equity investments have to be considered illiquid in 
this context, and it is not possible to sell investment property to generate immediate liquidity.

5.9 Equity price risk
The Baloise Group is exposed to equity price risk because it holds financial assets of an equity nature classed as 
“recognised at fair value through profit or loss” and “available for sale.” Equity price risk is significantly reduced by 
means of international diversification, i.e. by spreading risk across sectors, countries and currencies. Active overlay 
management using derivatives also mitigates equity price risk if certain intervention levels are reached or the  market 
and / or risk indicators that are continuously tracked by Baloise suggest heightened hedging activity.

Most financial assets of an equity nature are publicly listed. 
If the market price of all financial assets of an equity nature were to move by + / – 10 per cent on the balance 
sheet date, the following impact would be observed – after shadow accounting, deferred gains / losses, deferred taxes, 
derivative hedges and the effect of the impairment rules mentioned in section 3.10.2:

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   142

19.03.2013   13:46:31

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

143

CHF million

Market price plus 10 %

Market price minus 10 %

Impact on profit for the period

Impact on equity (including profit 
for the period)

2011

2012

2011

2012

15.0

– 60.9

6.9

– 22.5

179.4

– 182.2

172.1

– 171.9

Because these impairment criteria produce different effects due to assumed changes in market prices if there is  
a rise compared with an analogous fall, these effects are divergent. The compensatory effects of hedging using  
derivatives behave in a similar manner.

Adjustments in the fair value of instruments of an equity nature that are classed as “recognised at fair value 
through profit or loss.” has an impact on the profit for the period. Unrealised gains and losses vary due to changes 
in the fair value of financial instruments of an equity nature which are classed as “available for sale.” In a life 
 insurance company, policyholders participate in the firm’s profits, depending on their policy and local circum-
stances (see section 3.18.5.). The table above takes account of this profit-sharing scheme.

5.10 Calculation of fair value for financial statements
The fair value of financial instruments classed as “available for sale” and “recognised at fair value through profit or 
loss” is determined by reference to quoted market prices, provided they are available. They are defined as available 
if quoted prices can be obtained easily and frequently on an exchange, from a dealer, broker, trade association, 
pricing service or regulatory authority, provided these prices are current and represent regularly occurring arm’s 
length transactions in the market. 

If no quoted market prices are available (e.g. because a market is inactive), the fair value is determined using  
a market-based measurement process. Market-based means that the measurement method is based on a significant 
quantity of observable market data (as available). 
The fair value calculation is divided into the following three hierarchy levels:
 → Fair value determined by publicly listed prices (level 1) 

Fair value is based on market prices on the balance sheet date and it is not adjusted or compiled in any other 
way.

 → Fair value determined by using observable market data (level 2) 

Fair value is estimated using generally recognised methods (discounted cash flow etc.). In this case, the 
valuation incorporates a significant degree of observable market data (interest rates, index performance etc.).

 → Fair value determined without the use of observable market data (level 3) 

Fair value is estimated using generally recognised methods (discounted cash flow etc.), although it is measured 
without reference to any observable market data (or to a very minor degree), either because it is not available 
or because it does not permit any reliable conclusions to be drawn with regard to fair value.

Detailed information about measurement principles and the measurement methods used can be found in sections 
3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.11, 3.20 and 4.1.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   143

19.03.2013   13:46:32

144

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR OwN ACCOUNT AND AT OwN RISK 

2011

CHF million

Assets

Financial assets of an equity nature

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets of a debt nature

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Mortgages and loans

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative financial instruments

Receivables from financial contracts

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

1,902.3

33.3

19,781.2

81.7

–

–

839.4

–

74.1

16.8

375.2

281.8

705.6

3,447.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

33.3

19,855.3

98.5

375.2

281.8

61.5

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

61.5

–

Total assets 

Equity and liabilities

21,860.0

1,587.3

705.6

24,152.9

Liabilities arising from banking business and financial contracts

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative financial instruments

Total equity and liabilities

–

1.8

1.8

223.9

173.5

397.4

–

–

–

223.9

175.3

399.2

2012

CHF million

Assets

Financial assets of an equity nature

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets of a debt nature

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Mortgages and loans

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative financial instruments

Receivables from financial contracts

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

1,753.2

76.5

22,387.9

55.7

–

3.5

869.8

–

45.6

16.0

819.7

331.4

714.0

3,337.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

76.5

22,433.5

71.7

819.7

334.9

56.1

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

56.1

–

Total assets 

Equity and liabilities

24,332.9

2,082.5

714.0

27,129.4

Liabilities arising from banking business and financial contracts

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative financial instruments

Total equity and liabilities

–

3.4

3.4

180.3

61.0

241.3

–

–

–

180.3

64.4

244.7

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   144

19.03.2013   13:46:32

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

145

FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR ThE ACCOUNT AND AT ThE RISK OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICYhOLDERS

2011

CHF million

Assets

Financial assets of an equity nature

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

6,102.6

44.9

75.8

6,223.3

Financial assets of a debt nature

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative financial instruments

Total assets 

Equity and liabilities

Liabilities arising from banking business and financial contracts

901.3

8.3

7,012.2

34.6

44.0

123.5

–

–

935.9

52.3

75.8

7,211.5

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Total equity and liabilities

5,742.9

5,742.9

2.6

2.6

–

–

5,745.5

5,745.5

2012

CHF million

Assets

Financial assets of an equity nature

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

5,722.3

45.0

53.2

5,820.5

Financial assets of a debt nature

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative financial instruments

Total assets 

Equity and liabilities

Liabilities arising from banking business and financial contracts

1,785.0

8.9

7,516.2

34.6

153.8

233.4

–

–

53.2

1,819.6

162.7

7,802.8

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Total equity and liabilities

6,790.5

6,790.5

2.6

2.6

–

–

6,793.1

6,793.1

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   145

19.03.2013   13:46:32

146

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Financial assets measured at fair value using level 3 

FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR OwN ACCOUNT AND AT OwN RISK 

Financial assets of an equity 
nature

Financial assets of a debt 
nature

Mortgages and 
loans

Derivative 
financial 
instruments

Receivables 
from financial 
contracts

Total

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Available  
for sale

Available  
for sale

674.0

55.9

–

–

– 48.7

–

– 4.1

39.4

– 10.9

705.6

– 4.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

674.0

55.9

–

–

– 48.7

–

– 4.1

39.4

– 10.9

705.6

– 4.1

2011

CHF million

Assets

Balance as at 1 January

Additions

Additions arising from change  
in the scope of consolidation

Reclassifications

Disposals

Disposals arising from change  
in the scope of consolidation

Changes in fair value recognised  
in profit or loss

Changes in fair value not  
recognised in profit or loss

Exchange differences

Balance as at 31 December

Changes in fair value of financial  
instruments held at the  
balance sheet date recognised  
in profit or loss 

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   146

19.03.2013   13:46:33

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

147

FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR OwN ACCOUNT AND AT OwN RISK 

Financial assets of an equity 
nature

Financial assets of a debt 
nature

Mortgages 
and loans 

Derivative 
financial 
instruments

Receivables 
from financial 
contracts 

Total

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Available  
for sale

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Recognised at 
fair value 
through profit 
or loss

Available  
for sale

705.6

58.3

–

–

– 55.4

–

– 4.9

18.8

– 8.4

714.0

– 4.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

705.6

58.3

–

–

– 55.4

–

– 4.9

18.8

– 8.4

714.0

– 4.9

2012

CHF million

Assets

Balance as at 1 January

Additions

Additions arising from change  
in the scope of consolidation

Reclassifications

Disposals

Disposals arising from change  
in the scope of consolidation

Changes in fair value recognised  
in profit or loss

Changes in fair value not  
recognised in profit or loss

Exchange differences

Balance as at 31 December

Changes in fair value of financial  
instruments held at the  
balance sheet date recognised  
in profit or loss 

These items largely comprise private-equity investments and minority interests in real-estate companies.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   147

19.03.2013   13:46:33

148

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR ThE ACCOUNT AND AT ThE RISK OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICYhOLDERS 

2011

CHF million

Assets

Balance as at 1 January

Additions

Additions arising from change in the scope of consolidation

Additions arising from change in percentage  
of shareholding

Reclassifications

Disposals

Disposals arising from change in the scope of consolidation

Changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss

Exchange differences

Balance as at 31 December

Changes in fair value of financial instruments held at  
the balance sheet date recognised in profit or loss 

Financial assets of an 
equity nature

Financial assets of a 
debt nature

Derivative  
financial  
instruments

Recognised at  
fair value through  
profit or loss

Recognised at  
fair value through  
profit or loss

Recognised at  
fair value through  
profit or loss

–

76.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 1.1

75.8

– 0.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total

–

76.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 1.1

75.8

– 0.4

The additions in 2011 were largely private-equity investments.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   148

19.03.2013   13:46:33

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

149

FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR ThE ACCOUNT AND AT ThE RISK OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICYhOLDERS 

2012

CHF million

Assets

Balance as at 1 January

Additions

Additions arising from change in the scope of consolidation

Additions arising from change in percentage  
of shareholding

Reclassifications

Disposals

Disposals arising from change in the scope of consolidation

Changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss

Exchange differences

Balance as at 31 December

Changes in fair value of financial instruments held at  
the balance sheet date recognised in profit or loss 

Financial assets of 
an equity nature

Financial assets of 
a debt nature

Derivative  
financial  
instruments

Total

Recognised at  
fair value through  
profit or loss

Recognised at  
fair value through  
profit or loss

Recognised at  
fair value through  
profit or loss

75.8

3.1

–

–

–

– 24.5

–

– 0.7

– 0.5

53.2

– 0.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

75.8

3.1

–

–

–

– 24.5

–

– 0.7

– 0.5

53.2

– 0.7

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   149

19.03.2013   13:46:33

150

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

5.11 Capital management
The general parameters regarding the amount of capital employed are set by regulatory requirements and internal 
risk-management policies. While the aim of regulatory requirements is primarily the protection of policyholders, 
internal policies are largely derived from the risk-based management of operating activities. 

The solvency margin for pure insurance business of CHF 2,096.0 million (2011: CHF 2,051.0  million) was 
met in 2011 and 2012. The cover ratio for the capital adequacy requirement in available funds was 277 per cent at 
31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: 203 per cent). Based on internal specifications, the capital currently  available 
consists of IFRS equity, unallocated policyholders’ dividends and the final policyholders’ dividend reserve. Liabil-
ities are also recognised as capital in accordance with the corresponding options for solvency coverage at  individual 
company level. Deductions from equity include planned dividend payments and intangible assets. Individual Group 
companies are also subject to regulation under local legislation which in some cases permits different methods for 
defining equity. The ability of the business units, and therefore also of the parent company to pay dividends is 
closely linked to the priority placed on meeting these local requirements. Compliance with local solvency require-
ments is monitored on an ongoing basis. Appropriate action is taken if solvency falls short of these regulations.

The relevant requirements for the banking operations of Baloise Bank SoBa are defined by Basel II regulations. 
The regulatory capital adequacy requirement for Deutscher Ring Bausparkasse AG is governed by the German 

Solvency Regulation (SolvV) . 

In both 2011 and 2012, all relevant requirements were met by each Group company.
The Swiss Solvency Test (SST) came into force on 1 January 2011 as a new statutory requirement alongside 
Solvency I. In this context, the Baloise Group defines its risk-bearing capital and capital required for the SST using 
an inhouse model that takes into account the Baloise Group’s business model. All activities and processes for 
 developing and structuring the inhouse model are gathered together in the Baloise Internal Solvency System (BISS) 
and coordinated and managed by Group Risk Management.

The inhouse model, which is based on the Swiss Solvency Test (SST), is used to calculate risk-bearing capital. 
IFRS equity forms the basis for this calculation. The additional incorporation of individual assets and liabilities as 
well as off-balance sheet information means that equity is determined at fair value. As a result, all capital items that 
can be deployed to cover losses in the event of adverse business developments are taken into consideration.

Risk-bearing capital is compared with risk-adjusted capital and the capital requirement formulated inhouse. 
The capital requirement covers actuarial risk, market risk, credit risk and other risks. To analyse these risks, the 
Baloise Group primarily factors actuarial and investment risks into its risk considerations. The risk level is deter-
mined by means of a correlation-based expected-shortfall method. The actuarial capital requirement is a measure-
ment of the operational funding required to cover actuarial risk. The claims risk is modelled using distributions of 
normal and large claims, including the prevailing reinsurance structure. At the same time, the investment required 
to smooth fluctuations in investment value and returns for a given probability is also calculated. Analysis of these 
risks is based on quantitative models that use statistical methods to evaluate historical data and place it in the con-
text of current exposure. Various scenarios are simulated by means of stress tests, and their potential impact on 
risk-bearing capacity is analysed. The ratio of risk-bearing capital to risk-adjusted capital is calculated for the stra-
tegic business units and the Group. The Group’s risk position is not determined by simply adding together indi-
vidual risk positions, it also takes into account diversification and consolidation effects. The current ratios of risk-
bearing capital to risk-adjusted capital are set with reference to the global risk-management limits laid down in the 
Group-wide Risk Management Standards. These limits are monitored on an ongoing basis.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   150

19.03.2013   13:46:34

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

151

The risk owner and risk controller responsible for each business unit and for the Group as a whole participate in a 
regular reporting process. Key figures relating to Solvency I and the inhouse risk model are reported on a monthly 
basis, which enables the solvency situation to be monitored in a timely manner, providing the basis for risk-based 
management decisions within the whole organisation. It also enables the Baloise Group to meet external reporting 
requirements at all times. 

6. BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION

6.1 2011 financial year

6.1.1 Acquisitions
The Baloise Group acquired the insurance agency and brokerage companies Wilhelm Herrmann Assekuranz KG 
and Wilhelm Herrmann Assekuranz Makler GmbH – both of which are based in Ettlingen (Germany) – with effect 
from 1 January 2011. This acquisition gave rise to goodwill of CHF 0.1 million.

On 6 January 2011, the Baloise Group completed its acquisition of 100 per cent of the voting rights in Avéro 
Schadeverzekering Benelux NV. The newly purchased firm was fully consolidated from this date and was merged into 
Mercator Verzekeringen NV in the first half of 2011. This acquisition gave rise to goodwill of CHF 17.3 million, which 
was transferred to Mercator Verzekeringen NV as a result of the merger. The key drivers of this goodwill were  
the expansion of the Belgian non-life business, the penetration of the Brussels and Walloon markets, the acquisition 
of expertise in commercial lines and marine / transport insurance, cross-selling potential and the realisation of  
cost savings.

The Baloise Group acquired 100 per cent of the voting rights in the Belgian insurers Nateus SA / NV and Nateus 
Life SA / NV on 6 September 2011. These two companies and their respective subsidiaries were fully consolidated as 
part of the Baloise Group from this date. This acquisition gave rise to total negative goodwill of CHF 7.9 million, which 
was recognised in profit or loss as other operating income. This negative goodwill was attributable to the fact that the 
Baloise Group managed to purchase the profitable Nateus companies at an attractive price. 

The second half of the year saw the Baloise Group acquire Belgium’s Pacific Real Estate NV and buy out the 
minority interests in the Belgian firm Axis Life NV as well as the non-controlling interests in the real-estate  company 
Van Vaeck Zenith NV, which until then had been held as an associate. The latter firm has been fully consolidated as 
part of the Baloise Group since then.

6.1.2 Disposals
The 100 per cent shareholdings in Belgium’s Ant Re NV, Antwerp, and Croatia’s Treci element d.o.o. were sold in 
the second half of 2011.

6.1.3 Other changes in the group of consolidated companies
Luxembourg-based entity Bâloise Europe Vie S.A. was merged into Bâloise Vie Luxembourg S.A. and Luxembourg’s 
Bâloise Assurances IARD S.A. was merged into Bâloise Assurances Luxembourg S.A. with effect from 1 January 
2011. 

Germany’s Basler Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, Bad Homburg, was merged into Basler Securitas Versicherungs-

Aktiengesellschaft, Bad Homburg, with effect from 1 July 2011.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   151

19.03.2013   13:46:34

152

Financial Report
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

6.2 2012 financial year

6.2.1 Acquisitions
Two property companies in Austria were acquired in 2012.

6.2.2 Disposals
The Poliklinika Osiguranje Zagreb in Croatia was sold with an effective sale date of 2 April 2012.

In addition, PiL Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH in Trier, Germany, was sold at the beginning of July 2012. Neither 

deal has had any material impact on the profit for the period.

6.2.3 Other changes in the group of consolidated companies
The bulk of Belgian non-life unit Amazon Insurance NV was partially merged with Mercator Verzekeringen  (non-life) 
on 1 January 2012. The remainder of Amazon continues to operate as a sales company. This transaction has had no 
net impact on the Company’s profit for the period. 

In addition, Barosa S.à.r.l., a company that will operate in the property sector, was established in Luxembourg 

on 10 December 2012.

02_FB_Kapitel_04_bis_06_en.indd   152

19.03.2013   13:46:34

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

153

7.  INFORMATION ON OPERATING SEGMENTS (SEGMENT REPORTING)
The Baloise Group organises its operating activities into strategic business units, which are generally combined 
under a single management team for each region. The financial and management information needed for all relevant 
executive decisions is held by these strategic business units. This is also the organisational level at which the chief 
operating decision-makers are situated. Regardless of where they are headquartered, all Baloise Group entities are 
therefore assigned to one of the reportable segments
 → Switzerland
 → Germany
 → Belgium
 → Luxembourg or
 → Other units
The “Other units” segment contains the strategic business units that do not meet the size criteria for disclosure 
under IFRS 8. These are the Baloise Group entities that have been assigned to 
 → Austria
 → Croatia
 → Serbia or
 → Baloise Life Liechtenstein

The “Germany” segment also includes the regional branches of the Deutscher Ring property and life insurance 

group in the Czech Republic and Slovakia as well as the Luxembourg-based partner Life S.A. 

The “Group business” segment comprises the units engaged in intercompany reinsurance and financing, as 

well as corporate IT and the holding companies.

The revenue generated by the Baloise Group is broken down into the Non-life, Life, Banking (including asset 
management) and “Other Activities” operating segments. The Non-life segment offers accident and health insurance 
as well as products relating to liability, motor, property and marine insurance. These products are tailored to the 
specific needs of our customers – primarily retail clients – and the core competences of the relevant companies in 
the Baloise Group. The Life segment provides individuals and companies with a wide range of endowment policies, 
term insurance, investment-linked products and private placement life insurance. The Banking segment essen-
tially comprises Baloise Bank SoBa, which acts as a universal bank in Switzerland, and Deutscher Ring Bausparkasse, 
which operates in Germany mainly as a conventional building society. 

The “Other Activities” operating segment includes equity investment companies, real-estate firms and financ-

ing companies.

The accounting policies applied to the presentation of the operating segments (segment reporting) are those 
used throughout the rest of the Financial Report. No intersegment relationships recognised either on the balance 
sheet or in the income statement – with the exception of income from long-term equity investments – are offset 
against each other.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   153

19.03.2013   13:47:06

154

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

7.1 Segment reporting by strategic business unit 

CHF million 

Income 

Premiums earned and policy fees (gross) 

Reinsurance premiums ceded 

Premiums earned and policy fees (net)

Investment income 

Realised gains and losses on investments 

Income from services rendered

Share of profit (loss) of associates

Other operating income 

Income 

Intersegment income 

Income from associates

Expense 

Claims and benefits paid (gross) 

Change in technical reserves (gross) 

Reinsurers’ share of claims incurred 

Acquisition costs 

Investment management expenses

Interest expenses on insurance liabilities

Gains or losses on financial contracts 

Other operating expenses 

Expense 

Operating and administrative expenses for insurance business 

– 407.1

– 413.8

Switzerland

Germany

Belgium

Luxembourg

Other units

Sub-total

Group business

Eliminated

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

4,036.0

3,833.9

1,554.1

1,490.4

– 179.8

– 176.8

– 98.4

– 97.3

3,856.2

3,657.1

1,455.7

1,393.1

969.1

– 184.3

51.1

0.0

44.7

946.3

136.7

54.5

0.0

30.4

531.3

– 152.6

85.6

3.0

38.4

506.8

246.1

52.8

16.3

25.6

872.3

– 57.6

814.7

193.1

– 72.9

3.3

7.2

17.7

1,063.0

– 70.9

992.1

260.1

33.6

6.8

0.2

9.3

4,736.8

4,825.0

1,961.4

2,240.7

963.1

1,302.1

– 38.7

372.8

– 129.4

400.2

7,493.2

9,140.8

423.6

– 152.2

– 155.4

7,762.6

9,409.0

74.9

0.0

74.2

0.0

46.0

2.9

47.8

15.6

12.6

2.3

20.2

0.2

– 3,315.1

– 3,353.9

– 1,224.8

– 1,191.3

– 565.9

– 667.9

– 584.9

– 376.5

– 25.2

– 310.3

– 51.2

– 138.9

– 138.5

– 151.6

– 5,301.0

– 5,428.4

– 137.0

– 182.6

126.5

161.7

– 5,311.5

– 5,449.3

– 13.9

– 662.5

– 887.6

7.5

– 11.6

– 639.9

– 867.6

123.0

– 18.1

104.9

130.7

– 17.1

113.6

215.7

– 69.9

145.8

213.5

– 72.2

141.3

6,801.1

6,731.5

– 423.8

– 434.3

6,377.3

6,297.2

– 253.6

– 259.3

6,806.9

6,730.7

253.6

0.0

259.3

– 176.3

– 176.5

0.0

6,630.6

6,554.2

15.8

14.9

32.8

33.6

1,742.1

1,761.7

– 2.4

– 1.5

1,766.5

1,782.2

– 175.2

230.4

– 330.0

191.7

– 915.0

128.8

– 126.8

– 139.5

– 23.0

– 14.4

213.1

– 355.1

– 368.5

152.2

155.4

– 943.4

158.6

10.2

140.1

–

5.2

259.4

– 6.1

253.3

26.8

– 28.4

118.9

51.0

421.6

–

–

258.5

– 1.5

257.0

22.0

0.6

–

15.2

–

15.1

6.5

31.6

2.1

– 22.7

– 20.5

1.0

1.1

– 11.2

– 12.0

–

– 2.2

–

– 0.4

13.4

–

0.5

3.7

–

– 63.7

– 48.0

16.0

– 11.9

– 27.4

– 0.7

– 0.2

– 8.0

8.2

–

25.4

67.2

–

166.5

10.2

112.1

202.9

5.2

48.0

– 43.6

– 27.5

– 2.4

– 1.1

– 183.3

180.9

– 576.1

– 826.0

– 78.3

– 52.0

320.0

11.5

–

10.5

64.7

–

– 12.5

44.2

– 42.8

– 36.4

– 2.6

– 0.2

309.5

– 80.3

838.5

135.7

16.5

91.2

15.8

261.1

– 650.7

– 880.0

– 78.1

– 50.9

– 565.1

– 387.2

133.5

– 218.2

– 30.8

– 449.4

– 176.0

– 161.0

122.4

– 507.9

Total

2012

839.1

125.0

16.5

92.0

–

15.8

113.2

– 650.9

– 899.2

– 59.1

– 50.6

– 563.9

– 425.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 134.1

– 150.0

53.3

20.3

– 576.8

– 20.3

– 847.0

31.0

0.3

1.6

– 61.3

– 51.6

324.0

22.0

– 22.0

28.2

0.4

6.2

117.5

152.2

15.0

–

0.8

4.7

–

– 56.7

11.3

3.9

– 10.3

– 23.7

– 0.6

– 0.3

– 8.4

48.7

–

10.0

– 2.1

7.9

– 4,629.0

– 4,446.8

– 1,963.3

– 2,223.5

– 941.2

– 1,228.3

– 362.1

40.4

– 406.2

– 7,444.4

– 8,666.9

– 326.5

– 341.7

155.4

– 7,618.7

– 8,853.2

– 179.7

– 103.3

– 10.7

– 1.2

– 20.4

– 27.4

– 227.3

– 154.2

– 13.1

– 1.3

– 63.8

– 45.0

– 251.0

– 255.5

– 23.3

– 45.1

– 22.7

– 295.5

– 257.1

– 21.7

– 43.2

– 31.0

– 41.1

– 5.2

– 79.9

– 40.2

– 5.1

– 68.8

63.7

– 92.3

51.9

– 72.4

– 167.1

– 168.0

– 166.2

– 135.4

50.5

62.0

18.6

83.2

Profit / loss before borrowing costs and taxes

107.8

378.2

– 1.9

17.2

21.9

73.8

10.0

10.7

– 89.0

– 6.0

48.8

473.9

95.1

81.9

143.9

555.8

Borrowing costs

Profit / loss before taxes

Income taxes

Profit / loss for the period (segment result)

–

–

107.8

378.2

–

– 1.9

– 6.5

101.3

– 67.4

310.8

– 9.2

– 11.1

–

17.2

17.8

35.0

–

21.9

– 17.6

4.3

–

73.8

2.0

75.8

–

–

10.7

– 89.0

5.7

16.4

3.6

– 85.4

–

– 6.0

– 1.5

– 7.5

–

48.8

– 31.8

17.0

–

473.9

– 43.4

430.5

– 55.0

40.1

– 61.1

20.8

4.2

44.3

– 8.9

11.9

– 55.0

88.9

– 27.6

61.3

– 61.1

494.7

– 52.3

442.4

Segment assets

37,960.2

39,352.1

15,278.1

15,911.7

7,907.4

8,794.5

4,047.2

4,710.9

3,467.7

3,891.4

68,660.6

72,660.6

1,405.6

1,847.3

– 1,000.0

– 980.7

69,066.2

73,527.2

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   154

19.03.2013   13:47:07

7.1 Segment reporting by strategic business unit 

CHF million 

Income 

Premiums earned and policy fees (gross) 

Reinsurance premiums ceded 

Premiums earned and policy fees (net)

Investment income 

Realised gains and losses on investments 

Income from services rendered

Share of profit (loss) of associates

Other operating income 

Income 

Intersegment income 

Income from associates

Expense 

Claims and benefits paid (gross) 

Change in technical reserves (gross) 

Reinsurers’ share of claims incurred 

Acquisition costs 

Investment management expenses

Interest expenses on insurance liabilities

Gains or losses on financial contracts 

Other operating expenses 

Expense 

Borrowing costs

Profit / loss before taxes

Income taxes

Profit / loss for the period (segment result)

4,036.0

3,833.9

1,554.1

1,490.4

– 179.8

– 176.8

– 98.4

– 97.3

3,856.2

3,657.1

1,455.7

1,393.1

872.3

– 57.6

814.7

193.1

– 72.9

3.3

7.2

17.7

12.6

2.3

1,063.0

– 70.9

992.1

260.1

33.6

6.8

0.2

9.3

20.2

0.2

531.3

– 152.6

85.6

3.0

38.4

46.0

2.9

506.8

246.1

52.8

16.3

25.6

47.8

15.6

– 3,315.1

– 3,353.9

– 1,224.8

– 1,191.3

– 565.9

– 667.9

– 584.9

– 376.5

– 25.2

– 310.3

– 51.2

– 138.9

50.5

62.0

18.6

83.2

– 251.0

– 255.5

– 23.3

– 45.1

– 22.7

– 295.5

– 257.1

– 21.7

– 43.2

– 31.0

– 179.7

– 103.3

– 10.7

– 1.2

– 20.4

– 27.4

– 227.3

– 154.2

– 13.1

– 1.3

– 63.8

– 45.0

969.1

– 184.3

51.1

0.0

44.7

74.9

0.0

63.7

– 92.3

– 41.1

– 5.2

– 79.9

946.3

136.7

54.5

0.0

30.4

74.2

0.0

51.9

– 72.4

– 40.2

– 5.1

– 68.8

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

155

Switzerland

Germany

Belgium

Luxembourg

Other units

Sub-total

Group business

Eliminated

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Total

2012

4,736.8

4,825.0

1,961.4

2,240.7

963.1

1,302.1

– 38.7

372.8

– 129.4

400.2

7,493.2

9,140.8

123.0

– 18.1

104.9

130.7

– 17.1

113.6

215.7

– 69.9

145.8

213.5

– 72.2

141.3

6,801.1

6,731.5

– 423.8

– 434.3

6,377.3

6,297.2

15.8

14.9

32.8

33.6

1,742.1

1,761.7

– 175.2

230.4

– 330.0

191.7

– 915.0

15.0

–

0.8

13.4

–

0.5

11.5

–

10.5

8.2

–

25.4

166.5

10.2

112.1

838.5

135.7

16.5

91.2

259.4

– 6.1

253.3

26.8

– 28.4

118.9

–

51.0

421.6

258.5

– 1.5

257.0

22.0

0.6

– 253.6

– 259.3

6,806.9

6,730.7

253.6

0.0

– 2.4

–

259.3

– 176.3

– 176.5

0.0

6,630.6

6,554.2

– 1.5

1,766.5

1,782.2

–

– 943.4

128.8

– 126.8

– 139.5

–

15.2

–

–

– 23.0

– 14.4

158.6

10.2

140.1

839.1

125.0

16.5

92.0

423.6

– 152.2

– 155.4

7,762.6

9,409.0

4.7

–

3.7

–

64.7

–

67.2

–

202.9

5.2

213.1

– 355.1

– 368.5

152.2

155.4

15.8

–

–

–

–

–

5.2

–

15.8

Operating and administrative expenses for insurance business 

– 407.1

– 413.8

– 56.7

11.3

3.9

– 10.3

– 23.7

– 0.6

– 0.3

– 63.7

– 48.0

16.0

– 11.9

– 27.4

– 0.7

– 0.2

133.5

– 218.2

– 12.5

44.2

– 42.8

– 36.4

– 2.6

– 0.2

309.5

– 80.3

– 13.9

– 662.5

– 887.6

48.0

– 43.6

– 27.5

– 2.4

– 1.1

– 183.3

180.9

– 576.1

– 826.0

– 78.3

– 52.0

320.0

– 30.8

– 449.4

261.1

– 650.7

– 880.0

– 78.1

– 50.9

– 565.1

– 387.2

15.1

6.5

31.6

2.1

– 22.7

– 20.5

1.0

1.1

– 11.2

– 12.0

–

– 2.2

–

– 0.4

– 176.0

– 161.0

– 167.1

– 168.0

– 166.2

– 135.4

– 4,629.0

– 4,446.8

– 1,963.3

– 2,223.5

– 941.2

– 1,228.3

– 8.4

48.7

– 8.0

– 362.1

40.4

– 406.2

– 7,444.4

– 8,666.9

– 326.5

– 341.7

– 138.5

– 151.6

– 5,301.0

– 5,428.4

– 137.0

– 182.6

126.5

161.7

– 5,311.5

– 5,449.3

Profit / loss before borrowing costs and taxes

107.8

378.2

– 1.9

17.2

21.9

73.8

10.0

10.7

– 89.0

– 6.0

48.8

473.9

95.1

81.9

–

–

107.8

378.2

–

– 1.9

– 6.5

101.3

– 67.4

310.8

– 9.2

– 11.1

–

17.2

17.8

35.0

–

21.9

– 17.6

4.3

–

73.8

2.0

75.8

–

10.0

– 2.1

7.9

–

–

10.7

– 89.0

5.7

16.4

3.6

– 85.4

–

– 6.0

– 1.5

– 7.5

–

48.8

– 31.8

17.0

–

473.9

– 43.4

430.5

– 55.0

40.1

– 61.1

20.8

4.2

44.3

– 8.9

11.9

7.5

– 11.6

– 639.9

– 867.6

– 134.1

– 150.0

53.3

22.0

– 22.0

28.2

0.4

6.2

117.5

152.2

–

–

–

–

–

20.3

– 576.8

– 20.3

– 847.0

31.0

0.3

1.6

– 61.3

– 51.6

324.0

122.4

– 507.9

113.2

– 650.9

– 899.2

– 59.1

– 50.6

– 563.9

– 425.8

155.4

– 7,618.7

– 8,853.2

–

–

–

–

–

143.9

555.8

– 55.0

88.9

– 27.6

61.3

– 61.1

494.7

– 52.3

442.4

Segment assets

37,960.2

39,352.1

15,278.1

15,911.7

7,907.4

8,794.5

4,047.2

4,710.9

3,467.7

3,891.4

68,660.6

72,660.6

1,405.6

1,847.3

– 1,000.0

– 980.7

69,066.2

73,527.2

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   155

19.03.2013   13:47:07

156

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

7.2 Segment reporting by operating segment 

CHF million 

Income 

Premiums earned and policy fees (gross) 

Reinsurance premiums ceded 

Premiums earned and policy fees (net)

Investment income

Realised gains and losses on investments 

Income from services rendered

Share of profit (loss) of associates

Other operating income 

Income 

Intersegment income 

Income from associates

Expense 

Claims and benefits paid (gross) 

Change in technical reserves (gross) 

Reinsurers’ share of claims incurred 

Acquisition costs 

Operating and administrative expenses for insurance business 

Investment management expenses

Interest expenses on insurance liabilities

Gains or losses on financial contracts 

Other operating expenses 

Expense 

2011

3,147.1

– 158.8

2,988.3

291.9

– 191.4

29.1

0.7

39.9

3,158.5

– 56.2

0.7

Non-life

2012

3,306.7

– 157.8

3,148.9

285.2

– 1.9

27.2

0.0

25.9

3,485.3

– 47.6

0.0

2011

3,659.8

– 17.5

3,642.3

1,323.9

– 720.4

27.7

6.8

64.9

4,345.2

– 27.4

1.8

– 1,850.3

– 2,009.1

– 3,461.2

– 127.5

42.0

– 403.0

– 527.0

– 19.9

– 1.2

– 3.1

– 41.9

106.2

– 448.6

– 588.0

– 19.3

– 1.3

– 1.0

– 512.4

11.3

– 173.8

– 320.0

– 75.8

– 50.4

390.2

– 141.5

– 3,031.5

– 128.8

– 3,131.8

– 137.2

– 4,329.3

Profit / loss before borrowing costs and taxes

127.0

353.5

Borrowing costs

Profit / loss before taxes

Income taxes

Profit / loss for the period (segment result)

–

127.0

– 13.9

113.1

–

353.5

– 4.2

349.3

15.9

–

15.9

– 8.4

7.5

Life

2012

3,424.0

– 18.7

3,405.3

1,347.8

845.8

27.0

0.9

59.3

5,686.1

– 28.3

0.2

– 3,440.2

– 825.7

7.0

– 202.3

– 311.2

– 78.5

– 49.3

– 501.1

– 108.1

– 5,509.4

176.7

–

176.7

– 27.9

148.8

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   156

19.03.2013   13:47:08

2011

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Other activities

Eliminated

Banking

2012

165.8

– 2.7

113.6

–

6.0

282.7

– 52.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 76.7

– 112.8

– 209.9

72.8

–

72.8

– 12.7

60.1

171.0

– 1.0

109.5

–

6.9

286.4

– 47.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 82.0

– 111.3

– 213.1

73.3

–

73.3

– 13.8

59.5

7,762.6

9,409.0

– 5,311.5

– 5,449.3

13.4

– 30.6

171.1

2.7

48.4

205.0

– 101.5

2.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 17.9

– 252.3

– 277.3

– 55.0

– 127.3

8.5

– 118.8

13.2

– 2.1

174.4

15.6

16.1

217.2

– 133.9

15.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 16.1

– 240.9

– 264.4

– 61.1

– 108.3

– 7.5

– 115.8

– 33.7

– 29.8

– 178.8

– 217.2

– 20.0

– 232.5

232.5

– 15.3

– 262.3

262.3

36.8

134.4

232.5

31.0

164.8

262.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6,806.9

– 176.3

6,630.6

1,766.5

– 943.4

158.6

10.2

140.1

–

5.2

– 639.9

53.3

– 576.8

– 847.0

– 61.3

– 51.6

324.0

– 507.9

– 7,618.7

– 55.0

88.9

– 27.6

61.3

– 72.3

– 47.2

143.9

555.8

Total

2012

6,730.7

– 176.5

6,554.2

1,782.2

839.1

125.0

16.5

92.0

–

15.8

– 867.6

113.2

– 650.9

– 899.2

– 59.1

– 50.6

– 563.9

– 425.8

– 8,853.2

– 61.1

494.7

– 52.3

442.4

– 19.8

– 20.4

– 7.1

– 7.4

61.3

66.5

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

157

7.2 Segment reporting by operating segment 

CHF million 

Income 

Premiums earned and policy fees (gross) 

Reinsurance premiums ceded 

Premiums earned and policy fees (net)

Investment income

Realised gains and losses on investments 

Income from services rendered

Share of profit (loss) of associates

Other operating income 

Income 

Intersegment income 

Income from associates

Expense 

Claims and benefits paid (gross) 

Change in technical reserves (gross) 

Reinsurers’ share of claims incurred 

Acquisition costs 

Investment management expenses

Interest expenses on insurance liabilities

Gains or losses on financial contracts 

Other operating expenses 

Expense 

Borrowing costs

Profit / loss before taxes

Income taxes

Profit / loss for the period (segment result)

2011

2011

Non-life

2012

3,306.7

– 157.8

3,148.9

285.2

– 1.9

27.2

0.0

25.9

3,485.3

– 47.6

0.0

– 41.9

106.2

– 448.6

– 588.0

– 19.3

– 1.3

– 1.0

–

353.5

– 4.2

349.3

Life

2012

3,424.0

– 18.7

3,405.3

1,347.8

845.8

27.0

0.9

59.3

5,686.1

– 28.3

0.2

– 3,440.2

– 825.7

7.0

– 202.3

– 311.2

– 78.5

– 49.3

– 501.1

– 108.1

– 5,509.4

176.7

–

176.7

– 27.9

148.8

3,659.8

– 17.5

3,642.3

1,323.9

– 720.4

27.7

6.8

64.9

4,345.2

– 27.4

1.8

– 512.4

11.3

– 173.8

– 320.0

– 75.8

– 50.4

390.2

15.9

–

15.9

– 8.4

7.5

3,147.1

– 158.8

2,988.3

291.9

– 191.4

29.1

0.7

39.9

3,158.5

– 56.2

0.7

– 127.5

42.0

– 403.0

– 527.0

– 19.9

– 1.2

– 3.1

–

127.0

– 13.9

113.1

– 1,850.3

– 2,009.1

– 3,461.2

Operating and administrative expenses for insurance business 

Profit / loss before borrowing costs and taxes

127.0

353.5

– 141.5

– 3,031.5

– 128.8

– 3,131.8

– 137.2

– 4,329.3

2011

–

–

–

171.0

– 1.0

109.5

–

6.9

286.4

– 47.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 19.8

–

– 82.0

– 111.3

– 213.1

73.3

–

73.3

– 13.8

59.5

Banking

2012

–

–

–

165.8

– 2.7

113.6

–

6.0

282.7

– 52.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 20.4

–

– 76.7

– 112.8

– 209.9

72.8

–

72.8

– 12.7

60.1

Other activities

Eliminated

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

–

–

–

13.4

– 30.6

171.1

2.7

48.4

205.0

– 101.5

2.7

–

–

–

–

–

– 7.1

–

– 17.9

– 252.3

– 277.3

–

–

–

13.2

– 2.1

174.4

15.6

16.1

217.2

– 133.9

15.6

–

–

–

–

–

– 7.4

–

– 16.1

– 240.9

– 264.4

– 72.3

– 47.2

– 55.0

– 127.3

8.5

– 118.8

– 61.1

– 108.3

– 7.5

– 115.8

–

–

–

– 33.7

–

– 178.8

–

– 20.0

– 232.5

232.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

61.3

–

36.8

134.4

232.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 29.8

–

– 217.2

–

– 15.3

– 262.3

262.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

66.5

–

31.0

164.8

262.3

–

–

–

–

–

Total

2012

6,730.7

– 176.5

6,554.2

1,782.2

839.1

125.0

16.5

92.0

6,806.9

– 176.3

6,630.6

1,766.5

– 943.4

158.6

10.2

140.1

7,762.6

9,409.0

–

5.2

–

15.8

– 5,311.5

– 5,449.3

– 639.9

53.3

– 576.8

– 847.0

– 61.3

– 51.6

324.0

– 507.9

– 7,618.7

– 867.6

113.2

– 650.9

– 899.2

– 59.1

– 50.6

– 563.9

– 425.8

– 8,853.2

143.9

555.8

– 55.0

88.9

– 27.6

61.3

– 61.1

494.7

– 52.3

442.4

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   157

19.03.2013   13:47:09

158

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Notes to the consolidated balance sheet

8. PROPERT Y, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 

8.1 Property, plant and equipment in 2011

CHF million

Carrying amount as at 1 January

Additions

Additions arising from change in the  
scope of consolidation

Disposals

Disposals arising from change in  
the scope of consolidation

Reclassification

Depreciation and impairment

Depreciation

Impairment losses recognised  
in profit or loss

Reversal of impairment losses  
recognised in profit or loss

Exchange differences

Carrying amount as at 31 December

Acquisition costs

Accumulated depreciation and  
impairment

Balance as at 31 December

Of which:  
Assets held under finance leases 1

Land

Buildings

Operating 
equipment

Machinery,  
furniture and  
vehicles

IT equipment

Total

81.4 

6.0 

1.9 

– 0.2 

–

–

–

– 1.0 

0.5 

– 0.4 

88.2 

89.1 

– 0.9 

88.2 

–

340.4 

41.5 

6.0 

–

–

55.5 

3.8 

2.3 

– 0.4 

–

37.7 

7.0 

3.3 

– 3.1 

–

20.7 

11.9 

1.2 

– 1.2 

–

535.7 

70.2 

14.7 

– 4.9 

–

– 0.5 

– 0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

– 0.5 

– 17.3 

– 0.5 

–

– 7.7 

361.9 

749.5 

– 387.6 

361.9 

88.1 

– 8.5 

–

–

– 0.3 

52.4 

148.2 

– 95.8 

52.4 

–

– 7.7 

– 1.2 

0.0 

– 0.9 

35.1 

114.1 

– 79.0 

35.1 

0.1 

– 10.0 

–

–

– 0.3 

22.3 

149.1 

– 126.8 

22.3 

–

– 43.5 

– 2.7 

0.5 

– 9.6 

559.9 

1,250.0 

– 690.1 

559.9 

88.2 

1   Assets held under finance leases essentially comprise a leasing arrangement that offers an option to purchase an owner-occupied administrative building.  

The leasing arrangement includes a repayment schedule and is contractually fixed until mid-2018. 

Depreciation and impairment form part of other operating expenses.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   158

19.03.2013   13:47:15

 
Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

159

8.2 Property, plant and equipment in 2012

CHF million

Carrying amount as at 1 January

Additions

Additions arising from change in  
the scope of consolidation

Disposals

Disposals arising from change in  
the scope of consolidation

Reclassification 1

Depreciation and impairment

Depreciation

Impairment losses recognised  
in profit or loss

Reversal of impairment losses  
recognised in profit or loss

Exchange differences

Carrying amount as at 31 December

Acquisition costs

Accumulated depreciation and  
impairment

Balance as at 31 December

Of which:  
Assets held under finance leases

Land

Buildings

Operating 
equipment

Machinery,  
furniture and  
vehicles

IT equipment

Total

88.2 

8.4 

–

– 0.3 

–

–

–

– 1.0 

361.9 

23.1 

–

– 6.4 

–

– 84.9 

– 18.7 

– 6.5 

52.4 

3.1 

–

– 2.9 

–

–

– 8.7 

– 0.1 

35.1 

5.3 

–

– 0.5 

– 0.6 

22.3 

10.5 

–

– 0.4 

– 0.0 

559.9 

50.4 

–

– 10.5 

– 0.6 

–

–

– 84.9 

– 7.6 

– 1.4 

– 9.5 

– 0.1 

– 44.5 

– 9.1 

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 0.1 

95.2 

97.1 

– 1.9 

95.2 

–

– 1.7 

266.8 

683.5 

– 416.7 

266.8 

–

– 0.1 

43.7 

142.2 

– 98.5 

43.7 

–

– 0.2 

30.1 

91.9 

– 61.8 

30.1 

–

– 0.1 

22.7 

120.8 

– 98.1 

22.7 

–

– 2.2 

458.5 

1,135.5 

– 677.0 

458.5 

–

1   The administrative building reclassified as investment property is held on a finance lease. 

Depreciation and impairment form part of other operating expenses.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   159

19.03.2013   13:47:20

 
160

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

9. INTANGIBLE ASSETS 

9.1 Intangible assets in 2011

CHF million

Carrying amount as at 1 January 

Additions arising from change  
in the scope of consolidation

Additions

Capitalisation of acquisition costs

Disposals

Disposals arising from change  
in the scope of consolidation

Reclassification

Amortisation and impairment

Amortisation

Write-ups

Impairment losses recognised  
in profit or loss

Reversal of impairment losses  
recognised in profit or loss

Impairment recognised  
for impending losses

Change due to unrealised gains  
and losses on financial instruments 
(shadow accounting)

Exchange differences

Carrying amount as at 31 December

Acquisition costs

Accumulated amortisation  
and impairment

Balance as at 31 December 1

Intangible assets by segment

Switzerland

Germany

Belgium

Luxembourg

Other units

Group business

Total for geographic regions

Present  
value of  
gains on 
insurance 
contracts 
acquired

50.1

27.6

–

–

–

–

–

– 4.4

–

– 0.7

–

–

–

– 2.2

70.4

–

–

Goodwill

111.7

–

17.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 50.1

–

–

–

– 3.6

75.4

307.8

– 232.4

Deferred  
acquisition  
cost 
(Life)

Deferred  
acquisition  
cost 
(Non-life)

Other  
intangible 
assets

Internally  
developed 
intangible 
assets

165.1

71.0

32.1

–

– 0.5

–

–

– 43.0

–

– 3.3

–

–

–

0.2

–

0.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 0.3

– 535.3

Total

1,342.6

120.7

49.9

414.7

– 0.5

–

–

0.8

– 54.1

–

2.1

– 8.4

– 32.3

1,300.2

–

–

– 3.1

161.2

–

–

– 3.8

217.6

587.4

– 369.8

– 0.0 

0.3

10.0

– 9.7

877.6

–

–

87.0

–

–

–

137.9

22.1

–

327.7

–

–

–

– 162.1

– 325.5

–

–

–

2.1

–

0.8

–

–

–

– 8.4

– 19.6

775.3

–

–

75.4

70.4

775.3

161.2

217.6

0.3

1,300.2

–

33.9

16.9

14.1

10.5

0.0

75.4

–

24.1

28.5

–

17.8

–

70.4

146.2

561.8

28.2

12.7

26.4

–

53.8

26.0

59.1

2.8

19.5

–

79.3

19.9

97.3

9.4

4.8

6.9

775.3

161.2

217.6

–

0.1

–

–

–

0.2

0.3

279.3

665.8

230.0

39.0

79.0

7.1

1,300.2

1   With the possible exception of goodwill, the Baloise Group has no intangible assets with indefinite useful lives.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   160

19.03.2013   13:47:27

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

161

9.2 Intangible assets in 2012

Present  
value of  
gains on 
insurance 
contracts 
acquired

Goodwill

Deferred  
acquisition  
cost 
(Life)

Deferred  
acquisition  
cost 
(Non-life)

Other  
intangible 
assets

Internally  
developed 
intangible 
assets

CHF million

Carrying amount as at 1 January 

75.4

70.4

775.3

161.2

Additions arising from change  
in the scope of consolidation

Additions

Capitalisation of acquisition costs

Disposals

Disposals arising from change  
in the scope of consolidation

Reclassification

Amortisation and impairment

Amortisation

Write-ups

Impairment losses recognised  
in profit or loss

Reversal of impairment losses  
recognised in profit or loss

Impairment recognised  
for impending losses

Change due to unrealised gains  
and losses on financial instruments 
(shadow accounting)

Exchange differences

Carrying amount as at 31 December

Acquisition costs

Accumulated amortisation  
and impairment

Balance as at 31 December 1

Intangible assets by segment

Switzerland

Germany

Belgium

Luxembourg

Other units

Group business

Total for geographic regions

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 1.5

–

–

–

– 0.5

73.4

307.3

– 233.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 5.5

–

– 2.4

–

–

–

– 0.5

62.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

82.4

358.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 141.3

– 360.0

1.0

–

–

–

–

–

– 55.6

– 5.2

– 62.8

–

217.6

–

24.4

–

– 0.5

– 0.7

–

– 46.3

–

 – 0.0 

–

–

–

0.3

–

0.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 3.8

595.2

–

–

– 0.7

153.9

–

–

– 0.8

193.7

562.5

– 368.8

– 0.0 

0.3

10.2

– 9.9

– 0.2

– 553.3

Total

1,300.2

–

24.6

441.0

– 0.5

– 0.7

–

1.0

– 3.9

–

– 60.8

– 62.8

– 6.3

1,078.5

–

–

73.4

62.0

595.2

153.9

193.7

0.3

1,078.5

–

32.2

16.7

14.0

10.5

–

73.4

–

19.6

26.1

–

16.3

–

62.0

105.5

449.2

8.7

9.9

21.9

–

52.4

23.9

54.8

3.0

19.8

–

69.5

11.3

93.6

9.3

3.5

6.5

595.2

153.9

193.7

–

0.0

–

–

–

0.3

0.3

227.4

536.2

199.9

36.2

72.0

6.8

1,078.5

1   With the possible exception of goodwill, the Baloise Group has no intangible assets with indefinite useful lives.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   161

19.03.2013   13:47:27

162

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

In 2011, an impairment loss of CHF 50.1 million had been recognised in respect of the goodwill arising in con-
nection with Osiguranje Zagreb, which had been acquired in 2007. This impairment loss had been recognised as 
a consequence of the change in economic outlook caused by the European sovereign debt crisis and a resulting 
reassessment of the growth prospects in Croatia. Of the total impairment loss amount, CHF 40.7 million had been 
allocated to the non-life operating segment and CHF 9.4 million to the life operating segment. 

The entire amount of goodwill recognised in respect of PiL Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (CHF 1.5 million) 

was written off in 2012. 

The impairment recognised for impending losses and the changes in unrealised gains and losses on financial 
instruments (shadow accounting) reported as deferred acquisition costs in life insurance were caused by the adverse 
interest-rate trends prevailing during the reporting year.

9.3 Assumptions used to test the impairment of significant goodwill items
Assumptions used to forecast future business developments and trends have been reviewed by the local management 
teams and take account of macroeconomic conditions.

Zeus Vermittlungsgesellschaft mbH

Basler Financial Services GmbH

Basler osiguranje Zagreb d.d.

Bâloise Assurances Luxembourg S.A.

Mercator Verzekeringen NV

Goodwill

Discount rate

Growth rate

2011

14.8

15.4

10.5

12.2

16.8

2012

14.7

15.3

10.4

12.1

16.7

2011

8.5

8.0

11.5

9.3

9.3

2012

9.1

7.5

11.5

9.3

7.0

2011

2012

1.0

1.0

3.0

2.6

2.6

1.0

1.0

3.0

2.6

2.6

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   162

19.03.2013   13:47:27

 
Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

163

10. INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES

CHF million

Balance as at 1 January

Additions

Disposals & capital repayments

Reclassification due to change in percentage of shareholding

Realised gains / losses on disposals

Adjustments

Dividends paid

Exchange differences

Balance as at 31 December

2011

2012

211.3

0.0

– 15.3

– 6.2

5.0

– 12.3

– 3.4

– 5.6

173.5

173.5

36.2

 – 0.0 

–

–

22.8

– 4.4

– 0.9

227.2

In 2011 the Baloise Group bought out the minority interests in Van Vaeck Zenith NV, which until then had been 
held as an associate. This company has been fully consolidated as part of the Baloise Group since then.

The additions in 2012 essentially relate to a long-term equity investment in Pasinger Hofgärten Fonds GmbH &  

Co. KG.

Because the publicly traded OVB Group’s relevant financial year-end closing information, which is used for 
measurement purposes, had not been published by the time the Financial Report was being prepared, measurement 
has been based in each case on the financial closing data for the period ended 30 September of the reporting year.

SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES 

2011

in CHF million

OVB Holding AG, Cologne 1

Roland Rechtsschutz Versicherungs-AG, Cologne

Credimo Holding, Asse

Atlantic Union, Athens

Other

Assets

Liabilities

Revenue

Profit

Share in %

176.5

500.7

1,137.9

194.0

177.0

80.7

407.2

969.2

148.9

4.4

249.1

175.7

160.2

81.8

3.0

4.4

14.9

2.7

7.8

– 0.5

32.6 %

25.0 %

22.7 %

31.1 %

The market value of the shareholding in OVB Holding AG, Cologne, amounted to CHF 105.9 million as at 31 December 2011.

2012

CHF million

OVB Holding AG, Cologne 1

Roland Rechtsschutz Versicherungs-AG, Cologne

Credimo Holding, Asse

Atlantic Union, Athens

Other

Assets

Liabilities

Revenue

Profit

Share (%)

180.8

1,010.6

1,128.1

211.7

284.4

83.5

863.5

1,034.0

156.2

4.3

8.4

268.8

149.9

90.6

8.2

– 0.1

11.4

1.5

12.5

0.6

32.6 %

25.0 %

22.7 %

31.1 %

The market value of the shareholding in OVB Holding AG, Cologne, amounted to CHF 119.5 million as at 31 December 2012.
1   Figures are shown as at 30 September of the reporting period.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   163

19.03.2013   13:47:28

164

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

11.  INVESTMENT PROPERT Y

CHF million

Balance as at 1 January

Additions

Additions arising from change in scope of consolidation

Disposals

Disposals arising from change in scope of consolidation

Reclassification 1

Change in fair value

Exchange differences

Balance as at 31 December

Operating expenses arising from investment property that generates rental income

Operating expenses arising from investment property that does not generate rental income

2011

2012

5,046.6

5,138.0

154.2

135.8

190.1

6.9

– 178.9

– 110.2

– 0.6

0.5

3.5

– 23.1

5,138.0

70.2

0.1

–

84.9

136.1

– 4.8

5,441.0

75.8

0.1

1   The reclassifications essentially relate to a leasing arrangement that offers an option to purchase an investment property. The leasing arrangement includes  

a repayment schedule and is contractually fixed until mid-2018.

Additions and disposals in 2011 were largely attributable to deals in Switzerland, disposals in Germany and addi-
tions in Belgium. The additions arising from a change in scope of consolidation were largely in connection with 
acquisitions in Belgium. Disposals arising from a change in scope of consolidation related to the disposal of Treci 
element d.o.o. in Croatia.

The adjustment of the interest-rate trend in the valuation model for the Swiss property portfolio, which in 
particular caused the underlying discount rates to change, resulted in a corresponding revaluation of the portfolio. 
In the year under review, this revaluation represented the main component of the amount reported under “Change 
in fair value”. 

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   164

19.03.2013   13:47:28

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

165

12. FINANCIAL ASSETS

CHF million

Financial assets of an equity nature

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets of a debt nature

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets for own account and at own risk

Financial assets for the account and at the risk of life insurance policyholders

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss 1

Financial assets as reported on the balance sheet

2011

2012

3,447.3

3,337.0

33.3

76.5

8,027.8

8,188.5

19,855.3

22,433.5

98.5

71.7

31,462.2

34,107.2

7,159.2

7,640.1

38,621.4

41,747.3

1   Of which financial assets totalling CHF 42.1 million (2011: CHF 114.8 million) involved insurance policies that had not been fully reviewed by the balance sheet date.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   165

19.03.2013   13:47:28

166

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR OwN ACCOUNT AND AT OwN RISk

CHF million

Financial assets of an equity nature

Publicly listed

Not publicly listed

Total

Financial assets of a debt nature

Publicly listed, fixed interest rate

Publicly listed, variable interest rate

Not publicly listed, fixed interest rate

Not publicly listed, variable interest rate

Total

IMPAIRMENT OF HELD-TO-MATURIT Y FINANCIAL ASSETS OF A DEBT NATURE

CHF million

Balance as at 1 January

Usage not recognised in profit or loss

Unused provisions reversed through profit or loss

Increases and additional provisions recognised in profit or loss

Disposal arising from change in scope of consolidation

Currency translation

Balance as at 31 December

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value  

through profit or loss

Total

Trading portfolio

Designated

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

1,983.8

1,463.5

3,447.3

1,849.0

1,488.0

3,337.0

19,654.2

22,201.6

163.3

37.8

–

186.4

45.5

–

19,855.3

22,433.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.4

–

0.4

–

–

–

–

–

33.3

–

33.3

42.6

39.1

16.8

–

98.5

76.1

–

76.1

12.1

43.6

16.0

–

71.7

2,017.1

1,463.5

3,480.6

1,925.5

1,488.0

3,413.5

27,724.6

30,402.2

202.4

54.6

–

230.0

61.5

–

27,981.6

30,693.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

8,027.8

8,188.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

8,027.8

8,188.5

2011

2012

–

–

–

– 7.6 

–

–

– 7.6

– 7.6 

7.6 

–

–

–

–

–

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   166

19.03.2013   13:47:29

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

167

FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR O wN ACCOUNT AND AT O wN RIS k

CHF million

Financial assets of an equity nature

Publicly listed

Not publicly listed

Total

Financial assets of a debt nature

Publicly listed, fixed interest rate

Publicly listed, variable interest rate

Not publicly listed, fixed interest rate

Not publicly listed, variable interest rate

Total

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value  
through profit or loss

Total

Trading portfolio

Designated

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

8,027.8

8,188.5

8,027.8

8,188.5

1,983.8

1,463.5

3,447.3

1,849.0

1,488.0

3,337.0

19,654.2

22,201.6

163.3

37.8

–

186.4

45.5

–

19,855.3

22,433.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.4

–

0.4

–

–

–

–

–

33.3

–

33.3

42.6

39.1

16.8

–

98.5

76.1

–

76.1

12.1

43.6

16.0

–

71.7

2,017.1

1,463.5

3,480.6

1,925.5

1,488.0

3,413.5

27,724.6

30,402.2

202.4

54.6

–

230.0

61.5

–

27,981.6

30,693.7

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   167

19.03.2013   13:47:29

168

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit 

or loss

Designated

Trading portfolio

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

CHF million

Type of financial asset 

Equities

Equity funds

Mixed funds

Bond funds

Real-estate funds

Private equity 

Hedge funds 

Financial assets of an equity nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Financial assets of a debt nature

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6,833.2

39.0

1,116.4

39.2

8,027.8

6,982.5

33.8

1,138.1

34.1

8,188.5

Total

8,027.8

8,188.5

23,302.6

25,770.5

0.4

131.8

147.8

31,462.2

34,107.2

Secured financial assets of a debt nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Total

3.5

–

887.7

–

891.2

1.3

–

918.6

–

919.9

Secured financial assets of a debt nature are fixed-income securities for which a mortgage or a government bond 
has been securitised as collateral. 

3,447.3

3,337.0

76.1

3,480.6

3,413.5

1,578.1

1,309.8

1,578.1

1,309.9

94.4

44.9

116.3

323.4

540.7

749.5

111.6

118.6

135.4

390.8

555.0

715.8

8,912.4

2,122.6

8,815.3

5.0

10,358.8

2,455.1

9,619.4

0.2

19,855.3

22,433.5

378.0

4.3

291.0

–

5,752.8

5,979.9

0.2

0.2

6,135.3

6,271.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

0.3

0.0

0.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

14.0

14.7

4.6

0.0

–

–

33.3

40.5

0.7

57.3

–

98.5

–

–

–

–

–

Total

130.5

171.1

140.4

390.8

555.0

715.8

108.4

59.6

120.9

323.4

540.7

749.5

15,786.1

2,162.3

9,989.0

44.2

17,363.2

2,489.5

10,806.7

34.3

27,981.6

30,693.7

381.5

4.3

292.4

–

6,640.5

6,898.5

0.2

0.2

7,026.5

7,191.1

0.1

18.8

52.2

5.0

0.0

–

–

21.9

0.6

49.2

–

71.7

0.1

0.0

–

–

0.1

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   168

19.03.2013   13:47:30

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

169

CHF million

Type of financial asset 

Equities

Equity funds

Mixed funds

Bond funds

Real-estate funds

Private equity 

Hedge funds 

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Financial assets of an equity nature

Financial assets of a debt nature

Secured financial assets of a debt nature

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Total

Other

Total

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit 
or loss

Total

Trading portfolio

Designated

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6,833.2

39.0

1,116.4

39.2

8,027.8

6,982.5

33.8

1,138.1

34.1

8,188.5

8,027.8

8,188.5

3.5

–

–

887.7

891.2

1.3

–

–

918.6

919.9

1,578.1

1,309.8

94.4

44.9

116.3

323.4

540.7

749.5

111.6

118.6

135.4

390.8

555.0

715.8

3,447.3

3,337.0

8,912.4

2,122.6

8,815.3

5.0

10,358.8

2,455.1

9,619.4

0.2

19,855.3

22,433.5

23,302.6

25,770.5

378.0

4.3

291.0

–

5,752.8

5,979.9

0.2

0.2

6,135.3

6,271.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

0.3

0.0

–

–

–

0.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

14.0

14.7

4.6

0.0

–

–

33.3

40.5

0.7

57.3

–

98.5

0.1

18.8

52.2

5.0

0.0

–

–

1,578.1

1,309.9

108.4

59.6

120.9

323.4

540.7

749.5

130.5

171.1

140.4

390.8

555.0

715.8

76.1

3,480.6

3,413.5

21.9

0.6

49.2

–

71.7

15,786.1

2,162.3

9,989.0

44.2

17,363.2

2,489.5

10,806.7

34.3

27,981.6

30,693.7

0.4

131.8

147.8

31,462.2

34,107.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

–

0.0

–

0.1

381.5

4.3

292.4

–

6,640.5

6,898.5

0.2

0.2

7,026.5

7,191.1

Secured financial assets of a debt nature are fixed-income securities for which a mortgage or a government bond 

has been securitised as collateral. 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS CLASSIFIED AS HELD TO MATURIT Y

CHF million

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Total

Carrying amount

Fair value

2011

2012

2011

2012

6,833.2

6,982.5

7,405.1

7,965.6

39.0

33.8

41.1

35.8

1,116.4

1,138.1

1,174.4

1,224.6

39.2

34.1

40.9

35.5

8,027.8

8,188.5

8,661.5

9,261.5

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   169

19.03.2013   13:47:30

170

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

13. MORTGAGES AND LOANS

CHF million

Mortgages and loans 
carried at cost

Mortgages 

Policy loans

Promissory notes and  
registered bonds

Time deposits

Employee loans

Reverse repurchase 
agreements

Other loans

Sub-total

Mortgages and loans  
recognised at fair value  
through profit or loss

Mortgages 

Policy loans

Sub-total

Gross amount

Impairment

Carrying amount

Fair value

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

10,632.1

10,241.0

203.9

5,463.0

956.4

44.9

–

180.2

5,812.4

1,101.0

42.6

–

– 56.8

–

 – 0.0 

–

–

–

– 50.3

10,575.3

10,190.7

11,083.0

10,697.7

–

203.9

– 0.0 

5,463.0

–

–

–

956.4

44.9

–

180.2

5,812.4

1,101.0

42.6

–

216.3

5,905.4

956.4

46.7

–

192.1

6,552.2

1,101.0

44.1

–

439.6

382.7

17,739.9

17,759.9

– 15.6

– 72.4

– 18.4

– 68.7

424.0

364.3

419.2

381.7

17,667.5

17,691.2

18,627.0

18,968.8

374.5

0.7

375.2

819.2

0.5

819.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

374.5

0.7

375.2

819.2

0.5

819.7

374.5

0.7

375.2

819.2

0.5

819.7

Mortgages and loans

18,115.1

18,579.6

– 72.4

– 68.7

18,042.7

18,510.9

19,002.2

19,788.5

The  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  mortgages  recognised  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  are  attributable  to  
changes in volumes and to changes in the yield curve on which measurement is based.

IMPAIRMENT OF MORTGAGES AND LOANS

CHF million

Balance as at 1 January

Usage not recognised in profit or loss

Unused provisions reversed through profit or loss

Increases and additional provisions recognised in profit or loss

Disposal arising from change in scope of consolidation

Currency translation 

Balance as at 31 December

2011

2012

– 81.0

8.0

11.4

– 12.0

–

1.2

– 72.4

6.6

12.3

– 15.4

–

0.2

– 72.4

– 68.7

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   170

19.03.2013   13:47:30

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

171

14. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

CHF million

Derivative financial instruments for own account and at own risk

Derivative financial instruments for the account and at the risk  
of life insurance policyholders

281.8

52.3

334.9

162.7

175.3

–

Derivative financial instruments as reported on the balance sheet

334.1

497.6

175.3

64.4

–

64.4

Fair value assets

Fair value liabilities

2011

2012

2011

2012

CHF million

Interest-rate instruments

Forward contracts

Swaps

OTC options 

Other

Traded options

Traded futures

Sub-total

Equity instruments

Forward contracts

OTC options 

Traded options

Traded futures

Sub-total

Foreign-currency instruments

Forward contracts

Swaps

OTC options 

Traded options

Traded futures

Sub-total

Total

Of which: designated as fair value hedges

Of which: designated as  
cash flow hedges

Of which: designated as hedges  
of a net investment in a foreign operation

Contract value

Fair value assets

Fair value liabilities

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

–

889.5

1,578.3

4.1

–

–

–

1,024.3

1,524.1

5.1

–

–

–

38.4

204.3

4.1

–

–

–

28.5

265.6

5.1

–

–

–

47.8

–

–

–

–

–

48.4

–

–

–

–

2,471.9

2,553.5

246.8

299.2

47.8

48.4

–

71.6

–

319.7

391.3

–

361.0

3.3

–

364.3

4,426.7

5,591.7

–

–

399.4

3,170.9

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

–

–

0.2

32.9

–

1.9

–

–

–

7.7

–

–

7.7

27.0

–

1.0

–

–

–

–

–

7.5

7.5

118.9

–

1.1

–

–

4,826.1

8,762.6

34.8

28.0

120.0

7,689.3

11,680.4

281.8

334.9

175.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,093.8

1,117.9

1.3

21.5

50.7

–

–

3.4

–

3.4

11.2

–

1.4

–

–

12.6

64.4

–

–

–

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   171

19.03.2013   13:47:31

172

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

The contract value or notional amount is used for derivative financial instruments whose principal may be swapped 
at maturity (options, futures and currency swaps) and for instruments whose principal is only nominally lent or 
borrowed (interest-rate swaps). The contract value or notional amount is disclosed in order to express the aggregate 
amount of derivative transactions in which the Baloise Group is involved.

15. RECEIVABLES

CHF million

Receivables carried  
at cost

Receivables from 
financial contracts

Other receivables

Receivables from 
investments

Sub-total

Receivables recognised 
at fair value through 
profit or loss

Receivables from 
financial  
contracts

Sub-total

Gross amount

Impairment

Carrying amount

Fair value

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

348.6

370.5

280.4

663.7

273.4

646.8

1,292.7

1,290.7

61.5

56.1

61.5

56.1

–

– 4.3

– 2.6

– 6.9

–

–

–

348.6

370.5

348.6

370.5

– 4.4

– 2.3

276.1

661.1

269.0

644.5

276.8

661.1

274.0

644.5

– 6.7

1,285.8

1,284.0

1,286.5

1,289.0

–

–

61.5

56.1

61.5

56.1

61.5

56.1

61.5

56.1

Receivables

1,354.2

1,346.8

– 6.9

– 6.7

1,347.3

1,340.1

1,348.0

1,345.1

IMPAIRMENT OF RECEIVABLES

CHF million

Balance as at 1 January

Usage not recognised in profit or loss

Unused provisions reversed through profit or loss

Increases and additional provisions recognised in profit or loss

Disposal arising from change in scope of consolidation

Currency translation

Balance as at 31 December

2011

2012

– 10.1

2.0

4.9

– 3.8

–

0.1

– 6.9

– 6.9

0.4

3.3

– 3.9

0.4

0.0

– 6.7

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   172

19.03.2013   13:47:31

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

173

16. REINSURANCE ASSETS

CHF million

Reinsurers’ share of technical reserves as at 1 January 

Change in unearned premium reserves

Benefits paid

Interest on and change in liability

Additions / disposals arising from change in scope of consolidation

Impairment

Exchange differences

Reinsurers’ share of technical reserves as at 31 December 

17.  RECEIVABLES FROM REINSURERS

CHF million

Reinsurance deposits as at 1 January

Additions

Disposals

Additions / disposals arising from change in scope of consolidation

Exchange differences

Reinsurance deposits as at 31 December

Other reinsurance receivables as at 1 January

Additions

Disposals

Additions / disposals arising from change in scope of consolidation

Exchange differences

Other reinsurance receivables as at 31 December

Impairment of receivables from reinsurers as at 1 January

Usage not recognised in profit or loss

Unused provisions reversed through profit or loss

Increases and additional provisions recognised in profit or loss

Disposal arising from change in scope of consolidation

Currency translation

Impairment of receivables from reinsurers as at 31 December

Receivables from reinsurers as at 31 December

2011

2012

248.1

– 3.1

– 58.0

55.9

142.8

–

– 8.2

377.5

377.5

– 6.1

– 73.9

113.0

–

–

– 11.9

398.6

2011

2012

7.1

1.4

– 3.3

0.3

– 0.2

5.3

16.4

6.1

– 10.3

–

– 0.2

12.0

– 0.6

0.0

0.2

 – 0.0 

–

–

5.3

2.4

– 0.8

–

0.1

7.0

12.0

15.6

– 5.2

–

0.1

22.5

– 0.4

0.0

0.2

 – 0.0 

–

–

– 0.4

– 0.2

16.9

29.3

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   173

19.03.2013   13:47:31

174

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

18. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

18.1 Receivables and liabilities arising from employee benefits

Receivables from  
employee benefits 

Liabilities arising from  
employee benefits 

2011

2012

2011

2012

CHF million

Type of benefit

Short-term employee benefits 

1.4

0.6

Post-employment benefits – defined contribution plans

Post-employment benefits – defined benefit plans

Other long-term employee benefits

Termination benefits

Total

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.4

0.6

115.5

–

550.4

24.8

29.3

720.0

125.2

–

551.6

26.1

24.6

727.5

18.2 Pension benefits
Baloise provides a range of pension benefits, which vary from country to country in line with local circumstances. 
The funded – or partially funded – liabilities relate to the occupational pension provision offered in Switzerland 
and to liabilities arising from the acquisition of Avéro Schadeverzekering Benelux NV. Baloise provides different 
pension schemes for its insurance and banking employees.

The pension benefits on offer include special benefits that Baloise also offers to retirees. They principally include 
specific benefits and concessions (such as subsidised mortgages in Switzerland) that are granted in Switzerland. 
These benefits and concessions are classified as defined benefit pension obligations under IAS 19.

18.2.1 Liabilities under defined benefit plans

CHF million

Present value of (partially) funded liabilities

Fair value of plan assets

Net liability

Present value of unfunded liabilities

Unrecognised actuarial gains or losses 

Unrecognised past service cost (plan changes) 

Effects of plan curtailments / settlements

Unrecognised asset due to limit in IAS 19.58b

Net liabilities under defined benefit plans

2011

2012

– 2,069.9

– 2,284.6

1,947.1

– 122.8

– 578.0

339.7

–

–

– 189.3

– 550.4

2,068.6

– 216.0

– 745.1

659.4

–

–

– 249.9

– 551.6

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   174

19.03.2013   13:47:31

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

175

18.2.2 Present value of (partially) funded liabilities

CHF million

Balance as at 1 January

Current service cost

Interest cost

Employees’ savings and purchases

Actuarial gains / losses arising from defined benefit plan liabilities during the reporting period

Exchange differences

Benefits paid

Unrecognised past service cost

Additions / disposals arising from change in scope of consolidation

Effects of plan curtailments

Effects of plan settlements

Balance as at 31 December

18.2.3 Present value of unfunded liabilities

CHF million

Balance as at 1 January

Current service cost

Interest cost

Employee contribution

Actuarial gains / losses arising from defined benefit plan liabilities during the reporting period

Exchange differences

Benefits paid

Unrecognised past service cost

Additions / disposals arising from change in scope of consolidation

Effects of plan curtailments

Effects of plan settlements

Balance as at 31 December

2011

2012

– 2,050.9

– 2,069.9

– 70.7

– 51.9

– 32.0

31.5

0.3

121.1

–

– 17.3

–

–

– 68.6

– 46.8

– 27.6

– 249.1

0.1

114.1

–

–

63.2

–

– 2,069.9

– 2,284.6

2011

2012

– 576.6

– 578.0

– 12.1

– 25.3

–

7.3

15.4

26.2

–

– 18.7

–

5.8

– 11.8

– 26.2

–

– 165.3

2.9

28.0

–

–

–

5.3

– 578.0

– 745.1

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   175

19.03.2013   13:47:32

176

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

18.2.4 Fair value of plan assets

CHF million

Balance as at 1 January

Expected return on plan assets

Actuarial gains / losses on plan assets during the reporting period

Exchange differences

Employer contribution

Employee contribution

Benefits paid

Cash flow between Baloise Group and plan assets  
(excl. benefits paid to employees and employer contribution)

Additions / disposals arising from change in scope of consolidation

Effects of plan settlements

Balance as at 31 December

18.2.5 Net actuarial liabilities under defined benefit plans

2011

2012

1,996.6

1,947.1

60.4

– 103.7

–

48.8

55.5

48.9

85.5

– 0.1

49.7

51.6

– 121.1

– 114.1

–

10.6

–

–

–

–

1,947.1

2,068.6

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

CHF million

Present value of (partially) funded liabilities 

– 1,993.4

– 2,008.8

– 2,050.9

– 2,069.9

– 2,284.6

Fair value of plan assets

Present value of unfunded liabilities 

Net actuarial liabilities under defined benefit plans

Experience adjustments arising on plan liabilities

Experience adjustments arising on plan assets

1,800.4

– 620.7

– 813.7

– 30.7

– 204.6

1,955.4

– 653.8

– 707.2

– 12.8

61.3

1,996.6

– 576.6

– 630.9

17.6

– 23.4

1,947.1

– 578.0

– 700.8

41.9

– 103.7

2,068.6

– 745.1

– 961.1

– 38.5

85.5

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   176

19.03.2013   13:47:32

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

177

18.2.6 Expenses for defined benefit plans

CHF million

Current service cost

Interest cost

Expected return on plan assets

Expected return on reimbursement rights

Repayment of actuarial gains / losses

Repayment of unrecognised past service cost

Effects of plan curtailments / settlements

Change in assets unrecognised due to limit in IAS 19.58b

Employee contribution

Total expenses for defined benefit plans

2011

2012

82.8

77.2

– 60.4

–

3.1

–

– 5.8

– 6.4

– 23.4

67.1

80.4

73.0

– 48.9

–

8.5

–

– 68.5

– 55.4

– 24.0

– 34.9

18.2.7 Estimated employer contribution
The employer’s contribution for the following year can only be predicted with a limited degree of certainty. This is 
mainly because this contribution depends on the amount of wages and salaries paid. The Baloise Group expects to 
pay employer contributions of approximately CHF 50 million for the 2013 financial year.

18.2.8 Actual returns

CHF million

Expected return on plan assets

Actuarial gains / losses on plan assets during the reporting period

Actual return on plan assets

18.2.9 Asset allocation of plan assets

CHF million

Equities and investment funds

Real estate

Fixed-interest assets

Other

Fair value of plan assets

Of which: Bâloise Holding shares (fair value) and convertible bonds (fair value)

Of which: real estate leased to the Baloise Group

2011

2012

60.4

– 103.7

– 43.3

48.9

85.5

134.4

2011

2012

977.0

355.9

401.1

213.1

1,075.9

360.5

429.6

202.6

1,947.1

2,068.6

18.8

–

22.7

–

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   177

19.03.2013   13:47:32

178

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

18.2.10 Actuarial assumptions

Per cent

Discount rate

Expected return on plan assets

Expected wage and salary increases

Expected increase in pension benefits

2011

2012

2.8

2.5

1.7

0.4

2.0

2.5

1.7

0.4

When calculating liabilities and expenses for defined benefit plans, the Baloise Group is required to make actuarial 
and other assumptions that are determined on a company-by-company and country-by-country basis. The assump-
tions shown above are weighted averages.

Calculations of expected returns on plan assets of funded – or partially funded – liabilities factor in the asset 
allocation used and long-term capital market expectations. The specifics of individual plan assets are considered 
separately. 

18.3 Other long-term employee benefits
Benefits granted to current employees that are payable twelve months or more after the end of the financial year are 
accounted for separately and according to specific rules. The accounting policies applied are similar to those used 
for pension liabilities, except that actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately. 

Long-service bonuses constitute the principal benefit paid. The present value of liabilities as at 31 December 
2012 totalled CHF 26.1 million (31 December 2011: CHF 24.8 million). There were no disposals of plan assets for 
long-term employee benefits. Benefits recognised in profit or loss amounted to CHF 3.5 million (31 December 2011: 
CHF 4.6 million). 

18.4 Share-based payment plans
For some time now, the Baloise Group has offered its employees and senior executives the chance to participate in 
various plans under which shares are granted as part of their overall remuneration packages. The Employee Incen-
tive Plan, Share Subscription Plan, Employee Share Ownership Plan and the performance quota (until 2011) are all 
cash-settled remuneration programmes. The performance share units (PSUs) are an equity-settled remuneration 
programme. In 2012, a sum of CHF 16.6 million (2011: CHF 20.9 million) was recognised as an expense in profit 
or loss in connection with the following share-based payment plans. 

18.4.1 Employee Incentive Plan
The Basler Foundation for Employee Participation set up in 1989 offers members of staff working for various Baloise 
Group companies in Switzerland the opportunity to purchase shares in Bâloise Holding Ltd – usually once a year 
– at a preferential price in compliance with the regulations adopted by the Board of Foundation. This encourages 
employees to maintain their commitment to the Company over the long term by becoming shareholders. The sub-
scription price is fixed by the Advisory Council at the beginning of the subscription period and is then published 
on the intranet. It equals half of the volume-weighted average share price calculated for the month of August in the 
subscription year and amounts to CHF 34.20 for the reporting year (2011: CHF 34.80). Title to the subscribed shares 
passes to the relevant employees with effect from 1 September each year, and the shares are subject to a three-year 
restriction period. 

The Foundation acquired the underlying stock of shares used in this plan from previous capital increases 
carried out by Bâloise Holding Ltd. It supplements these shareholdings as and when required by purchasing shares 

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   178

19.03.2013   13:47:32

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

179

in the market. The existing shareholdings will enable the Foundation to continue the Employee Incentive Plan over 
the coming years. 

The Foundation is run by a Board of Foundation that is predominantly independent of the Corporate Execu-
tive Committee. The independent Board of Foundation members are Peter Schwager (chairman) and Professor 
Heinrich Koller (lawyer); the third member is Andreas Burki (deputy head of Legal & Tax at Baloise). 

EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN

Number of shares subscribed

Restricted until

Subscription price per share (CHF)

Value of shares subscribed (CHF million)

Fair value of subscribed shares on subscription date (CHF million)

Employees entitled to participate

Participating employees

Subscribed shares per participant (average)

2011

2012

172,385

173,799

31.8.2014

31.8.2015

34.80

6.0

12.1

3,150

1,897

90.8

34.20

5.9

12.2

3,220

1,894

91.7

18.4.2 Share Subscription Plan
Since January 2003 those who qualify as eligible persons at Baloise Group companies in Switzerland – and, since 
2008, the members of the senior management teams at companies outside Switzerland as well – have been able to 
subscribe for shares at a preferential price as part of their short-term variable remuneration. The subscription date 
is 1 March of each year; although title to the shares passes to the relevant employees on this date without any further 
vesting conditions having to be met, the shares cannot be sold during a three-year restriction period. Until 2011 
the subscription date was 1 June of each year. By bringing this date forward to 1 March, Baloise has brought the 
subscription date into line with the date on which short-term variable remuneration is paid under the new perfor-
mance management system. 

The parameters used to determine the subscription price are decided each year by the Remuneration Com-
mittee. The subscription price is based on the volume-weighted average share price during a contemporaneous 
measurement period. A discount of 10 per cent is granted on the average share price calculated in this way (please 
refer to the accompanying table for details). Once it has been calculated using this method, the subscription price 
is published in advance on the intranet. The shares needed for the Share Subscription Plan are purchased in the 
market as and when required. 

SHARE SUBSCRIPTION PLAN (SSP)

Number of shares subscribed

Restricted until 1

Subscription price per share (CHF)

Value of shares subscribed (CHF million)

Fair value of subscribed shares on subscription date (CHF million)

Employees entitled to participate

Participating employees

SSP portion of variable remuneration

2011

46,060

2012

47,555

31.5.2014

28.2.2015

82.43

65.58

3.8

4.1

746

109

16 %

3.1

3.4

744

103

14 %

1   The period during which shares allocated to the Chairman of the Board of Directors are restricted is five years instead of three. This means that the shares are 

restricted until 31 May 2016 and 28 February 2017 respectively.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   179

19.03.2013   13:47:32

180

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

18.4.3 Employee Share Ownership Plan
Since May 2001 it has been possible for most senior managers working in Switzerland to receive part of their short-
term variable remuneration in the form of shares from the Employee Share Ownership Plan instead of receiving 
cash. Within certain limits they are free to choose what proportion of their short-term variable remuneration they 
receive in the form of such shares. The most senior managers are subject to upper limits; members of the Corporate 
Executive Committee – who are obliged to receive at least half of their short-term variable remuneration in the form 
of shares – are not allowed to receive more than 50 per cent of their entitlement in the form of shares from the 
Employee Share Ownership Plan. The subscription date is 1 March of each year (the same as for the Share Subscrip-
tion Plan); although title to the shares passes to the relevant employees on this date without any further vesting 
conditions having to be met, the shares cannot be sold during a three-year restriction period. Until 2011 the sub-
scription date was 1 June of each year. By bringing this date forward to 1 March, Baloise has brought the subscrip-
tion date into line with the date on which short-term variable remuneration is paid under the new performance 
management system. 

The parameters used to determine the subscription price are decided each year by the Remuneration Com-
mittee. The subscription price is based on the volume-weighted average share price during a contemporaneous 
measurement period. Discounted dividend rights are deducted from this average share price over a period of three 
years (please refer to the accompanying table for details). Once it has been calculated using this method, the sub-
scription price is published in advance on the intranet. The shares needed for the Employee Share Ownership Plan 
are purchased in the market as and when required. 

In order to increase the impact of this Employee Share Ownership Plan, employees are granted loans on 
which interest is charged at market rates, which enables them to subscribe for shares whose value constitutes a mul-
tiple of the capital invested; these shares are purchased at their fair value net of discounted dividend rights over  
a period of three years. Repayment of these loans after the three-year restriction period has elapsed is hedged by 
put options, which are financed by the sale of offsetting call options. After the three-year restriction period has 
elapsed, the relevant options have been exercised and the loans plus accrued interest have been repaid, the employ-
ees concerned receive the remaining shares to do with as they wish.

EMPLOYEE SHARE OwNERSHIP PLAN (ESOP)

Number of shares subscribed 1

Restricted until

Subscription price per share 2 (CHF)

Value of shares subscribed 2 (CHF million)

Fair value of subscribed shares on subscription date (CHF million)

Employees entitled to participate

Participating employees

ESOP portion of variable remuneration

1   Including shares financed by loans.
2   Net of the discounted dividend right over three years.

2011

2012

186,499

218,181

31.5.2014

28.2.2015

79.88

59.84

14.9

16.7

746

150

10 %

13.1

15.8

744

127

9 %

18.4.4 Performance quota
The performance quota was introduced in 2007 for the most senior managers in Switzerland and extended in 2008 
to include the members of senior management teams in business units outside Switzerland. From 2011, the perfor-
mance quota figures were transferred to the performance pool in the new performance management system and 
the performance quota was therefore used for the last time by itself in 2010 (with a payout in 2011). There was 
therefore no longer any payment under the performance quota in the year under review.

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   180

19.03.2013   13:47:32

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

181

PERFORMANCE QUOTA

Participating employees 

Total paid out (CHF million)

Number of shares subscribed

Subscription price per share (CHF)

Value of shares subscribed (CHF million)

Fair value of subscribed shares on subscription date (CHF million)

In cash (CHF million)

2011

70

3.0

17,856

82.43

1.5

1.6

1.5

2012

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

18.4.5 Performance share units (PSUs)
At the beginning of each vesting period the participating employees are granted rights in the form of PSUs, which 
entitle them to receive a certain number of shares free of charge after the vesting period has elapsed. The Remu-
neration Committee specifies the grant date and applies its own discretion in deciding which of the most senior 
managers are entitled to participate in the programme. It determines the total number of PSUs available and decides 
how many are to be awarded to each member of the Corporate Executive Committee. PSUs are granted to the 
other programme participants on the basis of the relevant line manager’s proposal, which must be approved by the 
line manager’s manager.

The number of shares that can be subscribed after three years – i.e. at the end of the vesting period – depends 
on the performance of Baloise shares relative to a peer group. This comparative performance multiplier can be 
anywhere between 0.5 and 1.5. The peer group comprises the leading European insurance companies contained in 
the STOXX Europe 600 Insurance Index. 

The composition of the index may change over time. Companies may leave the index as a result of mergers, 
while others may join the index for the first time. Calculation of the performance multiplier is based on the index’s 
composition at the time the relevant PSUs were granted, adjusted to allow for the companies that have left the index. 
Any companies that have joined the index in the meantime are not factored into those PSU programmes that are 
already in operation. 

One PSU generally confers the right to receive one share. This is the case if Baloise shares perform in line with 
the median of their peer group. In this case the performance multiplier would be 1.0. Participants in the programme 
receive more shares in exchange for their PSUs if Baloise shares outperform their peer group. The multiplier reach-
es the maximum of 1.5 if the performance of Baloise shares is in the top quartile of companies in the peer group. 
The multiplier amounts to 0.5 if the performance of Baloise shares is in the bottom quartile of companies in the 
peer group. If the performance of Baloise shares is in either of the two middle quartiles, a linear scale is used to 
calculate the performance multiplier. The performance multiplier for the entire vesting period ended is based on 
the closing stock market prices on the final trading day of the respective vesting period. 

Participants in the programme receive the pertinent number of shares once the vesting period has elapsed, 
which means that for the PSUs allocated in 2012 they receive their shares on 1 March 2015. If an individual’s 
employment contract is terminated during the vesting period (except in the case of retirement, disability or death), 
the PSUs expire without the person concerned receiving any replacement or compensation. 

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   181

19.03.2013   13:47:33

182

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Companies in the STOXX 600 Europe Insurance Index (as at 31 December 2012)

Admiral Group plc

Aegon NV

Ageas

Allianz

Amlin plc

Catlin Group

CNP Assurances

Delta Lloyd

Gjensidige Forsikring

Mapfre SA

Münchener Rück

Old Mutual plc

Prudential plc

Swiss Life

Swiss Re

Topdanmark A / S

Tryg Forsikring

Hannover Rück

RSA Insurance Group

Vienna Insurance

Assicurazioni Generali

Helvetia

Aviva plc

Axa

ING Groep NV

Jardine Lloyd Thompson

Standard Life plc

Sampo OYJ

Scor

Zurich Financial Services

Bâloise Holding

Legal & General Group plc

Storebrand ASA

Source: http://www.stoxx.com/download/indices/factsheets/stx_supersectors_fs.pdf

In addition, since 2012 the Remuneration Committee has had the powers to claw back some or all of the PSUs allo-
cated to an individual or to a group of programme participants if there are specific reasons for doing so. Such 
specific reasons include, for example, serious breaches of internal or external regulations, the taking of inappropri-
ate risks that are within an individual’s control, and the type of conduct or behaviour that would increase the risks 
to Baloise. In order to emphasise the long-term nature of the programme, 50 per cent of the shares granted are 
subject to an additional three-year restriction period once the initial vesting period has elapsed. 

The PSUs allocated in 2010 were converted into shares as at 1 January 2013. The performance of Baloise shares 
at the end of the vesting period on 31 December 2012 ranked 25 th out of 34 companies in the relevant peer group 
(STOXX Europe 600 Insurance Index), which meant that it was in the third quartile. The performance multiplier 
was therefore 0.58, and the 71,055 outstanding PSUs were converted into 41,210 shares (share price of CHF 78.50 
on 31 December 2012, market capitalisation of CHF 3.2 million). The value of the converted PSUs has fallen by 
49 per cent since they were granted three years ago. The corresponding figures for the previous year: performance 
multiplier of 0.64, 74,375 outstanding PSUs, converted into 47,599 shares, share price of CHF 64.40 on 31 December 
2011, market capitalisation of CHF 3.1 million, 50 per cent fall in the value of PSUs since they were granted).

The shares needed to convert the PSUs are purchased in the market as and when required. 
Measurement of the PSUs at their issue date is based on a Monte Carlo simulation, which calculates a present 
value for the payout expected at the end of the vesting period. This measurement incorporates the following  
parameters:
 → Interest rate of 3 per cent
 → The volatilities of all shares in the peer group and their correlations with each other  

(measured over a three-year track record)

 → The expected dividend yields
 → Statistical information on eligible programme participants’ behaviour in relation to the termination  

of employment contracts. 

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   182

19.03.2013   13:47:33

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

183

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS (PSUS)

Employees entitled to participate at launch of programme

Number of allocated PSUs

Of which: expired without compensation (departures in 2010)

Number of active PSUs as at 31 December 2010

Of which: expired without compensation (departures in 2011)

Number of active PSUs as at 31 December 2011

Of which: expired without compensation (departures in 2012)

Number of active PSUs as at 31 December 2012

Value of allocated PSUs on issue date (CHF million)

PSU expense incurred by the Baloise Group for 2010 (CHF million)

PSU expense incurred by the Baloise Group for 2011 (CHF million)

PSU expense incurred by the Baloise Group for 2012 (CHF million)

Plan 2010

 Plan 2011

Plan 2012

71

83,441

– 1,226

82,215

– 6,736

75,479

– 4,424

71,055

7.4

2.1

2.4

1.8

73

72

81,739

89,116

–

–

– 6,937

74,802

– 5,667

69,135

6.9

–

2.4

1.6

–

–

–

–

– 5,132 

83,984 

6.4

–

–

1.5 

03_FB_Kapitel_07_bis_18_en.indd   183

19.03.2013   13:47:33

184

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

19.  DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

19.1 Deferred income taxes

CHF million

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Total (net)

Of which: recognised as deferred tax assets

Of which: recognised as deferred tax liabilities

19.2 Deferred tax assets and liabilities

DEFERRED TA X ASSETS

2011

CHF million

Technical reserves

Financial assets

Insurance liabilities

Other investments

Insurance receivables

Unrealised losses recognised directly in equity

Tax losses carried forward

Other 1

Total 

2012

CHF million

Technical reserves

Financial assets

Insurance liabilities

Other investments

Insurance receivables

Unrealised losses recognised directly in equity

Tax losses carried forward

Other 1

Total

2011

2012

1,154.4

1,234.6

– 1,786.6

– 2,105.8

– 632.2

22.2

– 654.4

– 871.2

23.9

– 895.1

Carrying  
amount as  
at 1 January

Change 
recognised in 
profit or loss

Change  
recognised  
directly in 
equity

Carrying  
amount as  
at 31 December

342.6

6.4

209.8

35.5

7.3

11.5

27.4

135.6

776.1

70.4

3.0

202.4

1.9

2.2

–

20.7

74.1

374.7

–

–

–

–

–

3.6

–

–

3.6

413.0

9.4

412.2

37.4

9.5

15.1

48.1

209.7

1,154.4

Carrying  
amount as  
at 1 January

Change 
recognised in 
profit or loss

Change  
recognised  
directly in 
equity

Carrying  
amount as  
at 31 December

413.0

9.4

412.2

37.4

9.5

15.1

48.1

209.7

1,154.4

– 17.6

47.7

85.9

3.0

– 4.4

–

5.5

– 24.8

95.3

–

–

–

–

–

– 15.1

–

–

395.4

57.1

498.1

40.4

5.1

0.0

53.6

184.9

– 15.1

1,234.6

1   “Other” essentially comprises deferred taxes on liabilities arising from banking business and financial contracts as well as liabilities arising from employee benefits.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   184

19.03.2013   13:48:24

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

185

DEFERRED TA X lIAbIlITIES

2011

CHF million

Deferred acquisition costs

Technical reserves

Unrealised gains / losses recognised directly in equity

Investment property

Depreciable assets

Other intangible assets

Financial assets

Other investments

Insurance receivables

Other 1

Total 

2012

CHF million

Deferred acquisition costs

Technical reserves

Unrealised gains / losses recognised directly in equity

Investment property

Depreciable assets

Other intangible assets

Financial assets

Other investments

Insurance receivables

Other 1

Total 

1   “Other” essentially comprises deferred taxes on investments and provisions.

Carrying  
amount as  
at 1 January

Change 
recognised in 
profit or loss

Change  
recognised  
directly in 
equity

Carrying  
amount as  
at 31 December

280.8

483.9

48.6

248.7

33.5

14.8

69.6

30.5

23.7

163.5

1,397.6

– 16.7

366.6

–

– 1.7

– 1.0

6.9

– 11.4

31.0

– 16.7

16.2

373.2

–

–

15.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

15.8

264.1

850.5

64.4

247.0

32.5

21.7

58.2

61.5

7.0

179.7

1,786.6

Carrying  
amount as  
at 1 January

Change 
recognised in 
profit or loss

Change  
recognised  
directly in 
equity

Carrying  
amount as  
at 31 December

264.1

850.5

64.4

247.0

32.5

21.7

58.2

61.5

7.0

179.7

1,786.6

– 46.6

94.1

–

48.0

– 28.0

– 1.6

– 5.5

14.6

– 3.8

10.6

81.8

–

–

237.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

237.4

217.5

944.6

301.8

295.0

4.5

20.1

52.7

76.1

3.2

190.3

2,105.8

The Baloise Group reports its deferred taxes on a net basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset against each 
other in cases where the criteria for such offsetting have been met. This is usually the case if the tax jurisdiction, 
the taxable entity and the type of taxation are identical.

The Baloise Group had recognised deferred tax assets on tax loss carryforwards totalling CHF 211.2 million 
as at 31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: CHF 194.4 million). Of this total, CHF 2.0 million will expire after one 
year and CHF 209.2 million will expire after five years or more.

No deferred tax assets had been recognised on tax loss carryforwards amounting to CHF 563.6 million as at 
31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: CHF 396.0 million) because the relevant offsetting criteria had not been met. 
Of this total, CHF 13.9 million will expire after one year, a further CHF 29.5 million will expire after two to four 
years and CHF 520.2 million will expire after five years or more. 

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   185

19.03.2013   13:48:25

186

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

20. OTHER ASSETS
“Other assets” include the fair value of precious metals amounting to CHF 87.1 million in connection with private 
placement life insurance (31 December 2011: CHF 83.0 million). The insurance policyholder bears the price risk 
attaching to these precious metal holdings. 

21. NON-CURRENT ASSETS HElD FOR SAlE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
No such non-current assets or discontinued operations were held in either 2011 or 2012.

22. SHARE CAPITAl

balance as at 1 January 2011

Purchase / sale of treasury shares

Capital increases

Share buy-back and cancellation

balance as at 31 December 2011

balance as at 1 January 2012 

Purchase / sale of treasury shares

Capital increases

Share buy-back and cancellation

balance as at 31 December 2012

Number of 
treasury shares

Number of 
shares in 
circulation

Number of  
shares issued

Share capital 
(CHF million)

2,800,239

47,199,761

50,000,000

447,034

– 447,034

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,247,273

46,752,727

50,000,000

5.0

–

–

–

5.0

Number of 
treasury shares

Number of 
shares in 
circulation

Number of  
shares issued

Share capital 
(CHF million)

3,247,273

46,752,727

50,000,000

– 193,527

193,527

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,053,746

46,946,254

50,000,000

5.0

–

–

–

5.0

The registered shares of Bâloise Holding are fully paid-up and each has a par value of CHF 0.10 (31 December 2011: 
CHF 0.10). As far as individuals, legal entities, and partnerships are concerned, entry in the share register with 
voting rights is limited to 2 per cent of the registered share capital entered in the commercial register. The Baloise 
Group buys and sells its own shares as part of its ordinary investing activities and for employee share ownership 
programmes.

The share capital of Bâloise Holding totals CHF 5.0 million and is divided into 50,000,000 registered, fully 

paid-up shares with a par value of CHF 0.10 each.

The Annual General Meeting held on 29 April 2012 voted to pay a gross dividend of CHF 4.50 per share for 
the 2011 financial year. This amounted to a total dividend distribution of CHF 225.0 million. Excluding the treasury 
shares held by Bâloise Holding at the time that the dividend was paid, the total distribution effectively amounted 
to CHF 211.7 million.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   186

19.03.2013   13:48:25

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

187

23. TECHNICAl RESERVES (GROSS)

CHF million

Unearned premium reserves (gross)

Claims reserve (gross)

Provisions for surplus and profit sharing (gross)

Technical reserves (non-life)

Actuarial reserves (gross)

Policyholders’ dividends credited and provisions for future policyholders’ dividends (gross)

Technical reserves (life)

Technical reserves (gross)

23.1 Technical reserves (non-life)

2011

2012

605.0

5,475.2

55.0

613.2

5,478.7

57.3

6,135.2

6,149.2

36,304.8

36,863.6

3,121.9

3,689.5

39,426.7

40,553.1

45,561.9

46,702.3

Gross

Reinsurance 
assets

Gross

Reinsurance 
assets

Net

2011

Net

2012

CHF million

Unearned premium reserves

Claims reserve

Provision for claims handling costs

605.0 

4,916.7 

558.5 

– 7.9 

597.1 

–

–

–

–

613.2 

4,930.6 

548.1 

– 1.7 

611.5 

–

–

–

–

Claims reserve

5,475.2 

– 335.7 

5,139.5 

5,478.7 

– 373.2 

5,105.5 

Provisions for surplus and profit sharing

55.0 

– 0.0 

55.0 

57.3 

– 0.0 

57.3 

Total technical reserves (non-life)

6,135.2 

– 343.6 

5,791.6 

6,149.2 

– 374.9 

5,774.3 

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   187

19.03.2013   13:48:25

188

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

23.1.1 Maturity structure of technical reserves

CHF million

Unearned premium reserves

Up to 1 year

More than 1 year

No determinable residual term

Total unearned premium reserves

Claims reserve

Up to 1 year

More than 1 year

No determinable residual term

Total claims reserve

Gross

Reinsurance 
assets

575.1 

6.1 

23.8 

605.0 

– 8.0 

0.1 

–

– 7.9 

Net

2011

567.1 

6.2 

23.8 

597.1 

Gross

Reinsurance 
assets

580.2 

8.0 

25.0 

613.2 

– 1.9 

0.2 

–

– 1.7 

Net

2012

578.3 

8.2 

25.0 

611.5 

776.3 

3,683.4 

1,015.5 

5,475.2 

– 32.3 

– 87.9 

– 215.5 

– 335.7 

744.0 

3,595.5 

800.0 

5,139.5 

955.3 

3,459.9 

1,063.5 

5,478.7 

– 54.2 

– 67.9 

– 251.1 

– 373.2 

901.1 

3,392.0 

812.4 

5,105.5 

All figures relating to maturities are based on best estimates. The line item “No determinable residual term” mainly 
comprises old-age health insurance reserves and annuity reserve funds.

23.1.2 Unearned premium reserves

CHF million

balance as at 1 January

Netted premiums

Less: premiums earned during the  
reporting period

Additions arising from acquisition of  
policy portfolios and insurance 
companies

Disposals arising from sale of policy  
portfolios and insurance companies

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

Gross

Reinsurance 
assets

Gross

Reinsurance 
assets

Net

2011

485.3 

– 0.8 

484.5 

605.0 

– 7.9 

3,143.5 

– 155.7 

2,987.8 

3,317.7 

– 151.7 

Net

2012

597.1 

3,166.0 

– 3,147.1 

158.8 

– 2,988.3 

– 3,306.7 

157.8 

– 3,148.9 

137.9 

– 10.4 

127.5 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 14.6 

605.0 

0.2 

– 7.9 

– 14.4 

597.1 

– 2.8 

613.2 

0.1 

– 1.7 

– 2.7 

611.5 

Apart from the actual unearned premium reserves, this item includes health insurance reserves for old age, deferred 
unearned premiums, and any provisions for impending losses necessitated by a liability adequacy test.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   188

19.03.2013   13:48:26

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

189

23.1.3 Reserves for surplus and profit sharing

CHF million

balance as at 1 January

Less: expenditures during  
the reporting period

Additional provisions recognised  
and unused provisions reversed  
through profit or loss

Additions arising from acquisition  
of policy portfolios  
and insurance companies

Disposals arising from sale  
of policy portfolios  
and insurance companies

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

Gross

Reinsurance 
assets

55.6 

– 17.9 

– 0.0 

0.4 

Net

2011

55.6 

– 17.5 

Gross

Reinsurance 
assets

55.0 

– 19.1 

– 0.0 

0.4 

Net

2012

55.0 

– 18.7 

17.4 

– 0.4 

17.0 

21.5 

– 0.4 

21.1 

–

–

– 0.1 

55.0 

–

–

–

– 0.0 

–

–

–

–

– 0.1 

55.0 

– 0.1 

57.3 

–

–

–

– 0.0 

–

–

– 0.1 

57.3 

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   189

19.03.2013   13:48:26

190

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

23.1.4 Claims reserve including claims handling expenses

CHF million

balance as at 1 January (gross) 

Reinsurers’ share

balance as at 1 January (net) 

Claims incurred (including claims handling costs)

For the reporting period

For previous years

Total

Payments for claims and claims handling costs

For the reporting period

For previous years

Total

Other changes

Additions / disposals arising from changes in scope of consolidation

Exchange differences

Total

balance as at 31 December (net)

Reinsurers’ share

balance as at 31 December (gross)

2011

2012

4,853.5 

– 228.0 

4,625.5 

5,475.2 

– 335.7 

5,139.5 

2,038.6 

– 119.9 

1,918.7 

2,022.2 

– 98.5 

1,923.7 

– 936.6 

– 860.7 

– 987.3 

– 954.9 

– 1,797.3 

– 1,942.2 

459.2 

– 66.6 

392.6 

–

– 15.5 

– 15.5 

5,139.5 

5,105.5 

335.7 

373.2 

5,475.2 

5,478.7 

The Baloise Group pays particular attention to cases of environmental pollution involving landfill sites, refuse, 
asbestos or any other materials harmful to human beings or the environment.

The relevant net reserves included in the total amounted to CHF 96.8 million at the end of 2012 (31 Decem-
ber 2011: CHF 103.7 million). This decrease was attributable to the level of claims paid (including commutation 
of reserves) and – since a large proportion of these reserves are recognised for liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies – currency effects.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   190

19.03.2013   13:48:26

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

191

23.2 Technical reserves (life)

CHF million

Actuarial reserves from non-unit-linked life insurance contracts 1

Actuarial reserves from unit-linked life insurance contracts

Reserves for final policyholders’ dividends

Unearned revenue reserve

Structure of actuarial reserves (life)

Policyholders’ dividends credited and provisions for future policyholders’ dividends

Total technical reserves (life) 

1   The actuarial reserves include unearned premium reserves and claims reserves.

2011

2012

33,661.1 

33,991.4 

2,009.9 

2,258.0 

356.9 

276.9 

311.6 

302.6 

36,304.8 

36,863.6 

3,121.9 

3,689.5 

39,426.7 

40,553.1 

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   191

19.03.2013   13:48:26

192

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

23.2.1 Maturity structure of technical reserves

CHF million

Actuarial reserves from non-unit-linked life insurance contracts

Up to 1 year

1 to 5 years

5 to 10 years

More than 10 years

No determinable residual term

Business from Swiss occupational pension plans 1

2011

2012

1,106.3 

3,970.1 

4,148.5 

7,602.3 

7,968.0 

8,865.9 

1,111.2 

4,020.6 

4,000.4 

7,389.0 

8,274.3 

9,195.9 

Total actuarial reserves from non-unit-linked life insurance contracts

33,661.1 

33,991.4 

Actuarial reserves from unit-linked life insurance contracts

Up to 1 year

1 to 5 years

5 to 10 years

More than 10 years

No determinable residual term

Total actuarial reserves from unit-linked life insurance contracts

Policyholders’ dividends credited

Up to 1 year

1 to 5 years

5 to 10 years

More than 10 years

No determinable residual term

Total policyholders’ dividends credited

Provisions for future policyholders’ dividends

Up to 1 year

No determinable residual term

Total provisions for future policyholders’ dividends

75.8 

220.8 

296.2 

380.9 

1,036.2 

2,009.9 

112.2 

407.8 

407.9 

619.6 

288.7 

84.9 

240.8 

323.2 

417.6 

1,191.5 

2,258.0 

109.2 

376.9 

397.1 

576.7 

280.4 

1,836.2 

1,740.3 

160.8 

1,124.9 

1,285.7 

172.0 

1,777.2 

1,949.2 

1   The Swiss pensions business is disclosed separately owing to its specific features. It comprises group contracts which may be cancelled annually by either party, 

whereas the coverage period for the individuals enrolled is significantly longer.

All figures relating to maturities are based on the residual terms of contracts. The line item “No determinable 
residual term” mainly comprises deferred and current annuities.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   192

19.03.2013   13:48:26

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

193

23.2.2 Actuarial reserves from non-unit-linked life insurance contracts

CHF million

balance as at 1 January

Change in actuarial reserves

Additions arising from acquisition of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Disposals arising from sale of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

2011

2012

32,102.9 

33,661.1 

541.4 

1,346.5 

–

399.0 

–

–

– 329.7 

– 68.7 

33,661.1 

33,991.4 

The actuarial reserves include unearned premium reserves and claims reserves. 
The actuarial reserves for DPF business as at 31 December 2012 amounted to CHF 33,733.6 million (31 December 2011: CHF 33,440.9 million),  
while for non-DPF business they totalled CHF 257.8 million (31 December 2011: CHF 220.2 million). 
The actuarial reserves for assumed business (inward reinsurance) as at 31 December 2012 came to CHF 5.9 million (31 December 2011: CHF 4.0 million).

23.2.3 Actuarial reserves from unit-linked life insurance contracts

CHF million

balance as at 1 January

Additions

Disposals

Fees

Interest on and change in liabilities 

Additions arising from acquisition of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Disposals arising from sale of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

23.2.4 Reserve for final policyholders’ dividends

CHF million

balance as at 1 January

Adjustment arising from unrealised gains and losses as at 1 January (shadow accounting)

Interest on and change in liability

Final policyholders’ dividends paid

Additions arising from acquisition of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Disposals arising from sale of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Adjustment arising from unrealised gains and losses as at 31 December (shadow accounting)

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

2011

2012

2,114.7 

318.4 

– 203.4 

– 15.0 

– 157.9 

1.8 

–

2,009.9 

297.4 

– 197.7 

– 14.5 

171.7 

–

–

– 48.7 

– 8.8 

2,009.9 

2,258.0 

2011

2012

416.8 

– 3.2 

– 25.0 

– 29.0 

–

–

6.4 

– 9.1 

356.9 

356.9 

– 6.4 

– 25.4 

– 23.7 

–

–

11.9 

– 1.7 

311.6 

Final policyholders’ dividends, which are only paid upon contract expiry, are funded and accrued over the duration of the policy in proportion  
to the profits attributable to the contract. 

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   193

19.03.2013   13:48:26

 
194

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

23.2.5 Unearned revenue reserve

CHF million

balance as at 1 January

Reserved during the reporting period

Change in balance

Change due to unrealised gains and losses on investments (shadow accounting)

Additions arising from acquisition of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Disposals arising from sale of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

23.2.6 Policyholders’ dividends credited and reserves for future policyholders’ dividends

CHF million

Policyholders’ dividends credited as at 1 January

Dividends credited to policyholders during the reporting period

Policyholders’ dividends paid

Additions arising from acquisition of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Disposals arising from sale of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

Provisions for future policyholders’ dividends as at 1 January

Adjustment arising from unrealised gains and losses as at 1 January

Additions

Withdrawals

Change in measurement differences between IFRS and national accounting standards  
recognised in profit or loss

2011

2012

302.9 

27.7 

– 45.1 

– 0.1 

–

–

– 8.5 

276.9 

276.9 

29.7 

– 2.3 

– 0.2 

–

–

– 1.5 

302.6 

2011

2012

1,941.7 

144.8 

– 209.1 

–

–

1,836.2 

97.5 

– 185.5 

–

–

– 41.2 

– 7.9 

1,836.2 

1,740.3 

1,172.3 

– 145.4 

163.8 

– 187.4 

66.1 

1,285.7 

– 234.8 

268.4 

– 189.2 

49.1 

Adjustment arising from unrealised gains and losses as at 31 December (shadow accounting)

234.8 

773.5 

Additions arising from acquisition of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Disposals arising from sale of policy portfolios and insurance companies

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

Policyholders’ dividends credited and provisions for future policyholders’ dividends 
as at 31 December

0.0 

–

–

–

– 18.5 

– 3.5 

1,285.7 

1,949.2 

3,121.9 

3,689.5 

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   194

19.03.2013   13:48:27

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

195

24. lIAbIlITIES ARISING FROM bANKING bUSINESS AND FINANCIAl CONTRACTS

CHF million

With discretionary participation features (DPFs)

Financial contracts with discretionary participation features (DPFs) 1

Sub-total

Carrying amount

Fair value

2011

2012

2011

2012

1,147.5

1,147.5

1,334.0

1,334.0

–

–

–

–

Measured at amortised cost

Liabilities to banks

Repurchase agreements

Liabilities arising from time deposits

Loans

Mortgages

163.8

200.0

5.6

89.8

–

162.3

400.0

26.8

70.9

–

Savings and customer deposits

4,728.8

4,997.9

Medium-term bonds

Mortgage-backed bonds

Bonds

Liability for future financial lease payments (present value)

Other financial contracts

Sub-total

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss (designated)

Other financial contracts

Sub-total

164.7

200.0

5.6

79.8

–

4,758.9

436.1

1,058.7

111.0

103.9

74.3

162.9

400.0

27.0

70.9

–

4,659.1

402.0

1,052.4

108.8

105.7

45.1

418.4

997.3

99.3

103.9

74.3

388.2

994.1

99.5

105.7

45.1

6,881.2

7,290.5

6,993.0

7,033.9

5,969.4

5,969.4

6,973.4

6,973.4

5,969.4

5,969.4

6,973.4

6,973.4

Total liabilities arising from banking business and financial contracts

13,998.1

15,597.9

–

–

1   There are currently no internationally accepted mathematical methods available for determining the fair value of financial contracts  

with discretionary participation features (DPFs).

Savings deposits and customer deposits essentially consist of savings accounts, business accounts and deposit 
 accounts held by Swiss banking clients. The mortgage-backed bonds reported have all been issued by Pfandbriefbank 
schweizerischer Hypothekarinstitute AG.

The other financial contracts designated as at fair value through profit or loss largely relate to the life insurance 
liability arising from investment-linked life insurance contracts involving little or no transfer of risk. The year-on-
year change in this liability consists entirely of the funds flowing into and out of the pertinent investment portfolio, 
the latter’s market-related price fluctuations and exchange-rate movements.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   195

19.03.2013   13:48:27

196

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

TERMS & CONDITIONS GOVERNING bONDS OUTSTANDING

Issuer

Type of bond

Face value (CHF million)

Interest rate

Early redemption date

Repayment

Conversion right

Issued

Repayment

ISIN

25. RECONCIlIATION bETWEEN THE GROSS INVESTMENT  

IN FINANCIAl lEASES AND THE PRESENT VAlUE OF MINIMUM lEASE PAYMENTS

CHF million

Lease term < 1 year

Lease term 1 to 5 years

Lease term > 5 years

Total minimum lease payments

Future borrowing costs

Total liability for future financial lease payments (present value)

Including financial leasing of a investment property, as specified in section 11 of the Financial Report.

baloise bank Soba

Senior bond

100

3.000 %

–

100 %

no

2007

12.6.2015

CH0030870445

2011

2012

0.0

29.9

83.9

113.8

– 9.9

103.9

0.0

29.3

77.6

106.9

– 1.2

105.7

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   196

19.03.2013   13:48:27

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

197

2011

2012

1,359.4

247.5

–

247.5

–

55.0

– 49.3

5.7

1,612.6

549.0

–

549.0

– 150.0

61.1

– 55.1

6.0

1,612.6

2,017.6

26. FINANCIAl lIAbIlITIES

SENIOR DEbT

CHF million

balance as at 1 January

Issue price of newly issued bonds 

Embedded derivative

Additions (sub-total)

Disposals / repayments

Interest expenses

Nominal interest rate

Interest costs (sub-total)

balance as at 31 December

A bond amounting to CHF 150 million (3.250 per cent) was repaid on 19 June 2012.

The fair value of financial liabilities at the balance sheet date totalled CHF 2,139.2 million (31 December 2011: 

CHF 1,688.9 million).

TERMS & CONDITIONS GOVERNING SENIOR DEbT OUTSTANDING

Issuer

bâloise Holding

bâloise Holding

bâloise Holding

bâloise Holding

bâloise Holding

bâloise Holding

bâloise Holding

bâloise Holding

Type of bond

Senior bond

Senior bond

Convertible  
bond

Senior bond

Senior bond

Senior bond

Senior bond

Senior bond

Face value  
(CHF million)

Interest rate

550

150

242.5

300

250

175

225

150

4.250 %

3.500 %

1.500 %

2.875 %

3.000 %

2.250 %

1.000 %

2.000 %

Early redemption date

–

–

 on or after 
8.12.2014 

–

–

–

–

–

Repayment

Issued

Repayment

ISIN

100 %

2009

100 %

2007

100 %

2009

100 %

2010

100 %

2011

100 %

2012

100 %

2012

100 %

2012

29.04.2013

19.12.2014

17.11.2016

14.10.2020

07.07.2021

01.03.2019

12.10.2017

12.10.2022

CH0039139271

CH0035539334

CH0107130822

CH0117683794

CH0131804616

CH0148295014

CH0188295536

CH0194695083

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   197

19.03.2013   13:48:27

198

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

27.  PROVISIONS

CHF million

balance as at 1 January 

Addition arising from change  
in scope of consolidation

Disposal arising from change  
in scope of consolidation

Increases and additional provisions 
recognised in profit or loss

Unused provisions reversed through 
profit or loss

Usage not recognised in profit or loss

Unwinding of discount

Exchange differences

balance as at 31 December

Restructuring

Other

Total

Restructuring

Other

2011

79.9 

0.7 

79.9 

0.7 

–

–

0.0 

–

–

12.1 

71.0 

83.1 

–

–

–

–

12.3 

19.6 

31.9 

1.6 

29.5 

– 12.5 

– 12.5 

– 0.1 

– 3.7 

Total

2012

–

–

31.1 

– 3.8 

–

–

–

– 0.2 

12.1 

– 15.7 

– 15.7 

–

– 1.0 

71.0 

–

– 1.2 

83.1 

– 2.8 

–

– 0.1 

10.7 

– 14.9 

– 17.7 

–

– 0.2 

81.7 

–

– 0.3 

92.4 

The balance shown for other provisions includes the usual amounts for legal advice and litigation risks. The recog-
nition of restructuring provisions in profit or loss largely relates to the merger of German entities.

28. INSURANCE lIAbIlITIES

CHF million

Liabilities to policyholders

Liabilities to brokers and agents

Liabilities to insurance companies

Other insurance liabilities

Total insurance liabilities

2011

2012

1,080.8

1,146.4

109.4

560.8

26.4

123.9

588.5

22.9

1,777.4

1,881.7

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   198

19.03.2013   13:48:27

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

199

Notes to the consolidated income statement

29. PREMIUMS EARNED AND POlICY FEES

Non-life

life

Non-life

life

Total

2011

CHF million

Gross premiums written and policy fees

3,143.5

3,659.8

6,803.3

3.6

3,147.1

– 155.7

– 3.1

0.0

3,659.8

– 17.5

–

3.6

6,806.9

– 173.2

– 3.1

3,317.7

– 11.0

3,306.7

– 151.7

– 6.1

3,424.0

–

3,424.0

– 18.7

–

Change in unearned premium reserves

Premiums earned and policy fees (gross)

Reinsurance premiums ceded

Reinsurers’ share of change in  
unearned premium reserves

Total premiums earned and  
policy fees (net)

Total

2012

6,741.7

– 11.0

6,730.7

– 170.4

– 6.1

2,988.3

3,642.3

6,630.6

3,148.9

3,405.3

6,554.2

30. INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS FOR OWN ACCOUNT AND AT OWN RISK

CHF million

Investment property

Financial assets of an equity nature

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets of a debt nature

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Mortgages and loans

Carried at cost

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss

Cash and cash equivalents

2011

2012

244.8

245.1

81.7

0.0

235.2

627.9

5.0

552.3

13.9

5.7

90.4

0.1

252.7

637.0

5.3

531.8

16.5

3.3

Total investment income for own account and at own risk

1,766.5

1,782.2

Income from investment property consists mainly of rental income. Income from financial assets of an equity nature 
primarily comprises dividend income, while income from financial assets of a debt nature essentially contains inter-
est income and net income from the recognition and reversal of impairment losses owing to application of the effec-
tive interest method. Income from mortgages and loans and from cash and cash equivalents is mainly derived from 
the interest paid on these assets. 

Interest income of CHF 5.2 million had been recognised on impaired investments at the balance sheet date 

(31 December 2011: CHF 8.1 million).

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   199

19.03.2013   13:48:28

200

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

31. REAlISED GAINS AND lOSSES ON INVESTMENTS

REAlISED GAINS AND lOSSES ON INVESTMENTS AS RECOGNISED IN THE INCOME STATEMENT

CHF million

Realised gains and losses on investments for own account and at own risk

Realised gains and losses on investments for the account and at the risk of life insurance policyholders

Realised gains and losses on investments as recognised in the income statement

2011

2012

– 346.3

– 597.1

– 943.4

224.4

614.7

839.1

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   200

19.03.2013   13:48:28

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

201

31.1 Realised gains and losses on investments in 2011 for own account and at own risk

CHF million

Realised gains on sales and book profits

Investment property

Held to maturity 1

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value  
through profit or loss

Carried at cost

Sub-total

Realised losses on sales and book losses

Investment property

Held to maturity 1

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value  
through profit or loss

Carried at cost

Sub-total

Impairment losses recognised  
in profit or loss

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Carried at cost

Reversal of impairment losses  
recognised in profit or loss

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Carried at cost

Sub-total

Total realised gains and losses  
on investments

Investment 
property

Financial assets  
of an  
equity nature

Financial assets  
of a  
debt nature

Mortgages  
and loans

Derivative  
financial  
instruments

104.2

–

–

–

–

104.2

– 100.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

163.2

2.1

–

165.3

–

–

– 76.6

– 4.9

–

5.3

101.7

6.3

–

113.3

–

– 55.4

– 97.2

– 5.8

–

–

– 100.8

– 81.5

– 158.4

–

–

–

10.9

1.8

12.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

489.8

–

489.8

–

–

–

– 1.9

– 528.6

– 13.9

– 15.8

–

– 528.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 7.6

– 207.7

– 132.6

–

–

–

– 12.0

–

2.0

–

–

–

11.4

– 0.6

– 207.7

– 138.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total

104.2

5.3

264.9

509.1

1.8

885.3

– 100.8

– 55.4

– 173.8

– 541.2

– 13.9

– 885.1

– 7.6

– 340.3

– 12.0

–

2.0

11.4

– 346.5

3.4

– 123.9

– 183.3

– 3.7

– 38.8

– 346.3

1   Currency effects relating to held-to-maturity financial assets of a debt nature are reported as realised book profits and / or realised book losses.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   201

19.03.2013   13:48:28

202

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

31.2 Realised gains and losses on investments in 2012 for own account and at own risk

CHF million

Realised gains on sales and book profits

Investment property

Held to maturity 1

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value  
through profit or loss

Carried at cost

Sub-total

Realised losses on sales and book losses

Investment property

Held to maturity 1

Available for sale

Recognised at fair value  
through profit or loss

Carried at cost

Sub-total

Impairment losses recognised  
in profit or loss

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Carried at cost

Reversal of impairment losses  
recognised in profit or loss

Held to maturity

Available for sale

Carried at cost

Sub-total

Total realised gains and losses  
on investments

Investment 
property

Financial assets  
of an  
equity nature

Financial assets  
of a  
debt nature

Mortgages  
and loans

Derivative  
financial  
instruments

247.8

–

–

–

–

247.8

– 111.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

246.1

4.3

–

250.4

–

–

– 119.1

– 1.1

–

1.3

113.9

12.6

–

127.8

–

– 39.7

– 78.9

– 1.0

–

–

– 111.7

– 120.2

– 119.6

–

–

–

6.4

1.0

7.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

148.2

–

148.2

–

–

–

– 1.2

– 129.8

– 3.3

– 4.5

–

– 129.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 65.9

–

– 2.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 65.9

– 2.4

–

–

– 15.4

–

–

12.3

– 3.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total

247.8

1.3

360.0

171.5

1.0

781.6

– 111.7

– 39.7

– 198.0

– 133.1

– 3.3

– 485.8

–

– 68.3

– 15.4

–

–

12.3

– 71.4

136.1

64.3

5.8

– 0.2

18.4

224.4

1   Currency effects relating to held-to-maturity financial assets of a debt nature are reported as realised book profits and / or realised book losses.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   202

19.03.2013   13:48:29

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

203

31.3 Impairment losses on financial assets recognised in profit or loss

CHF million

Impairment losses on financial assets of an equity nature recognised in profit or loss

Equities

Equity funds

Mixed funds

Bond funds

Real-estate funds

Private equity

Hedge funds

Sub-total

Impairment losses on financial assets of a debt nature recognised in profit or loss

Public corporations

Industrial enterprises

Financial institutions

Other

Sub-total

Impairment losses on mortgages and loans recognised in profit or loss

Mortgages

Policy loans

Promissory notes and registered bonds

Time deposits

Reverse repurchase agreements

Other loans

Sub-total

2011

2012

– 172.8 

– 52.2 

– 6.7 

– 5.1 

– 0.2 

– 11.1 

– 5.1 

– 6.7 

– 0.0 

– 0.5 

–

– 2.7 

– 2.6 

– 7.9 

– 207.7 

– 65.9 

– 129.7 

–

– 10.5 

–

– 140.2 

–

–

– 2.4 

–

– 2.4 

– 11.6 

– 11.1 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 0.4 

– 12.0 

– 4.3 

– 15.4 

Total impairment losses on financial assets recognised in profit or loss

– 359.9 

– 83.7 

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   203

19.03.2013   13:48:29

 
204

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

A gross impairment loss of CHF 129.7 million had been recognised in 2011 in respect of the portfolio of Greek 
government bonds. After deduction of the legal quota, the policyholders’ dividends and taxes, the impairment loss 
had amounted to CHF 78.3 million.

The Baloise Group sold all its holdings of Greek government bonds in the first half of the year under review. 
It also subsequently disposed of its entire exposure to Portuguese government bonds as a result of the sharp dete-
rioration in Portugal’s sovereign credit rating.

CHF million

Greece 1

Of which available for sale

Of which held to maturity

Ireland

Of which available for sale

Of which held to maturity

Italy

Of which available for sale

Of which held to maturity

Portugal

Of which available for sale

Of which held to maturity

Spain

Of which available for sale

Of which held to maturity

Total exposure

Of which available for sale

Of which held to maturity

Carrying 
amount 
31.12.2011

Fair value 
31.12.2011

Carrying amount 
31.12.2012

Fair value 
31.12.2012

38.5

36.3

2.2

165.1

127.0

38.1

335.1

282.3

52.8

123.1

52.1

71.0

207.1

83.1

124.0

868.9

580.8

288.1

38.5

36.3

2.2

163.1

127.0

36.1

329.8

282.3

47.5

93.6

52.1

41.5

196.5

83.1

113.4

821.5

580.8

240.7

–

–

–

 181.6 

 144.0 

 37.6 

 355.0 

 302.9 

 52.1 

–

–

–

 161.9 

 39.7 

 122.2 

 698.5 

 486.6 

 211.9 

–

–

–

 182.0 

 144.0 

 38.0 

 355.7 

 302.9 

 52.8 

–

–

–

 152.7 

 39.7 

 113.0 

 690.4 

 486.6 

 203.8 

1   A measurement model was used to determine the value of Greek government bonds as at 31 December 2011.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   204

19.03.2013   13:48:34

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

205

31.4 Currency gains and losses
Excluding exchange-rate losses on transactions involving financial instruments that are recognised at fair value 
through profit or loss, a currency loss of CHF 78.6 million was reported for 2012 (2011: loss of CHF 98.2 million). 
A gross currency gain of CHF 19.5 million was recognised directly in equity for the reporting year (2011: loss 
of CHF 43.4 million). Allowing for hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation (hedge accounting), a net gain 
of CHF 21.6 million was recognised for 2012 (2011: net loss of CHF 59.5 million).

32. OTHER OPERATING INCOME

CHF million

Asset management

Services

Banking services

Investment management

Income from services rendered

33. OTHER OPERATING INCOME

CHF million

Interest income from insurance and reinsurance receivables

Other interest income

Gains on the sale of

property, plant and equipment

intangible assets

Currency gains

Other income

Other operating income

2011

2012

29.6

73.0

45.9

10.1

27.7

42.6

45.1

9.6

158.6

125.0

2011

2012

14.2

3.2

0.8

8.1

26.8

87.0

140.1

11.9

2.9

0.5

–

3.2

73.5

92.0

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   205

19.03.2013   13:48:35

206

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

34. ClASSIFICATION OF EXPENSES

CHF million

Personnel expenses (excluding loss adjustment expenses)

Marketing and advertising

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment of

property, plant and equipment

intangible assets

IT and other equipment

Expenses for software development 

Expenses for rent, maintenance and repairs

Currency losses 

Expenses for operating leases

Commission and selling expenses

Fees and commission for financial assets and liabilities not recognised at fair value 

Fee and commission expenses for assets managed for third parties

Other

Total

35. PERSONNEl EXPENSES
Total personnel expenses for 2012 came to CHF 919.1 million (2011: CHF 907.3 million).

2011

2012

– 755.4

– 61.9

– 46.2

– 101.8

– 97.1

– 1.1

– 55.0

– 13.6

– 3.4

– 784.2

– 55.0

– 53.6

– 55.9

– 105.3

–

– 57.5

– 2.9

– 3.3

– 408.0

– 475.6

– 25.5

– 3.3

– 25.3

– 3.2

– 420.7

– 413.2

– 1,993.0

– 2,035.0

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   206

19.03.2013   13:48:42

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

207

36. GAINS OR lOSSES ON FINANCIAl CONTRACTS

CHF million

With discretionary participation features (DPFs)

Financial contracts with discretionary participation features (DPFs)

Sub-total

Measured at amortised cost

Interest on loans

Interest due

Interest arising from banking business

Interest expenses on repurchase agreements

Acquisition costs in banking business

Interest expenses on bonds

Expenses arising from financial contracts

Sub-total

Recognised at fair value through profit or loss (designated)

Change in fair value of other financial contracts

Sub-total

Total gains or losses on financial contracts

Of which: gains on interest rate hedging instruments

Interest rate swaps: cash flow hedges, balance carried forward from cash flow hedge reserves

Interest rate swaps: fair value hedges

Total gains on interest rate hedging instruments

2011

2012

– 27.2

– 27.2

– 47.5

– 47.5

– 0.6

– 19.6

– 48.7

– 0.0 

– 6.8

– 3.2

– 16.1

– 95.0

– 0.4

– 24.0

– 46.3

– 0.0 

– 7.4

– 3.2

– 16.8

– 98.1

446.2

446.2

– 418.3

– 418.3

324.0

– 563.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   207

19.03.2013   13:48:43

208

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

37.  INCOME TAXES

37.1 Current and deferred income taxes

CHF million

Current income taxes

Deferred income taxes

Total current and deferred income taxes

2011

2012

– 40.2

12.6

– 27.6

– 65.0

12.7

– 52.3

37.2 Expected and current income taxes
The expected average tax rate for the Baloise Group was 38.9 per cent in 2011 and 25.9 per cent in 2012. These rates 
correspond to the weighted average tax rates in those countries where the Baloise Group operates. 

CHF million

Profit before taxes

Expected average tax rate (per cent)

Expected income taxes

Increase / reduction owing to

tax-exempt profits and losses

non-deductible expenses

withholding taxes on dividends

change in tax rates

tax items related to other reporting periods 

non-taxable measurement differences

other impacts 1

Current income taxes

2011

2012

88.9

38.9 %

– 34.6

– 9.5

– 21.5

– 1.7

0.1

10.1

18.3

11.2

494.7

25.9 %

– 128.0

16.1

– 9.9

– 1.7

10.0

20.0

20.4

20.8

– 27.6

– 52.3

1   Other impacts’ essentially comprise the offsetting of profits against loss carryforwards for which no deferred tax assets were recognised, the non-capitalisation  
of losses from the reporting period, and the recognition of losses carried forward from previous years. This item also includes the differences between the  
Baloise Group’s tax rate and the tax rates applied to each individual company.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   208

19.03.2013   13:48:43

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

209

38. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Profit for the period attributable to shareholders (CHF million)

Average number of shares outstanding 

basic earnings per share (CHF)

Profit for the period attributable to shareholders (CHF million)

Adjustment of interest expenses on convertible bonds, including tax effects (CHF million)

Adjusted profit for the period attributable to shareholders (CHF million)

Average number of shares outstanding 

Adjustment due to theoretical conversion of convertible bond

Adjustment due to theoretical exercise of share-based payment plans

Adjustment due to theoretical exercise of put options

Adjusted average number of shares outstanding

Diluted earnings per share (CHF)

2011

60.8

2012

436.6

46,900,473

46,831,998

1.30

9.32

2011

60.8

–

60.8

2012

436.6

7.6

444.2

46,900,473

46,831,998

–

2,000,000

84,964

–

74,899

4,803

46,985,437

48,911,700

1.29

9.08

The dilution of earnings in 2011 was solely attributable to the Performance Share Units (PSU) share-based payment 
plan. The criteria for earnings to be diluted by the short-put options issued as part of the Employee Share Ownership 
Plan and by the convertible bond issued by Bâloise Holding were not met in 2011.

The dilution of earnings in 2012 was attributable to the Performance Share Units (PSU) share-based payment plan, 
the short-put options issued as part of the Employee Share Ownership Plan (both of which are described in section 
18.4), and the convertible bond issued by Bâloise Holding.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   209

19.03.2013   13:48:43

210

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

39. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

39.1 Other comprehensive income

CHF million

Available-for-sale financial assets:

Gains and losses arising during the reporting period

Reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in profit or loss

Total available-for-sale financial assets 

Unrealised gains and losses of associates:

Gains and losses arising during the reporting period

Total unrealised gains and losses of associates

Reserves on derivative financial instruments held as cash flow hedges:

Gains and losses arising during the reporting period

Reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in profit or loss

Total reserves on derivative financial instruments held as cash flow hedges

Reserves on derivative financial instruments held as hedges of a net investment  
in a foreign operation:

Gains and losses arising during the reporting period

Reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in profit or loss

Total reserves on derivative financial instruments held as hedges of a net investment  
in a foreign operation:

Reserves arising from reclassification of held-to-maturity financial assets:

Gains and losses arising during the reporting period

Reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in profit or loss

Total reserves arising from reclassification of held-to-maturity financial assets:

Reserves arising from reclassification of investment property:

Gains and losses arising during the reporting period

Reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in retained earnings

Total reserves arising from reclassification of investment property:

Exchange differences:

Gains and losses arising during the reporting period

Total exchange differences

Shadow accounting:

Gains and losses arising during the reporting period

Total shadow accounting

Income taxes on other comprehensive income

Total other comprehensive income

2011

2012

– 68.5

199.9

131.4

– 17.4

– 17.4

–

–

–

1,699.4

– 134.7

1,564.7

6.1

6.1

–

–

–

– 16.1

–

– 16.1

29.9

– 27.8

2.1

0.4

– 5.9

– 5.5

–

–

–

– 0.1

– 4.8

– 4.9

–

–

–

– 43.4

– 43.4

19.5

19.5

– 100.8

– 100.8

– 606.8

– 606.8

– 11.9

– 252.4

– 63.7

728.3

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   210

19.03.2013   13:48:43

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

211

39.2 Income taxes on other comprehensive income

Amount 
before taxes

Tax expense /  
tax income

Amount net  
of taxes

Amount  
before taxes

Tax expense /  
tax income

Amount net  
of taxes

CHF million

Available-for-sale financial assets 

Unrealised gains and losses  
of associates

Reserves on derivative financial  
instruments held as cash flow hedges 

Reserves on derivative financial 
instruments held as hedges of a net 
investment in a foreign operation

Reserves arising from reclassification  
of held-to-maturity financial assets 

Reserves arising from reclassification  
of investment property

Exchange differences

Shadow accounting

Total 

131.4

– 17.4

–

– 16.1

– 5.5

–

– 43.4

– 100.8

– 51.8

– 38.9

4.6

–

3.3

1.6

0.0

–

17.5

– 11.9

2012

1,564.7

– 411.7

1,153.0

2011

92.5

– 12.8

–

– 12.8

6.1

–

2.1

– 3.9

– 4.9

0.0

–

– 43.4

– 83.3

– 63.7

19.5

– 606.8

980.7

– 1.8

–

– 0.2

1.3

0.0

–

160.0

– 252.4

4.3

–

1.9

– 3.6

0.0

19.5

– 446.8

728.3

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   211

19.03.2013   13:48:43

212

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

Other disclosures

40. ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAl OF COMPANIES

CHF million

Investments

Other assets

Receivables and assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Actuarial liabilities

Other accounts payable

Minority interests 

Net assets acquired / disposed of

Funds used / received for acquisitions and disposals

Cash and cash equivalents

Offsetting

Transfer of assets

Directly attributable costs

Equity instruments issued

Reclassification of investments in associates 

Acquisition / disposal price

Net assets acquired / disposed of

Goodwill / negative goodwill or proceeds from disposals

Cash and cash equivalents used / received for acquisitions and 
disposals

Cash and cash equivalents acquired / disposed of

Outflow / inflow of cash and cash equivalents

Cumulative  
acquisitions

Cumulative  
disposals

2011

2012

2011

2012

2,573.2

6.9

134.9

375.6

265.6

– 2,177.2

– 792.4

–

379.7

–

–

–

–

– 5.2

–

1.7

3.2

0.0

0.1

3.0

– 2.7

– 1.1

–

2.5

–

1.3

0.6

0.3

–

– 1.3

–

0.9

383.0

1.7

1.2

0.4

–

–

–

–

6.2

389.2

– 379.7

9.5

– 383.0

265.6

– 117.4

–

–

–

–

–

1.7

– 1.7

0.0

– 1.7

–

– 1.7

–

–

–

–

–

1.2

– 2.5

– 1.3

1.2

– 3.0

– 1.8

–

–

–

–

–

0.4

– 0.9

– 0.5

0.4

– 0.3

0.1

The cumulative acquisitions in 2011 included the acquisitions explained in section 6.2.1, namely that of Avéro 
Schadeverzekering Benelux NV, Belgian companies Nateus SA / NV and Nateus Life SA / NV, Belgian property 
company Pacific Real Estate NV and Van Vaeck Zenith NV, and the German brokerage firms Wilhelm Herrmann 
Assekuranz KG and Wilhelm Herrmann Assekuranz Makler GmbH. The cumulative disposals in 2011 included 
the disposal of Ant Re NV, Antwerp, Belgium, as well as the sale of Treci element d.o.o. in Croatia.

The Baloise Group acquired two property companies in Austria during the year under review.
The cumulative disposals for 2012 included the sale of Poliklinika Osiguranje Zagreb in Croatia and the dis-

posal of PiL Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   212

19.03.2013   13:48:44

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

213

41. RElATED PART Y TRANSACTIONS
As part of its ordinary operating activities the Baloise Group conducts transactions with associates and with mem-
bers of Bâloise Holding’s Board of Directors and Corporate Executive Committee. The terms and conditions  
governing such transactions can be found on page 78 of the chapter on corporate governance, which forms an  
integral part of the Financial Report.

The executive management team consists of the members of Bâloise Holding’s Board of Directors and Cor-

porate Executive Committee.

RElATED PART Y TRANSACTIONS

Associates

Executive management

Other related parties

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

CHF million

Included in the  
income statement

Premiums earned  
and policy fees

Investment income /  
expenses

Other income

Expenses

Impairment losses  
on bad debts

Total income statement

Included  
on the balance sheet

Mortgages and loans

Insurance receivables

Other receivables

Impairment losses  
on bad debts

Other accounts payable

Total on the balance 
sheet

Off-balance-sheet 
transactions

Guarantees granted

–

0.1

0.5

 – 0.0 

–

0.6

–

–

0.1

– 0.7

– 1.4

– 2.0

–

0.0

0.4

– 0.3

–

0.5

0.1

0.2

– 13.2

–

0.1

0.1

0.2

– 12.6

–

0.1

– 12.4

– 12.2

–

0.0

0.0

– 0.7

– 1.9

– 2.6

10.0

10.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

10.0

10.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total

2012

0.1

0.1

0.6

– 12.9

–

0.5

0.2

0.7

– 13.2

–

– 11.8

– 12.1

10.0

–

0.1

– 0.7

– 1.4

8.0

10.8

0.0

0.0

– 0.7

– 1.9

8.2

–

–

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   213

19.03.2013   13:48:44

214

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT REMUNERATION

CHF million

Short-term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits 

Payments under share-based payment plans

Total 

2011

2012

8.8

1.1

3.3

13.2

7.9

1.2

3.5

12.6

21,598 shares worth CHF 1.5 million were repurchased from members of the Corporate Executive Committee in 
2012 (2011: none) under the Employee Share Ownership Plan (section 18.4.3).

42. REMUNERATION PAID TO THE bOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The information to be disclosed in accordance with sections 663b bis and 663c of the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR) 
is contained in the Remuneration Report. Pages 72 to 80 of the chapter on corporate governance form an integral 
part of the Financial Report. The key information disclosed here includes
 → remuneration paid to the members of the Board of Directors 
 → remuneration paid to the members of the Corporate Executive Committee 
 → loans and advances granted to members of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee
 → shares and options held by members of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   214

19.03.2013   13:48:44

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

215

43. CONTINGENT AND FUTURE lIAbIlITIES

43.1 Contingent liabilities

43.1.1 legal disputes
The companies in the Baloise Group are regularly involved in litigation, legal claims and lawsuits, which in most 
cases constitute a normal part of its operating activities as an insurer. 

The Corporate Executive Committee is not aware of any new circumstances having arisen since the last balance 

sheet date that could have a material impact on the consolidated annual financial statements for 2012. 

43.1.2 Guarantees and collateral for the benefit of third parties
The Baloise Group has issued guarantees and provided collateral to third parties. These include obligations – in 
contractually specified cases – to make capital contributions or payments to increase the amount of equity, provide 
funds to cover principal and interest payments when they fall due, and issue guarantees as part of its operating 
activities. The Baloise Group is not aware of any cases of default that could trigger such guarantee payments.

CHF million

Guarantees

Collateral

Total guarantees and collateral for the benefit of third parties

Of which: for the benefit of partners in joint ventures

Of which: from joint ventures

Of which: for the benefit of joint ventures

CREDIT R ATINGS OF GUARANTEES AND COllATERAl

2011

CHF million

Guarantees

Collateral

2012

CHF million

Guarantees

Collateral

AAA

–

–

AAA

–

–

AA

2.0

–

AA

–

–

A

36.8

–

A

38.3

–

2011

2012

73.4

413.1

486.5

–

–

–

lower than bbb  
or no rating

bbb

0.6

–

34.0

413.1

lower than bbb  
or no rating

bbb

–

–

29.1

437.7

67.4

437.7

505.1

–

–

–

Total

73.4

413.1

Total

67.4

437.7

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   215

19.03.2013   13:48:44

 
216

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

43.1.3 Pledged or ceded assets, securities-lending assets, and collateral held

CARRYING AMOUNTS OF ASSETS PlEDGED OR CEDED AS COllATERAl

CHF million

Financial assets under repurchase agreements

Financial assets in the context of securities lending

Investments

Pledged intangible assets

Pledged property, plant and equipment

Other

Total

FAIR VAlUE OF COllATERAl HElD

CHF million

Financial assets under reverse repurchase agreements

Financial assets in the context of securities lending

Other

Total

Of which: sold or repledged

– with an obligation to return the assets

– with no obligation to return the assets

2011

2012

198.1 

–

379.5 

–

1,616.3 

1,521.7 

–

–

48.5 

–

–

–

1,862.9 

1,901.2 

2011

2012

60.4

53.0

–

–

–

–

60.4

53.0

–

–

–

–

The Baloise Group engages in securities-lending transactions that may give rise to credit risk. Collateral is required 
in order to hedge these credit risks by more than covering the underlying value of the securities that are being lent. 
The value of the counterparty’s lending securities is regularly measured in order to minimise the credit risk involved. 
Additional collateral is immediately required if this value falls below the value of cover provided.

The Baloise Group retains control over the loaned securities throughout the term of its lending transactions. 

The income received from securities lending is recognised in profit or loss.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   216

19.03.2013   13:48:45

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

217

43.2 Future liabilities

43.2.1 Capital commitments

CHF million

Commitments undertaken for future acquisition of

investment property

financial assets

property, plant and equipment

intangible assets

Total commitments undertaken

Of which: in connection with joint ventures

Of which: own share of joint ventures’ capital commitments

CREDIT R ATINGS OF CAPITAl COMMITMENTS 

2011

2012

12.0

614.3

–

18.6

644.9

–

–

30.8

408.2

–

14.3

453.3

–

–

2011

CHF million

Capital commitments

2012

CHF million

Capital commitments

AAA

312.9

AAA

80.2

AA

0.6

AA

1.0

A

lower than bbb  
or no rating

bbb

Total

75.8

21.4

234.2

644.9

A

lower than bbb  
or no rating

bbb

Total

43.0

16.8

312.3

453.3

Obligations undertaken by the Baloise Group to make future purchases of investments include commitments in 
respect of private equity, which constitute unfunded commitments to invest directly in private equity or to invest 
in private equity funds. 

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   217

19.03.2013   13:48:45

218

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

44. OPERATING lEASING ARRANGEMENTS

44.1 The baloise Group as a lessee
The Baloise Group has entered into non-cancellable leasing arrangements to lease buildings, vehicles and operating 
equipment. The average residual term of its leasing arrangements is between three and five years.

DUE DATES OF lEASE PAYMENTS

CHF million

Due within one year

Due after one to five years

Due after five years or more

Total

Minimum lease payments

Contingent lease payments

leasing expenses 

Income from sub-leases during the reporting period

Future income from sub-leases

Contingent lease payments are made in cases where the lease is indexed. 

2011

2012

– 3.2

– 5.4

– 0.8

– 9.4

– 3.4

–

– 3.4

–

–

– 3.0

– 4.7

– 0.3

– 8.0

– 3.3

–

– 3.3

–

–

44.2 The baloise Group as a lessor 
The Baloise Group has entered into operating leasing arrangements in order to lease its investment property to third 
parties. The average non-cancellable residual term of its leasing arrangements is between four and six years. There 
were no further leasing arrangements at the balance sheet date.

DUE DATES OF CONTRACTUAllY STIPUlATED lEASING INCOME

CHF million

Due within one year

Due after one to five years

Due after five years or more

Total

Minimum lease payments

Contingent lease payments

leasing income

2011

2012

40.2

88.8

21.1

150.1

40.2

0.1

40.3

34.8

55.8

11.8

102.4

34.6

0.1

34.7

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   218

19.03.2013   13:48:45

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

219

45. ClAIM PAYMENTS RECEIVED FROM NON-GROUP INSURERS
The companies in the Baloise Group received claim payments totalling CHF 0.1 million in 2012 (2011: CHF 0.1 mil-
lion) from non-Group insurers in connection with insurance contracts under which the Baloise Group companies 
are themselves policyholders. Most of these claim payments were made for damage to buildings in Switzerland 
where, depending on the building’s location, mandatory insurance cover is provided by government agencies.

46. EVENTS AFTER THE bAlANCE SHEET DATE
By the time that these consolidated annual financial statements had been completed on 13 March 2013, we had 
not become aware of any further events that would have a material impact on the consolidated annual financial 
statements as a whole.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   219

19.03.2013   13:48:45

220

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

47.  SIGNIFICANT SUbSIDIARIES, JOINT VENTURES AND ASSOCIATES AS AT 31 DECEMbER 2012

Primary  
activity

Operating 
segment 1

Group’s 
share 
(per cent) 2

Direct 
share 
(per cent) 2

Method of 
consoli- 
dation 3

Currency

Share 
capital  
(million)

Total 
assets  
(million)

Gross  
premiums /  
policy fees  
(million)

Switzerland

Bâloise Holding Ltd, Basel

Baloise Insurance Ltd, Basel

Baloise Life Ltd, Basel

Baloise Bank SoBa AG, Solothurn

Haakon AG, Basel

Baloise Asset Management Schweiz AG, Basel

Baloise Asset Management International AG, Basel

Germany

Basler Versicherung 
Beteiligungen B.V. & Co KG, Hamburg

Basler 
Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft, Hamburg

Deutscher Ring 
Sachversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft, Hamburg

Basler Securitas 
Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft,  
Bad Homburg

Avetas Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft,  
Bad Homburg

Deutscher Ring Bausparkasse  
Aktiengesellschaft, Hamburg

Deutscher Ring 
Beteiligungsholding GmbH, Hamburg

DePfa Beteiligungs-Holding II GmbH, Düsseldorf

Basler 
Financial Services GmbH, Hamburg

GROCON  
Erste Grundstücksgesellschaft mbH, 
Hamburg

Holding

Non-life

Life

Banking

Other

Investment  

manage-

ment

Investment  

consulting

O

NL

L

B

O

B

Holding

Holding

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

74.75

74.75

100.00

100.00

B

100.00

100.00

Holding

O

100.00

100.00

Life

L

100.00

100.00

Non-life

NL

100.00

100.00

Non-life

NL

100.00

100.00

Non-life

NL

100.00

100.00

Banking

Holding

Other

Other

Other

B

O

–

O

O

65.00

65.00

100.00

100.00

26.00

26.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

GROCON  
Grundstücks- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH,  
Hamburg

OVB Holding AG, Cologne

Roland Rechtsschutz 
Beteiligungs GmbH, Cologne

Roland Rechtsschutz Versicherungs AG, Cologne

ZEUS Vermittlungsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg

Other

O

100.00

100.00

Other

Other

Other

Other

–

O

–

O

32.57

60.00

32.57

60.00

15.01

25.02

100.00

100.00

1   L: Life, NL: Non-life, B: Banking, O: Other activities / corporate business
2   Shares stated as a percentage are rounded down.
3   F: Full consolidation, E: Equity-accounted investment.

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

E

F

F

F

F

F

E

F

–

–

–

–

–

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

5.0

2,832.9

–

75.0

4,969.4

1,322.3

50.0 28,057.4

2,510.6

50.0

6,799.0

0.2

1.5

39.9

28.5

CHF

1.5

16.6

EUR

94.7

377.0

EUR

22.0

8,944.5

417.2

EUR

50.0

396.9

121.5

EUR

15.1

1,025.7

508.6

EUR

0.1

11.0

0.4

EUR

12.8

552.4

EUR

12.8

193.8

EUR

EUR

–

0.1

–

3.9

EUR

0.7

14.9

EUR

1.5

2.5

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

–

0.1

–

0.5

–

31.0

–

13.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   220

19.03.2013   13:48:45

Financial Report 
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements

221

Primary  
activity

Operating 
segment 1

Group’s 
share 
(per cent) 2

Direct 
share 
(per cent) 2

Method of 
consoli- 
dation 3

Currency

Share 
capital  
(million)

Total 
assets  
(million)

Gross  
premiums /  
policy fees  
(million)

belgium

Mercator Verzekeringen NV, Antwerp

Nateus NV, Antwerp

Nateus Life NV, Antwerp

Audi NV, Antwerp

Euromex NV, Antwerp

Merno-Immo NV, Antwerp

luxembourg

Bâloise (Luxembourg) Holding S.A., 
Bertrange (Luxembourg)

Bâloise Assurances Luxembourg S.A., 
Bertrange (Luxembourg)

Bâloise Vie Luxembourg S.A., 
Bertrange (Luxembourg)

Baloise Fund Invest Advico,  
Bertrange (Luxembourg)

Bâloise Delta Holding S. à. r. l.,  
Bertrange (Luxembourg)

Austria / Croatia / Serbia

Basler Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft 
in Österreich, Vienna

Basler osiguranje Zagreb d.d., Zagreb

Neživotno osiguranje “Basler” a.d.o., Belgrade

Životno osiguranje “Basler” a.d.o., Belgrade

Other territories

Baloise Life (Liechtenstein) AG, Balzers

Baloise Insurance Company (Bermuda) Ltd., 
Hamilton (Bermuda)

Baloise Alternative Investment  
Strategies Limited, 
St. Helier (Jersey / Channel Islands)

Baloise Finance (Jersey) Ltd., 
St. Helier (Jersey / Channel Islands)

Baloise Private Equity Limited, 
St. Helier (Jersey / Channel Islands)

Life and 

non-life

Non-life

Life

Non-life

Non-life

Other

L / NL

100.00

100.00

NL

L

NL

NL

O

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

Holding

O

100.00

100.00

Non-life

NL

100.00

100.00

Life

Other

L

B

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

Holding

O

100.00

100.00

Life and 

non-life

Life and 

non-life

Non-life

Life

Life

Reinsur-

ance

Investment  

manage-

ment

Other

L / NL

100.00

100.00

L / NL

100.00

100.00

NL

L

L

NL

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

L / NL

100.00

100.00

O

100.00

100.00

Investment  

L / NL

100.00

100.00

manage-

ment

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

1   L: Life, NL: Non-life, B: Banking, O: Other activities / corporate business.
2   Shares stated as a percentage are rounded down.
3   F: Full consolidation, E: Equity-accounted investment.

EUR

202.8

4,462.3

637.7

27.8

645.3

150.0

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

61.7

2,154.1

6.5

2.5

17.1

43.7

89.5

27.5

51.8

13.3

36.0

–

–

CHF

250.0

1,217.1

EUR

9.8

161.1

62.3

EUR

32.7

3,731.6

47.1

EUR

0.1

7.3

EUR

224.3

280.5

–

–

EUR

5.1

452.1

116.8

HRK

45.0

2,496.8

400.1

RSD

RSD

675.1

300.1

904.2

497.9

325.8

73.9

CHF

CHF

15.0

2,924.1

5.3

5.0

1,051.4

186.3

USD

0.0

858.4

CHF

1.3

214.2

USD

0.0

498.4

–

–

–

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   221

19.03.2013   13:48:46

222

Financial Report 
Report of the statutory auditor

Report of the statutory auditor  
to the General Meeting of  
Bâloise Holding Ltd, Basel

REPORT OF THE STATUTORY AUDITOR ON THE CONSOlIDATED FINANCIAl STATEMENTS
As statutory auditor, we have audited the consolidated financial statements of Bâloise Holding Ltd, which comprise 
the consolidated balance sheet, consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive income, 
consolidated cash flow statement, consolidated statement of changes in equity and notes to the consolidated financial 
statements (pages 72 to 80 and 86 to 221), for the year ended 31 December 2012.

board of Directors’ responsibility
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial state-
ments in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the requirements of Swiss 
law. This responsibility includes designing, implementing and maintaining an internal control system relevant to 
the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error. The Board of Directors is further responsible for selecting and applying appropriate 
accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We con-
ducted our audit in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards as well as the International Standards 
on Auditing. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether 
the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the 
consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assess-
ment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. 
In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers the internal control system relevant to the entity’s prepa-
ration and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are 
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s 
internal control system. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and 
the reasonableness of accounting estimates made, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated 
financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide 
a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 give a true and fair view 
of the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows in accordance with the International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) and comply with Swiss law.

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   222

19.03.2013   13:48:46

Financial Report 
Report of the statutory auditor

223

REPORT ON OTHER lEGAl REQUIREMENTS
We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight Act (AOA) and 
independence (article 728 CO and article 11 AOA) and that there are no circumstances incompatible with our 
independence. 

In accordance with article 728a paragraph 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an 
internal control system exists, which has been designed for the preparation of consolidated financial statements 
according to the instructions of the Board of Directors.

We recommend that the consolidated financial statements submitted to you be approved.

PricewaterhouseCoopers ltd

Martin Frei 
Audit expert 
Auditor in charge

Peter Lüssi
Audit expert

Basel, 14 March 2013

04_FB_Kapitel_19_bis_Bericht_en.indd   223

19.03.2013   13:48:46

05_FB_Holding_enindd   224

19032013   13:49:29

4  Baloise
16  Review of operating performance
36  Sustainable business management
48  Corporate Governance
86  Financial Report 
226  Bâloise Holding Ltd
240  Notes

Bâloise Holding Ltd

Income statement of Bâloise Holding   226
Balance sheet of Bâloise Holding   227
Notes to the financial statements of Bâloise Holding    228
Appropriation of distributable profit  
as proposed by the Board of Directors    235
Report submitted by the statutory auditors to the  
Annual General Meeting of Bâloise Holding Ltd, Basel    236

05_FB_Holding_enindd   225

19032013   13:49:29

G
N

I

D
L
O
H
E
S

I

O
L
Â
B

 
226

Financial Report 
Income statement Bâloise Holding

Income statement Bâloise Holding

CHF million

Income from long-term equity investments

Income from interest and securities

Other income

Total income

Administrative expenses

Interest expenses

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

Other expenses

Total expenses

Tax expense

Profit for the period

Note

2011

2012

292.6

12.3

21.3

326.2

– 36.3

– 49.3

– 32.7

– 13.6

2

3

4

5

6

7

325.8

13.0

8.8

347.6

– 43.2

– 55.1

0.0

– 5.8

– 131.9

– 104.1

– 0.2

– 0.2

194.1

243.3

05_FB_Holding_enindd   226

19032013   13:49:29

Financial Report 
Balance sheet Bâloise Holding

227

Balance sheet Bâloise Holding

CHF million

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Treasury shares

Receivables from Group companies 

Receivables from third parties 

Prepaid expenses 

Current assets 

Long-term equity investments

Loans to Group companies 

Other financial assets 

Non-current assets 

Total assets 

Equity and liabilities

Share capital 

Statutory reserve

General reserve 

Reserve for treasury shares

Other reserves

Distributable profit

Equity 

Liabilities to Group companies 

Liabilities to third parties

Bonds

Provisions 

Deferred income

Liabilities 

Total equity and liabilities

Note

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

37.8

138.5

9.2

6.6

47.0

239.1

128.3

135.4

74.3

3.7

32.3

374.0

2,025.9

1,986.7

57.9

0.2

167.7

215.0

2,084.0

2,369.4

2,323.1

2,743.4

5.0

5.0

11.7

182.3

247.4

194.9

641.3

0.1

0.6

11.7

173.9

224.9

244.1

659.6

0.1

0.0

8

10

9

12

11

1,642.5

2,042.5

6.0

32.6

6.8

34.4

1,681.8

2,083.8

2,323.1

2,743.4

05_FB_Holding_enindd   227

19032013   13:49:29

228

Financial Report 
Notes Bâloise Holding

Notes to the financial statements of  
Bâloise Holding

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The annual financial statements of Bâloise Holding have been prepared in compliance with Swiss stock company law

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include bank deposits and cash equivalents such as call money, fixed-term deposits and 
money market instruments provided that these assets’ original maturity period is less than 90 days

Treasury shares
Treasury shares are measured at the lower of cost and fair value

Receivables
Receivables are recognised at their nominal amount less any impairment losses

Prepaid expenses and accrued income
This line item includes expenses relating to the new financial year that have been paid in advance and income 
from the reporting year that will not be received until a later date It also comprises dividends approved by  
subsidiaries’ annual general meetings at the balance sheet date, which Bâloise Holding reports as dividends  
receivable 

Long-term equity investments
Long-term equity investments are recognised at cost less any impairment losses

Loans to Group companies
These loans are measured at their nominal amount less any impairment losses Specific write-downs are recognised 
for all identifiable risks in accordance with the prudence principle

Other financial assets
Marketable securities are recognised at the lower of cost and fair value

Liabilities
Liabilities are recognised at their nominal amount

Bonds
Bonds are shown at their par value Issuance costs – less any premiums – are charged in full to the income statement 
at the time the bonds are issued

Provisions
Provisions are recognised with due care and diligence to cover any risks that may arise 

Deferred income and accrued expenses
This line item comprises income relating to the new financial year that has already been received as well as expenses 
relating to the reporting year that will not be paid until a later date

05_FB_Holding_enindd   228

19032013   13:49:30

Financial Report 
Notes Bâloise Holding

229

2011

2012

9.2

2.2

0.7

0.2

12.3

8.6

3.2

1.0

0.2

13.0

2011

2012

1.6

19.7

21.3

1.0

7.8

8.8

2011

2012

– 20.9

– 15.4

– 36.3

– 27.7

– 15.5

– 43.2

2011

2012

– 49.2

– 0.1

– 49.3

– 55.1

0.0

– 55.1

NOTES TO THE INCOME STATEMENT

2. INCOME FROM INTEREST AND SECURITIES

CHF million

Income from treasury shares

Interest on loans to Group companies 

Income from other financial assets 

Other interest receivable 

Total income from interest and securities

3. OTHER INCOME

CHF million

Income from services rendered

Sundry income

Total other income

4. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

CHF million

Personnel expenses

Other administrative expenses

Total administrative expenses

5. INTEREST EXPENSES

CHF million

Interest on bonds

Other interest expenses

Total interest expenses

05_FB_Holding_enindd   229

19032013   13:49:30

230

Financial Report 
Notes Bâloise Holding

6. DEPRECIATION, AMORTISATION AND IMPAIRMENT

CHF million

Impairment of treasury shares

Total depreciation, amortisation and impairment

7.  OTHER EXPENSES

CHF million

Expenses incurred for services rendered 

Sundry expenses

Total other expenses

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

2011

2012

– 32.7

– 32.7

0.0

0.0

2011

2012

– 1.4

– 12.2

– 13.6

– 1.0

– 4.8

– 5.8

8. PREPAID EXPENSES AND ACCRUED INCOME
The annual general meeting of Haakon AG, Basel, held on 28 February 2013 and the AGMs of Baloise Asset 
 Management Schweiz AG, Basel, and of Baloise Asset Management International AG, Basel, held on 6 March 2013 
voted to recognise the dividends receivable for the 2012 financial year as accrued income (2012: CHF 317 million /  
2011: CHF 466 million)

9. LOANS TO GROUP COMPANIES

CHF million

Subordinated loans to Baloise Bank SoBa

Subordinated loans to Bâloise (Luxembourg) Holding S.A. 

Loan to Bâloise (Luxembourg) Holding S.A. 

Total loans to Group companies

2011

2012

30.0

–

27.9

57.9

70.0

70.0

27.7

167.7

05_FB_Holding_enindd   230

19032013   13:49:30

Financial Report 
Notes Bâloise Holding

231

10. LONG-TERM EQUIT Y INVESTMENTS

Company

Basler Versicherung AG, Basel

Basler Leben AG, Basel

Baloise Bank SoBa AG, Solothurn

Baloise Asset Management Schweiz AG, Basel

Baloise Asset Management International AG, Basel

Haakon AG, Basel

Baloise Life (Liechtenstein) AG, Balzers

Basler Saturn Management B.V., Hamburg

Nateus NV, Antwerp

Nateus Life NV, Antwerp

Bâloise (Luxembourg) Holding S.A., Bertrange (Luxembourg)

Bâloise Delta Holding S.à.r.l., Bertrange (Luxembourg)

Baloise Fund Invest Advico, Bertrange (Luxembourg)

Baloise Insurance Company (Bermuda) Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda

Baloise Finance (Jersey) Ltd, St. Helier, Jersey

Basler osiguranje Zagreb d.d., Zagreb

Neživotno osiguranje “Basler” a.d.o., Belgrade

Životno osiguranje “Basler” a.d.o., Belgrade

1   Investments stated as a percentage are rounded down.

Total 
shareholding  
as at  
31.12.2011

Total  
shareholding  
as at  
31.12.2012

Share capital  
as at  
31.12.2012

(per cent) 1

(per cent) 1

Currency

(million)

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

74.75

100.00

100.00

 100.00 

 100.00 

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

74.75

100.00

100.00

–

–

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

EUR

EUR

EUR

CHF

EUR

EUR

CHF

CHF

HRK

RSD

RSD

75.0

50.0

50.0

1.5

1.5

0.2

15.0

0.0

–

–

250.0

224.3

0.1

5.0

1.3

45.0

675.1

300.1

Further information on the long-term equity investments held directly by Bâloise Holding can be found on pages 
220 and 221 in the Financial Report section 

11.  BONDS

AMOUNT

CHF 550 million

CHF 150 million

CHF 242.5 million (convertible bond)

CHF 225 million 

CHF 175 million 

CHF 300 million 

CHF 250 million 

CHF 150 million 

Interest rate

Issued

Maturity date

4.250 %

3.500 %

1.500 %

1.000 %

2.250 %

2.875 %

3.000 %

2.000 %

2009

2007

2009

2012

2012

2010

2011

2012

29.04.2013

19.12.2014

17.11.2016

12.10.2017

01.03.2019

14.10.2020

07.07.2021

12.10.2022

05_FB_Holding_enindd   231

19032013   13:49:30

232

Financial Report 
Notes Bâloise Holding

12.  CHANGES IN EQUIT Y

CHF million

Share capital

Balance as at 1 January

Reduced through cancellation of treasury shares as per AGM resolution

Total share capital

Statutory reserves

General reserve

Balance as at 1 January

Allocated

Total general reserve

Reserve for treasury shares

Balance as at 1 January

Reduced through cancellation of treasury shares as per AGM resolution

Withdrawn (transferred to other reserves)

Allocated (transferred from other reserves) 1

Total reserve for treasury shares

31.12.2011

31.12.2012

5.0

–

5.0

11.7

–

11.7

156.4

–

–

25.9

182.3

5.0

–

5.0

11.7

–

11.7

182.3

–

– 8.4

–

173.9

Total statutory reserves

194.0

185.6

Other reserves

Balance as at 1 January

Allocated from distributable profit

Withdrawn for distributable profit

Allocated (transferred from reserve for treasury shares)

Withdrawn (transferred to reserve for treasury shares)

Total other reserves

Distributable profit

Balance as at 1 January

Dividend distributed

Allocated to other reserves

Withdrawn from other reserves

Profit for the period

Total distributable profit

Total equity

264.9

8.4

–

–

– 25.9

247.4

234.2

– 225.0

– 8.4

–

194.1

194.9

247.4

–

– 30.9

8.4

–

224.9

194.9

– 225.0

–

30.9

243.3

244.1

641.3

659.6

1   Baloise Group companies purchased a total of 226,275 shares (not including the share buy-back via the secondary trading line) at an average price of CHF 72 during 
the reporting year. During this period they sold 336,045 shares at an average price of CHF 71 and together held a total of 1,894,302 Bâloise Holding shares as at  
31 December 2012. As in the previous year, the number of Bâloise Holding shares acquired via the secondary trading line amounted to 223,565 shares. These shares 
are reported as “treasury shares” on the balance sheet.

05_FB_Holding_enindd   232

19032013   13:49:30

Financial Report 
Notes Bâloise Holding

233

13. SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDERS
The information available to the Company reveals that the following significant shareholders and shareholder groups 
linked by voting rights held long-term equity investments in the Company within the meaning of section 663c of 
the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR) as at 31 December 2012:

Per cent

Shareholders

Chase Nominees Ltd. 1

Black Rock Inc.

Signal Iduna Group

Mellon Bank N.A. 1

Credit Suisse Funds AG

UBS Fund Management AG

Nortrust Nominees Ltd. 1

Bank of New York Mellon N.V. 1

Total 
shareholding  
as at  
31.12.2011

Share of  
voting rights 
as at  
31.12.2011

Total 
shareholding  
as at  
31.12.2012

Share of  
voting rights 
as at  
31.12.2012

6.5

> 5.0

> 5.0

3.5

> 3.0

2.7

2.3

 2.5 

2.0

0.0

2.0

0.0

< 2.0

< 2.0

0.0

0.0 

5.9

> 5.0

< 5.0

3.5

> 3.0

> 3.0

< 2.0

< 2.0

2.0

0.0

2.0

0.0

< 2.0

< 2.0

0.0

0.0

1   Custodian nominees who hold shares in trust for third parties are counted as part of the free float under the SIX Exchange regulations.  

Such shareholder groups are not subject to disclosure requirements under Swiss stock market legislation.

05_FB_Holding_enindd   233

19032013   13:49:31

234

Financial Report 
Notes Bâloise Holding

14. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
The Company’s guarantee liabilities as at 31 December 2012 amounted to CHF 1648 million (31 December 2011: 
CHF 1696 million) 

Bâloise Holding has issued the following letters of comfort:
As the owner of Baloise Life (Liechtenstein) AG, Bâloise Holding, Basel, undertakes to ensure that its sub-
sidiary Baloise Life (Liechtenstein) AG is at all times in a financial position to meet in full its liabilities to its cus-
tomers arising from the contracts relating to its RentaSafe, BelRenta Safe, RentaProtect and RentaSafe Time prod-
ucts, especially its guarantee commitments Since October 2012 this letter of comfort has also applied to customers 
with contracts relating to its RentaProtect Time, RentaSafe Time (D-CHF), RentaSafe Time Italy and RentaProtect 
Performance products The maximum liability corresponds to the actuarial reserves recognised for these products 
on the balance sheet of Baloise Life (Liechtenstein) AG as at 31 December 2012

Bâloise Holding has provided Landesbank Baden-Württemberg with an unlimited undertaking to ensure that 
its partner Life SA, Contern (Luxembourg), is managed and financially resourced in such a way that it is always 
in a position to meet all its liabilities to the bank in a timely fashion until it has fully repaid to the bank the latter’s 
loan of EUR 40 million plus interest, costs and commissions

Bâloise Holding is jointly and severally liable for the value added tax (VAT) owed by all companies that form 

part of the tax group headed by Baloise Insurance Ltd 

15. CEDED ASSETS
Bâloise Holding lends some of its treasury shares to Baloise Insurance Ltd every year under a securities lending 
agreement These shares are used in the Employee Share Ownership Plan run by Baloise Insurance Ltd No assets 
had been ceded at the balance sheet date (2011: none) 

16. REMUNERATION PAID TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The information to be disclosed in accordance with sections 663b bis and 663c of the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR) 
is contained in the Remuneration Report Pages 72 to 80 of the chapter on corporate governance form an integral 
part of the Financial Report The key information disclosed here includes
 → remuneration paid to the members of the Board of Directors
 → remuneration paid to the members of the Corporate Executive Committee
 → loans and advances granted to members of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee
 → shares and options held by members of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee

17.  INFORMATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF RISK ASSESSMENTS
Information on the performance of risk assessments can be found in section “5 Management of insurance risk and 
financial risk” of the Baloise Group’s consolidated annual financial statements

18. EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE
By the time that these annual financial statements had been completed on 13 March 2013, we had not become aware 
of any further events that would have a material impact on the annual financial statements as a whole

05_FB_Holding_enindd   234

19032013   13:49:31

Financial Report 
Proposal by the Board of Directors 

235

Appropriation of distributable profit  
as proposed by the Board of Directors

DISTRIBUTABLE PROFIT AND APPROPRIATION OF PROFIT
The profit for the period amounted to 243,287,20911 CHF

The Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting that the Company’s distributable profit 

be appropriated as shown in the table below 

CHF

Profit for the period

Profit carried forward from the previous year

Distributable profit

Proposals by the Board of Directors

Allocated to other reserves 

Withdrawn from other reserves 

Dividend

Profit to be carried forward 

2011

2012

194,056,489.07

243,287,209.11

797,616.90

754,105.97

194,854,105.97

244,041,315.08

–

– 18,200,000.00

30,900,000.00

–

– 225,000,000.00

– 225,000,000.00

754,105.97

841,315.08

The appropriation of profit is consistent with § 30 of the Articles of Incorporation Each share confers the right to 
receive a dividend of CHF 450 gross or CHF 292 net of withholding tax

05_FB_Holding_enindd   235

19032013   13:49:31

236

Financial Report 
Report of the statutory auditor

Report of the statutory auditor  
to the General Meeting of  
Bâloise Holding Ltd, Basel

REPORT OF THE STATUTORY AUDITOR ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As statutory auditor, we have audited the financial statements of Bâloise Holding Ltd, which comprise the income 
statement, balance sheet and notes (pages 72 to 80 and 226 to 234), for the year ended 31 December 2012

Board of Directors’ responsibility
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the require-
ments of Swiss law and the company’s articles of incorporation This responsibility includes designing, implement-
ing and maintaining an internal control system relevant to the preparation of financial statements that are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error The Board of Directors is further responsible for selecting 
and applying appropriate accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circum-
stances

Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit We conducted our 
audit in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards Those standards require that we plan and perform 
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the 
financial statements The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the 
risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error In making those risk 
 assessments, the auditor considers the internal control system relevant to the entity’s preparation of the financial 
statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose 
of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control system An audit also includes evaluat-
ing the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made, as 
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements We believe that the audit evidence we have 
obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion

Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 comply with Swiss law and the 
company’s articles of incorporation

05_FB_Holding_enindd   236

19032013   13:49:31

Financial Report 
Report of the statutory auditor

237

REPORT ON OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight Act (AOA) and 
independence (article 728 CO and article 11 AOA) and that there are no circumstances incompatible with our 
independence

In accordance with article 728a paragraph 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an 
internal control system exists, which has been designed for the preparation of financial statements according to the 
instructions of the Board of Directors

We further confirm that the proposed appropriation of retained earnings complies with Swiss law and the 

company’s articles of incorporation We recommend that the financial statements submitted to you be approved

PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd

Martin Frei 
Audit expert 
Auditor in charge

Peter Lüssi
Audit expert

Basel, 14 March 2013

05_FB_Holding_enindd   237

19032013   13:49:31

05_JB_Anhang_en�indd   238

19�03�2013   13:43:50

4  Baloise
16  Review of operating performance
36  Sustainable business management
48  Corporate Governance
86  Financial Report 
226  Bâloise Holding Ltd
240  notes 

Notes

Glossary  ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  240
addresses  ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  244
InformatIon on the BaloIse Group  ������������������������������������  245
fInancIal calendar and contacts  ���������������������������������������  246

05_JB_Anhang_en�indd   239

19�03�2013   13:43:50

240

Notes
Glossary

Glossary

 → actuarial reserves

Actuarial reserves are the reserves set aside to cover current 
life insurance policies�

costs incurred by the processing of claims, and changes in 
related reserves�

 → annual premium equivalent

The annual premium equivalent (APE) is the insurance indus­
try standard for measuring the volume of new life insurance 
business� It is calculated as the sum of the annual premiums 
earned from new business plus 10 per cent of the single pre­
miums received during the reporting period� 

 → claims ratio

The total cost of claims settled as a percentage of total pre­
miums�

 → claims reserve

A reserve for claims that have not been settled by the end of 
the year�

 → assets managed for third parties

 → combined ratio

These are assets held in trust for clients and partners�

 → Baloise

“Baloise” stands for “the Baloise Group”, and “Bâloise Hold­
ing” means “Bâloise Holding Ltd”� Baloise shares are the 
shares of Bâloise Holding Ltd�

 → Broker

Insurance brokers are independent intermediaries� These are 
firms or individuals who are not restricted to any particular 
insurance companies when selling insurance products� They 
are paid commission for the insurance policies that they sell�

 → Business volume

The total volume of business comprises the premium income 
earned from non­life and life insurance and from investment­
linked life insurance policies during the reporting period� 
The accounting principles used by the Baloise Group do not 
allow premium income earned from investment­linked life 
insurance  to  be  reported  as  revenue  in  the  consolidated 
 financial statements�

 → claims incurred

Claims incurred comprise the amounts paid out for claims 
during the financial year, the reserves set aside to cover un­
settled claims, the reversal of reserves for claims that no 
longer have to be settled or do not have to be paid in full, the 

A non­life insurance ratio that is defined as the sum of the 
cost of claims settled (claims ratio), total expenses (expense 
ratio) and profit sharing (profit­sharing ratio) as a percentage 
of total premiums� This ratio is used to gauge the profitabil­
ity of non­life insurance business�

 → deferred taxes

Probable future tax expenses and tax benefits arising from 
temporary differences between the carrying amounts of as­
sets and liabilities recognised in the consolidated financial 
statements and the corresponding amounts reported for tax 
purposes� The pertinent calculations are based on country­
specific tax rates�

 → embedded value 

The market­consistent embedded value (MCEV) measures 
the value of a life insurance portfolio for shareholders at the 
balance sheet date� Please also refer to the separate MCEV 
report�

 → expense ratio 

Non­life insurance business expenses as a percentage of  total 
premiums�

 → fixed-income securities

Securities (primarily bonds) that yield a fixed rate of interest 
throughout their term to maturity�

05_JB_Anhang_en�indd   240

19�03�2013   13:43:50

Notes
Glossary

241

 → Gross

 → Investment-linked premium

The gross figures shown on the face of the balance sheet or 
income statement in an insurance company’s annual report 
are stated before deduction of reinsurance�

 → Group life business

Insurance policies taken out by companies or their employee 
benefit units for the occupational pension plans of their entire 
workforce� 

 → International financial reporting standards

Since 2000 the Baloise Group has been preparing its con­
solidated financial statements in compliance with Inter national 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which were previ­
ously called International Accounting Standards (IAS)�

 → Impairment

An asset write­down that is recognised in profit or loss� An 
impairment test is carried out to ascertain whether an asset’s 
carrying amount is higher than its recoverable amount� If this 
is the case, the asset is written down to its recoverable amount 
and a corresponding impairment loss is recognised in the in­
come statement�

 → Insurance benefit

Premium income from life insurance policies under which 
the insurance company invests the policyholder’s savings 
for the latter’s own account and at his or her own risk� The 
 International Financial Reporting Standards applied by the 
Baloise Group do not allow the savings component of this 
premium income to be recognised as revenue on the face of 
the income statement�

 → legal quota

A legally or contractually binding percentage requiring life 
insurance companies to pass on a certain share of their prof­
its to their policyholders�

 → minimum interest rate

The minimum guaranteed interest rate paid to savers under 
occupational pension plans�

 → operating segments

Similar or related business activities are grouped together in 
operating segments� The Baloise Group’s operating segments 
are Non­Life, Life, Banking (which includes asset manage­
ment), and Other Activities� The “Other Activities” operating 
segment includes equity investment companies, real­estate 
firms and financing companies�

The benefits provided by the insurer in connection with the 
occurrence of an insured event�

 → net

 → Investments

Investments comprise investment property, equities and 
alter native financial assets (financial assets of an equity na­
ture), fixed­income securities (financial assets of a debt nature), 
mortgage assets, policy and other loans, derivatives, and cash 
and cash equivalents� Precious metals in connection with 
investment­linked insurance are reported as “other assets�”

 → Investment-linked life insurance

Life insurance policies under which policyholders invest their 
savings for their own account and at their own risk�

The net figures shown on the face of the balance sheet or 
income statement in an insurance company’s annual report 
are stated after deduction of reinsurance�

 → new business margin

The value of new business divided by the annual premium 
equivalent (APE)�

05_JB_Anhang_en�indd   241

19�03�2013   13:43:50

242

Notes
Glossary

 → performance of investments

 → reinsurance

Performance in this context is defined as the rates of return 
that Baloise generates from its investments� It constitutes the 
gains, losses, income and expenses recognised in the income 
statement plus changes in unrealised gains and losses as  
a percentage of the average portfolio of investments held�

If an insurance company itself does not wish to bear the full 
risk arising from an insurance policy or an entire portfolio 
of policies, it passes on part of the risk to a reinsurance com­
pany or another direct insurer� However, the primary  insurer 
still has to indemnify the policyholder for the full risk in all 
cases�

 → periodic premium

Periodically recurring premium income (see definition of 
“premium”)�

 → policyholder’s dividend

An annual, non­guaranteed benefit paid to life insurance 
policyholders if the revenue generated by their policies is 
higher and / or the risks and costs associated with their poli­
cies are lower than the assumptions on which the calculation 
of their premiums was based� 

 → premium

The amount paid by the policyholder to cover the cost of 
insurance�

 → premium earned

The proportion of the policy premium available to cover  
the risk insured during the financial year, i�e� the premium 
minus changes in unearned premium reserves�

 → profit after taxes

Profit after taxes is the consolidated net result of all income 
and expenses, minus all borrowing costs as well as current 
and deferred income taxes� Profit after taxes includes minor­
ity interests�

 → profit-sharing ratio

Total profit sharing as a percentage of total premiums; profit 
sharing is defined as the reimbursement of amounts to non­
life policyholders to reflect the profitability of insurance 
policies�

 → reserves

A measurement of future insurance benefit obligations aris­
ing from known and unknown claims that are reported as 
liabilities on the face of the balance sheet�

 → return on equity

A calculation of the percentage return earned on a company’s 
equity capital during a financial year; it represents the profit 
generated in a given financial year divided by the company’s 
average equity during that period� 

 → risk scoring

Risk scoring uses analytical statistical methods to derive risk 
assessments from collected data based on empirical values� 
Insurance companies use this kind of scoring to ensure that 
the premiums they charge reflect the risks involved�

 → run-off business

An insurance policy portfolio that has ceased to accept new 
policies and whose existing policies are gradually expiring�

 → segment

Financial reporting in the Baloise Group is carried out in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs), which require similar transactions and business 
activities to be grouped and presented together� These aggre­
gated operating activities are presented in “segments,” broken 
down by geographic region and business line�

05_JB_Anhang_en�indd   242

19�03�2013   13:43:50

Notes
Glossary

243

 → share buy-back programme

 → technical result

Procedure approved by the Board of Directors under which 
Baloise can repurchase its own outstanding shares� Compa­
nies in Switzerland open a separate trading line in order to 
carry out such buy­backs�

Baloise calculates its technical result by netting all income 
and expenses arising from its insurance business� Its techni­
cal result does not include income and expenses unrelated 
to its insurance business or the net gains or losses on its 
investments�

 → shares issued

The total number of shares that a company has issued; multi­
plying the total number of shares in issue by their face value 
gives the company’s nominal share capital�

 → unearned premium reserves

Deferred income arising from premiums that have already 
been paid for periods after the balance sheet date�

 → single premium 

 → unrealised gains and losses (recognised directly in equity)

Unrealised gains and losses are increases or decreases in 
value that are not recognised in profit or loss and arise from 
the measurement of assets� They are recognised directly in 
equity after deduction of deferred policyholders’ dividends 
(life insurance) and deferred taxes� These gains or losses are 
only taken to income if the underlying asset is sold or if 
impairment losses are recognised�

 → Value of new business

The value added by new business transacted during the re­
porting period; this figure is measured at the time the poli­
cy is issued�

Single premiums are used to finance life insurance policies 
at their inception in the form of a one­off payment� They are 
mainly used to fund wealth­building life insurance policies, 
with the prime focus on investment returns and safety�

 → swiss leader Index

The Swiss Leader Index (SLI) comprises the 30 largest and 
most liquid equities on the Swiss stock market�

 → solvency

Minimum capital requirements that the regulatory authori­
ties impose on insurance companies in order to cover their 
business risks (investments and claims)� These requirements 
are usually specified at a national level and may vary from 
country to country� 

 → technical reserve

Insurers disclose on the face of their balance sheets the value 
of the benefits that they expect to have to provide in future 
under their existing insurance contracts� This value is calcu­
lated from a current perspective in accordance with gener­
ally accepted principles�

05_JB_Anhang_en�indd   243

19�03�2013   13:43:50

244

Notes 
Addresses

Addresses

sWItZerland

austrIa

croatIa

Basler Versicherungen
Aeschengraben 21 
CH-4002 Basel 
Telephone + 41 58 285 85 85 
Fax + 41 58 285 70 70 
kundenservice@baloise.ch 
www.baloise.ch

Baloise Bank soBa 
Amthausplatz 4
CH-4502 Solothurn
Telephone + 41 58 285 33 33
Fax + 41 58 285 03 33
bank@baloise.ch
www.baloise.ch

Germany

Basler Versicherungen
Basler Strasse 4
Postfach 1145
D-61345 Bad Homburg
Telephone + 49 61 72 130
Fax + 49 61 72 13 200
info@basler.de
www.basler.de

Basler Versicherungen
Brigittenauer Lände 50 – 54
A-1203 Vienna
Telephone + 43 1 33 160 0
Fax + 43 1 33 160 200
office@basler.at
www.basler.at

luXemBourG

Bâloise assurances
23, rue du Puits Romain
Bourmicht
L-8070 Bertrange

Boite Postale 28
L-2010 Luxembourg
Telephone + 352 290 190 1
Fax + 352 290 190 592
info@baloise.lu
www.baloise.lu

BelGIum

Baloise Insurance
Posthofbrug 16
B-2600 Antwerp
Telephone + 32 3 247 21 11
Fax + 32 3 247 27 77
info@baloise.be
www.baloise.be

Basler osiguranje Zagreb
Radni�cka cesta 37b
HR-10 000 Zagreb
Telephone + 385 1 640 5000
Fax + 385 1 6405 003
info@basler-oz.hr
www.basler-oz.hr 

serBIa

Basler osiguranja
Resavska 29
RS-11 000 Belgrade
Telephone + 381 11 2222 800
Fax + 381 11 334 29 03
office@basler.rs
www.basler.rs

lIechtensteIn

Baloise life
Alte Landstrasse 6
FL-9496 Balzers
Telephone + 423 388 90 00
Fax + 423 388 90 21
information@baloise-life.com
www.baloise-life.com

05_JB_Anhang_en�indd   244

19�03�2013   13:43:51

Notes 
Information on the Baloise Group

245

Information  
on the Baloise Group

The 2012 Annual Report is published in German and English� 
The German version is authoritative in the event of any discrep­
ancy� The Financial Report section contains the audited 2012 
annual financial statements together with detailed information�

aVaIl aBIlIt y and orderInG
The 2012 Annual Report and the Summary of the 2012 Annual 
Report will be available on the internet at www�baloise�com/
annualreport from 19 March 2013� 

Corporate publications can be ordered either on the inter­
net or by post from the Baloise Group, Corporate Communi­
cations, Aeschengraben 21, 4002 Basel, Switzerland�

InformatIon for shareholders  

and fInancIal analysts
Detailed information and data on Baloise shares, the IR agenda, 
the latest presentations and how to contact the Investor Rela­
tions team can be found on the internet at www�baloise�com/
investors� This information is available in German and English� 

InformatIon for memBers of the medIa
You will find the latest media releases, presentations, reports, 
images and podcasts of various Baloise events as well as media 
contact details at www�baloise�com/media�

cautIonary note on forWard-looKInG statements
This publication is intended to provide an overview of Baloise’s 
operating performance� It contains forward­looking statements 
that include forecasts of future events, plans, goals, business 
developments and results and are based on Baloise’s current 
expectations and assumptions� These forward­looking state­
ments should be noted with due caution because they inher­
ently contain both known and unknown risks, are subject to 
uncertainty and may be adversely affected by other factors� 
Consequently, business performance, results, plans and goals 
could differ substantially from those presented explicitly or 
implicitly in these forward­looking statements� Among the 
influencing factors are (i) changes in the overall state of the 
economy, especially in key markets; (ii) financial market per­
formance; (iii) competitive factors; (iv) changes in interest rates; 
(v) exchange rate movements; (vi) changes in the statutory and 
regulatory framework, including accounting standards; (vii) 
frequency and magnitude of claims as well as trends in claims 
history; (viii) mortality and morbidity rates; (ix) renewal and 
expiry of insurance policies; (x) legal disputes and administra­
tive  proceedings;  (xi)  departure  of  key  employees;  and  (xii) 
negative publicity and media reports� 

Baloise accepts no obligation to update or revise these 
forward­looking statements or to allow for new information, 
future events, etc� Past performance is not indicative of future 
results�

© 2013 Bâloise Holding Ltd, 4002 Basel, Switzerland

publisher  Baloise, Corporate Communications
concept, design  Eclat, Erlenbach (ZH)
photography  Maurice Haas, Zurich / Marc Wetli, Zurich
publishing system  Multimedia Solutions AG, Zurich
printing  UD Print AG, Lucerne

05_JB_Anhang_en�indd   245

19�03�2013   13:43:51

246

Notes 
Key dates and contacts

Financial calendar and contacts

19.3.2013  Annual financial results:

media conference
conference call for analysts

02.5.2013  Annual General Meeting of 

Bâloise Holding Ltd 

29.8.2013  Half-year financial results: 

conference call for analysts 
and the media

25.3.2014  Annual financial results:

media conference
conference call for analysts

24.4.2014  Annual General Meeting of 

Bâloise Holding Ltd

Corporate Governance
Baloise Group
Andreas Eugster
Aeschengraben 21
CH-4002 Basel
Telephone + 41 58 285 84 50
andreas.eugster@baloise.com

Investor Relations
Baloise Group
Marc Kaiser
Aeschengraben 21
CH-4002 Basel
Telephone + 41 58 285 81 81
investor.relations@baloise.com

Media Relations
Baloise Group 
Dominik Müller
Aeschengraben 21
CH-4002 Basel
Telephone + 41 58 285 84 67
media.relations@baloise.com

www.baloise.com

05_JB_Anhang_en.indd   246

19.03.2013   15:20:23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
00_JB_Umschlag_en.indd   2

19.03.2013   13:29:43

2
1
0
2
t
r
o
p
e
R

l
a
u
n
n
A

d
T
l
g
n

i

d
l
o
H
e
s

i

o
l
â
B

Bâloise Holding lTd
Aeschengraben 21
CH-4002 Basel

www.baloise.com

Making you safer. For 150 years.

00_JB_Umschlag_en.indd   1

19.03.2013   13:29:43

Bâloise Holding Ltd AnnuAL RepoRt 2012